Quality Sporrans for less money

**OC Richard** · 18th June 21, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by JPS

It's an interesting and uncommon flap shape, not one that W E Scott used as far as I know, and not quite like any of the Forsyth ones I've seen, or any other maker that I can recall.

Yet I've seen that flap design somewhere.

EDIT: I've just looked through all my photos of vintage and newer leather sporrans and I can't find that exact flap shape anywhere.

The one I was probably remembering, though it's different as you can see, was the style called TT by WE Scott and several other makers. Still, I know I've seen the flap shape on that Ebay sporran somewhere!

**JPS** · 19th June 21, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

It's an interesting and uncommon flap shape, not one that W E Scott used as far as I know, and not quite like any of the Forsyth ones I've seen, or any other maker that I can recall.

Yet I've seen that flap design somewhere.

EDIT: I've just looked through all my photos of vintage and newer leather sporrans and I can't find that exact flap shape anywhere.

The one I was probably remembering, though it's different as you can see, was the style called TT by WE Scott and several other makers. Still, I know I've seen the flap shape on that Ebay sporran somewhere!

It's puzzling. I guess the simplest explanation is that the seller remembers incorrectly, and he bought it from a Pakistani seller, or it's much older than he thinks, but do you see a similarity between the two pictures I posted? The one on the left is the current W.E. Scott GTSF, and the one on the right is the EBay sporran.

Originally Posted by ShaunMaxwell

I'm not a big fan of this style, as I find that the stitched-down flap makes it a bit difficult to access the sporran's contents. It's also not a particularly roomy sporran.

Caveat emptor and all that...

Cheers,

SM

I really appreciate that info, both about the potential provenance of the sporran, and about its practical qualities. Caveat emptor is a powerful word.

**JPS** · 22nd June 21, 05:16 AM

Here's a rabbit fur day sporran in nice condition with chrome bell tassels. "smells like moth balls" but hopefully a little fresh air and cedar will help that.

**OC Richard** · 23rd June 21, 05:08 AM

On Ebay now there are quite a few very nice seal Evening sporrans, illegal and risky for us here in the USA.

Here's a very nice vintage plain leather Day sporran, in the quite dark brown often seen with military sporrans.

It has the older-style stud fastening on the flap.

No stamp but obviously a quality vintage Scottish-made sporran, for $50 including shipping from Scotland.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14408492347...ndition=4%7C10

A more recent version of the same sporran, in black, with press button fastening.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39325119132...ndition=4%7C10

**Brian Rose** · 1st July 21, 08:45 AM

At the risk of losing my bid, I'll present-
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/12...4#shipping-tab

Horsehair,made in Scotland. Since there's a number on the back and a size written on the sporran belt, perhaps it was ex-hire or pipe band stock. I'm sure OC Richard will have some input.

**OC Richard** · 5th July 21, 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by Brian Rose

At the risk of losing my bid, I'll present-
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/12...4#shipping-tab

Horsehair,made in Scotland. Since there's a number on the back and a size written on the sporran belt, perhaps it was ex-hire or pipe band stock. I'm sure OC Richard will have some input.

I think you're right, either a hire firm or a pipe band. I think the latter more likely because that style is seldom (or ever?) hired.

It's a style that's been around for the entire 20th century and then some. The rim is created by spinning a sheet of metal on a lathe and shaping it with a tool, the same process that R G Lawrie long used for their bagpipe ferrules.

The metalwork (rim, cones, and badge) would have been solid "German silver" (cupro-nickel or Nickel Silver) up until around the 1950s or 1960s when they started using brass which was then nickel-plated.

It was the least expensive pipe band horsehair sporran and was widely used in civilian pipe bands from around the 1930s on. The various cast-top models cost more. Here it is, PS 6" Piper Sporran with full adult size 6" wide cantle. They also made this sporran in Youth's and Child's sizes. PS/CT is "piper sporran, cast top". There was another common cast top style, not shown here, with shamrocks rather than thistles.

Here's the complete lineup included the shamrock style

You could order any of those horsehair sporrans in black, white, or brown-grey hair, with various arrangements of long and short tassels, and with the metalwork in silver or gold colour.

Here for example is the "square top" done in brown hair with gold metalwork

**Crazy Dave** · 5th July 21, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Brian Rose

At the risk of losing my bid, I'll present-
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/12...4#shipping-tab

Horsehair,made in Scotland. Since there's a number on the back and a size written on the sporran belt, perhaps it was ex-hire or pipe band stock. I'm sure OC Richard will have some input.

The action ended. Did you get it?

Dave

**Brian Rose** · 5th July 21, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Crazy Dave

The action ended. Did you get it?

Dave

I did not. I think the price it sold for was fair. $54.00 + shipping so perhaps a total of about $70.00. Someone got a good deal for an older horse hair sporran.
I really didn't have enough use for it to justify raising my bid. One of those things- if one can obtain it inexpensively enough- it's worth it. In the end,I couldn't justify it. My wife gave me a PC and waistcoat for Christmas. I still need to find an event to wear it to.
In my part of Michigan, there's a large Dutch influence. The Dutch have a reputation similar to Scots when it comes to money. I'm not Dutch,but it (the attitude) rubs off.

**JPS** · 1st July 21, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Here's a very nice vintage plain leather Day sporran, in the quite dark brown often seen with military sporrans.

It has the older-style stud fastening on the flap.

No stamp but obviously a quality vintage Scottish-made sporran, for $50 including shipping from Scotland.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14408492347...ndition=4%7C10

Thanks, Richard. I snagged it this morning for £34, shipped.

**OC Richard** · 5th July 21, 04:01 AM

Here's a cool thing, an almost complete Highland outfit by Forsyth.

Matching plain tweed kilt and jacket, matching Balmoral (with "Forsyth, Hatters" label) and lovely sporrans.

The sporrans are stated to be two sizes and indeed before I read the description my impression was of an adult sporran and a youth sporran.

The adult sporran is very nice indeed! And by itself might sell for the price of this whole ensemble.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/31358404187...ndition=4%7C10