Question about “MOD” sporrans

[Troglodyte]

Hi all,

Does anyone have firsthand experience with British Ministry of Defense (MOD) day sporrans? I am specifically referring to the current(?) model issued to the Royal Regiment of Scotland. I found one for sale online for what seems like a very fair price, since it’s about 1/3 the cost of similar simple sporrans from reputable makers. It looks brand new, although the seller says it’s military surplus with “signs of slight wear” (though I can see any in the pictures). It has what the seller describes as a NATO inventory code and looks to be dated 2007. Are these well made? Is the leather good quality?

Thanks!

It is quite likely to have been made by Margaret Morrison, sporran-makers in Perth, Scotland, who I understand hold the MoD contract, and so will be to their usual high standard.

However, the construction has been modified over the years, and cost-saving techniques adopted - the British government has always spent the least it an get away with on its armed forces, and non-combat equipment like other-duty-use sporrans are an easy target for the penny-pinchers in Whitehall. Edge-binding and interior lining differences are what to look out for.

My pictures show a post-war style and the more recent style that was made by Nicoll Bros (MM have Nicolls' old tools and templates) that remained the style until the amalgamation of regiments in more recent times. The post-war model is larger and roomier than all the later ones - much more practical in all ways.

Whilst the current millitary issue sporran is good enough, I feel too much has been compromised and the older models are better in many ways. If I were to give advice, I would say go for one of the pre-1953 sporrans, and swap the regimental badge for something of your own - they are only held in place with split-pins.

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