Sporran cantle options

[Tobus]

This same subject comes up occasionally, with mixed answers. From what I recall of past discussions, mixing metals isn't that big of a deal in Highland tradition. It might depend on who you're trying to impress at your event, but there's no rule against it.

I wouldn't consider a brass cantle ideal for black tie, but I wouldn't consider it verboten either. If I were going to go all-in with one single sporran, I might be tempted to choose the same. An ex-MoD brass cantle can easily span the range from casual to dressy, depending on how it's bagged and presented. Keep in mind, too, that the MoD cantles are made to be removed from the bag by popping off the clips from the internal studs. So you can have several bags made for the same cantle. One for daywear, one for black tie, etc.

But if I only had one choice for the bag to go with that cantle, I'd choose something in a fur or hair covering. As a matter of fact, I have one being made right now with one of my MoD cantles mounted on a goat hair bag. I didn't order it that way specifically with black tie in mind, but it could work for that purpose. It can be dressed up by polishing the brass before the event, using a chain instead of a leather strap, and perhaps having some removable tassels through the front that get added for dressy occasions (bonus points for mixing metals by using silver cones on the tassels and a silver sporran chain combined with the brass cantle).