Baskethilt Dagger for ID and discussion

[Triarii]

Originally Posted by SwordLover79

Thanks for the early feedback Guys! Best I have come up with so far is pictured on this page from "Scottish Weapons And Fortifications 1100-1800" by David Caldwell, 1981. Lowland Scots late 16th - early 17th Century.

Thanks for reminding me that I have a copy of Caldwell. I repeatedly forget that Blair's article is secreted away in it.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Triarii

Thanks for reminding me that I have a copy of Caldwell. I repeatedly forget that Blair's article is secreted away in it.

The late Mr.Blair was one of the most resounding authorities on arms ever! and this article remains the showcase work exemplifying this. It should be a book on its own.

[Triarii]

The article on basket hilts was why I bought it. Far more useful than Mazansky IMHO.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Triarii

The article on basket hilts was why I bought it. Far more useful than Mazansky IMHO.

Absolutely!!
While Mazansky is great collectively as a 'cookie cutter' kind of reference, that is typology and classification guide, it offers nothing toward specifics which might lend to dating or historic details of these forms. His intention was more to follow the methodology of Oakeshott and Norman.

I recall researching basket hilts and seeking insights into the decorative piercings and features of hilt elements and felt surprised that his only concern was types etc and had no interests in the esoterica. Even some of the other venerable sages of these studies when I queried them on these topics regarded such subjective matter as irrelevant , but 'interesting'.