Fur question concerning sporrans

**MizzouScotsman** · 11th September 12, 05:30 PM

Ok, I have made my first sporran and it was out of a opossum pelt. I know that most fur sporrans or full masks are made out of badger, fox, or even skunk. Never seen one from opossum so decided on it. Now I am looking at a muskrat fur that looks nice. Will not be using it for a full mask but a semi formal kind of sporran.

So I guess the question is...Does it matter what kind of fur? I know this seems simple but some furs do better than others or look better, etc. So if it was your sporran, would you be particular to the fur or just go with what you like?

Thanks

**Downunder Kilt** · 11th September 12, 05:39 PM

Muskrat or Musquash is very popular for head on sporrans ( I have one myself). L&M Sporrans website shows you how they look. I think they also do one with a leather flap closure.

**MizzouScotsman** · 11th September 12, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

Muskrat or Musquash is very popular for head on sporrans ( I have one myself). L&M Sporrans website shows you how they look. I think they also do one with a leather flap closure.

I did not even think that a sporran would be made of muskrat. I will look at L&M's site. I have got to see who it would look.

Thanks!

**sydnie7** · 11th September 12, 05:56 PM

We saw a beautiful sporran made from nutria. . . so it seems pretty much anything goes! Don't tell Bob, but I have a skunk pelt "squirreled" away for future project.

OK, maybe not the best choice of words LOL may have hit on a fur type that wouldn't work so well. . . full-mask chipmunk, anyone?

**MizzouScotsman** · 11th September 12, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

We saw a beautiful sporran made from nutria. . . so it seems pretty much anything goes! Don't tell Bob, but I have a skunk pelt "squirreled" away for future project.

OK, maybe not the best choice of words LOL may have hit on a fur type that wouldn't work so well. . . full-mask chipmunk, anyone?

The full-mask chipmunk as a coin purse...hmmm...may have given me an idea.

**ScotFree** · 11th September 12, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

. . . full-mask chipmunk, anyone?

Only if you want a change purse to go with your sporran.

**Tobus** · 11th September 12, 06:12 PM

I would personally avoid those animals that don't hold their hair well for durability reasons, so no caribou or mountain sheep fur sporrans for me.

Deer falls into that category too. The hair is hollow and breaks off or falls out over time. Not a good choice for a sporran.

One of these days I'm going to get around to making that fox sporran with my road-kill special fox hide...

**cruiser348** · 20th September 12, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

We saw a beautiful sporran made from nutria. . . so it seems pretty much anything goes! Don't tell Bob, but I have a skunk pelt "squirreled" away for future project.

OK, maybe not the best choice of words LOL may have hit on a fur type that wouldn't work so well. . . full-mask chipmunk, anyone?

Full mask chipmunk might make an interesting baby sporran. Can you do a set for twins one with a red nose and one with a black for chip and dale?

**artificer** · 20th September 12, 06:52 PM

You've gotten some excellent advice so far from the rabble. I'd like to toss my $0.02 in just for the heck of it.

Some furs lend themselves better to a traditionally constructed sporran with the rolled gusset detail. Shorter furs like muskrat and seal are much better for a gusset roll, many North American pelts are FAR too bushy to do a good rolled edge, which is why you see some dress sporrans with a flat front (fox, beaver, skunk, raccoon).

For masks, the only advice I'd give is "Keep it sane". I've seen Black Bear sporrans, all the way down to what appeared to be a gerbil or chipmunk. A size somewhere between a muskrat and a badger/coyote is probably best. If I was going to build one for personal use I'd go with the classic Scottish "low-profile" build, where the head is structured, but not fully formed in a natural taxidermic way. No lower jaw, and with the head more flattened that it would appear in nature.

ith:

**creagdhubh** · 21st September 12, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by cruiser348

Full mask chipmunk might make an interesting baby sporran. Can you do a set for twins one with a red nose and one with a black for chip and dale?

Polecat (European species) is an animal traditionally used for smaller, head-on sporrans that are often seen on young children and boys.

Child-size, Scottish polecat sporran made by Kate Macpherson.

Cheers,