Quality Sporrans for less money

**geomick** · 19th August 25, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by California Highlander

That is a beauty!!

$70 + $10 shipping...do I really need another sporran??

Yes, you do.

(buy it so I don't have to)

**User** · 19th August 25, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by geomick

Yes, you do.

(buy it so I don't have to)

You saved me from buying "Setts Of The Scottish Tartans" by buying it yourself. My overflowing bookshelves thank you :-)

**OC Richard** · 19th August 25, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by California Highlander

That is a beauty!!

$70 + $10 shipping...do I really need another sporran??

That all depends on a couple things

1) are you interested in following the norms of Highland Dress, including the different modes?

2) if so, what modes of Highland Dress do you want to put together outfits for?

3) do you reject the Allen Brothers, and all of their evil works, and all of their empty promises? (Just kidding!)

For plenty of people the answers to #1 and #2 are "no" and "none".

But if the answers are "yes" and "two" then two sporrans would be a minimum in Traditional Highland Dress.

**OC Richard** · 19th August 25, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by User

You saved me from buying "Setts Of The Scottish Tartans"

But it's such a handy book!

It's one I reference regularly.

Other frequently referenced books for me are

The 1819 Key Pattern Book (Peter MacDonald)

The History and Uniforms of the Scottish Regiments (Barnes)

Highland Bagpipe Makers (Campbell)

plus my Scottish Gaelic dictionary and Irish dictionary.

**geomick** · 19th August 25, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

WE Scott black "day" sporran with white pony/bovine front, $10.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14678058437...102140.m167418

what are the clues to that being a real Scottish sporran? is it just based on having seen a lot of them vs the cheap knock-offs?

**User** · 19th August 25, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

But it's such a handy book!

It's one I reference regularly.
...

Well, I was on the verge of buying it. But as long as it went to someone who's enjoying it, all is well.

Your posts have lead me to purchase 3 dress sporrans and a Mackie balmoral. I was even dangerously close to buying a set of small pipes, even though I don't play and don't have time to learn. Thank you for leading me to beautiful bargains.

I'll have to look into those other books you mentioned.

**OC Richard** · 20th August 25, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by geomick

what are the clues to that being a real Scottish sporran?

With sporrans you can tell a lot more from seeing the back than from seeing the front.

Because there were makers in Scotland like Nicoll Brothers (Bankfoot) and WE Scott (Edinburgh) and the Canadian maker L&M Highland Outfitters (Nova Scotia) who made many of the same patterns, looking similar or even identical from the front, but which look unique on the back.

So here are a dozen sporran backs from 11 different makers.

These are examples with the maker's name stamped on the back (in the cases where they did do).

All, or nearly all, of these can also be found with no stamps at all, or with the stamps of various retailers.

So for example several of these can be found with Kinloch Anderson stamps, and several can be found with Hugh MacPherson stamps, and so it goes.

This being the case, you have to know the tab-shapes and strap-shapes of the various makers to ID them.

It's helpful to see the back of an Evening Dress sporran, to see the shape of the fastening strap, which Day sporrans lack. (Note that WE Scott and L&M use similar tab shapes, but quite distinct strap shapes.)

**Troglodyte** · 24th August 25, 02:33 AM

Not exactly sporrans for less money, but these listings look interesting...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116748235054

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116748235970

Something tells me the seller is being a bit too hopeful, but you never know...

**OC Richard** · 25th August 25, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by geomick

what are the clues to that being a real Scottish sporran? is it just based on having seen a lot of them vs the cheap knock-offs?

So above I posted a collage "spotter's guide" to the backs of various legit Scottish makers (with which L&M in Canada needs to be included).

Here's the dark underbelly, a "spotter's guide" to Pakistani sporrans.

I don't know the specific maker in Pakistan, but they generally have that tell-tale equilateral triangle tab.

Some are stamped "designed in Scotland" which you also see on the labels with many Pakistani kilts and jackets.

Note the Evening sporran which comes boxed, the box and the paper tag saying "designed in Scotland" but the sporran itself stamped "made in Scotland".

And several others of these obviously Pakistani sporrans are stamped "made in Scotland" but as I said they can be identified by looking at the back.

**OC Richard** · 25th August 25, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

Not exactly sporrans for less money, but these listings look interesting...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116748235054

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116748235970

Something tells me the seller is being a bit too hopeful, but you never know...

Gorgeous Forsyth sporrans in great condition, they might be worth it for somebody.

(Personally I'll wait for a beat-up one that's cheap.)