What can you tell me about this sword?

RhysMichael · 20th November 2006, 02:00 AM

Last time I corresponded with ElJay he was in Thailand and I believe he still is. I was lucky enough to handle some of the baskethilts he made and the are indeed superb. If I were having a contemporary baskethilt made or restoration done to an older one I am sure he would be at the top of my list of people to do it.

Jeff D · 20th November 2006, 02:36 AM

Hi RhysMichael,

Since you mentioned Eljay, here is a English baskethilt that he bought and restored in the 70's (I wonder if Jim was bidding against him

). Unfortunately the photo is poor, it is from the dealer I bought it from in the 90's. The sword is in deep storage so I cannot get a better one. I post it here to illustrate the screw in the pommel that Jim mentioned earlier. This is seen in the English mortuary and baskethilts. I also posted it to reaffirm your confidence in Eljay's excellent restoration skills.

Thanks also to Jim for the info.

Jeff.

Jim McDougall · 20th November 2006, 02:40 AM

Hi Rhys Michael,
He is indeed still in Thailand. As I mentioned, when him and I were busy collecting and studying British cavalry patterns, he was always busy working on the swords. His passion for repairing and deeply studying the swords themselves led to his amazing talents in restoration .What is key with him is his outstanding integrity in his work on these weapons.
Best regards,
Jim

The Double D · 20th November 2006, 04:25 AM

Thank you for your comments Gentlemen, I will pass them and any others that you may have to the Gentleman. He has a small Musuem of Anglo Zulu and Anglo Boer war artifacts, but his Scot's heritige causes him to have this sword.

Tim Simmons · 20th November 2006, 07:21 AM

I still have doubts of the Jacobean designation here. Look how clean the forte section of this blade is. The only corrosion is at the blade tip. To me there seems quite a contrast with the hilt. Compere with the blade and hilt match with this one.
http://www.trocadero.com/faganarms/i...tem424534.html

fernando · 20th November 2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Look how clean the forte section of this blade is. The only corrosion is at the blade tip. To me there seems quite a contrast with the hilt.

This may be silly, but it could be that the blade area susceptible to have markings was cleaned, in later times, to provide for a clearer examination of all the symbols ?!
The riveting of the tang looks coherent with the pommel, in age.
fernando

Tim Simmons · 20th November 2006, 07:47 PM

That is ture the riviting does look old. I cannot put my finger on it but the whole forte section and the fullers just do not look 18th century to me. You have to admit that the basket has unmatched corrosion. Scots things and a Jacobite artistic revival was very popular at the end of the 19th century in the UK because of Queen Victorias love of Scotland. I may well be wrong but that basket is at odds with the blade to me.

Jim McDougall · 20th November 2006, 11:39 PM

Hi Tim,
It is good to be cautious in assessments of weapons from photographs, but such caution should extend as well to sales catalogs. I have closely examined a number of Scottish baskethilts with identical fullering and markings which are clearly from the second half of 17th century. The deteroration of the hilt is also consistant with these hilts of that period, and the sword here appears homogenous. It would seem rather odd to remount this blade on an aged and worn hilt, despite the heritage, especially as well made interpretations of Scottish basket hilts were being made during the Victorian period honoring that heritage.

Fernando has a good suggestion concerning the cleaning of the blade, and very well placed. It seems that the blade tip often is subject to more rapid corrosion as it is one of the thinnest areas of the blade.

Best regards,
Jim

20th November 2006, 02:36 AM	#2
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi RhysMichael, Since you mentioned Eljay, here is a English baskethilt that he bought and restored in the 70's (I wonder if Jim was bidding against him ). Unfortunately the photo is poor, it is from the dealer I bought it from in the 90's. The sword is in deep storage so I cannot get a better one. I post it here to illustrate the screw in the pommel that Jim mentioned earlier. This is seen in the English mortuary and baskethilts. I also posted it to reaffirm your confidence in Eljay's excellent restoration skills. Thanks also to Jim for the info. Jeff. Attached Images

20th November 2006, 07:21 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	I still have doubts of the Jacobean designation here. Look how clean the forte section of this blade is. The only corrosion is at the blade tip. To me there seems quite a contrast with the hilt. Compere with the blade and hilt match with this one. http://www.trocadero.com/faganarms/i...tem424534.html Last edited by Tim Simmons; 20th November 2006 at 10:30 AM. Reason: adding info

20th November 2006, 07:47 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	That is ture the riviting does look old. I cannot put my finger on it but the whole forte section and the fullers just do not look 18th century to me. You have to admit that the basket has unmatched corrosion. Scots things and a Jacobite artistic revival was very popular at the end of the 19th century in the UK because of Queen Victorias love of Scotland. I may well be wrong but that basket is at odds with the blade to me. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 20th November 2006 at 08:16 PM. Reason: spelling

20th November 2006, 02:00 AM	#1
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	Last time I corresponded with ElJay he was in Thailand and I believe he still is. I was lucky enough to handle some of the baskethilts he made and the are indeed superb. If I were having a contemporary baskethilt made or restoration done to an older one I am sure he would be at the top of my list of people to do it.

20th November 2006, 02:40 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Hi Rhys Michael, He is indeed still in Thailand. As I mentioned, when him and I were busy collecting and studying British cavalry patterns, he was always busy working on the swords. His passion for repairing and deeply studying the swords themselves led to his amazing talents in restoration .What is key with him is his outstanding integrity in his work on these weapons. Best regards, Jim

20th November 2006, 04:25 AM	#4
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	Thank you for your comments Gentlemen, I will pass them and any others that you may have to the Gentleman. He has a small Musuem of Anglo Zulu and Anglo Boer war artifacts, but his Scot's heritige causes him to have this sword.

20th November 2006, 11:39 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Hi Tim, It is good to be cautious in assessments of weapons from photographs, but such caution should extend as well to sales catalogs. I have closely examined a number of Scottish baskethilts with identical fullering and markings which are clearly from the second half of 17th century. The deteroration of the hilt is also consistant with these hilts of that period, and the sword here appears homogenous. It would seem rather odd to remount this blade on an aged and worn hilt, despite the heritage, especially as well made interpretations of Scottish basket hilts were being made during the Victorian period honoring that heritage. Fernando has a good suggestion concerning the cleaning of the blade, and very well placed. It seems that the blade tip often is subject to more rapid corrosion as it is one of the thinnest areas of the blade. Best regards, Jim