This is one of those "best kept secret" things that I should just keep to myself. But I'm sharing because I don't want to be a hog. :D

Brian Kunz recently started up a fledgling business from his activities with Arms of Valor and the Sword Buyer's Guide Forum. It's called DBK Custom Swords. He got started doing custom work on various pieces in the product lines sold through Arms of Valor. But recently, his purchase of an Albion Prince inspired him to branch out toward more historically plausible designs and projects. I always knew he had talent. And when you add a strong interest in the subject and an interested clientele, good things are bound to happen.

I recently contracted with him to create a scabbard and belt for my ATrim Type XII sword. What I had in mind was something like:

Quote:

"I want it to be historically plausible for a relatively poor man-at-arms in the early-to-mid 1300s. It should look like it's an older design that's been kept in service a little past it's time, but still be acceptible given the circumstances of the individual. Nothing fancy, just something that would look appropriate on a hard-bitten fighting man who would care for his gear."

The colors we settled on were a medium brown belt, attempting to come close to the distressed brown grip I'd already done on the sword. I wanted a lighter colored scabbard. I preferred it to show some use and hard circumstances, though with obvious signs that it had been well cared for.

This is what I got:
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Notice the semi-frayed linen thread? It already looks years old to me. The belt will require a little usage to wear in and look as old as the scabbard, and the buckle and belt tip are noticeably new. Brian asked if I wanted this aged, but I decided not to. So, that can be part of the story can't it? A new belt on an old sword and scabbard until it gets aged looking.

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Brian built the chape to match the hard-bitten nature of the "historical owner's" character. It's not fancy. The story would be something like "It's a replacement made by a local blacksmith, and it's seen lots of miles and given good service." Also notice the details of damage that would be expected through daily wear.

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Hope you all enjoy a look at how this project turned out. Personally, I couldn't be happier.

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Looks terrific!

How about picture with it strapped on How does it hang?

Brian Kunz really does some phenominal work...


I remember when he started doing basic hilt wraps and scabbard decoration and I thought "My god, he's got so much potential with what he's doing!" Just recently he's started doing complete woodcore scabbards and the results are just amazing. I highly suggest that you all take advantage of this unknown gem, you'll be pleasantly suprised! And since he's new his waiting times should be pretty darn generous plus his prices are suprsingly reasonable for the quality of the work.

Thanks Mike. It was a fun project. It was definitely one that once finished I wished I had my own version of it.

I already have! I have had him do two projects already with more comming!

Nicely accomplished. And nicely promoted. I've been hemming and hawwing about
getting a scabbard made by a fellow-forumite and fellow-michigander, Dan Dickinson,
but haven't yet come to commit the funds.

Before Dan, I had a couple scabbards made by Greg Griggs that turned out very nicely,
and before him I used to contract Christian Fletcher, who has gone on to much bigger
and better things ....

I have run into one reoccurring problem, however ( not yet with Dan's work, I should say )
and that is the scabbard interior staining the edges and sometimes the flat of the blade.
And I wonder if anyone would care to comment, offer a solution, or pose a reason ...

First off, I admit to using a light coat of wax to treat my swords. So I've wondered if the wax
and the glue used in the scabbard somehow can not chemically coexist, so produce this
staining effect. I flitz-clean the blade, then lighty wax it.

Secondly, I've wondered if it could be the nature of the wood and glue used. After a relatively
short period -- two weeks or so -- the Christian Fletcher scabbards cease staining the blade.
However, Greg's scabbards -- and this is not a knock at Greg because other's have had work
done by him without a hitch -- to this day, will not stop. Greg even made an extra effort when he
wool-lined a second scabbard, but that did not solve my dilemma.

Thirdly, can it be Michigan's atmosphere combined with my basement rooms' atmosphere ?
Summer, winter, spring, or fall ... Michigan can be damp and humid, and a basement isn't
gonna help.

With the guilty scabbards I've tried " drying them out " by hanging them in the furnace room
when the heat is being used. Or just hanging them out in the open for periods of time without
the sword sheathed, but so far neither tactic worked.

Any thoughts gentlefolk ???

I made a scabbard years back and used a PVA wood glue, and I found that it (something) caused staining and rust on the blade. I have not looked up the glue chemically, but it has quite an acidic smell to it and wondered if it was in fact acidic.

I have never used PVA since and have never had a problem.

Could be that?

Tod