Basket hilted Broadswords

[John Long]

Folks, I need information on the above. I need to sculpt one of these representing one that belonged to a member of the 42nd or 77th highlanders F&I period. Were the baskets different for thedifferent regiments, or the same throughout? Thanks.

 

[Fantomas]

http://www.themadpiper.com/swords.htm

 

[Fantomas]

http://www.macallenarmourers.com/basket_hilts.htm

http://swordforum.com/articles/hes/highlandscots.php

http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=314

http://www.antiqueweaponstore.com/Scottish...0Broadsword.htm

 

[John Long]

Excellent! Thanks Alexandre, just what I needed.

 

[garyjd]

John, I'd like to suggest the following book

Weapons of the Highland Regiments 1740-1780
By anthony Darling

Historical Arms Series No. 33
Museum Restoration Services


It's a small book with several photos of not only swords, but dirks, pistols and muskets as well.~Gary

 

[John Long]

Thanks Gary, I'll look for that. I think you'll like what I've got going. I'll have some IP photos soon after I work out some details.

 

[Einion]

Hi John, are you sculpting this sheathed or drawn?

Einion

 

[John Long]

Drawn actually Einion. The fluted blade gives me concern too, but one thing at a time.

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by John Long@Nov 28 2005, 10:55 PM
Thanks Gary, I'll look for that. I think you'll like what I've got going. I'll have some IP photos soon after I work out some details.

John, Is this a one off or commercial piece?~Gary

 

[John Long]

Commercial.....hopefully.

 

[Einion]

This is covered in some of the links above but I just wanted to mention that many times these are erroneously described as broadswords (including in the V&A's old display!) when in fact they're backswords so you could save yourself having to sharpen two edges

Putting in grooves on a blade is a bitch, I'm dreading having to do a symmetrical fuller at some point but parallel grooves might even be harder. Alan has told me he's used a round tool (the end of a welding rod I think it was) for making these but you'd best ask him for details directly. Good thing is if you're making this for commercial release you can deliberately make the blade thicker than you might try for a one-off.

Einion

 

[John Long]

I have a excellent tool for making rounded grooves. It's a dental scraper. I actually have several in various shapes. They are the best for scraping grooves. The trick is going to be keeping the two parallel.