Scottish basket hilts and edged weapons

[Paul Macdonald]

Hi Fearn,

Scottish basket hilts are either symmetrical or asymmetric in form.

If asymmetric, then when you are looking at the basket from the open or back side with the blade pointing down, the left side of the basket is made slightly larger to accommodate the knuckles and back of the hand.

Here`s MacGregors sword (more on this and others later), which is made in this way -





The asymmetric hilts are undoubtedly individually crafted, while the symmetric hilts can also be cast or more easily mass produced (as in military hilts that followed the Scottish basket patterns).

To be honest, I have yet to see a specifically made left handed Scottish basket, which of course would be larger on the opposite side.

There is nothing to stop you wielding a symmetrical basket though, which many originals were

All the best,

Macdonald