How thick should basket hilt bars be? -- myArmoury.com

Dan D'Silva

I've got this Deepeeka "English half-basket hanger" (actually a short Walloon sword) and I've been pondering replacing the bars to make it a sort of Scottish half-basket hilt -- i.e. some bars to add a degree of hand protection and make it look Scottishish, but not change the weight or balance too much. If I can find a welder, I could make the bars myself and send it off for assembly.

Are there any measurements available for the historical range of the bars' thickness? I can get 1/8-inch bar stock from any local hardware store, but I feel pretty sure that'd be overkill, and maybe it would be better to look for 12ga or even 14ga.

Chris Dayton · Posted: Wed 02 Oct, 2024 8:37 pm Post subject: Basket bar thickness

I once owned this exact basket hilt and some of the thicker basket bars were about 1/8" thick. I don't have it anymore so can't measure but that's my recollection. Hope that helps.

https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/54967/antique-scottish-basket-hilt-broadsword

Dan D'Silva · Posted: Thu 03 Oct, 2024 1:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks, that does help. So we can consider 1/8-inch bars as being at least within the right range, if (maybe) at the upper end.

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

I don't know from absolute knowledge, but from my feels for materials as a maker, if you made the hilt 2mm thick, it would be enough.

Tod

Dan D'Silva · Posted: Mon 07 Oct, 2024 6:51 pm Post subject:

That also sounds good. I'm searching right now, depending on the cost of shipping (since it looks like most bar stock measured in millimeters is retailed outside the U.S.), I may wind up with 3/32-inch, or 12ga sheet if I'm feeling confident in my ability to cut and grind the edges good and straight.