Cross Belt: How, when and where to wear it?

**Scotcop** · 6th April 10, 08:41 AM

I like it, and I say wear it full formal with a sherrifmuir doublet and fly plaid, like they are doing.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 6th April 10, 08:41 AM

OPTIONS

1. soak the loop of the baldric in warm water, then slowly force the scabbard into the opening. You may have to remove the rings to do this.

2. remove the shanks that the rings pass through and braze a stud onto the scabbard. If doing this you will have to disassemble the scabbard to make sure that the sides aren't lined with thin strips of balsa wood (or plastic!) to prevent the blade rattling as these may ignite or melt during the brazing process.

3. cut open the back of the loop, leaving enough leather at the top to fit two or three snaps. Add a piece of leather to the bottom of the cut, wide enough to accommodate the top half of the snaps, and adjust to give you a snug fit around the scabbard.

When I was at Wilkinson Sword some of the scabbards for broadswords were fitted with a leather wrap between the sling loops that had a nickle-plated stud attached to it. This stud "buttoned" though a small hole with a vertical slit in the frog (ie: the loop) of the baldric and prevented the sword from sliding out. We also occasionally supplied scabbards without loops and with the stud brazed directly on to the scabbard.

Without wishing to sound critical, I suspect that the cost of modifying your sword's scabbard could possibly exceed the cost of the sword. That being the case, if you want to wear your sword, you might try this:

Go to your local pet store and get the longest, thinnest, black pet collar available. After sliding your scabbard into the frog pass the end of the collar through the bottom ring on the scabbard, then slide it through the frog and pass it through the top ring (this puts the buckle away from the mouth of the scabbard). Now buckle the collar and you are in business.

Of all the options provided my myself and others, I would recommend #3 as being probably the least difficult (and most satisfactory) option as it involves no modifications to your scabbard, and leaves the baldric looking as it should.

**davidlpope** · 6th April 10, 09:13 AM

At the risk of sounding critical, is there any real purpose in you having to work so hard to wear a sword/ baldric? While on duty as a Marine officer I rated a sword, but wore it only twice, once as adjutant for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball and once for a Marine wedding. In those settings there was a logical reason to be "under arms". Even then, the sword tends to clank around, get in the way, get scratched up, etc. and I put it back in its protective case as soon as I was done using it.

Unless one in fullest uniform as a Pipe Major, piper, etc. I really can't see any purpose in wearing around a Scottish basket-hilted broadsword, particularly one that resembles the officer's pattern of the Highland regiments. My $.02, so please don't take offense, but it smacks of brigadoonery and playing "dress up".

Cordially,

David

**Tobus** · 6th April 10, 10:27 AM

One thought I've been kicking around for day wear is to make a leather satchel with a wide shoulder strap giving the appearance of a cross-belt. You might look at mounting a wide satchel bag to the cross-belt in lieu of the scabbard. That would at least make it more practical and functional and that can tend to help accessories "work" better with an outfit when they have a purpose.

That would be kind of cool. I'd like to see pics if you ever follow through on that idea. The satchel would be very handy for toting around items that won't fit in the sporran, and making it a functional modern use of the cross-belt idea sounds grand!

**Snowbear** · 6th April 10, 12:33 PM

Have to agree with the Marine Officer. I've also worn a sword, and it was just in the way all day.

For a tip on a scabbard, take a look at the pictures presented on:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ictures-54877/

**KD Burke** · 6th April 10, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Snowbear

Have to agree with the Marine Officer. I've also worn a sword, and it was just in the way all day.

What he said! By the way, the Navy way of carrying a sword in full dress is more obnoxious than most. The belt fits around your ribcage, under your jacket and the straps lead out through a hole in the left coat seam!

**thescot** · 6th April 10, 04:14 PM

I only dealt with NCO sabers occassionally--never got to do any more than look at a Mameluke like David's--but I was always fairly glad to be rid of it as well. Parade drill and the occassional Birthday Ball was enough.

But you gotta admit, a man with a sword looks cool!

**Bigkahuna** · 6th April 10, 07:20 PM

Your crossbelt is for carrying a sword. You will need a different scabbard design for it to fit your sword. Civilians don't generally carry swords. I just wanted to cover the main points here.

**O'Callaghan** · 6th April 10, 07:47 PM

When you run out of other places to carry your ammunition, LOL!

**Tobus** · 9th April 10, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by cavscout

One thought I've been kicking around for day wear is to make a leather satchel with a wide shoulder strap giving the appearance of a cross-belt. You might look at mounting a wide satchel bag to the cross-belt in lieu of the scabbard. That would at least make it more practical and functional and that can tend to help accessories "work" better with an outfit when they have a purpose.

I know I already responded to this, but I would like to step back to it for a moment if I may.

I was perusing the welcome threads and saw this picture posted by Robert (Ancienne Alliance):

Now I could be wrong, but what you described looks a lot like what he has done in the picture. Robert, if you see this, could you describe what it is you're wearing there? It's hard to tell because it's black, but it looks like a cross-belt holding a satchel or bag of some sort. And you look smashing, as always!