Horse hair and goat hair sporrans?

[Dall_Piobaire]

Didn't Jefferson say something about it being incumbant upon us to test the usefulness, and veracity of a "law" by breaking it?

I believe that Jock made a very good point many moons ago, something to the extent of, with a thorough knowledge of what is and is not appropriate one can blur the lines a bit and get away with it!

Silver by day, Brass or gold at night..pewter, maybe just right!

[Deil the Yin]

Up the MacGregor!!!

some more:

[JSFMACLJR]

I see that a few are also wearing a belt and a waistcoat without a dirk. When will this insanity end!

(Actually, I miswrote because I meant a metal cantle combined with a fur sporran.)

Of course dirks aren't worn with day wear.

Even fur sporrans for day dress can have metal cantles. The late Duke of Argyll favoured a sporran of fur with a metal cantle.

[OC Richard]

Hi guys. I've been thinking about getting myself a goathair sporran with horsehair tassles and a white metal cantle.
I've mainly seen pipe bands wearing these.

I don't think I've seen a pipe band wearing such sporrans.

Since around 1900 the long hair sporrans worn in the military and by civilian pipe bands have been horsehair, not goathair.

As far as I can figure, looking at hundreds of old photos and paintings of people in Highland dress, long hair sporrans were universally worn with all types of Highland dress in the 19th century, after that type of sporran evolved, in the early 19th century. Our modern "day wear sporran" and "evening wear sporran" didn't exist at that time. Both seem to make their appearance in the 1920's.

These long hair sporrans were originally goat hair, but when the limits of hair length were reached, and people wanted their sporrans even longer, the switch to horsehair was made, in the Scottish regiments it seems quite early, by the 1850's perhaps. One still sees the rare new goathair sporran on Ebay from time to time.

I could be wrong, but it seems to get a really long goathair sporran the leather backing portion must be longer than normal.

anyhow here's a long goathair sporran, and some military guys wearing horsehair sporrans, to show the difference:





Better yet, here's a normal modern horsehair sporran and below it a modern sporran made of goathair:

[Jack Daw]

Of course dirks aren't worn with day wear.

I know. My point was that the chiefs are wearing belts with waistcoats, which is not proper; meaning, are the chiefs necessarily a bellweather for fashion?

Even fur sporrans for day dress can have metal cantles. The late Duke of Argyll favoured a sporran of fur with a metal cantle.

Regardless of my prior point, I'm quite frankly happy to concede that a sporran with metal cantle and fur can be worn during the day. It broadens my wardrobe! (But, not all seem appropriate.)

[Paul]

I ordered a goat hair sporran with black horse hair tassles. It should come in a few days... cant wait
Will post pics!