another Artificianado joins the ranks!

**IsaacW** · 29th October 14, 06:02 AM

Congratulations! I am a bit jealous ;-)

IW

**Kilted Cole** · 29th October 14, 12:51 PM

Let me know when your sporrans arrive Richard. I received mine this morning. In case any of you are wondering.... Artificers bags are a little bit bigger than the old MOD bags that were issued with the cantles.
Here is my MOD Cantle and MOD issued bag next to another MOD cantle (the one I sent to Scott (Artificer) and his bags, to show you some of the size differences.

I trust you will be as happy with your purchase Richard, as I am.

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**Thomas H** · 29th October 14, 01:08 PM

wonderful sporrans Gents !! @KiltedCole do you have up close pictures of your dark hair MOD sporran ? looks awesome

**OC Richard** · 30th October 14, 06:04 AM

My sporran arrived yesterday! People always say, about Artificer's work, that "photos don't do it justice" and it's true.

The leather has a wonderful subtle pebble grain to the surface, and is butter-soft to the touch. The fine braided cords to the tassels are works of art, as are the tassels themselves.

As you can see in the OP photo my sporran has an extra-big bag, which I requested, both because I'm a big guy (6'4" 230lb) and because I'm always carrying a load of stuff. The original MOD bag was small and stiff and wouldn't hold much stuff.

I'll wear the sporran tomorrow at a funeral I'm piping at.

One question: do the brass loops at the back stain your kilt?

**artificer** · 30th October 14, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

My sporran arrived yesterday! People always say, about Artificer's work, that "photos don't do it justice" and it's true.

The leather has a wonderful subtle pebble grain to the surface, and is butter-soft to the touch. The fine braided cords to the tassels are works of art, as are the tassels themselves.

As you can see in the OP photo my sporran has an extra-big bag, which I requested, both because I'm a big guy (6'4" 230lb) and because I'm always carrying a load of stuff. The original MOD bag was small and stiff and wouldn't hold much stuff.

I'll wear the sporran tomorrow at a funeral I'm piping at.

One question: do the brass loops at the back stain your kilt?

Thanks, all, for the very kind comments- especially given my less-than-sterling photos (my shop camera died at the end of last week and I've been WAAAY too busy to begin researching buying a new one, so I'm stuck using my phone which doesn't have a macro or manual setting).

I do wish I could find more of that leather- it was on the thick side of usable for sporrans, but it skived reasonably well, and the buttery quality was unsurpassed for a leather that had that much body. :/
@OC Richard, I wear my brass cantle quite often and have never noticed any patina/transfer from the brass loops to my apron. I think it would be more of an issue if it were left resting on the kilt for long periods of storage than with regular wear.

ith:

**MacGumerait** · 30th October 14, 10:01 PM

Richard ,

Absolutely gorgeous sporran ! I love the style you selected and I love the leather color .

Scott , you truly are an " artificer " .

Now for the really BIG question .... Richard , does this mean the goat hair is going into retirement ?

Cheers , Mike

**OC Richard** · 31st October 14, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by MacGumerait

.

Now for the really BIG question .... Richard , does this mean the goat hair is going into retirement ?

It will not, but now finally I have an alternative. I've been wearing that goathair thing all the time, in every sort of dress, for years now. The only times I don't wear it is 1) with the band, where I have to match and 2) when I'm in military Full Dress.

Now I have TWO "go-to" sporrans, the goathair for when I'm wearing the black Argyll and the Culloden for when I'm wearing tweed.

**marypenny** · 31st October 14, 08:53 PM

Very handsome sporran! Very nice. Lovely workmanship. Congratulations on this addition.

**OC Richard** · 1st November 14, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

Congrats on the new purchase, and on the addition of a new term to the XMarks lexicon!

Thanks! But I'll have to decline the credit for the term, because it actually quite old, making its first appearance in Geoffrey Chaucer's Cadbury Tales, specifically in The Tale of The Wife's Bath.

artificianado Pronunciation: \är-ti-fi-see-an-ah-doh!\ : noun : 14th century : an appreciator of the artistic work of a master craftsman

**Orionson** · 2nd November 14, 01:52 AM

[QUOTE=OC Richard;1264270]Thanks! But I'll have to decline the credit for the term, because it actually quite old, making its first appearance in Geoffrey Chaucer's Cadbury Tales, specifically in The Tale of The Wife's Bath.

The Cadbury Tales, indeed a grand olde classic of English Literature . Were they not the ones where Chaucer incorporated the history of the discovery of chocolate with the everyday lives of everyday people in their pilgrimage to the holy of holies ~ Willie Wonka's Chocolate factory where the guidwife bathed daily in chocolate?