Years ago I saw a guy who was selling what he claimed was a John Simpson, antique basket-hilted sword. It was definitely an antique, and it was beautiful example of a basket hilt and extremely well balanced. I don't know if it was a actually a John Simpson. He was asking 5k.

He claimed that this basket hilt had what is know as a "reins ring" or "rein loop". Basically, it was an oval-shaped opening on the left side of the basket. The seller claimed that it was used to holding horse reins while one is also holding their sword. I have never heard of this.

I came across a website selling another John Simpson basket hilt that also mentions the rein ring.

If you scroll down, you will see " EXTREMELY RARE SIGNED SCOTTISH BASKETHILT BACKSWORD BY JOHN SIMPSON THE ELDER OF GLASGOW WITH HERALDIC JACOBITE ENGRAVED “FARARA” BLADE"

Here is the link: http://finearmsltd.com/european_weapons.htm

It says: This sword was made to be used on horseback as it incorporates an inboard oval ‘reins ring’.

Was this common on basket-hilts? If so, was it strictly seen on 18th century examples or was it used in other centuries?

Thanks,

Carl

Yes it seems to have been common, particularly on english cavalry baskethilts.

For more detail we need our resident basket case........................

Mac?

We had a discussion in this thread http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...t=horseman
about when the first reign ovals appeared !
As far as the information we've come across, it looks to be late 17th century, early 18th century, onwards !

Mac
* Apologies .... A few of the picture links are now broken !

From Charles Whitelaw's book 'Scottish Arms Makers' .

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Volume 7 No. 3 issue of The Canadian Journal of Arms Collectiing has a good article entitled:
The British Basket Hilted Cavalry Sword, by Anthony D. Darling.

If anyone wishes to read this one I can e-mail scans of the 19 pages (Ye best have Broadband :-) Mac

That's awesome! Thanks guys, you have all been incredibly informative.

Lst question: where, if possible can I purchase a Vince evans or E.B Erickson baskethilt? Their work is absolutley amazing. How much should I expect to pay?

-Carl

Vince's website: http://www.arscives.com/vevans/

Best to contact him directly for information on cost and availability.

Eljay can be contacted via this sites Private Messaging system :
Just type in E.B. Erickson

http://eljay.myArmoury.com/

Good luck, Mac

Thank you, guys!

Just FYI ....

This piece had been listed on Ebay a few times but no one came close to the minimum bid !

Mac

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Um.... How would one use a rein's ring? that sounds to me like trying to shift gears with the same hand holding the cell phone.

Wouldn't you give the horse all sorts of confusing information if you attached your steering device to your 'wack the enemy' device? :wtf:

Or/also...with sword in hand, the rein oval enables both hands to be holding the reins for control of the horse, and you let go of the reins in the sword hand as you contact the opposition.

--ElJay

Great info, guys.

Would anyone here happen to know if $5,000 US is an approprate amount to pay for a, late 17th or early 18th century John Simpson Basket hilt in good condition? It still had some ray skin on the handle that looked quite old. The only reference I have is that the antique 18th century basket hilts I have seen online were going for the 4-5k range.

I am going to see that guy this weekend and I want to look at the sword again if he still has it. If it has the "I S" over "G" mark on the basket, then that should indicate that it was made by John Simpson. The "I" is the letter used in Latin for "J", so "I S" must mean "John Simpson", and the "G" presumably stands for "Glasgow". John Simpson's son was also a famous basket hilt maker, is mark was "I S Y" over "G" The "Y" presumably stans for "Younger".

I really don't have the money for this at all, and I am even in debt, but something about this sword has grabbed me lately. I lie awake at night thinking about it. I remember it being light, agile and incredibly well balanced.

Thomas,

I just realized that the pic you posted is the same basket hilt that I referred to in the link above. I am slow. Was the seller on Ebay asking $27,000? That was probably his reserve price. No wonder that no one made the bid! I wonder if is was appraised at that price.

-Carl

Correct. The big one going into the grip.