Howdy folks,

Not that long ago, a new basket hilt from maestro EB Erickson
made it into my grubby mitts. The sword is patterned after an
original by Walter Allan of Stirling, though with a few changes.
Below are some teaser pics while I work on getting some
better photos taken. You can see the new addition to the
family on the far left, taken with it's syblings yesterday.

Alex

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Here's a shot of the updated sideplates. I'll be posting a further review soon,
along with some better photos. I will say that I'm very happy with this sword,
and that Eljay's work continues to get better and better.

Alex

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ahh the ol football basket! I remember you talking about that. Looks great- How heavy is it? One of the ones I'd really like to get done eventually is one of the James Grant's that seems to have about the same amount of steel construsting the basket as this one.

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I must say, the one in the middle is really nice. Very elegant-looking without being "busy." Is that an historical replica or a modern smith's design?

Brian M

Hi Brian,

Brian M wrote:

I must say, the one in the middle is really nice. Very elegant-looking without being "busy." Is that an historical replica or a modern smith's design?

That would be an SW-11 basket, circa 1600 AD. And indeed, it is very elegant!
The blade I have on it is more 1650s and beyond, but it still looks nice.

Hi Allen!

Don't know how heavy this basket is, as I've nothing to measure it with, but
I'm working on getting a scale. It's not heavy to me though, lighter than I
expected even. The cutouts aren't that thick-- Eljay really managed to keep
the weight down.

Alex

PS. Here's the Lady McCracken with the football basket, on the attack!

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Hi Capt. Alex

Congratulations on your latest beauty ...... Eljay did a wonderful job !
I look forward to all the details ( but you knew that ;-)

Alba Gu Brath , Mac

P.S. Lorna looks like she certainly can handle herself *g*

P.P.S. Here's a pic Alex took of the original, at the Chicago Museum !

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That's a nice collection of baskethilts you're building Alex.

Congratulations!

Well since were waiting for Alex to get up the pic's of his new baby .....
might as well post a few of that gorgeous SW 11 that Eljay made !

The grip is absolutely outstanding on this one ! , Mac

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Must give equal time to Alex's 'japanned & guilded' basket-hilt , right !!

Mac

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I really like what Eljay did with the side plates / rams horns !
Incorporating the football design really ties it in with the front screen !
You gotta wonder if 'ol Walter might have had this thought ,too, but chose to go the other way ?!

Again, nice job Eljay , Mac

May as well join in...heres an original aforementioned SW11 hilt:

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Where does the SW II designation come from?

Not to highjack the good Captain's thread further, but ......

Here's a drawing from Claude Blair's great article "The Early Basket-hilt in Britian" , reprinted in Dr. David Caldwell's wonderful book "Scottish Weapons & Fortifications 1100-1800", which shows ( with the shaded areas ) how the SW 11 style basket may have developed from a simpler form !

The SW 11 , pictured earlier in Stephen's post, had it's quillons clipped , so this gives you an idea how it may have looked, sans the pommel !

Mac

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Thanks Mac.

Thanks for all the pics Mac. I was going to snap some more
photos today, but it's snowing, so I guess that'll have to wait.

Patrick. Yup, I'm slowly starting to build my own small collection
of baskets. Number 4 comes soon! :)

Here's a so-so picture of most of my jacobite stuff. Targe, 2 dirks,
baskets, 1640s Dutch fowler, baldric, and steel pistol.

Alex

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