Thoughts on sporrans

[Dall_Piobaire]

Great input, thanks folks, I really appreciate the help!

Just to say, I don't mean for one minute to imply that anyone here has the cookie cutter look. Those that I have seen look smashing, kudos to the care,effort, and investment you folks have put into your style.

Matt, once again, you are spot on. Good points all. As you and I have discussed, you are so right about hiring "that look". Somehow, I have to achieve that variety of "looks" on a rather tight budget, at least at first, dread having to come up with a No.1.

Hoping, in the near future, that my playing will be of such quality that I can work on a regular basis. Developing a traditional and varied style, one that suites both me and the customer is what I am trying to strive for. This forum, you, and the good folks here are of immeasurable help in that journey.

[Arlen]

I got this sporran online for a trice.




Once I got it I just removed the tassels and plugged the holes by gently putting a tiny bit of white glue around the edges and then putting white fluff in them.
The sporran in a hunting sporran and yet has a hide on it so it looks more formal. I can wear it to all kinds of events and it never fails to garner compliments.

[McMurdo]

I would think a hunter style sporran would be more versatile than a hair sporran, however that is part of the problem, as you would like to set yourself apart from others I'd say invest in a hair sporran. To my mind you will need more than one sporran anyway so one hair sporran and another day wear sporran would not be so bad. I know it is quite an expense but a Ferguson Britt would never be considered cookie cutter.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Very nice look Arlen! Well done.

I am really very wary of the ebay thing. Much rather buy from somone here Matt, or John.

I have seen many things posted by some seller called Tartanista, but...well Caveat Emptor and all know what I mean!

Scott

[graham_s]

Can't go wrong with a nice Sporran from Thorfin.

[Dall_Piobaire]

I have talked to Thorfinn about such things, he doesn't have quite what I am looking for ....yet! Without a doubt it won't be long before he will have a spot in my chest as well! :-)

[Smayniac]

Check out Turpin, he will make you a mask sporran with a removable flap. The mask is the "all occasion" sporran (according to Thompson) and you have the less formal and faceless leather flap for other times.

Bob

[bchunter]

Ditto on the Thorfin versatility. I can change flaps and go from a basic to a fur flap in a minute or less. Full face would be even nicer, and there's no one nicer to deal with than Turpin.

[OC Richard]

Though I do wear my kilt about on occasion, it is most specifically my piping attire.

I have been kicking around the idea of investing in a new sporran, and was torn between investing in a hair sporran, which, in my mind, covers me for traditional piping attire for weedings funerals and such, as well as formal events, though I am not much of a forum eventer as it were!

On the otherhand, there is the hunting sporran, on which I cannot, for the life of me, decide. They also seem to be quite cookie cutter and common these days. I see one I like, a month later I will see the same darn one sixty times. I always viewed the sporran as that little peice of a personal touch. It might, perhaps be more flexible than a hair sporran, but for a piper????

Yes there's a type of sporran that's so popular with pipe bands these days that you can go to a competition and see several bands in a row all wearing it. It's like they took the tradtional hunting sporran



and made it black and stuck the cantle from an Evening Dress sporran on it



I think bands went for these because there are no tassels to fall off and the cantle gives just enough "bling". (The fine examples above are by L&M Highland Outfitters.)

Here's the best pipe band in the world, SFU, wearing them:



For a piper you can't go wrong with a fur Evening Dress style sporran. You look dressy, but it's still a useful roomy sporran for you to have your wallet, cell phone, keys, etc in. The long hair military style sporrans aren't much good for actually carrying things in, except for the actual Scottish MOD hair ORs sporrans from the 1970's through today which are one huge roomy pocket.

Here's what I usually wear to play at funerals wedding etc. The sporran is by Nichol Bros Bankfoot, now out of business I think. It's a bespoke/custom sporran: I specified the fur, cantle, etc.



but then I started at looking at all those vintage photos of pipers in the late 19th and early 20th century and I saw that they always wore long hair sporrans etc so nowadays I sometimes wear this antique sporran, tartan hose, buckle loafers, etc

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Although I prefer the full mask sporran option, let me suggest that a hunter sporran-- with a brass cantle-- will also work. Avoid white metal (silver, chrome, or pewter) for day wear as it really is more suited to formal evening attire.