Sporran Question

[piperalpha]

Thanks gents,
It's nice to have that one cleared up a bit.

[OC Richard]

Thanks!

I just now put together this collage to show the 18th century style hinged cantle versus the Victorian style nonfunctional cantle, which demonstrates how the three functional knobs became mere decoration.

Top left: 1953 MOD cantle, you can see the side knobs which hold the two halves together creating a hinge. With some of these sporrans the side knobs also support the suspended leather bag, the top of the bag having holes on each side which slip over the knobs. The top knob operates the latch mechanism.

Top right: sporran with functional 18th century style cantle.

Bottom right: Victorian style sporran on which the cantle is more or less a decorative plate sitting atop the sporran. The side knobs have been moved up. All three knobs are mere decoration.

Bottom left: the back of the sporran showing the leather pocket with side gussets allowing it to be opened further, and leather flap. The cantle is held in place with tiny silver nails, missing in this example. Note that if you wear a leather belt it goes through the leather tabs, while if you wear a chain-strap it hooks onto metal loops on the back of the cantle.