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One possible advantage to bare wood could be that paint, and particularly encaustic wax, would stick better. I have tried numerous times to paint leather with wax and it always chips off immediately. I will have to try it on bare European woods to see. Could even wax the inside.
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
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You raise a very interesting point, one I had not thought about myself. At least one scabbard in Miks is shown to have been coverid in fabric. Also, encaustic wax would have very good waterproofing capabilities AND allow for vibrant colours one could hardly get with dyed leather to be used. Of course that is still speculation, but it does show that once we leave the "Indian paradigma" all scabbard were done in leather, a whole new range of possibilities opens up! As to evidence .. hmm, well, you hardly ever find what you are not looking for, so wooden scabbards with no leather covering present could be tested for the presence of pigments ... It is perhaps like those shiny marble statues and busts, which we are now beginning to realise were not lusterous white or cream when set out in Roman times, but were painted partialy or wholy to make lifelike images.
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Not to change the subject, but an elaborate encaustic would be worth protecting with a shield cover, since you cannot get casein off no matter what.
Richard Campbell
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OK, back on track then, what does that suggest for it's use on scabbards? Could brightly painted scabbards have been used?
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Quote:Surely the Romans traded in exotic hardwoods from places like South America and used these for hilts and scabbards etc.
It's a well-known fact that the Lost Legion that ended up in China carried swords sheathed in Honduras mahogany. Also, exotic woods were carried from Greenland by the Celts, then traded to the Romans... along with thousands of snakes from Ireland, to the point that both the Greenland trees and Irish snakes are now extinct. ;-)
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
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So that's where the snakes went!!!!!!!!
Salvete Frater,
Larry (Vitruvius) Mager
Larry A. Mager
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Yeah, and the Great Greenland Forest, too... 8+) All gone to sword hilts and slats of wood for scuta.
M. Demetrius Abicio
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Amen Frater David!!!!!
Larry (Vitruvius) Mager
Larry A. Mager