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What Is the Difference Between a Scabbard & a Sheath?

As beautiful and as varied as the weapons themselves, scabbards and sheaths are valued by weapon enthusiasts and collectors of historical memorabilia alike. These two terms are often used interchangeably to describe knife encasements, but there are some subtle but important differences between the two.
  1. Definitions

    • According to Think Exist, a scabbard is defined as "the case in which the blade of a sword, dagger, etc., is kept; a sheath." It can also be used as a verb. Think Exist describes a sheath as "a case for the reception of a sword, hunting knife, or other long and slender instrument; a scabbard." This word can also be used as a verb. These two terms have subtle differences, but for all intents and purposes can refer to the same object.

    Historical Context

    • According to Jay Fisher, the term "sheath" is used more frequently by Americans than "scabbard." Scabbard comes from the medieval words for "sword" and "to hide and protect." Therefore, the term scabbard may be more historically applied to double-edged blades, such as swords, daggers, and bayonets. On the other hand, sheath has an Anglo Saxon origin that is related to the word "shed." Historically, it refers primarily to knives, swords, or daggers. Jay Fisher writes that sheath is a more universal term: "a sword or dagger may have a scabbard or a sheath, but a knife that is not a sword or dagger may only have a sheath. When in doubt, use sheath."

    Materials

    • There can be differences in material between scabbards and sheaths. If "scabbard" is referring to a longer blade, then harder materials, such as hard leather, wood, or metal, could be used. When the term "sheath" is applied to smaller blades, they are usually made of softer material, such as leather, nylon, or plastic.

    Holsters

    • A term that is also confused with scabbarbs and sheaths is the holster. In general, a holster applies to firearms only. The Military Dictionary defines a holster as "a carrying case for a pistol, which is worn on a belt or harness." The word holster is also applied to non-weapons, such as cell phones or tools. A sheath or scabbard may be described as a type of holster.


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