Deepeeka Pugio rework

[Peroni]

The join of the leather is at the front so when the decorative plate goes on it covers the join as in the originals,

I am unaware of ANY surviving examples of wooden sheaths with leather remains Brian - care to enlighten us on your evidence?

[PhilusEstilius]

Adrian. I have to say that like yourself I have also not come across any scabbards that have both wood and leather remaining, there are of course scabbards with both front and back plates remaining that have wood still there.
Where I have explained how I do such a job it becomes common sense and logic to consider that where they were covered in leather they would have been done in this manner, it's a bit like situations with archaeologists who many times say that because of this and that it is safe to assume that this is how some thing was done.

[PhilusEstilius]

It is also like you have said Adrian about that Xanten dagger plate having three holes as oppossed to the normal one central, who can say that one hole is the normal we simply have again to use logic in our thought and say that it appears that this Xanten scabbard had D style hangers some times three holes on others some times even four.

[PhilusEstilius]

Adam. I have to be honest and say that I've not truely seen a scabbard with a stricker plate as such I just make one to give a good solid top end to the scabbard.
I would think that it might be a question for Crispvs for he has done an awfull lot of study on these things.

[Magnus]

Matt, I modified my rivets onto nails etc for a couple of reasons, 1)

oh & i forgot to say that the wood base for this scabbard was also plywood, I'll dig out the other construction pics if anyone wants

If you wouldn't mind...I'd really appreciate that. I have a deepeeka pugio same as yours, that I would like to make more usable. I like the somewhat simplistic look of yours (and probably easier for my skills lol).

[PhilusEstilius]

Adam. That's correct the hanger hinges do go into the side wood of my scabbard box, oh and where I mention about cutting a piece of 5mm wood for the edge frame of the plywood box I cut it out with just a hacksaw blade with a piece of rag wrapped around to hold the blade with the wood in a vice.

[Crispvs]

Thanks for all the discussion so far. Sorry it has taken me this long to get around to seeing it. I have been offline for a few days.

First of all, well done on your reconstruction. I think you have done a nice job there.

Next I think I should give one or two answers to some of the questions which seem to have cropped up in this thread.

Firstly, regarding handles. As far as I can recall, there are no examples of copper alloy grip plates known, although the iron plates of the handle on the well known dagger from Leeuwen did feature a thin coating of copper-alloy. All the grip plates I am aware of are of iron. Some of these are solid and some are of thinner iron worked into the correct shape. We can probably assume that the underlying organic layers of these latter plates were shaped for a good fit into the embossed outer grip plates. For reference, normally handles are reasonably flat at the guard, becoming more raised towards the central expansion and become fairly flat again at the pommel expansion.

Secondly, suspension rings and hinge plates. The Velsen sheath appears to have had its hinge plates inserted between the edges of the two wooden layers. However a type 'B' sheath from Mainz seems to have had its hinge plates attached directly behind the front plate. Therefore either arrangement would be correct. The rivets on the Mainz sheath were broken short but those on the Velson sheath survived to their full length and had been clenched over at the back. No washer of any sort appears to have been used.
Regarding 'D' shaped suspension rings, the one and only example I am aware of of a 'D' shaped suspension ring was on one of the Vindonissa sheaths and this appears to have been a repair rather than an original feature. Although there is one example from Vindonissa of a type 'A' sheath with type 'B' suspension, all actual type 'B' suspension rings that I am aware of are of the usual 'C' shape with internal scrolls. These can be of three types: cast in one, made from wire, and made up of several parts soldered together.

Thirdly, striker plates. Although I see the logic of Brian's reconstruction I know of no evidence for striker plates on dagger sheaths. In fact, I am still not sure of the evidence for striker plates on sword scabbards.


Crispvs

[PhilusEstilius]

Crispvs. I think you may well be correct about stricker plates but as I would say I do find them usefull, suppose I could dispence with if one wanted to go for absoloute authenticity.