Quality Sporrans for less money

[OC Richard]

Back over so many years when so many different sporran makers were using the same hardware, you would see how certain cantles came silver-plated, others came chrome-plated.

Occasionally you might see a cantle normally seen in silverplate in chrome, but it would be an exception.

The cantles usually seen in silverplate were the celtic knotwork & bosses cantle used on EW2, the "G" cantle, and the EW5 cantle with the ancient "bullseye" or "goddess eye" motif.

Usually the silverplate cantles had a "Made In Scotland" stamp on the side while the chrome-plated cantles did not.

Here are a couple photos from the tri-fold sheet used by a number of sporranmakers and retailers throughout the latter 20th century:






Here's a page from the Anderson 1936 catalogue showing the fairly recently-established Evening Dress sporrans in sealskin with (usually) a curved silver cantle. Little changed between the 1920s and throughout the rest of the 20th century.

[OC Richard]

Time for more quality Scottish-made sporrans for under $100.

Here's a wonderful Hunting sporran by Margaret Morrison of Scotland, no bids, $75, with a $100 BIN

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Hunti...p2056016.l4276

Another Margaret Morrison Hunting sporran from the same seller

https://www.ebay.com/itm/White-Hunti....c100752.m1982

This sporran doesn't show a stamp on the back but appears to be a quality made-in-Scotland sporran, from the same seller (in the USA which is a bonus in this case)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenland-d....c100752.m1982

[Piobair]

Ugh.

I appreciate the sentiment behind this thread, but posts like this drive up prices for items some of us found doing our own research. I'd appreciate it if we reserved ebay posts to questions of provenance or the rare example. I know Richard has the best intentions, but anyone can come on here and post "hey, check out this incredible deal on these jackets I happen to know about" - be they a well meaning member of the community or someone who wants to direct traffic to items they're selling.

[FossilHunter]

Ugh.

I appreciate the sentiment behind this thread, but posts like this drive up prices for items some of us found doing our own research. I'd appreciate it if we reserved ebay posts to questions of provenance or the rare example. I know Richard has the best intentions, but anyone can come on here and post "hey, check out this incredible deal on these jackets I happen to know about" - be they a well meaning member of the community or someone who wants to direct traffic to items they're selling.

I can’t agree. All the ebay listings are public and could be found by anyone. I appreciate OC Richard taking the time to share a good deal with the community here.

I’ve been on other forums that have a “deals” section where members can help each other out with restrictions on listing things the member is selling themselves.

So long as it’s not just puppet accounts advertising for a business, it seems like a good way to help each other in the community. If we had one here, it’s be a good way to help people find deals on items that are not kilt specific too (say macys has a good deal on wingtips or something).

As for ebay, just because you got scooped on a sporran doesn’t mean you can’t still buy it. If you really want it, just bid higher.

[Piobair]

As for ebay, just because you got scooped on a sporran doesn’t mean you can’t still buy it. If you really want it, just bid higher.

You're free to your opinion, and I too like the sense of community that helping others spot diamonds in the rough encourages.

From my point of view, it takes some of the sport out of hunting through listings knowing that it's just going to be spoon-fed to anyone who happens upon the forum. Obviously anyone could bid higher to win the auction, but if you, like me, enjoy finding a deal, this makes it harder. This isn't like a sale at Macy's, where there are multiple items for a set price. More often than not, it's something that's a one off, has either been misidentified by the seller or is just not something the casual forum member would be aware of or would even have cared about until someone explained the significance. Because it's an auction, the increased interest leads to higher prices. The idea of promoting "affordable" items is a little self-defeating, as increased competition makes it less affordable. It's not so much an issue of ethics and, as stated above, I know that it's made with the best intentions. Think of it like a great local bar or restaurant - the minute someone starts talking about it on Yelp or some forum, getting a table becomes impossible.


There is a ton of information on the boards and in this topic that could help teach people what to look for. I have no problem with suggesting methods for finding deals (the Morrison sporrans listed presently aren't exactly difficult to find) or reviewing recent auction results so people know what's out there, but come on... learn what to look for and then do the work yourself.


As far as putting limitations on not being able to link to items a forum member is selling, how exactly would that be monitored? Seems tricky.

[Moses]

... learn what to look for and then do the work yourself....

I must admit I hadn't considered that point of view and you make a valid point.

I am trying to learn what to look for and in that regard this is an excellent thread. I do understand how pointing a spotlight on a potential deal could be viewed as an issue.

However above all, please continue to share information and in doing so promote Highland Dress

[FossilHunter]

You're free to your opinion, and I too like the sense of community that helping others spot diamonds in the rough encourages.

From my point of view, it takes some of the sport out of hunting through listings knowing that it's just going to be spoon-fed to anyone who happens upon the forum. Obviously anyone could bid higher to win the auction, but if you, like me, enjoy finding a deal, this makes it harder. This isn't like a sale at Macy's, where there are multiple items for a set price. More often than not, it's something that's a one off, has either been misidentified by the seller or is just not something the casual forum member would be aware of or would even have cared about until someone explained the significance. Because it's an auction, the increased interest leads to higher prices. The idea of promoting "affordable" items is a little self-defeating, as increased competition makes it less affordable. It's not so much an issue of ethics and, as stated above, I know that it's made with the best intentions. Think of it like a great local bar or restaurant - the minute someone starts talking about it on Yelp or some forum, getting a table becomes impossible.


There is a ton of information on the boards and in this topic that could help teach people what to look for. I have no problem with suggesting methods for finding deals (the Morrison sporrans listed presently aren't exactly difficult to find) or reviewing recent auction results so people know what's out there, but come on... learn what to look for and then do the work yourself.


As far as putting limitations on not being able to link to items a forum member is selling, how exactly would that be monitored? Seems tricky.

