My New Lupercal Plates Belt

[sulla felix]

This is what I have been working on to compliment the re-worked Find-It Scabbard. The plates and buckle were made by the excellent Matt Lukes (nuff said!). The leatherwork is by me and is two layers of veg tan goatskin sewn together so that face leather can be seen front and back.

[sulla felix]

My camera skills do not really do Matt's excellent work justice, but here are some more pictures anyway!

[sulla felix]

..and more..

[sulla felix]

...still awake?...



The buckle has the most exquisite punchwork decoration...and I just love it

[Peroni]

Very nice indeed mate! They look good together.

[sulla felix]

Thanks Ade - I'll be trying out the "gunslinger" twin belt set up at Dover!

[Peroni]

Just gotta tin it all now! :wink: hock:

[sulla felix]

I have a cunning plan for that :wink: . Actually the pictures do not show it that well but the background of the lupercal plates is silvered. I/ll be doing this on some of the scabbard parts and maybe that lovely buckle too.

[Magnus]

Jesus...you're going to be one snazy looking legionary Barry. Better go for an officer impression! :lol:

Also, did you rivet the plates through both halves of the leather, or just the outer one?

[Robert]

I really like the way you (well, Matt) have silvered the inner raised surface on those plates.
Well done, these look terrific !!

When will you be back in England? I am much awaiting your scabbard idea on that nasty Germanic knife I sent you.

[sulla felix]

Jesus...you're going to be one snazy looking legionary Barry. Better go for an officer impression! :lol:

Also, did you rivet the plates through both halves of the leather, or just the outer one?

Thanks Matt - although I reckon that most troops would have had equipment like this IMHO, "even" us lowly Auxilliary types LOL.

On this occasion I have rivetted through both layers. I have heard the theory that maybe the plates were only rivetted through the outer layer and it is something I would like to try at a later date. It is certainly a very interesting theory and would explain how a lot of the belt plates found with rivets intact appear to have been affixed to very thin material?

[Magnus]

Yep, not to mention it would save a bit of wear on tunica, for those who don't wear the facia ventralis.

[sulla felix]

Matt what I found with the double layer goatskin is that the roves and rivet heads sink nicely into the leather and it really feels as smooth as a baby's bum on the back of the belt. No snagging! I'll take a picture of the rear of the belt and you can see what I mean.

[sulla felix]

Here's what I mean:

[sulla felix]

I really like the way you (well, Matt) have silvered the inner raised surface on those plates.
Well done, these look terrific !!

When will you be back in England? I am much awaiting your scabbard idea on that nasty Germanic knife I sent you.

Thanks Robert - and you are right the credit goes to Matt Lukes on those plates.

4 days to go and then the knife will be in my hands Robert! Cannot wait!