Sporran chain vs. Sporran leather strap

[Colin]

I got a couple of really good leather straps from Robert at www.rkilts.com that work great.

I haven't seen the evidence that either wears on a kilt, but I rotate the leather strap and chain belts based on the event and the formality, but I do the same with my sporrans. My brown Freelander always has a leather strap and my seal skin dress sporran always has a chain belt.

[Jack Daw]

While I might generally agree with this assesment, I have seen eyewitness artistic renderings, including this one from the Penicuik series of the '45 that clearly show what appears to be a belt-type strap:



Rather this was seperate or attached/sewn to the sporran I cannot say.

I also know that the 84th RoF living history organization has documentation from the later 18th century that shows they wore raccoon sporrans with a belt-type strap attached/sewn to the sporran.

Also, again in the Penicuik renderings as well as 18th century paintings I've been looking at, the sporran is almost always worn as it is now, squarely (or nearly so) in front.

note: the figure in the print is identified by the Penicuik artist as 'Glengarry'. This is presumed to be Colonel Angus McDonnell, Glengarry's second son, who was accidentally shot and killed on January 22, 1746, when one of Clanranald's men failed to realize that the firelock he was cleaning was loaded.

I've tried to wear my period pouch and one sporran to the side, but this is uncomfortable as I walk and the pouch slaps against my thigh. Nothing beats wearing it smack-dab in the middle; so, with this consideration, where's the logic to wear it to the side?

[BoldHighlander]

I've tried to wear my period pouch and one sporran to the side, but this is uncomfortable as I walk and the pouch slaps against my thigh. Nothing beats wearing it smack-dab in the middle; so, with this consideration, where's the logic to wear it to the side?

I don't know, I always wore mine in the middle as well

[Hamish]

...............................My brown Freelander always has a leather strap and my seal skin dress sporran always has a chain belt.

That is the way it should be, Colin. Day wear = leather strap with buckle - no 'D' rings and clips; Dress wear = chain strap, probably with 'D' rings and clips.

Take care,
Ham.

[Cat]

This discussion comes at a very interesting time to me...I've actually been kicking around the idea of making all-leather sporran belts, since they don't seem to be the easiest thing to find. They'd probably be 3/4", with a nice nickel-plated or solid brass buckle and finished in a choice of several different color options (black, cordovan, natural, even some "bright" colors like blue.) They'd have beveled edges, finished/smoothed backs and waterproofed. I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of about $20, maybe a couple dollars more for those with trigger snaps.

I didn't mean to hijack the thread, and hopefully I'm not breaking any forum rules. I'm not trying to sell anything at this point, just sort of spitballing and seeing if that's something others would be interested in. If this post breaks any rules, I apologise and the mods are free to move or remove it.

[thescot]

Giraffe,

I know that this is a distance from your stomping grounds, but Thistle & Shamrock at Ulster & Bellview at Marina Square in the DTC have all sorts of sporrans with leather and chain on display and for sale. . . .

I bought my first balmoral in their store several years ago. It's still my favorite as it's quite salty and worn now.

Everything you said about the shop was true, and though I don't get to Denver anymore, I recommend it to those who do.

[kfreeouf]

I will only wear a strap next to my kilt. Once you've ruined a favorite kilt with a chain, you're not likely to wear one anytime soon. I usually make my own using the mystery weave (google for a link with instructions) or hand tool and stain the strap to match the sporran. Recently, I used a flat leather strap and attached to the surface of the strap and dressy chain. It gives the "bling" of a chain with the "kilt kindness" of a strap. I'll try to post some pictures, but it's really pretty simple to rivet the chain to the strap every few inches using decorative rivets or conchos. Just be sure the back side of the rivet that faces the kilt, is perfectly smooth. I cement very thing leather to the back side of the stap, over the rivets for added safety.
I have found that this type of strap also slips less than a chain.
YMMV
Semper Fi,
Keith

[Nick the DSM]

can someone explain chain and strap? im confused here.

[JakobT]

can someone explain chain and strap? im confused here.

Sporran chains don't go all the way round. They usually consist of a short leather strap with a buckle to allow for length adjustment, with lengths of chain fastened to the ends with triangular D-rings. When the chain is in place, the leather strap part is invisible from the front.

A strap, however, is just a strap with a buckle, like a very narrow leather belt.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

All leather sporran straps are my preference (even a black one for formal occasions looks nice, if you don't want to wear the chain). I agree they can be hard to find, though I'm not quite sure why. We looked so long and hard for a supplier that we could use, the we eventually started making our own in house. We still make our own for the majority of sporran straps that we sell.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_acc.html

However, since becoming a licensed dealer for L&M Highland Wear (a great sporran maker in Nova Scotia), we've discovered that they also can provide all leather sporran straps. No, they do not sell direct to the public, but any business who carrieds L&M sporrans can also supply you with an all leather sporran strap.

I imagine many other sporran providers can supply all leather straps upon request. So it's a mystery to me why they seem to be so scarce, other than the fact that many sporran makers include a chain strap in with your sporran purchase, and this encourages people to just wear the chain, since that's what came with their sporran.

M