Scottish basket hilt elements

[urbanspaceman]

This is all great stuff Gents. Despite living on the border I have never been exposed to much info on Scottish weapons.
Actually, here in Newcastle, there is no real source of info on any of the weaponry that must have been in abundant use considering how many castles we have within a days' ride of here; probably more per capita than anywhere else on this planet.
Consequently, in trying to establish the provenance of the hilt on my Shotley Bridge broadsword blade, I was at a complete loss.
Norman, is Ralph still at Kelvingrove? He owes me an interview and I owe him a copy of my book. I may venture up there myself before the snow starts falling again.
Well done Chaps and thank-you.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Keith,
As far as I'm aware Ralph Moffat is still at Kelvingrove.
Regards,
Norman.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Keith,
Glad you're in, as the northern English regions are not only a key factor in the production and development of the basket hilt, but the Border Reivers were keenly a part of the diffusion and use of these distinct swords. While the original 'CLOSE' hilts, that is developed hand guards made up of bars and plates/shields were in use in England as early as late 16th c.....it is primarily the evolution of the HIGHLAND forms we are focused on at this point.

I have added your fine example of what is regarded as the 'conventional' or 'traditional' form of Highland hilt, which is known as the GLASGOW style of hilt. It has been held (Whitelaw, 1934) that John Simpson, a Glasgow hammerman who was working 1683, becoming master in 1692, was the originator of what is now recognized as the 'Glasgow' form hilt.

These hilts with the bars holding shields forming the 'basket' became distinctively recognized by the pierced shields which had the designs with various shapes of hearts, circles and other forms in characteristic formations. There are other features which we will discuss later.

John Jr. his son was working by 1711.

There were two journeymen, JOHN ALLEN(1702) and James Allen (1706).
What is important here is that John Allen went to STIRLING by 1714, and here evolved the second form of Scottish basket hilts.

These were distinguished primarily from their notable departure from the conventional pierced plates, and into more elaborately designed elements of the basket structure. These often incorporated not only artistic designs, but many features including Jacobite symbolism.
John had two sons, Walter and John who later worked in Stirling as well.

Most notable about these men is that they developed a unique way of signing their hilts, which was how Whitelaw identified and was able to categorize these hilts basic forms.

With this, we can see that the GLASGOW form hilt must have evolved around the 1680s with John Simpson. It is notable that he and the others listed seem to have been the only slippers who signed their work (initials) aside from one or two other cases.

So with Keiths sword, the 'Glasgow' hilt seems likely mid to late 1690s possibly later into early years of 1700s.

My question/theory? is, could John Simpson Sr. have developed the guard system while he working toward his mastership in 1680s? Using the known elements from the long extant 'ribbon or beaknose' hilt with wide curving bars and the variously structured bars of earlier English forms circulating, perhaps he created the use of consistently placed shields. He then may have embellished these with the piercings which became rather a trademark style.

I would note here that the otherwise 'standard' Glasgow hilts which factor in the S shape element (as in Normans example posted earlier), seem to have been a likely variant used by other hammermen in Glasgow regions in the period from turn of century into early 18th.

Another important development here with the Glasgow hilt, as seen with Keiths example, is the notably extended 'wrist guard' (backward) which as per Whitelaw was added in latter years of 17th into early 18th. This feature was to protect the wrist from the sawing cut often used in Highland swordsmanship. This does not seem to be included in the basket hilts of Stirling and lowland forms.

Going to the blade....clearly a Shotley Bridge 'Oley' example, and from 1680-90, with the familiar bushy tail fox (BTF), it seems evident that blades from these Newcastle regions were in circulation into Scotland as well as into England. It has been of course plausibly, if not compellingly noted that the Shotley conduit was a key center for Jacobite sword supply.

I have wondered if Shotley was indeed a point of entry for the immense numbers of German blades who supplied Scottish sword slippers of these periods of Highland basket hilt development in mid 17th into 18th. It is well known that German blades mostly, and of 17th century, comprised the blades invariably mounted in these swords.

