Quality Sporrans for less money

[geomick]

what's your opinion of this one? - https://www.ebay.com/itm/11676529197...K7VYTQ069SJMW3

[Brian Rose]

I’d defer to Richard for the definitive answer. Based on the points he’s talked about, I doubt the vintage part. It looks like rabbit fur. The cantle appears chromed not silver. There are no makers marks on the back. I’d think a fairly recent Pakistani origin.
Have I learned anything over the pst couple of years ?

[OC Richard]

what's your opinion of this one? - https://www.ebay.com/itm/11676529197...K7VYTQ069SJMW3

That's a tough one.

EDIT: the cantle and cones looked pretty legit from the front, but the rear view shows what looks like a crudely made cantle with strange knob.

The rear sporran-belt tab has the classic Nicoll Brothers shape but not the stitching pattern.

I have a photo of the only other example I've seen like that, only one arc of stitching top and bottom, and it's a sporran that was being sold direct from Pakistan.

So on those two counts, the cantle knob and the sporran-belt tab, I'll say Pakistani.

[OC Richard]

Here for $1 (currently!) is what to all appearances is a WE Scott EW2 sporran, musquash, with silver-plated cantle. It's here in the USA.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39728581028...Bk9SR-DRos7TZg

[OC Richard]

I’d think a fairly recent Pakistani origin.

Have I learned anything over the past couple of years ?

Yes I think so!

So here's a poser for people. The left-hand and centre sporrans are currently, or were till recently, up on Ebay.

What say you? (Don't cheat and look up the listings...)

The centre sporran is an example of how horrible photos can make things difficult.

About the right-hand sporran, let it be a mystery for now.

[geomick]

The right hand picture is not the least bit of a mystery, I know exactly where it came from. If it was being used for an ebay auction listing, then at best it is the stock picture of the right item (instead of the actual item for sale), at worst it is fraud using a legitimate maker's picture to sell junk. I recognized the background (since the original is open in another tab at the moment).

[OC Richard]

L&M's version of the common modern pipe band sporran, at $90 still a bargain

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14697470416...102140.m167418

[OC Richard]

The right hand picture is not the least bit of a mystery, I know exactly where it came from. If it was being used for an ebay auction listing, then at best it is the stock picture of the right item (instead of the actual item for sale), at worst it is fraud using a legitimate maker's picture to sell junk. I recognized the background (since the original is open in another tab at the moment).

Yes the right-hand photo is from L&M's own site, their version of EW3 with white rabbit. I realised that I didn't have a photo of a "legit" sporran of that style.

[OC Richard]

Well we have "semi dress" sporrans and how "half dress" sporrans (whatever that is meant to mean).

A plain regimental-style sporran by WE Scott, black pebble-grain leather, under $40

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37671392717...102140.m167418