Quality Sporrans for less money

**OC Richard** · 31st January 21, 06:57 AM

US Customs is very hit-and-miss with catching sealskin sporrans coming in.

Personally I won't take the chance, but a number of people have told me that they have bought sealskin sporrans from the UK with none of them getting caught.

In any case here are two vintage sporrans getting quite a few bids. I wonder if the people bidding realise that these are child-size sporrans.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Vintage...ndition=4%7C10

I thought they were at first glance due to their proportions, and in this case the seller gives a measurement, saying that each is 100mm (just under 4 inches) across. Modern adult sporran cantles are usually 6 inches (153mm) across.

**OC Richard** · 5th February 21, 06:52 AM

Here's a standard old pattern, this cantle with the large domelike boss is called "G" in the old catalogues.

I'm pretty sure the cantle is silver plated, note the difference between the cantle and the "cones" (spheres) on the tassels which are probably chrome plated.

(Without seeing more photos, I would guess that one side of the cantle has Made In Scotland stamped in tiny letters, and that the back of the sporran has the typical gold oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp.)

In any case a very handsome Scottish-made Evening sporran...and braces!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beautiful-S...ndition=4%7C10

EDIT: this sporran is still up, still with the braces, still with no extra photos

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beautiful-S...ndition=4%7C10

**ktk1961** · 5th February 21, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Here's a standard old pattern, this cantle with the large domelike boss is called "G" in the old catalogues.

I'm pretty sure the cantle is silver plated, note the difference between the cantle and the "cones" (spheres) on the tassels which are probably chrome plated.

(Without seeing more photos, I would guess that one side of the cantle has Made In Scotland stamped in tiny letters, and that the back of the sporran has the typical gold oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp.)

In any case a very handsome Scottish-made Evening sporran...and braces!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beautiful-S...ndition=4%7C10

A beauty, indeed! Too bad the poster doesn't show more photos ... or reference the size of the belt (although it could always be replaced).

**Brian Rose** · 10th February 21, 10:07 PM

Since I did make an Ebay error once and unexpectedly bought a child's sporran, a question arises. I noticed the child's sporran has 2 tassels while my adult ones have at least three. Is that a good rule of thumb when shopping?

**Tomo** · 10th February 21, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Brian Rose

Since I did make an Ebay error once and unexpectedly bought a child's sporran, a question arises. I noticed the child's sporran has 2 tassels while my adult ones have at least three. Is that a good rule of thumb when shopping?

I'd go more by size than the number of tassel's - if the dimensions are not listed, then ask.

I know of 2 sporran makers who feature 2 tassel sporrans in their range: Pictavia Leather and Herd of Sporrans (in particular their Lomond range - although these typically also have a central buckle strap as well).

With older sporrans, it's also possible one of the tassels may have been lost or damaged. One of my sporrans originally had three tassels but the middle one was dry and badly worn when I bought it and pretty much fell apart straight away. My intention is to restore this - but for now I am happy to wear it as is, missing tassel and all....

**OC Richard** · 25th February 21, 05:37 AM

About modern sporrans I'll defer to Tomo's knowledge, I'm not up on current makers.

With vintage sporrans generally child's and youth's sporrans had two tassels, adult's three.

As Tomo says the middle one of an adult sporran can go missing, though usually the spacing of the two tassels is rather further apart than a child's sporran originally made with two tassels.

Some vintage fullsize sporrans were made with two tassels, for example some of the WWI military leather sporrans, especially by Canadian forces

There's also a certain not-often-seen traditional adult leather sporran style that was always made with two tassels: the sporran with a pleat in the front of the body, called "CX" in the old catalogues (I do wonder what CX stood for)

There are other ways that child's sporrans stand out. One is the overall proportions, one is a badge and/or cones that look too big in relation to the overall sporran, one is the shape or style of the tab on the back of the sporran for the strap.

Most telling, oftentimes, is if a press button/snap is present either on the front or back. Seems that most makers used one size for all their sporrans. So even if a maker has used a downsized badge on the front, the press button on the back will look too large.

This one for example would be easy to spot due to a number of those things. Youth's sporrans can be more tricky to identify due to being only a tad smaller than adult sporrans.

**OC Richard** · 28th February 21, 04:07 AM

Here's the opposite, the seller is calling this a child's outfit (which it might be) but the sporran looks like an adult size sporran.

It's a nice traditional brown leather sporran in good condition with the typical gold oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GEOFFREY-TA...ndition=4%7C10

**OC Richard** · 7th March 21, 06:53 AM

Lovely Nicoll Bros Bankfoot sporran in great condition, a certain type of fur but already within the USA, $45 opening bid with no takers currently.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sem...p2056016.l4276

Here are two classic traditional brown leather Day sporrans, one Adult, one Child's, for around $70 once shipping is added in.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TRUE-SCOTTI...oAAOSwTyJgGWvm

While both have the typical gold oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp, I'm most interested in the second stamp on the Child's sporran, Tartan Gift Shop Edinburgh done in the same oval style.

As it happens I have a catalogue c1960 from that shop.

**Bakuda** · 24th March 21, 06:42 PM

I just found this for $28 plus $22 shipping. I didn't trust this at first because it looks similar to some Pakistani sporrans I've found, but it has a Made in Scotland stamp on the back. What do you think? Worth it?
il_794xN.3012940777_kydn.jpg il_794xN.3012940733_sb42.jpg

**ktk1961** · 24th March 21, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Bakuda

I just found this for $28 plus $22 shipping. I didn't trust this at first because it looks similar to some Pakistani sporrans I've found, but it has a Made in Scotland stamp on the back. What do you think? Worth it?
il_794xN.3012940777_kydn.jpg il_794xN.3012940733_sb42.jpg

I'm no expert, but it looks beautiful to me! And well worth the money.