Scottish sword

Jim McDougall · 17th December 2011, 07:01 PM

It appeared that this baskethilt may well be of course, modernly refurbished and elements of the hilt itself are consistant with the early baskethilts used by officers in the Highland infantry regiments c.1790s. These hilts were of either iron or gilt copper, seemingly in accord to regimental preferences. There were not distinct regiment patterns adopted until late 1790s and slow to be emplaced as commonly seen.

The domed pommel has the profiled vertical flutes in quadrant in similar style of other decorative profiled lines on these type pommels in Scottish hilts c.1760s (Mazansky, p.153, Royal Armouries IX1080) but this is a more geometric design.

The blade has evidence of ricasso block and central median ridge but appears to have been dramatically ground overall. There is no forward guard on the hilt as would normally be in place in hilts of 18th century and I wonder of this hilt might have had that removed during refurbishing (well done with the grip wrap).

I am wondering if this might be components of an earlier Scottish regiment sword in the latter 18th century in India, refurbished much later with perhaps a later blade by armourers present to maintain servicable weapons for British forces. While there is considerable material in this period by the National Galleries of Scotland (1999, "The Tiger and the Thistle", online)....I would point out that basket hilt swords were used during the Raj by officers in native units. I have seen photos of these Indian officers, one I recall of 'The Khyber Rifles' with a basket hilt sword. Naturally comes to mind the photographic 'props' used by photographers in these times, however this seems a quite servicable weapon and well put together, as noted with perhaps one of the later 19th century Scottish blades.

The scabbard is of course as noted atypical, especially in the curious carry ring arrangement, set for both the frog or baldric carry as well as the side sling mount.

A nice example which I suspect may be of old component hilt and newer blade and assembled during the Raj. Despite the replica industry well known in India to present times, these components seem vintage but of varying period. As Lee has well noted, the decoration on the saltire panels seems in accord with 18th century style.

All best regards,
Jim

P.S. Alexander, to your original questions, these swords were originally for battalion company officers of foot (infantry). While cavalry troopers of Scottish units did use basket hilts, by this period at the beginning of the 19th century the officers typically corresponded to developing regulation forms. The basket hilt cavalry backswords gave way to sabres with stirrup hilts in these times as well, the last 'baskethilt' form for cavalry officers was the nebulous M1788 for heavy cavalry.

17th December 2011, 07:01 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	It appeared that this baskethilt may well be of course, modernly refurbished and elements of the hilt itself are consistant with the early baskethilts used by officers in the Highland infantry regiments c.1790s. These hilts were of either iron or gilt copper, seemingly in accord to regimental preferences. There were not distinct regiment patterns adopted until late 1790s and slow to be emplaced as commonly seen. The domed pommel has the profiled vertical flutes in quadrant in similar style of other decorative profiled lines on these type pommels in Scottish hilts c.1760s (Mazansky, p.153, Royal Armouries IX1080) but this is a more geometric design. The blade has evidence of ricasso block and central median ridge but appears to have been dramatically ground overall. There is no forward guard on the hilt as would normally be in place in hilts of 18th century and I wonder of this hilt might have had that removed during refurbishing (well done with the grip wrap). I am wondering if this might be components of an earlier Scottish regiment sword in the latter 18th century in India, refurbished much later with perhaps a later blade by armourers present to maintain servicable weapons for British forces. While there is considerable material in this period by the National Galleries of Scotland (1999, "The Tiger and the Thistle", online)....I would point out that basket hilt swords were used during the Raj by officers in native units. I have seen photos of these Indian officers, one I recall of 'The Khyber Rifles' with a basket hilt sword. Naturally comes to mind the photographic 'props' used by photographers in these times, however this seems a quite servicable weapon and well put together, as noted with perhaps one of the later 19th century Scottish blades. The scabbard is of course as noted atypical, especially in the curious carry ring arrangement, set for both the frog or baldric carry as well as the side sling mount. A nice example which I suspect may be of old component hilt and newer blade and assembled during the Raj. Despite the replica industry well known in India to present times, these components seem vintage but of varying period. As Lee has well noted, the decoration on the saltire panels seems in accord with 18th century style. All best regards, Jim P.S. Alexander, to your original questions, these swords were originally for battalion company officers of foot (infantry). While cavalry troopers of Scottish units did use basket hilts, by this period at the beginning of the 19th century the officers typically corresponded to developing regulation forms. The basket hilt cavalry backswords gave way to sabres with stirrup hilts in these times as well, the last 'baskethilt' form for cavalry officers was the nebulous M1788 for heavy cavalry. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 17th December 2011 at 07:51 PM.