Leather sporran strap etiquette

[OC Richard]

I thought of this thread due to myself, who had been wearing plain leather belts exclusively for years, recently changing over to long-link chain straps.

This is because I've been having issues with the sporran staying centred whilst marching playing pipes, or running around at Highland Games.

Then I had the issue of the little double D-ring leather adapter not staying put, and pulling right through the leather slot-tab on the back of the sporran.

So I made an extra wide and thick D-ring adapter for one sporran.

For another sporran, which had the leather slot-tab placed too low (it's a common Pakistani sporran problem) I did the previously unthinkable and riveted two D-rings directly onto the back of the sporran.

[Jock Scot]

I thought of this thread due to myself, who had been wearing plain leather belts exclusively for years, recently changing over to long-link chain straps.

This is because I've been having issues with the sporran staying centred whilst marching playing pipes, or running around at Highland Games.

Then I had the issue of the little double D-ring leather adapter not staying put, and pulling right through the leather slot-tab on the back of the sporran.

So I made an extra wide and thick D-ring adapter for one sporran.

For another sporran, which had the leather slot-tab placed too low (it's a common Pakistani sporran problem) I did the previously unthinkable and riveted two D-rings directly onto the back of the sporran.

Good gracious me! Do people actually use those D-ring things with a leather strap? I wear a leather strap with the sporran probably 99.9 percent of the time and the leather strap just slides through the leather “loop” attached to the sporran. On the rare occasion that I wear a sporran chain these days then I do wear the D-ring thingy as the sporran chain clips require them.

I am reminded of a discussion of the D- link thingy with a friend who has been wearing the kilt a tad longer than I have and he has always used a sporran chain for all occasions who had no idea what The D - links were for and he just clips the two clips together and places them quite comfortably in the leather “loop” on the one sporran he owns. Well alright, it works for him!

[OC Richard]

Good gracious me! Do people actually use those D-ring things with a leather strap? I wear a leather strap with the sporran probably 99.9 percent of the time and the leather strap just slides through the leather “loop” attached to the sporran. On the rare occasion that I wear a sporran chain these days then I do wear the D-ring thingy as the sporran chain clips require them.

Sorry for me not being clear, what I meant was that for many years I only wore a plain leather strap, which of course goes through the leather slot-tab thing stitched to the back of the sporran.

Those double D-ring adapter things appear to be a fairly recent invention.

Because up through WWII Evening Dress sporrans had rings soldered on the back for the chains to clip to:



But in the post-WWII years makers were going away from the old style with a leather flapped pocket in back, to sporrans that opened. Once the cantles no longer had a back-plate an alternate way of attaching the chain had to be found.

I am reminded of a discussion of the D- link thingy with a friend who has been wearing the kilt a tad longer than I have and he has always used a sporran chain for all occasions who had no idea what The D - links were for and he just clips the two clips together and places them quite comfortably in the leather “loop” on the one sporran he owns. Well alright, it works for him!

Yes I know of pipers who, when they can't find their D-adapter, just join the ends together. The only problem with that is it slips out of the leather tab more easily, so the sporran goes off-centre.

I was having that issue even with the D-adapter! So I had to made a wider fatter adapter that stays put.

[Tobus]

Those double D-ring adapter things appear to be a fairly recent invention.

Because up through WWII Evening Dress sporrans had rings soldered on the back for the chains to clip to:

Hmm, I have an older horse hair sporran (pretty sure it's pre-WWII, my guess was late 1800s to early 1900s) which still has the back pocket but no soldered rings. Just leather belt loops. As you can see, the previous owner hastily cobbled together a make-do version of a D-ring adapter to attach the chain.

I figure this sporran hails from a time when these were still considered daywear, and a plain leather strap would have sufficed. That may explain the absence of soldered fixed rings for a chain.

[McMurdo]

I am reminded of a discussion of the D- link thingy with a friend who has been wearing the kilt a tad longer than I have and he has always used a sporran chain for all occasions who had no idea what The D - links were for and he just clips the two clips together and places them quite comfortably in the leather “loop” on the one sporran he owns. Well alright, it works for him!

Glad to see that I am in good company, this is what I do. I have several of the D Ring things not sure if I'll ever use them for anything at all.

[OC Richard]

For sure many Victorian and Edwardian sporrans have those two wide straps on the back, and military horsehair sporrans have done until recently, due to the assumption that a plain leather belt would be worn.

I think it's when chain-straps became more popular that soldering the rings on the back-plate of the cantle became common.

From imagery it seems that around 1900 the chain-straps started getting more popular than leather belts for Evening sporrans, but yes chains are sometimes seen in Victorian times, usually with quite ornate cantles, which presumably had the rings.

It seems clear that the D-adapters were intended for the 20th century sporrans with a leather slot-tab sewn on the back rather than the two wide leather loops.

Sadly the catalogues only show the fronts of the sporrans, and in photos and paintings of men wearing sporrans we can see if it's a chain or a plain belt but we can't see the attachment.

[figheadair]

For sure many Victorian and Edwardian sporrans have those two wide straps on the back, and military horsehair sporrans have done until recently, due to the assumption that a plain leather belt would be worn.

I think it's when chain-straps became more popular that soldering the rings on the back-plate of the cantle became common.

From imagery it seems that around 1900 the chain-straps started getting more popular than leather belts for Evening sporrans, but yes chains are sometimes seen in Victorian times, usually with quite ornate cantles, which presumably had the rings.

It seems clear that the D-adapters were intended for the 20th century sporrans with a leather slot-tab sewn on the back rather than the two wide leather loops.

Sadly the catalogues only show the fronts of the sporrans, and in photos and paintings of men wearing sporrans we can see if it's a chain or a plain belt but we can't see the attachment.

Richard,

To illustrate your point, here’s the front and back of my Ferguson & MacBean, 1896, which has a chain strap.

1896 Ferguson & MacBean.jpg

[OC Richard]

Thanks for posting that!

Interesting that sporran doesn't have belt loops as well.

I don't often get to see the back of these vintage sporrans, but of the ones I have seen I don't recall seeing one with the metal rings only. I have seen a load with belt loops and no rings (especially military sporrans).

[figheadair]

Thanks for posting that!

Interesting that sporran doesn't have belt loops as well.

I don't often get to see the back of these vintage sporrans, but of the ones I have seen I don't recall seeing one with the metal rings only. I have seen a load with belt loops and no rings (especially military sporrans).

No, but it does have a lovely chain.