[Jared Smith]

Does anyone have a diagram for how to tie a knotted (non woven) scabbard belt around the scabbard?

http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/johnsson/brescia-scabbard.htm

[Greyson Brown]

Jared,

Does this thread contain the info you need? If not, I could be willing to do some different step-by-step pictures.

Keep in mind that the pictures that Chuck linked to are essentially backwards. If you follow the pictures exactly, the suspension is set up for a left-handed user. If you are right handed, all you really need to do is orient your scabbard the other way (so the tip points up and right, rather than down and left) then just do what the pictures show.

-Grey

[Mathieu Harlaut]

After looking for a while to some XVth century artworks (paintings and statues) and also to the pictures on Albion website, I managed to find the way to do those knots.

The main references I used are :
- 2 portraits of the Duke of Urbino : "Montefeltro Altar" in Milan by Piero della Francesca / "Federico da Montefeltro ans his son Guidobaldo" in Urbino
- One altar by Rogier Van der Weyden : "The Sforza Tryptich" in Brussel
- The statue of Gattemelata in Padua by Donatello

It shows the same knot as the one done by Albion. The knot is very efficient to hold the scabbard, in fact I am not sure that a riser is needed to prevent it from moving . I tried a couple of other way to make them before but the result wasn't so good.

I have seen a couple of other XVth century pictures with this kind of knot but the ones above are the most obvious and helpfull. The picure show sometimes one knot on the scabbard, but usually two, never more.

A couple of days ago I made some picture to explain to a friend of mine.
Very important thing: you need a very long strap of leather. On this kind of sword hanger, there is more of the leather strap around the scabbard than between the scabbard and belt, about 3 times more!

I hope it helps

Mathieu

[Jared Smith]

Thankyou very much Mathew.

This does help considerably. I was not sure if the overall strap had a "loose end" tucked inside each knot somewhere, or if the belt strap just looped throughout both locations of ties onto the scabbard. It appears from your excellent pictures, that around step # 12, there is a loose end at each knot that is tucked under the on the back side of the scabbard.

I am working on another (trial #10 or so) long scabbard for a Crecey that will have risers to help stop slippage. I am debating a 2-1/2" (about 62 mm) wide area between each pair of risers to make room for these knots. I have a little time to decide, as the glued cloth is drying over the wood core right now.

[Felix Wang]

Matheiu,

A very clear set of pictures! Thank you for providing them.

[Bill Grandy]

Very nice and clear photo essay, Mathieu! Any chance you could post pics of those sources you listed, or at least links to them online?

[Mathieu Harlaut]

Thanks for your comments. I am pleased to help.

Here are some pictures. I have named the pictures accordingly.

It could be larger but that's all I found.

[David Browning]

Thanks for the great pics...

I've been making my own leather armor for the past year or so and just recently started thinking about making a couple of scabbards and belts. Anyone have any plans or pics for the wood core process?

This will save me a lot of time... I'll be sure to post the results down the road

DB

[Jared Smith]

Aaron Schnatterly had posted several examples of different scabbards in progress for different swords. This one is one of the closest to "step by step".

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=3811

[Bruno Giordan]

I wonder if:

1) this design was already in use in the XII century

2) any simple design more or less like this is documented for the XII century.

I already have the plans for the usual design for this century but it is a too complex design for somebody with a very limited spare time like me.

[Chuck Russell]

write up a blow by blow discription of what your doing in each picture. and finish out the pictures to attach to the belt and maybe nathan will post it in myArmoury as a great tool for sword belts

[Jean Thibodeau]

Mathieu;

Thanks those how to picts are very useful and some more instructional articles like this would make interesting feature article
IMHO. Very

I can never figure out knots by just looking at them in their finished state.

[Michal Plezia]

Hmm I have e question about that step by step instruction.What happens with the other end of the belt in the lower(closer to tip of the scabbard) knot?Because we finish with two ends(there can't be other way ) .On the higher knot we use both of them to attach the suspension to scabbard. And in the lower knot the second strap end is invisible....

[Chad Sonderberg]

The lower strap end is cut and tucked in under the backside straps. That way the end is both hidden and held securely. I'll post a photo of what it looks like on my scabbard once I get home this evening.

[Michal Plezia]

[Chad Sonderberg]

Here is the photo I promised:



As you can see, the end strap wraps through the others before ending under the center strap. This creates a solid hold without the need to glue or stitch the tie.

[Jared Smith]

Thanks Chad.

I just finished dyeing some straps and a belt for a similar suspension. I will experiment with it on a Crecey (non period) but something to play with!

[Michal Plezia]

[Chad Sonderberg]

No problem. I'm glad I could help.

If you need anymore advice, feel free to ask. I figured out how to replicate this belt design last spring (before this thread was created) from three images I had found. It takes a little while to get the hang of it, but it wears very comfortably for long periods and is easily adjustable for different people.

By period design, the two straps running to back of the belt are attached to a hook like component which can be attached/unattached from the waist belt with ease. I created my 'hook' using a 1/2 inch brass strip (my fittings are brass) that I folded in half, trimmed down the sides of the 'hook' areas, and riveted into place. I can post a couple photos, a riveted and unriveted, if you want.

[Michal Plezia]