Historical solution for the scabbard during combat

[Lance Chan]

Never in the fight books do I see they wear the scabbard during the fight. It has become a question for me. Before, I have a sword that comes with a leather scabbard. The scabbard suspend at an altitude lower than my hip and with an angle that facilitate fast drawing speed. Once drawn, the scabbard would become whippy and flexible. It does hinder my fighting movement and I thought with a wooden core scabbard that would not be the case. However, I found it quite the contrary. I have a wooden scabbard with the new sword and once the sword was drawn, again the angle changed with the scabbard's center of mass altered. I moved around and the scabbard ended up almost vertical pointing to the ground. Given the 35" blade length, whenever I bent my knees a bit in any ready stance, the scabbard's chape just tap the ground and the wooden core transmitted the force back to my belt as if telling me "Hey, you can't get any lower". By compare, it seems the leather scabbard was actually less bothering once the sword was out of it because it became very flexible and doesn't thrust to the ground even when it became vertical hanging from the belt.

That makes me wonder how do the historical European deal with the scabbard during fighting?

[JeffGentry]

Hey Lance

I haven't seen it in any book, my idea though is to throw the scabbard at my opponent, it seem's it will at the least be a minor distraction to him and no worry for me of it getting in my way.

if you win go back and get it, if you lose it doesn't matter what happen's to it.

This is MO.

Jeff

[Stacy Clifford]

If the scabbard is securely fastened to your belt, I think that throwing it would be a teeny bit inefficient.

[Jake_Norwood]

It depends. The longsword's scabbard would have been discarded before the fight in most instances, the LS being a dueling and battlefield weapon primarily. Later, with the rapier and cut-and-thrust sword, you do see manuals that involve the scabbard more frequently.

Jake

[Justin Toliver]

in a street fight situation I believe you would just deal with it
if you had a scabbard that could be removed easily (ie baldric) you might find time to throw it off but not likely

I'd haft to agree with Jake that most of the time you would probably have time to set aside your scabbard before a duel or battle

[Tim Merritt]

Interesting question. I took a quick glance through some of the fight manual images I saved and didn’t see any scabbards. I don’t have any references, but I’ve heard a couple of solutions. Longsword is good from horseback due to extra length, and scabbard is attached to saddle. Smaller items, such as dagger or hammer are attached to self. If you dismount, just take the sword. Or, especially if in a tourney, put through a metal ring attached to belt (no scabbard) if you plan on using it very quickly. Again, not sure where I heard those. I tried to attach a few images of “scabbards in action” I just searched for.

I’d also be curious to know if it is addressed in any historical instruction (I’ve never tried it myself—I don’t have a proper belt fitting).

[Shane Smith]

The scabbard makes it's appearance in a few armoured works;

Codex wallerstein;


Gladiatoria;


Interestingly,in the former, once the sword is drawn, the scabbard magically disappears.

[Casper Bradak]

Don't forget, as also pictured in some manuals, it was not uncommon for some to carry a sheathed sword in hand rather than strapped on.

[Lance Chan]

Thanks for all the replies! Hey, Tim, your pics are great and I took a good look on the first pic. I now understand why the scabbard would not become vertical once the sword was drawn because the second strap was not "sliding" along on the belt. It always stays in the metal circle for the angle. I think I've to consider locking my second strape in place and experiment how it goes.

Thanks everyone for the tips!

[Allen Johnson]

Though its not really explained as such but the Highlander seen on page 16 of Henry Angelo's 'Hungarian & Highland Broad Sword' is just holding it in his left hand and could easily use it as a parrying or distraction device.

(I'd do a direct link to the exact picture, but its a .pdf file)
http://www.thearma.org/pdf/HungarianHighlandBroadsword.pdf

[Lance Chan]

LOL, I'm not going to use my 200 USD scabbard as distraction device. ;p

[JeffGentry]

LOL, i wouldn't pay 200 USD for a scabbard.

Jeff