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Ron Franks




Location: Prattville, AL, USA
Joined: 14 Jan 2018

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Thu 01 Feb, 2018 3:53 pm    Post subject: Poor Scabbard Fit         Reply with quote

Hello. I’m new to swords and this forum. I like most swords but Renaissance swords in particular. I have a custom smallsword on order with Arms & Armor but won’t see it for several months. To hold me over, I bought a Cold Steel smallsword which arrived today. While not perfect, I’m extremely happy with what I got for so little money. Anyway, it has one little issue I’m hoping you might help with. The sword won’t fit all the way into the scabbard by about ½ inch. It’s really tight at the throat. The scabbard appears to be fiberglass with leather turned inward. It’s finished very well but it’s way too tight. Should I just remove the leather inside the opening? I don’t really want to do that but can’t think of an alternative. Can someone offer any advice? Thank you.


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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Thu 01 Feb, 2018 4:27 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

You might rub a little Neatsfoot oil or other leather conditioner on the inside, then take a hair dryer to it for a few minutes. When it gets good and warm, put the blade in good and firm as far as it will go. Let it sit until it cools off, or overnight, then remove the sword and clean the blade WELL. That's all I've got. I had to do that to a Windlass sword/scabbard once. It worked pretty well. Happy .....McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Terry Thompson




Location: Suburbs of Wash D.C.
Joined: 17 Sep 2010

Posts: 165

PostPosted: Fri 02 Feb, 2018 4:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The heat sounds like a good idea. It's almost undoubtedly all synthetic, so I doubt the neatsfoot will have much affect except as lubrication. If it's only tight at the throat, it should be easy enough to isolate where you're heating it up. But it also could cause the glue to release and de-laminate the layers. So it's a bit of a gamble.
Usually mass produced scabbards are too loose, but I think we'd all be interested in the route you choose and the results.
-Terry
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Ron Franks




Location: Prattville, AL, USA
Joined: 14 Jan 2018

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri 02 Feb, 2018 5:44 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks for your responses. I think a little bit of heat might help. I won’t go overboard. I’ll likely wait to see if any more ideas are posted. I’m thinking worst case I could remove the fabric, which is likely some type vinyl, and open the throat slightly with a dremel tool. I’d have to find some fabric to replace what I cut out. . .
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team


myArmoury Team

PostPosted: Sat 03 Feb, 2018 6:09 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If you bought it from a reputable dealer and the scabbard doesn't fit, have them replace it.
Happy

ChadA

http://chadarnow.com/
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Ron Franks




Location: Prattville, AL, USA
Joined: 14 Jan 2018

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Sat 03 Feb, 2018 7:12 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I thought about trying to replace the scabbard. Since it’s such an inexpensive piece, I’d rather fix it myself. It looks great and the replacement might not.
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Jordan E. Williams




Location: California
Joined: 25 Mar 2016

Posts: 134

PostPosted: Sat 03 Feb, 2018 8:46 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Chad Arnow wrote:
If you bought it from a reputable dealer and the scabbard doesn't fit, have them replace it.

Gotta say I agree here. That's just poor quality control if the sword doesn't even fit in the scabbard.

His Imperial and Royal Majesty Hordan Vilhelm the Great, by the Grace of God, German Emperor and King of Prussia, Margrave of Brandenburg, Burgrave of Nuremberg, Count of Hohenzollern, Duke of Silesia and of the County of Glatz, Grand Duke of the Lower Rhine!
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Ron Franks




Location: Prattville, AL, USA
Joined: 14 Jan 2018

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Sat 03 Feb, 2018 3:55 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Problem solved. I concluded the material is some type of vinyl. I used a little 3-in-One oil inside the scabbard throat. I then applied moderate heat with a hair dryer and repeatedly inserted the sword with a slight twist each time I inserted it. It worked great and fits perfectly. Happy camper! Thanks for your help.
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Sat 03 Feb, 2018 6:18 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Glad you got the problem fixed. Happy Now---how the heck do I fix the P.O.S. scabbard on my H/T Norman? Laughing Out Loud I know...look up Bryan Heff or Christian Fletcher. Wink .....McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Mikko Kuusirati




Location: Finland
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
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Posts: 1,080

PostPosted: Sun 04 Feb, 2018 3:00 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

...or get some basic woodworking tools and look up Ye Old Gaffer's tutorials. Happy
"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
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Julien M




Location: Austin TX
Joined: 14 Sep 2005

Spotlight topics: 1
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PostPosted: Sun 04 Feb, 2018 4:40 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Just glue a piece of leather inside, for the HT scabbards it works like a charm and is a 5 min fix.
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Sun 04 Feb, 2018 10:54 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Nah, Julien....The problem with my H/T scabbard is waaay deep in the middle. The blade gets hung up about half way. I'm thinking of harvesting the fixtures and tossing the rest. Looking to dress up the sword a bit also. Maybe some oxblood red leather...I love oxblood. Big Grin .....McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Julien M




Location: Austin TX
Joined: 14 Sep 2005

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,086

PostPosted: Sun 04 Feb, 2018 2:00 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark Moore wrote:
Nah, Julien....The problem with my H/T scabbard is waaay deep in the middle. The blade gets hung up about half way. I'm thinking of harvesting the fixtures and tossing the rest. Looking to dress up the sword a bit also. Maybe some oxblood red leather...I love oxblood. Big Grin .....McM


You should dress it up! These HT are among the best candidates for that. Sold my tinker norman years ago and kind of miss it!

https://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=18159
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Mark Tan





Joined: 30 Nov 2016

Posts: 29

PostPosted: Sun 04 Feb, 2018 3:52 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark Moore wrote:
Nah, Julien....The problem with my H/T scabbard is waaay deep in the middle. The blade gets hung up about half way. I'm thinking of harvesting the fixtures and tossing the rest. Looking to dress up the sword a bit also. Maybe some oxblood red leather...I love oxblood. Big Grin .....McM

Same problem as mine. I salvaged the fittings and made my own scabbard. Basswood is easy to carve and you can do it with just hand tools
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Sun 04 Feb, 2018 4:32 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

This is such a SIMPLE issue....what could it take for Hanwei to make this go away? Sorry to be hi-jacking on a thread here, but REALLY....world class sword, piece-of-junk scabbard? I don't want to pay several hundred dollars to a custom maker--(Even though I know it would be excellent...) for $200+ sword, even though the sword is worth, in my opinion, twice that. Yeah...I could get venturous and make a nice wood-core in some 'super-dope' oxblood....but why? Step up, Hanwei...... Wink ....McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Sun 04 Feb, 2018 4:43 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

On an unrelated subject---- I recently saw on the SBG forums, that the Hanwei Sword of St. Maurice has been re-designed and re-introduced to the market. No more leather washer gappy-thingy. Wink Laughing Out Loud ......McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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