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Jim McDougall · 15th February 2008, 12:09 PM

On the "Sinclair" sabre

Since we are discussing the early development of the Scottish basket hilt, I wanted to do a bit more research on the so called Sinclair sabre. These of course are often suggested as sources for influence as many have developed basket type hilts, and have been associated/romanticized by 19th century collectors to an ill fated Scottish force ambushed in Norway in 1612.

Actually these 'Sinclair' sabres are a form of Northern European dusagge which typically have heavy basket or shell type hilts, and there seem to be a number of vague perceptions of how these came to be given this term. Many suggest the Sinclair term is spurious, misapplied or even that the tale of this event is fictitious.

In 1612, during the Kalmar War between Denmark and Sweden concerning trade control of the northern coast of Norway, a contingent of Scots headed for Sweden to join with the forces of Gustavus Adolphus. Apparantly there were three companies of troops in the force, which in some cases has been termed the 'Sinclair Expedition', and erroneous by that title. The force overall was commanded by Lt.Col. Alexander Ramsey, and one of the subordinate companies was commanded by Lord George Sinclair, who was the Chief of the Clan Sinclair at the time.

In what has become known as the Battle of Kringen, August 26,1612, virtually the entire Scottish force was ambushed and killed by Norwegian peasants and militia near Otta, Norway. While a number of the Scottish troops survived the battle, most of the remainder were summarily executed the next day. It is said that Sinclair was one of the first to fall, and ironically he and his ancestors were well known to the Norwegians. With this being the case, he became the focus of the 'victory' symbolically, which is why his name has superceded that of Lt. Col. Ramsay who actually led the overall force.

In some accounts it is noted that the Scots were only lightly armed as they were to be armed in Sweden on arrival there, however this seems rather unlikely. It must be remembered however, that the weapons probably were primarily lochaber axes and some broadswords. We have established that types of basket hilts were in use in England as early as mid 1500's and we know that this force did not return to Scotland carrying Northern European basket hilts. It is unclear of course whether any of the Scottish forces had either English type basket hilts or the Northern European dusagge type weapons, but it is known that Sinclair and many of the Scots in the force were very familiar with these Norwegian regions having been there often for timber.

In any case, this tragic event became somewhat associated with Sinclair's name,;in Norway because he was well known there and the battle celebrated for Norways defense of its sovereignty, and in Scotland since Sinclair was the Chief of thier clan. The guarded hilt dusagge being established in use presumably at this time in these regions and later associated with the event by collectors in the 19th century seems to have added the name Sinclair to the distinct sabre type. The idea that these must have been adopted as weapons of choice by Scottish mercenaries, as suggested by collectors of Victorian times also likely led to the thoughts of these being the source for the Highland basket hilt.

15th February 2008, 12:09 PM	#16
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	On the "Sinclair" sabre Since we are discussing the early development of the Scottish basket hilt, I wanted to do a bit more research on the so called Sinclair sabre. These of course are often suggested as sources for influence as many have developed basket type hilts, and have been associated/romanticized by 19th century collectors to an ill fated Scottish force ambushed in Norway in 1612. Actually these 'Sinclair' sabres are a form of Northern European dusagge which typically have heavy basket or shell type hilts, and there seem to be a number of vague perceptions of how these came to be given this term. Many suggest the Sinclair term is spurious, misapplied or even that the tale of this event is fictitious. In 1612, during the Kalmar War between Denmark and Sweden concerning trade control of the northern coast of Norway, a contingent of Scots headed for Sweden to join with the forces of Gustavus Adolphus. Apparantly there were three companies of troops in the force, which in some cases has been termed the 'Sinclair Expedition', and erroneous by that title. The force overall was commanded by Lt.Col. Alexander Ramsey, and one of the subordinate companies was commanded by Lord George Sinclair, who was the Chief of the Clan Sinclair at the time. In what has become known as the Battle of Kringen, August 26,1612, virtually the entire Scottish force was ambushed and killed by Norwegian peasants and militia near Otta, Norway. While a number of the Scottish troops survived the battle, most of the remainder were summarily executed the next day. It is said that Sinclair was one of the first to fall, and ironically he and his ancestors were well known to the Norwegians. With this being the case, he became the focus of the 'victory' symbolically, which is why his name has superceded that of Lt. Col. Ramsay who actually led the overall force. In some accounts it is noted that the Scots were only lightly armed as they were to be armed in Sweden on arrival there, however this seems rather unlikely. It must be remembered however, that the weapons probably were primarily lochaber axes and some broadswords. We have established that types of basket hilts were in use in England as early as mid 1500's and we know that this force did not return to Scotland carrying Northern European basket hilts. It is unclear of course whether any of the Scottish forces had either English type basket hilts or the Northern European dusagge type weapons, but it is known that Sinclair and many of the Scots in the force were very familiar with these Norwegian regions having been there often for timber. In any case, this tragic event became somewhat associated with Sinclair's name,;in Norway because he was well known there and the battle celebrated for Norways defense of its sovereignty, and in Scotland since Sinclair was the Chief of thier clan. The guarded hilt dusagge being established in use presumably at this time in these regions and later associated with the event by collectors in the 19th century seems to have added the name Sinclair to the distinct sabre type. The idea that these must have been adopted as weapons of choice by Scottish mercenaries, as suggested by collectors of Victorian times also likely led to the thoughts of these being the source for the Highland basket hilt.