Let's talk full dress sporrans

**Liam** · 3rd December 13, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Nathan

I'd love to see photo examples of everyone's preferred evening sporran!

Nathan...this is my "go to" dress sporran. The lovely lass on my arm is my wife of almost 39 years. The sporran is badger from "L&M".

**David Thorpe** · 3rd December 13, 12:32 PM

The new one looks fine.

Like Tobus,

Originally Posted by Tobus

...I prefer something more individual and unique. Not necessarily blingy and fancy; just something that no one else would be wearing.

I rebuilt this from an Ebay find, using some of a black bear pelt I happened to have along with some horsehair and deerskin.

Dress-sporran.jpg

**OC Richard** · 5th December 13, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

And here's the new sporran... bonus question: Does anyone want to guess about it's provenance? Does it look like anyone's handiwork in particular?

That sporran was a standard model, called EW1, part of the traditional canon of sporran styles offered by a large number of different makers from the 1950s up to today.

I used to work at a Highland Outfitter and several different Scottish sporranmakers (including Wm Scott & Son) used the same catalogue, a tri-folded photo. Here's the page that shows your sporran

That standard cantle was made in four pieces, the three bosses being separate. It was silver plated and stamped 'Made in Scotland' on the side.

A large number of these sporranmakers got the hardware from the same makers.

In short, it could have been made by any one of a number of different makers.

These grey sealskin Evening sporrans with silver celtic top have been around since the early 20th century and have long been the classic Evening Dress sporran, here in 1936

I myself prefer the earlier look, the c1840-1930 style of long goathair sporran, here with a c1900 cantle

**creagdhubh** · 5th December 13, 08:15 AM

Wonderful information, Richard!

Cheers,

**Nathan** · 5th December 13, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

In short, it could have been made by any one of a number of different makers.

I knew it was a standard pattern sporran, but thanks for the informative post! I was hoping the choice of grey leather for the gusset as opposed to the usual black (or sometimes red) might lend a clue to a particular maker. Not that it matters.

I find the look of the silver plate is quite nice when compared to the chrome on my other full dress sporrans. I imagine sterling is that much nicer.

I really like your goat hair sporran although when I get my dream sporran there will likely be tassels. I think I like the idea of having an understated yet classic sporran for those occasions when I'll be the only one in Highland attire. I would like a one of a kind piece for those occasions when everyone is out in their Highland finery and I want to stand out among the pack.

**CMcG** · 5th December 13, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

... I think I like the idea of having an understated yet classic sporran for those occasions when I'll be the only one in Highland attire. I would like a one of a kind piece for those occasions when everyone is out in their Highland finery and I want to stand out among the pack.

IMHO, these are extremely important considerations for anyone who would like to wear their kilt in a wide variety of situations!

**creagdhubh** · 5th December 13, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

IMHO, these are extremely important considerations for anyone who would like to wear their kilt in a wide variety of situations!

I couldn't agree more.

**Nathan** · 5th December 13, 06:46 PM

Alright, so there has to be an anti hair sporran demographic out there among the rabble. I could swear I've seen it mentioned before on here that outside of a military context they are costume-like. The thing is, I can't remember who put forth that opinion. Where are you hiding?

*stirs the pot*

**MacGumerait** · 14th January 14, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Richard , I love this sporran !! I have seen you wearing this beauty in quite a few pics and I have always admired it , very classically vintage , very traditional and not overdone . In my humble opinion , it ranks at the top of the list !

Cheers , Mike

**Nathan** · 17th January 14, 05:16 AM

So my bro is going to make other arrangements to choose his own dress sporran so I had the rabbit faced sporran from the OP just hanging around. I came across a very nice fox fur shawl at a thrift store for a very reasonable price so I refaced the rabbit sporran with the fox fur. I like it with the fox tail tassels I had affixed to the fuzzy bunny black rabbit sporran so I robbed them. I can always swap them back in 5 minutes if I want to change up the look. Anyway, it's not perfect as I'm not a furrier, but I'm pretty happy with the result.

(top right with the rabbit front and the exposed leather around where the gusset is attached is the sporran I re furred.)

IMG_20131203_121354.jpg

This was the end result.
IMG_20140117_065250.jpg