Need Scabbard Advice -- myArmoury.com

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 16 Jul, 2008 10:47 am Post subject: Need Scabbard Advice

I need to make a scabbard for an English baskethilt sword in the style of ca. 1550 (in the middle, below). I don't have any artwork or originals to guide me and I don't even know which methods and furniture are appropriate. Given the date, I assume this should have a wooden core. Locket? Chape? Stud?

I've seen the scabbard Vince Evans made for Nathan Robinson's sword of similar style, but that's a backsword and finer than I'm looking for. I'd really like to see a simple scabbard of the period for a tapered DE blade.

Should I take my cues from Continental field swords or would an English scabbard for this civilian weapon be significantly different. Any advice is welcome, especially accompanied by images.

Thanks! Big Grin

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 16 Jul, 2008 11:26 am Post subject:

This is about all I have to work with at present: A German image of 1555 and English images of ca. 1580. I have some idea what I'm looking at, but I'm not sure how all this translates into details of scabbard construction.

Jonathan Hopkins · Posted: Wed 16 Jul, 2008 11:40 am Post subject:

Sean,
Maybe these images have something you could use for inspiration:

http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/about/bgallery/Galler...eland.html

The swords appear to be worn from a suspension rather than baldrics. This is not my area, but I think baldrics became more prevalent after 1600 and may not be correct for your 16th century sword.

Gordon Frye sent me a link to some nice scabbard and suspension images. I'll try to dig that link up when I get home. Happy

Jonathan

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 16 Jul, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

Thanks! The Derrick images are excellent. In fact, the details I posted above are from those large Derrick jpgs. Please do pass along the link Gordon gave you.

Jonathan Hopkins · Posted: Wed 16 Jul, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject:

Well, I guess the images are mainly focused on belts and suspensions, but here it is anyhow:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Patrick.Gaul/SwordHangers

And assuming that scabbard construction did not vary too much between rapiers and basket hilts, there is a nice image in this thread:

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...suspension

All the best,
Jonathan

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 16 Jul, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Johnathan! This image is actually very helpful--not for the suspension but for what it reveals about the scabbard construction. Looks like I could get away with just a chape. No locket, no stud, just a riser or swelling at the mouth. With such a big space for decoration I guess attention in this period shifted from the locket to the hanger. Since I want to make only the scabbard at this time, that makes life easier for me. I'm not much of a metalworker. Sad

Tim Harris · Industry Professional

Sean,

Not wanting to derail the thread, but is that the Erikson/Trim basket-hilt reviewed here?

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 17 Jul, 2008 6:37 am Post subject:

Tim Harris · Industry Professional

Sean,

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity. Now here's we really get into danger of diversion....

I asked about the basket hilt, as I have made something in a similar style. Perhaps it was my welding, but it was found that when put through a couple of bouts, the part below the quillon that Blair refers to as the "forward guard" wasn't particularly robust.

I really like the look of this hilt, but I'm informed that particular style was only in use for a decade or so, perhaps due to the relative fragility of that guard. Any thoughts?

(Apologies if this needs to go into another thread)

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team