![]() |
|
Perhaps one of the most famous swords of all time was the Scottish Claymore, a sword forever now ever associated with the indomitable and incorrigible spirit of the Highland warriors. It was in the style of a hand-and-a-half sword and first appeared at the end of the 15th Century and lasted until the 17 Century. It is thought to be most definitely a development of the Scots-Irish single hand style of sword as all origins seam to stem from there. Most people often confuse a Claymore with the basket hilted broadsword as seen below, but the images depicted on this page are actually of the real true blue Claymore.
The Claymore was a bit shorter and lighter than the contemporary European version, that was also crafted for two handed use. The Claymore had an overall length of just over 4½ feet with a 13 inch long handle and an impressive and intimidating 3½ foot long double edged blade, the weight was a massive 5.5 lbs.
The Claymore
was a very versatile weapon and could deliver great
sweeping slashes or powerful thrusts that would be almost instantly
fatal to the recipient. With this thing coming down at you,
your standard size sword would not be able
Claymore swordsmen were usually the biggest men in the squad, huge muscle barons with the power to repeatedly and constantly wield a sword in fast and ferocious life threatening combat, that most people would have difficulty in making one decent swing with. Remember, these swords were designed for one thing, and one thing only and that was to kill and to do it as decisively as possible with the least effort.
Aesthetically speaking, the
Claymore had a nice symmetrical appearance with a wheel shaped
pommel often capped by a crescent shaped nut with a unique hand
guard that had slanting quillions that ended ornately with
distinctive quatrefoil's.
The simple but exquisitely clean lines of this sword has maintained is popularity even 600 years later as replicas of this sword are sought after by collectors more than ever. In the several past centuries, every able bodied man in Scotland carried arms 24 hours a day, they were never without a trusty sword and the Claymore was no exception, big and cumbersome as it was.
In fact a poem by John
Hulme can attest to this when he wrote just after the Battle of
Falkirk in 1746 " Thy Highlanders always appeared like warriors;
as if their weapons had been limbs and members of their bodies they
were never seen without them; they travelled, they attended fairs
and markets, nay they went to church with their broadswords and
dirks "
Probably the only way to carry a sword of this magnitude is as the clansmen and highland fighters of old did, and that's on your back !
You could not wear the Claymore attached to your belt and when you were on horseback, the horse did all the carrying which was probably the best way to tote the Claymore around with you, its a big sword.
Another variation below with more brass fittings but minus the quatrefoils, brass was used extensively on swords due to its inability to corrode and as Scotland is a damp and humid land, brass fitting were always the best to have.
I am not affiliated with any store that sell swords, so please don't ask me to order for you. |