Sword, Scottish, basket hilt, c. 1725.
Scottish basket hilt
Material: Iron
Construction: Hammered
Marks: Non
Features: Large rolled quillons, fretted and pierced pattern hilt, braided wire wrapped around shark skin covered wooden grip. Fuller that runs half way down from the ricasso. Double edged, straight blade.
Period: 1st half 18th century
Provenance: Florida collector
Blade Size: 34.5" L x 2" D
Overall Size: 40.5" L x 3.5" D
Weight: 3 lbs.
Condition: Rust to the ricasso and the hilt, light pitting.
History: The basket-hilted sword is the name of a group of early modern sword types characterized by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. Also known as the broadsword, the basket-hilted sword was a military sword, termed "broad" in contrast with the rapier, the slim dueling sword worn with civilian dress during the same period. The basket-hilted sword is the name of a group of early modern sword types characterized by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. Also known as the broadsword the basket-hilted sword was a military sword, termed "broad" in contrast with the rapier, the slim dueling sword worn with civilian dress during the same period.
Meta: sword, cutlery, cutler, rapier, saber, sabre