Sporran chain vs. Sporran leather strap

[Giraffe]

I bow to all those who have posted above with superior knowledge then myself.

I actually bought a leather strap at the same time I purchased the sporran, and had been thinking along the lines of wearing the leather strap with the day sporran and using the chain for the evening sporran.


Thanks for all the great input.

[bubba]

A sporran strap is actually incredibly easy to make and only takes a few minutes.

[kfreeouf]

I will only wear a strap next to my kilt. Once you've ruined a favorite kilt with a chain, you're not likely to wear one anytime soon. I usually make my own using the mystery weave (google for a link with instructions) or hand tool and stain the strap to match the sporran. Recently, I used a flat leather strap and attached to the surface of the strap and dressy chain. It gives the "bling" of a chain with the "kilt kindness" of a strap. I'll try to post some pictures, but it's really pretty simple to rivet the chain to the strap every few inches using decorative rivets or conchos. Just be sure the back side of the rivet that faces the kilt, is perfectly smooth. I cement very thing leather to the back side of the stap, over the rivets for added safety.
I have found that this type of strap also slips less than a chain.
YMMV
Semper Fi,
Keith

[Nick the DSM]

can someone explain chain and strap? im confused here.

[JakobT]

can someone explain chain and strap? im confused here.

Sporran chains don't go all the way round. They usually consist of a short leather strap with a buckle to allow for length adjustment, with lengths of chain fastened to the ends with triangular D-rings. When the chain is in place, the leather strap part is invisible from the front.

A strap, however, is just a strap with a buckle, like a very narrow leather belt.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

All leather sporran straps are my preference (even a black one for formal occasions looks nice, if you don't want to wear the chain). I agree they can be hard to find, though I'm not quite sure why. We looked so long and hard for a supplier that we could use, the we eventually started making our own in house. We still make our own for the majority of sporran straps that we sell.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_acc.html

However, since becoming a licensed dealer for L&M Highland Wear (a great sporran maker in Nova Scotia), we've discovered that they also can provide all leather sporran straps. No, they do not sell direct to the public, but any business who carrieds L&M sporrans can also supply you with an all leather sporran strap.

I imagine many other sporran providers can supply all leather straps upon request. So it's a mystery to me why they seem to be so scarce, other than the fact that many sporran makers include a chain strap in with your sporran purchase, and this encourages people to just wear the chain, since that's what came with their sporran.

M

[Freelander Sporrano]

I'll be buying a strap every soon.I agee with Hamish and Graham. I have used a chain until now. However can see that wear will be a problem,if used too much

[al' Sporrano]

I asked our local supplier about it and he acted like he'd never heard of the chain wearing on the kilt. Odd that.
Jamie

Jamie,

I've had a similar reaction. I was in Geoffrey (tailor) in Edinburgh recently and brought up the subject. Staff dismissed the problem as a myth.

Having said that, I'm inclined to trust Hamish's view and now alternate between a strap and a chain according to function. No problem with either as it happens, though I prefer the chain.

Al

[McFarkus]

Jamie,

I've had a similar reaction. I was in Geoffrey (tailor) in Edinburgh recently and brought up the subject. Staff dismissed the problem as a myth.

Having said that, I'm inclined to trust Hamish's view and now alternate between a strap and a chain according to function. No problem with either as it happens, though I prefer the chain.

Al

Few folks have Hamish's year's of experience or half the number of kilts.

Barb T: it can be tough to find leather sporran straps! When our daughter was married last spring, I made kilts for several family members who ordered their own sporrans. Each one came with a sporran chain. I thought I'd just order a half dozen leather sporran straps and replace them. The first place I ordered from sent me straps that were chain in the front and leather in the back - their catalog had listed them as "leather sporran straps". I actually had a hard time finding a place that sold plain leather straps, no chain section. So, I have to agree that the trend is toward chain.

Steve Fraser at Oconee Leather Works makes beautiful sporran belts http://www.oconeeleatherworks.com/

[Alaskan]

It was mentioned before that the chain wearing on the kilt may depend on chain quality. I would agree with this theory.

I have two chains. One I got off eBay. It is easy to see how this chain could cause damage to a kilt if worn constantly. The chain that I got from www.mcrok.com is of high quality, and there are no edges to catch on the kilt, and I don't see how it could damage the kilt.

That being said, I think that the chain looks a little overly fancy for daywear. It took me a long time to find a strap, but I finally found them at http://www.scottishlion.com/sporrans.html