Quality Sporrans for less money

[User]

Well, it isn't cheap. Seal in the US.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/397893159277

That one is in bad shape. The fur is balding, and OC Richard pointed out that it appears to be a children's sporran.

[Janner52]

Looks like the fellow in front has a different tartan.

Fellow in front has a maroon sash & the 2nd fellow has a red sash. Any idea about the "meaning" there?

The red sash worn by the Sgt is a standard issue supplied to all infantry sergeants, colour sgts and sgt majors.

The maroon coloured sash is made from silk and issued to Regimental Sgt Majors and others in certain appointments such as Pipe and Drum Majors.

[OC Richard]

Looks like the fellow in front has a different tartan.

Privates, Corporals, and Sergeants wear the Other Ranks tartan (the extra-heavy 18 ounce to 22 ounce stuff) while the Pipe Major and Drum Major wear tartan more like civilian 16 ounce cloth.

The ORs' tartan has a slightly fuzzy travel-rug-like feel and the bright lines are less distinct. Also the ORs' cloth has a larger sett-size.

The difference can clearly be seen here with the Pipes & Drums of 4SCOTS in the civilian kit worn when competing at Highland Games. Their kilts, flashes, and Glengarries are the only military items.) Pipe Major is at far left.



Here you can see the PM and DM of 4SCOTS in their brighter-coloured civilianlike tartan.

(Twelve pipers, a nice turnout in these days of cutbacks.)



This photo well shows the civilian-like smaller-sett tartan of the Pipe Major (right) versus the large-sett Other Ranks tartan (left) 3SCOTS The Black Watch. (Also note the Sphinx cap-badge worn only by the Pipe Major and Drum Major.)

[jsrnephdoc]

Here you can see the PM and DM of 4SCOTS in their brighter-coloured civilianlike tartan.

(Twelve pipers, a nice turnout in these days of cutbacks.)

This photo REALLY exposes my ignorance of Pipe Band hierarchy: Both the guy with the staff (who I thought was called "Drum Major") and one (or maybe two-there's a splash of what looks like right sleeve red in the drummer row) of the guys actually PLAYING drums are wearing red doublets. I THINK I've learned that the Pipe Major usually marches far right first row, but in this photo I think he's at the far LEFT of his row (from the band's perspective, not the photo viewer's) but I didn't know there was some easy way to spot the lead DRUMMER (who I thought usually marched in the MIDDLE of his row so that his mates could take rhythm clues from him from both sides.

This photo well shows the civilian-like smaller-sett tartan of the Pipe Major (right) versus the large-sett Other Ranks tartan (left) 3SCOTS The Black Watch. (Also note the Sphinx cap-badge worn only by the Pipe Major and Drum Major.)

My GOODNESS! So many things flooded into my brain as I gazed at this photo and your comments about it:

1. I'll NEVER be treated to this band performing in full dress in Las Vegas in the summer. Were there American military style L breast honorary badges for surviving the heat, they'd add even MORE weight to the uniform. I'd be exhausted by the time I finished dressing!
2. My now 40 y.o. son spent 8th grade at a military school outside of Atlanta, GA (main purpose being to teach him some organizational skills). I flew down for Parents Weekend, which featured a military dress parade. His brass band uniform was certainly simpler than these, but the heat was stifling and the students all DID wear heat-trapping bonnets. At they stood at attention for well more than an hour, several of them fainted!
3. How DO you remember all this stuff? I used to explain something I'd forgotten to friends who still remembered it by replying "disk is full," but even THAT makes no sense now that 16 terabyte SSDs are < $50!
4. For some reason, my brain also flashed on Fiddler on the Roof and one of its signature songs, "Tradition."
5. What and where is that "sphinx cap-badge?"
6. When I flew to NYC in Spring 2025 to see my son (but more to attend the Tartan Day Parade) I was simply AMAZED that TWO Glasgow high schools could afford to send their (remarkably good) student bands across the Atlantic for the event. Although their uniforms were certainly simpler than the ones of these military units, it's likely their travel budgets were dramatically dwarfed by their uniform and instrument costs!
7. I THINK it's still true that American military veterans get to keep their uniforms when they retire or separate from service. I'll bet that's NOT the case for pipers or drummers in the Black Watch.

[MacKenzie]

Appreciate the replies/clarifications.