Full mask sporran: Yea or Nay?

[artificer]

I have one of the L and M sporrans. The fur is not sheared. The effect that you're seeing instead comes from the fact that the fur is only on the front panel of the sporran. The remainder of the sporran (gusset, etc.) is made of smooth leather. I think this style of construction works much better since American badger fur tends to be more flyaway. Another difference with American pelts is that the mask lacks the very distinct "badge" that the Scottish Badger variety has, a shame in my opinion.

Interesting that the L&M fur isn't shaped at all...
I knew that they had the leather gusset, which definitely reduces the volume.

I do miss the darker patterning with most American pelts. I wonder if there is a regional (subspecies) variation? I saw a badger off my back deck a year or two ago (around 8am) and it's face was nearly black- FAR darker than the Craigie sporrans show. I almost bought an American badger pelt last week that had a very dark head (though not quite as dark as the European badger).

I've seen examples of the Craigie sporrans in person. To me they are always too large and over-bondo'ed in the mask, making them very heavy and awkward to wear,. They also always look "unfinished" to my eye due to the fur gusset, which makes the fur stick out at crazy angles.

They definitely appear a bit clunky compared to the very finessed L&Ms. I've seen some wonderfully done fur gussets though. I think they can be really nice if you actually put stuff in your sporran, that way you don't see the leather gusset.

The use of the legs/claws as tassles, to me, is an example of "more is not better." To me these things never really look like true sporrans, instead they resemble a sort of crudely-made reenactor pouch. Often this effect is intensified by the wearer's other accoutrements- neck daggers, leather knee-high "moccasins", blue facepaint, etc.

David

***, with a hearty laugh