Vintage thong-through-flap sporrans

[OC Richard]

Thanks for the detailed and informative reply!

Sounds like the through-flap-thong (say THAT three times fast!) is an annoyance I can do without.

I'm not going to modify a historical sporran, but if I were to have one made it would be faux-flap-thong over through-flap-thong for sure.

[OC Richard]

Coming up to the mid-1950s here's a WE Scott 1953 Patent sporran.

A bit pricey for our brief, but still a fraction of what a new Scottish-made sporran of similar quality would be.

Actually I'm not sure if that pattern of cantle is available now. If it was, it would be of a lesser quality almost certainly.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27656279680...Bk9SR66x38afZA

[Troglodyte]

Thanks for the detailed and informative reply!

Sounds like the through-flap-thong (say THAT three times fast!) is an annoyance I can do without.

I'm not going to modify a historical sporran, but if I were to have one made it would be faux-flap-thong over through-flap-thong for sure.

I guess that could be done easily enough.

The style of flap used keeps itself shut and in closed position anyway, so the need for a proper closure such as a press-stud, is unnecessary - so your faux thong-through idea is sound. The thong would need to be attached to the underside of the flap in some way that is convenient.

If I were to do it myself, I would cut the leather to be braided in the usual way, but leave about an inch at the starting end with the strands still joined. Once the flap was made and ready to be lined the still joined flat end could be passed through the thong hole and secured under the lining of the flap. A small recess might need to be cut for the thong piece to lie into, so that the lining can be made completely flat.

An alternative could be to keep the thong-through-flap arrangement, but make the two additional tassel-cords functional - as with the CX model. Instead of pulling in a kind of box-pleat in the front panel, they could be made to draw-in a much deeper gusset that allows easy access and retrieval when expanded.

All this discussion makes it easy to see why the tassel style of the sporran on the right in my trio came to be the norm.

[OC Richard]

One of the most plain, and most oft-seen, styles from WE Scott, the classic inexpensive brown Day sporran.

$25 here in the US.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226265543925

[JPS]

One of the most plain, and most oft-seen, styles from WE Scott, the classic inexpensive brown Day sporran.

$25 here in the US.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226265543925

I think this was meant for the "Quality sporrans for less..." thread?