I've just noticed that medieval pilgrim badges from the Shrine of St. Thomas Becket often depicted decorated sword scabbards. The Museum of London has many examples: http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/online/

It's an interesting source for decoration ideas.

Here's a 15th c. example.

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I guess this is the front of that 15th c. pin. Wouldn't it be fun to recreate these pins in brass (complete with the sword that probably was lost within 10 minutes of the badge's purchase)?

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Whoa. Nice find. Good thinking out of the box, too.

Those are excellent finds. It really illustrates the concept they did not like blank spaces.

Thanks Sean

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More below. And here's one you can buy, because we live in the true age of magic: http://www.mainlymedieval.com/product_info.php?products_id=863

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"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" :D

Or rather, as the titular heroine of Girl Genius put it, "Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science!" (cue lightning, thunder, manic laughter) :D