Quality Sporrans for less money

[Troglodyte]

Nice older WE Scott seal evening sporran with silverplate top.

Within US borders, $120.

It has the scribe-line across the back, an original feature of their 1953 Patent sporrans which was eventually dropped.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39658444300...tedSearch=true

The seller's description is fun '...Scottish Kilt Belt Bag...' and '...a one-size-fits-all piece, ensuring a comfortable fit for a variety of waist sizes.'

Well, he's not wrong..!

[OC Richard]

A nice WE Scott EW1 sporran, unusually with five tassels, seal, within US borders, $48 Buy It Now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28655920358...tedSearch=true

[User]

A nice WE Scott EW1 sporran, unusually with five tassels, seal, within US borders, $48 Buy It Now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28655920358...tedSearch=true

I couldn't resist; I bought it. I removed the extra two tassels. The holes left behind aren't very noticeable, and I think I prefer it with three. Some of the fur is pointing in funny directions from wear. Any recommendations to lay the fur flat?

[Troglodyte]

I couldn't resist; I bought it. I removed the extra two tassels. The holes left behind aren't very noticeable, and I think I prefer it with three. Some of the fur is pointing in funny directions from wear. Any recommendations to lay the fur flat?

The solution is easy.

Remember that fur is hair and treat it the same way.

You can use hair products on both fur and hair sporrans (even to the point of shampooing, but that's not recommended!) but chemical-based products are best avoided. If the hair or fur is very dry (when is it not?) an application of natural coconut oil works very well in moderation, as it revitalises the hair and restores the sheen. Let the warmth of your hands soften the oil, and spread it evenly across the palms before 'stroking' it onto the fur, remembering to go against the growth direction as well as with it.

Also, the hair-dressers' trick of damening the hair and using a hair-dryer and natural bristle brush will quickly have all the hairs lying flat and in the same direction. Cat-grooming brushes and combs work very well.

Instead of leaving vacant holes where you have removed the tassels, you could use them to make a crossing chain arrangement for the three tassels you are keeping - which would make the sporran unique and individual.

[OC Richard]

That's a clever solution!

I found both sorts of chain arrangements in this 1990s Nicol Brothers catalogue

[MacKenzie]

Any recommendations to lay the fur flat?

https://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/HRCP-P3984.aspx

Cleaner & Protectant... https://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/TCK1-P3981.aspx

Cat brushes/combs as Trog suggested.

[OC Richard]

Gorgeous early Prince Charlie style sporran, seal but here in the USA, $60 opening bid but grab your popcorn.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30630942771...102140.m167418

[spr0k3t]

Gorgeous early Prince Charlie style sporran, seal but here in the USA, $60 opening bid but grab your popcorn.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30630942771...102140.m167418

Yeah, that one is going to go for a bit. Even has a long link chain with it.

[OC Richard]

Yeah, that one is going to go for a bit. Even has a long link chain with it.

Yep.

I put the photos from that Ebay listing into a little Family Portrait.

Some of these had long-link chains too.

[OC Richard]

The pickins have been slim recently, but this lovely popped up, a traditional brown Day sporran with seal front around $10 currently.

It's by WE Scott Edinburgh.

BTW there's a modern misconception that putting fur on the front of a Day sporran turns it into a "semi dress" sporran.

Day sporrans were offered with seal fronts from the get-go and are seen in all the early 20th century catalogues. The concept of "semi dress" sporrans didn't appear until around 1980.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22677530139...Bk9SR7a34PDiZQ