Scabbards & Sheaths

This is a step-by-st ep instructio n guide to making a leather scabbard, using the known tools and techniques of the Medieval English leather worker. Basic leatherwor king knowledge is assumed, although some of the techniques may be new to the modern leatherwor ker.

The majority of finds for seax-scabbards show the widely spaced marks from riveting holes rather than stitching holes. These scabbards were edged with a strip of metal, the sharp edge of the blade facing towards the metal edge. And if you have ever accidentally cut through the stitching of a sewn-up scabbard it immediately makes sense. A metal-binding also stiffens the scabbard which again makes a lot of sense if you wear it suspended horizontally from your belt and move about a lot – no accidental stabs in the belly or similar. The following instructions describe how I make such scabbards, using totally unauthentic techniques, but the result looks right.

The original proposal for the research and publicatio n of the large assemblage of leather artefacts and leatherwor king evidence from four sites in Anglo-Scan dinavian and medieval York specified that the work be undertaken in two distinct stages:


Stage 1: completion of the archive and preparatio n of a detailed publicatio n synopsis.


Stage 2: analysis, research and publicatio n.

The initial data gathering and quantifica tion has been successful ly completed and this document represents the detailed publicatio n synopsis, work programme and timetable necessary for the completion of stage 2.

Includes sections on finds from excavations; leathergoods manufacture; knife sheaths; shoes; parchment; books, boxes, & book boxes; and saddlery.

Making a scabbard for a small dagger or other knife is a relatively simple process.

A blog post with photos of leather items found on the Mary Rose (which sank in 1545), including bracers, a mitten, an arrow-spac er, leather bottles and buckets, shoes and boots, scabbards, and pouches.

This article shows how to make a fully functional, yet typically medieval belt sheath for a single-edged utility belt knife.

The characteristics of leather were just as important then as they are today: flexibility, strength and durability.

I recently tried my hand at some scabbards for a couple of my swords. They are not an easy project, but not as bad as I thought they would be.

Period knife sheaths. Making knife sheaths.

Making sword scabbards. Different types. References.