[Michael MacLeod]

Hello, I am looking to add another bit of sharp steel to my collection. after much thought I have finally decided to go for a claymore. While searching Kult of Athena I noticed that the Braveheart claymore made by windlass steelcrafts and the Hanwei claymore are both the same price (incredibly cheap at that). So my question to you,dear sword lovers is which is the better sword. I am looking for both handling and looks. Thanks for your time.

[Nathan M Wuorio]

Well, the longer Windlass swords tend to be whippy. Nothing wrong with the heat treatment, but just rather flexible. I haven't heard anything about this particular Windlass sword being whippy, so I can't say if it is or isn't. They're both pretty large swords, and the weight looks to be about the same, but I don't know about the balance. In terms of looks, I personally prefer the Hanwei claymore, I think it looks more traditional and more pleasing to the eye. Since I haven't handled either of them, I can only give my views and knowledge of each brand, I'm pretty sure someone here has the Hanwei claymore, but I don't know about the Windlass. With any luck, someone else will give more detailed information about each sword.

Happy choosing!
Nathan.

[Jim S.]

Good day Michael,

I am not sure if this is the same Hanwei Claymore that you are looking at. It is a review at SBG done around 1 1/2 years ago. The reviewer seemed to like his. http://sbgswordforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?...ge=1#34218

Good luck in your quest

[Chad Arnow]

This bit from the SBG review gives me pause:

[Nathan Robinson]

To answer your question, I'd want to know what qualities are specifically important to you and how you approach them.

You mention "looks" but I'm not sure how to answer that. After all, attractiveness is subjective and not really going to get you anywhere. For example, I consider the CASI offering terrible looking because of the giant ball pommel. The Del Tin "braveheart" version (which the Windlass version is a bad copy of) is more attractive to me because it reminds me of the movie, despite it not looking anything like a "highland claymore".

If you're interested in historical accuracy, I must say that neither of those choices really look like anything left from antiquity. The CASI one would be improved greatly with a pommel change (small wheel, as found on most examples, or tiny globular pommel as found on much fewer samples). The Del Tin/Windlass version doesn't resemble anything that would be specifically called a "claymore" or anything Scottish for that matter.

In my experience with both the DT and CASI offerings, the handling on both is not particularly great--though I must say that both CASI and Del Tin have changed their models through the years so mileage may vary. The Windlass "Braveheart" sword that I handled was quite bad, too.

Unfortunately, Scottish two-handed claymores that resemble things from history are available only at a higher price point: Arms & Armor, Albion, Armour Class, etc. The less expensive offerings are very, very different from historical samples.


Having said all of that, if those were the only two choices that were presented to me then I'd buy the Windlass offering. I really hate the looks of the CASI sword with the giant ball pommel... it bugs me a lot.

[Ryan Renfro]

Just thought I'd resurrect an old thread to respectfully point out that the Hanwei pommel is likely based on this 16th-century piece located in the National Museum of Scotland.

[David Wilson]

Right, most true Highland Claidheamh Da Laimh feature wheel pommels; However, globular pommels are not unknown (as the above pictures show). IIRC, from my reading, the globe pommels start showing up later, like early-mid 17th century (again, IIRC, and I may not....). BTAIM I personally prefer the wheel pommels (they are more common, historically).

Now, there are some "Claymores" with scent-stopper-ish pommels..... now, those are pretty much totally wrong. But as this is not a discussion of those swords, we won't go there any further....

The Braveheart "Claymore" (sic), be it by Windlass or Del Tin, is, IMHO, not a Claymore (if we really want to get technical, a "Claymore" is a basket-hilted broadsword. But what do I know.). But anyway, if I had my druthers I'd hold out for Del Tin's version -- why not get the version made by the guy who actually made the original swords for the movie?

edit -- oh, whoa, zombie thread. Didn't notice the dates.