The name scabbard comes from an old French word and basically means a container for a dagger or sword, the English equivalent of this word is the sheath.
The scabbard’s stopped warriors’ daggers or swords from being damaged, they protected the blade when it was not in use.
How was a Scabbard made?
Medieval scabbards could be made from numerous materials but the most popular were leather and wood.
Advanced Scabbards usually owned by wealthy people were lined with wool and the lanolin within the wool would protect the sword or dagger inside the scabbard from rusting.
Scabbard in Detail
Types of Scabbard
There were various different designs of the medieval scabbard, some were designed to be accessed at the waist-worn and could be held in place by a belt, whilst others could be placed over the shoulder with the scabbard held across the back.
Some more advanced scabbards would have a locket at the top of them which would stop the blade from rising up and hold the dagger or sword in place just below the hilt.
Scabbard facts:
The name ‘Scabbard’ comes from an old French word, the English term is the sheath.
Medieval scabbards protected soldiers’ and knights’ daggers and swords from damage.
Wood and leather were commonly used in the design of a medieval scabbard.
Quality medieval scabbards were lined with wool which stopped metal from rusting.
Quality scabbards would have a locket at the top which gripped the blade.
Scabbards could be made from soaked and dried leather.
