Thanks to John for showing off the new basket hilt in my collection. The project was to recreate the basket hilt of Lord George Murray, the great Lieutentant-General of the Jacobite army in 1745-46. The basket is the surperb work of EJ Ericson and has been shown-off before but prior to sending it off to John for a blade. Although extensive reserach indicates there are no weapons traceable to Lord George, there is a portrait of him c. 1745 in the collection of the Duke of Atholl. The hilt and blade are interpretations of the hilt and blade in that portrait. The width of the blade is based on its relative width in the portrait when compared against the basket. Also, look of the opening in the scabbard! It's huge!
Of course wide blades are certainly known historically and I think one of two are illustrated in "Swoirds and Sorrows" but none so wide as this.
As far as handling is concerned, the blade is excellently balanced against the weight of the basket and as John pointed out when we first started the project, EL Jay used a slightly heavier guage of steel on this hilt. In short, the blade couterbalances the hilt almost perfectly.
The blade has an excellent temper and is very flexible. Just holding the sword in hand makes you desperatly want to cut something or someone. When you reflect on the eyewitness accounts of Prestopans and other engagements early in the Rising, commentators are constantly remarkling on the competely severed limbs, mangled bodies and decapitations. Fellow, I telling you this sword could easily do all of the above mayhem and more. It just cries out to be used in a particularily nasty way.
My deep thanks and sincere appreciation to EL Jay and John for making this projecvt come together so nicely and in such a unique way. I am very glad to have their collaboration in my collection!
PS Glenn McClain is working on a copy of Lord George's dirk as illuistrated below and hopefully that will be completed sometimes next spring.
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