Scabbard chape - help needed

AHorsa · 12th April 2024, 10:37 PM

Dear All,

I got this tip of a scabbard. It´s made of bronze or similar material. the flat backsite hat two wholes for beeing fixed. It consists of two peaces (frontside and flat backsite) which are solded by a white metal (lead / pewter or so). I would have more expected brass welding, but don´t know. The size is pretty small ~4cm long.
Does anyone have an idea of the age of the piece and if it would have belonged to a sword or a dagger? With its width of 2.9cm, I assume it is rather made for a dagger than a sword, although it would still fit a sword tip, but when adding wood and leather it´s likely getting tight.

Kind regards
Andreas

Will M · 13th April 2024, 12:01 AM

Looks like the tip of a leather belt.

AHorsa · 13th April 2024, 06:31 PM

Thanks for the reply. It is a good idea, but might be not flat enough I guess

Reventlov · 14th April 2024, 06:46 PM

Some similarities with these three chapes in the Museo Storico della Caccia e del Territorio. For 14th century swords according to a short writeup in the book A Bon Droyt.

midelburgo · 14th April 2024, 09:02 PM

These are the typical finds from metal detectoring. You keep seeing people trying to sell as a treasure, and after some months you see them at discount, and finally buy them for 5 or 6 euros a piece. And the seller does not tell you where did he find them...

The belt ends (which often go in the same lots) are different because they do not surround the leather, they have just a couple of pins gping through. Last two pieces.

These are all probably Spanish. Mostly for daggers. I am not sure if there is a systematic research work on them. They must be massive productions.

I am not sure about yours, as it is flat on the reverse. If pins go through the space, it cannot be a chape.

Will M · 14th April 2024, 09:15 PM

Metal detectors try to find latrines because they tend to have a concentration of lost items. Good to know it's not what I thought it was.

AHorsa · 15th April 2024, 04:11 PM

Fits perfect! Thanks for the images! Indeed they appear somehow often (at least compared to the related appropriated weapon

). I guess they got lost pretty easy from the scabbard

12th April 2024, 10:37 PM	#1
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 367	Scabbard chape - help needed Dear All, I got this tip of a scabbard. It´s made of bronze or similar material. the flat backsite hat two wholes for beeing fixed. It consists of two peaces (frontside and flat backsite) which are solded by a white metal (lead / pewter or so). I would have more expected brass welding, but don´t know. The size is pretty small ~4cm long. Does anyone have an idea of the age of the piece and if it would have belonged to a sword or a dagger? With its width of 2.9cm, I assume it is rather made for a dagger than a sword, although it would still fit a sword tip, but when adding wood and leather it´s likely getting tight. Kind regards Andreas Attached Images Last edited by AHorsa; 12th April 2024 at 11:09 PM.

14th April 2024, 06:46 PM	#4
Reventlov Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 132	Some similarities with these three chapes in the Museo Storico della Caccia e del Territorio. For 14th century swords according to a short writeup in the book A Bon Droyt. Attached Images

14th April 2024, 09:02 PM	#5
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 257	These are the typical finds from metal detectoring. You keep seeing people trying to sell as a treasure, and after some months you see them at discount, and finally buy them for 5 or 6 euros a piece. And the seller does not tell you where did he find them... The belt ends (which often go in the same lots) are different because they do not surround the leather, they have just a couple of pins gping through. Last two pieces. These are all probably Spanish. Mostly for daggers. I am not sure if there is a systematic research work on them. They must be massive productions. I am not sure about yours, as it is flat on the reverse. If pins go through the space, it cannot be a chape. Attached Images Last edited by midelburgo; 14th April 2024 at 09:28 PM.

13th April 2024, 12:01 AM	#2
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 391	Looks like the tip of a leather belt.

13th April 2024, 06:31 PM	#3
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 367	Thanks for the reply. It is a good idea, but might be not flat enough I guess

14th April 2024, 09:15 PM	#6
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 391	Metal detectors try to find latrines because they tend to have a concentration of lost items. Good to know it's not what I thought it was.

15th April 2024, 04:11 PM	#7
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 367	Fits perfect! Thanks for the images! Indeed they appear somehow often (at least compared to the related appropriated weapon ). I guess they got lost pretty easy from the scabbard