Ian Grant Sporrans

**creagdhubh** · 8th February 10, 03:48 PM

Try Kate Macpherson sporrans!

http://www.katemacphersonsporrans.co.uk/index.html

**Bluescelt** · 9th February 10, 10:13 AM

I have an Ian Grant sporran and belt set and they are top shelf. You can also try Jeff Robertson @ www.caledoniafinearts.com. He used o import Ian Grant items to the USA. Now he has his own line of gear.

**creagdhubh** · 9th February 10, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Dram

Hello all,

New here and hope I am posting this in the correct forum.

Was wondering if anyone has had experience with Ian Grant in Edinburgh? How is their quality, and does any one have any pics of the backing of the sporran?

Trying to find a good quality modern dress sporran that won't bankrupt me.

Being that I live in the US I see that they won't ship sealskin here. I would like to see what grey bovine looks like. Much prefer sealskin but can live with an alternative if it looks nice enough.

Thanks.

Haven't used Ian Grant, but I swear by L&M sporrans as well as Kate Macpherson.

www.landmhighland.com
www.katemacphersonsporrans.co.uk

**creagdhubh** · 9th February 10, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

If you really want sealskin, used sealskin sporrans which are already here in the USA come up on Ebay fairly often, and obviously don't have to go through Customs. I wore one for years because that "look" is so common amongst pipers in Scotland and I wanted to follow it.

It's interesting how the same creature can be endangered/protected in one country but be thought of almost as a pest in another.

No sealskin sporrans here, so I was amazed when on my first trip to Scotland I saw an entire wall hanging full of them at Hardie's on Renfrew Street.

The flip side was visiting a sporran maker (Alexander Robertson of Ach-na-Cloich House, near Inverness) who showed me a closet full of badger pelts that he could not use.

I want those badger pelts! HA!

**Dram** · 9th February 10, 07:49 PM

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have found a sealskin sporran from a company that seems to make quality items. I believe their specialty is leather and saddlery, and the quality can be seen especially on the backside of the sporran. Although I haven't recieved it yet, the detailed pictures appear to be what I am looking for. Only thing I am not too keen on are chrome cantles, but the pelt is very nice and I can live with it for now. Like OC, I like a traditional pipers look. I also think it will become more and more difficult to find sealskin sporrans, and the ones that will be available will probably fetch a fairly high price. I will in the future buy an Ian Grant sporran in bovine. I like the fact that the cantles are nickle plated rather than chrome, and the overall finish appears to be very nice (I'd buy a silver cantle but that's way beyond my means at the moment). The only thing I would recommend to Ian Grant is that the website show the reverse side of the sporran, and also show sporrans in the furs and colors offered. None are labbled, and it makes it difficult to tell which is which. An e-mail I recieved from them said that they have had instances of U.S. Customs destroying their sealskin sporrans and therefore they are pretty adamant about not sending seal to the U.S. Thanks again.

**OC Richard** · 17th February 10, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

Try Kate Macpherson sporrans!

http://www.katemacphersonsporrans.co.uk/index.html

Some of her stuff is pretty far out, but her goathair and horsehair sporrans look very Victorian.

**Dram** · 17th February 10, 07:37 PM

I agree Richard, many of those are not my taste, but can tell they are very well made. Probably some of the finest full mask sporrans I have seen.

The one that interests me most is the goat hair with ornate cantle.