Problems with scabbard from Kult of Athena

Hello, Ardent, and welcome.
I would suggest you email KOA with your concerns and see what they may be willing to do.
If I remember right my Windlass Military Sword/Rapier came with that white powder. I'm thinking it's some type of lubricant.
The desciption says the scabbard is leather. I have noticed the scabbard of my sword/rapier tends to warp a bit. I just switch the direction I put the sword in to get the sword itself to straighten it a bit. It's a little tight too but not annoyingly so.
You could also try laying it on a flat surface with some weight on it and maybe it'll straighten over some time.

I would use that email. I don't know what their response time would be because of the holidays.

I don't think the white powder will harm the blade. You could turn the scabbard upside down and tap it on a table to get what you can out. The powder that was in mine seems to have just disappeared over time. I really think it's in there to protect the blade or the scabbard, either way I think it'll do no harm beyond sticking to the blade.

Is the problem with the scabbard that you can't get the blade all the way in it or is it just hard to do so?

Ah, I got a better idea of it now. I'd see what KOA says first and if replacement isn't an option, I'd try just bending the scabbard back straight by hand assuming that it is all leather as described.
Understand that I'm just guessing, I haven't experienced this problem. Hopefully someone with more experience in this area will chime in later. Probably best to do nothing to the scabbard now.

I've had many Windlass swords with the 'White Powder' issue you speak of... as Ric mentioned... I think its something they use to keep their blades from rusting. Whatever it is, its normal for Windlass swords.

As for the bent scabbard... you should be able to straighten a bit forcefully as Ric was talking about since its an all leather scabbard... I've have some issues with Windlass leather scabbards like that myself as well... and I just bent em aorund till they were as stright as I could get em.

Its likely not worth the cost/hassle of returning.

I imagine the white powder is either talcum or some form of silica, like those little packages you find sometimes in new shoes or bags of beef jerky. It would be useful to absorb minute amounts of water, like what would be left on a blade after a somewhat sloppy wipe, perhaps. It's not likely to do any harm to your blade, but if it bugs you then shake it out.

As for the scabbard, if it's secured together with stitching you could try exposing it to steam before holding it in a jig to straighten it-- the steam will soften it up a little. Same idea with dunking it in hot water (bathtub is great for this!) If it's just glued though, don't try the steam or hot water... chances are it might dissolve the glue and you end up with pieces of leather!

How can I tell if it's an all leather scabbard or not? Also it does appear to be stitched I think, there's a ridge on one side of it with what appears to be stitching across, but wouldn't submersing it in water be bad for it somehow? And how would you recommend holding it straight long enough for it to stay that way? How long would it have to be held?

It is a tad unfair to make threads like this with the sellers name in before any issues have been discussed with them. By all means ask for help but I don't think the company should be named unless they prove to be unhelpful as it paints a very negative light for anyone just glancing at thread titles (or on indexed forum pages that pop up in google).

As others have said I would wait until you hear back from KoA as they have an excellent reputation.

With respect, I disagree, Craig. I do see your point and others have made it also. It is true that KOA has great customer service as well as other vendors that frequent this forum and some who don't.

Thing is great customer service and good quality control aren't the same thing. Better quality control would negate the need for "damage control" customer service. A good once over would have caught this issue.

I think these problems should be mentioned with vendors names. I'd rather get my product right the first time than have to go through the hassles of getting it replaced.

Sure, these things happen and stuff slips by. However if it happens over and over again someone has a QC problem that needs addressed. I'm not picking on KOA here (they have been and will continue to be my first look when shopping for a sword). I'm speaking of the industry in general.

I think we do a disservice to the sword shopper, especially the newer ones, when we don't mention the kinds of problems that can be encountered, adding of course how it turned out. The new shopper would know how to handle the situation and maybe then wouldn't have to start a thread. Thus the vendor is saved some bad publicity.

Better still if these defects get caught before they get to the customer.

Most Windlass swords have the all leather scabbard with the stitching on the back end... its 95% likely to be all leather. However, take a look inside, see if the scabbard is flexible... make sure its all leather. If it is... then it being slightly warped is not a big problem... if its wood core, then you would want an exchange.