So I own a seal skin sporran...

**Brian K** · 31st March 11, 05:15 AM

I think, Richard, Jeff's post was not aimed at simple possession, but at possession that resulted from illegal importation or other shady acquisition. If you own a sealskin sporran (or any other sealskin product) manufactured or imported prior to the 1972 ban then you're probably OK. It's not the possession but the provenance you need to worry about.

**Lallans** · 31st March 11, 06:00 AM

Feed a poor native person: wear a seal. 'Nuff said.

**Oldhiker** · 31st March 11, 06:05 AM

So this baby seal walks into a bar..

Bartender says what you you like?

The seals says

Anything except Candian Club!

Ok stop booing...

**Brother Falldown** · 31st March 11, 06:42 AM

**Lallans** · 31st March 11, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by Oldhiker

So this baby seal walks into a bar..

Bartender says what you you like?

The seals says

Anything except Candian Club!

Ok stop booing...

I like it! But for the record, baby seals are white. I've never ever seen a sporran made from their fur.

**auld argonian** · 31st March 11, 07:31 AM

Here in Chicago, we have a wonderful phrase that solves a lot of problems: "It was grandfathered in." Basically, it means that it was that way before the ordinance/building code/regulation was passed so it's exempt. This gets mis-used a lot and has been said as a bald-faced lie many times but it has sort of been a principle that affects the application of laws and regs for a while.

So it sounds like the sporran in question dates from before the regulations were passed...I guess that would mean that you would have to prove that every time you were challenged...would you be carrying a document proving the sporrans origins in the sporran all the time?

I'd assume that there'd be a loophole here...otherwise they'd be rounding up every piano made with ivory keys and doing I don't know what with them. Don't really know what a lawyer would say but I'm sure that it'd cost you money one way or the other.

My advice is to apply that age old technique that has succeeded for years: lie.

If anybody asks, it's bovine. If they say, "Are you sure? I feels softer than most of the bovine that I've handled...", just say, "It's VERY NICE bovine."

That or lock it up in your safe deposit box and leave it to your heirs to sort out.

Best

AA

**Ryan Ross** · 31st March 11, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Here in Chicago, we have a wonderful phrase that solves a lot of problems: "It was grandfathered in." Basically, it means that it was that way before the ordinance/building code/regulation was passed so it's exempt. This gets mis-used a lot and has been said as a bald-faced lie many times but it has sort of been a principle that affects the application of laws and regs for a while.

So it sounds like the sporran in question dates from before the regulations were passed...I guess that would mean that you would have to prove that every time you were challenged...would you be carrying a document proving the sporrans origins in the sporran all the time?

I'd assume that there'd be a loophole here...otherwise they'd be rounding up every piano made with ivory keys and doing I don't know what with them. Don't really know what a lawyer would say but I'm sure that it'd cost you money one way or the other.

My advice is to apply that age old technique that has succeeded for years: lie.

If anybody asks, it's bovine. If they say, "Are you sure? I feels softer than most of the bovine that I've handled...", just say, "It's VERY NICE bovine."

That or lock it up in your safe deposit box and leave it to your heirs to sort out.

Best

AA

Either way, selling it is not legal... but trading it is as legal as you'll get, if you know what I mean. See if you can trade it to someone who knows more about this stuff and has more use for the sporran.

Also, a Ferguson Britt sporran is never a bad idea!

**Harold Cannon** · 31st March 11, 07:47 AM

You could always give it to a registered native american who is less likely to be hastled! Namely me!!! LOL!!! Just kidding! I have never been hastled about what I have worn wether it be highland attire or native attire and I pal around with game wardens and state police all the time!