OK folks I don't know how I missed this thread as I was reading everything I could when I first jumped on the site! kinda strange having come from the Rangers Apprentice community so to speak!
It seems like you have had the same questions regarding Mr Flannagan's concept of the knives and the double sheath that we did.
I actually have correspondance I am sending to Mr. Flannagan from Halt's Playground (the RA RPG site that Brandwyn and I write on) asking about this question. We have a writer on the site who is in Australia and said that John is very accomodating and will answer his fans questions whenever possible. so keep your fingers crossed and I will try to keep you posted for the official word.
As a reasonable attempt to solidify this info, I will share what we have come up with so far.
At first I thought that these blades were kept in a "kangaroo" type sheath as was suggested by the picture of the two daggers together sent by Willrett. That style made sense to me and having been familiar with Aragorn's ranger sword and knife combo so the picture was firm in my mind. Then the same questions of draw and carry and all as described in the books came up.
Some issues popped up about righty/lefty configuration and why the kangaroo style would mean two different sheaths would need to be built (not practical for General issue ordinance) then also the double draw being somewhat more difficult (though the way you described the draw was perfect Belbarad.) and the fact that the thrower can be quick drawn and thrown in one smooth motion as explained in the books. All this got me thinking about the sheath being one on top of the other vertically, in line so to speak, and then I found these pictures that are on the covers of the Australian edditions to the books.
Now I realize having done some book covers myself, that cover illustrations are not always very factual and that many artists never even read the books they design for, so I am not using this as difinitive research or imperical evidence just saying if the guy drew it on three different covers and that there are several of the Halt's peril covers that don't have the rig on Halt's belt at all (so they must have felt it important enough to put in later) at least they seem to be thinking about it.
It has been my intention to make a prototype for what I felt was the Araluen Ranger Corps knife combo and sheath so I have several stainless blanks to work with. That project was postponed in order to explore the Cold Steel project. I ordered 3, 10" seax machetes and 2 of the 18" (I have always wanted to fight flourentine langseax and when I got a glimpse of the new Fili I knew I had to do it before the movie comes out or be labled a rogue!)
The 10 inch seax is about what he describes and though I initially invisioned it to be of the "broke back" style, there is the line in the book that said that the Ranger seax was "based" on the Skandian seax but was far better made by the smiths of Araluen allowing them to be made stronger, better (lighter, thinner?).
Looking at the cold steel I saw the sheepsfoot blade and the thin spring steel to be that quality improvement.
I also felt that at the price and availability of the cs piece modification would be less costly and therefore within the reach of most folks who would love to have a standard issue, almost surplus, blade set.
I will be cutting the leather rings for the handle, and looking for the best brass crossguard and butt cap for it. If you folks have any suggestions chime in.
I saw the Track of the wolf and Townsend sites for blackpowder reinactors and the ones on Ragnar's site, and perhaps something there will work. otherwise I am moving along with the other threads that explain more of this.
The thrower I veiwed as more of the 10" oa thowers that were popular in the 70's that had the diamond point and the ring in the back (not that I think it would have a ring just that the shape was sugestive of the type he describes) but then the leaf shape thing came up so I think the cold steel thrower here, will be what I pair the seax up with. I think they will make a nice set.
This one will get the same leather ring handle (just like the old K Bar's) and a matching but hopefully smaller, brass, butt cap and cross guard, without altering her throwing qualities badly.
Let me know what you think, it sounds like enough of you are interested and I have had several inquiries from RA people so this has become a priority project for me.
So it seems that if the forged version is being considered, it will be a much nicer piece than this but this could serve most of the prospective customers within a lower price range.