Weapons of The Gael

This very early incarnation of the basket-hilt sword (right) was in many respects more effective than later models. The basket of steel bars does an excellent job of protecting the hand, yet does not add a great amount of weight. Well balanced, this is an excellent cut and thrust weapon. Although probably of Scottish origin, and used both in Ireland and Scotland, this particular basket-hilt sword was referred to as the "Irish" hilt, as still is even today. Why? Maybe because the English frequently referred to Celts as "Irish" or because this sword was heavily favored by the Irish. The sword is shown here with a mated Irish hilt left-hand dagger.

Never has there been a sword so strongly identified with a people as the sword (right) which has been mistakenly dubbed the "Basket-Hilt Claymore". The Gaelic Claidh-mhor is, literally "Great Sword", which this is not.

Although many may have been made from the broken blades of the great-sword of the Highlands, the sword is more properly know as a "Basket-hilt Broadsword".

From the early days of the 17th century until today, the basket-hilt has been the symbol of the warrior race of Scotland. Scottish through-and-through, strangely enough, the ideal basket-hilted broadsword by Scottish standards was one which bore a blade marked "Andre Ferrera" - an Italian bladesmith....

Used in the constant clan warfare and border fights with the English from 1500 t0 1650 and still in use as late as the Rebellion of 1745, the two-handed Claymore seems to be an offshoot of earlier broadswords as they were developed into great-swords. Widely feared because its lightness made it faster in combat than its European counterparts, this sword developed a distinctive style of crossguard with downsloping arms that ended in spatulate swellings. The Claymore, from about 1520, shows the true Scottish form which was finally developed.

It was said that the bearer of a Claymore needed no shield (how could he carry one, anyway?) because the reach of the sword provided its own protection. It is noted that most Scottish edged weapons featured crossguards, baskets, and pommels made of brass, rather than steel - probably because of the damp weather of the area, which would cause steel to rust and deteriorate much more rapidly than brass.

the grip of the early version shown at right. The grip form began to change, probably sometime in the late 16th century, becoming purely Scottish. The late versions (left) though quite popular, are somewhat debased in form, carved with a basket-weave or traditional Scottish foliage and thistle design, and some with engraved blades, etc.

Make no mistake though... the dirk is a pure fighting knife and unabashedly so. The 14 to 16 inch blade was single-edged, made to use alone, left-handed with a shield and sword, or just with a basket-hilt broadsword. The dirk was usually worn with the scabbard afixed to the belt just to the right of the Sporran.

Even when it was replaced by gunpowder and firearms and no longer needed for war, it was used for hunting animals, and dogs were used to bring down wounded deer.

One feature of Highland bowmen, which I have heard, but not been able to substantiate, is the contention that the Highlander did not use the bow in what is now considered the standard manner, held vertically, and drawn to the chin or cheekbone, but rather as the Native American - held horizontally.

With the advent of gunpowder and firearms making the bow obsolete as a projectile weapon, Highlanders moved into the modern age by carrying a brace of pistols afixed to their sword belts. Pistols were used together with the powder horn and shot pouch. Highlanders were known to fire the pistols at the enemy before them, then throw them down, leaving both hands free for using broadsword, axe, targe and dirk, and to instantly charge the enemy while they were still reeling from the effect of the pistols. The weapon shown was distinctively Scottish, engraved with the thistle motif and similar Scottish decoration. It was a pistol such as this one which fired the "Shot Heard 'round The World" at Concord which signaled the beginning of the Revolutionary War between the then fledgling United States and England.

Last used as a means of defense by Highlanders at Killiecrankie. By 1769, Lochaber axes were mainly ceremonial weapons such as those carried by Edinburgh's town guard.

The Lochaber axe took many forms and shapes, and the one shown is from a private collection in Scotland. As to its actual historical origin, it is hard to say. Certainly it has all the earmarks of the axes in many of the castles and museums in Scotland.

Also used in battle, this was a round wooden shield, covered with hide. Most had a central spike (the 17th century targe at the left does not) and were decorated with embossed designs and nails, which actually made it stronger.

Used by the wild clansmen of the Highlands of Scotland, this shield was still in use in 1745 when it gave the English real trouble during Bonnie Prince Charlie's Rebellion. When the Redcoats lunged with the bayonet, the Scots would catch it on the targe, and then slash with the sword.