Quality Sporrans for less money

**Bad Monkey** · 5th June 19, 03:36 PM

just a quick heads up for a decent sporran on the evilbay. Not my style but I thought I'd call attention to it here on the X:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Smi...04c4%7Ciid%3A1

**Mr stonk** · 5th June 19, 04:15 PM

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F352684012628

Ok, it's hard to make out from a single image but do you think this is a quality sporran?
Seller is from Aviemore and not some Asian country so I'm thinking this could be a potential bargain?
Item did not sell and has been relisted but would like the forum members opinions before I commit to this..

**McMurdo** · 6th June 19, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by Mr stonk

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F352684012628

Ok, it's hard to make out from a single image but do you think this is a quality sporran?
Seller is from Aviemore and not some Asian country so I'm thinking this could be a potential bargain?
Item did not sell and has been relisted but would like the forum members opinions before I commit to this..

I would buy it if you are looking for a sealskin dress sporran.

**Mr stonk** · 7th June 19, 01:35 AM

BARGAIN (HOPEFULLY)

Seller accepted best offer and what looks like either a £150 or £200 sporran has been purchased for £28.95 on eBay
I've seen what looks like this sporran advertised online and depending if bovine or sealskin then it can be as much as £200

What I've purchased...

20190607_093328.jpg

What I hope I've purchased

Screenshot_20190606-142625_Samsung Internet.jpg

So how can you tell the difference between bovine or sealskin if there's no info with the sporran?

**OC Richard** · 10th June 19, 02:43 AM

It looks like seal sure enough, Mr Stonk. A very nice find. That cantle is called "D" in the old catalogues, presumably for Diamond. In the old days that was one of the nice silverplated cantles, high-quality castings with crisp detail and usually stamped Made In Scotland on the side.

Here's something I don't see very often: a seal sporran available within the USA. A lovely Made In Scotland sporran, $20 opening bid, not a single bidder.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Seni-Dress-...temCondition=4

Also within the USA, for under $30, what appears to be black mink fur with white (rabbit?) tassels and the "G" cantle, a Made In Scotland sporran at a huge bargain. In the old days this was another of the high-quality silverplated cantles usually stamped Made In Scotland on the side.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Ki...temCondition=4

Now here's a like-new sporran by Gaelic Themes Scotland, $10 opening bid, no takers.

I've not seen this style before, it's made like a purse, with one front zippered compartment (concealed under the flap) and two zippers running across the top evidently to access the main compartments. It's odd because Gaelic Themes usually markets themselves to the Pipe Band community, and I can't see a Pipe Band going with a sporran this unusual-looking.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Spo...temCondition=4

Here are the Evening Dress pages from the standard old trifold sporran catalogue that was used by a number of sporranmakers and retailers for decades. You can see the "G" cantle, with the large plain dome.

Here, centre top, is Mr Stonk's "D" cantle

**Mr stonk** · 10th June 19, 04:02 AM

20190610_113221.jpg
Thanks for the info and the image definitely looks like what I've purchased... not arrived yet but looking forward to receiving it.

Similarly to your first US eBay link there was almost no description on the listing for the sporran I purchased.
Pretty much just says 'sporran for sale' and a single image.
I'm guessing the sellers don't appreciate what they have and possibly they are not the original owners of the sporran and understand the true value.
That's 2 quality sporrans I now own and paid less than £30 for each of them. The other was a new/unused Nicoll Bros of Bankfoot day sporran in dark brown.
I appreciate some people are not fans of Ebay but if you know what your looking for and do a little bit of research then bargains can be found.

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As Nicoll Bros no longer appear to be manufacturing sporrans I do not know how much this is worth but I'm guessing over £100

**OC Richard** · 26th June 19, 06:32 AM

Hard to beat Nicoll Brothers sporrans. Superb quality.

Now, the following listing is puzzling, and I'll have to do a bit of research.

It's said to be "made in Scotland" but it isn't so stamped; it's stamped "Pride Scotland". (I have seen numerous examples of Pakistani-made jackets and sporrans labelled "so-and-so Scotland". This can be taken to imply that the goods are made in Scotland without specifically claiming it, a deceptive marketing ploy.)

In any case there's something a bit odd about the construction of this sporran.

I wonder if the "Pride" name is connected to the range of "Pride" tartans.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rampant-Lio...temCondition=4

There are numerous made in Scotland sealskin sporrans on Ebay now, quite inexpensive but illegal here in the USA.

This one is by Manacraft

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Sco...temCondition=4

Sometimes one sees sporrans that are quite obviously high-quality vintage Scottish-made items, but are not stamped.

This is one of those:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Adult-Leath...temCondition=4

**Mr stonk** · 26th June 19, 04:03 PM

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F333245645718

Nicoll Bros of Bankfoot eBay UK sporran... I'll watch with interest. 🤔

**OC Richard** · 11th July 19, 04:54 AM

There are two sporrans listed by the same UK seller listed as "heavily used damaged".

Here they are

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Heavily-Use...temCondition=4

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Heavily-Use...temCondition=4

To me their condition looks rather good. But I'm always looking at vintage sporrans. I've seen much worse.

The bodies and cantles seem to be in great shape, except one cantle has is bent a bit in the back.

The main thing is that both sporrans are missing their tassels.

I do need to point out that both sporrans are sealskin and thus illegal in the USA.

**williame** · 13th July 19, 07:30 AM

Hi friends. Inspired by this thread I paid some attention to Ebay for a few days and saw a nice new dress sporran (no tags) from L&M for less than USD $57 including shipping. Listed at CAD 310 (about USD 235) on the L&M website. So without tags it was selling for about one-quarter the original list price. I look forward to receiving it and upping my sporran game from the current holding, one functional but unmemorable black leather (day) sporran.