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

[DamnthePants]

I love cross-belts. Even if they serve no function. I have been trying to find a cheap one, or make one. I also have some evil machinations towards a double cross belt with a large pauldron on one side. Since I dont have any now, suspenders, crossed infront with a nice buckle, really are all I can do.

Would some say its a costume? Yes
Would I care? Not really

You only get one go around the world, so I dont plan on saving any plans for the second go-around.

[Good Egg]

You only get one go around the world, so I dont plan on saving any plans for the second go-around.

Quite - life is not a dress rehearsal.

[WolfmanJack]

My thanks to all of you for your kind comments and helpful suggestions.

Having been invited to represent my clan at a nearby ren fair (Olde World Renaissance Faire), I seized this as my first opportunity to wear my new cross belt. Knowing that many of the costumes are quite over-the-top at this event, I knew I would not be out of place.

Here is the outfit I put together, please excuse the goofy pose , and my feeble attempt to imitate a belted plaid



Surprisingly, attaching the scabbard to the cross belt was much easier than I had expected. I was able to force the scabbard (rings and all) into the frog without much trouble, only popped a couple of stitches. The result was nearly fully functional; but the rings looked rather odd being as they served no useful purpose. In addition, there was nothing to prevent the scabbard from twisting in the frog.

I decided to try putting a small matching leather strap through the rings and around the cross belt just above the frog. This worked well; no more twisting. Now the rings were serving a purpose.

Then I had an epiphany! If in addition to the above arrangement, I also ran the strap around my waist belt, this produced a much more 'solid' assembly, much like a Sam Browne belt. and here is what is most remarkable: By tightening the strap, I could shift some of the weight of the sword from the cross belt to the waist belt. I took advantage of this feature several times as the hours passed walking about at the ren fair, shifting the weight from shoulder to waist and back again as needed. Here is a pic of the assembly:

[artificer]

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

Yeah, but that's Robert! I don't know of many other individuals with his poise, grace and general style.

I say wear it in good health. Life's too short to quibble about details, but heavy weaponry is a P.I.T.A, if you can't finish off an opponent with a sgian or a nut to the face, your chances with a sword are minimal at best

[highland mafia]

I love cross-belts. Even if they serve no function. I have been trying to find a cheap one, .

How tall are you and how much do you wanna spend?? I got old one..

[Bart_In_A_Kilt]

I found this thread almost 2 years later... Do you have any more pics of you from the Ren fair?

[BobsYourUncle]

You all are confusing me a little bit. Wouldn't it be easier to use sword slings, that go on your waistbelt, and are specifically made to clip onto the two rings on your scabbard?

Here is a photo of the item in quesiton:



These slings are for sale in the Ebay store called "Bugpiper", run by a fellow named Steven McVeigh. I have done business with him for several years now, always with good results. The current "buy it now" listing is here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Scottish-Militar...item588632c2c9

[WolfmanJack]

Wouldn't it be easier to use sword slings, that go on your waistbelt, and are specifically made to clip onto the two rings on your scabbard?

Yep, that is an option. Good to know where to get sword slings.

[Mark E.]

I use mine to hold up my sword. If I'm not wearing a sword, I don't wear it. If I am running to a fight, and my pistols are all empty, my sword in my hand, it goes away. I go back later to get it, of course.

Mark