Kilij blade Ribbon hilt by E.B. Erickson

This past Friday I received my 7th Eljay Erickson basket-hilt, this one being our project for 2005, and the 5th annually since our chance online meeting back in 2000.
(One hilt was gifted to me by Eljay, and another I purchased at the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show , so yeah, 7 pieces total !)

While visiting Scotland last summer I’d seen & photographed a most interesting sword at the Culloden Visitors Center, outside Inverness, that featured an unusual kilij blade mounted to a Scottish beaknosed ribbon hilt. These weapons were referred to as Turcael by the Scots and have been depicted in period artwork such as the famous c.1714 painting by Richard Waitt 'Alaistair Grant The Champion’, as well as sketched by the Penicuik artist during the Rising of 1745.

Still reeling from the beauty of that magnificent Silver inlayed Stirling hilt, that Eljay recently finished for me, I am once again thrilled and delighted with the addition of this excellent piece !
*As usual, I’ve added an album to my PictureTrail site at the following link:
Kilij blade Ribbon hilt by E.B. Erickson

So without further ado ..... here’s my little tank buster ;-)

Many thanks, again, to Eljay for making my baskethilt dreams come to life ... thanks E.B. !



Stats
Weight - 3 lbs. 9 1/2 oz.(1635g), Overall length - 32 3/8", Blade length - 26 3/4", Blade width - 1 1/2", Blade thickness - hair under 1/4"
(1/8" at yelman), POB - 2 7/8" out from hilt, Yelman - 9 3/8" long, 1 3/4" wide.



Hilt Stats
Basket weight - 1 lb. 8 oz.(685g), Pommel weight - 7 1/2 oz.(210g), Grip weight - 1 1/4 oz.(40g), Capstan weight - 1/4 oz.(10g), Blade weight - 1 lb. 8oz.(685g) .... Hilt complete - 2 lbs. 1 1/4 oz.(945-950g).... Pommel diameter - 1 3/4", Grip length - 3 3/4", Basket length - 4 1/4", Basket width - 3 1/4", Basket height - 5", Tang length - 5 1/2", Width - 7/8" (threaded tang & nut assembly).

Original Inspiration & Comparison


*Eljay opted to leave off the additional rear guards as he felt they may impede my wrist movement !

*Eljay is presently finishing up the scabbard for it, but was not able to get done before he had to fly back to Thailand where he teaches!

In hand



Front view ... showing its "beak"



Rear view



Next to my silver inlaid piece .....



Another shot showing the hilt in Mac’s mitt !



Continued next post :-) Mac

A few more shots .....

35" Louisville Slugger



Yelman



Blade seat



With Mr. Fancy Pants .....



Componet breakdown

Tang



Pommel & capstan



* The pommel is grooved on its backside to accept the baskets guards, giving the hilt more stability.



The Original in Scotland

I'm desperatly trying to come up with words to say, but I just can't find them....................... :surprised: :surprised: :surprised:

Incredible.

Congratulations on another beautiful acquisition, Mac.
I gather that Eljay made the blade, as well as the hilt? Also, am I correct in observing that the original/inspiration appears to have some ?gold? decoration (inlay/filigree/leafing/whatever) on the hilt?

Yet another beautiful piece from Mr. Erickson.

Mac, even though he made the basket a little larger, it still looks like a very close fit for your hand.

I wonder if Eljay has ever considered making Schiavona hilts? I'd love to see one of those! :D

That's a very unique piece Mac. It definitely adds a new element to your collection.

Neat!

Congratulations Mac........

Eljay baskets are truly something special, and that is one truly unique, interesting piece......

Gorgeous work!
Always nice to see another peice get added to Mac collection!

That is stunningly beautiful. Fascinating too, I never realised that the Scots also used kilij blades as well as broadswords. Just out of curiosity, is the original sword your reproduction is based on, an actual Turkish kilij or Scottish copy of a kilij?

Thanks again for sharing your pictures and for filling this gap in my knowlege. :)

I also thoroughly agree with your decision not to use a tulwar blade, the shape is quite different to a kilij.

That's fantastic Mac! Eljay is a real artist. Congratulations.

Utterly awesome Mac!!! A very interesting piece indeed. Eljay continue's his craft with more
and more interesting pieces all the time.

Big congrats to you (again) lad!


Bill

That is just wild, wild. B-)

What an awesome and astounding weapon. Very cool indeed. Love the blend of cultures. Thanks for sharing.

Very nice, Mac. A great addition to your already impressive baskethilt "museum."

I always did think you needed another curved bladed baskethilt.

With the "heavy duty" treatment of the basket, along with extra mass built in based on sheeer size to fit your hand, the hilt has some awesome potential for clubbing when things get a little "cozy."

Congratulation.

Jeez, Mac...I didn't have time to post my congratulations on the silver inlaid hilt before you posted this one! These two pieces are so diametrically different from each other, and yet both are beautiful in their own right, and ElJay did both swords justice!

It is interesting to note that the original makers of these swords specialized in particular hilt types. It speaks to the talent of men like ElJay who can recreate such a variety of swords from different periods, and get the look and feel so close to the originals! Simply too much for my unskilled brain to fathom.

Can't wait to see what Eljay does with the scabbard -- please do post some shots when you get it. I was extremely pleased with the attention he put into the one for my hanger.

Congratulations on two fine pieces. May they serve you well!

-- Chris

Another impressive sword, Mac. Congrats. Are those beak nosed ribbon hilts attributed to a specific maker(s) or particular area of Scotland?