Sporrans and security

[Pleater]

I'm wearing a belt without using the loops, and at first belt would ride above the kilt at the back. So I tightened the buckle. Now there's a ruckle at the front.

I raised the subject of belts as I wondered if it would give added security by covering up the buckle of the sporran strap at the back, but I'm suspecting it means there is too much kilt showing above the belt at the front.

Ah well. No right answers.

I wonder if it is something to do with you requiring slope at the waist of the kilt to get it to sit correctly.

There are fitting requirements with kilts, and the more you try to tighten up one which doesn't sit right, the greater the imbalance.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[gordontaos]

I can never seem to fit my wallet, keys, iphone, etc. into my sporran.
I have found the tactical shirts by 5.11 to be excellent. The shirt has two "hidden" chest pockets that are held shut by velcro. I can easily have all of my valuables riding safely in my shirt, and nobody can tell. The shirts are very well made and designed for active wear.
Check them out here.
http://www.511tactical.com/All-Produ...ve-Cotton.html

[Riverkilt]

As to JonathanB's OP. Soon after Alex's sad event in Spain I was off to Mexico kilted. Had an idea that worked well. I took an old pair of jeans and cut off all but the waistband and two front pockets. I wore it under my kilt and put my passport in one pocket and my wallet in the other pocket.



I put a dummy wallet with a few bucks in it in my sporran. Fortunately, didn't have to use it. Had to use the restroom to access the real wallet at first. Then found that if I sat in a booth for meals I could access the real wallet without being obvious. Liked this free homemade rig better than all the other hiding devices available on the internet.

[Father Bill]

VERY creative!

[TheOfficialBren]

Good idea, Ron.

[JonathanB]

I've just re-read Walter Scott's Rob Roy and to my delight found this description of the security sporran artificer referred to:

"The person he addressed, a tall, strong mountaineer, who seemed to act as MacGregor's lieutenant, brought from some place of safety a large leathern pouch, such as Highlanders of rank wear before them when in full dress, made of the skin of the sea-otter, richly garnished with silver ornaments and studs.

"I advise no man to attempt opening this sporran till he has my secret," said Rob Roy; and then twisting one button in one direction, and another in another, pulling one stud upward, and pressing another downward, the mouth of the purse, which was bound with massive silver plate, opened and gave admittance to his hand. He made me remark, as if to break short the subject on which Bailie Jarvie had spoken, that a small steel pistol was concealed within the purse, the trigger of which was connected with the mounting, and made part of the machinery, so that the weapon would certainly be discharged, and in all probability its contents lodged in the person of any one, who, being unacquainted with the secret, should tamper with the lock which secured his treasure. "This," said he touching the pistol—"this is the keeper of my privy purse."

The simplicity of the contrivance to secure a furred pouch, which could have been ripped open without any attempt on the spring, reminded me of the verses in the Odyssey, where Ulysses, in a yet ruder age, is content to secure his property by casting a curious and involved complication of cordage around the sea-chest in which it was deposited."

[artificer]

Artificer, did they also make a bear trap model? That thing is ingenious, if not suicidal.
...

I've never seen a bear/mousetrap style mechanism in a cantle, but I'd sure feel a lot more comfortable with that option than the 4-barrel option sitting on my aprons.

I've just re-read Walter Scott's Rob Roy and to my delight found this description of the security sporran artificer referred to:

"The person he addressed, a tall, strong mountaineer, who seemed to act as MacGregor's lieutenant, brought from some place of safety a large leathern pouch, such as Highlanders of rank wear before them when in full dress, made of the skin of the sea-otter, richly garnished with silver ornaments and studs.

"I advise no man to attempt opening this sporran till he has my secret," said Rob Roy; and then twisting one button in one direction, and another in another, pulling one stud upward, and pressing another downward, the mouth of the purse, which was bound with massive silver plate, opened and gave admittance to his hand. He made me remark, as if to break short the subject on which Bailie Jarvie had spoken, that a small steel pistol was concealed within the purse, the trigger of which was connected with the mounting, and made part of the machinery, so that the weapon would certainly be discharged, and in all probability its contents lodged in the person of any one, who, being unacquainted with the secret, should tamper with the lock which secured his treasure. "This," said he touching the pistol—"this is the keeper of my privy purse."

The simplicity of the contrivance to secure a furred pouch, which could have been ripped open without any attempt on the spring, reminded me of the verses in the Odyssey, where Ulysses, in a yet ruder age, is content to secure his property by casting a curious and involved complication of cordage around the sea-chest in which it was deposited."

Which does, of course, make the obvious point about a true 'cut purse'. Although much of a man's 'free' worth might have been made up of his silver ornaments (in this case the silver cantle), so stealing the WHOLE sporran might be more lucrative than cutting the pouch and receiving a handful of oats and some extra lead shot.

ith:

[JonathanB]

In the book Rob Roy is keeping considerable wealth in the sporran - he asks for the sporran so he can pay out a hundred marks.

Incidentally, although Scott never feels he need to explain what a kilt or a plaid may be, he usually has to explain a sporran - in other cases as a goat skin purse, rather than otter skin.