Does anyone here know of any existing examples of original messer scabbards? I have seen pictulres in paintings and woodcuts, but I would like to see photos of original specimens, if any exist.

There are couple. Messer of Archduke Maximilian I. of Tyrol has a nice preserved scabbard.

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Nice! Can't tell if it's leather over wood, or just leather, but it doesn't look like it has very many metal fittings (if it has any at all).

Def wooden core, you can see it in the pic of the sword and byknife in situ, 3rd pic down, the grain is visible of the rear slab.

The pic of the overall scabbard doesn't seem to show any deformation around the chape end where one might have fitted and as the top doesn't have a locket, maybe its just plain. Unusualy understated when looking at the sword and of course the status of the owner but not entirely unusual.

Wow, I had never seen a good full view of that sword before. That's some unusual hollow grinding on the blade, there...