Quality Sporrans for less money

[Panache]

I have thought of commenting about this thread a number of times but have refrained. Today I decided I would share my opinion because Richard's opening to the thread bothers me.

"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. "



Quality is quality, regardless of where a thing is from or who made it.


Being made in Pakistan, the USA, Norway, Canada, or Scotland doesn't make a sporran (or any item) inherently of better quality or lesser quality.

A friend of mine in the Red Thistle Dancers and I bought similar embossed black leather day sporrans almost 10 years ago. Here's mine



(I don't have my friend's permission so I'm not going to share his photo, but I hope you know the type of sporran I'm talking about)

Both sporrans have got a lot of use and both have worn well over the years. They have held up and look good. My friend's was made in Scotland and cost over $100 and mine was made in Pakistan and cost me $35. They are both well made and I'm sure both will be in use in our performances for years to come.

I'm a big fan of thrift stores and bargains, so I support and applaud Richard in his ability to spot out the good stuff at great prices.

However, I don't like the idea of the products of a particular place or people disparaged, I'm not comfortable with this. I bought my sporran from Stillwater kilts because I trust the seller. That trust was more important than where the sporran came from or who made it and that trust was rewarded.

A name (known) brand with a good reputation is certainly a good indicator of quality. But a seller with a good reputation can be equally important.

As with all purchases "Buyer Beware", but one should be careful not to pass up good product because of a prejudice towards a place or people.

Just my two cents

Cheers

Jamie

[Dougal]

Some lucky bidder got those sporrans for such a low price. Unfortunately it wasn't me.
I discovered this board and this thread after those auctions had ended.
I'm living in Germany, so I can buy sealskin sporrans with, in fact I've already got one, but by now I know it's for boys. It came together with a kilt, and I suppose that's why the kilt is too small for me, very likely it wasn't for an adult.

I'm looking for quality sporrans at a low price (I don't want some cheap and nasty import), as I've got a small budget.
But I find it difficult to recognize if used sporrans that are offered at Ebay are any good or not.

Surely an ex-hire sporran like this is bound to be good quality:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Ex-Hire-Blac...53.m1438.l2649

Just that I'm not that keen on bovine.


But should I rather avoid sporrans like this where there's no mention of „Made in Scotland“ on the back of the sporran?
https://www.ebay.de/itm/143029822449?ul_noapp=true
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Scottish-Wed...Condition=3000


Nicoll Bros sporrans are good quality?

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Nicoll-Bros-...Condition=3000

I wonder how much it would cost to have this damage repaired, but I wouldn't know where to get it repaired, there are no sporranmakers in Gemany.

This is also a Nicoll Bros sporran, and I would be tempted to get it if it was less expensive.
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Nicoll-Bros-...53.m1438.l2649


I've got a too expensive taste. If I didn't need to look at the price and could simply buy what I like best then I would get a mink sporran. There are no ex-hire mink sporrans available though, and new ones cost more than 200 Pounds.

[OC Richard]

Of course you're correct that high quality things can be made anywhere.

I have seen Pakistani copies of traditional Scottish sporrans that look very close to the originals. Rarely, if ever, is the quality equivalent.

Being around the pipe band scene brings it into focus, because rather than having the experiences of a couple people who have owned this or that you have bands which have purchased 20 to 50 sporrans and put them through years of use (and yes, sometimes abuse).

So Band A purchases 30 Scottish-made sporrans, or L&M sporrans, and Band B purchases 30 Pakistani sporrans.

A year later, five years late, ten years later the differences are glaring.

One thing at play is the American throw-away mentality. "So what if six months after getting our new sporrans some of them are falling apart? Just throw them away! We bought tons of them, they're cheap!"

One band had the leather (pleather?) tab on the back that holds the strap start falling off on their sporrans after a year or two. They had to keep replacing them, fine enough but sometimes the sporran would fall apart during competition or a parade.

And that's the good news! Another band's sporrans had these tabs held on by rivets instead of stitching, and after some months it became apparent that many of these rivets had little sharp burrs and a number of $500 kilts were torn in front.

Ditto the Pakistani-made chain straps, which often have sharp bits that need to be filed down if you don't want your kilts ruined.

On the other hand there are legitimate retailers who sell Pakistani sporrans for considerably more than you could get them direct from Pakistan, but the sporrans the UK or North American retailers sell are of the nicer Pakistani sort, and are decent sporrans. (BTW the retailers I'm thinking of don't mention where the sporrans are made.)

So I stand by my statements. For every Pakistani sporran that has held up to heavy use for several years I can show you several that haven't.

On the other side there are bands still wearing sets of Scottish-made or L&M sporrans that their bands bought 30 years ago (or more).

Anyhow here's an Ebay listing of the typical pipe band black hunting sporran with chrome cantle.

I'm sure that this is a Pakistani one for a number of reasons, one being the three equal-sized huge chrome bosses.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Spo...temCondition=4

[OC Richard]

Nicoll Bros sporrans are good quality?

