Plaque Belt Sword Suspension 

I'd say depicting the sword hanging vertically could be an artistic choice in 2D images and relief sculptures, they maybe angled irl.

I'm glad that Matt Easton gave you a shout out. You put so much effort in your videos. Congrats!

This the first time I've seen a placard belt suspension. I've always seen the sword on a separate belt. Thank you.

hi ian! at 2.05", at the right effigy (blue surcoat with golden lions) you can see a little band that goes from the plaque belt to the sword!

I'm so sad that the Jeans, blue sweater, plaque belt and arming sword look didn't catch on since 2015

I really enjoyed this explanation of how you suspend your sword from your plaque belt. I must say that your plaque belt, sword, and scabbard are very appealing to the eye. Your Albion Poitiers is a very elegant looking sword and I would love to see more videos about it and possibly hear why you chose the Poitiers and what you think of it.

Ah, Lorifactor makes wonderful belts! Love your sword and that bassinet in the background. Great kit !

Did anyone else notice that in the depictions of scabbards worn during combat, the scabbards were hanging at an angle?

I really appreciate the music. Good to hear actual historical medieval music on a RU-vid video for a change.

I've wanted to learn more about sword suspension for a long time now, thank you for this video! Can I hope for more videos on different types of sword suspension and practicality of wearing while in combat in the future?

A another interesting and informative video! Thanks for your efforts!

Man... I miss your videos. I hope you are doing well and your youtube-abssence is for happy reasons.❤

I'm guessing in the images where hands were on the sword, they weren't holding them up, but stabilizing them. I would imagine it would be remarkably common for those that wore them to parade around with their hand resting on the hilt to keep them still.

glad i subscribed to this channel. i never even noticed the belts being so ornate

Love the music at the beginning and at the end! Also: 10:00 - "I swing my sword back and forth!"

Masterfully Done Again Good Sir!

Another great video.

Very interesting video, it gives a lot to think about. I love that you take the time to find contemporary depictions and accounts. Unknown technical details like this are always interesting to try to puzzle out and you do a good job making a case for your claims. Is it possible that the sword wasn't generally suspended from the belt at all and was just carried? Seems more practical if you've got a retinue of servants and squires. Perhaps the effigies are depicting the sword being lain next to the reclining figure? Why should a lord have to deal with the inconvenience of having a sword strapped to his waist all the time. Sword bearers are certainly a thing in other formal contexts. Or what about a simple hook or bent nail like you see on later scabbards? This would allow the scabbard to be quickly removed and handed off to a retainer or tossed aside so it wouldn't get in the way. It seems like if it's something that could potentially trip you up you wouldn't want it tied to your waist in a fight. Although you certainly see it physically tied to the waist in later time periods so I dunno. Could all three solutions have been possible concurrently?

Keep them coming, very informative videos. Isn`t the angled scabbard much more practical? Why would that had vertical scabbard?

How did I miss this video?!?!?

awesome i really look forward to your videos.

!2th century scabbards are infuriating. Contrary to popular belief, the interlaced scabbard isn't something that's seen until the 13th century. The scabbard from the Sword of St Maurice of Turin is probably one of the earliest examples. Like the late 14th century, the swords seem to be magically stuck the belt. Most times vertically, other times, angled. To add to this, there are some manuscripts that show the sword and scabbard could be removed from the belt. Many have assumed that straps that are seen on the face of the scabbards have to do with the suspension. But some scabbards don't have them. And to make things worse, the one image of the back side of the scabbard(from the 13th century) shows that the belt simply passes through slits cut in leather of scabbard, essentially making a belt loop. The straps on the front don't seem to do anything.

I am given to understand two methods were used in combat. an O ring attatched via a strap like the dagger. Also just a strap wrapped around the sword and looped around the belt. Both removed the scabord wich could get into the way. Whilst allowing quick acces to the sword. As to why the belt was worn so low on the hips was it was easier to draw the sword.

My headcanon is that one (or two) big metal clip held it in place on the belt, not unlike the pocket clip of a modern pocket knife. That way it's actually more stable than just a strap, since the pressure of the clip keeps it steady on the belt; and you can easily remove the scabbard from the plaque belt when needed without unbuckling anything.

Sir, Matt Easton referred to your site on his, and I subscribed and watched each of your armour related videos. I think your channel is great. Thank-you for sharing your knowledge and your experience. Dante.

that is one beautiful looking belt and scabbard. I want now, even though I dont need one.

great video Ian!

Nice Razer PC Ian XD Great video as well, nice job

I don't really know how scabbards were illustrated in medieval art, but I think it could make sense to suspend some swords vertically. It takes a lot of extra straps to suspend a sword at an angle, and it could be that they only started doing it after swords got long enough that they would be scraping the ground if hung vertically. It's the most natural way to hang the sword, straight down. Maybe they didn't suspend the swords at an angle because that's how it's supposed to be hung, but because that's how it had to be hung. After all, the Japanese wore their katanas almost diagonaly. I don't know the ergonomics of drawing a sword at different angles, but I don't think it would make a world of difference. But then again this could be totally debunked by some illustrations, but it's just a thought.

just wanted to say that I am loving these videos. Most of my knowledge came from D&D, which I have found to be rather uninformed

This looks like an expensive hobby. Maybe you could mention in a video a rough cost breakdown of your harness and weapons..

I've never heard of this before!! I came here via your other video...I guess I'll have to subscribe then.

I also think that this suspension would be used in combat, since A. Cosmetically, the plaque belt would grind against the throat locket B. It's hard to draw a sword from a 90 degree scabbard C. With a longsword, the length of the scabbard would be longer than the stance from the belt to the ground.

