Quality Sporrans for less money

[Ljk111]

If anyone was interested... https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fraser-of-L...8AAOSwk~ZaCKyR

[Steve Ashton]

If anyone was interested... https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fraser-of-L...8AAOSwk~ZaCKyR

I'm sorry, is this your Ebay listing? The sellers name is very close to yours.

[OC Richard]

Now the flip side to all of this, a cautionary tale.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Spo...p2056016.l4276

This is the sporran called "EW5" in the widely printed and used tri-fold sheet of sporran photos used by a number of sporran makers and Highland outfitters throughout the second half of the 20th century.

In that "canon" of sporrans the cantles were of two sorts: silverplated and stamped "Made in Scotland" or chrome plated and lacking that stamp.

This cantle has every appearance of being of the first sort, and I see nothing to suggest that it is Sterling Silver as is claimed by the seller.

The price of $375 is fair IMHO due to it being a lovely vintage sealskin sporran in great condition. But the price certainly isn't a "deal". Sporrans of this quality are often sold for much less.

It would be unfortunate if the bidding were driven up by people who think that the cantle is Sterling Silver.

Here is the sporran from the listing



Here is the pertinent page from that tri-fold brochure showing "EW5" (presumable Evening Wear 5-tassel)

[OC Richard]

If anyone was interested... https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fraser-of-L...8AAOSwk~ZaCKyR

It seems to me that some connexion with the TV show Outlander is being implied.

I wonder what the connexion might be.

[OC Richard]

Another listing which I would approach with caution.

The seller claims that it is made in Scotland, but I see a number of things which suggest otherwise:

1) it is not stamped Made In Scotland. By itself this isn't definitive, but it is something to note.

2) the belt has the buckle style often seen with Pakistani sporrans. By itself this isn't definitive, because belts can be switched, but once again it's something to note.

3) the bells are inconsistent in shape. One looks like the usual Scottish-made shape, one looks like the shape often seen with Pakistani sporrans.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Highlander-...p2056016.l4276

Part of sporran-spotting is being able to distinguish Scottish-made sporrans from Pakistan-made sporrans. There are sporrans which are obviously in one camp or the other, but occasionally a sporran can be difficult to figure.

There is another issue apart from this sporran's country of origin, and that's that somebody has screwed a screw into it! Never seen that before. For sure the buyer ought to take the screw out and take the sporran to a shoe repair shop and have the stitching re-done.

[Kiltem in NM]

I often mention that I'm dismayed when people with little money to spend on their Highland Dress settle for low-quality Pakistani sporrans, when for the same price sporrans made in Scotland, or by L&M in Canada, of the highest quality, can be had for the same price.

We have great people here on XMarks, and great shops, that offer quality sporrans and my intention is not to take away their business.

My intention is to point out times when quality sporrans can be had at low prices, sometimes under $20, often under $50, often under $100. So people on a tight budget need not forgo quality.

I see them all the time on Ebay. Yes Ebay has its faults, and it has its haters. Yes Ebay IMHO favours sellers to some extent. However a smart Ebay buyer can build a high-quality outfit for little money, and what is bad about that? (Well now somebody will probably tell me.) Personally, nearly all of my Highland kit has been acquired on Ebay, quality sporrans, jackets, hose, shoes, etc got for little money.

Ebay buyers must beware! Check the seller's feedback, though feedback doesn't tell the whole story. I look at the item itself, and also get a "feel" about the seller.

I'll focus on traditional Day Dress and Evening Dress sporrans as worn with traditional civilian Highland Dress.

For today I'll start with a sporran ending soon, what has every appearance of being a quality Scottish-made sporran for around $10. Yes there's shipping, which varies upon where in the world the buyer lives.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Lea...oAAOSwugtZ08m9

I much prefer being able to see the reverse, which on Scottish-made sporrans usually features a distinctive oval gold-ink stamp which says Made In Scotland Real Leather. However even without seeing this, I'll wager this is a quality Scottish-made sporran. For one thing I can see quality workmanship, for another thing I don't recall seeing the Pakistani makers do this particular style.

