Claymore Sword
The claymore sword is known as a Scottish alternative of the double-handed longsword that first came into view during the late medieval era; when interpreted literally from the Scottish Gaelic vocabulary, it generally translates to the Great Sword.
This weapon was utilized in battles of the fifteenth century up to the seventeenth century during the late medieval era; it played a very important role in the battles that the Scottish armies engaged in.
Battles and the Claymore Sword
One of the most popular battles wherein a plethora of these swords were utilized was during the Battle of the Killiecrankie the fight led by the Highland Scottish faction who fought for Scotland’s King, James VII.
The clan battled against Orange’s King William and the Jacobines were said to have won the difficult battle but their leader was eventually assassinated in battle. One of the most popular individuals mentioned in Scottish history was William Wallace, a man who utilized the claymore sword during the first battle for the independence of Scotland.
There were numerous theories as to whether the weapon was really utilized by Wallace; however, there were various historical documents that exhibited his use of the Claybeg a smaller and lighter type of weapon that could easily be carried with just a single hand.
Origin of the Scottish Claymore Sword
The claymore sword was first utilized in numerous battles during the thirteenth century in Scotland and was also utilized recently during the eighteenth century; it was a useful weapon on the battlefield, as well as for numerous conflicts that occurred amidst the Scottish clans and those battles that ensued from the borders of England.
Sword Characteristics
The Scottish Claymore featured a unique and one-of-a-kind design while its total length measured around forty-two inches in total.
The weapon was categorized as a medieval long sword and because of its weight (a total of five and a half pounds) and length, the wielder of the claymore was required to grip the weapon with both hands.
It featured a wheel pommel that was capped-off by a crescent-like nut together with a guard that had a forward slanting arm that was integrated into the Scottish Claymore. The weapon ended with languets and quatrefoils that ran towards the blade’s center all the way from its guard.
During the later portion of the medieval era, the claymore sword was part of an important battle that took place in various areas of Scotland; and since it was the biggest sword utilized on the battlefield, soldiers wielding the weapon were required to use it with both hands to be able to utilize the weapon properly.
While battling, the soldiers usually circled the weapon around the head to show their opponents that they were aiming to slice off their heads which would appear as trophies when the battle was over.
Advantage of the Claymore Sword
Selecting the proper sword before every battle was extremely crucial for soldiers and a lot of these individuals commonly chose the Scottish Claymore since it was efficient especially when killing an opponent.
The primary advantage of this weapon was its extended reach since its length measured around a hundred and forty centimeters a hundred and seven centimeters of this being the weapon’s blade.
With its length, the wielder could easily attack an enemy from a longer range unlike when the regular medieval blade was utilized. Additionally, the pommel of the Scottish Claymore could also be used to crack the skulls of a soldier’s enemy.
Two Handed (Highland) Claymore
The double-handed claymore sword was known as a huge weapon utilized during the later portion of the medieval period, as well as the earlier modern era of history.
The weapon was commonly used for constant Scottish clan battles and border warfare with the English around the years 1400 to 1700. Although the claymores were already present during the War of Scottish Independence, these were smaller and only a few featured the regular quatrefoil design.
The last known war wherein the weapon was used in high numbers was during the Battle of Killiecrankie in the year 1689, and the weapon was somehow longer compared to the other double-handed blades that were available during the period.
There were lobed pommels on much earlier blades that were heavily inspired by the style and design of the Viking weapons; then later on, spatula-like swellings were often created for the quatrefoil design.
The double-handed claymore exhibited a fixed and uniform style wherein the weapon featured a wheel pommel that was usually capped by a specific crescent formed nut and guard.
Another one of its common style and design would be its clamshell-like hilt which also featured a crossguard that had double downward arching arms, along with two rounded and huge concave plates that were available to adequately safeguard the carrier’s grip.
Claymore Sword for Sale
One of the most recognizable Scottish blades that can be purchased from numerous weapon shops would be the claymore sword; and since there is a wide selection of claymore for sale, an individual may have more choices of weapons to select from.
A couple of these weapons feature unique blade designs and patterns that appear wavy and curved, while the other weapons feature the regular straight edges, resembling the historical battle weapons that were utilized during the medieval era.
While a couple of these claymores were made out of steel, there are those that are created out of carbon steel which makes these perfect for various uses such as reenactments of historical scenes.
There are also available pieces that are made from stainless steel which is considered as an excellent piece for decorative purposes, or for those who wish to add more medieval pieces to their growing collection of swords.
Each of the Scottish Claymore sword features its own exclusive use which makes it a perfect weapon for enthusiasts or hobbyists to utilize the weapon in any way they wish.
So for those who are searching for a weapon that was once utilized by Robert the Bruce or William Wallace, or if the sword is simply needed for decorative purposes, one can have a custom claymore made depending on the user’s needs and requisites when it comes to medieval swords and armor.