Looking for Sporran sources

**Colin** · 12th December 06, 10:19 AM

Oh yeah, while you are here you could check out www.tartantown.com (Coquitlam) or http://www.geocities.com/houseofmclaren/ (Downtown Vancouver). Both can be on the pricey side, but carry nice stuff.

You could also have a look at MacIaasac Kiltmakers on the east coast http://www.mackilts.com/Merchant2/me...ategory_Code=S

**Canadian_Kilt** · 12th December 06, 10:23 AM

Yes I do agree. But, when you're trying to buy everything at once, it's not always possible to get all the things you would like to. It seems, though, that I can get some pretty nice stuff from scottishkilts.net for what I'm willing to spend.

It's great that you posted this. It's a very nice sporran. Did they modify it for you, or did you do it yourself? I really, really like the cross chain tassle look, but the cantles I like are only single.

Did you pay any duty?

I'll be in Vancouver for a few days, but being christmas, I'm not sure how much time I'll have. If you decide to plan something, let me know and if I can make I will.

**Colin** · 12th December 06, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Canadian_Kilt

Yes I do agree. It seems, though, that I can get some pretty nice stuff from scottishkilts.net for what I'm willing to spend.

It's great that you posted this. Did they modify the sporran for you, or did you do it yourself? I really, really like the cross chain tassle look, but the cantles I like are only single.

Did you pay any duty?

I'll be in Vancouver for a few days, but being christmas, I'm not sure how much time I'll have. If you decide to plan something, let me know and if I can make I will.

I asked if it was possible to get the cross chains and they had no problem doing it. On their site it is shown with the regular chains. http://scottishkilts.net/products/dr...le_design.html

The sporran came via post, so I didn't get dinged with any customs charges, I just had to wait a week longer which wasn't a problem. Not bad for just over $200 cdn. Be sure to check out www.kiltstore.net (a site sponsor) as well, and www.tartanweb.com (affiliated with scottishkilts and Viking Tech.). I have always been happy with their stuff. Great deal on PCs right now too

Good luck.

Also, try and remember that most people won't fault you for a semi-dress sporran, which seem to be very common in North America these days. I prefer the top opening of a dress sporran, but I have seen some pretty nice semi dress sporrans.

**Panache** · 12th December 06, 10:38 AM

A tale of two Porsches

On my street there are a two Porsche Boxsters (for those of you uninterested in cars they are mid-engined open sports motor cars).

One is silver and one is white.

The silver one is a standard Boxer, granted still a very nice automobile. But it lacks a lot of features of the more expensive "S" editions.

The white one is an "S" edition. It has a more powerful engine and has a variety of other performance and luxury features.

I am friends with the owner of the white Porsche. Because of this I know that his White Boxter has aftermarket Porsche wheels and extensive and expensive engine modifications that make it an even more powerful and responsive (and valuable) machine.

They are both parked in their driveways on the same street.

I asked my wife (who isn't very interested in cars) yesterday evening which one of the two she liked better. "I like the silver one, it's a better color on that kind of car", she answered.

The point I'm trying to make here is that (as Colin noted) most people will not see difference of your sporran being a really quality product. The superior constuction isn't that noticeable to the casual observer. Now there are connoisseurs of Highland attire that might notice. But will they care*? Will they hold it against you? How many of them are you likely to hang about with? What matters is how it looks to you. If it is really important that you have a great sporran then go for the gold (or simply rent a really nice dress one for your wedding). But don't worry about what other people are going to think. No one attending your wedding is going to care about your sporran except you. I think for $200-250 you are going to find a really handsome one that will make you happy.

I certainly understand Colin's viewpoint of only purchasing items of real quality. I checked his links and some of those sporrans (OK, almost all of them are real beauties). I still think that at this point of my life for the money I'd rather get a less expensive dress sporran (and then take the rest and get a new Freelander AND a Buzz Kidder).

Cheers

*Unless you are going to have a lot of members of X Marks the Scot there, then all bets are off.

