Brass Cantle 18th Century Sporrans

**Tattoo Bradley** · 19th November 08, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

This is one I made about twenty years ago and still occasionally wear. Sorry for the pic quality.

I'd love to have something like that with a brown bag...

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 19th November 08, 07:20 PM

Finding a source for those functional, hinged brass cantles is the hard part. I know Lamar Britt was talking to a friend of his about having them made at some point, but I think that fell through. Donnie Shearer (themadpiper.com) makes his own by hand, and it's pretty labor intensive. His sporrans are wonderful, but expensive, and the majority of the cost is in the cantle. I'd keep checking the House of Labhrain site as they seem to be one of the few places that has them on occasion. I saw one -- once -- on Ebay and still kick myself for not buying it.

Matt

**castledangerous** · 20th November 08, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Finding a source for those functional, hinged brass cantles is the hard part. I know Lamar Britt was talking to a friend of his about having them made at some point, but I think that fell through. Donnie Shearer (themadpiper.com) makes his own by hand, and it's pretty labor intensive. His sporrans are wonderful, but expensive, and the majority of the cost is in the cantle. I'd keep checking the House of Labhrain site as they seem to be one of the few places that has them on occasion. I saw one -- once -- on Ebay and still kick myself for not buying it.

Matt

I would forgo the functioning spring-loaded hinge, if I could find a maker of just the cantle itself. I noticed themadpiper.com says no more orders til backlog is finished

**Joe Gondek** · 20th November 08, 09:50 PM

I've been wanting to try making one for some time
my problem is not having one to look at or copy
I have found a photo of the spring catch system and it looks pretty simple to make.I don't have one of the piece that goes into the catch
all the other photos I find only show the fronts

I would like to find photos of the back, sides and top
also especially shots taken from top and side with it opened

can anyone help?

**ThistleDown** · 22nd November 08, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by Joe Gondek

I've been wanting to try making one for some time
my problem is not having one to look at or copy
I have found a photo of the spring catch system and it looks pretty simple to make.I don't have one of the piece that goes into the catch
all the other photos I find only show the fronts

I would like to find photos of the back, sides and top
also especially shots taken from top and side with it opened

can anyone help?

Joe and Scully. The following is taken from my copy of the 1881 edition of TCTH. I hope it helps, but I must admit that I have seen many brass cantle sporrans of the early to late 19C (there are lots in private armoires and chests in the Highlands) and have only seen one with anything we might call a complex spring-loaded system. Among the others the vast majority have a simple button-down system at the back of the cantle. A couple I have seen have sort of back-and-front L-shaped plates with the back part fitting under the top of the front and a tension system released by lifting the finial at the centre top. I would think that metal fatigue would eventually cause that to fail but after a century and more.... The side finials are actually pivots that allow the front cantle to drop forward when the tension is released. Does that make sense? If not, I'll try to get some pics or do some sketches for you.

The one I made years ago is a reasonable mimic and is a shaped sheet brass plate braised to a sheet brass hoop that conforms to the shape of the plate. The back of the sporran is leather (about 10 oz) and connects to the cantle with a strap and button. The original cantle was embossed on the front with a series of interlaced rings, but I merged this with another I had seen that had a very plain front; I preferred this at the time and perhaps still do today.

I have never seen a copper cantle, but I have seen a couple of very simple 19C steel ones. Historical, but not to my taste: massive attempts at the silversmiths art is how I see them.

**Bugbear** · 19th November 08, 07:53 PM

Oh! They are those kind of cantles. That would be neat to have a funtional spring latch.

**Scully** · 21st November 08, 08:21 AM

I think that I can make one of those. I will have to do some research on materials though. The 5-sided (square ish ones) might be a bit easier but i would have to try it first.
The museum site was kind enough to give dimensions of the items in the collection which is a big help. I wonder if copper or steel would look OK? However copper is super expensive right now and steel is hard to work.
Does anyone have any thoughts on those metals?

**castledangerous** · 21st November 08, 09:12 AM

Definitely keep us informed if you guys make any!

**DWFII** · 21st November 08, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Scully

I think that I can make one of those. [snip] I wonder if copper or steel would look OK? However copper is super expensive right now and steel is hard to work.
Does anyone have any thoughts on those metals?

Brass is the way to go...it's part of what gives these cantles their charm and it is historically correct.

**Carolina Kiltman** · 21st November 08, 07:16 PM

While copper is currently expensive, (it is the main ingredient in brass) the materials in any piece of work like that is relatively minor in relation to the cost of the finished product. Precious metals, are however, a different story totally.

I would stick with brass, it is relatively easy to cast or work, and finish. It also looks so right. Anything else would look like a cheap knock-off to my eye.