Nice job with the drawings, Peter !

Might be cool to offer a bone grip, on these Scot models, in addition to the leather ?

Just a thought *g* Mac

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* Top Photo : John Wallace, "Scottish Swords & Dirks"
* Bottom pic : David Caldwell, " Scottish Weapons & Fortifications 1100-1800".

The Caithness just jumped to the top of my list, passing the Sovereign. I really like the looks of it.

Regards

Howy & Co., you guys have really done it this time... I've hung tightly onto my wallet through various temptations, but I'm powerless to resist these Scottish swords.

The Caithness will be finding it's way to my arsenal. How about a hand & a half version of the Laird, too?

I think the Caithness may just be the prettiest one of the whole lot so far. With both the cross and the pommel turned away from the hand, even primitive hammer grip users like me could handle it with comfort. It has the earlier flavour and interest of the lobate pommel combined with the later medieval practicality of the longer cross, plus my favourite blade type. Wonderful stuff.

As a side note, my personal belief is that the "two handed swords", which the West Highlanders were described as using at Bannockburn, would most likely have been a hand & a half type with a hilt similar to the 'Laird', as these hilts show up in the 13th century...

Do we have an approximate release date on these?

September, approximately.

Brian M

So what time period are we looking at for the Laird and Caithness- I imagine 13th C.

Hi Peter & everyone !

I truly wish I could say I had more information on these interesting lobated pommeled Scot swords,
but alas my time machine has crapped out on me *g*

Most of the stuff I've read dates these pieces to the 3rd quarter of the 14th century on into the 15th ,
using the grave slabs ,& effigies, as datable sources .......
But I too am of the opinion that they may well be older .... just not sure how much ?

Anyways .....

Here are two snippets that discuss these West Highland beauties .....

The first is from Tony Willis , "Scottish 'Twa Handit' Swerdis", as featured in The 13th Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue.
The other is a page from Dr. David Caldwell's book "Scottish Weapons & Fortifications 1100-1800"

I wish I could find a decent image of Sir William de St. Clair 's effigy , at Rosslyn Chapel ..... but so far I've found none that show the swords carving detail ? ( so if anyone can find a good one please do share it with us :-)

Alba Gu Brath , Thomas

* Keills Chapel, Argyle, Scotland.
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In another thread, Howard from Albion has announced that these newest models can be purchased for $100 off the listed price for all myArmoury.com registered members. This offer is valid until Feb. 15. As if this isn't tempting enough as it is...

Hey Mac, can you scrape up a picture of John Balliol's seal? I've been hunting the internet, and can't find one. I seem to recall his sword on that (late 13th C) seal as having a downsloping guard and a lobated pommel of some sort.

We had a few SFI threads on the subject of dating these swords, in the last few years....I'll go try a search over there.

It's frustrating when grave slabs are the only evidence, because we just don't know how long the sword was around before the fellow died, and the weapon's likeness was carved on his slab. If I were to die 40 years from now, and my favorite weapon -- a Remington 870 shotgun -- was carved on my tomb, the gun's design would be more than 90 years old at that point...

This is why I hesitate to be dogmatic when dating swords. Effigies can tell us the latest possible date a sword appeared, but the earliest date is going to require speculation.

:\

Ok, before I make a decision, what I would like to know is if the guys at Albion are going to come out with any more new designs before February. Right now, the Caithness is calling to me :) .

Hi Joe

Ah, 'ol "Tomb Tabard" , 'eh ...... I'll keep my eyes open for an image of that seal !

Aye, we did have several discussions on these ..... always fun , even if we dont come up with all the answers, eh !

I agree with your thoughts on the dating of these swords .....

Slàinte, Mac

JOHN BALLIOL, who had the unflattering nickname "Toom Tabard" meaning empty coat, ruled for less than 4 years (1292 -1296). Regarded as a 'useless king', he was the great-grandson of David, Earl of Huntingdon, who in turn was the grandson of King David 1 of Scotland (1124 - 1153). He tried to stand up to the English, but he was not able to unite his people, so the war was easily won by England. Scottish nobles owned lands in both Scotland and England, and were divided in their loyalties to such and extent that now they fought on one side, now on the other. His reign ended in disgrace when he submitted himself as a vassal to a representative of Edward 1 of England. Dressed in only a shirt and underpants he handed over a white wand signifying the surrender of the kingdom of Scotland to the English King. After three years in an English prison, he was allowed to travel to France. In his baggage was found the royal crown and seal of Scotland, as well as money and gold cups.

Joe Maccarrone wrote:

Hey Mac, can you scrape up a picture of John Balliol's seal? I've been hunting the internet, and can't find one. I seem to recall his sword on that (late 13th C) seal as having a downsloping guard and a lobated pommel of some sort. We had a few SFI threads on the subject of dating these swords, in the last few years....I'll go try a search over there. It's frustrating when grave slabs are the only evidence, because we just don't know how long the sword was around before the fellow died, and the weapon's likeness was carved on his slab. If I were to die 40 years from now, and my favorite weapon -- a Remington 870 shotgun -- was carved on my tomb, the gun's design would be more than 90 years old at that point... This is why I hesitate to be dogmatic when dating swords. Effigies can tell us the latest possible date a sword appeared, but the earliest date is going to require speculation. :\

Hi Joe

I found a pic of the seal ... looks to be a downturned cross to me !
The pommel does appear to be lobated , ? , but it's a little hard to see ?

Mac

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Royal Scottish Seals

3081 1292-1296
John Baliol
Description: Round, brown wax.
Obverse: the king, robed and crowned, seated on a throne with richly carved panels and pedestal and with crocketted finials. He holds a long sceptre, ending in an elaborate floriated ornament, in his right hand, his left is on his breast. In the field to the dexter of the throne is a shield of arms charged with an orle, to the sinister is a similar shield bearing a lion rampant with a forked tail.
Reverse: equestrian, the king in chain mail and surcoat, cylindrical crowned helm with grated visor, sword in right hand and on his left arm, suspended from his neck, a convex shield of arms charged with the lion rampant in the royal tressure. The heavy caparisons of the horse are blasoned with the same arms.

Size: 102 mm.
Inscription: Obverse: IOHANNES . DEI . GRACIA . REX . SCOTTORVM
Reverse: IOHANNES . DEI . GRACIA . REX . SCOTTORVM
Misc.Ch. 632
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