**Colin** · 12th December 06, 11:46 AM

It's all personal preference isn't Panache? and rightly so. I certainly waited for alot of my stuff until it was within budget and the right time for me. My wife would have killed me if I hadn't

As I said in my first post, I certainly bought a lot of the cheaper stuff in the beginner days of my kilt wearing and wore it proudly. I did find (much to the influence of this site at times) that a pressure to buy more and more and "keep up with the MacDonalds" had me buying more and more of the affordable stuff that I really didn't need or want at the expense of the stuff I did really want. After all it's hard to buy that traditional handsewn for $500 when you just spent $450 on a couple casual kilts in the past 6 months

It's great that alot of places offer the cheaper deals for us guys when we are looking to fill a void in our kilt wardrobe, but there is something for a really great craftsman made product (not to say that the expensive ones are made any in a better way than the no expensive ones as I don't know). It's like a off the rack kilt versus the one made to fit you like a glove. Nothing wrong with the off the rack one, but man is that one made-to-fit nice.

I just find that the cheaper options are being pushed a lot these days, and the craftsmanship of the higher end products are only being spoken up for by a select few. People will choose whichever product they like the best and that which suits their lifestyle at the time (ie available cash, usage, etc) so I am sure it is appreciated that the whole spectrum is covered.

**Rampant Lion** · 12th December 06, 01:14 PM

I think for the amount of money you're willing to spend you'll be able to find a nice sporran online. I looked online for a sporran for my wedding this past summer, but didn't find anything I liked. The main reason was that I wanted a dress sporran with light gray fur, but no spots on the fur. I couldn't find such a one online and there was always the disclaimer about the actual item differing from the picture shown. If I'm spending up near $250 I want to know exactly what I'm getting.

So what did I do. I actually saw a great sporran at our local Scottish Shoppe and bought it. Yes it was $425, but hey, this was my wedding. My wife got a dress that was way more expensive than that so I thin it's only fair. Have I had an opportunity to wear it since? No, but I know when I do get the chance that not only will I have a great looking sporran, but it will be a great sporran period.

My advice is if you can find one you like in person for $250 absolutely go for it. If not, I'd wait until after Christmas to see how your budget is. I'm lucky, even though I'm 28 my grandparents still like to spoil me at Christmas time (or anytime really) and I get a fairly sizable cheque. I don't know what you and your family does for Christmas; if you exchange gifts or not, but if you do you could always ask that instead of gifts they help you buy the sporran you want. I would buy online as a last resort, myself.

Well that's my two cents.

-Will

**Canadian_Kilt** · 12th December 06, 02:15 PM

I really like the 2 scottish shops here .. especially one by C.O.P. (which is where my kilt is coming from). I want to support them but sometimes it's just not worth it. I bought my kilt there because I wanted the peace of mind that it was going to be done properly and, more importantly, on time. Some of their stuff is great - I bought my belt and buckle there. I'm very happy with it and the price was decent. It's all very good quality, but most things in that shop are just far too expensive compared to what I can get online. Plus, to be honest, I do not like any of the dress sporrans they have there right now.

It's not their fault .. they have no way around paying duty on imports .. and to boot, they pay more than I would if imported it myself, because they also have to deal with courier and brokerage fees. Usually, I don't have to pay it at all as long as it comes through the post office.

I do quite like the look of the grey rabbit fur so far ..

**Mr. Kilt** · 12th December 06, 08:25 PM

How fancy do you want the sporran to be? I picked up the one seen in this picture from the shop by C.O.P. last year, and IIRC it was under $125. I find it is more than formal enough for my needs.
Btw...Bill at that shop is a great guy to deal with!

**Canadian_Kilt** · 12th December 06, 09:23 PM

Yeah Bill is great - he's the one I've been talking to mostly. I am definately looking for something very formal. I guess my feeling is this is my wedding - I'm only planning on doing it once, and it is likely to be the most formal occasion to me that I ever attend. I want to look my absolute best.

**Kilted Stuart** · 13th December 06, 04:06 PM

I think MacHummel at CCK has some buying ties to L+m outfitters. May be able to scoop a sporron of your choice for you and get it in the mail. you pick the sporon off the net, he'll get it to you if he can. The holidays will slow the process down but the new year will speed things up again. PM him, he'll know better than me.

Klited Stuart