Quality Sporrans for less money

[OC Richard]

Thanks for pointing that out! I just glanced at it and didn't understand what I was seeing.

Had I taken a closer look I would have seen a very nice Forsyth adult sporran and a nice chain-strap to boot.

I wonder if the chain-strap is childs size. No matter, because I would be putting new leather to it anyway.

(I wonder if they used smaller links for childs chain straps, or just less of them.)

[Troglodyte]

Thanks for pointing that out! I just glanced at it and didn't understand what I was seeing.

Had I taken a closer look I would have seen a very nice Forsyth adult sporran and a nice chain-strap to boot.

I wonder if the chain-strap is childs size. No matter, because I would be putting new leather to it anyway.

(I wonder if they used smaller links for childs chain straps, or just less of them.)

From what I have seen I can confirm that childs' sporran chain-straps are like scaled down versions of the adults' - the length and link size is smaller and the leathers slightly narrower, just as you have guessed.

However, the several vintage (dating from prior to the second word war) long-link chain-straps that I have all vary in length of both chain and leather - there seems to have been no standard length for the chain. Leather length varies considerably, in both the long strap that passes through the buckle, and the buckle-piece.

Vintage chain-straps are very difficult to date accurately, I find, as the same style and construction seems to have been used for now the best part of a century. From what I have seen, post-WWII offerings seem to be less refined than previously, using unlined leathers and often chromed chains.

Prior to WWII, the leathers seem to be mostly finer quality leather, usually stitched, and made with a separate lining and not simply dyed a different colour as we see nowadays. Also, the chains were seldom chromed, and plain nickel seems to have been favoured (when not silver-plated) and plain brass is rare.

As for length of chain and leather ratios, things seem to have varied over time, too.

I have one particular long-link chain-strap that came as part of a house-clearance lot of late 19th and early 20th century sporrans, which has only three (yes, three!) links, but the leathers are exceptionally long and so normal man-sized. I also have two unused new-old-stock brown leather chrome curb-link chain-straps of similar proportions, but which I have guessed to be c1950s in date.

The older chain-straps seem to have been given much more skilled treatment when it comes to the leathers. Fine calf leather which is pared thin, turned in at the edges, lined in a contrasting leather and stitched along its length seems to have been a feature, as I have (or had) several made this way.

My own favourite is a brass long-link chain-strap with a leather-covered buckle.

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