Good evening everyone,

All articles I've read and pictures I've seen so far depict, let's say, three or four different types of how a scabbard was laced and strapped to a belt. I wonder if there were more exotic ways of strapping the scabbard to ones swordbelt and carrying it around.
I would like to ask you if you know any uncommon ways of swordbelt construction and maybe even where I can get pictures of it. It would be nice if you could provide me with every bit of information and graphical material you come across with.

Thanx for the help, best regards, Florian H. :)

You will find a range of scabbard harness over this period. There is definately change as you get closer to the end of the 1400's.

Art from pre-rennaisance timeframe is infamous for depicting what was expected and more symbolic/ traditional. It is credible that if you want to do a shoulder strap suspension, you can point back to the battle of hastings and tapestries depicting that this was in use (at least sometimes) from 10th century forward. Likewise, a lower slung scabbard harness is probably functional for a longer blade length sword, and may not immediately get you ostracized from the reenactment community.

Templar effigies often depict the classic woven style of suspension that is widely emulated by higher end manufacturers and pictures you have already seen on this post. I have scanned at least one book (opted not to purchase it) with a couple of period quotes of Templers descriptions as having "low slung scabbards" and "shoulder strap" scabbards however. Similarly, at least one chronicler's battle descriptions of what Edward the Black Princes caried on foot at some battles states that the blade was "uncommonnly long, and very long gripped", (similar to what was used by his three Scottish mercenary body guards throughout the majority of his campaigns...you can probably guess at what general style of sword that might have been.) This is nothing like the traditional coronation sword or what you will see on his effigy / period art, or so called reproductions of the (actually missing and somewhat disputed as to what it looked like) Black Prince sword. I would have expected him to have had a collection... The point being, some types of swords may have been common, but suspended differently. Other swords may have existed in low popularity, and required different suspensions to be functional. You should probably examine what best suits the sword you are making the scabbard for.

A site with brief descriptions of effigies from the period you expressed interest in. You will note that scabbard attachment is discussed in several (you can follow the NEXT page lengths.) Interlacing belt weave is definately not presented as universal.

http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/milit...igies2.htm

I will try to find a link to a previous archeology article I found that surveyed width and thickness of straps. Most straps from medieval period were pretty thin, and seldom over 3/4" wide (20 mm) according to one article that had several specimens including sword suspensions. This does not preclude woven scabbard straps, just sort of gives an impression that the actual straps were a lot less stylish than much of what is protrayed in many of our current reproductions.

The following article indicates quite a wide variety of scabbard mouth and suspension styles (about mid way down, actually discussing sheaths and scabbards..but finding a variety of suspension in scabbards alone.)
http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/archcom/projects/summ...c2017b.htm

The article I was trying to locate was similar to this one, but based on more specimens... This one allows for the possibility of very wide Frankish belts, but does not examine any actual evidence.
http://www.jomsb.org/Dirk/newbelt/NorseBelts_web.htm