Hello myArmoury community!

I'd like to share a recent scabbard commission of mine for the Albion Dane sword. This one features a period scabbard in Ox Blood with pinned wire wrap in a 'hand-carry' section on the scabbard, located in the balance point of the scabbard with the sword sheathed. The scabbard has a poplar wood core lined with wool, and was ordered using our 'sword-less' feature, so our own Dane was the sword model. Everything on this scabbard was custom designed by myself, and was handmade from scratch.

Thanks for looking! Please feel free to chime in with comments and or questions.

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Amazing work, you keep surpassing your already high aesthetic standards.

A great deal of richness of detail and contrasting texture, your great photography also makes your work a pleasure to see.

Wow Brian. I think you've just broken out of your mold again. Yett another higher level of excellence. The scabbard is incredible.

Just wow!

Perfection....Looks the part to a tee. Great craftsmanship!

What a knockout! The pinned wire wrap with the tooled leather is simply gorgeous. Amazing work.

Yet another great creation. I hope someday to have one of your scabbards for one of my Albions

Outstanding work Brian.

I'm always curious when I see these spectacular custom scabbards, particularly when they are "historical," how much of the design input comes from the client and how much from the artist-craftsman. I imagine it is a different "mix" in every case. If I imagine one day when my "ship comes in" as they say and I could afford to commission a high-quality scabbard like this, I'd sure like to wind up with something as great as that. But I honestly wouldn't know how to begin approaching it.

Would you care to share how this particular one was designed or specified, the process, etc.?

Thank you for the kind words everyone, I appreciate it.

F. Portman wrote:

I'm always curious when I see these spectacular custom scabbards, particularly when they are "historical," how much of the design input comes from the client and how much from the artist-craftsman. I imagine it is a different "mix" in every case. If I imagine one day when my "ship comes in" as they say and I could afford to commission a high-quality scabbard like this, I'd sure like to wind up with something as great as that. But I honestly wouldn't know how to begin approaching it. Would you care to share how this particular one was designed or specified, the process, etc.?

Mr. Portman,

As you say, it is a different mix in every case. Sometimes a customer has a lot of input, and sometimes only a little. Though quite frequently I get the green light on coming up with a design of my own. In this case, I was given the green light, and was told to surprise him. The only input I received was a rough sketch of a chape, which I turned into something much more elaborate, and was told his dane grip was ox blood.

Without specific requests, sometimes there is a lot of pressure and stress to come up with something that will please the customer. I prefer at least for the customer to refer to something symbolic which I can then build around, but when I get a blank canvas I try to come up with something that won't contain any design elements that could be of strong symbolism, like a cross or religious reference. Sometimes I have to read between the lines and figure out likes & dislikes of the customer. Most of the time when given the 'surprise' keys, I proof the design with the customer before implementing.

It isn't uncommon for a customer to just browse my gallery and say what they like and tell me to mix it up, or base a new design with those elements, too. Unless you're a scabbard maker, or are artistically inclined, I can understand how when your spot is up you don't necessarily know what to do. I've been fortunate in discovering natural tendencies of my own toward scabbard making, almost as if creating art subliminally at times.

That’s really impressive work Brien, lol makes me feel bad about the rather plain scabbard I’m planning ;)

Thanks for the response, Mr. Kunz -- illuminating indeed. You're a true artist.

That is truly an amazing piece of work. I particularly like the shield near the throat.

Thank you again, for the kind words. I love making these scabbards, and it's a pleasure to hear the praise.

This is truly outstanding, as always!

According to the tracking, I'll have it tomorrow. :)

Wow, that's really, really cool. :cool:

Ed, if you have it in time, I DEFINITELY want to see it in class! :)