scabbards for zweihanders?

[grote_pier]

I have a question about whether there were scabbards for 2- handed swords like zweihanders or claymores. In all the pictures I have seen there is never a scabbard. But how would soldiers carry the swords when they were out marching? Where would they put their swords if they wanted to sit down? If the blade was very sharp, it seems like it would be dangerous to have it exposed, or it could get damaged.

Similarly, how would soldiers carry weapons like axes and maces when not in combat? pictures would be useful. Thanks.

[Jeremiah Guffey]

I have a question about whether there were scabbards for 2- handed swords like zweihanders or claymores. In all the pictures I have seen there is never a scabbard. But how would soldiers carry the swords when they were out marching? Where would they put their swords if they wanted to sit down? If the blade was very sharp, it seems like it would be dangerous to have it exposed, or it could get damaged.

Similarly, how would soldiers carry weapons like axes and maces when not in combat? pictures would be useful. Thanks.

I am not sure if it's historically accurate or not but to my understanding the scabbards for such swords were not like your usual sword scabbards, as such a scabbard would not allow you to draw the sword since it would be too long for your to do so.

Rather the scabbard was made with a "tip" area wher ethe tip of the sword rested in then a covering for teh sides of the blade and back whereas it had an opening in the middle of scabbard with just the tip area fully covered. Then there was a strap that fastened around the hilt of the blade at the top.

To draw the sword you would simply have to unfasten the strap and pull the sword up slightly (above teh tip area) and then turn it slightly to pull it out between the open part of the scabbard.

Trying to find some pics but coming up short so far, mt places just show you a generic one-handed style sword scabbard.

[Sal Bertucci]

Axes and maces could be stored on a loop on the belt, while some (like this flail) had a hook that was used to secure them to the belt or whatever.

http://www.lutel.cz/index_.php?en=1

[Sal Bertucci]

well that didn't work. maybe this one will.

http://www.lutel.eu/?p=productsMore&iProduct=140&sName=Flail-17004

[Stacy Clifford]

Large blades made for hitting armored targets also generally weren't razor sharp, they were more like chisel sharp to make the edge more robust and durable, but still easily capable of devastating cuts. Everyday knocks and dings from traveling wouldn't have affected them and the guys who used them took good care of the tools that kept them alive (and cost them a lot of money besides).

[grote_pier]

Thanks for the replies everyone

Rather the scabbard was made with a "tip" area wher ethe tip of the sword rested in then a covering for teh sides of the blade and back whereas it had an opening in the middle of scabbard with just the tip area fully covered. Then there was a strap that fastened around the hilt of the blade at the top.

That's interesting ... In the manga Beserk , the main guy has something like that. It seems like it would work, I wonder if there are historical examples of a setup like that...


Sal - thanks. Im assuming there would be some type of covering as well? I found one picture of an axe sheath http://medievalcraft.blogspot.com/2008/06/axe-sheath.html
does anyone know if this design was typical?
I couldnt find any mace sheaths but I imagine that soldiers could have put some type of hinged shell over the top to cover the spikes?

Stacy - thanks for the info. I have seen pictures of soldiers who rest the blade on their shoulder like a spear or a rifle. I wondered about that, but it makes sense if the blade wasn't too sharp. Was resting the blade on the shoulder the normal way to carry the sword?

Another question I had was would it be adviseable to plant a zweihander in the ground, either to lean on it for support or to leave it there so you could have your hands free to do something else?

[Sal Bertucci]

I've never read anything on that, but suppose it's possible.

[Stacy Clifford]

I don't know if resting the blade on the shoulder was done to carry it long distances when marching, but if they drew pictures of it then the practice must have been common enough.

As for planting the tip in the ground, the tip is usually the sharpest part of the sword and dirt and grit will dull it, so you probably didn't want to do that much. A sword that large may also have enough length to get bent if knocked over while lodged in the ground, they weren't meant to be structural supports. A defensive ward like schrankhut can be planted in the ground briefly to strengthen it, similar to a staff defense, but that's briefly, and only because somebody's trying to hit you.

[LafayetteCCurtis]

Doesn't one of the Triumpfzug images have the two-handed swordsmen carrying scabbarded swords on their shoulders (in the manner of a staff/halberd, that is, not in a back-slung scabbard)? This would have made sense for carrying the sword on the march, and there'd usually be enough time to unsheath the sword with the assistance of another man holding the scabbard (perhaps in a "buddy system") of sorts before the two-handed swordsman enters the fray.