Scottish basket hilt elements

Jim McDougall · 14th July 2025, 09:12 PM

Thank you Norman!! I knew I could count on ye!!!
These are so breathtaking, as are all basket hilts! It is so overwhelming seeing so many at once, though in looking at them I want to individually itemize the various features and elements to learn more on them.

I recall Dr. Mazansky when writing his book, was following the path of Nick Norman in categorizing the character of hilts by period and features. I was hoping for more historical background and perhaps developmental notes, but his work is profoundly useful in itemizing categoric forms and character of elements for discussion. His glossary of terminology and nomenclature is extremely useful.

Your example shown is amazing! and the blade fascinating as the running wolf is not widely seen on Scot blades and with ANNO etc. As noted, these are all 17th century German blades and interesting variations. I am trying to find the references noting the talismanic properties of these often familiar markings on blades. I have long believed personally that the 'running wolf' of Passau, later Solingen, was a talismanic marking placed on blades in these types of thinking.

I noticed one of the hilts was in brass. I had always thought the brass hilts came about in the Napoleonic period with the swords for officers in the Highland units. Apparently there were instances of brass hilts as early as 1721, possibly earlier, and the challenging weather up there often called for more durability in hilts, with japanning or browning common, so as with naval hilts for damp climates, brass seems understandable.
I think the only prohibition in using brass is the softness of the metal not standing up well in combative interaction.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

14th July 2025, 09:12 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,723	Thank you Norman!! I knew I could count on ye!!! These are so breathtaking, as are all basket hilts! It is so overwhelming seeing so many at once, though in looking at them I want to individually itemize the various features and elements to learn more on them. I recall Dr. Mazansky when writing his book, was following the path of Nick Norman in categorizing the character of hilts by period and features. I was hoping for more historical background and perhaps developmental notes, but his work is profoundly useful in itemizing categoric forms and character of elements for discussion. His glossary of terminology and nomenclature is extremely useful. Your example shown is amazing! and the blade fascinating as the running wolf is not widely seen on Scot blades and with ANNO etc. As noted, these are all 17th century German blades and interesting variations. I am trying to find the references noting the talismanic properties of these often familiar markings on blades. I have long believed personally that the 'running wolf' of Passau, later Solingen, was a talismanic marking placed on blades in these types of thinking. I noticed one of the hilts was in brass. I had always thought the brass hilts came about in the Napoleonic period with the swords for officers in the Highland units. Apparently there were instances of brass hilts as early as 1721, possibly earlier, and the challenging weather up there often called for more durability in hilts, with japanning or browning common, so as with naval hilts for damp climates, brass seems understandable. I think the only prohibition in using brass is the softness of the metal not standing up well in combative interaction.