A basket hilted swords for comments

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks Fernando, I think we are on the same course here, and I do recall the Peterson entries, which always seemed an unusual place to find data on Scottish swords as for me he was always about 'American' swords. What I often forget of course is the huge numbers of Scots who came to this country (then England) and of course brought with them their trusty basket hilts. In the pirate lore on Blackbeard, it was long held that british Lt. Maynard held the victory over the legendary pirate, however in recent years it was revealed that it was a Highlander , with his trusty basket hilt who actually dealt the fatal blows to him.

Just as I often had overlooked the diffusion of these distinct basket hilts away from Scotland to these shores, I had never really realized how many of them probably went to France along with the Jacobites, and as such, how many examples were indeed likely produced there in accord with their preferences.

The detail you include on the Wundes group is most telling, and it is most interesting that 1584 is also the year supposed of the death of the fabled Andrea Ferara if I recall correctly from some of these readings. I am not sure how that would play into these findings and material, however it seems curiously coincidental. I am not sure there has ever been a consensus on whether or not this person actually existed (along with his brother) or if this is more legend.

What is certain is that this name/term was legion to the Scots in the character of the blades of their beloved basket hilts.
In the instance of these interspersed konigskopf (crowned king heads) with the letters of ANDREA FERARA, it does seem anomalous relative to the usual application of the FERARA name on the blades, and it is most tempting to consider the possibility of Klingenthal origin given the Wundes connection noted c. 1730. Naturally Scottish blades had long been established coming from Solingen already, and this rather innovative melding of the FERARA name so favored, with the well known mark of Wundes certainly would have been attractive to these 'hard core' Scottish Jacobites on the Continent.

It is most exciting to see this rather esoteric part of the history of Scottish basket hilts and its hopefully supportable development. Looks like you may have opened a new chapter with these kings head and Ferara the leading clue!

[fernando]

Yes Jim, indeed the article i first found was written by Peterson, about the American sword; but what i was browsing on was the king's head, which he eventualy brings about in his work, when fixing the origin of Amercian swords in the colonial times.
But what i have read on a second article, and not from Peterson as i mistakenly quoted, is one of Michael Barthorp, in his work the 'Jacobite Rebellions', in which he clearly states that, the basket hilt went from the Continent to Britain (and not the other way round), to replace the two handed claymore (claidheamh mor), the blade of many being dut down for such purpose. This 'inverted route' is something that either i missed or you didn't yet specificaly comment on ... and i would like to hear about.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Fernando,
Indeed the Peterson book brought up the kings head marks and basket hilts in America, as was of course well established in his book on arms in Colonial America. That reference along with George Nuemann's book on swords of the American Revolution carried the scope of European arms in this country quite well.
The article you mention by Barthorp, is that the Osprey reference?

In any case, in the development of the Scottish basket hilt itself, as I have understood, especially through the extensive work by the late Claude Blair, the developed basket hilt did evolve from the Continent. It does seem that influence came to British shores quite early in English swords (i.e. examples found on the wreck of the Mary Rose), but that primary influence on the Scottish hilts came from dusagge (cf. Sinclair sabres) of mostly northern Europe. These heavy basket hilt sabres were impressive to the Scots who served in these regions as mercenaries, and began evolving into the well known Scottish forms around 16th century. There is a good deal of confusion on just how much cross diffusion between the developing Scottish forms and English examples, but the characters began taking on certain distinctions independently.

With these basket hilt forms which seem to have expatriated to France as described earlier, it was not a developmental move, but more a geopolitical transference. It does seem that more fully developed guards in hilts were present in other countries some time after the Scottish and English hilts evolved in Britain, but they seem likely independent of these and quite likely from the same root with the closed guard dusagges.

That is what I have understood and recall from researches on these years ago, and I hope it makes sense. These are incredibly fascinating swords, and another of my addictions (along with cup hilts ! )

All the best
Jim

[fernando]

... i kept looking at this sword hilt and couldn't stop thinking that its look was so dull. Until i ended up not resisting to give it some cleaning. I know i have commited a crime but ...


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[Will M]

Brass looks best cleaned up as it would have been while in use. I never worry about removing "patina" oxidation as it will always come back in time and no one will know it had been cleaned. I've used muriatic acid and water mixed at a lower amount to clean brass but not strip all oxidation off, just the dark brown/black. With brass you can always limit the amount you clean it.

[Victrix]

I see no harm in cleaning objects to restore some of their former glory. After all this is what they looked like when they were in use. The sabre in my profile pic was grimy with dirt but I cleaned it with no regrets.

[fernando]

Much obliged for your support, Gentlemen .


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