Pipe Band Sporran Advise Needed From The Rabble, Please!

[PiperChick]

Thanks, Rob! I was a hard sell on the orange. I usually gravitate towards much more muted tones, but once I saw it done with the shades we chose, it grew on me. The blue in it was my personal pick, and I'm really liking how it works with the blue shirt.

I'm with Dundee Scottish Pipe Band out of Dundee, IL. Are you with a band?

[Piobair]

There are a couple of options to consider, depending on how many sporrans you want to get and the membership.

1. Hunting sporrans with metal cantles have become pretty popular in recent years. You could check in with bands who wear them and ask wear they sourced theirs or if any bands are selling them. Bob Dunsire forums are a good place to start looking, as are the various pipe band and used kit groups on FaceBook.

2. Pakistan loves to crank out this style of sporran. You can get them for around $50 or so, but you'll get what you pay for. The petals tend to be oddly shaped and the cantles aren't particularly well finished. Keep in mind that whenever you have metal and leather together, there's going to be wear. I'd also be a little wary of a sharp edge catching the apron of the kilt.

3. New York Metro wears custom sporrans (I think LA Scots also use the same manufacturer?). They're pretty easy to get in touch with through FB or their website.

4. Plain hunting sporrans might be a better fit. I know Scotia-Glenville sports them (and many look Pakistani) and they look good.

5. Keep in mind that you'll inevitably run into the new member who will need a uniform in a pinch, so getting a limited number of custom sporrans will make it hard to match with something readily available. I think hunting sporrans are pretty easy to get on short notice, so if you were short a few weeks before a parade or a competition, you'd be able to call Higgins or L&M or something and get sorted. Sailkot will obviously take a bit more time.

6. FMM gets their kit through RG Hardie.

[WalesLax]

Thanks, Rob! I was a hard sell on the orange. I usually gravitate towards much more muted tones, but once I saw it done with the shades we chose, it grew on me. The blue in it was my personal pick, and I'm really liking how it works with the blue shirt.

I'm with Dundee Scottish Pipe Band out of Dundee, IL. Are you with a band?

When I'm in Chicago, I play with City of Chicago, and when I am in NY, I play with Saffron United.

Rob

[GrainReaper]

@PiperChick that's a great looking tartan! I was wondering where you'd disappeared to, the rabble has been trying to get you out for kilt nights a few times now, guess you've been busy with tartan design, kilt manufacture, etc...

When is your next gig? Aren't you usually in the Dundee parade coming up? My wife, son, and I always go weather permitting!

[PiperChick]

@PiperChick that's a great looking tartan! I was wondering where you'd disappeared to, the rabble has been trying to get you out for kilt nights a few times now, guess you've been busy with tartan design, kilt manufacture, etc...

When is your next gig? Aren't you usually in the Dundee parade coming up? My wife, son, and I always go weather permitting!

It's been a wild a wooly year, especially since Thanksgiving. I work every weekend ( except for those I take vacation for) , have one young one at home ( also a piper), care for my grandkids daily after school, ( and my oldest grandchild is a pipe student now too!) and have recently become involved with a second pipe band ( the second is non competitive). I'm afraid I'm rather hard to pin down! There isn't currently a single evening that I don't have dedicated already. Not an easy schedule sometimes, lol.

I'm not sure of our parade schedule, but I am trying to get time off for the Chicago games this year. If not sooner, I'll hopefully see you guys there.

I was a hard sell on orange for a tartan color - it was a preference of our pipe major and the majority of the band. But now that it's done, and I was able to have a say in the shades of color, it's grown on me. Our old kilts were in such a sad state of disrepair, and were far too like those worn by The Chicago Highlanders, that I'm really excited to wear them this year!

[GrainReaper]

It's been a wild a wooly year, especially since Thanksgiving. I work every weekend ( except for those I take vacation for) , have one young one at home ( also a piper), care for my grandkids daily after school, ( and my oldest grandchild is a pipe student now too!) and have recently become involved with a second pipe band ( the second is non competitive). I'm afraid I'm rather hard to pin down! There isn't currently a single evening that I don't have dedicated already. Not an easy schedule sometimes, lol.

I'm not sure of our parade schedule, but I am trying to get time off for the Chicago games this year. If not sooner, I'll hopefully see you guys there.

I was a hard sell on orange for a tartan color - it was a preference of our pipe major and the majority of the band. But now that it's done, and I was able to have a say in the shades of color, it's grown on me. Our old kilts were in such a sad state of disrepair, and were far too like those worn by The Chicago Highlanders, that I'm really excited to wear them this year!

So I can see the new kilts in the Dundee St Paddys day parade this year? Maybe we can say hello to you in the cue before the parade starts?