The hand of the sword, onward and upward. Chainsaw carved wooden sculpture. SCO 9087.
A claymore from Scottish Gaelic claidheamh-mòr, "great sword") is the Scottish variant of the late medieval two-handed longsword. It is characterised as having a cross hilt of forward-sloping quillons with quatrefoil terminations. It was in use from the 15th to 17th centuries. The claymore is famous for being used by William Wallace, a Scottish knight during the First War of Scottish Independence. In later years (1700s onwards) the word claymore began to be used in Scotland and parts of England to refer to basket-hilted swords. While this description was probably not used during the 1600s when basket hilted swords were the primary military swords across Europe but over time the large, heavy, broad bladed swords remained in service with Scottish regiments. After the Act Of Union in 1707 when Scottish and English regiments were integrated together the swords were seen as a mark of distinction by Scottish officers over the more slender sabres used by their English contemporaries. As a broad, heavy weapon the swords were seen as a symbol of physical strength and prowess, and a link to the historic Highland way of life. Although these swords were no longer recognizable as the historical claymore they were the broadsword of that era and so were referred to using that same word. Such swords remained in service with Scottish regiments into the 1800s.
Size: 4034px × 6062px
Location: Revack, Grantown on Spey. Strathspey. Inverness-shire. Highland Region. Scotland. UK.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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