McClintock sporrans

**OC Richard** · 20th February 12, 01:47 AM

So, Saturday I was at the Queen Mary Scottish Festival in Long Beach CA and I spied these very interesting sporrans.

They struck me immediately as being different from anything I'd seen but at the same time having a traditional look somehow to them. They are very high quality, obviously hand made, of very supple leather.

They are stamped on the back McClintock Descanso CA.

Note how on the sporran at upper right the fastening stud is cleverly integrated into the pattern of rivets.

So Saturday night I get home a google "mcclintock sporrans descanso" and get no hits... but with "sporran" removed I get plenty! And a website, that of Gary McClintock, saddle maker! I go to his site and sporrans are not mentioned anywhere.

So on Sunday I spy this gent walking around wearing one of these, and I ask "can I take a picture of you? You're wearing a McClintock sporran. I saw some at one of the shops over there."

And he says "sure. I made this sporran and all those other ones."

Wow! To meet the maker so quickly!

He is Billy Lang, who works for McClintock Saddleworks.

I told him that I went on the McClintock Saddleworks site and noticed that sporrans aren't mentioned. He said that they intend to get the word out a bit.

Any XMarkers familiar with these sporrans? I want one!

**pascs** · 20th February 12, 02:28 AM

Some very nice sporrans there

I like the idea of the one on the top right, the rivets add visual interest without the requirement for tassels

**Tartan Tess** · 20th February 12, 06:55 AM

I am very familiar with his saddles. I have collected the catalogs for years.

**ForresterModern** · 20th February 12, 07:12 AM

One word---WOW.

Okay, a few more than one word. Abso-fabu-beautiful sporrans, with what seems to be impeccable workmanship and great quality materials combined with interesting and novel designs while still remaining quite traditional at the same time. This guy definitely needs to get the word out about his wares to the highlandwear community, as I bet if his prices are even remotely reasonable he would be swamped with orders, especially some custom work, since he obviously has skills and vision and style, and access to a lot of leather and the tools to make sporran music.

**Piipriker** · 20th February 12, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

One word---WOW.

Okay, a few more than one word. Abso-fabu-beautiful sporrans, with what seems to be impeccable workmanship and great quality materials combined with interesting and novel designs while still remaining quite traditional at the same time. This guy definitely needs to get the word out about his wares to the highlandwear community, as I bet if his prices are even remotely reasonable he would be swamped with orders, especially some custom work, since he obviously has skills and vision and style, and access to a lot of leather and the tools to make sporran music.

There is nothing more to say.

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

... to make sporran music.

**MacMillans son** · 20th February 12, 10:17 AM

I'm not a fan, as of yet, of the fur and leather models. They remind me of the neither fish nor fowl 'semi dress sporrans' offered by many merchants. However, I think the one on the right has merit for day wear, and would also look nice without the concho, and with brass studs instead of silver.

Also, I think I would prefer the flap to attach at the rear of the sporran where the attachment is not seen vs. having a long seam across the front of the sporran. Simple enough modifications for a custom commission I suppose.

Do you recall the asking prices Richard?

**OC Richard** · 20th February 12, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan's son

I'm not a fan, as of yet, of the fur and leather models. They remind me of the neither fish nor fowl 'semi dress sporrans' offered by many merchants.

As far as I can tell fur-fronted brown leather "day" sporrans go right back to the earliest appearance of pocketlike "day" sporrans in the early 20th century.

I have sitting in front of me a c1930 Paisley catalogue. There are two normal pocketlike brown leather "day" sporrans shown, one with a fur front.

Also here is a 1936 Anderson catalogue. Nine "day" sporrans are shown, all brown leather. Two are normal "day" pocketlike sporrans with leather flaps and fur fronts. (Two are "hunting" style, two are "culloden" style, one is "rob roy" style.)

I've always seen brown "day" sporran with fur fronts, from the very first Highland Dress catalogue I got back in the mid-1970s, so they look quite normal and natural to me.

As I recall the sporrans on display were priced around $175.