Real Animal Sporrans

**Tattoo Bradley** · 21st March 08, 03:17 PM

I would think the opposite actually...

Think about it...

**RobertParker** · 21st March 08, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Tattoo Bradley

I would think the opposite actually...

Think about it...

Yeah, I suppose Mich. State fans would too

**AnimalK** · 21st March 08, 03:28 PM

Yer nae gonna make a sporran ou' a me!...

**turpin** · 21st March 08, 06:30 PM

Craigies are just about the best full mask sporrans out there. Great quality taxidermy. And priced accordingly.

**J.B. Simpson** · 21st March 08, 09:10 PM

I have a muskrat in the pond beside my house........no that might be a little tough to try on the first attempt at making a sporran. Maybe after a few attempts though......

**Highland Logan** · 21st March 08, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by turpin

Craigies are just about the best full mask sporrans out there. Great quality taxidermy. And priced accordingly.

I disagree... L&M all the way!

Frank

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 22nd March 08, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by Highland Logan

I disagree... L&M all the way!

Frank

Some mask sporrans I've seen lately (and I'm not saying these are Craigies, necessarily, but just some I've seen being worn), are overly taxidermied. By which I mean much too three-deminsional. The sporran protrudes out quite a bit from the wearer.

Some people really like those (they seem to be really popular at the Stone Mountain Highland Games), but what I really like about the way L&M makes their mask sporrans is that they lie much more flat. The mask itself is taxidermied to give it some shape, but I have been pleasantly surprised by just how flat it lays on the body, giving it a very unobtrusive appearance when viewed from the side.

Now, I'm not likely to buy a mask sporran any time soon (I have two fur sporrans from Ferguson Britt, as well as a plain leather day sporran, and a hair sporran, so I'm set for most occasions). But I've worn L&M mask sporrans before and really was impressed.

This post is not to knock Craigie, just to reiterate what Highlander Logan said about L&M. I don't have direct experience with Craigie, but those I've talked to who have bought from them have had only positive things to say.

Aye,
Matt

**Semiomniscient** · 2nd May 08, 10:11 PM

Yes, I have to agree with Matt. (Although I don't know the company of the ones I've seen... I saw them at Stone Mountain.) My uncle is a taxidermist, and I immediately think some of these sporrans should be up in his shop (they appear well made!). I don't typically like sporrans with eyes, flat or protruding... it's just creepy to me. (And don't get me wrong. I grew up where my dad and grandfather almost exclusively wore full mask sporrans--as my grandfather made them himself as he had access to animal pelts. So I don't think they're weird or anything.) But some of those things look... TOO ALIVE! ;-)

**Nanook** · 22nd March 08, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by turpin

Craigies are just about the best full mask sporrans out there.

I not quite sure by which standard you are measuring. To my eyes they seem more alike kinky varmint bags than any of the Scottish traditional full mask sporrans I've seen. I think they miss the spirit and detract rather than contribute to Highland attire. It's, I'd suggest, a question of balance. Neither conservative enough nor arty enough they strike me as just weird bags. Craigie I suspect came to making bags from stuffing animals rather than from learning the trade of making sporrans (their "day sporrans" are more RennFaire than Peth). For a good full mask I'd rather suggest Janet Eagleton. L&M in Canada seems to do some pretty descent commercial grade sporans in more or less well developed (and accepted) patterns.

**Highland Logan** · 22nd March 08, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Nanook

I not quite sure by which standard you are measuring. To my eyes they seem more alike kinky varmint bags than any of the Scottish traditional full mask sporrans I've seen. I think they miss the spirit and detract rather than contribute to Highland attire. It's, I'd suggest, a question of balance. Neither conservative enough nor arty enough they strike me as just weird bags. Craigie I suspect came to making bags from stuffing animals rather than from learning the trade of making sporrans (their "day sporrans" are more RennFaire than Peth). For a good full mask I'd rather suggest Janet Eagleton. L&M in Canada seems to do some pretty descent commercial grade sporans in more or less well developed (and accepted) patterns.

I found a link to the Janet Eagleton site. I can't say that I see much I like.. however I have not seen one in person. The badger full mask is made using the badger found in Brittan, and under the Protection of Badgers Act of 1992 it is an offence to kill a badger or to interfere with a sett without a licence from Natural England. So under this it might be hard to have one shipped to North America, and in Brittan, with the new laws reguarding sporran, furs, and pelts in general, you would have to carry a licence around with you. That last bit was disscused somewhere here on the forum a while back.

Frank