Anybody any good at dating items?

[Steve Barclay]

That's a great pic!

[Steve Barclay]

One of the sporrans arrived yesterday and it's fab! It's certainly old and does indeed have a sheet metal cantle. What was missing was the badge, fortunately I had an old Highland Light Infantry badge so I put that on, I had a relative who was in the HLI who died in France in WWI so that's fitting, shame I didn't have it for Remembrance Sunday/Armistice day the other week but never mind. The kilt arrived the other week actually and certainly looks very old but there are no labels or anything inside, are there any other telltale signs, stitching etc?

MacLowlife, I certainly take your earlier point regarding sellers "bigging up" their products by listing them as vintage, but to be fair I didn't pay through the nose for any of them and would be more than happy with what I paid even if they were just "normal" second hand.

Will post pics shortly.

[MacLowlife]

I would say then, that what is most important is that you are happy.

I look forward to seeing your stuff and hearing from somebody who can say how old it may be. Hand stitching is hand stitching and some of the old looms have been running for a LONG time, so it may be tricky, but I expect lining material, buckle structure, etc. MAY give us some clues.

Isn't it nice when things work out? Congratulations on your good luck.

[Steve Barclay]

Here we are:-



On the back it says "Wm Jardine and Sons Military outfitters, Edinburgh".

[OC Richard]

Thanks for the photo!

About dating that sporran, it would help to see the back of it, as the rear of horsehair sporrans has changed more over the years than the front.

In the book Scottish Regiments and Uniforms by A H Bowling there is a photo captioned:

Men of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, in Foreign Service Uniform for the South African campaign, 1900.

These men are wearing sporrans which look very much like yours.

So until I find out more, that's my guess: 3rd Batt Cameron Highlanders 1900.

The use of white rope to suspend the tassels hints at an early period- by the 20th century chain was normally used.

[Steve Barclay]

Now that's VERY interesting, I was assuming about WWI time.