"It's for special occasions only..."For anyone in

[Alaskan]

I would be hard pressed to find raw materials for making a sporran or anything out of leather here in Japan. I don't know if there is anywhere I could buy it.

In Alaska, though, there are places that carry leather and skins that you can buy to make whatever you might feel the desire to make.

This summer I am going to go hunting with my Dad and will use the skins to make sporrans. Even if we don't get anything my Dad has a bearskin I can use to make a sporran. I have mentioned this project on the forum before, but what I am going to do is make the sporran with the bears paw with claws and pads intact for the flap. The weight of the claws and pads will make any kind of fastener unnecessary.

Also, my Dad has found some dress sporan cantles on e-bay and we will use them to make dress sporans. Maybe out of something like wolverine.

[Hamish]

Hamish, you can probably buy the leather from a custom leather shop or craft shop. Check in the telephone book under leather in the yellow pages or equivalent., Buckles at craft stores, clips at any hardware store. The chunk I got was bought at an auction for $2 and was enough for 2 sporrans and 2 straps.

Thank you for that, Bubba. I guess things are rather different here in the UK to what they are in the USA.
I've just had a look through both our local Yellow Pages and Thompson's Directory, and only two entries appear under "Leather". Both are for shops which sell expensive finished goods - bags, suitcases, etc. - which I know they do not manufacture themselves. We do not appear to have any 'Craft' shops either. I've never seen any whilst on my travels!

No doubt our local Saddlery would sell me ready made straps of the sort used by horse riders, but I doubt they'd sell me any sheets of leather!!

Actually, I don't NEED any more sporrans (I have three brown and two black - each with its own strap -and a silver/sealskin Dress Sporran with its own chainstrap!), but it might be fun to have a go at making one or two more sometime!

[bubba]

Perhaps while in the US next you could pick up some leather, maybe a quarter hide or so.

[Hamish]

Perhaps while in the US next you could pick up some leather, maybe a quarter hide or so.

Now THERE's a thought! Well done, Bubba. I'm toying with a notion of comming over to Florida and California, on a kilt-related Tour, in about a year's time, so I must put "Leather" on my shopping list!

[bear]

Perhaps while in the US next you could pick up some leather, maybe a quarter hide or so.

Now THERE's a thought! Well done, Bubba. I'm toying with a notion of comming over to Florida and California, on a kilt-related Tour, in about a year's time, so I must put "Leather" on my shopping list!

Hamish,
We'd love to have you in Vancouver some time. You'd be a celebrity here!

I think I remember Ingy saying something about doing a bit of leather work, or buying a buckle, or something along those lines.
I'm sure someone in the UK will come up with something.
If not, let me know and I'll send you some leather and a few inexpensive tools. (Leather needles, thread, etc.)

[Raphael]

Perhaps you should try frabic store.

[Hamish]

Hamish,
We'd love to have you in Vancouver some time. You'd be a celebrity here!

I think I remember Ingy saying something about doing a bit of leather work, or buying a buckle, or something along those lines.
I'm sure someone in the UK will come up with something.
If not, let me know and I'll send you some leather and a few inexpensive tools. (Leather needles, thread, etc.)

Well now! There's an invitation it could be hard to refuse. Many, many thanks for that Bear. It is really kind of you (and I don't even have a BearKilt in my Kilt Kollection - yet!).

I couldn't have you send me those items. I'm sure I will be able to track the essentials down if I search around in London, or other parts of the United Kingdom. Obviously, craft work is not "big" in this neck of the proverbials!

We'll bear (LOL) a visit to Vancouver in mind for 2005 then.

[Xcop]

Aloha All.
You might try looking in ebay for leather. I have been perusing their fur coat section for just the right to make a sporran from. Most of the stuff is pretty cheap. Stillwater kilts occasionally has chrome cantles for dress sporrans.
David