Description
the early 18th century basket of Stirling form with flattened round bars enclosing bold ram's horns and S bars, the pierced knuckle guards with scalloped edges and pierced lozenge and circular designs, the reeded pommel with screw fitting, the fish skin covered grip copper flat wire bound with similar ferrule, the earlier large double edged blade with twin short fullers and orb and cross bladesmiths mark, engraved the length 'Yis Suerd was brukyt be Ht Cameron at ye Batttailly off Stirling Bryg MCCXCVII and Bannockburn MCCCXIIIII & Feili Melle', at the join of blade and hilt a loose fitting plaque is engraved 'Yis Thrusande Claiffoff Metell gud aeft Tynt 3 hits Shynn in Saxonys Blud', original leather tooled scabbard
Dimensions
blade 81cm long, overall length 98cm
Footnote
Provenance: From the collection of the late Baron Earlshall
Notes:
The tradition of re mounting family historic blades by antiquarian members of families is will recorded, with many important families still having such items within their collections. This can be seen in other relics / trophies such as the Preston Blunderbuss sold within these room 'Jacobite, Stuart & Scottish Applied Arts' 13th May 2015, lot 124.
This blade is unusual in its mounting seems much earlier than the usual early 19th century fashion for the Scottish revival fueled by Sir Walter Scott culminating in the visit of George IV to Edinburgh. Sadly its provenance is now almost lost and the story which follows it has been handed down verbally rather than written. Repute which follows this blade suggests that it was remounted in the early 18th century (the basket hilt being commissioned at that time) to be taken to the Jacobite risings and follow Prince Charles where it was not only used but continued the families connection and involvement with the protection and support of the nation.