Custom Hardwood Scabbards
Sept 4, 2008 1:22:01 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2008 1:22:01 GMT
I'm going to try to fill a niche in the market that isn't covered right now; exotic hardwood scabbards.
To my knowledge, there is no manufacturer offering bare wood scabbards made from exotic wood. One obstacle to this is that wood is never the same twice. If you order a plank from a supplier online, there is no telling which way the grain will run, the colors, where the knots lie and if there are cracks or warping. Some woods, like Maple or Bubinga, are pretty predictable, others (Cocobolo for instance) vary greatly from board to board. If this gets off the ground I will send the buyer pictures of the wood before committing to the project, to insure they are getting something they're going to be happy with.
These scabbards will be custom fit, felt lined hardwoods, bare or partially leather covered. Chapes will be chosen from the limited selection available on the internet, made of leather, or scavenged from the cheap leather scabbard that your sword came with. My eventual goal is to make some money from this to set up for casting, which will allow me to make my own throats and chapes.
As implied by "custom fit", unless your sword is a model I currently own, I will need the sword in hand to make the scabbard. Return shipping will be included in the price.
I'm going to do a time study and cost analysis over the next couple of weeks, so I can put together a pricing structure. I really enjoy making these, and since I'm running out of swords to make scabbards for, making them for someone else is the obvious next step.
I'll update this thread soon. In the meantime, what do you all want to see in a hardwood scabbard? Feedback is appreciated.
To my knowledge, there is no manufacturer offering bare wood scabbards made from exotic wood. One obstacle to this is that wood is never the same twice. If you order a plank from a supplier online, there is no telling which way the grain will run, the colors, where the knots lie and if there are cracks or warping. Some woods, like Maple or Bubinga, are pretty predictable, others (Cocobolo for instance) vary greatly from board to board. If this gets off the ground I will send the buyer pictures of the wood before committing to the project, to insure they are getting something they're going to be happy with.
These scabbards will be custom fit, felt lined hardwoods, bare or partially leather covered. Chapes will be chosen from the limited selection available on the internet, made of leather, or scavenged from the cheap leather scabbard that your sword came with. My eventual goal is to make some money from this to set up for casting, which will allow me to make my own throats and chapes.
As implied by "custom fit", unless your sword is a model I currently own, I will need the sword in hand to make the scabbard. Return shipping will be included in the price.
I'm going to do a time study and cost analysis over the next couple of weeks, so I can put together a pricing structure. I really enjoy making these, and since I'm running out of swords to make scabbards for, making them for someone else is the obvious next step.
I'll update this thread soon. In the meantime, what do you all want to see in a hardwood scabbard? Feedback is appreciated.