Sorry....I just couldn't think of 'sterling' at the moment. But, having held one, that particular basket is quite small. But then, I have fairly large hands. If the liner were removed, I'm sure it would seem bigger. :) ......McM

OK...

The Hanwei backsword has a basket that has been identified as probably an English hilt. I don't have an opinion on that issue except to say that I have never seen a Scottish basket hilt displaying anything similar to the "wee beestie" which is on that particular Hanwei sword. That certainly includes Stirling Hilts. I have one of the backswords, so I do know what you are referring to but could not ID it from your comment. That particular hilt is definitely not a Stirling hilt sword, most of which were made by the Allans and their journeymen and are well-documented and not hard to identify. The other Hanwei offering is more of a Glasgow style hilt and the basket is larger.

I agree that the basket on that particular sword is smaller than most repro baskets sold today. However, I am fortunate enough to own two Donnie Shearer made basket hilts, one of them a beak nosed ribbon hilt, the other an "S" hilt, and an Armour Class "S" hilt. In the case of all of those swords, the size is far closer to that of the originals, as is the overall configuration, than the Hanwei backsword, the basket of which is much bigger than an original.

Sorry about any confusion, Lin. Old age...fewer functioning neurons...What else can I say? :lol: :lol: .....McM

No apology needed. I understand the reduction in functioning neurons. Mine are dropping like flies.

You might wanna re-think selling off that side-sword. Those are pretty hard to come by these days! I already own one, or I would help you out. ;) :D ........McM

I mean, if you have such a high-status item as a heavily decorated targe, you might as well have a sword to go with it, right?

Then I should definitely get one!

Here we go!

[ Linked Image ]
Eight-ounce facing stained with Fiebing's cheap water-based variety and finished with acrylic... water-hardened, which resulted in the facing shrinking and bowing the whole shield a bit, handmade bosses set with escutcheon pins, and glued two-ply poplar core.

[ Linked Image ]
Lambskin back over quilted wool pillow, grips set with brass staples. Tacks and buckle from Crazy Crow Trading Post.

If I had the opportunity to do it over, I'd try to find a more period-appropriate finish, skip the water-hardening, glue the facing with hide glue, make the bosses smaller with more room for pin tabs (the middle one is as large as I could make it with the small pieces of brass on hand), sharpen the tips of the staples and hook them into the front of the core like clinched nails, and find a lightweight veg-tan for the back.

Superb effort on that! Bravo! I love the padding on the back, and your leather-work is exquisite. That's a keeper!.....McM

Thank you.

Currently working on a shield project myself. Made the face from 3/4" ply, and have the leather glued and fitted. The center boss is a deep-dish GDFB 14ga. Center-grip handle, with a forearm strap and leather-covered arm padding, with a Manilla rope wrap around the circumference. Ought to be a beast. :D .....McM

Interesting. Is this going to be like a Migration period shield?

3/4-inch ply will be very sturdy indeed...

I don't really give it any 'period', Migration or other. I'm just taking it as it comes off the top of my head. I call it my 'Mini-Viking/Mega-Buckler' shield. Will probably do some Nordic-style artwork on the face, along with steel tacks. I'm building it to be an all-out combat-ready piece for maximum performance, even though it will probably never see shield-to-steel contact. :lol: .....McM