Leather scabbard?

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Linen - tough as nails especially if glued, easy to paint if you want some colour, easy to repair (just wrap another layer around).

I have a Pompei style gladius that I covered the scabbard in linen soaked with hide glue, then painted with milk paint. Its much more duriable than any of my leather covered scabbards.