Scabbard A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword , knife , or other large blade . Scabbards have been made of many materials over the millennia , including leather , wood , and metals such as brass or steel . Types of scabbards . Most commonly , scabbards were worn suspended from a sword belt or shoulder belt . Does not include a machete . ( baldric ) . ( see also " Koshirae " ) . Ancient scabbards . Wooden scabbards were usually covered in fabric or leather , and leather versions also usually bore metal fittings for added protection and carrying ease . Japanese blades , however , typically have their sharp cutting edge protected by a wooden scabbard called a " saya " . Many scabbards like the ones the Greeks and Romans used were small and light . They were designed for holding the sword rather than protecting it . All - metal scabbards were popular items for a display of wealth among elites in the European Iron Age , and often intricately decorated . A number of ancient scabbards have been recovered from weapons sacrifice s , a few of which had a lining of fur on the inside . The fur was probably kept oily , keeping the blade free from rust . The fur would also allow a smoother , quicker draw . Modern scabbards . Entirely metal scabbards became popular in Europe early in the 19th century and eventually superseded most other types . Metal was more durable than leather and could better withstand the rigors of field use , particularly among troops mounted on horseback . In addition , metal offered the ability to present a more military appearance , as well as the opportunity to display increased ornamentation . Nevertheless , leather scabbards never entirely lost favor among military users and were widely used as late as the American Civil War ( 1861 – 65 ) . Some military police forces , naval shore patrols , law enforcement and other groups used leather scabbards as a kind of truncheon . Scabbards were never worn across one ' s back in European , Near East , or Indian military cultures and depictions of such are a modern invention and have enjoyed great popularity in fiction and fantasy , to the point that they are widely believed to be a Medieval invention . Some well - known examples of this include the back scabbard depicted in the movie " Braveheart " and the back scabbard seen in the video game series " The Legend of Zelda " . There is some limited data from woodcuts and textual fragments that Mongol light horse archers and some Chinese soldiers wore a slung baldric over the shoulder , allowing longer blades to be strapped across the back . However in " The Ancient Celts " by Barry Cunliffe , on page 94 of that book , Professor Cunliffe writes , " All these pieces of equipment [ shields , spears , swords , mail armour ] , mentioned in the texts , are reflected in the archaeological record and in the surviving iconography , though it is sometimes possible to detect regional variations . Among the Parisii of Yorkshire , for example , " the sword was sometimes worn across the back and therefore had to be drawn over the shoulder from behind the head " . " " Common terms . The metal fitting where the blade enters the leather or metal scabbard is called the throat , which is often part of a larger scabbard mount , or locket , that bears a carrying ring or stud to facilitate wearing the sword . The blade ' s point in leather scabbards is usually protected by a metal tip , or chape , which on both leather and metal scabbards is often given further protection from wear by an extension called a drag , or shoe .