[Dram]

Hello all,

New here and hope I am posting this in the correct forum.

Was wondering if anyone has had experience with Ian Grant in Edinburgh? How is their quality, and does any one have any pics of the backing of the sporran?

Trying to find a good quality modern dress sporran that won't bankrupt me.

Being that I live in the US I see that they won't ship sealskin here. I would like to see what grey bovine looks like. Much prefer sealskin but can live with an alternative if it looks nice enough.

Thanks.

[DesertCeltic]

L&M sells sporrans to the states using faux seal skin.

[Dram]

I was looking more at Ian Grant than L&M. I would also prefer no faux fur.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

You might also want to keep your eye out for a used seal skin sporran and have Mr. Grant make you a new cantle in silver.

[Jock Scot]

If Ian Grant's name is on it it will be the best. His specialty is of course engraving, but if his work is combined with other people's skills, then the top drawer is where you will find it.

[ForresterModern]

Sorry, I know nothing about Ian Grant Sporrans, but can comment that bovine fur can be just as attractive as sealskin, as I bought mine from JHiggins here in the states two years ago and love it. See below:

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Seal skin is great, but there are lots of fur options that are legal here in the US besides bovine or rabbit (nothing wrong with either of those, but you tend to see them a lot). Muskrat, badger, bobcat, mink, fox; all are popular. You can even get skunk and racoon. Heck, you can get a zebra fur sporran, even! Don't be afraid to think outside the box.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Seal skin is great, but there are lots of fur options that are legal here in the US besides bovine or rabbit (nothing wrong with either of those, but you tend to see them a lot). Muskrat, badger, bobcat, mink, fox; all are popular. You can even get skunk and racoon. Heck, you can get a zebra fur sporran, even! Don't be afraid to think outside the box.

Yes sir !




Best,

Robert

[OC Richard]

If you really want sealskin, used sealskin sporrans which are already here in the USA come up on Ebay fairly often, and obviously don't have to go through Customs. I wore one for years because that "look" is so common amongst pipers in Scotland and I wanted to follow it.

It's interesting how the same creature can be endangered/protected in one country but be thought of almost as a pest in another.

No sealskin sporrans here, so I was amazed when on my first trip to Scotland I saw an entire wall hanging full of them at Hardie's on Renfrew Street.

The flip side was visiting a sporran maker (Alexander Robertson of Ach-na-Cloich House, near Inverness) who showed me a closet full of badger pelts that he could not use.

[David Dubh]

I have a beautiful Ian Grant leather day wear sporran. It is a tooled in celtic knot work and the leather sporran strap is equally as nice as it is a tooled in thistles. Brilliant work and a stonking deal that I received was even better.