Quote Originally Posted by CelticMedic View Post
It's not just Braveheart, but i figured it'd get some response, but when William Wallace pulls his huge sword out of the sheath on his back...how does he put it back? For that matter how does he really pull it out as it's longer than his arm can extend...and yes it is a full sheath as long as the blade. I notice in the many viewings of the film you never really see him form the back when he's pulling it out...I suspect it's because even Mel Gibson can't overcome physics and remove it, so he merely hold's it back there and is filmed from the front. Anyone have any ideas?
You know, I worked on BRAVEHEART (as did every Assistant Director in Ireland), but for the life of me I can't remember how that was done.

Anyhow, I was told by someone (possibly the late Col. Sean O'Driscoll of Castle Matrix in Co. Limerick) that in all likelihood two handed swords (like the claymore in my avatar) weren't sheathed in the usual sense of the word. It was more likely that the blade was wrapped in rags (to provide some padding) and that the sword was then carried across the shoulder. This makes sense when you consider the physics of carrying such a sword: the weight of the sword will always be pulling down, causing the baldric to dig into the shoulder (or slip down, or both) with the result that the blade will ultimately be dragging on the ground behind the wearer.

At the time such swords were in fashion as weapons (and later as symbols of authority) the possessor would have had a sword bearer to lug the thing around until it was needed. Being a sword bearer was a considered honour (as it is today) and often was the prerogative of a gentleman of high status. It was not unusual for the position to be held by the Chief of a clan as indicative of an alliance between his clan and another clan.