15th – 16th century, this Highland sword

[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

And it is always a possibility this is a broken 19th century historicism replica that was thrown away to rust...

Originally Posted by ALEX

I also find the langets and crossguard in general to be too thin and fragile.

Originally Posted by Kmaddock

Is this sword type that rare and difficult to come by?

I think it may very well be genuine, the unusual details of its appearance are closely comparable to a sword found in the River Barrow in Ireland, including the langets, narrow cross, quatrefoil terminals, and multi-stage grip. Similar features are apparent in the familiar two-handed claymores, but this smaller, earlier(?) sort of weapon is even more rare, explaining the high sale price. Due to this rarity, and the specificity of detail, I think it is unlikely that it could have been imitated in the 19th century. The Irish sword was recovered only in 1935, and I know of no other example equally similar.

[Jim McDougall]

I would like to thank Ken VERY MUCH for posting this amazing and most historic piece!
It is somewhat disappointing that such a genuine and historically important weapon is the subject of the typical monetary competition, but this is of course the bane of true arms historians, such as Mr. MacDonald.
We can only hope that this sword has gone to a serious collector who is as well a student of arms, and not simply an investor.

Too often these things go into the secretive collections of wealthy individuals in contexts far from their historic place, and are again returned to obscurity.

Reventlov, thank you for the brilliant insights and assessment with the reference image attached, and detail on the Irish find.

The image is of a clansman from a reference in my geneology studies of our family from some years ago, but I do not have the title at hand. Naturally this may be contested historically but the context is interesting.

[NeilUK]

As Jasper has said, the two-handed versions of the Scottish Highland sword are very rare, and the single-hand or hand-and-a-half versions are rarer still. So if this sword is genuine it is of enormous interest and value (not just in monetary terms). We have a number of images of these swords on the well-known West Highland grave stones dating to the 14th and 15th centuries. The distinctive quatrefoil terminals to the cross guard appear late in the series, from around 1500 so, if genuine, I would put this sword around this time. Compare the attached photos. Neil


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[NeilUK]

Apologies, I could only get one photo to attach itself.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by NeilUK

Apologies, I could only get one photo to attach itself.

Send me the others, Neil; and i will upload them for you .

fernando@vikingsword.com

[fernando]

Originally Posted by NeilUK

Apologies, I could only get one photo to attach itself.

Problem solved ,