Hunting sporran?

[PJ Hansen]

I've heard whisper there are sporrans designated as "hunting" sporrans. As far as I can tell, it's a sporran without tassels that move and, therefore, make noise. Gotta say, I'd love to not have my sporran accompany me with every singe step I make by having the tassels hit.
Is there such a thing? If so, any great place to buy them online?
thanks,
Patrick

[Father Bill]

Generally, the tassels are optional. I had one sporran from which I merely cut them off under the flap. What is referred to is a "hunting sporran" usually has a rounded leather cantle and a number of pieces that look rather like petals hanging down from a targe in the centre. I'm sure that someone will post a picture shortly. I would, but I don't own such a creature.

[FossilHunter]

I've heard whisper there are sporrans designated as "hunting" sporrans. As far as I can tell, it's a sporran without tassels that move and, therefore, make noise. Gotta say, I'd love to not have my sporran accompany me with every singe step I make by having the tassels hit.
Is there such a thing? If so, any great place to buy them online?
thanks,
Patrick

I wear a black hunting sporran of the oval shape made by Margaret Morrison sporranmakers. There is also a peanut shape (like the ones from l&m highland outfitters) as well as hunting-style flap sporrans, though I don’t see those as often.

Brown is a common alternative color and fur fronted versions are also sold.

They appear to have existed for quite a while. OC Richard has some old catalogs that show them. The “hunting” description seems to be a marketing thing and there doesn’t seem to be much evidence that they were really specifically designed or used for that purpose.

I’ll see about some pictures of mine.

[Father Bill]

I found one. Here's Steve wearing a typical hunting sporran (Actually, a rather handsome one):

[FossilHunter]

I found one. Here's Steve wearing a typical hunting sporran (Actually, a rather handsome one):

I believe that is the "Duncan" sporran from L&M highland outfitters. I think Terry Searl may also have that sporran.

[Terry Searl]

I believe that is the "Duncan" sporran from L&M highland outfitters. I think Terry Searl may also have that sporran.

I do have it and I got a dirk belt , some call a kilt belt, at the same time so the leathers match. It came with a sporran chain which I took off and made a leather sporran belt to use instead. I ordered the belt and Sporran through North of Hadrian's Celtic Clothing shop in Victoria and they had it sent directly to me so I avoided shipping costs...... cost all together, Sporran, and dirk belt, with the taxes was just over $300.00..........I am very happy with the quality and the service

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[RichardtheLarge]

I own one. It has triangular “flaps” in lieu of swinging, knotted tassels, and the flaps are secured with rivets. They’re popular among pipers as the small percussive raps (inevitably slightly out of sync) can wreak havoc on the intended tempo.

That said, it wouldn’t be particularly challenging to pierce your hanging tassels and the face of the sporran with and awl and put in a saddle stitch or two. This would significantly reduce the drumming effect at low cost.

[FossilHunter]

Here is mine:

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Prince Charles also occasionally wears a very nice, brown, vintage sporran in the "hunting" style:



Charles is only seen with his when dressed informally for day events. Personally I think the style is best reserved for non-formal use, though I think some members have used them for formal events.

[Dollander]

I've heard whisper there are sporrans designated as "hunting" sporrans. As far as I can tell, it's a sporran without tassels that move and, therefore, make noise. Gotta say, I'd love to not have my sporran accompany me with every singe step I make by having the tassels hit.
Is there such a thing? If so, any great place to buy them online?
thanks,
Patrick

I saw this one on eBay, which appears to be from USA Kilts: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-leath....c100675.m4236

As of this post the highest bid is $53, and considering that a new one is $249.99 (come to think of it, I've only ever seen them for at least $200, or cheap ones for under $50), it's definitely worth a shot if it's something you're truly interested in.

[OC Richard]

Hunting sporrans have always interested me. I wonder when they were invented and why they were called that.

One thing to keep in mind (looking back over sporran evolution) is that all of the small (around 6 inch by 8 inch) pocket-like sporrans, both the all-leather Day sporrans and the silver-topped fur-fronted Evening sporrans, didn't appear until the early 20th century. Throughout the 19th century the standard sporran, civilian and military, Day and Evening, was the long hair sporran. The only smaller sporrans I see in the late 19th century are animal-mask sporrans and reproduction (or original?) 18th century brass-topped deerskin sporrans.

Anyhow you see Hunting Sporrans early enough, taking their place amongst other Day sporrans here in 1936. Other styles are the typical 20th century leather pockets, a couple reproduction 18th century sporrans, a Rob Roy sporran, and an animal mask sporran.

Note that these early Hunting Sporrans are soft and pliable and lack metal cantles.



Here is one in the flesh



Throughout the 2nd half of the 20th century most makers did Hunting Sporrans more or less like the one below, all-leather, brown (early on all Day sporrans were brown). This style is still made by a number of traditional sporran makers in Scotland and Canada.

These aren't the soft pliable sort, but have the same heft and feel as other leather pocket Day sporrans.



Here's a modern example with a bit less refinement. It's done in orange-brown leather to resemble pigskin.



They would put an Evening Dress Sporran metal cantle on sometimes, but done in brass to match the "Day" theme. With the brass top it's beginning to resemble a reproduction 18th century sporran a bit, see the post below for more about that.



(Here is where they grabbed that cantle from)



Here's a mid-20th century look at wearing a Hunting Sporran in Day Dress. The sporran is brown as were all Day sporrans, the brogues black as is typical.



In the tri-fold photo spread of sporran styles used by numerous Scottish makers throughout the 2nd half of the 20th century the Hunting Sporran in brown (orange-brown, to resemble pigskin) can be seen. There's also a strange variant with pony fur on the front, bound with what appears to be dark brown leather. I've never seen one of these elsewhere, in photos or in the flesh.



On another page, what do we have? Incongruously stuck amongst the Evening Dress sporrans is a Hunting Sporran in black leather with a chrome top. I wonder who came up with that. (HS/T/B is probably "hunting sporran, top, black".)



It is this very sporran, a hunting sporran done in black, with a chrome top, which has become the standard civilian pipe band sporran worldwide. At the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow you can see 20, 30, 40 bands one after another all wearing this same sporran. I think part of the reason is that the vast majority of bands wear black jackets and/or waistcoats and black Glengarries (and nowadays black hose) so the traditional brown won't do. Also the chrome top adds some bling, and there are no separate tassels to get lost.

Here is a typical modern pipe band wearing these sporrans.