New dress sporran

[KiltedGirl]

Gotta love the Family Pet Sporran here

That's really creepy... and really funny...

And you'd get arrested anyway! lol

[Zardoz]

I got a nice fur sporran for about 40 bucks from Stillwater Kilts a while ago, I think it's been a good value. http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sporran-49811/

[tkdog]

I have a very cheap (in price and quality) black 'leather' sporran from SK. If what I received is any indication of the quality of their other sporrans (I bet it is), then I would suggest looking elsewhere. I got this one to hold me over until I can find a good deal on a full mask muskrat sporran.

I just saw one for auction on e-bay. I'd love it, but my daughters would dis-own me.

[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.

[Chirs]

Has anyone ever heard of a pheasant sporran? There's one on the e-spot and, I must say, it is not to my taste.

[Downunder Kilt]

Chirs, you might like to take a look at Kate MacPhersons sporrans then (just google it) and the the wide selection of animals and feathers that she uses for her creations, some mighty fine sporrans there.

[Chirs]

Well, I have been edified. She does nice work and I don't mind the pheasant with the head but without... not really to my taste. It hadn't occurred to me but (and it seems obvious now) a person could use pretty much anything to make the sporran. Well, now I know. And knowing is half the battle.

[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.