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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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 Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 8:19 am Post subject: 32 unique basket-hilts by Vince Evans ! |
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Inspired by my attempt to document known examples of basket-hilts by the great Stirling makers of the 18th century, the Allans,
I've recently put together an album that features 32 unique examples by one of our great modern day hammerman,
the one and only Vince Evans !
Although my compilation does not include all of the baskets Vince has made it certainly showcases a good majority of what he has done in this department over the last few years ! Considering the fact that he was quite busy doing a variety of other styled swords, knives, and whatnot, his output of these complex hilts is simply astounding (especially in light of the level of craftsmanship he sinks into each piece) !
5 in 1999, 6 in 2000, 7 in 2001, 4 in 2002, 6 in 2003, and 4 in 2004 ..... the man has been flying !
* And least we not forget his having to deal with the Rodeo Fire of 2002 (which almost took his home & business) and moving up to Washington this past year, to set up shop !
Several of the swords, that are included here, have never been posted online before (that I am aware of) so look for those in between viewing some of the favorites we've come to know & love !
To view this album please click on the following link : Basket-hilts by Vince Evans
Enjoy, Mac
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good claymore that's right !
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
Last edited by Thomas McDonald on Fri 24 Dec, 2004 5:46 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Glen A Cleeton
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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Quite a monumental task you have undertaken Mac. I'm going to have to spend some time perusing those files.
Vince seems quite prolific and I include here a snippet of a mail from him in 2002
"I've done over 1300 swords and knives and 84 folders"
I was suprised to hear he had moved shop. I'm a little slow on the uptake and just figured this out in the past couple of weeks (yes, I live under a rock).
Cataloging, in pictures, all his creations would probably prove a futile venture but you've made a great effort here to gallery one genre.
In the same battery of mails I exchanged with him, he was able to name the day a piece was finished, in 1995. If he has kept track of it all, there really is a comprehensive list in his hands.
It's all a little mind boggling.
Cheers and Merry Christmas
GC
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Glen
Thanks ....
Yes, Vince keeps excellent records .... every piece has it's own serial number, date, and crib notes !
He was kind enough to supply me with several photos (beyond the ones I nicked from his site ;-) but some of the missing basket-hilts either did not get photographed, or are somewhere in the lost world of floppy disk un-retrievability ?
For privacy reasons all the detailed information stays with Vince, and his customer(s).
It would be a daunting task to try and catalog, in pictures, every piece he's done ...... but just think of the visual ;-)
Truly an amazing body of work in a relatively short period of time !
Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Henrik Bjoern Boegh
Location: Agder, Norway Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 386
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice!
Vince's work is simply amazing!
Just how many of these swords do you own yourself, Mac?
Cheers,
Henrik
Constant and true.
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David Wilson
Location: In a van down by the river Joined: 23 Aug 2003
Posts: 802
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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Wonderful stuff! God bless ye, Mac!
(BTW I haven't heard back from Pat yet. I'll try calling him after the Holidays.)
David K. Wilson, Jr.
Laird of Glencoe
Now available on Amazon: Franklin Posner's "Suburban Vampire: A Tale of the Human Condition -- With Vampires" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072N7Y591
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Henrik Bjoern Boegh wrote: | | Very nice! Vince's work is simply amazing! Just how many of these swords do you own yourself, Mac? Cheers, Henrik |
Hi Henrik
I am a proud caretaker of 7 Vince Evans Scottish swords, 4 of which are baskethilts pictured in that album !
The last one of 2001 (Stirling backsword)
The last one of 2002 (Diamond backsword)
The 2nd (shown as the first here) of 2004 (Brass & Steel backsword)
And the last one of 2004 (S-hilt broadsword)
Now don't get me started about my VE dirks & knives now ;-) Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
Last edited by Thomas McDonald on Wed 22 Dec, 2004 6:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Dave Hahn
Location: Toronto, Canada Joined: 23 Aug 2003
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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say Mac, would you ever sell that 2 handed claymore by Vince someday?
you seem like a baskethilt person, you don't need that 2 hander sitting oddly with the others.
Try not to take yourself too seriously.
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| David Wilson wrote: | Wonderful stuff! God bless ye, Mac!
(BTW I haven't heard back from Pat yet. I'll try calling him after the Holidays.) |
Aye, good to see me basket-hilt brothers checking in !
For awhile there I'd wondered if I should have not recorded all his Medieval swords instead ;-)
You know them fanatical Type X to XVIII fellas ...... ;-)
No worries, David me boy ..... we shall pick it up after the Holidays !
Cheers & may God Bless ye all, everyone ! Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
Last edited by Thomas McDonald on Thu 23 Dec, 2004 5:22 am; edited 1 time in total
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Dave Hahn wrote: | say Mac, would you ever sell that 2 handed claymore by Vince someday?
you seem like a baskethilt person, you don't need that 2 hander sitting oddly with the others. |
Sorry, Dave ...... it's part of a set !
Scottish singlehand , Scottish hand & half, and Scottish two-hander !
The clan MacDonald must always have a well rounded choice of arms !
Remember, though, it's okay to dream ;-) Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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M. Taylor
Location: Chesterland, Ohio Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 128
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| Posted: Wed 22 Dec, 2004 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! I never get tired of looking at Vince's work. Thanks for your work in putting this collection together, Mac. I never appreciated baskethilts until I started reading your posts (and Nathan's) and taking the time to look at the pictures you (and he) posted. I've really come to appreciate what works of art they are. God bless and Merry Christmas.
"Only people not able to grow tall from their own efforts and achievements seek to subdue their fellow man."
