Real or fake sporran

[HaggisMan]

Hi

I bid on the following sporran and won. Now I've been reading about fake sporrans and I'm worried. Can someone take a look and let me know if it looks genuine and worth the $150. Thanks

link below

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/122085944735?ul_noapp=true

[Father Bill]

Well, it's really a sporran; what's your concern?

[HaggisMan]

Hi Bill,

thanks for your reply.

It looks like a sporran but just wanted to check it's a genuine one with correct tassle lengths etc and not a cheap fake. I found the following article on fake sporrans. This one looks old which I like. Any sporran experts know anything about this one?

http://forums.bobdunsire.com/forums/.../t-120102.html

[Father Bill]

Well, I can't say exactly what it purports to be since the E-bay listing doesn't say. All I'm saying is yes, it's a sporran. Is it consistent within itself? I think some of our military historians will tell you shortly, so stay tuned!

[Taskr]

My 5cents;
Looks like a nice piece and the seller has high score. Seems the only thing to authenticate from the description is "antique". There's a range that might be difficult to define? Of course, if it arrives and its costume hair..well then you'll know.

[davidlpope]

It's a nice-looking vintage silver-plated, horse hair civilian sporran. Adult sized, with a nice, generic "Scotland" clansman's badge affixed. Most of the plating has worn off, as one would expect with a sporran of this age, but the patina is quite nice.

I think it's worth the price you paid.

[OC Richard]

That's a very nice sporran!

Yes an authentic piece in every way.

That was the style in the 19th century for Highland accoutrements: fabricated out of sheet metal and then engraved.

Usually one sees the clan badge engraved into the flat surface, rather than a cast piece attached as in your example.

Once you get a couple decades into the 20th century cast accoutrements (sporran cantles, belt buckles, sgian and dirk fitments, etc) become more common.

The metal, by the way, was usually referred to in British publications as "white metal" which meant silver-toned.

The most common metal is what we call "German Silver". It actually has no silver in it. It's often called "nickel" but it's not pure nickel but an alloy.

The most expensive stuff would be made the same way but using Sterling Silver.

Let's see if I can attach a photo from your listing



Here's another vintage sporran (probably in the 1850-1920 range) with a similar shape and method of construction

[Moiraknits]

Looks real to me. You can see the tarnish on the silver to prove that it is old. As to weather the horse hair is real. You will have to feel it when you get it. There are just somethings that you can not tell from a picture on like. Hopefully it is real and in as good of shape as it looks.

[OC Richard]

I would be surprised if the metal was Sterling Silver, as the vast majority were German Silver, which was the standard metal for Highland accoutrements.

A Chief, perhaps, would have the Silver!

[freddie]

That certainly looks genuine to me. A nice sporran and we'll worth the money.