Quality Sporrans for less money

**Wingnut037** · 1st February 23, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

An ornate sporran with none upon thars.

Sure would be nice to find one of those in budget!

**OC Richard** · 2nd February 23, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Wingnut037

Sure would be nice to find one of those in budget!

Yes indeed!

Over the years I've got many bargains on Ebay.

But that "dragon" cantle wasn't one of them!

Unfortunately I got into a little bidding war with someone, and I think I ended up paying over $300 for it.

Which I've never regretted. Though it's cast, and thus it must have been made in quantity, in 50 years of kiltwatching I've never seen another.

It came with a boring long white horsehair body, which after swapping out cantles I sold.

Later that goat-hair sporran came up, with a quite ugly bronze cantle, and after a second swap I had what I was after: an Edwardian style goat-hair sporran with beautiful vintage Celtic cantle.

BTW back in those days things were generally made en suite so there was probably matching crossbelt and waistbelt hardware, and perhaps a plaid brooch.

Something like this, from an old RG Lawrie catalogue. Most, or all, of these patterns had a matching sporran cantle and matching plaid brooch.

Second from left looks similar to my cantle, but the sporran cantle that went with that belt hardware was different.

**Wingnut037** · 2nd February 23, 11:22 PM

While brass is not my favorite, this is a pretty handsome sporran. Made in Scotland, ships from the US.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134434689795

**Scottish Rock** · 3rd February 23, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Very astute questions!

Thank you. And also thank you for your very useful answers.

As for damaging the kilt, my kiltmaker actually prefers all-leather sporran straps over chains for that very reason. Since I'm spending quite a bit on my kilt (even though it's PV because of my wool allergy) that is definitely a concern for me.

I'm sure there are some chains that won't do any damage, in particular those that have properly welded links that are also sanded and polished afterwards (as opposed to cheaper links that are just bent pieces of metal where the ends of each link are simply cut off and simply touch, leaving sharp edges ready to destroy your kilt). Unfortunately this is something you are unlikely to be able to tell from a picture.

And then apart from that there's apparently the stitching which can have knots sticking up, something I had not considered until now.

I would have liked this one which looks like it's from W.E. Scott and Son:

£57.85
https://kiltsformen.co.uk/celtic-int...r-sporran.html
celtic_interweave_woven_tassel_black_leather_sporran.jpg

except that I don't really like the type of leather it's made from. I'd buy this one in an instant if it was a bit more smooth. The grain on the sporran bag is too coarse for my liking and the flap has what appear to be little dents in it across the entire surface.

I noticed that the above does not allow you to select a specific waist whereas this website:

£100.00
https://www.artisansofscotland.com/s...ltic-knotwork/

appears to offer the exact same sporran but does allow you to specify a waist size.

**OC Richard** · 3rd February 23, 04:57 AM

I hope somebody here can snap this up, what a bargain, WE Scott & Son (Edinburgh) with the unusual brass cantle, in as-new condition, for a $35 buy it now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13443468979...tion=10%7C3000

**Hauge** · 6th February 23, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I hope somebody here can snap this up, what a bargain, WE Scott & Son (Edinburgh) with the unusual brass cantle, in as-new condition, for a $35 buy it now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13443468979...tion=10%7C3000

Seems someone did! - Lucky new owner...

Cant help thinking a brown leather "chain" with matching belt and Ghillies.
Oh and some "British Racing green" wool maybe? - Just to let it pop...

**OC Richard** · 8th February 23, 04:19 AM

I tried to post this yesterday here but I couldn't access the site.

It was $30 then, it's shot up over $100 now.

Another probably WE Scott & Son, this time EW3.

It appears to have the higher-quality 5-piece silverplated cantle.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13443733584...Bk9SR5b3pIzGYQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13443733584...Bk9SR5b3pIzGYQ

**OC Richard** · 13th February 23, 05:29 AM

No markings but it looks legit to me.

Not sure of the fur but it might be bovine or something good for USA import.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18577397119...tion=10%7C3000

I don't usually mention military sporrans here but this is one of those examples of somebody putting a cap badge on a sporran.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27568358314...tion=10%7C3000

All of the regiments, as far as I know, had dedicated sporran badges and the Camerons were one of those who did.

Here, to left, a Cameron Highlanders Other Ranks sporran with its badge. Superficially the badge resembles the cap badge, but it's smaller and the wreath is configured differently.

**OC Richard** · 15th February 23, 04:19 AM

Nice musquash (?) fur with EW3 cantle and "pigskin" targe.

Too bad, in my opinion, that it has a clan badge stuck on it.

Not marked but almost certainly Scottish-made.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23489695794...Bk9SR-yYz8zKYQ

**JPS** · 15th February 23, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Nice musquash (?) fur with EW3 cantle and "pigskin" targe.

Too bad, in my opinion, that it has a clan badge stuck on it.

Not marked but almost certainly Scottish-made.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23489695794...Bk9SR-yYz8zKYQ

Fortunately the cantle is stamped Made in Scotland. Not my style, either, but could be a very nice piece for someone here.