Thorfinn Sporran 55 - The Frankenchuck

**Arizona Scot** · 15th December 07, 01:23 AM

That is an amazing bit of craftmanship you truly have a beautiful new sporran, congratulations. One thing though when I saw the first picture of the face I could have sworn that it looked just like the gopher from caddy shack. Now there would be a sporran gopher. Wonder how many it would take?

**Woodsheal** · 15th December 07, 03:51 AM

Originally Posted by Arizona Scot

That is an amazing bit of craftmanship you truly have a beautiful new sporran, congratulations. One thing though when I saw the first picture of the face I could have sworn that it looked just like the gopher from caddy shack. Now there would be a sporran gopher. Wonder how many it would take?

Gopher and woodchuck are two names for the same critter!

I really like this sporran, though it does have sort of an astonished look on its face. Kind of like, "what just happened to me?!"....

**turpin** · 15th December 07, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

Gopher and woodchuck are two names for the same critter!

I really like this sporran, though it does have sort of an astonished look on its face. Kind of like, "what just happened to me?!"....

So he's a cousin of Groundskeeper Willie?

Maybe I made the eyes too "cute", which accounts for the look. It is amazing how a good quality set of glass eyes can bring a mask to life and give it a personality.

I really got to practice my suturing skills on this one. I didn't want an overlap of skin edges so I butted them together and sutured, using artificial sinew with a forceps and hemostat.

Although the outside dimensions may be 10x10, that includes the head and halo of fur. The actual bag dimension is more like 7.5x8.5x2.5. Anything larger and it looks disproportionate when worn. I was actually thinking of reducing the bag size with longer-furred pelts.

**McMurdo** · 15th December 07, 06:55 AM

That is one magnificent sporran, now I fully understand why you looking forward to it so much. Wonderful work from Turpin yet again. I look forward to meeting Frank at our next kilt night. Congratulations again.

**pipesndrumsnun** · 15th December 07, 07:29 AM

Very nice!
I love the pictures of the cat with the sporran...she looks like she is trying to figure out if it is a relative!

**CactusJack** · 15th December 07, 07:52 AM

That is just fantastic, I tip my hat to you and to Turpin both, May you enjoy it for many year to come.

**O'Neille** · 15th December 07, 05:30 PM

O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen. O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen. O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen. O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen.

**turpin** · 15th December 07, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by O'Neille

O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen. O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen. O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen. O.K. that's the first "cute" sporran I've ever seen.

I actually thought about holding it up and fedexing it for delivery on February 2.

**Wompet** · 27th January 08, 08:07 PM

Ah, but Turpin, if you had waited, I wouldn't be able to tell you the reactions I've gotten in the last couple of weeks.

Thursday night at the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards concert I had at least twenty different people come and ask me about this sporran.
"What is ... Is that a ... Why a ... I've never seen one like it!"
And it seemed like every woman within reach had to pet my sporran.
[That last sentence was just for Grant's benefit.]

Something else happened when I was seated. First the weight of the sporran made it fall down between my legs, which is something sporrans normally do. However, during the concert I reached into the sporran and pulled out my camera. When I pulled the camera out, the heavy leather of the sides kept the sporran from falling closed. And the lowered flap held them like that, and they in turn kept the flap resting more or less horizontally. So at one point the woman next to me looks over, and thinks she sees my sporran watching the performance!

(You can almost see what I'm talking about in the last two pictures here. Instead of facing down, Frank is looking at the camera ... or the leftover haggis.)

**turpin** · 29th January 08, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Wompet

Ah, but Turpin, if you had waited, I wouldn't be able to tell you the reactions I've gotten in the last couple of weeks.

Thursday night at the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards concert I had at least twenty different people come and ask me about this sporran.
"What is ... Is that a ... Why a ... I've never seen one like it!"
And it seemed like every woman within reach had to pet my sporran.
[That last sentence was just for Grant's benefit.]

Something else happened when I was seated. First the weight of the sporran made it fall down between my legs, which is something sporrans normally do. However, during the concert I reached into the sporran and pulled out my camera. When I pulled the camera out, the heavy leather of the sides kept the sporran from falling closed. And the lowered flap held them like that, and they in turn kept the flap resting more or less horizontally. So at one point the woman next to me looks over, and thinks she sees my sporran watching the performance!

(You can almost see what I'm talking about in the last two pictures here. Instead of facing down, Frank is looking at the camera ... or the leftover haggis.)

As long as you're happy with it. with a mask sporran if you carry a lot the front tends to push out and the mask rests on the front. Do you think the design should be modifed to, perhaps, make the front panel concave at the top a bit to allow the flap to drop more easily? This would reduce the storage somewhat but may minimize the "head-propping. I'm workinf (slowly) on a racoon. I might give that a try since it's not a commissioned sporran an I can 'speriment.