two magnificent Victorian doublets on Ebay

[Nathan]

Certainly understandable. But what do you suggest be done with all the military items that have "battle honours" on them, once their original owners (or descendants) no longer want them? Should they be destroyed? They can't all go into museums, and it's a shame to think that they'd be stuffed away for eternity, never to be viewed or worn ever again.

I certainly don't think they should be destroyed. Just like medals for valour, they should be saved and cherished by the person's descendants or collectors or museums etc... Perhaps the cantle could be replaced and the sporran could be worn as a civilian piece with the original cantle stored in case of resale to a collector who wants it mint. The sporran was designed to be worn by members of the Seaforth Highlanders Regiment and, judging by the look of it, by pretty high ranking members at that.

There are other such items that we wouldn't or shouldn't just wear with our street clothes.
It's like a Mayor's livery collar or the chief of police's uniform for a disbanded municipality or as I said before, the medals of honour of a deceased soldier. They should be admired, collected, preserved, but what should not happen is for poseurs to prance around in them as if they have some entitlement to the honour, sacrifice and service they represent.

Perhaps they should never be worn again. I don't think that's necessarily a shame. A collector can put it in a letterbox and hang it on his wall for all to enjoy without wrapping it around his waist.

Heck, I wouldn't even display bowling trophies I didn't win either, no matter what a good deal I got them for.

If you bought Mohammed Ali's Championship boxing belt, would you wear it? I wouldn't. I'm not nor have I ever been the World Champ. I might buy a World Series Championship ring from a hard up ball player and show it to my friends or sell at a profit later or pass down to my kids but I would never wear it. I simply haven't earned the right.