chape

thumb|The scabbard "chape" is labelled 10. thumb|Scabbard chape from the St Ninian's Isle Treasure thumb|300px|Illustration of the Thorsberg chape showing the runic inscriptions on both sides

Chape has had various meanings in English, but the predominant one is a protective fitting at the tip of a scabbard or sheath for a sword or dagger (10 in the diagram). Historic blade weapons often had leather scabbards with metal fittings at either end, sometimes decorated. These are generally either in some sort of U shape, protecting the edges only, or a pocket shape covering the sides of the scabbard as well. The reinforced end of a single-piece metal scabbard can also be called the chape.