What can I do with a brass cantle?

**AKScott** · 15th January 11, 12:59 AM

I am planning on a plain brown leather sporran for daywear.

I also want a fur sporran, but I am not going with full mask or full face with paws and so on.

The question is do I put the brass cantle together with plain leather for day wear, or put the brass cantle with fur for dressier occasions?

Kilt is primarily green as per avatar, I have been to exactly zero white tie events lifetime.

Thanks

**rtc872** · 15th January 11, 03:22 AM

This is naturally my 2 cents but I find brass, although attractive, suits a day wear sporran. Unless the brass is highly polished it soon looks grotty next to fur.

What ever you do do post pics. I am sure it will look great!

**Chas** · 15th January 11, 03:39 AM

Keeping brass clean, bright and shiny is a real pain. I say this as an ex-serviceman. The merest touch, by hand, can ruin the whole effect within an hour. The actual process of cleaning is also a messy business. We only need to look at the brass name-plates at an office building. The surrounding brick, stone or woodwork is usually stained by the 'Brasso' or other polishing liquid. Once any polishing liquid gets on leather or fur it is there for ever.

So, my advice is this. Why not have two bags? One plain leather and one fur, but have them easily removable for cleaning. You then have the best of both worlds and the bonus of no mess.

Regards

Chas

**rtc872** · 15th January 11, 04:41 AM

Two bags that sounds good. Does anybody know how to do that?

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 15th January 11, 05:50 AM

The old MoD brass cantle sporrans were attached to the bags with snaps. If you are using one of those, it should be easy enough to just make two bags to attach to the same cantle.

Brass is generally associated with daywear but really there is no reason why you cannot wear brass for evening wear -- just keep it polished! I'd base my decision upon what you think you have the most use for in your wardrobe.

Here are some brass cantled sporrans of mine, on leather and fur bags, if having a visual aide helps.

MoD cantle on buff deerhide bag (this has become one of my favorites and gets lots of wear):

Non-MoD cantle on dark brown deerhide bag:

MoD cantle on sealskin bag (I haven't had the occasion to wear this one since I obtained it, but hope to break it in at a Burns Supper next weekend):

**Santa Kona** · 15th January 11, 09:05 AM

Another way is after you polish it then clear coat it. That way you will not have to polish it again.

**davidlpope** · 15th January 11, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by AKScott

I am planning on a plain brown leather sporran for daywear.

I also want a fur sporran, but I am not going with full mask or full face with paws and so on.

The question is do I put the brass cantle together with plain leather for day wear, or put the brass cantle with fur for dressier occasions?

Kilt is primarily green as per avatar, I have been to exactly zero white tie events lifetime.

Thanks

What type of "brass cantle" are you referring to and can you post a picture? The brass cantles that Matt has posted are working, real brass cantles. There are other "brass cantles" that are currently available that are like the "cantles" on most formal sporrans- really just a piece of metal that bolts to the front of the sporran pouch. The older jacobite-style working cantle can go either daywear or evening, but the newer type seems to be mostly used for fur evening sporrans.

David

**Downunder Kilt** · 15th January 11, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

MoD cantle on sealskin bag (I haven't had the occasion to wear this one since I obtained it, but hope to break it in at a Burns Supper next weekend):

Matt, please, no more of this sporran. Everytime you post photos, it takes me an hour to stop drooling

I am sure when you do get to wear it somewhere it will look smashing. Please, if you can, pics would be apreciated.

**BoldHighlander** · 15th January 11, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

Matt, please, no more of this sporran. Everytime you post photos, it takes me an hour to stop drooling

And it makes a mess of the keyboard too, doesn't it Mike?

**rtc872** · 15th January 11, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Santa Kona

Another way is after you polish it then clear coat it. That way you will not have to polish it again.

A problem I have heard with that is if the coat chips it doesn't look right just patched up and you then need to strip and re-apply. Not a deal breaker but something to consider.