Modern reconstructions of a dagger scabbard and dagger

After closely examining the dagger frame, Dr David Sim of the University of Reading made these replicas in 1999. The frame is made of iron coated in tin, which gives it a silvery appearance and protects it from decay. Within the frame of the original was a wooden lining, which is believed to have been covered by leather. In this reconstruction the leather is stained red.

The dagger itself was not discovered, but its form can be reconstructed from the form of the scabbard frame. Dr Sim found that the manufacture of these items was a demanding exercise requiring a high degree of skill.

Acknowledgments: RAM Museum