While I find getting a deal gratifying, it's not my main reason for using ebay. Getting the thing I want is the main draw, though saving money is always a plus.

And realistically, I doubt this thread will start any major bidding wars. Some people wear kilts, a smaller number of them read this forum, a smaller number of those people wear traditional sporrans, and an even smaller number will want an authentic, Scottish sporran. Of the people who see this thread, many will dress non-traditionally, and more will probably elect to just wear a cheap Pakistani sporran or the one they already got from the kilt shop.

Regardless, I think we'll just have to disagree about the ebay thing.

My other thought about a deals section wasn't clear in my previous post. It would probably not include ebay listings. It would need to be "deals, coupons, and sales" from online stores and would need to not include vendors or advertisers who should advertise deals on their own sub forums I think. It would be a good way to share deals for things that don't get advertised here (like the wingtips at macys). It shouldn't be too hard to keep out spammers since the moderators see peoples email addresses and IP information, that's what allows them to keep banned members from coming back with puppet accounts. There is also the probation period all new member have that requires that all of their first ten posts be approved my moderators. It would be difficult for someone to make a bunch of fake accounts from the same IP address and run each through ten moderated posts just to promote "Seamus' house O' Kilts."

That's my general idea. Maybe I will start a new thread to suggest it so I don't derail OC Richard's thread too much.

[OC Richard]

I too like the sense of community that helping others spot diamonds in the rough...

...not something the casual forum member would be aware of or would even have cared about until someone explained the significance...

...spoon-fed to anyone who happens upon the forum.

The casual forum members and people who happen upon the forum are, in my opinion, just as much part of our community as anyone else, and are perhaps the people who will most be helped by the information about how to wisely shop for used kit.

...promoting "affordable" items is a little self-defeating, as increased competition makes it less affordable. It's not so much an issue of ethics and, as stated above, I know that it's made with the best intentions. Think of it like a great local bar or restaurant - the minute someone starts talking about it on Yelp or some forum, getting a table becomes impossible.

Your point is well taken and I mulled over the ethics of it before I started this thread. In the end I decided that, for me, the most important thing is to share information and give guidance.

If I didn't make it clear earlier (perhaps I did not) I have no connexion with any of these Ebay sellers and my purpose is not to promote or endorse those people. However I think the clearest way to show people what to look for is to use concrete examples.

My philosophy is that Ebay is public information, and everyone should have just as much access to what's available there as they should have to the under-the-radar restaurant you mention. If I find a great restaurant I'll tell anybody who will listen! I want my friends to have wonderful meals and I want the restaurant to thrive.

Another point is, how many vintage sporrans does any one person need? I pointed out 20 or so items; surely there's enough to go around. If, on the other hand, somebody's intention is not to get a sporran for their own use, but to snap up every bargain they can find and then flip them for a profit, I feel no pangs of remorse.

[Dunbar]

The casual forum members and people who happen upon the forum are, in my opinion, just as much part of our community as anyone else, and are perhaps the people who will most be helped by the information about how to wisely shop for used kit.



Your point is well taken and I mulled over the ethics of it before I started this thread. In the end I decided that, for me, the most important thing is to share information and give guidance.

If I didn't make it clear earlier (perhaps I did not) I have no connexion with any of these Ebay sellers and my purpose is not to promote or endorse those people. However I think the clearest way to show people what to look for is to use concrete examples.

My philosophy is that Ebay is public information, and everyone should have just as much access to what's available there as they should have to the under-the-radar restaurant you mention. If I find a great restaurant I'll tell anybody who will listen! I want my friends to have wonderful meals and I want the restaurant to thrive.

Another point is, how many vintage sporrans does any one person need? I pointed out 20 or so items; surely there's enough to go around. If, on the other hand, somebody's intention is not to get a sporran for their own use, but to snap up every bargain they can find and then flip them for a profit, I feel no pangs of remorse.

I appreciate this thread. I have been a member of X for less than a year and am educating myself be reading. I'm not ready to invest in the Sporrans that I want to keep for life. I also do not like the look of the cheap ones. I picked up one of the former 'hire' sporrans in the OP and will use it until I learn enough. I am good at getting what I want on eBay and when the time is right I will be in the hunt. Your concrete examples do help!

[Piobair]

The casual forum members and people who happen upon the forum are, in my opinion, just as much part of our community as anyone else, and are perhaps the people who will most be helped by the information about how to wisely shop for used kit.



Your point is well taken and I mulled over the ethics of it before I started this thread. In the end I decided that, for me, the most important thing is to share information and give guidance.

If I didn't make it clear earlier (perhaps I did not) I have no connexion with any of these Ebay sellers and my purpose is not to promote or endorse those people. However I think the clearest way to show people what to look for is to use concrete examples.

My philosophy is that Ebay is public information, and everyone should have just as much access to what's available there as they should have to the under-the-radar restaurant you mention. If I find a great restaurant I'll tell anybody who will listen! I want my friends to have wonderful meals and I want the restaurant to thrive.

Another point is, how many vintage sporrans does any one person need? I pointed out 20 or so items; surely there's enough to go around. If, on the other hand, somebody's intention is not to get a sporran for their own use, but to snap up every bargain they can find and then flip them for a profit, I feel no pangs of remorse.

I wasn’t accusing you of being unethical, just pointing out my feelings on the topic. And hey, if I was selling one of those sporrans, I certainly wouldn’t mind the attention.

Applying the same logic as others used above regarding the likelihood (or lack there of) of a bidding war, I think it’s probsbly similarly unlikely that there are very many people flipping vintage sporrans - the margins are just way too low.

As far as the rules about advertisers - I’m of the opinion that the mods can do what they gotta do.

At the end of the day, as long as the end result is fewer people wearing belts with waistcoats or flashes on their calves, I’m happy.