Types of sporran

**OftKilted** · 5th January 11, 08:28 AM

In looking at the examples mentioned in the Scottish Tartan Authority page pointed to by Artificer I noticed something interesting:

Both the Animal Mask Sporrans & the Historically Inspired Fergusson Britt Sporrans listed as being 'All Occasion.'

Having been told that an "Animal Mask Sporran is out of the question" due to a substantial dislike of them by my better half (otherwise known as 'She who must be obeyed'). (Apparently this is not something completely uncommon as Artificer and ShawnMaxwell have experienced this issue themselves ... (see X-Marks Thread Here.))

I'm curious what makes a particular sporran 'All Occasion' v.s. Daywear/Semi-Dress/Dress. Any insight would be appreciated ...

**artificer** · 5th January 11, 09:00 AM

Both the full mask and the 'purse lip' style bag 'ala-Fergusson Britt both harken back to a time when you ONLY had one sporran, and therefore wore it all the time.

Today they are the Swiss Army Knives of the sporran world.

And, aye, my wife does indeed hate full masks. That isn't, however, stopping my experimentation in making them, just stopping my wearing them when she's around

**Dale Seago** · 5th January 11, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Red Stag

When I get a tank I want to get a beaver sporran since I have some Canadian ancestry. I'm just worried that if it has brass on it that I won't be able to wear it in the evening.

I have a Ferguson Britt sporran in beaver via the Scottish Tartans Museum, specifically this one:

The only real difference is that this one is shown with dark-brown cantle & tassels, while I ordered mine black. You'll notice there's no metal whatsoever. This is one I'd feel perfectly fine wearing for ANY occasion, it's simply that nice. It was a definite hit with the ladies at my martial-art teacher's 80th-birthday party in Japan last month: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...0&l=1f53811000

This choice of fur also provides an opening for quid pro quo offers to the ladies: "Why sure lass, ye're welcome to pet my beaver if I. . ."

**Spartan Tartan** · 5th January 11, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Slowburn

I absolutly love the full mask with the swinging six, but I believe this to be for officers. If I were to buy a full mask I would avoid the swinging six as I was never of any rank in any military. I might concider a full mask without any tassels or three but would avoid six for the reason mentioned.

Forgive me if this strays from the proper topic, but I am confused about the "officer" requirement of the swinging six sporran.

Personally, I am still trying to amass my collection so I have "appropriate" attire for the various situations where I may elect to kilt-up (so to speak). I understand the controversy of "right to wear a tartan", but this is new to me about the "authority" to wear a particular sporran...

**BoldHighlander** · 5th January 11, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

I believe it is the officers of the Argyll & Sutherland that wear a version of what you're discussing

Actually it is both NCO's (Sergeants) and Officers of the A&SH's that wear it. The other ranks have their own horsehair version....

Originally Posted by Slowburn

I absolutly love the full mask with the swinging six, but I believe this to be for officers.

...see above

Originally Posted by Slowburn

If I were to buy a full mask I would avoid the swinging six as I was never of any rank in any military. I might concider a full mask without any tassels or three but would avoid six for the reason mentioned.

Why? There is no law that says you can't wear a civilian version of the Swinging Six. Personally, unless recreating a WW1 era Argyll or another historical version of the same, I'd just steer clear of wearing an original Swinging Six of the A&SH's (my own opinion)....

Originally Posted by Spartan Tartan

Forgive me if this strays from the proper topic, but I am confused about the "officer" requirement of the swinging six sporran.

Again, see above...

In the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH's) officers & NCO's (Sergeants) wear the full mask badger version of the Swinging Six. All other ranks wear a horsehair version...

There is NO requirement for you to wear a civilian version of the Swinging Six, other than good taste

**BoldHighlander** · 5th January 11, 06:06 PM

Officers (circa 1900):

Officers (post WW1 - aprox 1920's/1930's):

Other ranks horsehair version:

**BoldHighlander** · 5th January 11, 06:09 PM

Captain R. L. Smith, 8th Argylls (WW1):

Anonymous Argylls - WW1 era:

A&SH's of Canada, Princess Louise's:

**BoldHighlander** · 5th January 11, 06:12 PM

As shown earlier, the civilian version of the Swinging Six by L&M Sporrans:

...and here is a version by Craigie, modeled by our own Jack Daw :

**BoldHighlander** · 5th January 11, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

Here's a short breakdown.

Day sporrans can be brown or black leather. Traditionally (last 100yrs or so) brass was the day metal, silver for evenings. A few styles are:

the plain military style pouch and flap. Sometimes you see this style tarted up with tassels, fur, studs or tooling, but they're all the same basic shape and function. Sometimes the really fancied up ones are called 'semi-dress';

Here's a fine example of the plain military styled day sporran that was beautifully crafted by our own Artificer:

When I commissioned Scott to craft Artficer #6, I found my inspiration in the post WW1 to WW2 era military sporrans (I have an original Australian Army version from late 1940 to 1950).