Harry Marinakis Report post Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) Medieval sword scabbard This is a historically-accurate reproduction of a scabbard that is depicted on a statue at the Naumburg cathedral, German Empire, circa AD 1200. 1. Carved 2-piece poplar wood core lined with a fullered, woven-wool textile 2. Veg-tan leather cover (2-3 oz) dyed with Fiebing's Medium Brown 3. Oil-tan Latigo leather belt (6-8 oz, sanded down to 3-4 oz.) in a factory drum-dyed cream color 4. Natural linen thread 5. Bronze chape 6. Hide glue Sword is a reproduction of an Oakeshott Type XI sword (made by Del Tin, model 2121) Edited February 8, 2015 by Harry Marinakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
druid Report post Posted February 8, 2015 very nice Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brushpopper Report post Posted February 8, 2015 Beautiful work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MonicaJacobson Report post Posted February 8, 2015 Very cool! Love the color combination and the semi-rolled edge as you described in the rolled edge thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCyberwolfe Report post Posted February 8, 2015 Beautiful work, I'd love to see how the whole thing hangs when worn. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leatherwytch Report post Posted February 8, 2015 Very nice, just love it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) Beautiful work, I'd love to see how the whole thing hangs when worn. Here are examples. One photo of another one of my scabbards, the other is an image from Medieval illuminated manuscripts showing the same thong belts. Manuscript: Massacre of the Innocents, Germany, c. AD 1350, British Library, London, Shelfmark Add. 17687 B The offset belt pulls the scabbard into an oblique angle so it does not hang vertically, also places the sword's grip forward so that it's easier to find and grasp. The tighter the belt, the more the scabbard is pulled obliquely. Edited February 8, 2015 by Harry Marinakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thornale Report post Posted February 9, 2015 That's funny to see when forums overlaps. I have just seen your scabbard on myarmoury and now here. Anyway, congratulations on your scabbard. However I'm a bit concerned about the stitch. Let's put away the historical accuracy, I find this stitch expose a lot of thread to wear and tear, so have you encountered a problem of thread breaking over time on older scabbards you made ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) I'm a bit concerned about the stitch. Let's put away the historical accuracy, I find this stitch expose a lot of thread to wear and tear, so have you encountered a problem of thread breaking over time on older scabbards you made ? Good question I don't use my scabbards very much, haven't drawn my sword in anger in weeks. (: Don't have much information on stitching from the Bronze Age through the Iron Age. There is some erevidence that a few leather covers were glued into place. The whip stitch shown above in my photo was used during the Migration Period all the way through the Medieval Period, but it was not the most common stitch. The early Vikings preferred a hidden edge-flesh stitch with a butted or beveled seam, perhaps out of concern for stitch wear. The later Vikings preferred a closed seam with a saddler's stitch, which was infinitely easier to sew than a hidden stitch, and probably had less wear on the stitches than a whip stitch. A lot of Viking and Medieval finds are leather scabbard covers that had been sliced lengthwise and stripped from the wood core, suggesting that the leather was regularly replaced anyway. For what reason? Edited February 9, 2015 by Harry Marinakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJole Report post Posted April 8, 2015 I love that laced scabbard style. I have bookmarked an excellent how-to (http://www.yeoldegaffers.com/project_scabbard.asp) for future reference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted April 8, 2015 The cross stitching shown on the Ye Olde Gaffers page is not historical. Such stitching was not used during medieval periods. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gamli Report post Posted April 21, 2015 What would be the period correct stitching pattern? The cross stitching shown on the Ye Olde Gaffers page is not historical. Such stitching was not used during medieval periods. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted April 21, 2015 (edited) Stitches used on Medieval scabbards: 1. Butted seam with a running whip stitch (show in the original post) 2. Butted seam with a hidden edge-flesh stitch 3. Closed seam with a saddler's stitch Stitch spacing seemed to be around 3/16" to 1/4" Edited April 21, 2015 by Harry Marinakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gamli Report post Posted April 21, 2015 (edited) Thanks. Have a friend that is going to be knighted soon and i have to make a scabbard for his sword. This helps. Edited April 21, 2015 by gamli Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted March 16, 2016 Here's another scabbard that I just finished Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted March 22, 2016 Here is a historically-accurate reproduction of a 15th Century sword scabbard that I just finished Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3wunder Report post Posted April 9, 2016 Nice work, especially on that 15th-century scabbard! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MonicaJacobson Report post Posted April 9, 2016 Wow, they are both beautiful. I love the belt that goes with the black scabbard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gamli Report post Posted April 15, 2016 They are beautiful. Here's my first scabbard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grmnsplx Report post Posted April 15, 2016 looks great. can you show the seam? also, how did you make the chape? thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gamli Report post Posted April 20, 2016 Thsnks, Here's the seam. I made the chape by gormong copper sheet around the bottom of the scabbard, then fitting a piece of copper into the open end. The whole thing was soldered together. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grmnsplx Report post Posted April 20, 2016 Looks great! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grmnsplx Report post Posted April 20, 2016 (edited) Dimicator just posted a scabbard that he is working on. He wrapped the core with leather flesh-side out (grain in) and then stitched along the edge and trimmed the excess. Then he removed the leather, moistened is and put it back on turning it so the seam is hidden. Thoughts? https://www.facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.445842678882598.1073741902.266934476773420/803076186492577/?type=3&theater Edited April 20, 2016 by grmnsplx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted June 29, 2016 On 4/20/2016 at 2:52 PM, grmnsplx said: Dimicator just posted a scabbard that he is working on.... Thoughts? Seems like a lot of work. Why not just do a hidden edge-flesh stitch on a butted seam, like the Vikings used to use. Here's my latest scabbard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grmnsplx Report post Posted June 29, 2016 Looks excellent! what is a "hidden edge-flesh stitch on a butted seam" exactly? On my one and only sword scabbard I did a butted seam. It was very difficult of get it butted up nicely and was rather uneven. Any tips? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
