Attaching a Scabbard Chape

[Amanda M]

I've started foraying into various metalworking arts recently and I'd like to make some scabbard chapes, but I haven't been able to figure out how they were usually attached to the scabbard, either wood or leather. I know there's some folk here who make them and I was hoping someone might be able to enlighten me a bit. I've looked at many reproductions and period examples but they're usually not forthcoming with these kinds of details. If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

I know some Roman ones were nailed on with small nails. When I make repros of these I use a combination of glue, and nailing.

[Jens Butler]

Culter's resin would be quite period for attaching handles and scabbard fittings for many cultures, from Viking to Roman. The recipe varies quite a bit, but most are basically 4-5 parts pine pitch 1-2 parts bee's wax mixed with one part of some type of fibrous binder like bone dust, saw dust, chopped flax/hemp or dried Horse/goat/cow dung. Some recipes call for ashes to be added to the mix other don't. Cutler's resin is applied hot ( melt it in a double boiler).
Hide glue available from wood worker supply houses would be another period solution to your problem. Hide glue can be found in powder or ready to use liquid. Get the liquid its less mess and less trouble.
Eastern smiths have used glue made from rice starch for scabbards and scabbard fittings for many years, commonly made by over cooking rice and mashing it, apply wet.

Hope this helps

Jens

[Marshal]

The modern and 19th century sabre scabbards I've seen all had the chapes and lockets nailed to the wooden core with tiny pin-sized brads.

Northan makes Viking ones which have little prongs on the inside, forged of a piece with the chape. Apparently the idea is that they will bend down when you knock them onto the wooden core and resist being pulled off again---a bit like the idea of a ratchet tooth, I guess.

[Amanda M]

Thanks for the varied answers guys.