Hi all,

Recently I have started using my steel blunt sword full-time during training instead of just for the solo parts. That means I have also started to wear my scabbard during training now that I don't have to switch from steel to nylon and back again several times during each training.

But I am having problems with my scabbard and the suspension. When I'm moving, my scabbard is swinging and flying all over the place, severely hampering my movement. I have no idea if this is caused by the type of suspension or because I'm wearing it wrong. So, how should I wear a scabbard with this kind of suspension? What can I do to make it stay put? And if that's impossible, is there a better way to suspend the scabbard?

Please see the attached pictures and descriptions. Oh, and ignore my ugly mug and the cat wandering around ;)

Edit: Hmm, image descriptions can't be that long. Anyway, as you can see the sword and scabbard hang very horizontal when the sword is in the scabbard. When the sword is not in it, the scabbard hangs nearly vertical. The three straps on the scabbard are not fixed. I can slide them if I want. Sliding them does not help though. If I slide them further backwards, the sword hangs completely horizontal when seated in the scabbard and sometimes even tips forwards.

You can see that the scabbard can easily swing all the way back, sideways and forwards. It can swing so much forwards that it crosses my left leg and I can trip over it.

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Here is my sword, scabbard and suspension. There are three leather straps wrapped around the scabbard. The back two come together at the belt. The top one ends in a buckle. The belt itself splits in two.

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Here you see the scabbard strapped on. I put the top half of the split belt in the belt buckle. The bottom half of the split belt goes to the fordward strap buckle.

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Here you can see the scabbard when it's holding the sword. When I walk normally, the sword has a tendency to bob to an even more horizontal position.

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Here you can see that the scabbard can swing completely backwards.

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The scabbard can swing completely sideways and forward.

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The scabbard can even swing completely to the front, crossing my leg. In this picture, then end of the scabbard is pointing towards my right foot. I can easily trip over it with my left leg.

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This is an image from the Lutel website showing various suspension methods for scabbards. My scabbard is type "E". Note that my sword and scabbard is not a Lutel, I just thought this was a really good image showing off various suspension methods.

This wouldn't happen if the lower strap on the scabbard connected to the part of the belt nearest to the center of your back. Instead, your version has the lower strap connecting to the side of your hip, when it should be near the center of your back.

Ah, thanks. I get it now. I've moved the strap to the back now. That also allowed the bottom half of the belt to fit tighter, so now the front strap is pulling the scabbard throat towards my stomach and the back strap(s) are pulling it toward my back.

The scabbard is still at a bit of an odd angle I think, but it's much better already. At least it isn't getting in my way when I move fast. I don't have a big mirror so I can't take pictures right now. I'll have to wait until my girlfriend can take a few pictures tomorrow.

My suggestion is don't wear your scabbard while training. We don't see scabbards worn in virtually all images from fechtbuchs.

My $0.02.

Cheers,
Steven

Agreed, Bill. Also, for example, in Fiore's spear section the fighters are wearing their swords and daggers and there are plays here in there in Viggiani, Monte, etc, that deal with utilizing the weapon from the draw,.

Like anything else, kit sometimes informs technique. We all know why rondels are primarily shown used in reverse grip, for example. But I always wondered why Fiore shows the counter to someone trying to get into a full nelson from a backhold as stepping with your *right* leg behind him - afterall it works to either side. Well, it does, until you have a sword on. ;)

We certainly don't wear the sword all the time, but we do periodically do so to practice spear, abrazare and dagger, and it can inform a lot of subtleties. (Like how to fall without impaling yourself on your own crossguard....)

Greg and Bill - thanks for informing me.

Ed - your point is definitely valid.

So I withdraw my earlier point.

Hmm <goes to see if he can find the pieces to his scabbard belt>

Cheers,
Steven