Piper's sporran

[OC Richard]

I was actually trying to comment more on the (mis-?)use of the term "piper's sporran" in describing the horsehair sporran.

The horsehair sporran... is considered a military-style sporran...

Granted, the goathair sporran is civilian, but it looks vastly different from the horsehair sporran.

On the first point above, I certainly agree! It's absurd to call a horsehair sporran a "piper's sporran" when all ranks of the Highland regiments wear them.

About the horsehair sporran being considered a military style, that's what I used to think back when I first got involved in Highland dress in the 1970's.
Highland dress at that time was neatly sorted into civilian day dress, civiliarn evening dress, and military full dress, each with its proprietary jacket, sporran, and footwear.

The eye-opener came when I aquired a copy of The Highlanders of Scotland, a series of extremely detailed portraits of men in Highland dress painted in the 1860's. At that time, it was clear, long hair sporrans were universally worn with all modes of Highland dress: with informal tweed kilt jackets, with the more formal "Celtic" jackets, and with jackets somewhat analagous to our our modern evening dress jackets. A book I have which was probably published around 1914 shows that this was still the case at that time. So, the neat division of sporrans into evening, day, and military seems not to have happened until the 1920's or so.

About horsehair sporrans and goathair sporrans looking different, actually it's often difficult to tell one from the other in old photographs.

[Snowbear]

I admit I were wrong about calling it a piper sporran. I guess I've just been polluted by all the kilt stores and meida. It's always good to extend my own knowledge!

[Chas]

Anybody (piper or otherwise) could do well to check out this seller on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ORIGINAL-HORSE...item2ea710f965

This is a new item and for the price, is well within the reach of most of us.



The Buy-It-Now price is £59.99 with a £9.00 P&P.

Yes they do come from Sialkot in Pakistan, but I have dealt with them many times and have never been disapointed.

Regards

Chas

[YoungMan]

I know you might not want a MoD sporran per say, but I have to speak up for What Price Glory on this one.
http://onlinemilitaria.net/shopexd.asp?id=1745&bc=no
They got a little collection of replica sporrans that I think are very reasonably priced and very well constructed. They are also a little more understated than a lot of the officers' sporrans you usually see.

[OC Richard]

I myself would much rather get a Scottish-made sporran, or one made by L&M Highland Outfitters in Canada, than a Pakistani or Indian one. What Price Glory sporrans are from India I think.

You can pick up a real MOD horsehair sporran fairly cheaply on Ebay now, due to the amalgamation of all the Scottish regiments into the Royal Regiment of Scotland. There are loads of A&SH "swinging six" sporrans on Ebay, and Black Watch, and Queens Own Highlanders.

[Snowbear]

Good to know. I try my best to get quality items. After all, they are ment to last a lifetime. Think I will give "skyehighlandoutfitters" a try when I have saved up my money. In the meantime I will search ebay for any MOD sporran that looks attractive to me.

Out of pure interest: Do you happen to know what the no.1 code for the Royal Regiment of Scotland might be? I've read something about them taking the Black Watch tartan, but have also seen pictures of some members wearing Royal Stewart. I'm then thinking of the complete dress; tartan, sporran, bonnet, etc...

[BobsYourUncle]

If you want a good guide as to No.1 Dress, you can find it in the Dress Manual of the Regimental Drum Major's Association, here http://drummajor.net/documents/RDMADressManualv2_5.pdf. Don't be put off because it is a Drum major's guide, you will find details applicable for all members of a pipe band, including pipers. The Royal Regiment of Scotland Dress manual is also online, here http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/gen..._Rulations.pdf. In my humble opinion, No.1 Dress is the most impressive, and a real crowd pleaser--I understand it's appeal to you...good luck! You might also try the ebay store called Bugpipers Pipe Box.

[Snowbear]

Thank you very much for the links! I'm frequently on Bugpipers shop to see what is new. Personally I love the no.1, but also that when piping people expects the full outfit.

Besides; I'm way ahead of gathering the outfit for piping at my best friends wedding next year. Saver me a lot of money by having good time. And I have the chance to consuly the board for good quality

[Hutch863]

What Price Glory has some horse hair sporrans.