Breaking in a sporran?

[Thunderbolt]

Well, McElt, what's the purpose? I mean, I understand you'd like it softer, but is it really necessary?

I have several sporrans, both semi-rigid and soft leather. The softer ones are the "Rob Roy" style and are supposed to be droopy. I find the other ones are just fine the way they are and tend to soften some over time, but I don't mind the stiffness.

The one thing that does bug me are the tassels on the front of them. As I walk, it sounds like a column of troops marching...Thrump, thrump, thrump...Sometimes I'll pull them up and tuck them into the top. I'd cut them off altogether but it would leave slits on the front I'd have to cover up.

But I digress. If it isn't a major bother, I'd leave it alone. I'd rather put up with some stiffness than risk staining my kilt with some type of oil or conditioner.

T.

[thescot]

I tend to agree with Thunderbolt. I have several of each, too, and I find that I really like the looks of the stiffer ones best. The Rob Roy styles are roomy and very soft--one is made of elk hide--but they are quite slouchy looking.

I have a couple of military surplus sporrans that are stiff, but they always look pretty good, though they won't hold a lot. I'm not sure the even with treatment they'd be a lot softer since they're just not meant to be. I guess with enough work you could soften them up, but what's the point.

I think you might consider finding a nice, soft Rob Roy style for when you need to carry a bunch of stuff, and just work the other out however you like.

Good luck either way.

[Riverkilt]

I use Buffalo Butter. Great leather conditioner. You can google it up.

Ron

[BroosterB1]

"Put everything in the sporran that you ever intend to carry, then submerge it in a tub of hot water for 45 minutes, adding more hot water as the tub cools. Once you have finished soaking your sporran place it, without removing the contents, in your oven with the temperature set at 450 (or gas mark 4) and leave to bake for two hours. The sporran will now "form fit" those items you intend to carry and will only require the occasional application of neatsfoot oil to keep it in tip-top condition. Bauer's "Bag Balm" may be used if you are out of neatsfoot oil."

From So You're Going To Wear A Sporran (Second Supple Edition) By Jay Charlie Tommsen, Bagmasher Press, 1982

Ah you're a cruel, cruel man Ta du that to a perfectly good Sporran! Have yah no heart? Before yah drown the wee beastie yah needs to beat it with yar nine iron till it stops squeallng....

[Bob C]

Where did the idea come from that all sporrans should be soft and droopy like a Rob Roy? There's not a thing wrong with a sporran stiff enough to hold its shape.

As for the drumbeat of the tassles, some guys tack them down with a bit of silicone. I don't mind the drumming, myself.

[McELT]

Thanks for all the responses.

I do like the semi-rigid sporran, but the part of my sporrans which should "accordian" out to stretch to allow me to stuff the sporran are very stiff, dry and brittle(?). I want to apply something to this part of the pouch to make it more supple. I think the buffalo butter or bear grease applied to the inside of the sporran should help me condition it.

I now am also on the lookout for the other, softer sporrans suggested.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Thanks for all the responses.

I do like the semi-rigid sporran, but the part of my sporrans which should "accordian" out to stretch to allow me to stuff the sporran are very stiff, dry and brittle(?). I want to apply something to this part of the pouch to make it more supple. I think the buffalo butter or bear grease applied to the inside of the sporran should help me condition it.

I now am also on the lookout for the other, softer sporrans suggested.

Any grease, oil, etc. that you apply to the inside of the sporran will rub off on anything you put into the sporran

[McMurdo]

I would still say that perhaps you should look at the quality of the sporran you have it sounds to me that any sporran that a gusset that stiff is more than likely an in-expensive one. I recently purchased the style of sporran you are talking about from L&M it is a quality piece and the gusset came soft enough to expand. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for and there is just no getting around that.

[sathor]

I was trying to think of some liquid more precious (ounce for ounce) than scotch... I came up with two, but only one exists: Your own blood and a serum that could cure cancer.

You don't have blood?

So far, in the last year or so, I have seen articles describing the destruction of cancer from leukemia drugs, vitamin D, as well as non-journal studies suggesting non acidic blood levels, capsicum, as well as ionic and tachyonic therapies.

And there was another one I saw in a pro journal that I forget what it was exactly, but was promising against breast and stomach cancer.

But then again... actually, my bad, the leukemia one was a cure for Aids, not Cancer. Really interesting study, they used a group of people that have a genetic resistance to aids to make the leukemia drug, and it wiped the aids out of the patient, as a side effect. Direct testing should be underway shortly.

[PiobBear]

I was trying to think of some liquid more precious (ounce for ounce) than scotch... I came up with two, but only one exists: Your own blood and a serum that could cure cancer.

That's rather dependent upon the Scotch...I'd happily trade pint for pint for Laphroaig 15, Lagavulin 16, or Talisker 18.