Hi Stu,
I think that perhaps of all of us, you have the collection that is the most difficult to display.
So perhaps it is only fair that you have the advantage of having such an amazing collection
As you know I only have two Arabian daggers (both with belts) and I can see why so many have sadly been parted from their belts, presumably in some cases by collectors wanting to more easily display them.
I have to say that for me (and I know it's just personal taste) I wanted a 'traditional' wooden main display rack. But it was also important that it could accomodate a variety of swords including straight, curved, long, short, bare bladed or in a variety of width scabbards.
With all that in mind, there were always going to have to be compromises.
The last one I made used wooden hooks like a Katana rack, but I found that bare blades tend to lean forwards or back and not want to sit 'straight'.
So! I did a few experiments and having looked at a friends tried the 'pegs' approach.
If you use a shallow angle on the pegs, and combine them with sturdy back 'pillars' the blades tend to sit straight and not 'tip forwards'. Also, it seems to work (as you can see in the pic) for just about any type of blade or scabbard.
Combined with centrally placed pegs and a back board for daggers.......
Then a top and bottom shelf for 'sundries'...
So I can put my long Jambiya on the top shelf because the belt fold nicely to form a 'stand' of sorts, but I still had no way to display the Khanjar....
I actually am going to try a 'futuristic' acrylic stand for it when I get time. But for now I think the Chinese plate stand (because it's a nice one) looks pretty good!
Best
Gene