[Thomas McDonald]

I was reading some old auction bits at Sotheby's and came across this writeup, concerning the results of a May 2000 sale !
I've highlighted ( in green ) one interesting little tidbit concerning a pistol ,once owned by a Jacobite named Gorden Stewart, that never did make it to the Battle of Culloden ,all those years ago !

Mac

SCOTTISH ARMS AND ARMOUR PROVES POPULAR AT SOTHEBYS’ SOUTH

SOTHEBY’S Arms and Armour and Militaria Department at Sotheby’s South, Billingshurst, West Sussex, had their most successful sale for almost three years when 349 items fetched £302,519 on Wednesday, May 10, 2000. The sale, which included firearms, swords, airweapons, armour, cannon, uniforms and cap badges, was expected to fetch in the region of £250,000. The sale was extremely well attended with interest from both the United Kingdom and overseas, with keen bidding in the full saleroom and via the telephone.
Thomas Del Mar, specialist in charge of the Arms and Armour Department, said: “The diversity of the sale attracted a large audience which resulted in competitive bidding and a great overall success. A number of items were particularly successful, most notably the Scottish swords and pistols. The three afternoon collections offered a number of rare pieces in good condition that produced high prices. The sale showed the continued strength in the market, especially with fine and rare items.”

The highest price of the day was paid for a pair of 18-bore French flintlock rifled officer’s pistols by Arlzot of Paris. The fine pistols dated from the early 19th century and realised £10,350 against a pre-sale estimate of £6,000-8,000. They were purchased by a dealer from the United Kingdom [Lot 724].

Although the highest price was paid for a French pistol, four of the top ten lots were Scottish in origin. A rare Scottish backsword with a fine basket hilt signed T Gemmill fetched £9,200 against a pre-sale estimate of £6,500-8,000. Gemmill was the King’s Armourer in Glasgow between 1718-1737 and was renowned for producing basket-hilted swords of the highest quality. The sword was sold to a collector from the United States of America who was bidding over the telephone [Lot 642].

A 28-bore Scottish Flintlock belt pistol made entirely from steel fetched £8,970. The pistol, which was estimated at £4,000-6,000, dated to the second quarter of the 18th century and was probably made by Thomas Caddell. Engraved ‘Drumin’ on a silver strip behind the breech, and ‘Gordon Stewart, Nat: 1713 Ob: 1745’ on the left-hand side of the butt, the pistol is believed to have belonged to Gordon Stewart of Drumin. Gordon Stewart was an active Jacobite who lived in Drumin, a small village near the Glenlivet Distillery that was destroyed after the Battle of Culloden. Stewart never actually reached the battle, but was later taken prisoner and carried to London where he was executed in 1746. A letter dated 1843, written by a descendant of Stewart, describes the reason for his absence; “He had ordered his horse and put on long boots for riding, and everything being ready, he sat down to breakfast. His wife in making tea, contrived as if by accident to pour boiling water out of the tea-kettle into one of his boots, which burnt and blistered his leg so much that he could not ride or walk for sometime, and before he could leave home, the Battle of Culloden had been fought [Lot 729].

The sale also saw an interesting collection of antique airguns fetch £27,657. The collection of 27 examples which had been amassed by Jeff Lawes, a well-known UK collector, was expected to fetch around £19,000. The highlight of this collection was a rare 38-bore barrel reservoir airgun by Edward Bate, circa 1760 that fetched £4,945 against a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-4,000 [Lot 909].

NEXT SALE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2000
http://www.shareholder.com/bid/news/20000512-16170.cfm

[Stephen A. Fisher]

Thanks Mac. That is quite interesting. I guess that is one way for a wife to keep her husband from battle.

[Gabriel Stevens]

You know I was just researching the Jacobites today, steming from another thread on these forums about scottish basket hilts. I get interested in points in history and I've decided that this is my new one, thanks I would say, to Mr. McDonald and all the others who have bombarded me with basket hilts and such. So hopefully without highjacking your thread I would ask for recommended reading concerning this time period. I checked my library today and unfortunately it seems that they're a little sparse on this paricular subject.

[Thomas McDonald]

Hi Gabirel

Here are a few good online links to get you started .....

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/culloden/

http://www.highlanderweb.co.uk/bloody/culloden/home.htm

http://www.queenofscots.co.uk/culloden/cull.html

I'll have to double check my library for titles & authors , as my memory ain't what it used to be *g* , Mac

This is a little snippet from the book "Scottish Swords from the Battlefield at Culloden", by Lord Archibald Campbell, (Edited & Annotated by E. Andrew Mowbray -1971)

The Battle of Culloden, or Drummossie Moor, was fought upon a heath four miles east of Inverness,Scotland on April 16, 1746. It signalled the effective end of the Stuart claims to the English throne and the crushing of a great nationalistic and religious rebellion. It was also the last battle to be fought on British soil and the last time that an army of Western Europeans employed the sword as a major tactical weapon. It is considered a turning-point in history in spite of the relatively small forces involved.

The Scot was a military anachronism. His tactics continued to center upon swordplay
centuries after its role on the battlefield had been considered secondary or even obsolete by the rest of Europe. Frequently a family heirloom--often in its second or third hilting--the Highlander's sword was far more than just a weapon. The great symbolic value of these arms was not lost upon the Duke of Cumberland. A bounty was paid from the Royal Purse of one shilling for every broadsword picked up from the battlefield.

The Chevalier Johnstone provides what has to be the best description of the 18th century Scot and his behavior upon the field of battle: "They advance with rapidity, discharge their pieces when within musket length of the enemy,and than,throwing them down,draw their swords,and holding a dirk in their left hand with their target(shield)they dart with fury on the enemy through the smoke of their fire. When within reach of the enemy's bayonets, bending their left knee, they, by their attitude cover their bodies with their targets which receive the thrusts of the bayonets,which they contrive to parry,while at the same time they raise their sword arm and strike their adversary.
Having once got...within...the ranks of the enemy...the fate of the battle is decided in an instant, the carnage follows; the Highlanders bringing down two men at a time, one with their dirk in their left hand,and another with the sword."
Once fired, the Scot believed his musket--even when slung--was a hindrance best
flung on the ground for, if victorious, there would be plenty of others to choose from lying about.
Being beaten meant being dead or at best badly wounded--in either case small use for a musket.
Johnstone goes on: "The attack is so terrible, that the best troops in Europe would with difficulty sustain the first shock of it; and if the swords of the Highlanders come in contact with them their defeat is inevitable."

The Highland soldier was in every sense a warrior and, like the Vikings before him,
was noted more for his individual valor than his ability to work in close, disciplined cooperation with his peers. This failing was to cost him the Battle of Culloden.

[Gabriel Stevens]

Yes indeed I think I've found my new subject. Hits kind of close to home because we're highland scot on my mother's side. I can't wait for the books I've requested already to get in. Thanks so much for your help Mac.