Sporran pickpocketing?

[bigdad1]

Artificer carrying a knife for "work" is like carrying a gun. You don't carry an empty gun nor a dull knife. If I am going out to use a knife for some sort of robbery it will be a sharp one.
That being said I think that avoiding a sporran picking is like avoiding any pickpocketing. Pay attention to who is around you and what they are doing and most of the time you will be safe.

[artificer]

Artificer carrying a knife for "work" is like carrying a gun. You don't carry an empty gun nor a dull knife. If I am going out to use a knife for some sort of robbery it will be a sharp one.
That being said I think that avoiding a sporran picking is like avoiding any pickpocketing. Pay attention to who is around you and what they are doing and most of the time you will be safe.

Even a sharp knife won't go clean thru a good thickness of veg-tan without holding it firmly- I know because even braced against a cutting board I need to press fairly hard to cut the straps I make, and I sharpen my knives quite often (daily).

As you said, awareness of your surroundings is key to being safe. It's a good rule to live by.

ith:

[Bugbear]

Even a sharp knife won't go clean thru a good thickness of veg-tan without holding it firmly- I know because even braced against a cutting board I need to press fairly hard to cut the straps I make, and I sharpen my knives quite often (daily).

As you said, awareness of your surroundings is key to being safe. It's a good rule to live by.

ith:

I don't know anything about it, just what was described to me. Oddly I had it in my mind that the thief grabbed the strap, put the knife or cutting device behind the strap and pulled the cutting device through the strap as he or she ran away; all very quickly, of course.
I don't recall, from the member's description, exactly what led me to envision it happening that way, though. I would guess it would take a great deal of force to cut through a good piece of leather, as you say, and this was probably a cheap belt for trousers being used as a strap.

Just reporting what I remember, not trying to disagree with anyone.