A Rare Scottish Basket-Hilted Backsword In The Manner Of Walter Allan Of SterlingSecond Quarter Of The 18th CenturyWith tapering blade double-edged at the point and cut with two fullers along the back over most of its length on each side incised respectively 'ANDREA' and 'FARARA' between star and 'S' marks, the forte on one side stamped with Blackamoor's profile head mark probably of Andreis Munsten (Weyersberg 86), iron guard of waved bars of rectangular section framing a row of pierced stars between rows of alternate oval and keyhole-shaped piercings at the front, three pierced hearts between cusping above, the side panels each pierced en suite above a stylised 'ram's horn' pierced with a further heart between, waved fore-guards and rear guard, scrolled wrist-guard, integral ring at the top beneath the fluted bun-shaped pommel, the latter with separate button, spirally-grooved fishskin-covered grip with embossed iron ferrule at the top, and retaining its buff-leather lined faced in red woollen cloth 86.9 cm. bladeFootnotes:ExhibitedThe Swords and the Sorrows, Culloden Commemorative Exhibition, Culloden, 16 April-20 September 1996LiteratureThe Swords and the Sorrows, exhibition catalogue, cat. no. 1:39, p. 42 (illustrated)For related examples see Cyril Mazansky, British Basket-Hilted Swords, 2005, pp. 152-156, G9-G11This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.