Yes they were a very nice Scottish maker, established in the 1840s if I recall.

For many years some of the standard "canon" sporran Evening Dress cantles came in chrome or in silver plate. The silver plate ones were stamped "Made In Scotland" on the side.

Interesting that the Nicoll Bros ones have "Nicholl Bros" stamped on the side instead.

Being in Germany I'm assuming that you're able to import sealskin sporrans? That's an issue here in the US as you know.


About ex-hire, I would think that any ex-hire item from MacGregor and MacDuff would be high quality.

[Dougal]

Being in Germany I'm assuming that you're able to import sealskin sporrans? That's an issue here in the US as you know.

Indeed, it's no problem to importnt sealskin sporrans to Germany, luckily.

I bought the second Nicoll Bros. sporran at Ebay (of which I had posted the link) when the seller went down with the price by ten pounds. It was send to my friend's address while I was in England, so I had to pay a lot less for postage.
The sporran is really wonderful. I'm not an expert, but the sporran just looks an feels like very good quality and looks even better than the photos can show, and it's in excellent condition. I'm so glad I bought this one.

[Highland Logan]

As a frequent user of the internet, I would like to point out how much I have enjoyed this thread. I would however be remiss, if I failed to point out an issue, I noted very early on, as this thread has a storied beginning.

There seems to be concern in regards to copyright, and use of photos etc. On this the law is quite clear. Posting photos, not of your own, for the purpose of commentary, and including, not providing credit, all the while not usurping credit, or attempting to seek monetary gain fro said works, all fall under the law as 'Fair Use'.

This board, it's owner(s) is/are within their right to create and enforce any rules deemed fit, in regards to posting here. I feel it may be overly heavy handed due to incorrect advice, or lack of.

If the rules are being applied due to poor understanding, then I would recommended the forum undertake a fact finding mission and update itself to match the law and it's applications. The loss of some of the items posted, and those not posted, enrich us all.

As always, I am available to discuss further.

Note... the prerogative of the forum owner, is always correct... but if the rabble is told it is due to the law... then that is incorrect.

Frank

Ps. OCR, great thread as always!

[pofloyd1]

I have thought of commenting about this thread a number of times but have refrained. Today I decided I would share my opinion because Richard's opening to the thread bothers me.

"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. "



Quality is quality, regardless of where a thing is from or who made it.


Being made in Pakistan, the USA, Norway, Canada, or Scotland doesn't make a sporran (or any item) inherently of better quality or lesser quality.

A friend of mine in the Red Thistle Dancers and I bought similar embossed black leather day sporrans almost 10 years ago. Here's mine



(I don't have my friend's permission so I'm not going to share his photo, but I hope you know the type of sporran I'm talking about)

Both sporrans have got a lot of use and both have worn well over the years. They have held up and look good. My friend's was made in Scotland and cost over $100 and mine was made in Pakistan and cost me $35. They are both well made and I'm sure both will be in use in our performances for years to come.

I'm a big fan of thrift stores and bargains, so I support and applaud Richard in his ability to spot out the good stuff at great prices.

However, I don't like the idea of the products of a particular place or people disparaged, I'm not comfortable with this. I bought my sporran from Stillwater kilts because I trust the seller. That trust was more important than where the sporran came from or who made it and that trust was rewarded.

A name (known) brand with a good reputation is certainly a good indicator of quality. But a seller with a good reputation can be equally important.

As with all purchases "Buyer Beware", but one should be careful not to pass up good product because of a prejudice towards a place or people.

Just my two cents

Cheers

Jamie

I'm old enough to remember the same thing being said about anything made in Japan, why it was not worth bringing home.

[morrison]

My question is, “If I’m wearing my sealskin sporran as I return entry to my home country USA would that be importing sealskin or wearing my clothing? Are they going to ask me at customs what my clothing is made of?” “I can tell them, ‘I was wearing a sporran when I exited the country and now I’m returning home again, still wearing a sporran.’” Do i have to tell them it’s the same sporran or that my other one is in my luggage?
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

. . .
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


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

[Highland Logan]

My question is, “If I’m wearing my sealskin sporran as I return entry to my home country USA would that be importing sealskin or wearing my clothing? Are they going to ask me at customs what my clothing is made of?” “I can tell them, ‘I was wearing a sporran when I exited the country and now I’m returning home again, still wearing a sporran.’” Do i have to tell them it’s the same sporran or that my other one is in my luggage?
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

You are still still importing, as you purchased it outside the US. It's up to you if you want to lie to border guards. I'm sure the fines and or jail time are not worth the sporran.

Frank

[McMurdo]

My question is, “If I’m wearing my sealskin sporran as I return entry to my home country USA would that be importing sealskin or wearing my clothing? Are they going to ask me at customs what my clothing is made of?” “I can tell them, ‘I was wearing a sporran when I exited the country and now I’m returning home again, still wearing a sporran.’” Do i have to tell them it’s the same sporran or that my other one is in my luggage?
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Read this

https://www.fws.gov/international/la...ction-act.html