L&H Beaver sporran review

[ccga3359]

A while ago I was trying to decide between a faux fur or beaver sporran from L&M Highland Outfitters. When I decided on the beaver I called Pete (MacHummel) From Canadian Casual Kilts to order me one (MSRP $337.50 Cdn). CCK is a distributor as L&M don't sell directly.

So first the pics.

Against the Maple Leaf tartan. BTW this is the Canadian edition sporran.


Hopefully a better picture.


The back.


Inside.


The measurements.



The suplied belt.


This is my first dress sporran and having never handled one was suprised at how little it will hold. I thought that it would be a soft front, I was wrong. Oh well I bought for looks not fuction and since I'll be using this in dressier situations I'll have my Braemer's pocket to suppliment the stowing of various items. At 1.5" depth, 8" wide by 9" high. it will just hold my wallet , cigarettes and lighter. My camera was a no-go with just my wallet and no cigarettes. Had it have been soft fronted I'd be able to stuff more items in there but as stated before it was the look I was after. What about the look (and feel)? First of this is top quality hand crafted in Nova Scotia. It was not in stock so had to be made for me (for added cost ui could have changed some items such as cantle and such) it took two weeks from order to shipment to CCK and a little longer to hand me the sporran at our kilt night. As mentioned above it is the Canadian edition from the pelt of our national rodent. the chromed cantel as three gold maple leaves spaced equidistance and gold tassle trumpets. Unfortunately for me the trumpets have little thistles embossed on them, I would have prefered that they had carried the Canadian theme over somehow. With this sporran, my Maple Leaf kilt and perhaps a Hudson's Bay Co blanket jacket I could really go tapping the maples in style, eh? It came with a brown sporran belt with gold chain but is sized for a larger sporran wearer. I'll soon be replacing that with an RKilts braided sporran belt in oxblood. I do appreciate this sporran and I'm very pleased with my purchase. I fully recommend L&M but I wish I hadn't seen their red fox sporran.

[McMurdo]

It really is a handsome sporran, and I was delighted to be able to deliver it to you on Pete's behalf. Congratulations on a fine sporran, unfortunately dress sporrans generally lack any kind of storage space. As far as switching out the chain belt for a braided model from RKilts, I would have to see them together before I made that decision. As the sporran is a dress model I would be worried that the RKilts sporran strap while good quality would not match up to the quality of the sporran. Just my two cents but the only times a sporran such as this would be appropriate would be Burns nights etc. I think the belt that came with it would be the one to use, I mean it would most likely be safe to wear it for a few hours at a time without any ill effects.

[ccga3359]

It really is a handsome sporran, and I was delighted to be able to deliver it to you on Pete's behalf. Congratulations on a fine sporran, unfortunately dress sporrans generally lack any kind of storage space. As far as switching out the chain belt for a braided model from RKilts, I would have to see them together before I made that decision. As the sporran is a dress model I would be worried that the RKilts sporran strap while good quality would not match up to the quality of the sporran. Just my two cents but the only times a sporran such as this would be appropriate would be Burns nights etc. I think the belt that came with it would be the one to use, I mean it would most likely be safe to wear it for a few hours at a time without any ill effects.

The sporran strap although of fairly decent quality is on the large size (even at the smallest setting). Now if I get robert to mack new leather for it in the oxblood to match my ranger belt I'd consider using the chain. Also being a gold chain it will tie into the sporran but unless I'm wearing more gold it might clash. I'm hoping to wear it more than just strictly formal functions so I'm going to start calling it a semi-dress model .

[Big Mikey]

Grant, excellent pics and review.

I have also found in my research that dress sporrans do not tend to be "user friendly" as to contents. You mentioned that the front of the sporran was not soft so I'm assuming it is stiff or hard (DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING THERE!!) Does that mean that the beaver pelt is glued or otherwise attached to a backer as opposed to being stitched to the rest of the body?

Overall, can you really say that you feel the quality justifies the price? I know, I know, you get what you pay for, usually. BTW, you will definitely look better sporting beaver than choked chicken!!

[James MacMillan]

I have three evening sporrans, and one does have a soft front. It isn't made as well as the others, but does hold a bit more. While we do have the few pockets in the PC or other coat to hold extras, like you, I would wish that the sporrans were more functional.

Most sporrans just aren't big enough to stash the stuff we need to carry.

Thanks for the review!

[McFarkus]

A beautiful item, but I guess a dress sporran is the Scots equivalent of those tiny evening clutches women carry at formal events.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Hummm question, for a guy who wanted an all Canadian theme, why is there a Coors Light coaster in there? ...should it not be a Keith's one
Sara
Proud Alexander Keith's Drinker

[Riverkilt]

How's the feel of the beaver pelt?

I often find myself absent mindedly "petting" my bison sporran...its soooo soft.

Ron

[ccga3359]

Big Mikey; had I ibnvestigated dress sporrans more I probably would have fond them to be hard shelled. Yes the pelt is attached to what I'm assuming is hard leather. I found the 'web' around the front and back to be quite thin and is very flexible compared to my cheap leather day sporran of similar construction.

Jay; I suppose we don't tend to need as much stuff for a formal setting as we would for a days outting. I'm now thinking that an overly stuffed soft formal sporran woukd detract from the look.

McFarkus yes I think you've nailed it.

Sara; yes I wanted the Canadian look. The second half of our global kilt night was sponsored by Coors Light (which I drink when I'm pacing myself). As I was spotted by a rep I got a free beer, some Coors prizes (handcuffs?) and a picture which I still waiting to be posted at www.coorslight.ca hence the reminder card in my sporran. now Coor Light brewed by Molson's in Canada yhe oldest brewer in North America is now Molson Coors and is no longer Canadian owned. Labatts is now owned by Interbrew of Belgium. The largest Canadian owned brewer up until 2006 was Sleeman's (brewers of my Cream Ale) is now Japanese owned by Sapporo brewers and by the way Sleeman's brews Keith's. I'm so confused as to what is Canadian beer . i'm going to have to start sampling those micro breweries!

Ron; silky smooth and so soft. I find myself absent-mindedly stroking it to many a stare .

[turpin]

Ron; silky smooth and so soft. I find myself absent-mindedly stroking it to many a stare .

Same with Buddy the Badger. But I can get the wallet, camera, change purse, and sunglasses in his belly.