Day wear cantle

[Ryan Ross]

I'd guess that the bag was much later than the original cantle. Without seeing the inside to be sure, the 'hoops' that hold the bag on (with the aid of the wire) could have been soldered on at a later date.

From earlier sporrans I've seen, the hinge is nearly always inside, but again, if the bag was made later...

That was my belief, as well.

Why did the bag sell for so much??? Because there were several determined buyers. I've seen things readily available in stores go for more than retail AND have additional shipping costs. eBay is weird like that sometimes, it seems to have an ebb and flow. My father is the MASTER at scooping up expensive guitar gear for pennies. He TWICE scored $2500 guitars for less than $900 and they are PERFECT!

That said, brass cantles ARE hard to come by. I've all but given up on vintage and am looking to have some sand casted by a metalsmith pal of mine

I see... but I just can't imagine why someone would pay so much money for a cantle-because as far as I'm concerned, though the bag itself looks ok, the general effect is none too good, as it was attached poorly(seemingly by someone who knew little of traditional sporrans).

Just odd.

[artificer]

I see... but I just can't imagine why someone would pay so much money for a cantle-because as far as I'm concerned, though the bag itself looks ok, the general effect is none too good, as it was attached poorly(seemingly by someone who knew little of traditional sporrans).

Just odd.

There are actually other examples of bags held on by the 'hoop & wire' method. I believe MoR has one, if memory serves. It's just odd that the new bag wasn't at leasted laced for appearance sake.

As to the exposed hinge...

[Caledonian Rogue]

You my highly untrained eye, it seems that the attachment of the bag to the cantle of that sporran is a bit odd. Firstly, it looks like there are holes provided in the front face of the cantle to accept a lacing attachment for the bag(which seems traditional, as near as I can tell).

Secondly, are not the hinge parts usually tucked inside the bag at the edges of the sporran?

Just observations that I'd love to hear about from someone who knows better.

Also, why did this sporran sell for such a high price? I must have missed something big.

Here are some photos of an old MOD sporran that I wear which show how the bag is fitted onto the cantle. This was made in 1957 and older sporrans I have seen have the bag laced on rather than fastened with snaps the way it is on my military sporran, but other than that, I believe the methods of construction are fairly traditional:

[MacBean]

I think my first posts here last year were about trying to find brass cantles. Although there are some very fine cantles available in silver, they are expensive. But on the whole, I find modern cantles have a mass-produced look, though there are some exceptions. It is my uneducated impression that cantles went through a progression from constructed (saw and torch), to engraved, to stamped, and that moulded cantles may not be too common, although modern technology may have changed that. They also seem to have evolved from brass and silver to modern alloys. Modern pewter is not at all like antique pewter. In fact, I might very much like old pewter cantles, though perhaps old pewter is a bit too soft.

I think we are looking for a simple, natural cantle. Brass appeals in that it is easy to work, cheap compared to silver or gold, and can be polished up to shine nicely if we want. I would have thought that the concentric circles in this cantle could be machined, perhaps even with rudimentary home-grown tools, templates and ingenuity

[Ryan Ross]

There are actually other examples of bags held on by the 'hoop & wire' method. I believe MoR has one, if memory serves. It's just odd that the new bag wasn't at leasted laced for appearance sake.

As to the exposed hinge...

Bingo! That's my main objection.

Good to know about the "hoop and wire" method, though. I guess I never really paid attention to how a bag was attached to a cantle. Until recently, that is. Another sporran making friend of mine has, of late, been toiling over making bags for extant MOD cantles, if you know what I mean. As a result, I've been hearing a lot about that issue.

[Downunder Kilt]

Someone wanted to know how the catch worked and the answer is that you pull it up. Is exactly the same catch that the first 1953 MOD cantles used/ I guess the MOD supplier copied from cantles such as the one we are talking about.

The original 1953 MOD sporran cantles were brass but the dimples were chromed rivets. Later versions were plate brass with the dimples pressed in and a new latch system (as seen above)

I can't take credit for the above info, I sourced it off Bob Dunshire's forum

[Micric]

Downunder,
It myself wanting the catch info, and I thank you for it!

Caledonian Rogue,

Can you give me dimentions of this nice sporran you show?
Thank you for the photos!

Best,
richard.

[Downunder Kilt]

For interest, below is the price that functioning brass cantle sporrans have sold for over the last 5 months on ebay and military sites


1. May 2010 GBP92.00



2. September 2010 GBP668.00



3. September 2010 GBP158.00



4. September 2010 US$550.00





No 4 is the Mk 1 version of the of the MOD "Culloden" cantle with the white metal studs attached to the cantle, and has the pull up type latch. In the advert for it it is classed as an officers sporran with a gilt cantle and white metal inserts

No's 1 and 3 are the Mk 2 versions where the studs were pressed into the sheet metal at the time of manufacture, they have the push down type catch.

Just thought I would post these for information of those interested