Robertson Sporran

**Buckskin** · 14th August 08, 06:53 PM

Does anyone have any experience with this company. I know they have sold a few sporrans on e-bay. They are running a sell and have some very attractive prices. I'm interested in the racoon. Aparently they make the sporran from a full pelt, then put a back on it to attach a belt to. Traditional fur sporrans just glue a fur cover over the face of a leather sporran. A least, that's what I'm being told.

Other question, any one here have a full mask and get any flack from people over the "wearing a dead animal" issue?

**ForresterModern** · 14th August 08, 08:24 PM

I won a Robertson full mask arctic fox on ebay several months ago but haven't really had the chance to wear it out in the world yet, so haven't gotten any public reactions yet, other than my wife's, who doesn't like it becasue she is allergic to animal dander.

I like the sporran. It is well made, and the unique attachement device doesn't cause any problems and gives you the option of taking the sporran off without unclipping the whole thing from your sporran chain or kilt belt (for those of us using belt hangers). It is also very attractive.

If you find one you like at what you consider a decent price I would not hesitate to buy it. No reservations or regrets from me.

**Cayusedriver** · 15th August 08, 04:37 AM

Buckskin:

Thanks for your reply to me the other day. Question, do you have a web address for the Robertson Sporran that you could provide. A net search on my browser failed to produce anything under that name.

Many thanks,

Gene

**ForresterModern** · 15th August 08, 04:56 AM

link to their website is http://www.robertsonsporrans.com/

by the way I am their first ebay comment posted on their website---my ebay id is jlfwimp

i won one of htier first few auctions, a white fox full mask sporran for just over $100---heck of a deal. since then they have set higher reserves or buy-it-now prices for nearly everything they listed, and they only listed maybe half a dozen times after that. hane not seen them on ebay in a couple months, at least not with full mask sporrans.

**Cayusedriver** · 15th August 08, 08:30 AM

Thanks FM. I checked ebay this morning using search for "Bobertson Sporran" nothing came up. Maybe their not on ebay presently? or if you know they are could you direct me to the item?

Thanks,

Gene

**Cayusedriver** · 15th August 08, 08:31 AM

Typo: I DID type Robertson not Bobertson.

G

**ForresterModern** · 15th August 08, 09:45 AM

they have not been listing for several months. my feedback for them was early february and that is the most recent on their webiste. i think they listed one more time after that, maybe a month or two later, but nothing since. i think they used it to generate a little business for their online entity more than anything else---loss leaders, y'know.

**turpin** · 15th August 08, 09:59 AM

If you got a good quality mask sporran for $100 you got a great deal.

A properly made full-mask sporran is constructed as such from the git-go, and not just bonded onto an existing leather sporran. I typically bond the pelt for the front panel to a thin piece of veg-tan leather, then bond a deerskin liner to the inside. The edges get sewn to the side gusset, whic prevent any delamination of the layers.

I cur a section of the belly hair and bont it to the gusset. Again, it is also sewn to the fron and rear panels. The rear panel is a triple layer of derrskin liner, veg-tan for body, and leather outer layer (deer, elk, cow, etc.)

The head is created by building a headform on which to mount the face. Placement of the eyes is the trickiest part because it's the eyes that give the mask it's "life" if you will. It probably takes me a good 15-20 hours for a basic full-mask, and then more for each extra flap or custom feature. Sewing fur by hand takes more time than sewing leather by hand because you have to clip around the margins to punch holes, and try and keep the fur from being pulled through the stitches.

**Buckskin** · 15th August 08, 03:17 PM

I asked about e-bay, I remembered the post here about the silver fox. They started their sporran business through e-bay exposure. Haven't sold anything there in awhile. They make everything to order, except when they go to a show or faire. Then they make up a certain amount of product to take and sell on site. What doesn't sell at the event goes on e-bay.

I plan on wearing this semi-formal with my medium grey tweed jacket and vest. I asked about the greyest racoon they could find and they can accommodate. ( the futher north, the greyer. The futher south, the browner.) I'll wear with grey hose or Tartan hosematch to the kilt.

Still like to hear if anyone has had problems with the "dead animal" people.

**ForresterModern** · 15th August 08, 05:39 PM

Turpin

To my untrained eye I think i got a good one----fully tanned hide with all panels felt lined but does not appear to be bonded to anything leather, at least not visibly or by feel, other than the tanned hide itself. Beautiful face mask---I actually think mine was the one they took the picture of for their website and ebay auctions. Looks identical. Can't wait for the opportunity to wear it out in full dress fashion. Only chances I have had so far were on my Edinburgh trip where I gussied up for tow evening semiformal or formal events. But the wife vetoed me packing the think in our luggage becasue of her allergies, and I would also probably have been worried about passing customs with it because I know some similar animal skin/fur products are restricted in either the US or UK without appropriate permits or sometimes altogether-----like sealskin in the US. Better safe than sorry.