Scottish Swords

[sirdaniel1975]

"The Swords and the Sorrows"; The Nat'l Trust for Scotland Trading Co., Ltd.; 1996. ISBN 0901625582

Hard to find nowadays...!

Thank You!

[Alan H]

All righty, then. I've got that straight....or MORE straight, anyway.

Thanks for a most informtive thread, Gentlemen!

[Sir Robert]

Two problems.

1. The Gaelic "claidheamh mor" is best translated into English as "Big Sword" which could legetimately be either, niether or both.

2. The weapons in question could be one in the same. Start with a two handed broadsword and rework it into a shorter basket hilt sword as sword fashon changes. The blade from one could be the exact same as the other so that the name stays the same too.

For example the Germans called their WWII helmet a "Stahlhelm 35", today collectors see each little change as a new different helmet such as M-35, M-40, M-42, M-45. The modern names would have been quite confusing to the original wearers. Is this the case?

[michael steinrok]

I am a big fan of the Basket hilt claymore. There is an Irish Basket hilt? Really? Does anyone have a picture of this or a link?

[Woodsheal]

Here's an image of a 16th century "Irish Hilt." The name is misleading. These were early type basket hilts that were used in Scotland. To lowlanders and the English, all things Gaelic were "Irish", including those "wild Irish" who lived in the mountains - who are more commonly referred to as the Highlanders...!

[Andrew Green]

Yeah, really...
to all those of Scottish (highland) descent, your ancestors were merely misplaced Irish.
Not that I have anything against Irish folk, but umm... I'm Scottish, and I have Scottish heritage. Ha ha ha. Had to poke fun at that issue. Of course, when you break it down into tribal migrations, there is a bit of a connection to be made. But the cultures emerged as fairly distinct from each other I believe.

Sir Robert:
The issues you pointed out are, to the best of my knowledge the reason's why the term "claymore" is still widely disputed among blade scholars.

[switchblade5984]

well i had a post here but its gone........

[puffer]

I am no expert on this subject, but I do have a "wee" bit of Knowledge gleaned over the years.
For starters go here. The people on this site are EXPERTS, IMHO http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/index.php
Having said that, here are my thoughts. IMHO

1. The ?? of what is a "claymore or isn't is one that will be "debated" forever.
A. I think that Woodshead's orig. explanation is "spot on"
B. But I refer to the 2 "types as ""great Sword" (both the 2 handed & 1 1/2 ) & " Basket Hilt.

2. Origins of the Basket Hilt
A. They orig. from Eur. ( most likely they were from the Germanic areas)
B. the baskets on the early ones were not as "massive" as we now think of when we think Highland Basket hilts.
3. The "style the English & the Lowlanders adopted were sim. to this


4. The Highland Basket Hilt
A. the Highlanders "Baskets were/are more "massive" (reflects the style of fighting = "SMASH FACE"
B. Some say the Highlander's adapted the Eng/Lowland styles, others say they brought them back from their mercenary complains. ( me ?? = poss. both)
BTW the blades of a GOOD Highland Basket Hilt was from the Germanic areas.

Here are mine ( ALL are SHARP)
#1 the "standard" Brass "regimental" . ( Brass was used by the Brit. Gov. because of cost. Imho only inexpensive Sword had a brass hilt) Steel = Quality)

#2 is my "Cold Steel" Basket hilt (a Generic style . Note the basket is blued, which many of the finer ones were.)

#3 My "semi-custom" from Armor Class (an "S" hilt')

#4 is a "SWORD in progress" from Armor Class. This will "reflect" an ENG/Lowland. Style.

I hope this gives you some "FOOD FOR THOUGHT"

Puffer