Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2009 18:30:33 GMT
I've started collecting sub $300 swords, Bought the wasp waisted Gladius and was VERY satisfied with the sword. I've wanted to purchase a scottish basket hilted claymore broadsword. Can someone suggest a vendor that sells one? thanks for any reply I can get
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2009 20:32:59 GMT
Hello Iranon I know multiple threads on this subject but I have trouble finding them right now. Overall, I'd suggest you check ; Cold Steel, Hanwei (for both of these, best prices are at Kult of Athena, Wiwingti sword supply and knifecenter.com), www.legendaryarms.com, www.gggodwin.com and military heritage. All these sellers offer sub 300 $ basket-hilts, but only Cold Steel basket-hilt has been reviewed on this site. Hope this helps
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2009 4:55:26 GMT
I have handled the one from Hanwei. I found it to be too blade heavy. More so then most Type X. The POB seemed like it was near 8 inches down the hilt. I have handle one other rival brand from India, forgot the name, and found the same. It makes me wonder if the Scotts just liked cleavers or if these are poor replicas. I will have to try to get my hands on a high end brand to compare. My understanding of the 16-17 th century "broadsword" is that it was more wide then its contemporary, the rapier, but thinner then the medieval sword. The one from Hanwei seems to be trying to outdo the Medieval Type X.
I have a basket hilt blunt trainer myself, but I had that built to my secs, so it handles more like a cut and thrust. I can see that being more of a contemporary to the rapier.
|
|
|
Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Mar 28, 2009 22:22:40 GMT
I have the Cold steel horseman's broadsword and the balance is great at about 4 inches out. I haven't been super impressed by it's cutting ability but I don't think I gave it a fair shake really. it comes with a secondary beveled edge but I love the rayskin grip. it's not really scottish though. . .
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2009 14:00:56 GMT
I got a chance to look through a book last night call English Basket Hilted Swords. It has amazing pictures. I saw some basket hilt designs I had never seen before. The offerings in the modern reproduction market are very slim compared to the styles that have existed historically. www.amazon.com/British-Basket-Hilted-Swords-Typology-Basket-Type/dp/1843830531The book is about $100 so it is not cheap. It has numerous pictures on every page. My critique of it is that it only shows the baskets. They should have had two pictures of every sword. One with a close up of the basket and one of the whole sword. They should also give statistics of the weight, length, point of balance, profile and distill taper measures. The book is written for the museum curator's point of view, not the practicing swordman's. Perhaps a second edition would do better.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2009 16:06:27 GMT
I have the Hanwei basket hilt broadsword which I picked up at KoA. Nice sword for its price ! ... only a few remarks ... the basket is REALLY SNUG and might cause you problems if you have big hands ! What the scabbard concerns, same remark as Bill Goodwin has put up in his review of the Hanwei Cromwell Mortuary sword ... the frog has been put on back wards on the scabbard What the actual blade concerns OK ! It didn't came razor sharp and needed a bit of touching up. ... I don't know how keen you are on Scottish basket hilt but it's worth wile having a look at following site's www.armourclass.com and www.castlekeep.co.uk these guys are "way over" the 300 $ limit ! But some drooling never hurts does it ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2009 16:27:47 GMT
Bill, I agree with your assessment of the book. It is the premier resource for basket hilt types, but unfortunately does nothing to address the variety of blades to be found on these swords. I am not an aficionado and don't have all the books on the subject, but I can recommend George C. Neumann's Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, Richard Bezdek's Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland, and Harvey J.S. Withers' World Swords for more comprehensive images of basket hilts from England and Scotland.
Neumann's format is similar to that which you suggest. Each sword described has three photos; two views of the hilt, and one of the entire sword. He also includes weight and basic measurements. This book is still in print and is about $30 or so.
Bezdek's book is mostly an index of makers and retailers of swords in England in Scotland, but the photographic portion does include a section dedicated to basket hilts. The swords in this section are all from private collections and the photos and information were provided by the individual collectors, so photo quality and the accuracy and amount of information on each sword varies. I am not sure what the current price is for this book. It is still in print, and I believe mine was about $50-$60 when I bought in a few years ago.
Withers' book attempts to cover many Western swords from 1400-1945. There is a chapter on basket hilts that features color photos of a number of swords in private collections. Like Bezdek's book, this is not an attempt to present new information but rather to present a range of examples. This sword is available on ebay through the author and last I checked was around $100.
To get back to Mazansky's British Basket-Hilted Swords, one must remember that Mazansky does not intend it to be a comprehensive book, but purely a typology for the hilts. Mazansky (a radiologist by day) was heavily influenced (and I believe mentored by) A.V. Norman who is know for his hilt typology for rapiers which he presented in The Rapier & Small-Sword. These typologies have their uses, but it is unfortunate that blades were completely ignored. I have one more comment and then I'll stop rambling. I wish that Mazansky had been more consistent in listing dates for the baskets. Some are dated and others are not. This can leave one guessing at the date and makes it more difficult to compare basket types that may have been made around the same time.
Despite its flaws, anyone who intends to study basket hilts in depth should probably add this to his or her collection.
PS--Bill, how far would it be for you to drive to Hartford, CT? You should try to go to the Hartford Antique Arms Show this October. It is a great time and there is a lot to see and learn.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2009 16:34:54 GMT
Thank you Jonathan for your suggestions. Hartford is not that far for me. It would be a good daytrip. Please post a topic reminder when the show is coming up. Perhaps we can make it an SBG field trip for people living in the northeast.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2009 19:46:44 GMT
i like the baskets from around the Jacobite rebellion, also i noticed those looked like they had wider blades, i like wide blades. wider blade=bigger nastier wound channel. also, the only way i ever think i would dual wield would be using two baskethilts, it would be hard. although i do like a small buckler or targe with spikes and blades while i have a baskethilt. im a claymore guy. im not coordinated enough to use two one handers, ill chop my own leg off or something. two hands on one enormous blade, thats how i do it. hahaa.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2009 4:54:05 GMT
FYI KOA has the Cold Steel basket hilt on sale for 199.95. If I had it available I'd probably buy one myself.
|
|