Quote Originally Posted by Luke MacGillie View Post
The regimental hilt sword market right now is horrible. Godwin no longer has backswords, only broadswords. CAS/Henwai’s sword is no longer in production, Mad Piper retired, I’m pretty sure MacDonald Armories has a multi year backlog.

There is no affordable option really for an enlisted mans issue sword.

I’m lucky that I have a Bicentennial era Godwin and fell into a Mad Piper hilt that I am finishing putting a blade on. These are now loaner swords for the units I belong to.

It’s hard to give advice on this topic.
Thank-you sir, i was hoping you'd jump in. i have access to the CAS backsword, but besides being of stainless steel (basket), did not think the basket was authentic to be considered Regt issue or ammunition grade. Armour Class (http://www.swordsmiths.co.uk/Data/Pages/Scottish_2.htm) swords has one basket similar to a photo i have seen of the heirloom broadsword allegedly carried by James Thompson with the 78th Regt. And i have one other reference the 78th Regt carried broadswords, but am not 100% convinced this is fact. i do know for certain the 77 Regt and the 42 Regt (at least when they departed for North America) were all in possession of government issue backswords. Armour swords (http://www.swordsmiths.co.uk/Data/Pages/Scottish_9.htm) also has a basket very similar to one made by Donnie Shearer, a name provided to me by Orvis. All the online searching has made me conclude i will never find exactly what i want, but can get very close depending on the size of my budget.

Thanks much

Jacques