Here's a nice sporran probably from the 1930-1950 period. Yes the fur is a bit tatty on one side, but it's a nice vintage thing for around $30. The design and workmanship is different from the sporrans one normally sees today.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Anim...IAAOSw-0xYh7kA

Here's a lovely sealskin Evening Dress sporran for around $60. Again I can't see the reverse, yet I strongly believe it's a genuine Scottish-made sporran and not Pakistani. (Note that sealskin cannot be imported into the USA.)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/kilt-sporran...EAAOSwcQlZuatW

MacGregor and MacDuff is a fine Highland Outfitter in Glasgow, and here they are selling an ex-hire sporran for under $50.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ex-Hire-Blac...PA2Q8qkXmTTb6w

Here's something a bit higher priced, but still one-third of what it would cost new, an Evening Dress sporran made by L&M Highland Outfitters in Nova Scotia, who continue to make a range of traditional Scottish sporrans in the tradition of Nicoll Brothers Bankfoot, William Scott & Sons, and so forth.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Celtic-D...EAAOSwqz9ZxYM7

And speaking of Nicoll Brothers Bankfoot, here's a beautiful Day sporran with fur front going for around $20. You won't find better quality. The sporran is in the USA which is a plus for US buyers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicoll-Bros-...UAAOSwGNtZ2wl6

For Australian kiltwearers there's this lovely vintage sporran for little money.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Semi...gAAOSwGkZZdHaW

Here's a sporran that has every appearance of a quality vintage Scottish-made item, though lacking the usual stamp on the reverse. Under $100.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Vin...cAAOSwQkZZvbcc

A quality Scottish-made Evening Dress sealskin sporran in great condition for under $100, less that a third of its price new. (Note that sealskin items are illegal to import into the USA.) A great item for those in the UK!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Mad...cAAOSwVgtZw4AB

Another seal Evening sporran for those in the UK, this one under $30.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenland-Se...YAAOSwEKNZyV8T

A leather and sealskin sporran for a $33 Buy It Now, a UK seller. They don't show the reverse but this looks to me like a quality Scottish-made sporran.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/mens-kilt-sp...8AAOSwuD9Z1J~b

That first one, the $10 one, they must have seen your post!they relisted it for $45USD.

[OC Richard]

US buyers need to be on the lookout for the presence of sealskin, which is illegal to import into the USA.

Oftentimes sellers mis-identify sealskin as various other sorts of fur. I think it's just them not knowing.

In any case here's a lovely vintage sporran with the distinctive oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp on the back.

As you can see it has a sealskin front. The seller just says "fur". Sporran and shipping under $50 but of course illegal for US buyers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lig...oAAOSwiqFad5oS

EDIT: another sealskin sporran (this time so marked) with belt and sgian for under $100 BIN for non-US buyers; under the radar due to the seller listing it as a "sporn"

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sporn-Belt-...sAAOSwoFVae-oV

[OC Richard]

Nearly all the sealskin sporrans that crop up are being sold outwith the USA.

Here's the fairly uncommon instance of a vintage sealskin sporran already within our borders:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brass-Fur-L...p2056016.l4276

Here's another, but missing one of the tassels. Getting a replacement might be difficult

https://www.ebay.com/itm/A-Real-Scot...p2056016.l4276

[OC Richard]

BUYERS BEWARE DECEPTIVE EBAY LISTING.

It may not be intentional, but an Ebay seller has mixed the photos of a Made In Scotland sporran with an obviously Pakistani made sporran.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16292192945...m=162921929456

Note the first photo, showing the back with the typical oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp, is a different sporran than the other photos in the listing, which show a typical rather crudely-made Pakistani sporran.

That first photo is from one of that seller's other auctions. I alerted the seller to the problem.

Here's the other auction the swapped photo is from. This one is a nice Made In Scotland sporran.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Quaility-Fu...cAAOSwJLBalcF~

[Baeau]

Nearly all the sealskin sporrans that crop up are being sold outwith the USA.

Here's the fairly uncommon instance of a vintage sealskin sporran already within our borders:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brass-Fur-L...p2056016.l4276

Here's another, but missing one of the tassels. Getting a replacement might be difficult

https://www.ebay.com/itm/A-Real-Scot...p2056016.l4276

The second one, seller says, "Deer". Any opinion?