Great info here! I own three basket hilts: one broadsword and two backswords. My one backsword is a Mad Piper (Donnie Shearer) http://www.themadpiper.com/ My broadsword is marked Andrea Ferrara (not original, of course, but it's a good blade!!).

When doing Jacobite we all wear swords; doing F and I (Amercan Seven Years War) many of us wear them (they were beginning to lose their use and charm here in N. America among the Highland troops at that time) and for Rev. War, only Sjts. and higher rank will wear their swords (swords were put in stores when landing in NYC in 1776 because the musket had gained most prominence).