Rob Roy Sporran on Ebay

[macwilkin]

Some of the association of "Rob Roy" McGregor & Highland attire may be due (and this is only a theory, mind you) to Sir Walter Scott. It was Scott who introduced the legend of Rob Roy to the world through his novel, "Rob Roy" (on which the 1995 movie was loosely based),and he also wrote a history of the famous outlaw as well (I found a copy whilst browsing at Barnes & Noble). Given Sir Walter's influence on the 1822 state visit of George VI to Scotland, when the kilt & tartan "mania" began, I wonder if this might have something to do with the association, especially since Rob Roy has become the Scottish version of Robin Hood.

A great web site about the legends and historical facts of Robert McGregor may be found here:

http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/robroy/index.html

Last friday the History Channel ran a very interesting documentary on McGregor -- one of their "Histories Mysteries" series. There was also one of these done on William Wallace. I should order a copy for the library! ;)

Again, it's just a theory.

Cheers,

Todd

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Again, it's just a theory.

Maybe so, but your theories are more credible than some people's "facts".;)

'Nuff said on that.

[sav]

Todd,
I saw that program on the History Channel as well! In fact, I have that one and the episode about William Wallace on DVD, and would be happy to *illegally* burn some copies! ;) An interesting fact about how R. McGregor got the name "Rob Roy": It was anglicised from the Gaelic Raibert Ruadh, or Red Robert because he had red hair, which darkened to auburn in later life. Just a useless trivia fact that I was reminded of when I saw this thread...
~Sav

[macwilkin]

Maybe so, but your theories are more credible than some people's "facts".;)

'Nuff said on that.

"Aww, shucks! -- you're just saying that!", he says! ;)

Sav: I missed about 15 minutes of the Rob Roy documentary, and didn't hear the part about Rob's red hair -- thanks for mentioning that!

If you happen to be in the kiddie section of your local movie rental place or the public library, check and see if they have the Disney movie "Rob Roy the Highland Rogue" -- it's great fun! Same wi' Disney's version of "Kidnapped"!

Cheers,

Todd

[sav]

Actually I'm not sure the "red hair" fact was on that show...If I remember correctly, I ran across that while doing some research last year. If I can remember the reference, I'll PM you the book info.
~Sav

[cavscout]

Great information guys. Thanks!

[highlander_Daz]

Ive been in this shop -its based on the Royal mile, its sell mostly crap and the people who run it are as Scottish as a chickin vindaloo!!

[MACKAY]

Actually I'm not sure the "red hair" fact was on that show...If I remember correctly, I ran across that while doing some research last year. If I can remember the reference, I'll PM you the book info.
~Sav

I managed to TiVo both shows this weekend and watch them several times. (Hey, it rained long and hard in the whole weekend here in the North East). They did mention the Red Hair and the Rob Roy translation.

I thought that they (History Channel) did a decent job on both shows. I was even more impressed when it was mentioned that the clan system and associated 'named' tartans as we know them today, did not exist in Rob’s time.

Brian

[jkdesq]

Some of the association of "Rob Roy" McGregor & Highland attire may be due (and this is only a theory, mind you) to Sir Walter Scott. It was Scott who introduced the legend of Rob Roy to the world through his novel, "Rob Roy" (on which the 1995 movie was loosely based),and he also wrote a history of the famous outlaw as well (I found a copy whilst browsing at Barnes & Noble). Given Sir Walter's influence on the 1822 state visit of George VI to Scotland, when the kilt & tartan "mania" began, I wonder if this might have something to do with the association, especially since Rob Roy has become the Scottish version of Robin Hood.

The thing that comes to my mind about "Rob Roy's Sporran" is supposedly it was booby trapped. My recollection is that in Sir Walter Scott's book Rob Roy, Scot describes Rob Roy opening his sporran in a secret way and says that if the sporran was opened incorrectly some sort of fire arm would go off and injure the intruder.

I don't suppose the sporran for sale on Ebay has a conceiled fire arm in it?

[macwilkin]

The thing that comes to my mind about "Rob Roy's Sporran" is supposedly it was booby trapped. My recollection is that in Sir Walter Scott's book Rob Roy, Scot describes Rob Roy opening his sporran in a secret way and says that if the sporran was opened incorrectly some sort of fire arm would go off and injure the intruder.

I don't suppose the sporran for sale on Ebay has a conceiled fire arm in it?

I posted a link to article about sporran's from The Scotsman's online version a couple of weeks ago that talks about this particular sporran:

Sporrans have intrigued writers too. It is said that poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott was inspired by an 18th century sporran he saw on display at a Scottish museum. The sporran – now featured at the National Museum in Edinburgh - had a clasp of brass and steel with four concealed pistols. The contraption was meant to be discharged in a reckless attempt to open the locked purse, thus injuring the intruder. Scott incorporated this device into his story Rob Roy where Roy himself declared, "I advise no man to attempt opening this sporran till he has my secret."

Surely this is something that Edinburgh's own Sean Connery as James Bond could have used.

This article: http://heritage.scotsman.com/clans.c...20050720174842

You can see a picture of the sporran with the article. I joked with Freelander to see if he could come up wi' a version of his sporrans with this added "surprise"! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd