Pipers sporran some questions

[OC Richard]

A little background... these long hair sporrans evolved by the 1840s and for the rest of the 19th century were the standard sporrans for civilian day dress, civilian evening dress, and military dress. They were by no means ever confined to pipers, or the army.

Some Sergeants of the 42nd Foot in 1865



and some civilians in the 19th century, pipers



and non-pipers





We think of them as being of horsehair, such as this example made in 1938



but the early ones were goathair



The horsehair sporrans, indeed, were actually horsehair added to a goathair body, as can be plainly seen here

[Emmet]

Thanks for the construction pics they've cleared up a lot for me.

I'm not sure on the cost of horse hair but I live in tottenham, London which has a huge african/jamacian population and as such lots of african hair shops where you can get basically a pony tail of human hair for a pound.

Also any advice for handling the objections from the girlfriend?

[artificer]

Thanks for the construction pics they've cleared up a lot for me.

I'm not sure on the cost of horse hair but I live in tottenham, London which has a huge african/jamacian population and as such lots of african hair shops where you can get basically a pony tail of human hair for a pound.

Also any advice for handling the objections from the girlfriend?

Yup-

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission" - Grace Hopper

Make it first, then it will be twice as hard for her to say no.

ith:

[artificer]

A little background... these long hair sporrans evolved by the 1840s and for the rest of the 19th century were the standard sporrans for civilian day dress, civilian evening dress, and military dress. They were by no means ever confined to pipers, or the army.
...

The horsehair sporrans, indeed, were actually horsehair added to a goathair body, as can be plainly seen here

Thank you, Richard. I left that particular variation out intentionally.
Would you consider it a transitional phase between the older goat and the modern horse hair, or a sporran style in it's own right?

I'm inclined to consider it the former.

ith: