A few points.

First, pictures are worth a thousand words. What is typically called a "hunting sporran" is one that has this general shape and construction.


As far as I am aware, the name is not meant to imply that these sporrans are properly to be worn while engaging in hunting, anymore than "hunting" tartans are only supposed to be worn hunting. It's just a fancy name.

(This style seems to be especially popular among pipe bands, by the way.)

That being said, some hunting style sporrans are more suited to daywear (like the one I pictured above), and others more suited to semi-dress or evening. It all depends on the details. The one above is all brown leather, and so more suited to day wear. A similar style with black leather and a silver-toned cantle would look very sharp worn with a black Argyle for dressier occasions.


And while not really a full evening sporran, I don't think it would look all that bad with black tie in a pinch.

As for the Ferguson Britt sporrans, you'll notice that some of them have a somewhat similar shape to these modern "hunting" sporrans, such as this Duin Uasail model.


Indeed, this is the one (in black deer hide) of which I said it could be the "one sporran you ever own." I make that claim both because of the quality of the craftsmanship (it will last forever if you take care of it), but also because of its versatility. It is simple enough that it can be worn for daywear (no fur, no metal), yet elegant enough that it can also be worn for more dressy occasions.

A few illustrations. Here is that same model sporran (Duin Uasail in black leather) worn by the groom at his wedding:


Here I am wearing a different Ferguson Britt model (Glengyle in skunk fur) at a Burns Dinner.


Contrast that with this familiar looking guy wearing a muskrat fur Glyngyle for daywear.


Obviously not all the Ferguson Britt sporrans will be suitable for formal wear, just like not all hunting style sporrans will be suitable for formal wear. A lot depends upon the details of that particular sporran.

But if you are looking for one sporran that you can make work with a range of casual to formal attire, a well-made, historically inspired line, like the Duin Uasail or a similar style, made from black leather, is a good choice.