Stitching Up History

http://stitchinguphistory.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/hand-sewing-my-wool-strap-dress.html

At the Sign of the Golden Scissors: To Stroke or Not to Stroke

At the Sign of the Golden Scissors: To Stroke or Not to Stroke: Stephanie Smith of Larkin & Smith After you have done your first section of gathering stitches; pull your thread tightly enough to cre...

At the Sign of the Golden Scissors: Stroke Gathers: Gathering Stitch

At the Sign of the Golden Scissors: Stroke Gathers: Gathering Stitch: Stephanie Smith of Larkin & Smith Before you start your gathering stitches you need to mark off the sections of your pieces.  I mark t...

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.

My Latest Knapsack Project.

Whenever I see something in an op-shop or second hand shop that can be used for living history purposes, I grab it. Apart from my own family we have our group, and using second hand items to produce good equipment only seems sensible. A new member can purchase an item from me at cost, and if they can't afford that, then I will give it too them for free.
Some time ago I found another one of those all cotton made in China knapsacks, the ones that school kids used to use before all these synthetic zip-ups came into use. Only this one was already partly stripped. The lower straps were missing, and so were all the outside pockets and the piece that covers the back of the top straps. In amongst my bits and pieces I also had an all cotton waist belt, so I decided to cut up this belt and use it for the lower straps.
Normally I would use leather, but I am short on leather so I decided that if I used an awl to make the adjustment holes in the cotton straps, I could use standard type brass buckles.
Are cotton straps authentic when used in this manner? I think one would be hard put to not be authentic, given that these days cotton is often used in place of the more common linen, and given the fact that many 18th century knapsacks were home made and people simply used whatever they had. Some packs in period painting look as though they are using rope for straps.

 

 

 

 
 If at some date I find that this arrangement is not suitable to the period I can always change it. Nothing lost. But for now it gives me another knapsack for someone.

 This is how it was when I bought it. Devoide of lower carry straps, pockets and flap securing straps and buckles.

 Aluminium tabs on the ends of the top carry straps. I cut these off, doubled the ends over and stitched them.

 Brass buckles added to the straps I cut from a belt. By using an awl I was able to push the buckle's tongue through the strap without breaking any threads in the weave.

 Straps sewn to the bottom of the bag with heavy linen thread.

 I did a double row of stitching on the top straps as the securing strip was also missing.

 Again I used the awl when adjusting the carry straps.

 I made two button holes and whip stitched them with heavy linen thread.

Two pewter buttons used to secure the flap.

 

The bag cost me a couple of dollars I think, so all up this knapsack cost me no more than $4.00 plus my time. I already had the buckles and the buttons. I could have used wood, horn or bone for the buttons and old saddle buckles are often only a dollar or two from a friendly saddler.