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Leather Hunting Sporrans at USA Kilts
What is a Hunting Sporran?
Hunting sporrans were first invented in the 19th century. They are oval-shaped like a dress sporran. Unlike a dress sporran however, they do not have a metal cantle (with the exception of the Piper’s Dress Sporran).
The lore and theory behind this design was that the tasselless sporran would not “drum” ie. it would make no noise while you were out in the hills stalking deer. The overall aesthetic of the hunting sporran calls to mind holidays spent at one’s Highland estate. As such, it is a classic and elegant option for smart day wear. For instance, a brown leather hunting sporran looks very dashing with a tweed jacket and vest.
Why Do Bagpipers Wear Hunting Sporrans?
Hunting sporrans are preferred by many pipe bands for the lack of tassel “drumming” while walking. And they are simply more forgiving of abuse than a dress sporran or horsehair sporran. The Piper Dress Hunting Sporran is a hybrid design - a hunting sporran with a metal cantle, and a very simplified style of “leaves”. It is designed to look good from a distance, while being easy to maintain. They are especially convenient for bagpipe band drummers. Black is the preferred color for pipe bands as it is more regimental than a brown hunting sporran would be. The hunting sporran cantle is usually chrome.