Early 18th Century Brass Sporran Cantle

[MacRobert's Reply]

IMG_1405.jpg
I recently obtained this early 18th Century sporran cantle. The bag is a replacement from the early 20th Century and here it is being worn after a light clean and polish.

It arrived looking like this:
IMG_1380.jpgIMG_1381.jpg

For the technically interested: The cantle is of cast brass construction. The faceplate varies from 0.13 to 0.14 of an inch thick, is 5.6 inches wide (excluding the knobs) and about 3.5 inches deep (excluding the knobs). Overall the cantle is about 0.8 of an inch thick when closed. The back plate, top and sides are a single casting and overall about 0.09 of an inch thick. The central knob appears to have been cast using the lost-wax method. Strap loops on the rear are steel and riveted.

It has a cunning and complex locking mechanism that I will describe in another post if anyone is interested.

[jhockin]

Nice! Did it cost you both legs?

[McMurdo]

That is a holy grail item, well done! I for one would love to hear how it all works.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Nice! Did it cost you both legs?

Expensive if it had turned out to be a more recent replica but cheap as it's the real thing!

[MacRobert's Reply]

IMG_1380.jpg
IMG_1385r.jpg
IMG_1386r.jpg

The first thing to note is that many of the knobs are functional rather than purely decorative ... form often does follow function and then becomes more a matter of style or aesthetics as time goes by.

There are ten knobs protruding from the side and top plate. In clockwise order looking at the front of the sporran and starting from the left hinge knob:
1 left hinge knob
2 knob securing the heavy tapered spring-steel latch (riveted through the latch)
3 decorative knob (non-functioning duplicate of 7)
4 decorative knob (non-functioning duplicate of 6)
5 opening knob (unscrew slightly and push down to open). Threaded into the latch and riveted over.
6 sliding knob to engage dead bolt (slide towards opening knob to secure)
7 rotating deadbolt knob (rotates 360 degrees and must be perfectly aligned to within a degree or two to allow the dead bolt to be disengaged)
8 deadbolt press knob or button (that must be pushed in to disengage the dead-bolt spring at the same time that knob 7 is perfectly aligned to allow the deadbolt to be slid back using knob 6)
9 decorative knob (non-functioning duplicate of 2)
10 right hinge knob
The latch bolt is the steel pin riveted to the brass faceplate.

So in practice when wearing the sporran:

To close the sporran: simply push the face plate towards the rest of the cantle and the latch bolt engages. Screw the opening knob (5) clockwise to prevent inadvertent opening.

To lock: push the sliding knob (6) towards the opening knob (5).

To unlock: precisely align the rotating deadbolt knob (7). A few wee marks on the knob provide clues if you can interpret them. Then simultaneously push in the deadbolt knob/button (8) with the left thumb while simultaneously sliding knob (6) towards the rotating deadbolt knob (7) with the right thumb!

To open: unscrew the opening knob (5) half a turn or so and press it down.

As pointed out by an esteemed member of this forum, by then someone else has bought the round!

[McMurdo]

Thanks for the detailed explanation and photos and I thought my modern brass cantled sporrans were a feat of engineering. That just makes all the more special.

[Nomad]

Wow, great find and I don't think you'll have to worry about sporran pickers with that mechanism.

[Bluescelt]

Very nice. Always great to see a vintage piece. Great acquisition!

[jock gray]

I also Bid on this on E Bay, I maxed out at £ 450...ish , wife was going to kill me, But you have got your self a fantastic Sporran, Enjoy and Well done wear it with pride.

[MacRobert's Reply]

I also Bid on this on E Bay, I maxed out at £ 450...ish , wife was going to kill me, But you have got your self a fantastic Sporran, Enjoy and Well done wear it with pride.

Sorry I bumped you Jock but glad to have contributed to your domestic stability!