Quality Sporrans for less money

**OC Richard** · 23rd November 25, 11:50 AM

Thanks!!

For many years I've been collecting photos of the backs of legit sporrans so I can identify the legit makers.

Now that I have a catalogue of those, recently I've been collecting photos of the backs of sporrans made in Pakistan, both ones being offered for sale directly from that country, and ones which 100% look Pakistani from both the front and the back, exactly matching direct-from-Pakistan sporrans, but which are stamped

Made In
Real Leather
Scotland

This wording was used in the stamp long used by WE Scott (Edinburgh) evidently meant to mean "Made In Scotland, Real Leather" but which now I suppose is intended to mean "Made In Real Leather, Scotland" which doesn't directly claim "made in Scotland".

**bookish** · 26th November 25, 05:59 AM

I absolutely want to second @TheVintageLibertine's thank you. I purchased that WE Scott regimental sporran. I bought a black regimental sporran from a company that claimed its wares were all Scottish, but it came without a stamp or markers, and I doubt its provenance. It needs a bit of conditioning (I bet it's been in storage for quite some time), but it's in great condition.

**OC Richard** · 1st December 25, 07:10 AM

You're very welcome!

Now I know that $325 is far above my brief here, but I just checked and this same sporran new from L&M Highland (Nova Scotia) is $728 USD.

It's a slightly civilianised version of the traditional Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders sergeants' and officers' sporran, here in the USA so no tariff craziness.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22710896320...Bk9SR8qhz6PbZg

Why "slightly civilianised"? The cones, which are plain on that Ebay sporran.

The Argylls have unique cones on this style sporran, sawtooth/pinked bottom and an inverted thistle motif.

Margaret Morrison doesn't list them on their site, but they do have them, as they make military sporrans.

They're seen in this MM photo, third row from rear, the gilt ones to the left.

So somebody could buy this Ebay sporran, shift out the cones, and have an accurate A&SH sporran.

**OC Richard** · 5th December 25, 04:56 PM

Lovely sealskin EW1 Evening sporran by WE Scott here in the USA for a $40 Buy It Now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/33633015323...Bk9SR-LXxo7eZg

**BlackHills_Highlander** · 5th December 25, 05:50 PM

I must be missing something. Are not sealskin items prohibited for sale and import to the U.S.A.? The law may have changed so I am unsure.

**OC Richard** · 6th December 25, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by COScotsman

I must be missing something. Are not sealskin items prohibited for sale and import to the U.S.A.? The law may have changed so I am unsure.

Yes the "taking" and "importing" of all marine mammals are prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

What I don't see is selling within the US mentioned.

Anyhow, here's a seal "Prince Charlie" EW7 Evening Sporran for very low price, within the US.

I don't see a stamp but it has the look of a recently made WE Scott sporran.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23651108041...102140.m167418

**DCampbell16B** · 6th December 25, 08:31 PM

That seller also has:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23651108518...UAAeSws35pNFog

**geomick** · 6th December 25, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by DCampbell16B

That seller also has:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23651108518...UAAeSws35pNFog

can't read the maker's mark in the photo, any idea who made that one?

**OC Richard** · 6th December 25, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by geomick

can't read the maker's mark in the photo, any idea who made that one?

Forsyth. Here's a very well-preserved Forsyth stamp.

I'm surprised no-one has picked up on the one below. Yes the seal is in dodgy condition, yes the tassels are missing.

But it's a Frederick Narborough hand-chased silverplate cantle.

Sporran by Thomas Dunlop, from whom far more military sporrans are seen than civilian.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18781344962...Bk9SR4TEifDeZg

Here's a Thomas Dunlop stamp from a military sporran.

**OC Richard** · 8th December 25, 12:56 AM

Speaking of the distinctive gilt thistle cones on an Argylls officers' badger sporran, here's one of the most bizarre sporrans I've ever come across.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/32690406386...Bk9SR5it287fZg

At first glance, somebody has taken the brass cantle and three of the six tassels from one of those Argylls badger sporrans and stuck them on a "day" sporran, which is strange enough in itself.

But there's more! Unlike all the Argylls badger sporran cantles I've seen, which are a fixed thing that holds the top of the sporran together (you lift up the badger mask to get inside the sporran) this cantle is split, with hinges and two purse-like knobs as closure.

It raises the question: was this a thing with some of the Argylls sporrans? I can't remember seeing those knobs before, which makes me want to go back and look at all the old photos I have.

The sporran body itself here is strange too.