The Armour Archive

How do I make a scabbard for a rattan SCA tanto or katana, something that I can pull quickly, but will keep my "blades" from rolling around on my belt? On the infrequent occasion that I need to go for a secondary weapon on my belt, it is never where I can get to it. That being said, I'd rather not walk around with one on a lanyard, dangling from my wrist.

Suggestions?

Hmm... do the weapons have a curve?

What I would do is wrap the weapon with butcher paper taping it up, then cut the paper from the weapon making a pattern.

Before doing that I would wrap 3 or 4 layesr of paper arounf the weapon to make the rattan thicker than it normaly would be this will give the pattern some lee-way for the removal for the sword later.

Once you have the pattern transfer it to some leather, cut and stitich... then soak the leather in water and place the weapon in the sheath. mold the sheath to the weapon and allow the sheath to dry... thats how I make my sword sheaths.

Æiric Ørvender wrote:Hmm... do the weapons have a curve?

What I would do is wrap the weapon with butcher paper taping it up, then cut the paper from the weapon making a pattern.

Before doing that I would wrap 3 or 4 layesr of paper arounf the weapon to make the rattan thicker than it normaly would be this will give the pattern some lee-way for the removal for the sword later.

Once you have the pattern transfer it to some leather, cut and stitich... then soak the leather in water and place the weapon in the sheath. mold the sheath to the weapon and allow the sheath to dry... thats how I make my sword sheaths.

They are straight, actually. I really like your method, though!

I have a 8 inch section of pvc pipe fitted with tachi style fittings. It is laquered black and when my tachi which is taped black, is in there it looks more or less right.

The tanto is in a black laquered piece of 1.5 inch copper pipe.

Nissan Maxima wrote:I have a 8 inch section of pvc pipe fitted with tachi style fittings. It is laquered black and when my tachi which is taped black, is in there it looks more or less right.

The tanto is in a black laquered piece of 1.5 inch copper pipe.

At risk of sounding all fanboy, I want to be Nissan Maxima when I grow up.

Your armor was what got me back into the SCA in 2007 after a six year hiatus, specifically seeing pics online at this forum. It got me to build my own rig in proper samurai style. Your brutish-yet refined persona inspired me to make the tetsubo my primary non-pole/spear weapon instead of a two-handed tachi, because it looks a lot scarier, and makes a lovable thunk off of helms.

Once again, I will emulate your example in this particular issue. Thank you.

Fanboy