I found a Scottish hoard and so decided to throw it all down and take some quick photos. Sorry for the quality and the mishmash of stuff, but you get the idea.

Top to bottom in first photo:

E.B. Erickson basket-hilted broadsword
Vince Evans single-edged dirk with wide fuller and spatulated tip
Vince Evans basket-hilted saber
Vince Evans basket-hilted backsword
Vince Evans single-edged dirk with acutely tapered blade
E.B.Erickson silver-inlaid basket-hilted backsword

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Let me be the first to say, "WOW!" What a fabulous collection, Nathan. I need to add this link to the tread on "Coveting Thy Neighbors Toys".

That VE saber is fantastic! I have not seen that one before. Actually, I'm not sure the VE backsword is one I've seen, either. What a spectacular piece! I also did not realize the two dirks you had photographed earlier were ones you owned -- very nice. Are all these new pieces for your collection?

The ElJay swords, though ones that have been shown here before, never get old for me.

And, by the way, I wish I could just "throw it all down and take some quick photos" and have them come out like these pictures. You know I am a sucker for those group shots. Well done!

Chris

A great collection and excellent photos Nathan. You are indeed a fortunate man to have acquired such a fine grouping of Scottish blades.

By bonnet is off to you....

truly a grand picture. i would suggest to you to go visit Blair Castle in Scotland. they have quite the hoard too.

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Ah yes, Blair Atholl. I see the portrait of the late Duke of Atholl on the far wall. I met him once, years ago, at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and saw him later at one of the amusement rides at Tweetsie Railroad, of all places!

I have not been to the castle but a friend of mine has and he gave me a few photos of the same area in the building. The Duke has the only private army in Scotland so it is appropriate that a display of weapons grace the house.

Thanks for sharing an interesting photo.

Wonderful collection Nathan!

A very impressive collection!!!

I recognize those Evans swords -- congrads on a rare find!

(BTW Nathan, if we pooled our collections, we might bypass the Blair Atholl collection. Anybody got a castle for rent?)

Thanks for the encouragement. Let me add some more shots.

Vince Evans Stirling Basket-Hilt

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Vince Evans Basket-Hilted Saber

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The Two Together

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Wow, awesome. Any stats yet (weight, CoG, etc.)?

Wow...

whoa.... :cool: is that the Fletcher hoard?

Beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jealousy light on :idea: :surprised: :idea: :eek: :idea: :evil: :idea: :lol:

Hi David-

I'll be taking measurements and taking stats shortly. I'm doing some photography today and that will be next on the list.

I was hoping that some of you knowledgeable people in the community could help me with some information on the Vince Evans pieces shown above.

I know what antique sword the basket-hilted saber has as its inspiration. It's in Swords and the Sorrows, page 27: a sword located in the Boughton House.

Please help me identify the antique that served as inspiration for the browned Vince Evans backsword and the two dirks.

I suspect the darker-gripped dirk is not based on a specific piece but rather a common style Vince has seen. I could be wrong here, but he seems to have made many variations on this particular theme, each with distinctive elements or decorative features. The lighter-gripped version, however, seems very unique and so I'm inclined to think that it might be based on a specific original.

To start general, am I wrong to suggest that the browned backsword is a Stirling hilt?

Any insight would be appreciated!

I'd consider the backsword hilt to be a Stirling-style, due to the thinner bars. Even though it is of a fairly "standard" form, the hilt bars are not as wide and grooved as in a Glasgow-style hilt.

As to which originals the swords/dirks are based on, I have no clue. Like you mention, some of Vince's work is not based directly on a given specific piece, but instead incorporates design elements common in period pieces, creating works that are historically accurate in general terms but for which there is not an exact original match. And then sometimes the pieces he makes are based directly on an original.

As to the light-wood dirk, it could be either case. The blade looks like a cut-down sword blade; this could be done to copy an original piece, or, it was made with an actual cut-down sword blade Vince had available and was not actually based directly on an original. In any case, I don't know.....

Nathan Robinson wrote:

I was hoping that some of you knowledgeable people in the community could help me with some information on the Vince Evans pieces shown above. I know what antique sword the basket-hilted saber has as its inspiration. It's in Swords and the Sorrows, page 27: a sword located in the Boughton House. Please help me identify the antique that served as inspiration for the browned Vince Evans backsword and the two dirks. I suspect the darker-gripped dirk is not based on a specific piece but rather a common style Vince has seen. I could be wrong here, but he seems to have made many variations on this particular theme, each with distinctive elements or decorative features. The lighter-gripped version, however, seems very unique and so I'm inclined to think that it might be based on a specific original. To start general, am I wrong to suggest that the browned backsword is a Stirling hilt? Any insight would be appreciated!

Thank you for your response, David...

David Wilson wrote:

As to the light-wood dirk, it could be either case. The blade looks like a cut-down sword blade; this could be done to copy an original piece, or, it was made with an actual cut-down sword blade Vince had available and was not actually based directly on an original. In any case, I don't know.....

I hadn't considered this, but you're right... that blade does look like a cut-down sword blade. It even has a "running wolf" mark on it as a sword blade might have.

As you know, I've always been intrigued by your own dirk that was created from a cut-down recycled sword blade. Perhaps I have a dirk with a similar story?

Regardless, I'm quite fond of the design. That's for sure.

Beautiful pieces, all of them! What a display they would make - I especially like the Claidheamh Crom. :cool:

The swords... :eek:

But tell us about that soft kit! It looks amazing, too!

from the same hoard.......... Vince Evans did an antique treatment to both the hilt and the blade. Its very different in subtle ways. He really is a master of his art!

Excuse me while I empty my drool bucket...These weapons make my scottish heart sing!

More photo's and stats please!

Terry