Quote Originally Posted by tripleblessed View Post
Webster says the mor makes it "great sword", which might well indicate the two handed, but also goes on to say that both usages are correct.
It does indicate the basket hilt would be the double edged version. Single would be the backsword. Webster also notes the earliest usage as
1527. The large two handed with quatrefoil tips, IIRC, is a copy of an extant gallowglass sword, or extant drawing of the sword, and the gallowglass
troops go back into the late 1200s. So, which is the chicken, which the egg?
Nope, nope. The basket hilt was a claymore, whether single edged or double edged - i.e. a broadsword - and they were made in both edge configuations. Galloglass, like so many other European and British fighters, adopted the two hander, which was usually produced on the continent. Blades were also sent to Scotland for hilting. But the Galloglass two hander does not go back to 1200 as they did not really gain popularity until the early 16th c. Some confusion has arisen from the production of some very large swords prior to the 16th c. but these were likely "bearing swords" for ceremonial use as they are much too large and heavy to be used in combat.