Modifying a Mainz Gladius Scabbard

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Salve,

My Mainz Galdius from Deepeeka... the blade and hilt are well done however; I was rather disappointed with the embossing workmanship... it seems a bit 'rushed'. Anyways, I wanted it to have a two tone silver & gold with white look so that it would better match my armor and officer's impression.

Original



Modified



First I pulled off the brass tacks from the clamps

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Once all four were removed the edging just pops away from the scabbard




I then cut and embossed the silver embossing sheet foil (which I honestly have to say is pewter)



Lastly you can see the original scabbard plates (brass) next to mine (silver)

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

I honestly wanted to use 'cold enamel' to add the red highlights and white trim however, both art supply stores were out of stock, and the only place online I could find was on back order for a month so, I used the next best thing... enamel paint. Please don't call the authenticity police on me :oops: ... I could always enamel them in the future!




Here's a large close up
[url:1p3x57v1]http://www.congiano.com/Extras/Recreation/IMG_3842_800.jpg[/url]

[Chuck Russell]

dang. kewl. where do u get the silver stuff

[Magnus]

Holy crap...you did all that embossing by hand? That's bloody cool! How the heck did you do that?

Definately a laudes point from me!

[Robert Vermaat]

VERY GOOD-LOOKING! Laudes awarded.

[pvblivs cordvs]

Well done indeed.
Just out of curiosity. The images you used, what are the based on ?
I just put a contemporary image of crane birds I saw once on a Pompeii scabbard. Worked out nicely but I can only find brass sheet metal here so far.
What's that pewter sheet metal you used ? What is it original use ?
Cheers,
Cordvs/Wim.

[Peroni]

Thin copper sheet is soft enough for this work too. Needs tinning though!
Erik Konig uses thin brass tinned . He did my Poetovio spatha locket.

Thin tin plate is also an option. The problem with pewter is that it will go a dark dull grey eventually.

Looks very nice! Good work.

[Gaius_Calvus]

Sweeet!

Edge

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

WOW! Some of us think about doing it, others just do it! :oops:
Great work! what do you use for embossing, i.e tools and worksurface?

regards

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Salve & gratiae omnis!

The sliver embossing foil cost me $15 in the art supply store, I picked up brass embossing foil as well for my attic helmet visor.

Anyways… it’s made by AMACO Art Emboss and is basically designed for use on small and large artsy projects but…. where there will not be any contact with swords or shields, so you need to add a backing resin!



For embossing… a cheap set of embossing pens (pens with a small metal ball at the end) is all you need… even a rounded stick of wood will allow you to emboss this stuff.

The embossing foil is actually very buttery (for lack of a better word) and will literally bend around your hand if you hold it. It does stiffen up once bent and embossed however; it will dent easily until you add a backing resin.

I’ll document this part better with photos in my next post but…. What you need to do is, once you all done embossing, you need to pick up some JB Wield. JB Wield is a cold wielding product (about $5) that you mix together and let sit over night. (BTW: I fixed the ring I accidentally pulled off my scabbard using it… it holds really well!) Anyways, the trick is to use a small card and skim the mixed JB over the back of the embossing work, so that it fills in all the gaps. Then the embossing is rock solid and pretty much un-dent-able and stiff.

I’m going to use that method on my attic helmet visor but… once troweled across the back… I’ll lay the embossing brass work over the 18g brass visor and “cold wieldâ€

[Magnus]

Awesome...looking forward to the mini-tutorial Anthony!

[thecrocman (anton)]

i think that way to good looking :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:


great job

[Marcus Mummius]

Looks fun to use

Does anyone know a source for it in Europe?

Vale,

[Tarbicus]

Looks fun to use

Does anyone know a source for it in Europe?

Check Ebay, I just found silver, copper and gold embossing foil. Great tips there, Anthony, thanks.