Looking for a Plain Leather Sporran

**Nathan** · 27th May 13, 10:17 PM

I'll trade you my plain black cheapy like you had for your black hunting sporran! Just cut off the tassels again! lol.

I know...you probably want both...

**Spartan Tartan** · 28th May 13, 04:01 AM

I am a fan of the second option as well. I prefer tge overall simplicity and that it does nkt appear to soft. Quality aside, I think the softer "bag like" sporrans are far more casual for what I imagne a doctoral student event might be like.

**CMcG** · 28th May 13, 06:39 AM

Nice try, Nathan, but no cigar

Spartan Tartan, you may have hit the nail on the head about the problem with the softness of the Rkilts festival sporran. I'm sure it is excellent quality, but the "bag-like" look does make it seem more casual and therefor not as versatile...

**Elizabeth** · 29th May 13, 10:45 AM

Interesting takes on the softness of the leather. To me that makes it look like real leather which in my mind makes it more expensive and desirable. The others look like imprinted dyed cardboard to me, they just looks cheap.

**CMcG** · 29th May 13, 10:50 AM

FYI, I got a message from Paul Henry about another sporran from a company I had not heard of before: leathersporrans.co.uk. With shipping it comes to about $100, which is a bit much for where I'm at, but I thought I'd post a pic anyway because it is pretty sweet. The drop pin closure is definitely not plain, though I still feel more disposed to that type of bling because it is functional, rather than decorative.

I'd like to thank everyone for their opinions and information; you've all be very helpful. My decision is still not yet made as I am mulling it over and over, but at least I've got a much better idea of the field. Perhaps if I mull long enough, Christmas will arrive and someone else will make the decision for me with a present

I hope that the options listed in this thread could also be helpful to anyone looking for a similar sporran!

**Liam** · 29th May 13, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by JohntheBiker

I would suggest the RKilt sporran, if for no other reason than the leather looks to be of much better quality. Doesn't look like an economy accessory. Shopping locally doesn't hurt either.

I've had a "Buzz Kidder" sporran for a number of years and can attest to their quality.

**Nathan** · 29th May 13, 10:59 AM

It seems to me that this is what you're really looking for. It's $135ish rather than $100, but I think you'll be happier in the long run.

http://www.kinlochanderson.com/mens/...ran-no-tassels

**CMcG** · 29th May 13, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

It seems to me that this is what you're really looking for. It's $135ish rather than $100, but I think you'll be happier in the long run.

http://www.kinlochanderson.com/mens/...ran-no-tassels

Ooooooh.... now THAT is a sporran!

I get the idea that spending as much as one can afford on higher quality goods will save money in the long run because they last longer. There is probably also a higher pride of ownership. Having been a student for most of my life, however, what I can afford is typically either low end stuff, mid level things on sale, or else high end second hand... this has led me to become an inveterate bargain hunter and I take another kind of pride in that. Is the Kinloch Anderson sporran really 3 times better than the one from Bauhaus Boy?

**Nathan** · 29th May 13, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

Ooooooh.... now THAT is a sporran!

I get the idea that spending as much as one can afford on higher quality goods will save money in the long run because they last longer. There is probably also a higher pride of ownership. Having been a student for most of my life, however, what I can afford is typically either low end stuff, mid level things on sale, or else high end second hand... this has led me to become an inveterate bargain hunter and I take another kind of pride in that. Is the Kinloch Anderson sporran really 3 times better than the one from Bauhaus Boy?

I am the same way. A bargain hunter from way back. That said, I would hazard a guess that it is three times better since it's made"from the finest Black leather "

The Bauhaus Boy claims to be made of
"heavy weight grained leather, the edge of the sporran and flap has smooth leather piping contrast"

---

I completely understand the bargain hunting instinct/necessity, however, I think it's safe to say that you'll be wearing the kilt for years to come. Your budget was $100 so I think it's worth a couple of pitchers of beer extra to have an item that will improve with age and develop character and a patina rather than one that will fall apart should it get wet.

Given the price point, I'd guess that the Bauhaus Boy is a cheap knock off of the Kinloch Anderson. I suggest asking some pointed questions to both suppliers about the grade of leather used and where the item is manufactured. You may discover that they are, in fact, the very same sporran. If so, yay for Balhaus Boy. On the other hand, if it's as I suspect, a cheap leatherboard knock off, it's going to fall apart on you.

Just my thoughts.

I'm not crazy about the drop pin or the floppy bag styles in comparison.

**CMcG** · 29th May 13, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Nathan

I completely understand the bargain hunting instinct/necessity, however, I think it's safe to say that you'll be wearing the kilt for years to come. Your budget was $100 so I think it's worth a couple of pitchers of beer extra to have an item that will improve with age and develop character and a patina rather than one that will fall apart should it get wet.

Given the price point, I'd guess that the Bauhaus Boy is a cheap knock off of the Kinloch Anderson. I suggest asking some pointed questions to both suppliers about the grade of leather used and where the item is manufactured. You may discover that they are, in fact, the very same sporran. If so, yay for Balhaus Boy. On the other hand, if it's as I suspect, a cheap leatherboard knock off, it's going to fall apart on you.

Just my thoughts.

I'm not crazy about the drop pin or the floppy bag styles in comparison.

Good thoughts, Nathan. Actually, however, I said that I would want to keep this "well under $100"... with shipping, the Kinloch Anderson ends up being $144 + the risk of tax/duty. I totally agree that it would be better to get a sporran that isn't made from leatherboard, though in fairness, my old one was just that and it held up to several years of use before I lost it.

As for Bauhaus Boy's stuff, I have handled one of his hunting sporrans and the leather appeared to be a step up from the real bargain basement stuff. Also, I don't think the sporran of his that I posted is a knock off of Kinloch Anderson, but rather a fairly common pattern. Perhaps someone else can comment, but that style looks essentially the same as what people on eBay call the Royal Regiment of Scotland leather sporran and Penny's calls their officer's sporran? Here is a similar one from Nicholsons (thanks for the heads up Paul!), which would be $118 with shipping and is apparently made in Scotland:

I sent messages to both Bauhaus boy and Kinloch Anderson with some specific questions about their sporrans, so we'll see what they say...