Late 17thC Scottish Broadsword.

Norman McCormick · 26th February 2023, 06:52 PM

Hi,
A new acquisition. It came to me in a pretty poor state but I think I've managed to salvage something worthwhile from the rust. I'll let the photos do the talking meantime.
Regards,
Norman.

Norman McCormick · 26th February 2023, 06:53 PM

Hi,
This is the condition in which the sword came to me.
Regards,
Norman.

fernando · 26th February 2023, 08:33 PM

Great work, Norman

.

Victrix · 26th February 2023, 08:39 PM

Wow! How on earth did you manage that?? It looks fantastic!

I guess it dates back to 1693 because it says ANNO on the blade on one side. Also, is that the running fox of Shotley Bridge on the blade?

Jim McDougall · 26th February 2023, 10:37 PM

Wow Norman! theres a beauty of a Glasgow!!!
Nice job of getting it cleaned with patina still intact.
While the date is likely proper for the sword and its hilting it is not necessarily the date of the blade.

It is likely an earlier Solingen blade, but the slipper (cutler) probably added these spurious markings for obvious reasons. The ' Passau ' wolf (notably used by Solingen)was of course well known to these cutlers, and this is a fairly ubiquitous rendition of the usual form. These were often seen of course on Solingen blades with numbers presumed to be dates on either side (16....wolf...56)however the wolf on Solingen blades was typically upside down to the numbers.
It is unusual also to see ANNO (in) on one side while a date (or perhaps number combination on the other.

These were hilted during the long Jacobite troubles period beginning c. 1689 and going on into the 18th c. with the '15 and '45 the most well known events. The 'magic' of these well known inscriptions and markings of Solingen were not lost on these cutlers, so their addition of them to extant blades in those times would have been well placed.

A toast of the Drambuie to this one!!!!!

aye!!!!

Battara · 27th February 2023, 04:03 AM

Nice work and great save!

26th February 2023, 06:52 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,575	Late 17thC Scottish Broadsword. Hi, A new acquisition. It came to me in a pretty poor state but I think I've managed to salvage something worthwhile from the rust. I'll let the photos do the talking meantime. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

26th February 2023, 06:53 PM	#2
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,575	Hi, This is the condition in which the sword came to me. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

26th February 2023, 08:33 PM	#3
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Great work, Norman .

26th February 2023, 08:39 PM	#4
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 680	Wow! How on earth did you manage that?? It looks fantastic! I guess it dates back to 1693 because it says ANNO on the blade on one side. Also, is that the running fox of Shotley Bridge on the blade?

26th February 2023, 10:37 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,767	Wow Norman! theres a beauty of a Glasgow!!! Nice job of getting it cleaned with patina still intact. While the date is likely proper for the sword and its hilting it is not necessarily the date of the blade. It is likely an earlier Solingen blade, but the slipper (cutler) probably added these spurious markings for obvious reasons. The ' Passau ' wolf (notably used by Solingen)was of course well known to these cutlers, and this is a fairly ubiquitous rendition of the usual form. These were often seen of course on Solingen blades with numbers presumed to be dates on either side (16....wolf...56)however the wolf on Solingen blades was typically upside down to the numbers. It is unusual also to see ANNO (in) on one side while a date (or perhaps number combination on the other. These were hilted during the long Jacobite troubles period beginning c. 1689 and going on into the 18th c. with the '15 and '45 the most well known events. The 'magic' of these well known inscriptions and markings of Solingen were not lost on these cutlers, so their addition of them to extant blades in those times would have been well placed. A toast of the Drambuie to this one!!!!! aye!!!!

27th February 2023, 04:03 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Nice work and great save!