My friend has an Aquilifer gladius from Albion, and he'd like to get a scabbard for it. However, he doesn't know much about Roman scabbards, nor do I. What do they look like? What sort of leather design work, if anything, do they have? What sort of suspensions did they have? What about buckles and other metal components- what did they look like?

Also, who are some of the people involved in making middle to higher end scabbards? I know about Russ Ellis and of course Albion, and I think Christian Fletcher does some too, but who else is there?. I think my friend would be willing to pay between $200-$500 for a scabbard.

Take a look here:
http://www.roma-victrix.com/armamentarium/pvg...smainz.htm

For a full review of roman equipment, including the evolution of scabbard, i suggest Roman Military Equipment, Bishop/Coulston, Oxbow Books.