Sporran chain vs. Sporran leather strap

[Farlander]

I agree with Berserkbiship, contact cement is great stuff, but not a replacement for a rivet.

My general advice for leather or chain? Leather for day and typical informal wear. Chain for formal evening.

I have found that the biggest danger with cheap sporran straps (chain or leather) is the cheap clasps often used. They are small and sharp, and will do damage! If you get a cheap strap, I suggest replacing the clasp. Check out the following for an example of one that I did recently:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/i...505/index.html

[BoldHighlander]

Hello Everyone!

I've been away for a while (b-u-s-y! ).
I have a sporran that is made so one may pass a belt though. By doing that I find that I can dispense with the chain strap but I wonder if this is kosher as I have never seen a real sporran stap .
Comments -- suggestions -- ?

Thanks!
Bill

Seems to me that's how the originals were made a century or more ago. I think the strap is relatively modern in origin.

I would think the Strap came first....Or was that the egg ........ Sorry.

I've always thought that the strap came first because hide was readely available...Can anyone give another reason why this isn't so.

Originally the sporran was little more than a belt pouch worn to the side I believe. It wasn't til the Victorians that it had a separate strap and was worn as it is now, mostly to hide the "male attributes" and the gallant reflex.

While I might generally agree with this assesment, I have seen eyewitness artistic renderings, including this one from the Penicuik series of the '45 that clearly show what appears to be a belt-type strap:



Rather this was seperate or attached/sewn to the sporran I cannot say.

I also know that the 84th RoF living history organization has documentation from the later 18th century that shows they wore raccoon sporrans with a belt-type strap attached/sewn to the sporran.

Also, again in the Penicuik renderings as well as 18th century paintings I've been looking at, the sporran is almost always worn as it is now, squarely (or nearly so) in front.

note: the figure in the print is identified by the Penicuik artist as 'Glengarry'. This is presumed to be Colonel Angus McDonnell, Glengarry's second son, who was accidentally shot and killed on January 22, 1746, when one of Clanranald's men failed to realize that the firelock he was cleaning was loaded.

[Barb T]

I imagine the quality of the chain really makes the difference. If it's properly welded and smoothed links with good plating it shouldn't be much of a problem. If it's a cheap one chances are there'll be rough spots to snag the fabric.

You know, it seems to be more than just the smoothness of the chain. Our band had sporran chains with our previous set of kilts, and the chains felt smooth but, over the years, they really wore the kilts. I think one of the things that happens is that, as the chain flexes, the little hairs in the wool are caught between the links and pulled out or broken, even if the chain is smooth enough that the join between links doesn't actually catch on the kilt. We've worn leather straps (no chain portion) with our new kilts, and there's no evidence of wear, and some of the kilts are 15 years old.

Having said that, our band kilts are worn for parades and competitions a couple times a week from May through September every year. That's a lot of wear. I wouldn't worry about wearing a sporran chain for dress on occasion, but, if I were planning to wear a kilt a lot, I'd get a leather strap.

But, 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.

[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/

[McFarkus]

I really like the belt system that comes with a Ferguson Britt sporran. Matt Newsome has a picture of it here http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s....html?p=509848

And a picture of how it looks in from here http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s....html?p=509848

[JakobT]

I have to say I vastly prefer a strap to a chain.

I don't know about wear (not having been a kiltie long enough), but I think that would depend on the design of both chain and strap. Most chain straps supplied with sporrans are quite badly finished, with cheap hardware and rough edges, and will easily cause undue wear or even snag on the kilt.

For daily wear, my favourite is a simple continuous leather strap with a buckle. This makes the sporran easy to slide to one side when sitting at my desk, or obeying a "call of nature". With a chain strap, you have to rotate both sporran and chain around your waist, which will probably cause more wear. This will also be the case with a leather strap with carabiners at each end.

Also I find that a chain strap has a tendency to wrinkle the kilt beneath it, something a leather strap doesn't do.

[cavscout]

Great discussion. I'll just chime in a pennies worth on one point. The great benefit of the trigger snaps on the end of the strap is that you don't have to fiddle around with a buckle behind your back to put your sporran on or take it off. Working in an office environment or around the house where I'll put a sporran on/off frequently while coming and going it's nice to be able to throw the strap around my waist and clip and go. No question if it's in the correct hole and no buckling on the side then turning the strap to put the buckle in the back.

It's absolutely preference though.

[James MacMillan]

I find myself just pushing the sporran to the side when it gets in the way. I tend to take it off in the house, but when I'm out and about, and it becomes a problem, like when driving, I just push it to the side. Oh, and all my current sporrans have a slot or loop for a belt, so that makes it easier too.

[Jack Daw]

I only wear the chain for (semi-) formal occasions. Otherwise, I prefer the belts and a hanger that I have.

[davedove]

Great discussion. I'll just chime in a pennies worth on one point. The great benefit of the trigger snaps on the end of the strap is that you don't have to fiddle around with a buckle behind your back to put your sporran on or take it off. Working in an office environment or around the house where I'll put a sporran on/off frequently while coming and going it's nice to be able to throw the strap around my waist and clip and go. No question if it's in the correct hole and no buckling on the side then turning the strap to put the buckle in the back.

It's absolutely preference though.

I can see that and do agree with those assertions. I do wonder though if the snaps wouldn't cause some of the same wear on the kilt as does a chain.

I do like using the plain strap; as has been mentioned, you can easily slide the sporran to the side when needed.

I have found, that some sporrans don't give you any option. I have seen some that have the rings mounted on them, but no slot that you could slide a strap through.