Quality Sporrans for less money

[OC Richard]

the "Khaki Pigskin" offered by W.E. Scott & Son.

Around WWI when our modern "Day" sporrans became the most common "Day" style, many were made from pigskin.

It's cool to see old catalogues that list the specific animal-skin used.

Here's a 1930s catalogue that offers sporrans in buckskin, pigskin, and leather. ("Leather" and "hide" are often used to refer to cowhide.)



Here another 1930s catalogue, the price-list says

#4. Gent's Leather Sporran, Hogskin, Old Colour.

#6. Gent's Leather Sporran.



In other words #4 is pigskin and #6 is cowhide.

Another 1930s catalogue, numbers 51, 54, 55, and 56 are all stated to be pigskin.



For whatever reason in the post-WWII period most makers stopped using pigskin, but continued offering sporrans with the pigskin look, made of cowhide given a pigskin texture and colour. (I don't actually know if this is true, it's just my impression.)

In this modern catalogue (1990s?) all but one of these sporrans resemble pigskin. (The maker is probably WE Scott Edinburgh or L&M Nova Scotia, who over the years have offered all the traditional Scottish styles)

[figheadair]

Around WWI when our modern "Day" sporrans became the most common "Day" style, many were made from pigskin.

It's cool to see old catalogues that list the specific animal-skin used.

Here's a 1930s catalogue that offers sporrans in buckskin, pigskin, and leather. ("Leather" and "hide" specifically refer to cowhide.)



For whatever reason in the post-WWII period most makers stopped using pigskin, but continued offering sporrans with the pigskin look, made of cowhide given a pigskin texture and colour.

My Anderson's No.17 - Pigskin, with opening top and no studs.
Sporran - Anderson's c1930-Front-sm.jpg

The £3. 8s. 6d price equates to about £250 today. I'm not sure what a modern version in leather, not pigskin, costs from MM?

[OC Richard]

W E Scott hunting sporran said to be pigskin, though I wonder if it's actually pigskin or cowhide made to look like pigskin

$300US so not a big price difference from the 1930s

https://www.artisansofscotland.com/s...-stud-sporran/

[KennethSime]

W E Scott hunting sporran said to be pigskin, though I wonder if it's actually pigskin or cowhide made to look like pigskin

$300US so not a big price difference from the 1930s

https://www.artisansofscotland.com/s...-stud-sporran/

This is the most affordable made-in-Scotland hunting sporran I've found. Combined with the face that I just really enjoy the khaki pigskin color, this sporran's been on my list for awhile.

Thanks for your detail above, Richard. In my mind, the Khaki Pigskin color is unique to WE Scott, simply because I don't see it from other makers these days. Clearly though, it has not always been so.

Here are two dress/evening sporrans from Celtic Vintage Finds on Etsy for about $50/ea with $20 shipping to California:

This one's from an unknown vendor

This one's a Nicols Brothers

[Tomo]

The £3. 8s. 6d price equates to about £250 today. I'm not sure what a modern version in leather, not pigskin, costs from MM?

MM do a few different styles - All around the £200 mark.

[OC Richard]

I'm not quite sure what to think of the one with all the tassels



I'd like to see it in one of the MM browns, to get a better idea.



To me the 5-tassel Hunting sporran might benefit from a fur front.

[Miller6582]

I'm not quite sure what to think of the one with all the tassels



I'd like to see it in one of the MM browns, to get a better idea.



To me the 5-tassel Hunting sporran might benefit from a fur front.

Agreed, I always understood that the whole point of the captive leaf style 'tassel' on a hunting style sporran was so that they didn't drum on the bag and scare the game off, not that I imagine many of us will be using them hunting game.

[Tomo]

To me the 5-tassel Hunting sporran might benefit from a fur front.

The also have a few hunting styles with fur/skin fronts.

[KennethSime]

I'm not quite sure what to think of the one with all the tassels
To me the 5-tassel Hunting sporran might benefit from a fur front.

USA Kilts actually has a fur-fronted hunting sporran, though it has sewn-down leaves rather than tassels.

I received a new sporran this week!

IMG_1641.jpg

Though not vintage, nor from this thread, it was a steal at $150.00 brand new so I thought it fit with the theme of the thread. Made by MM, and secured from Celtic Croft for a very generous 50% Black Friday discount. I also picked up a Clan Fraser lapel pin, and a Fraser rosette sash for my fiancée.

The question now is: to tassel, or not to tassel?

[OC Richard]

Not to tassel! (My vote anyhow, if I get a vote.)

About that MM Hunting with fur



I don't care for the black, which for me pushes it into the Kilt Hire world a bit.

I'd like to see that same sporran in one of the lovely MM browns, with Fox or Coyote fur front.

To get this vibe somewhat. (In fact I've been considering ordering something along those lines from MM.)