Sporran support - chain or strap?

[DrakeC]

I have both straps and chains. The typical retail sporran chain probably owes its wide usage to the fact that it is the cheapest way possible for a manufacturer to supply an adjustable hanging system with their product. The small amount of leather is reasonably cheap, the chain used is usually quite cheap, the clips and rivets are cheap and the labor time to punch a few holes and hammer-in a few rivets is minimal. The end results looks pretty much like what you would expect. I refused to use one until I finally made a nice one with decent materials and some actual labor involved. It just seemed like one piece of the kit that is frequently overlooked when it can be something more interesting without having to just lay out a lot of cash for one of those fancy ones with sculptured links.

Great info and thoughts. Thanks for the pointers. By the way, OT, but who made this kilt and what is the tartan? It's a great looking piece of work.

[Todd Bradshaw]

The kilt was made by Barb Tewksbury. We did a measurement session one morning via Skype, with Barb directing on her end in New York, my wife doing the measuring on this end, and me basically just standing there. In terms of getting a really good fit, it was well worth the effort and Barb's work is fabulous.

I'd always wanted a family tartan, but there wasn't one, so I designed one myself and had it woven in Scotland. I later did another version with the same pattern and colors, but replaced the blue with black and had Barb make a second kilt from it. We just call it the "Bradshaw T-6" tartan, because I designed about twenty tartans to choose from and the one we liked best and decided to go with was number six. Here is the black version, and another gorgeous kilt by Barb.





My wife wanted a lighter version for some of her stuff, so I recently had Marton Mills weave a T-6 in 13 oz. wool. On this version, I went with navy blue and slightly brighter orange and red yarns. I chopped off a chunk and sent it to Barb, so I'll have another gorgeous kilt one of these days. It's not much fun getting old, but you can be more eccentric without having to justify it.



I had planned to quit there, but designing tartans can be rather addictive and one day I wondered if I could come up with a T-6 hunting version. So I messed around with earth tones and muted colors and finally managed to come up with one I kind of like. I'll stew on it for a while and maybe next year......

[English Bloke]

Leather strap for me. Expensive chains look good when togged up but the cheap ones don't ... in my opinion. I like leather straps because, being a bit more understated I find them more versatile.

[figheadair]

Traditioally a sporran was hung from a waist belt via a loop op leather that was part of the construction. This is the only style I wear, irrespective of the occasion.

[MacCathmhaoil]

I wear a purpose made sporran belt with chamfered edges most of the time but I do have a chain for formal dress. I had it made from a heavy 24" sterling silver chain purchased in Mexico when silver was cheap. All of the links are welded shut and polished so that there is no chance of snagging or having the chainsaw effect wear a line across the apron.

If you take your chain and run it back and forth across and old unwanted wool sweater, see if it catches or snags. If it does get rid of it!