Quality Sporrans for less money

[OC Richard]

I often mention that I'm dismayed when people with little money to spend on their Highland Dress settle for low-quality Pakistani sporrans, when for the same price sporrans made in Scotland, or by L&M in Canada, of the highest quality, can be had for the same price.

We have great people here on XMarks, and great shops, that offer quality sporrans and my intention is not to take away their business.

My intention is to point out times when quality sporrans can be had at low prices, sometimes under $20, often under $50, often under $100. So people on a tight budget need not forgo quality.

I see them all the time on Ebay. Yes Ebay has its faults, and it has its haters. Yes Ebay IMHO favours sellers to some extent. However a smart Ebay buyer can build a high-quality outfit for little money, and what is bad about that? (Well now somebody will probably tell me.) Personally, nearly all of my Highland kit has been acquired on Ebay, quality sporrans, jackets, hose, shoes, etc got for little money.

Ebay buyers must beware! Check the seller's feedback, though feedback doesn't tell the whole story. I look at the item itself, and also get a "feel" about the seller.

I'll focus on traditional Day Dress and Evening Dress sporrans as worn with traditional civilian Highland Dress.

For today I'll start with a sporran ending soon, what has every appearance of being a quality Scottish-made sporran for around $10. Yes there's shipping, which varies upon where in the world the buyer lives.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Lea...oAAOSwugtZ08m9

I much prefer being able to see the reverse, which on Scottish-made sporrans usually features a distinctive oval gold-ink stamp which says Made In Scotland Real Leather. However even without seeing this, I'll wager this is a quality Scottish-made sporran. For one thing I can see quality workmanship, for another thing I don't recall seeing the Pakistani makers do this particular style.

Here's a nice sporran probably from the 1930-1950 period. Yes the fur is a bit tatty on one side, but it's a nice vintage thing for around $30. The design and workmanship is different from the sporrans one normally sees today.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Anim...IAAOSw-0xYh7kA

Here's a lovely sealskin Evening Dress sporran for around $60. Again I can't see the reverse, yet I strongly believe it's a genuine Scottish-made sporran and not Pakistani. (Note that sealskin cannot be imported into the USA.)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/kilt-sporran...EAAOSwcQlZuatW

MacGregor and MacDuff is a fine Highland Outfitter in Glasgow, and here they are selling an ex-hire sporran for under $50.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ex-Hire-Blac...PA2Q8qkXmTTb6w

Here's something a bit higher priced, but still one-third of what it would cost new, an Evening Dress sporran made by L&M Highland Outfitters in Nova Scotia, who continue to make a range of traditional Scottish sporrans in the tradition of Nicoll Brothers Bankfoot, William Scott & Sons, and so forth.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Celtic-D...EAAOSwqz9ZxYM7

And speaking of Nicoll Brothers Bankfoot, here's a beautiful Day sporran with fur front going for around $20. You won't find better quality. The sporran is in the USA which is a plus for US buyers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicoll-Bros-...UAAOSwGNtZ2wl6

For Australian kiltwearers there's this lovely vintage sporran for little money.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Semi...gAAOSwGkZZdHaW

Here's a sporran that has every appearance of a quality vintage Scottish-made item, though lacking the usual stamp on the reverse. Under $100.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Vin...cAAOSwQkZZvbcc

A quality Scottish-made Evening Dress sealskin sporran in great condition for under $100, less that a third of its price new. (Note that sealskin items are illegal to import into the USA.) A great item for those in the UK!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Mad...cAAOSwVgtZw4AB

Another seal Evening sporran for those in the UK, this one under $30.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenland-Se...YAAOSwEKNZyV8T

A leather and sealskin sporran for a $33 Buy It Now, a UK seller. They don't show the reverse but this looks to me like a quality Scottish-made sporran.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/mens-kilt-sp...8AAOSwuD9Z1J~b