Thanks for sharing, David. I like the look of your sword! Is that a horn grip?! And how's the fit around the hand?
How's the balance etc. on that turcael?
Sorry for coming with all these questions, but I just can't hold 'em back :D

Cheers,
Henrik

Thanks, Kirk and David (and all others) for responding to my question on the so-called Turkish-style basket hilts. I had not previously seen the ribbon-hilted examples Mac supplied and the fact that they are ribbon-hilted in construction indicates- to me at least - that these curved sabers were around for quite a while...say 1680 to at least 1815 or so. There are several illustrated by the Peniculk sketch artist and I feel in my bones that there may have been a fair number of these sabers in use.

What I'm thinking at this point is to use a cold steel hilt (no particular reason other than I haven't had one to play with before) and the Cold Steel Shamsir blade. I choose this curved blade because it seems to be lighted and more "correct" in profile that a Blucher-type blade. Original 1796/Blucher's are heavy in the first place and the Indian repros keep up the historical precedent. I will have to weld a threaded tang extension on the Shamsir but that won't be too big of an issue.

MY further plans are to make hilt modifications as follows:

1. Add Glasgow hilt type fluting to the hilt using the venerable multi-disk, Dremel cutting tool method.

2. Cut loose the forward guards from the forward quillon, shorten and draw them loser to the hilt body, and then weld them to the center bottom of the main knuckle guard. Then I can re-shape them as did you, Kirk.

3. Cut the center three saltrie bar connectors loose from the pommel circle as seems to have been more common that having them join the retaining circle just below the pommel car and nut.

My biggest issue so, far is that CS has changed the style of its scottish basket-hilts pommel caps from a "rounded" type to a conical type. If I can't find a replecment, I will have to have one made. :cry:

If anyone has some ideas or advice , I sure would like to hear from you, especially you, Kirk!!

GG Osborne

Sounds like a very good solution, George!
Personally I would try to do something with the saltire bars as well. I think they are a pit over decorated with piercings. If I were embarking on a project like that and had the skills I would prefere to replace them entirely!
What about the ramshorns? They look a bit to 19th century like to me. Perhaps cutting away part of the two cirkles would help?

Cheers,
Henrik

Kirk actually PM'd me with some interesting thoughts on this issue Hentick and offered a nice solution. I agree with your assessment, the basket seems to have this very odd mixture of both early and late features, decorations, etc. I rather like the piercings but miss the fluting...showing it apparently less costly to stamp a piece of metal than to do it justice! I imagine that Kirk must have felt the same way when he added the nice engraving.

I hate to mess up this valuable thread wiith my speculations and projects, In retrospect, I should have opened another topic which I will do in time. In the meantime, if anyone has some thoughts I would appreciate a PM. Many thanks. George

Hey all...

I have been in Israel working at the Qumran plateau excavations. Just got back into town and have a month or so of posts to enjoy and respond.

I want to thank my fellow "home improvers" and the Scottish contingent for their encouragement on this hybrid project... it means alot to me.

George I have stacked the cutting disc on the dremel and it works well for removing material fast. It would probably work for fluting but you would need some kind of a guide to keep the line straight. I have also used diamond burrs... you can get them really cheap at Harbor Freight and they come in all different sizes and shapes.

As for the forward guards, I thought about shortening them in this project. I certainly think it would make the basket more period and more proportional... my problem is that I can not weld. For someone who could weld it would probably not be too difficult to cut them off, shorten them and reweld them... there is plenty of material to work with. I agree they should be bent at the bottom and welded to the center bottom of the main knuckle guard.

Good luck on the project and be sure to let us see it when you are done... :)

ks

HI EVERYONE!
I HAVE A QUESTION, HOPE SOMEBODY COULD HELP ME WITH SOME INFORMATION. I'D BE VERY THANKED.
IT'S ABOUT THE SHIELD Alastair Mor Grant HAS IN THAT PAINT. DOES SOMEBODY KNOWS IF IT'S DESIGN HAS SOME SYMBOLIC MEANING?... . MAY BE IT'S SOME CELTIC FIGURE? WHERE DOES IT BECOME FROM? ANY INFORMATION IS USEFUL TO ME.
I had a very important dream one year ago where that figure appeared. And now I found it in that paint!!!. That's why I'm so interested about it.
I excuse myself for not bring a contribuition to your discussion. (sorry , my english is not the best, not my lenguage) :eek:

well, that's all. thanks
have a great day
Paulina

I won't speculate on the design inspiration for this targe, as it would be nothing more than guessing, but will add this little bit from Joe's site ! Welcome aboard, Paulina ! Mac

THE GRANT TARGE
This targe is based on 4 identical originals which came from the family armoury of the CHIEFS OF GRANT.
They are probably from the 17th century, and came from Castle Grant.

They are now in the National Museum in Edinburgh

*Information: Targemaker, Joe Lindsay, North Kessock, Scotland.
- http://targemaker.co.uk

That was great fun to read! Well done. I think the finished sword looks awesome, again, well done.

Kirk,

Any news on the scabbard?

George,

Any news on the claydhemh crom of yours?

Cheers,
Henrik

I have to say thanks for sharing this, and for inspiring me to tackle a project...
although the one I had in mind seems to have gotten away (I was going to cut down an old bayonet into a sgian dhu, but all the ones left available have been sharped into near oblivion)...
but have often thought that I could rehilt a blade (or build a blade from a good blank) and generate a nice, comfortable - for me - short sword.
Not only do I like the looks of a shorter sword, but I like the notion that it's light and fast.
Thanks so much for sharing your talent!

Thank you very much Thomas! It will help :D
Have a nice day
Pau

(sorry for those capital letters)

Kirk...

I have been meaning to post a compliment. You did a great job on your hybrid sword and should be very proud of your effort.

That kinda reminds me of a rat tail tang.
Is it firm?