If it's just "hovering" there maybe they used some form of electromagnetism? The History Channel seems to favor alien technology for everything so maybe they're onto something? But seriously you video gives some serious theories of how it must've been done! I also love how you tell us the names of everyone who crafts the gear you show us!

Just how much does your plaque belt weigh? Thanks for the inclusion of the medieval music. Nice touch!

2:56 weird flex but okay but seriously, nice Albion

looking at the pictures of them with the belt and no scabbard you have to wonder if maybe they did not carry the sword at all, afterall by that point the sword was a sidearm with a polearm becoming the main weapon

If they removed the scabbard a lot it's possible they had a cord or string that could be easily untied by pulling one end of the string. I have no reason to assume this is true but it might explain how the swords look like they're levitating on the belt.

A bit of speculation on my part: Is it posible, that the reason the scabbards aren't shown in the illuminated fighting scenes is, that the scabbards weren't actually secured to the plaque belt at all, but that the sword was carried by hand and the scabbard thrown to the side in a fighting situation to prevent it getting in the way? Or maybe it's posible, that the scabbard was fastened to the plaque belt by way of a small hook going through a loop on the belt, such that the scabbard could easily be lifted off and thrown away?

For some reason I cannot share an image or link. However I would like to suggest taking look at the belt of Fernando de la Cedra. Even though it is nearly 100 years before the period, the decorated thingy there could be a solution to this question.

if you remove the scabbard you need to keep sword by hand all time thus not being allowed to keep other weapons like polearms which were quite more useful than sword against armored opponents. So i doubt they removed the scabbard, or if they did, they did not take the swords too.

Happy new year Sir Knyght.....

I mix a Milanese breastplate with English arms and Gothic legs. I use a sugarloaf helm from a different time period and I paint it with a Mexican flag motif.

I like Arsgerdyll, that made me laugh XD

I have one question Knyght. When the plaque belts appear ? I meen the erliest posible dates and decades when it became popular.

Do you know any good resources on late medieval baldrics? It seems like most of the visual sources I have seen show it in the 12th-13th c. and then they seem to vanish until about the 16th-17th c.

Wonder if a none ridged scabbard was more common with those that wore it into battle/ I wonder how it would wear from horseback.

Hey does anyone here have a suggestion of what to look for in terms of a historically accurate sword belt for the late 15th century? I'm trying to put together an impression of a Swiss mercenary and I've had a hard time looking for examples to base off of, let alone places to buy something like that.

I'm thinking that they would have removed the scabbard pre-battle as they wouldn't want it damaged during fighting, and its pretty unnecessary at that stage. plus somebody could grab it during combat and use it to hinder you, or it get caught in something and trap you. just guessing really as I've no experience in the matter.

Hi Ian, can you tell me how the individual plaques are manufactured? Are they cast or stamped or brazed? In what way they are attached to the belt?

+Knyght Errant, can you show us how you sharpen you sword?

This is an interesting image at 11:28 is there some sort of context? because if it is some sort of cutting demonstration I would love to hear more about that. I havent seen very much information about what they cut. If they made little statues to cut that sounds very interesting, I would like to know what the material is as well.

Nice, informative video, thank you. But are you shure, the hinge system was vertical? All the pictures you show, where an gravestones, maybe the swords where depicted just laying along the side of knight and not hinged at all? All pictures of batle scenes shows non vertical suspension.

Method 2 makes me think of an inverse MOLLE system.

You neglected to mention how the English suspended their scabbards after the transition away from the plaque belt. Am I to understand that the belt, at that point, was worn as an adornment with the addition of a leather frog? I just want clarification.

The swordsmen at the Vatican hold the scabbard in their hand which seems reasonable if you are unlikely to see combat but when response time would be at a premium, then you wouldn't need it affixed in any way, this is for guards. And then when you know you are going to enter combat, why have a scabbard at all as it weighs something and could get in the way?

Could the scabbard hook over the hinge pin

Where can I get tailored, historically accurate and functional armor, with real steel? Particularly mail?

Did baldrics shoulder belts fall out of style post-Vikinga age? If so, why is that?

Does your plaque belt has that additional removeable piece? At first I thought it hasn't because there is just one "opening" but the I realized that you could just simply remove that additional part for the video. Thanks

How much does the belt weigh?

Why is the plaque belt worn so low? I can only imagine that'd cause flexibility issues :s

Question: Are "belts of the circle" or sword belts that suspend the sword via a metal ring on the hip historically accurate?

Homie got some hair

👍🏻

Hi Ian, I was wondering if there is any reason in particular why plaque belts tend to be be worn so low on the body? Practicality or was it just some kind of trend?

How do you make sure the staple and/or buckle don't rub or scratch your plaque belt?

Ian but if the sword wasn' t your first wepon, you would need the scabbard, right?

You look and sound a HELL OF A LOT like the dude from Forgotten Weapons, and you both have the SAME FIRST NAME (WHAAAT). You also both brief RU-vid's users on old weaponry & armor(whaaaaaat!). Go check out his channel (forgotten weapons) and tell me what you think! (you also both have a dry sense of humor and are both veterans [I believe ]).

what sword is this?what type of oakeshott Sword is it? and what era is your armor?

How did they transported 2 handed swords?

I'm assuming that having the sword vertical was more style than function?

It hangs like a dirk.

sword?

Preyse God......Umbasa

The answer is magnets :p

Just pricing out the individual elements of the belt, sword and scabbard... its clear that you have a super expensive hobby.

a pin

this belt is the strongest proof that no knight nor man at arms was fat ass.

So because you have the right to bear arms, you could just wear that sword every day right? Sweet, I want to live in america

albion sword?

How to suspend your sword from the plaque belt? Just wear it on your back like an idiot!

Woah. This is boring.