Reddit mentions of Knives and Scabbards (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London) (Volume 1)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1843833530?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title has a couple of sections on sheaths including an overview on there construction. If you haven't read the book it is interesting if you like medeviel knives

> So what you're saying is

Yep, pretty much exactly that.


I suspect corset ribbon would be possibly a little thin, at least going by most of the ones I've known, I originally used to bind up just with cord, but it leaves an impression in the leather, that can be seen through the outer when its really thin. the widest ribbon you can get easily is probably the way to go, so it spreads the tension over the whole thing, and that prevents marking.


for long sheaths, generally the liner either goes up to about 1/4inch / 6mm from the top, and the outer face rolled round, or they both go up all the way... the finishing is a bit of a debate - some the outer is skived and rolled, some the two are the same, and sewn together with a stitch to hold them together. I'm not sure there's a universal standard though.


some of the originals, by the way, have little cubes of leather underneath for raising, to make bumps.


though they're medieval, the principles are the same, and this book's excellent: (so many ideas!)
https://www.amazon.com/Knives-Scabbards-Medieval-Excavations-London/dp/1843833530


thoroughly recommend it.


For earlier period, 10-12th C, when most sheaths are single-layer, there's also this report from the York excavations:


https://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/AY17-16-Leather-and-leatherworking.pdf


those two should keep you busy for a while (between trying to wrangle the argumentative horses!)