European Baldric
Jul 9, 2015 1:28:20 GMT
Post by pgandy on Jul 9, 2015 1:28:20 GMT
I had wanted a baldric and was in the process of making one. I was planning on ordering what I was lacking when MR put this one www.museumreplicas.com/p-160-right-handed-european-baldric-black.aspx on the Deal of the Day for less than my missing part so I ordered. My intent is to complete what I am working on at a later date and this will be in addition to and not in lieu of.
I had looked at this before but at $59 my cost would have been an estimated $130 and possibly more. More than I was willing to pay. The Deal of the Day with my discount brought the selling price down to $26.10 making my final cost $64.01, something that I felt more acceptable. I can count on about doubling the vendor’s selling price or more by the time of receipt. I like this baldric and consider it worth the $64. At $130 it is questionable.
It is made of good quality leather and workmanship, and is as advertised. Of the five MR reviews three gave it a 5 Star rating, mine will make it four. The two people that did not agree had a common objection, one more so than the other giving it two stars. Their objection is that the frog is left open. This is clearly stated in MR’s description and they could not make it clearer stating this is done to allow the owner to fit it to his sword. From the ad “Frog is left open so you can stitch it closed to fit the sword of your choice.“ And then surprise, surprise it arrived with an open frog and they decided to give it bad marks because of this. The reviewer that gave it a two also complained about the ad’s photo cleverly hiding the frog. MR’s other photo showing the same baldric in brown gives a clear view. There is nothing deceiving. He also goes on to ramp about all the tools needed to complete the baldric. What can I say? If one lacks the skill and/or tools, or just is lazy, carry it to your local shoe repair shop. It’s a piece of cake for a professional.
As for mine I attached two rivets to the frog to both set the carry angle of the sword, and I also considered that area a stress point that needed support once I finished. I did this at the extreme far end of the frog to allow room for repairs or adjustments in the future if needed. It causes the sword to be carried a little lower but there is room at the buckle to compensate for this. I then punched holes parallel and near the scabbard’s upper edge. Rather than stitching I laced these holes with a black, flat, cotton shoestring and tied in order to allow for some adjustment down the road if the leather should stretch with age. I decided that a sewing machine would do a more attractive job in stitching the area between the two rivets than I could so I carried to a repair shop that specializes in leather, luggage, etc. They rejected the job saying the leather was too tough for them. I then went in search of a shoe repair shop I knew of but they had folded since my last visit some years back. Ditto for the next shop. I stumbled on one that I was unaware of while searching for the last shop. It was a one man shop run by a very pleasant young chap. He said that his machine wasn’t up to the job and that it would have to be hand sewn. I thought that he was going to give me a song and dance but said that he could do that while I waited and permitted me to watch. He also gave me some lessons. The job took maybe 15 minutes at the most including taking time to show me a thing or two and handling the four customers that came in while he was working on it.
I like the baldric and find it better for me than a waist belt carry. The complete weight is 6.2 lb with sword (sword w/scabbard 4.8 lb) and I can carry the weight from the shoulder better than from the waist. The baldric can carry the sword higher (my preferred position) than a belt, getting it out of the way and allows more comfort when setting. It also allows me to move the sword around temporarily getting it out of the way when needed easier than a waist belt. The reason that I originally considered a baldric is that I can quickly slip it on and off over my head faster than fastening and unfastening a weighted belt around my waist each time. The idea of moving the weight from my waist to shoulder also played a part.
On the negative side and this is very minor, and I have conflicting feelings; this is my first experience with a round buckle and will say it is not my favourite style. However, once buckled there is no need to rebuckle as I slip it over my head and one style is as good as another at that point. Also I have a slight preference to a frog with buckles and straps. I can see why this type would be popular in the bygone days as it is simpler and cheaper to make. It is also less bulky than the multiple strap style frog, a feature that I like. But is not adjustable.
I think that I did alright on this one. And in a month or two I should be finished with the other baldric that I have high hopes for and will report on that when the time comes.
