Hunting Sporran

[biblemonkey]

I just ordered this hunting sporran

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sporran-Grain-Le...DLVI%26ps%3D63

I felt it was very nice for the money. Since this is the only sporran I liked in my price range and, until a special occasion comes up, will be the only one I get, I have one questin. When is it appropriate to wear a hunting sporran? Anytime? only when hunting ith: ? I've seen plenty of photos with good ol' Charlie wearin' em but there never seems to be a description of when and where it is appropriate.

[Cygnus]

For $25, I hope your expectations of the sporran aren't too high.

That said, I sincerely hope that it is functional and meets your needs. Hunting sporrans can essentially be worn in any non-formal occasion (highland games, to the pub, to a nice restaurant, etc.). You would probably even be okay in some formal situations, though it would be ideal in such situations to wear a sporran with a metal cantle.

[JerseyLawyer]

It's basically appropriate for any daywear occasion.

[biblemonkey]

For $25, I hope your expectations of the sporran aren't too high.

That said, I sincerely hope that it is functional and meets your needs. Hunting sporrans can essentially be worn in any non-formal occasion (highland games, to the pub, to a nice restaurant, etc.). You would probably even be okay in some formal situations, though it would be ideal in such situations to wear a sporran with a metal cantle.

It was all I could afford that I liked. I don't even want to wear one but need a place for the keys. I prefer kilt belts. If I had a million dollars and no bills I would have gotten a much nicer hunting sporran that I saw elsewhere for $300 but, alas, that's not in the cards. I hope it works out too. I will most likely try to dress it up a little with a cantle later if it seems worth it.

[wildrover]

To put several things bluntly, though nicely ...

A sporran goes a long way toward making it a 'kilt' and not a plaid 'skirt' with pleats in the back. I tend to think of a kilt w/o sporran as equivalent to sweat pants, track pants, etc...and wear it as such (running, some hiking, foul weather).

I have one of those same sporrans. Don't bend it or get it wet, as it may delaminate or even break, yes break, as it is an amalgamation of glue and debris left over from leatherworking. If anyone needs a "gateway sporran" , send me a PM, I will give you my address, send me ten bucks for shipping and I'll send it to you, belt included. Just swear up and down that you'll pass it along as needed, when you can afford the real thing.

Feel free to wear it anywhere, for any occasion. The style of it is about as all-encompassing as any sporran can be, and from a distance it is indistinguishable from sporrans costing ten times as much. Up close, not so much, though who's to tell but us.

For a simple, beautiful, good quality daywear sporran, I would recommend talking to Pat at Custom Celtic...he made me a really nice (real leather) sporran for a little under a hundred bucks, with belt, shipped. Like you, I didn't (and don't) have the money to spend on a 300$ hunting sporran...the one Pat made me looks great, it's a one-off made to my requests, and it's bomber.

[biblemonkey]

Oops. Maybe I should have goten one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Kilt-Sporran...item255df6bfb0

[Pyper]

I just ordered this hunting sporran

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sporran-Grain-Le...DLVI%26ps%3D63

I felt it was very nice for the money. Since this is the only sporran I liked in my price range and, until a special occasion comes up, will be the only one I get, I have one questin. When is it appropriate to wear a hunting sporran? Anytime? only when hunting ith: ? I've seen plenty of photos with good ol' Charlie wearin' em but there never seems to be a description of when and where it is appropriate.

I've seen those at the games. They don't look like they'd hold up well, but I wouldn't look down on anyone for wearing one. For not much more money you can buy one of these:

http://jhiggins.net/sf_proddetail.as...WG040O214EEED8

I've had one since the early 90's and it still looks good.

I have one like this for the band:

http://jhiggins.net/sf_proddetail.as...15100U2QBCUUB8

It's substantially higher quality. It also accommodates things more easily. I like it a lot, but I really prefer tassels. I noticed that pipe bands generally wear sporrans without tassels. The kind in the link above is cheaper. Bands with more money tend to go for the fancy hunting sporrans (like this: http://www.landmhighland.com/default...&ptyp=77&pid=8 ) . I asked my pipe major about that, and the apparent reason for the popularity of those types of sporrans for bands is that the tassels get lost.

[biblemonkey]

I've seen those at the games. They don't look like they'd hold up well, but I wouldn't look down on anyone for wearing one. For not much more money you can buy one of these:

http://jhiggins.net/sf_proddetail.as...WG040O214EEED8

I've had one since the early 90's and it still looks good.

I have one like this for the band:

http://jhiggins.net/sf_proddetail.as...15100U2QBCUUB8

It's substantially higher quality. It also accommodates things more easily. I like it a lot, but I really prefer tassels. I noticed that pipe bands generally wear sporrans without tassels. The kind in the link above is cheaper. Bands with more money tend to go for the fancy hunting sporrans (like this: http://www.landmhighland.com/default...&ptyp=77&pid=8 ) . I asked my pipe major about that, and the apparent reason for the popularity of those types of sporrans for bands is that the tassels get lost.

Thanks for the links. I appreciate the honesty, understanding of my financial limitations, and at the same time the helpful suggestions most folks are giving. Need those more than critiques. I like their semi-dress hunting sporrans. They are less expensive than some of the other companies I looked at. Will probably save up to get one of these.

http://jhiggins.net/sf_proddetail.as...9040J60R843GUP
http://jhiggins.net/sf_proddetail.as...S127Q6Q2TMSKSP

[wildrover]

Just to clear up any potential confusion, the sporran I offered to anyone in need is the same type of sporran that the OP recently purchased.

The 35$ sporran linked earlier is no different, it just uses a piece of hide on the front, with most likely a chrome plated plastic cantle. Better to get the really cheap one, while you save a hundred bucks or so for an honest daywear sporran.

The tassels on a well-made sporran should not come off. The sporran on which mine was based was quite old, the tassels had beaten wear marks on the leather behind them, and the outer snap had long since taken its leave, so the sporran closed by the weight of the flap alone, over the peg. The tassels were in no danger of coming off, nor was the sporran in any danger of coming apart. I expect mine will last just as long.

[JerseyLawyer]

The tassels on a well-made sporran should not come off. The sporran on which mine was based was quite old, the tassels had beaten wear marks on the leather behind them, and the outer snap had long since taken its leave, so the sporran closed by the weight of the flap alone, over the peg. The tassels were in no danger of coming off, nor was the sporran in any danger of coming apart. I expect mine will last just as long.

That's easy to say until you see what pipe bands put their uniforms through.

Those little chains on dress sporrans snap quite easily.