Scottish Swords

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

"Broadsword" is a modern term that does not refer to any particular sword or style of sword.

Actually, it refers to a wide blade sharpened on both sides. A single edged blade would be called a backsword, indicating that the "back" of the blade was not sharp.

In the Renaissance, many terms (like “Medieval” and “dark age”) were used to describe events and items in the past. Its my understanding that “Claymore” was retroactively used to describe a wider range of swords in Scottish history but should only refer to the basket-hilt style.

Historically speaking "claymore" just means "big sword" and could refer to a basket hilt sword as readily as a hand and a half (or bastard) sword or a full two hander approaching five feet (or more) in length.

Now on to the problem I have with the idea of William Wallace lugging around a massive sword; In the middle ages, two edged swords were either "swords" used with one hand and a shield, or "long swords" which were used with two hands. Long Swords were called different names like "great swords" "war swords" or "bastard swords" depending on length and use. Later in the Renaissance even larger swords, called "two-handed swords," were used. These terms are not set in stone and there are some subcategories of swords that make things more confusing, like “arming sword” “riding sword” and others.

So what sword did Wallace have? Longer swords were around before 1305, the year Wallace died, but I doubt he would have used one. The reason for this is simple, a (one-hand) sword is used with a shield and maille, while longer swords were used plate and no shield. Plate was not common before 1305 and longer swords were not common either.

I believe it was at the battle of Stirling Bridge that Scots, armed with two-handed long swords, took the legs off the horses of English knights.

That said, Wallace was a knight, and would have been armed with pretty much the same sort of arms and armour used by any other knight of that period, not withstanding Mr. Gibson's kilted and woad-covered portrayal of the man.

The chance Wallace would have plate and a long sword or, long sword and no plate and plenty of guts to go without a shield are low. Don’t forget that a long sword requires new techniques to attack and defend and training to use it effectively. All the facts I have used here are from various books I’ve collected on swords and my own research I did years ago in collage. If you disagree or have any corrections please feel free to post them.

I agree that changes in the tactics of warfare brought about changes in the weaponry (and the training needed to effectively use it) and contributed to the evolution of the sword in Scotland.

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