Real Animal Sporrans

[Nanook]

Craigies are just about the best full mask sporrans out there.

I not quite sure by which standard you are measuring. To my eyes they seem more alike kinky varmint bags than any of the Scottish traditional full mask sporrans I've seen. I think they miss the spirit and detract rather than contribute to Highland attire. It's, I'd suggest, a question of balance. Neither conservative enough nor arty enough they strike me as just weird bags. Craigie I suspect came to making bags from stuffing animals rather than from learning the trade of making sporrans (their "day sporrans" are more RennFaire than Peth). For a good full mask I'd rather suggest Janet Eagleton. L&M in Canada seems to do some pretty descent commercial grade sporans in more or less well developed (and accepted) patterns.

[turpin]

By a standard of most realistic looking. Another vendor of equal quality is clan leatherworks. They have a flat head option as well as closed and open mouth.

Mr. Nanook, sir, it's all a matter of taste and what appeals to you. I'll never have your sartorial sense of style, but I know what I like.

I've seen L&M's bags, and I have found the quality varies in the ones I've seen. I saw one raccoon where the fur was stiff and felt fake, the eyes were installed as an afterthought, and the overall feel of it was second rate. And that was new in the box. Of course the vendor only wanted $275 for it.

[Highland Logan]

I not quite sure by which standard you are measuring. To my eyes they seem more alike kinky varmint bags than any of the Scottish traditional full mask sporrans I've seen. I think they miss the spirit and detract rather than contribute to Highland attire. It's, I'd suggest, a question of balance. Neither conservative enough nor arty enough they strike me as just weird bags. Craigie I suspect came to making bags from stuffing animals rather than from learning the trade of making sporrans (their "day sporrans" are more RennFaire than Peth). For a good full mask I'd rather suggest Janet Eagleton. L&M in Canada seems to do some pretty descent commercial grade sporans in more or less well developed (and accepted) patterns.

I found a link to the Janet Eagleton site. I can't say that I see much I like.. however I have not seen one in person. The badger full mask is made using the badger found in Brittan, and under the Protection of Badgers Act of 1992 it is an offence to kill a badger or to interfere with a sett without a licence from Natural England. So under this it might be hard to have one shipped to North America, and in Brittan, with the new laws reguarding sporran, furs, and pelts in general, you would have to carry a licence around with you. That last bit was disscused somewhere here on the forum a while back.

Frank

[Jack Daw]

Well, she's either snubbing a British law or having trouble moving old inventory.

[Highland Logan]

I would think she got them leagly, but the paperwork to own one would a con. I do think the American Badger is a better looking animal anyway. Here is a link to the thread I was refering to about licenceing.

Frank

[turpin]

I agree with you on the American Badger. I think it makes a fine sporran, whether full mask or just using the fur for bag and flap, like this one.

[BoldHighlander]

I agree with you on the American Badger. I think it makes a fine sporran, whether full mask or just using the fur for bag and flap, like this one.

Very nice Turpin

I too like the (American) Badger, plan to eventually have a formal sporran made of this fur, and I'm going to be making myself a Canadian Trooper hat out of this fur as well

[Highland Logan]

I agree with you on the American Badger. I think it makes a fine sporran, whether full mask or just using the fur for bag and flap, like this one.

That has some very nice colour. I imagine that's very soft as well.

Frank

[turpin]

It was made from the first badger pelt I ever bought, and it is still the softest and finest I've gotten my hands on. My mask sporran is made from it as well.

[McFarkus]

I don't know if I could handle having a full mask sporran that was looking at me all the time.

It's not looking at you. It's looking at everyone else!