These are the first trial pieces. The one on the right is closer to the original shape. It is made from 80CrV2 steel with a selective temper (see previous post). As you can see, it follows a leaf shape, making it quite wide at the blade, wider than the blade.
The handle, however, gets significally thinner towards the blade.
Period sheaths were a bit like the one I made (the ones that did survive, that is), but, for the most part, even more simple, lacking a welt and not following the contour as much.
They also lacked any kind of securing device, of course. With a sheath like that, both the broad blade and thin handle will make it quite tricky to achieve a good retention in the sheath.
I will achieve this with the use of spirit alcohol and secret processes and hot-waxing making it almost as snappy as a kydex sheath. Maybe even a clip made from copper or bronze or bone, but most of the period pieces lacked that.
So I want to propose that maybe the properties of the sheath, which are quite certain, might have contributed to the owner losing it. As I said, mine will stay in, but it is a really tricky thing to make a sheath for the blade shape.
Anyway, really looking forward to using this knife.
