military sporran challenge

[figheadair]

I was thinking # 16 was a Seaforth Highlanders Officers Sporran , mid 1800's .

I think you're right. Blame airport fatigu .

[OC Richard]

Yes you guys are doing great!

10: 92nd Highlanders Other Ranks c1830-c1880. Not sure if this survived right up till the 1881 amalgamation or not. Photos as early as 1882 show the now-familiar Gordon Highlanders sporran, white with two long black tails.

This photo is of a reproduction, made by modifying a 93rd Highlanders sporran. The two upper tassels should be placed closer together, the same placement as the five tassels on the Black Watch sporran.

Only five regiments, the 42nd, 78th, 79th, 92nd and 93rd, retained Highland Dress after the 1809 stripping away of Highland status to the rest of the Highland regiments. When these went to long horsehair sporrans in the 1830-1840 period all five regiments had either five or six short tassels. In fits and starts three of the five went to two long tassels, so by 1881 only the Black Watch and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders retained their original c1830 style.

11. 42nd Highlanders Officers c1830-1870. Note the top is bound with the sort of gold lace normally seen on jackets. This style was replaced in 1870 by the now-familiar St Andrew and thistle cast metal gilt top, still worn today by pipers of the 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment Of Scotland.

12. 79th Highlanders/Cameron Highlanders/Queens Own Cameron Highlanders/Queens Own Highlanders pipers c1840-1994. Yes this sporran was worn unchanged for 150 years, quite a feat. It finally was done in by the amalgamation with the The Gordon Highlanders in 1994 to form The Highlanders, at which point the pipers switched to the Gordon Highlanders pipers sporrans. The example in this photo is from my own modest collection, a great Ebay find.

13. 79th Highlanders/Cameron Highlanders/Queens Own Cameron Highlanders/Queens Own Highlanders Pipe Major c?-1994. I can't pin down when the Pipe Major started wearing this style, but I think I've seen photos from the 1890s showing it.

14. 93rd Officers and Sergeants c1830-2006. Yes around 175 years unchanged, probably the longest-serving sporran design in the army.

15. London Scottish Other Ranks. I don't know the dates, but I'm pretty sure this style was worn from around 1900 and through WWI at least.

16. 78th Officer c1840-c1881. I see this in early images, but at some point they added more battle honours and the scroll at the top became longer. This probably happened at the 1881 amalgamation; by 1882 the longer scroll is seen.

Here's the later one with more battle honours



Here are three Seaforths sporrans, the Officers on the left, the Sergeants on the right, and perhaps a piper's in the middle

[BobsYourUncle]

All righty then ! OC Richard, great idea for a thread. I am hoping you will welcome quiz submissions from other XMarkers ! Now that we have some of the basics represented and dealt with, here are some that are a little more obscure from my collection. No peeking at file names until you've replied with your guesses--OC Richard, you should go last as you will likely suss them out in short order. Here goes:

1.

1a.

2.

2a.

3.

3a.

4.

4a.

[MacGumerait]

BYU , I have a guess on # 1 .

Gordon Highlanders late 1800s or early 1900s . Either an officers or piper's sporran .

I have thoughts on the other sporrans as well , however , will restrain and let others have a chance .

Cheers , Mike

[BobsYourUncle]

You are in the right ballpark, Mike, but not yet right on the money ! All will be revealed once a few have had their go...

[blackwatch70]

1. Gordon Highlanders pipers cantle, but strange body and tassels... something from GH affilated regiments? Cape Town Highlanders?? I am not sure...
2. looks like A&SH Pipe-major or Drum-major sporran, 1881 - WWII, but unusual cantle..
3. 1st A&SH (ex-91st regiment) Drum-major sporran. 1881 - WWII
4. Civilan sporran, with crest of Campbell clan (boar head) , probably Victorian?

[figheadair]

This one belongs to a friend. c1880 I suspect?

[Reiver]

I've no freakin Idea OC but will pay attention.

I do feel sorry for the horses that could no longer swish/swat flies away tho.

[Profane James]

Maybe you guys can help me out here.
Forgive me but I have searched the forum the best I know how, and to be honest, I am fairly certain I have seen this sporran here before - I thought it was this thread! Alas, I can't seem to find where...
Anyways, it's obviously some version of Gordon Highlanders, interested in specifics, which are not available to me. Thanks !

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/o...psdxgrf7ej.jpg

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/o...psryorfdz2.jpg

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/o...psmygf75x2.jpg

[Profane James]

Yes, now that you mention it, the swords seem to be 'on top' of the etchings - which don't seem to be as ornate as the ones you posted.
Is this a common practice? Changed for fashion or to sell?