Sword I.D. Help Needed

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by celtan

I found today a similar 17th C. spanish sword now called a "Sinclair". It's on p.63 of Well's "Small arms of the Spanish Treasure Fleets". Seems these were used by several european nations.

Hi Celtan,
Just wanted to add some notes on the 'Sinclair Sabre'.
This term was applied to the basket hilted fighting sabres of 16th and 17th century Northern Europe by romantic Victorian arms writers, recalling a historic event known as The Battle of Kringen, in Norway Aug. 26,1612.

Apparantly during the Kalmar War between Denmark and Sweden concerning trade rights on the north coast of Norway, a force of Scottish mercenaries led by Lt. Col. Alexander Ramsay were headed to Sweden to join the forces of Gustavus Adolphus. In one of the subordinate companies as its commander was the Chief of the Sinclair Clan, Lord George Sinclair, who was well known in Norwegian regions. Near Otta, Norway on August 26,1612, Norwegian peasants ambushed and massacred the Scottish force, and notably heralded the victory with the name of Sinclair, the most prominant figure to them.

While it is not known if these type sabres were used by the Scottish force, it is most unlikely, as they were recorded as lightly armed with mostly Lochaber axes and a few broadswords, expecting to be armed upon arrival in Sweden.
As these basket hilt sabres were well known as the 'dusagge' and typically associated with Northern Europe, the Victorian writers noting the tragic event and the often seen association of these sabres with Norway, applied the name Sinclair to these swords, which has remained used by collectors since.

'Collectors terms' .....gotta love 'em! They give us whole new dimensions of history themselves

All the best,
Jim