Could this been one of the entrepots for the ubiquitous ANDREA FERARA blades which appear so constantly on Highland basket hilts? We know that while the Andrea Ferara blades are forever aligned with the Scottish basket hilts, these had been coming to Great Britain much earlier in the century.
I have a 'mortuary' which is of Hounslow c. 1640 with Andrea Ferara blade. Also, here is one of the 'ribbon hilt' the forerunner of the 'traditional' form hilts in Glasgow, also with ANDREA FERARA blade. While these hilts are typically conservatively placed third quarter 17th c., more recent literature has suggested they were from earlier, perhaps 1640s, as would be supported by this comparison.

First three pics of Keiths Glasgow c. 1700 w/Shotley blade 1680s BTF
Next, the ribbon hilt mid 17th ANDREA FERARA blade..., Note the 'S' shape in hilt
Next, Mortuary, 1640 Hounslow, ANDREA FERARA blade, sorry for incomplete image, will rephoto.

[Jim McDougall]

To those reading and gratefully those joining here, I just want to point out that I am by no means with any expertise in this field of study. I am simply researching through old notes and resources and compiling this data into the 'essays' I am writing here. This is the reason for my typically loquacious posts, I am essentially learning the material as I write, and welcome any responses questioning or correcting what I have written.

The goal, as always here, is to learn together, and I hope I can at long last gain comprehension of these 'basket hilt mysteries' that have perplexed me for decades.

To those reading I ask forbearance for the lengthy posts, and my thanks to those who join in this formidable journey into these studies.

Onward!

[urbanspaceman]

Hi Jim. Thanks for your help here, I am much obliged.
The leather patch in my hilt will have been a working repair as the original linings were traditionally deerskin. I don't know how much of the basket was covered by the skin, the later Victorian complete covers may not have echoed the early ones.
Has anyone heard of the - much regarded as myth - story that the division of the pommel was not always into four and this was supposed to mean "No Quarter". Sounds Victorian to me, but you never know.
I might endeavor to persuade the Tyneside 'Powers that Be' to establish a section of our "Discovery Museum" devoted to the arms and armour of the area and get some of the 200+ swords they have archived and essentially never seen, apart from the five Shotley Bridge swords donated by Lord Gort of Hamsterly (adjacent to SB) and featured in my book.
You would not believe the hoops I had to jump through and the persistence required to gain access to them: it took me four months! The problem is that all those 200 swords are stored in the archives of our Laing Art Gallery as initially the Discovery Museum did not have adequate security to store armaments. Consequently, the people working at the gallery are Art enthusiasts; guns and swords are anathema to them and best forgotten. I can see their point but that is not why we pay them; and WE do pay them.
NB 216 swords have been catalogued with brief descriptions but I was told there are 900+ in total.
Loquacious you may be Jim, but garrulous am I.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Keith! It would seem we are peas in a pod! garrulous, I had not heard that one...but add it to my resume'
Your work on the Shotley mysteries is to me, almost legendary! and your tenacity prevails.....your quest never stops.

It would be great to include the Shotley factor into the Scottish swords discussed here, as we know that these blades indeed entered into that sphere.

Norman, found something more on the 'S' element:
From George Nuemann ("Swords and Blades of the American Revolution", 1973, p.140, 236.S):
one variation of Glasgow hilt using reversed S in place of side plates seems to have been innovated by John Allen in 1700-1707 period.

This reference, for those reading, is one of the absolutely best. most comprehensive references for virtually most European swords forms of late 17th through 18th century. Mr. Neumanns astounding knowledge is added to each photographed example and with text that reads like footnotes, loaded with details one would spend searching for in the standard literature. He adds concise details pertinent to each weapon, instantly answering the questions one would ask if just seeing the weapon.
I once had the honor of talking with him years ago, and the over an hour or more went by in seconds, as the exchange was remarkable! It was easy to see how he wrote this!!!

[Battara]

It is a fantastic book (I have a copy )!

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Battara

It is a fantastic book (I have a copy )!

It really is Jose! Ive had mine since about '74, its worn to tatters but its my most valuable go to reference!