My Leather Sword Scabbards.

Ben just emailed me asking about sword scabbards, so I thought to make my reply easier, I would post what images I have of my own creations. Ben asked if he could make one like a large knife sheath, well that is basically what I did for both of mine.

The leather for my basket hilt sword is quite heavy, and there were three layers to get through. So I found it easier to clamp the pieces together and use a drill in stead of an awl.

I did not have enough length of leather to make this scabbard in one piece, so I had to add a piece on the end.

At the hilt end of the scabbard I added an extra strengthening piece which you can also see in the image below.

After the main body of the scabbard was finished, I covered the whole in clothing weight leather.

The hanging straps are from some old horse tackle that I had laying around. I am not claiming that this is a copy of any original, it is simply the best I could come up with in my limited skills at scabbard making.

This is my hunting sword and scabbard, which was a little easier to make, because it is short and all one piece construction. I did use an awl on this one.

This is the leather scabbard frog I made up based on a Ranger frog used for a bayonet. I wanted an angle on the sword so it would not just hang down straight.

Original 18th century sword and frog.

The backs of two frogs.

More sword frogs.

Making A Simple Leather Sword Scabbard Frog. Short Video.

No special tools used during this construction. I made my own awl, and I cut the leather with my clasp knife. I used a fire log to place the leather on to make the holes. It took me about an hour to make.

Making A Bark Knife Sheath or Liner. Part 2.

Carrying The Tomahawk[trade axe].

My thanks to Elmo for asking about the carrying and safety aspects of tomahawks. As far as the covering of blades is concerned, I think it was a personal choice based on experience. I told Elmo about the trapper who slipped on ice and fell on his tomahawk which had no blade cover and was carried under his belt. The blade cut his hand off as he tried to break his fall.

The typical and most common way for a woodsrunner to carry a tomahawk. This woodsman has removed the blade cover because he is using his tomahawk to construct a shelter.

Again, you can see the tomahawk through the back of my belt with a linen cloth cover on the blade. My half-axe is secured under the ties on my blanket roll.

This tomahawk frog belonged to a close friend of mine who went under some years ago. His persona was that of an ex Ranger and no longer needing to carry a bayonet for his Brown Bess musket, he ellected to make this frog to just carry his tomahawk. This shows my wife's belt axe in the frog.

http://www.tattershallarms.org/gear.html

This is the type of frog carried by some Rangers and light infantry.

This mid 18th century carrier is home made and designed to carry under the arm with the strap over the shoulder.

This I believe is a copy of an original late 18th century tomahawk blade cover. I would not take this to be one of common usage.

Getting Started 2.

Getting Started 2.



In the first article on Getting Started I talked about items of clothing and doing the research on your choice of persona. For part 2 I will cover some basic equipment items.


Equipment:


For ordinary meetings you need very little in the way of equipment, a cup or mug of some description should suffice, plus perhaps a knife & spoon for eating.


A plain pottery or china cup or mug will not stand out. Non lead pewter mugs can be found in second hand shops & op-shops. A tin can with a handle soldered on is good, or failing this just a tin can. If soup or stew is on the menu then a cup or mug will be fine to eat out of.


Spoons these day are not very different to 300 years ago, so you can bring an ordinary desert spoon. Wooden spoons are good, as are horn spoons.

This is a wooden spoon that I purchased in a supermarket, three for $2.00. I cut the handle to size.

In the 18th century your belt knife served as your eating knife & most people carried one of some type or another.

Butcher knives like this one can often be found in second hand shops or op-shops at little cost and are ideal. Just make yourself a plain leather sheath with no belt loop.

This sheath I made from shoulder bag leather & covered with clothing weight leather & stitched with linen thread. The leather came from an op-shop.

Some form of bag is probably a good idea for going to meetings. It can carry your drinking vessel and also some food and anything else you have collected.

This scrip ( called a haversack in mid 18th century. Ref: Al Saguto) was made from second hand light canvas. Your local awning/tarpaulin maker may even sell you some scraps.

A knapsack made from a modern all cotton school bag. Another op-shop find.

The market wallet or market bag. Basically a long tube with the ends sewn shut and a slit in the middle for entry.

The snapsack, an easy bag to make. Often made of leather, but this one made of linen.

Simple inexpensive items are usually best, but please do your research first; this will help you make the right choices.

Snapsack & Market Wallet patterns: http://www.crookedtreefarm.com/history/snapsack/snapsack.html

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm#Snapsack

http://www.crookedtreefarm.com/history/wallet/wallet.html

http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/search?q=snapsack

http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/search?q=market+wallet