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