Posts: 1,377
Fri 02 Feb, 2007 12:15 pm
I have attached images of all the information I have. The design seems to be most closely associated with the British cutler Prosser. There is a 1994 article in "Classic Arms and Militaria" by Richard Dellar on the topic of the Celtic Hilt, but I do not have access to that artcle. The text I have attached is from
Swords of the British Army (Revised edition) by Brian Robson (I will list the as pages 1-3 for ease of reading here, the actual pages numbers are p.84-86). The term "Celtic Hilt" was coined by Richard Dellar and is not a period term for the hilt. I am afraid that the photos will appear out of reading order, so please pay attention to the captions below the attachments.
Richard has a running list of known examples of this "pattern", and the Macpherson sword will make the total 18 (so thanks, Mac!). Richard agreed that the scabbard seems out of place for the sword, but that it might have been an infantry adaptation and carried by a Scottish infantry officer, as they sometimes preferred unorthodox swords.
Jonathan
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![Robson1.JPG](files/robson1_154.jpg)
Robson, page 1
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![Bezdek1.JPG](files/bezdek1_426.jpg)
Celtic hilt close-up (by Prosser), from Bezdek's "Swords and Swordmakers of England and Scotland"
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Robson, page 2 [ Download ]
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Robson, page 3 [ Download ]
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Celtic hilt overall shot (by Prosser), from Bezdek's "Swords and Swordmakers of England and Scotland" [ Download ]