"Only people not being able to find comfort in their own mind seek to silence others. " - Per Bylund
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Thu 23 Dec, 2004 5:52 am Post subject: |
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| M. Taylor wrote: | | Wow! I never get tired of looking at Vince's work. Thanks for your work in putting this collection together, Mac. I never appreciated baskethilts until I started reading your posts (and Nathan's) and taking the time to look at the pictures you (and he) posted. I've really come to appreciate what works of art they are. God bless and Merry Christmas. |
Hi M
Thank you !
Yes, Nathan & I are doing our best to infect the community with the complex hilt bug ;-)
Once bitten there is no cure, ;-)
Merry Christmas to you also, M
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis accende.
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Thu 23 Dec, 2004 10:04 am Post subject: |
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FYI
I've added a hyperlink (below the hilt shots) that will take you to an overall view of the piece, where ever I was able to find a picture of one!
Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
Last edited by Thomas McDonald on Thu 23 Dec, 2004 1:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
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William Goodwin
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| Posted: Thu 23 Dec, 2004 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| Thomas McDonald wrote: |
Yes, Nathan & I are doing our best to infect the community with the complex hilt bug ;-)
Once bitten there is no cure, ) |
Great V-E spread there Mac!
from one of those with a big ol' bug bite (i.e. Morts!)
A very Merry Christmas
to everyone as well !
Bill
Roanoke Sword Guilde
roanokeswordguilde@live.com
"I was born for this" - Joan of Arc
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Adam Lloyd
Location: Chicago, IL Joined: 29 Jan 2004
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Thu 23 Dec, 2004 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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Has Mr. Evans ever made a Mortuary sword? Do you think he'd be interesetd in making another?
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Dave Hahn
Location: Toronto, Canada Joined: 23 Aug 2003
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Fri 24 Dec, 2004 7:52 am Post subject: |
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Hey Mac,
I have been tempted a long while to throw all my production goodies onto the market and and commission a couple of high end pieces.
a vince evans claymore and a maybe a reproduction of a two hander I have always liked.
i can only imagine what your claymore is like Mac. my big question is that i don't think i could bring myself to actually use it!
Try not to take yourself too seriously.
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Fri 24 Dec, 2004 10:41 am Post subject: |
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| Adam Lloyd wrote: | | Has Mr. Evans ever made a Mortuary sword? Do you think he'd be interesetd in making another? |
I am unsure if he has ever done a Mortuary hilt, but I will ask him next time we chat !
(Vince is currently in the process of building his shop and has been extremely busy)
He currently is not accepting any commissions for work, perferring instead to make the things that interest, and challenge, him !
Best one can do is to express an interest to him and he will keep you in mind should he ever decide to build one !
Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Stephen S. Han
Location: Westminster, CA Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Posts: 211
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| Posted: Fri 24 Dec, 2004 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Vince Evans makes Baskethilts??? 
When did THAT happen and why didn't I get the memo? 
Mac,
I see you're trying to corner the market on Evans Baskethilts. Won't work. Mine's not for sale. Don't think Ron Luciano's interested in selling his, either.
Any progress in coming out to Vegas in January for Vegas Classic and Antique Arms Show?
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Fri 24 Dec, 2004 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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You may note that I've edited this posts title from '31' unique basket-hilts" to '32' , as I discovered I actually did have a picture of one of the missing VE baskethilts !
Late last year ( December, I believe) Vince had sent me a picture which featured 11 "in-progress" pieces he was working on at the time, most being just out of the forge, but with a couple alot further down the road to completion !
In the mix I noticed this Stirling hilted broadsword starring back at me and knew right away that it was not one of the ones that I had accounted for ! Given the timetable of the photo, and some of the other projects he was working on at the time, I suspected it to be that first basket-hilt of 2004 that he had told me about, but had not photographed ( or at least he'd thought he hadn't ..... who knew 'ol Mac would start digging thru the archives ;-)
Anyways ....
I conferred with Vince about it and he confirmed that it was indeed the first of the 4 basket-hilts he'd made this year, 2004.
The photo is not the best, a tad grainy, etc., and I did do a bit of air bushing to remove the other blades that were crossing it, but all in all it gives a pretty good idea of the piece he made, and brings our VE basket-hilt tally to a grand figure of 32.
Slàinte, Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Fri 24 Dec, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Stephen S. Han wrote: | Vince Evans makes Baskethilts???
When did THAT happen and why didn't I get the memo?
Mac, I see you're trying to corner the market on Evans Baskethilts. Won't work. Mine's not for sale. Don't think Ron Luciano's interested in selling his, either.
Any progress in coming out to Vegas in January for Vegas Classic and Antique Arms Show? |
MacSmeagle wants all of the "VE Precious" .... gives it to's us !!!!
Hi Steve
Yes, by the grace of God, and a weekend without snow to have to plow, I will do my best to be in attendence !
( afterall, what's a Las Vegas Arms Show without the single biggest owner of VE "Scot" swords being there ? ;-)
Seriously .... I hope to see you soon, my friend ! Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Stephen S. Han
Location: Westminster, CA Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Posts: 211
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| Posted: Sun 26 Dec, 2004 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| Thomas McDonald wrote: |
Yes, by the grace of God, and a weekend without snow to have to plow, I will do my best to be in attendence !
( afterall, what's a Las Vegas Arms Show without the single biggest owner of VE "Scot" swords being there ? ;-)
Seriously .... I hope to see you soon, my friend ! Mac |
Snow? What is this thing of which you speak? 
It'll be good to see you again. As I mentioned in Ben Sweet's thread about the Vegas show, I'll be popping in on Sunday. I'll PM you with more info.
Edited: I see my Turcael is included in the catalog.
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