Scabbard Conversion

[Gaius_Calvus]

Thanks, Magnus.

It was fun and not too hard -- I was able to do it one Sunday afternoon from start to finish.

If anyone is interested, I can provide a copy of the template I used to cut the new leather with. Making that template was the only tricky part.

Edge

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Salve Clavus,

That is an awesome job and the paint actually looks really good.

Concerning the paint specifically and I know recreator’s strive in every effort to be as accurate as possible but… I personally do not feel it’s necessary to use the type of paint the Roman’s had, if you can replicate the ‘look’ with the modern equivalent.

Obviously you do not want to use just anything, modern glossy, neon, or multi tone and fade-shift paints are out but… I feel you can use modern flat colors.

For example, one recreator could say, “my red shield, which looks absolutely identical to yours, is better because I used an ancient type of paint on mine!â€

[Gaius_Calvus]

Thanks, Brother -- but I did not use paint, I used dye with a beeswax finish.

The whole paint thing came about because I implied in my original post (since edited) that painting the scabbard was a bad idea.

Fortunately, the good folks here helped me understand that painting is a viable option. :wink:

But, I chose to dye this one.

Edge

[Marcus Mummius]

Don't forget about only eating Roman food while making the replica's!!! Very important!!!

[Tarbicus]

A Len Morgan gladius, but a cheap scabbard from Ebay, pimped up with brass buttons, silver leaf, and some blue paint.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i311/ ... 1176473893

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Tarbi you are sport'n da bling biatch!

[cacrispvs]

just don't call him "nappy-headed"... :lol:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

That looks like it was made for that gladius Edge! Perfect match!

Wish I could find a decent one for my Mainz's!

[Gaius_Calvus]

Jim,

That is one nifty scabbard -- well beyond my current talents. Nice.

Thanks for the feedback, Brothers. Hope this helps others.

Edge

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Very bling indeed Jim! Nice job, XIIIIth blue by any chance? 8)

[Tarbicus]

Jim,

That is one nifty scabbard -- well beyond my current talents. Nice.

Well, thanks very much Edge and everyone else, but honestly, if I can do it then anyone reading this message can. Total cost of materials was probably about £10, mostly from Ebay. The biggest pain was chiselling off the loops on the buttons and drilling recesses in the wood and leather to take the button parts that stick into it. Leafing is a doddle on such flat surfaces (half an hour, or thereabouts).

I have another to pimp which might be linen covered, but I have a sheet of brass here and might try new metalwork to replace the pretty naff stuff that's on it. I'm actually not too keen on the blue one's metalwork, but it was a good test run for sure. The beauty of these cheap scabbards is they are held on by flimsy glue, and nails which can be re-used if extracted fairly carefully. The sword parts also usually come apart easily and I fancy making Fymo faux ivory parts.

Very bling indeed Jim! Nice job, XIIIIth blue by any chance? 8)

Now that would be a bit too uniform :wink:

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

Edge's example inspired me to replace the leather on my Find-it-Armory scabbard. I followed his steps, except that step 3.5 did not work for me - the wet leather just would not get on the wooden scabbard; instead, all my hard pulling made it stretch lengthwise. So I had to cut another piece out using the original Find-it-Armory leather cover as a template. Then I stitched up the new leather cover right on the scabbard, which was very easy to do. The new leather cover fit well, but was not perfectly tight on the scabbard. So I wet it, and then dried it with a hair dryer. The result was a perfectly tight fit. After the leather was dyed I reattached the metal hardware.

Below is the picture of my modified Find-it-Armory gladius and scabbard with a new baldric.

[Robert]

Does anyone sell just scabbard metal fittings by mail? They should be great as a basis for making your own scabbard with Edge and Mat as our guiding light ! Perhaps Deepeeka can ship some to Armea and other dealers, then we can set about making the holes in the right places and tinning if we wish without having to buy surplus woody and leathery bits we have trouble taking apart. And don't have to pay for the obsolete first time assembly. Any takers?

[Tarbicus]

I've suggested scabbard kits before, and one supplier did mention he was interested. Don't know which thread it was though.

For chape and locket plates to be made as optional extras I'd imagine could have a few snags. It would depend on which scabbard/gladius from which manufacturer to define the dimensions. Decent finials on the end of pommels are one accessory I'd love to be able to get my hands on, though, but that would depend on the size of the screw from the tang.

But I can't see any reason why the whole scabbard and even gladius couldn't be supplied as an optional unassembled 'kit' for you to do with as you wish, and should be cheaper to buy.

[Tarbicus]

Actually, I think it was Doug Strong who was interested in accessories (?), and lo and behold:

http://www.strongblade.com/prod/sbx-pompeiicroceus.html
(look at the bottom of the page)