New dress sporran

[Cygnus]

Just as the dress Argyle jacket is the most versatile jacket you can own, the best sporran -- for exactly the same reasons -- is the traditional full mask muskrat sporran. It can be worn with any mode of day time attire as well as with black tie in the evenings. Sure, it costs more; but, unless you spill paint on it, it'll last you a lifetime without regrets.

Scott, I've noticed that in your full-mask sporran recommendations you almost always specify they be muskrat. There are all kinds of full-mask sporrans on the market (from mink to foxes and even deer!); is there a particular reason that muskrat would be preferred over all of these?

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Scott, I've noticed that in your full-mask sporran recommendations you almost always specify they be muskrat. There are all kinds of full-mask sporrans on the market (from mink to foxes and even deer!); is there a particular reason that muskrat would be preferred over all of these?

Perhaps because muskrat has a lower 'cute'n'cuddly' factor than other critters?
I have already rationalized my purchase of a second-hand coyote fur (not mask) sporran thusly... but wolf might be easier.

[Singlemalt]

Having worked in the wild fur business many years ago I would also support the choice of muskrat fur as a very sound ecological choice.

Muskrats across the Northern part of their range in Canada are very prolific. Studies have shown that in healthy habitats they can withstand an 80% mortality rate and still reproduce enough to maintain a constant population.

Of course all wild fur is a durable, renewable resource and is biodegradable so is much more earth friendly than synthetic products. I wish the condominium conservationists in their nylon parkas at anti-fur rally's would do a bit more research.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Perhaps because muskrat has a lower 'cute'n'cuddly' factor than other critters?
I have already rationalized my purchase of a second-hand coyote fur (not mask) sporran thusly... but wolf might be easier.

The coyote has expanded its range and population all across North America. As long as they have enough cats and toy dogs to eat they're a renewable resource too!

I will keep the muskrat sporran in mind for the future.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Scott, I've noticed that in your full-mask sporran recommendations you almost always specify they be muskrat. There are all kinds of full-mask sporrans on the market (from mink to foxes and even deer!); is there a particular reason that muskrat would be preferred over all of these?

I'm not exactly sure when the muskrat was introduced to the UK-- probably sometime in the mid-19th or early 20th centuries would be my guess. What I do know is that over the course of the last century the muskrat has slowly displaced the badger as the pelt of preference for civilian full mask sporrans.

Since we are talking Highland attire I think it is incongruous to have a sporran made from some animal not native to -- or at least not long resident in-- Scotland, unless you shot it yourself as it was dragging one of your bearers off into the jungle undergrowth! I also think that most of the full mask sporrans one sees in North America are, unfortunately, too big and look more like a mountain man's shooting bag than a pukka sporran; as a result they tend to overpower the rest of the ensemble with their super-sized "look at my sporran" proportions.

Elegant understatement is the essence of being well dressed, and a "road kill" wolf's head just falls short of the mark, in my estimation. So, when I suggest that a full mask muskrat sporran is the equivalent of the dress Argyll jacket, suitable for both formal and casual attire -- which it is, I feel comfortable that if someone takes that suggestion on board they will end up on the right side of elegant understatement.

[MacMillans son]

With that said Scott, would you make any distinction between, or have a preference for, black versus brown Muskrat?

Regards,
Brooke

[Singlemalt]

Well, I certainly have no problem with the fact that the fur on my sporran is a muskrat and not native to Scotland. I am of Scottish ancestry but living in Canada. The muskrat is native to Canada but living in Scotland. Seems kind of appropriate to my mind.

I can also justify the choice historically in that the very early fur trade which built the foundations of Canada in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries was dominated by Scots and French Canadians through both the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company.

Scots have been dealing in muskrat pelts for at least 300 years. Pretty well as long as they have been wearing "kilts" as we know them today anyway.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

With that said Scott, would you make any distinction between, or have a preference for, black versus brown Muskrat?

Regards,
Brooke

Nope... none at all, although the brown might be a bit more visible against a dark tartan.