I decided to finally make a scabbard for my old trusted Binns blade. This is my first try at a wooden core scabbard and I think it turned out ok.

The wooden core is made of elm tree. I used vegetably tanned cow leather and made a scabbard slider from linden. I decided to give the scabbard slider and leather covering some color (wish turned out a bit more red in the pic than it is in reality). The scabbard chape is bought from Mercia Sveiter and is based on a find from Novgorod.

Let me know what you think =)

/Ville


[ Linked Image ]
Scabbard Red Full copy by vendel viking, on Flickr

[ Linked Image ]
Scabbard slider Close whole side prof copy by vendel viking, on Flickr

[ Linked Image ]
Scabbard slider Close Side copy by vendel viking, on Flickr

[ Linked Image ]
Scabbard XX copy by vendel viking, on Flickr

[ Linked Image ]
Scappard chape copy by vendel viking, on Flickr

I think its very nice! good work here

Very nice work indeed. Very crisp definition on the foundation moulding.
Did you glue the leather down or just work it really firmly down over the cordwork when it was wet?

Very clean job Ville!

Did you make or buy the scabbard slider? I'm confused by what you said above, I think you were refering to the shape purchased on Mercia Sveiter.

You live in Uppsala? Why bother with a P Binn wen you have P Johnsson living next door to harass for a custom sword? :) :)

All jokes aside, very good work on your first scabbard.

Very nice work indeed. You have a talent for scabbard making.

Lovely job. Well done. Mr Binns will be proud!


Paul

Hi Ville,

Your 1st wood core scabbard, eh! Very well done, Looks as good as any you can buy. Except yours is individual, Like matt said, the cording looks real sexy, I especially like the way you've attached the slider.
But on the whole, a very impressive bit of leatherwork.

I'm not knocking Paul's sword making, as this is a nice sword of this style, but in my opinion, I think you've Outshone the sword hilt, ie, people will be too busy checking out your scabbard to notice what sword is in it.
Would look nice with one of those copper and silver wire inlaid hilts. Hey there's an idea for another project for you!!!!!

all the best,
Bruce

Wow! Thank you guys! It really warms getting such great critique from people with so much knowledge and experience.

Bruce Tordoff wrote:

Hi Ville, Your 1st wood core scabbard, eh! Very well done, Looks as good as any you can buy. Except yours is individual, Like matt said, the cording looks real sexy, I especially like the way you've attached the slider. But on the whole, a very impressive bit of leatherwork. I'm not knocking Paul's sword making, as this is a nice sword of this style, but in my opinion, I think you've Outshone the sword hilt, ie, people will be too busy checking out your scabbard to notice what sword is in it. Would look nice with one of those copper and silver wire inlaid hilts. Hey there's an idea for another project for you!!!!! all the best, Bruce

Thanks Bruce! actually I already have plans for a wire inlaid hilt. I will probably not use silver (does not work well with the rest of my bling) but instead a twisted copper and bronze wire.

Julien M wrote:

Did you make or buy the scabbard slider? I'm confused by what you said above, I think you were refering to the shape purchased on Mercia Sveiter. You live in Uppsala? Why bother with a P Binn wen you have P Johnsson living next door to harass for a custom sword? :) :) All jokes aside, very good work on your first scabbard.

I made the scabbard slider and purchased the shape. Actually I first decided to do the slider. When it was done I realized that I had to make a scabbard for it.

PJ is a god. We mere mortals are not allowed in the dwellings of the maker ( Ulva Mill that is).

Matthew Bunker wrote:

Very nice work indeed. Very crisp definition on the foundation moulding. Did you glue the leather down or just work it really firmly down over the cordwork when it was wet?

I used no glue on the scabbard except to glue the two core halves together. The leather is quite thin so I had to work it for some time. For the X-details I had to make negatives to press the leather into the right shape.

Brian K. wrote:

Very nice work indeed. You have a talent for scabbard making.

Coming from you this is a great compliment! Thanks =)

Hi Ville

Very neat work and nicely executed. I especially like your slider and neat touch with the Broa style terminals.

best
Dave

I'm not sure what you mean. I did use glue to glue on the leather stripes I used as foundation for the risers =).

Thanks David!

That is a great looking scabbard. I have a few swords that would like great in that. Good job.

No worries Matthew, I was not questioning your post in any way, and the above was not meant to be taken literally, as the smiley closing the sentence would indicate. Poor choice of words maybe, so please pardon my french. I also stressed that your were quiet right to note the omission of lining inside the scabbard core...but in any case Ville won't be able to do much about it at this stage, unless he starts from scratch. That's all I meant.

Ahh, the internet....causing misunderstanding since 1982.
:D

Ville, don´t be silly: you know you are always welcome to the smithy. I thought I had made that clear.
Write a line and we´ll see if there is a day that works for the both of us.

-We shall have to talk scabbards you and I.

Very nice work indeed, Ville. I am curious about how the braided bands are fastened. A description of your technique and/or a pic of the back side would be greatly appreciated.