The Castilia Scabbard

Posted on May 11, 2020 by balefireblades

∴ A Complete Set ∴

The Castilia rapier is an enduring favourite with our followers, and exhibits a subtle 17th Century Spanish aesthetic. Our client liked the look of our basic frog and belt sets, but wanted to add something of the same Spanish to the design. Between us we discussed a variety of traditional Spanish designs, highlighting in particular the vine patterns in extant leather and woodwork.

I based the final tooling pattern on a rough sketch provided by the client, and created variations on the theme for the belt, the frog, and the scabbard itself. The dark brown of the leather is set off by hammered brass fittings and copper rivets, while the scabbard benefits from a thick leather chape and mouth for added durability.

Due to the simple and versatile style of the frog and belt, the scabbard can easily be worn on either hip, ideal for an ambidextrous fencer.

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The Accipiter Scabbard

Posted on December 30, 2019 by balefireblades

∴ A Heraldic Fantasy ∴

I’ve been fortunate to create leather goods based on fantasy realms before, taking cues from Middle Earth and beyond. This challenge, however, was all the greater – making a scabbard based on a world of our client’s own creation.

A published writer, our client chose to celebrate the success of her novels by commissioning a sword and scabbard straight out of them. The resulting weapon was the acclaimed Accipiter Kriegmesser, and my task was to create a matching scabbard. Continue reading →

The Amroth Scabbard

Posted on September 26, 2019 by balefireblades

∴ A Proud Protector ∴

Part of a suite of Lord of the Rings inspired pieces, this scabbard needed to channel the proud history of Gondor, complimenting the bold, masculine design of the Amroth Arming Sword.

As a companion piece to the The Aranarth Scabbard, this scabbard needed to carry through a certain aesthetic kindred while evoking a subtly different character and culture.

The scabbard is wooden-cored and coated in a polished dark brown leather, wet-formed and secured with a seam of crossed stitches. The length of the scabbard is criss-crossed by broad black leather straps, while the steel rings and chape are finely carved.

An interpretation of Gondor’s symbolic tree is tooled into the leather then highlighted in gold, seven stars tucked amidst its roots and branches.

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The Aranarth Scabbard

Posted on September 26, 2019 by balefireblades

∴ Rugged Nobility ∴

When tasked to make a scabbard for the Lord of the Rings inspired Aranarth Longsword, a plethora of images immediately flooded my mind. While our client was particularly inspired by the now classic swords and scabbards made by Weta for the film trilogy, I was keen to incorporate a sense of Strider’s story: the rugged ranger with noble roots.

The scabbard is wooden-cored and coated in mottled dark green leather, wet-formed and secured with a seam of crossed stitches. The sturdy, practical brown strapping is offset by the strong lines of the steel chape and ring, which follow the shape of the sword’s ecusson.

A knotwork motif, picked out in gold and then lightly sanded to a distressed finish, completes the tale: a hint of regal glory, both worn away and enhanced by hard wear.

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The Maristella Scabbard

Posted on September 26, 2019 by balefireblades

∴ Simple Elegance ∴

When our client requested a scabbard, hanger and belt for the intricately decorated Maristella Smallsword, I was keen to create something that would compliment the maritime themes of the hilt without distracting from the detail of the sword itself.

Thus a simple, elegant wooden-cored scabbard was created, with a steel mouth and chape. Black leather is wet-formed secured around the hand-carved core with a cross-stitched seam.

The simplicity of the piece suggests a sleek military look, while subtle details such as the periwinkle-like spiral on the chape tie into the sword’s maritime theme.

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