Quality Sporrans for less money

[OC Richard]

Very nice!

There are several sporrans with that sort of flap shape in the c1960 Forsyth catalogue.

Often the flap has various shapes formed in the leather and presumably padded inside so they don't collapse.

[OC Richard]

Lovely older WE Scott seal sporran within US borders.

Cantle is probably silverplate, I messaged the seller.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11615183312...Bk9SR_ras8HeYw

[OC Richard]

A Margaret Morrison seal sporran for just under $50.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/31531191724...Bk9SR_Cm6-XgYw

I kept coming across sporrans with that distinctive back and at first didn't realise they were MM, until some with identical backs showed up stamped MM.

[OC Richard]

A lovely Nicoll Brothers Day sporran in black, and therefore probably post-1980.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22611857808...Bk9SR_iyi-vlYw

I really like the distinctive Nicoll Brothers interpretations of common sporran styles, for one thing they used a distinctive shape for the bodies. If this was in brown I would have snapped it up, but alas.

And another WE Scott 1953 Patent sporran, seal, with the EW3 pierced cantle.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22612022997...Bk9SR_ayi-vlYw

I wish I knew when they stopped using the Patent stamp.

Then there was a period after that when they were still doing the horizontal scoring across the back to form a sort of hinge, the timing of this is also unknown to me.

And last but not least, a handsome though plain brown leather Day sporran by WE Scott, with seal front.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28583474043...Bk9SR_iyi-vlYw

[OC Richard]

Perhaps the best bargain going, a lovely ginger leather Day sporran by WE Scott for $35 and $9 shipping, within US borders.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38696205962...Bk9SR4Czi-vlYw

On Etsy a very nice brown Day sporran which has the Forsyth look for a bit over $50

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1720279...search_click=1

[OC Richard]

A genuine Black Watch sergeants/officers/pipers sporran by Janet Eagleton starting bid 10 pounds.

It's beautiful. It will be interesting to see what it eventually goes for.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17636094514...Bk9SR5Cz69_nYw

[Troglodyte]

This little beauty has come up for sale on eBay -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395385207032

With the wrap-over cantle and rear flap-pocket bag, it has all the hallmarks of a rare period classic.

And it has the bonus of a long-link chain, too. What more do you want?

That's right! One in something other than sealskin if you're outside the UK.

Even with six days still to go, the price is already high - and this could easily double if the bidders are keen.

But, as the dealers and collectors say when the price goes up above fair and realistic levels, go and find another...

[OC Richard]

That's a beauty!

Interesting in that it has the old-fashioned pocket to rear (suggesting it's prior to the 1953 Patent) but a press button/popper/snap which AFAIK comes in a bit later.

I have seen that. If I knew more about when various makers started using that sort of popper I could come up with a better date range.

Is the cantle engraved, or chased? The latter would suggest Frederick Narborough.

In any case I have no interest in sporrans that aren't really practical as sporrans. Were I to acquire that one I'd send it straightaway to MM for a re-bag, a big roomy pouch.

[OC Richard]

This nice Forsyth-looking brown Day sporran has been up on Etsy for a while with no takers.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1720279...search_click=1

[Troglodyte]

That's a beauty!

Interesting in that it has the old-fashioned pocket to rear (suggesting it's prior to the 1953 Patent) but a press button/popper/snap which AFAIK comes in a bit later.

I have seen that. If I knew more about when various makers started using that sort of popper I could come up with a better date range.

A Paisley's sporran I have has what appears to be the same press-stud. The patent number gives 1941 for the date, with the intention of the studs being used on military uniforms and equipment - which make sense.

My guess is that sporran-makers fell into the category of military equipment suppliers, probably making other bits of kit too, and so would have had ready access to such studs despite the war-economy restrictions at the time.

Also, there must have been a glut of such things when peace came in '45, so the mid-40s must have been the sea-change. But the good old monk-rivet seems to have survived on certain models by some makers right up until the '80s or '90s from what I have seen.

There is something a 'bit more authentic' about the monk-rivet, which is why I prefer to use them on the sporrans I make.