Why is it called a "hunting" sporran?

[figheadair]

Do we know how long the "hunting sporrans" have been around as such? Does anybody have a picture or reference of one that's more than a couple of decades old?

Basically, I'm wondering if these even existed back when kilts were worn for everyday stuff like hunting.

Sporrans were worn and no doubt they were worn during hunting in the same way that they would sometimes have been during a battle. That didn't make them hunting sporrans any more than it did war sporrans or the like. One sporran would have done for all occasions pre-1800. Hunting sporrans as a term is, I'd guess, less than 10 years old.

On the other hand, it's more likely that the term "hunting sporran" is yet another name which finds it's origins among the Highland "traditions" invented by Victorian era aristocracy.

Definitely not a Victorian term that I've ever encountered.

[JSFMACLJR]

Do we know how long the "hunting sporrans" have been around as such? Does anybody have a picture or reference of one that's more than a couple of decades old?

Basically, I'm wondering if these even existed back when kilts were worn for everyday stuff like hunting.

I have one of several decades vintage at least. So does the Duke of Rothesay. Search some of the threads containing pics of him and you're bound to find it,

[ctbuchanan]

My favorite day sporran is a style oft referred to as a "falconer's bag". It is clearly smaller than the original versions which was intended to hold the quarry of the falcon i.e. quail etc. What I like about it is that it will expand quite a bit to hold items I may pick up along the way.

[figheadair]

I have one of several decades vintage at least. So does the Duke of Rothesay. Search some of the threads containing pics of him and you're bound to find it,

I don't know about yours but I doubt think his will have ever have been called a Hunting Sporran.

[JSFMACLJR]

I don't know about yours but I doubt think his will have ever have been called a Hunting Sporran.

Exactly. I just call it a "sporran" and leave it at that. I know when and where to wear it.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Exactly. I just call it a "sporran" and leave it at that. I know when and where to wear it.

One of the pitfalls of the Highland Dress business is that when you have a variety of products to bring to market, be they sporrans or sgians dubh or what have you, you need to have some way of distinguishing one style from another.

When you are talking to your customer on the phone, or over email, etc., you need to be able to quickly and effectively distinguish between your sporran with the flap closure and three leather braided tassels and the sporran with the round cantle with a snap closure, no tassels, and leather cut-out front with brass stud decoration.

You could call one sporran "42B" and the other "43A" but really where is the fun in that? So we name things.

I can look in the listings of any random Highland Dress supplier and find things such as Hunting Sporrans, Prince Charlie Sporrans, Rob Roy Sporrans, Cuillin Sgian Dubh, a Glenurquhart Sgian Dubh, and the like.

And this is nothing new. We often use terms such as Argyle jacket, Inverness cape, and Balmoral bonnet without even remembering that those terms refer to geographical locations in Scotland.

But just like no one seriously thinks you are supposed to only wear your Argyle jacket in Argyle, no one likewise thinks you have to wear your Hunting sporran when Hunting. At least I hope not.

Perhaps because in the Highland Dress world we are so used to giving meaning to the names of tartans that we sometimes want to attribute too much meaning to the names people give to the other elements of Highland attire, when we really shouldn't.

[Spartan Tartan]

So Matt, from a retail and marketing perspective, how do you determine a sporran is a "day" sporran or a "hunting" sporran? What are the defining characteristics? Is it the tassles, or lack thereof?

[RockyR]

So Matt, from a retail and marketing perspective, how do you determine a sporran is a "day" sporran or a "hunting" sporran? Hat are the defining characteristics? Is it the tassles, or lack thereof?

If I may answer for Matt (as I think he and I are on the same page in this one)...

A "Hunting Sporran" is defined in retail shops (like Matt and mine) as a leather sporran, rounded top (no 'flap') with 'leaves' instead of tassels. I've seen DRESS hunting sporrans (the same thing, but with a metal cantle on top) worn by many pipe bands. I've seen a fur Hunting sporran (same thing but with fur and leather instead of an all leather body).

Here's a picture of a 'typical' Hunting Sporran:



A "Day" sporran is a full leather sporran, typically with 3 tassels (sometimes without) and a "flap" cover over the opening of the bag. There are MANY variations of this. Here's a picture of a SIMPLE Day Sporran:



And ditto everything Matt says below. I couldn't have put it better myself, so I won't try.

One of the pitfalls of the Highland Dress business is that when you have a variety of products to bring to market, be they sporrans or sgians dubh or what have you, you need to have some way of distinguishing one style from another.

When you are talking to your customer on the phone, or over email, etc., you need to be able to quickly and effectively distinguish between your sporran with the flap closure and three leather braided tassels and the sporran with the round cantle with a snap closure, no tassels, and leather cut-out front with brass stud decoration.

You could call one sporran "42B" and the other "43A" but really where is the fun in that? So we name things.

I can look in the listings of any random Highland Dress supplier and find things such as Hunting Sporrans, Prince Charlie Sporrans, Rob Roy Sporrans, Cuillin Sgian Dubh, a Glenurquhart Sgian Dubh, and the like.

And this is nothing new. We often use terms such as Argyle jacket, Inverness cape, and Balmoral bonnet without even remembering that those terms refer to geographical locations in Scotland.

But just like no one seriously thinks you are supposed to only wear your Argyle jacket in Argyle, no one likewise thinks you have to wear your Hunting sporran when Hunting. At least I hope not.

Perhaps because in the Highland Dress world we are so used to giving meaning to the names of tartans that we sometimes want to attribute too much meaning to the names people give to the other elements of Highland attire, when we really shouldn't.

[Ian.MacAllan]

As I understand it, back in the 16th-18th centuries, your typical highlander didn't wear his kilt all the time . . .

As I understand it, back in the 16th-18th centuries, your typical highlander gillie did wear his kilt all the time because it was
the only garment he had. As his situation improved he probably added first a shirt, then brogues homemade of rawhide, then
something to serve as stockings . . . And no kind of indoor work was common until the 18th century, when outdoor work still
predominated.

It is difficult for us nowadays to appreciate how very thoroughly impoverished the Highlands were, even before the English got
control of them. Scotland is generally recognized (by Scots at least) as one of the oldest nations in Europe; that it has also long
been one of the poorest (at least until the discovery of North Sea oil) is often overlooked.

.