Scabbard for my sword 'Tiodhlac'

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
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I finally got around to finishing the scabbard for this sword (pics here if you are unfamiliar with this work: http://bigrockforge.com/tiodhlac-gift-of-the-ghillie-dhu/

These are the final pictures before sending it off. The scabbard is Lake Superior diver-salvaged 'Flame Birch'. Three piece construction.. two morticed pieces and then a birch spacer in between. It is goatskin lined with fox fur at the throat. There is a copper chape and the throat is copper, birch bark with goat skin extending out to provide a nice soft landing for the cross guard. The fit is firm and secure. The wood is glued together but backed up with two twisted wire 'clamps' that would support it well in case of a glue failure. Not to mention the chape and throat pieces. The flame birch was hollow ground like the blade and finished with danish oil. The suspension is a simple braided tie of no particular time period. Just a simple system that I liked. The poem that accompanies the sword (Gift of the Ghillie Dhu) is laminated onto birch bark and shellaqued with copper nails and leather thong.

Sad they always have to go.

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Thanks a lot for the comments folks! Swords are... addicting. I'm headed out to the shop to start a small sword (a type of fencing sword).
 
Terrific overall package. That will make for a truly impressive display in someone's home or office. And a truly impressive weapon when the zombies attack.
 
Talk about a complete package. :thumbup:
I've said this before I think it's important to to provide to the the person receiving a knife, be it a collector or friend, not just a knife but a way to stimulate their imagination and make them dream a little bit. Sorry, I always have a hard time explaining exactly what I mean. :o Hope it makes sense.
To me this kind of complete package does just that.
Kudos Scott! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Patrice... what you just wrote is the foundation of what my work is all about.

I've been working on a new website (which is now online) and that is what I'm trying to convey in various parts of the site. The idea of using the forged blade as a vehicle for story telling. And it is hard to express!
 
It's a gorgeous scabbard and a wonderful piece all around. The poem on the birch bark... there's just so much in the details Scott. Truly remarkable.
 
Super nice job Scott! It looks perfectly matched. Outstanding, i think.
David
 
Scott, can I ask how the 3 wood pieces are held together? Glue?
Working on my first wooden sheath (leather wrapped) for the Khukuri.
Thanks
 
Patrice... the wood is glued with TitebondIII... an awesome waterproof wood glue. But there are 4 points of back up.. the chape at the tip, the twisted copper wire above that, another twisted wire at the throat and then the copper throat fitting. These are all put on with pressure so that if the the glue ever failed for some reason the scabbard would still be held together.
 
Scott - I'm pretty sure that I account for at least half of the total views of this thread. I just keep returning to in an effort to fully appreciate what you created here.

This piece has had me captivated ever since you posted pictures of the sword itself. All of your work exhibits a mythical air(to me at least), but this piece is special. Stuart mentioned "there is just so much in the details", and I agree. At first I got all up close and admired the myriad of details in this piece, but I then had to pull back a bit to get the full picture. It all works together. Hardly just an assemblage of the pieces and parts, but the masterful combination of diverse components to create an "ecosystem" that functions as one.... a forest of trees... so to speak.

It is goatskin lined with fox fur at the throat
Click to expand...
Is it possible to see how you incorporated these materials? I just don't see the fox fur or how it and the lining are applied. Are these only seen when the sword has been removed from the sheath?

Thank you for the inspiration.

-Peter
 
Peter... I thank you for that compliment. I really, really appreciate it.

The goatskin is not visible at all. It is something I have and it is very thin and when I glued up the whole structure, the goat skin was applied wet and with Titebond III so that it formed well to the morticed channels inside. The edges of the goatskin are actually seen as layers when you look at the scabbard from the side. I didn't want the goatskin to loosen up over time and start peeling away.. so by placing it between the layers of wood.. well... that solves it. The fox fur isn't very visible either. Only when you look straight down. It is the top 2 inches of the inside of the throat. It was applied in a similar manner to the goatskin.. with the edges shaved. But I also put some small copper nails through it. Again.. I don't want there to be any chance of any of the liner material separating at some point. The fur just protects the spine of the blade from rubbing too much and fading the damascus pattern. I've used sheepskin (with wool) for this before.. but I used the fox on a whim. And partly because its less bulky than the the sheep.
 
I love it, your craftsmanship is stunning. Truly one of the finest I've seen lately. And all your other work, great!

Tanner-TurtleCreekKnives
 
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