Quality Sporrans for less money

[Michael Flemming]

But what has happened to the fur??

Put away wet would be my guess.

The seller has evidently found a cache of vintage bagpipes, bagpipe parts, and associated bits

There might be some classic chanters in this lot:

Vintage Bagpipe Parts

Could the one lying on its side be cocus??

[OC Richard]

This brown leather "day" sporran has the typical oval "made in Scotland real leather" gold stamp on the back.

With shipping a bit over $50US. The seller is gerr22222 from whom I have bought a couple nice vintage jackets and sporrans over the years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-vintag...sAAOSwKPxa3efJ

Here's a black leather "day" sporran with pony fur front and evening-style tassels, typical gold oval "made in Scotland real leather" stamp, also a bit over $50US

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Br...kAAOSwvAda2WSb

The best bargain going now, a plain brown "day" sporran with stamps I've not seen before. Gold oval stamps, one says "made in Scotland" the other says "kilt shop Aberdeen".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-Leath...kAAOSwUwla6vU6

[OC Richard]

Usually I observe these vintage sporrans rather than buying them!

Because I really don't need more sporrans.

But this one was so well-made, understated, classic, and inexpensive that I just had to get it.

I'll post a photo of it being worn once I get it.

It has the typical oval gold stamp "Made In Scotland Real Leather" on the back.

[FossilHunter]

That's very nice Richard.

[Shinenotburn]

Usually I observe these vintage sporrans rather than buying them!

Because I really don't need more sporrans.

But this one was so well-made, understated, classic, and inexpensive that I just had to get it.

I'll post a photo of it being worn once I get it.

It has the typical oval gold stamp "Made In Scotland Real Leather" on the back.

Brilliant design. A good Catch Richard.

[tokareva]

I'm definitely no sporran expert, but I know quality when I see it. That thing looks fantastic Richard, congratulations.

[OC Richard]

Thanks!

Couldn't pass it up, it was $35 including shipping from Scotland.

That stitching is so clean, so well done.

Now I just need a nicer tweed jacket! But vintage tweed kilt jackets in size 50R very rarely come up. I've only seen two over the last decade and I bought them both. One has a bit of mothing, it's presentable. The other has moth-holes all over it, looks a bit shabby, and has become my "beater" kilt jacket, for Rugby matches and so forth.

[OC Richard]

Could the (chanter) lying on its side be cocus?

If bagpipes or chanters are pre-WWII they're probably cocus or ebony.

If bagpipes or chanters are pre-1900 they're almost certainly cocus or ebony.

African Blackwood wasn't offered by most pipemakers (including Henderson) until around 1900, and even then it was not the norm.

By the 1950s African Blackwood had become standard and pipers nowadays imagine that it was always so.

I don't know how many times pipers have told me that their old pipes are African Blackwood when they're actually cocus or ebony.

[kingandrew]

Richard,

Based on the lack of supply, you may be forced into buying a newly-made tweed jacket.

This was my experience, too. Living in China, there just aren't any kilt jacket suppliers here and shipping from elsewhere is not always so easy (or affordable). Luckily, tailors here are affordable. So I had my local tailor make her best impression of a kilt jacket, based on lots of photos. I went through all the fabric samples and picked the material closest to tweed, which is a nice brown herringbone pattern.

The results definitely look nice with my kilt and are serviceable, although I am sure there are details that will look odd to observers from Scotland or North America. For one, the gorge (the placement of the notch on the lapel) is terribly high, following current Chinese fashions. For another, the vest has pocket flaps that were supposed to be scalloped and buttoned like those on an Argyll jacket. But the tailor misunderstood the angle of the photo and made the flaps square.

I know it can't compare to a good vintage Harris Tweed, but it does the job and will always be distinctively different. And there aren't many others to compare with here in Beijing.

Whatever you do, I know it will reflect the same excellent eye that picked out this sporran.

Andrew

[randomdude]

Thank you a ton for this thread, I have been learning a lot.

I have my brothers wedding in early August and collecting my accoutrements...looking for a sporran today. Alexis Malcolm is making me an Antarctica tartan kilt which the fabric has forced me to bargain hunt the accessories.

I am looking for a black base with white fur/hair to signify the blinding ice down south. I found the link below on ebay and received some more pictures from the seller. Do you have any thoughts? It looks to be hand sewn and the front/back appear to be sturdy leather but the edge is a slightly different color and I am not terribly keen on the padding hanging out of the end. It looks like it has gotten some use, which I like...also into a vintage look if anything comes up.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28297036988...m=282970369887

I will be in UK (London and Alfriston) for a few days before heading to Germany for the wedding. Would it be easier to find something out there?

On a side note of curiosity, are the seal skin sporrans supposed to be nicer or is it worth pointing out because we aren't supposed to have it here in the states?