Middle Earth Ranger Forum

I've got a Viking sword with a button on the scabbard and I was wondering how best to carry it on my belt. Any thoughts?

Best as in most practical for woods-roaming, or best as in most historically accurate to what Vikings did?

(Either way I suspect you're in for some crafting. )

im looking for more practical for woods roaming. I'm not afraid of the crafting. Thank you Elleth.

There is a discussion of some different methods and the pros and cons of woodland carry with each here.

Laothain wrote:I've got a Viking sword with a button on the scabbard and I was wondering how best to carry it on my belt. Any thoughts?

These are the two methods I have used for my swords, They are fairly simple & work well for me. I hope this is of some help.
Regards, Keith.





This is the original on which I based my hunting sword frog. I wanted a slight angle on the carry rather than having the blade hang straight down.

Laothain wrote:I've got a Viking sword with a button on the scabbard and I was wondering how best to carry it on my belt. Any thoughts?

One word on that sword: "Ew". I owned one of these once. It's one advantage is that it is cheap.
The brass button appears to be a vestige from British sabers in India.
Most importantly, it's not practical to wear a sword this size such that it hangs vertically. Perhaps you've already discovered it, but the sword will slap against your knee at every step if it hangs vertically.
Anything that you can come up with that will help it hang more diagonally acrost your rear, will be worth trying.
I might have some photos nearby of my rig, if I can find them.

I know it's cheap but it's what I could afford. I may try the two straps that may work.

You could try something like this:



That's the Marseille from Valiant Armoury - the photo is one of their product images. The two buckles attached to the scabbard allow the length of the straps to be adjusted, so the angle the blade hangs at can be changed. It also allows for removal of the sword and scabbard while leaving the belt on.

The wrapping used to secure the scabbard to the straps is very cool looking, but stitched loops would work just as well.

We've all been there. Wringing the last bit of goodness out of what you can afford is great practice.

(FWIW, I imagine you might dress that up quite a bit by slimming down the handle and making your own scabbard.)

Here is a rig that I came up with for my sword. The belt on the right goes around my scabbard once more, and when I strap it on, it totally hangs diagonally in my back, with issues with flopping around.

Maybe you can come up with something similar.

I think everyone owns that sword, and I think it might be meant for a baldric, which is great if you want to run holding the scabbard. I'd recommend the two strap scabbard hang.

Ken

I know I've been somewhat absent around here lately, but I wanted to take a moment to chime in here, because it relates to a question Elleth asked me a while back and I never got around to answering (Sorry Elleth!). I use the two-strap method, similar to what folks have referenced above, and it works quite well. It also happens to be the same method Aragorn uses to suspend his ranger sword in the Peter Jackson films. so that endears it to me somewhat further. I will try to post a more detailed description of how I rigged mine up in the near future, per Elleth's request.

Please do! I'd be interested in seeing that.

I'd be interested in seeing that as well. I may rework the sword and scabbard a bit this winter depending on how life goes it's something I've pondered before.

Here's one system I'd love to try:
http://www.yeoldegaffers.com/project_scabbard.asp