Ultimate Dress Sporran?

[raibeart_dubh]

Having considered buying a new sporran of the full dress variety for the past few days, I ask this question.

What would be your be all end all dress sporran? Full mask, fur with cantle, something else? If fur, what type? Pics are definitely welcomed.

[pauljsharp]

I would say the question is best answered by your budget. If you can afford a full mask that is what I would go with. If you can't then the fur with cantle is the answer. Of course, a starving student would answer that way...

If budget wasn't a factor I would say full mask.

[raibeart_dubh]

I agree. However, I have only seen a couple of full mask sporrans that I like, badger and grey/silver fox. I'm kind of leaning toward fur with cantle, but I am not sure what fur I want.

[McMurdo]

I think this is very subjective and will for a large amount depend on where you live as well as personal taste. For example I am not a huge fan of the full mask sporran, but I live in Canada and was therefore able to get a sealskin sporran readily at a good price. I absolutely love my sealskin L&M sporran it really works for me for any formal event, of course I can not travel to the US with it so I also have a bovine sporran. I guess all in all for me the L&M sealskin is my ultimate dress sporran, then again the Ferguson Britts are very cool too and can set off an outfit wonderfully as well.
Here are a few photos




Oh and the ladies like it too

[pauljsharp]

I have noticed that rabbit fur is least expensive so budget tight people would go with that. I happen to like the look of seal fur but I don't think it is available in the U.S.

Rabbit fur is nice because it comes in almost any fur color under the sun.

Bovine fur is interesting because you can get different patterns to the fur. (think black and white dairy cows.) I believe that the seal fur gives some different patterns as well.

[JolyStNicholas]

For now this is my ultimate dress sporran



It is old but very grand looking and I do love it so! I don't care for the full mask's, maybe something in mink or silver fox for the shinny fur.

[raibeart_dubh]

McMurdo,

I love the sealskin sporrans (especially the grey ones) but being in the U.S. that's a little tricky. I recently found one on Ebay that was made in the 1960's, which to my knowledge is U.S. legal as long as you get the seller to send a letter regarding its vintage/heirloom status. However, I have bid the maximum I am willing to pay for it and may lose the auction, so I am exploring my other fur options with the help of my kilted brethren here. I have a semi-dress with rabbit fur and I am looking for something finer than rabbit fur.

JolyStNicholas,

I have seen some pics of your sporran before. I have coveted it ever since
That's a fine sporran for sure!

[McFarkus]

Here is a picture of my Ferguson Britt sporran in Canadian beaver with a leather cantle



And here is my newest sporran a Thorfinn badger sporran with two looks - a fur flap and a leather flap. He also has been known to make a full mask flap.

[McMurdo]

For something a little different then, perhaps you could look at the Ferguson Britt sporrans available from the Scottish Tartan Museum. I have two of them one in Skunk the other Muskrat, the cool thing about these is that they can go from casual to formal wear.

[raibeart_dubh]

McFarkus,

Those are some wonderful sporrans as well! I recently had the chance to examine some Fergusson Britt productions in person. They were fantastic, but were a little out of my price range at the moment. I also was able to see a full mask badger sporran from the Scottish Tartans Museum, talk about incredible! I might just have to save for one though!