Showing the sword can be carried higher than from a waist belt carry.
Showing that the sword can be easily moved around for convenience.
Showing the completed frog with the two lower rivets, the lacing just above the scabbard, and the stitching between the rivets.
I had looked at this before but at $59 my cost would have been an estimated $130 and possibly more. More than I was willing to pay. The Deal of the Day with my discount brought the selling price down to $26.10 making my final cost $64.01, something that I felt more acceptable. I can count on about doubling the vendor’s selling price or more by the time of receipt. I like this baldric and consider it worth the $64. At $130 it is questionable.
It is made of good quality leather and workmanship, and is as advertised. Of the five MR reviews three gave it a 5 Star rating, mine will make it four. The two people that did not agree had a common objection, one more so than the other giving it two stars. Their objection is that the frog is left open. This is clearly stated in MR’s description and they could not make it clearer stating this is done to allow the owner to fit it to his sword. From the ad “Frog is left open so you can stitch it closed to fit the sword of your choice.“ And then surprise, surprise it arrived with an open frog and they decided to give it bad marks because of this. The reviewer that gave it a two also complained about the ad’s photo cleverly hiding the frog. MR’s other photo showing the same baldric in brown gives a clear view. There is nothing deceiving. He also goes on to ramp about all the tools needed to complete the baldric. What can I say? If one lacks the skill and/or tools, or just is lazy, carry it to your local shoe repair shop. It’s a piece of cake for a professional.
As for mine I attached two rivets to the frog to both set the carry angle of the sword, and I also considered that area a stress point that needed support once I finished. I did this at the extreme far end of the frog to allow room for repairs or adjustments in the future if needed. It causes the sword to be carried a little lower but there is room at the buckle to compensate for this. I then punched holes parallel and near the scabbard’s upper edge. Rather than stitching I laced these holes with a black, flat, cotton shoestring and tied in order to allow for some adjustment down the road if the leather should stretch with age. I decided that a sewing machine would do a more attractive job in stitching the area between the two rivets than I could so I carried to a repair shop that specializes in leather, luggage, etc. They rejected the job saying the leather was too tough for them. I then went in search of a shoe repair shop I knew of but they had folded since my last visit some years back. Ditto for the next shop. I stumbled on one that I was unaware of while searching for the last shop. It was a one man shop run by a very pleasant young chap. He said that his machine wasn’t up to the job and that it would have to be hand sewn. I thought that he was going to give me a song and dance but said that he could do that while I waited and permitted me to watch. He also gave me some lessons. The job took maybe 15 minutes at the most including taking time to show me a thing or two and handling the four customers that came in while he was working on it.
I like the baldric and find it better for me than a waist belt carry. The complete weight is 6.2 lb with sword (sword w/scabbard 4.8 lb) and I can carry the weight from the shoulder better than from the waist. The baldric can carry the sword higher (my preferred position) than a belt, getting it out of the way and allows more comfort when setting. It also allows me to move the sword around temporarily getting it out of the way when needed easier than a waist belt. The reason that I originally considered a baldric is that I can quickly slip it on and off over my head faster than fastening and unfastening a weighted belt around my waist each time. The idea of moving the weight from my waist to shoulder also played a part.
On the negative side and this is very minor, and I have conflicting feelings; this is my first experience with a round buckle and will say it is not my favourite style. However, once buckled there is no need to rebuckle as I slip it over my head and one style is as good as another at that point. Also I have a slight preference to a frog with buckles and straps. I can see why this type would be popular in the bygone days as it is simpler and cheaper to make. It is also less bulky than the multiple strap style frog, a feature that I like. But is not adjustable.
I think that I did alright on this one. And in a month or two I should be finished with the other baldric that I have high hopes for and will report on that when the time comes.
Showing the sword can be carried higher than from a waist belt carry.
Showing that the sword can be easily moved around for convenience.
Showing the completed frog with the two lower rivets, the lacing just above the scabbard, and the stitching between the rivets.