Craig Peters wrote: |
Well, on this one, I'm going to back Harry. I own a scabbard without a chape and the sword is just fine in it, so I'm not really clear what is meant by "a chape is still useful". Considering it's historically inaccurate, it would be less work for the manufacturer to make a chape-less scabbard. I understand that people want a scabbard that is cheap for their sword, but if they're touting how good (and historically accurate) the H/T Norman is at its price point, which people do, then we'd better take into account the whole package, and not just the sword. The same goes for the VA Norman. |
The fact of the matter is that regardless of how nice the swords are, below a certain price point you CANNOT expect a good scabbard because they simply cost money. With the H/T Norman, you are paying for a very nice sword, and at that price ($200-ish), the scabbard is more or less only something to keep the sword safe. Same with Windlass, Gen 2, DSA, etc.-- they all have fairly cheap scabbards. The fact that these scabbards do occasionally work well enough is a bonus, and I don't think you can realistically argue that for the price they're sold at you should expect a historically accurate scabbard.
Chapes are used because most customers expect them and they're an easy and quick way to complete the tip of a scabbard. Historically accurate? For the Norman and the Viking, not really, but it's only fairly recently that people have started spreading the word that early medieval scabbards lacked chapes as often as not. I say it's "still useful" because you can pull it off the scabbard and put it to use on another, more period-appropriate scabbard; those U-shaped chapes are about as common as hen's teeth on the market and devilishly hard to fabricate on your own.
For Valiant Armoury's version of the Norman sword, I believe all you need to do is contact Sonny Suttles and tell him you don't want a chape. Might cost a little extra, though.