Help..Information on Khanda scabbard design needed

[Jim McDougall]

Nice work on the scabbard Katana! I admire the way you are approaching its construction and acquiring period material and so on. I would note as you asked on the width, it does seem a bit wide, but perhaps once covered and complete not critical. I honestly have seen few of these in scabbards so my opinion probably not well guaged.
On the color it seems that most tulwars have been green or burgundy/red in color, but again not sure on khandas. Interesting thought to consider the symbolic relevance of color on these and I would be very interested to hear more on this. One good source would likely be "Hindu Arms and Ritual" by Robert Elgood. The book on the Figiel collection also has some interesting illustrations of scabbards which I believe were recently furbished for the weapons.

Galvano, nice piece you show there! The scabbard is most interesting as the repousse on throat piece and end as well as the ring mounts seem very much like those seen on saif from Arabia. Elgood has suggested in his "Arms and Armour of Arabia" that the repousse hilt saifs with somewhat similar scabbard mounts were produced for Arabia in Hyderabad. As Jens points out, not all Indian swords were suspended in scabbards with rings, some may have been in a sash carry or over the shoulder belt.

All the best,
Jim