Claymore?

[Hammers]

For how long did Scottish officers carry a claymore in the field. It seems like they carried during the GW BEF period but when did they become irregular? Or aren't they? I've seen them on parade and guard duty but...

[Arlequín]

'Mad Jack' Churchill carried one in 1940... but then he carried a longbow and arrows too, becoming the last British soldier to kill an enemy with one in battle. He was in the Manchester Regiment, so you'd expect him to carry the 1897 pattern Infantry Sword, but no, he went for the basket-hilted 'Claymore'.

I'd say they became unusual during the Great War and worn only for ceremonial purposes after that, except for the odd nutter. 'Monty' carried one during an offensive in the Great War, though this must have been unusual to warrant mentioning. That's off the top of my head mind, so may not be true.

[Plynkes]

So does "Claymore" mean both the massive two-handed medieval job and the basket-hilted cutlassy thing carried by Rob Roy and all those Jacobites? I've heard both called by that name. Which is correct? (or is it both?) And which did Mad Jack carry? 

[carlos marighela]

IIRC technically a claymore is the big woodchopper favoured by homicidal maniacs north of the Wall and folk with a taste for medieval costume, mead and homemade acne remedies. The military one is a 'basket hilted broadsword, Highland pattern' but it's commonly called a claymore.

[carlos marighela]

Apart from ceremonial use, swords in general mostly disappeared late 1914 and they weren't even in universal use then. There are numerous references to orders for swords to be sharpened by regimental armourers etc in accounts of the outbreak of war but, Mr Churchill notwitshstanding, folk soon realised that long pointy metal sticks were better utilised as toasting forks than actual weapons. Jack Churchill was decidedly eccentric by all accounts.

[6milPhil]

I think the term originates from the Celtic for "Bloody Big Sword" - hence it's used for more than one single sword.

och aye!

[Grimmnar]

I can only officially offer what wikipedia says on the Claymore. Which refers to both of the swords mentioned above.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore
The term claymore (pronounced /ˈkleɪmɔər/, from Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mòr, "great sword"[1]) may refer to one of two distinct types of Scottish swords: it may refer to a two-handed sword with a cross hilt, of which the guards were usually turned down, used by the Highlanders of Scotland; or to a basket-hilted broadsword adopted in the 16th century, which is still worn as the full dress sword in the Highland regiments of the British Army.

Grimm

[Arlequín]

The idea of Scottishness went through a revival in the 18th and 19th Centuries and is responsible for the kilt and all the other imagined bollocks that goes with that. Naturally then 'Claymore' was the name given to a very ordinary type of backsword that had been common since the 16th Century. The real Claymore was the two handed weapon described above. Mad Jack carried the basket hilted Claymore.

[Hammers]

So does "Claymore" mean both the massive two-handed medieval job and the basket-hilted cutlassy thing carried by Rob Roy and all those Jacobites? I've heard both called by that name. Which is correct? (or is it both?) And which did Mad Jack carry? 

According to Wikipedia, both. I am talking about the basket hilted ones as they are seen on Musketers Early War Highland Officers, for example.

[Blackwolf]

Right you lot,the the earlier hand a a half sword is the claidheamh mor and the famous two-handed sword is theclaidheamh da laimh.
 And I have an idea that 'Mad Jack' carried the 1828 basket hilt or 'claidheamh mor',which is a misnomer.Someone sometime called the basket hilt an claymore and it has stuck.

 The later swords (ie post Culloden)* were of a basic type and were ironically made in England to arm the newly established British Army(Highland Regiments) in Scotland.


   *After the Young Pretenders failure the Highlander lost his right to bear arms,and the carrying of swords was outlawed by the English Government,as a result the production of basket hilts went into decline sending Scottish sword makers broke.....The new sword (1750) made for the new regiments were a bit crap. Most swords made in Scotland after this period were officers swords.

   Cheers

  Guy

[Blackwolf]

And the original basket hilted sword was of European origin (17th century),Scottish mercenaries returning from Ireland brought them back where they were known as Irish hilts.Later when the swords became a Scottish 'thing' the blades were made in Europe the hilts in Scotland. The Allan family were famous for their hilts and such hilt makers were known as "Hammermen".

  I'll shut up now.

[Hammers]

And the original basket hilted sword was of European origin (17th century),Scottish mercenaries returning from Ireland brought them back where they were known as Irish hilts.Later when the swords became a Scottish 'thing' the blades were made in Europe the hilts in Scotland. The Allan family were famous for their hilts and such hilt makers were known as "Hammermen".

  I'll shut up now.

Don't. This is good stuff eventhough the key question was when did they disappear from the battle field. I ask the question because Ineed an idea about how much I need to convert my Gordon Highlander officers for 192? NWF.

[Blackwolf]

Don't. This is good stuff eventhough the key question was when did they disappear from the battle field. I ask the question because Ineed an idea about how much I need to convert my Gordon Highlander officers for 192? NWF.

 I am probably wrong Hammers,tho' I think your Highland officers would carry basket hilts as they were part of the identity of an Highland regiment. Just don't get me started on plaid. As for when they officially left the battlefield ? 1939 is my bet
Edit:      I've been doing a little research amongst my books and? Well nothings come up other than what has been dredged up from my memory,and I would like to know,so a better man than I will have to answer the question.

 Guy

[Plynkes]

Seen these, H?

>>Link<<

Doesn't look like they are going to get released, unfortunately.

[Hammers]

Seen these, H?

>>Link<<

Doesn't look like they are going to get released, unfortunately.

Oh man... That would save me oodles of time cutting off backpacks and gasmask bags. On the other hand I already own the Musketeer ones, sculpted by the immortal Mr. Hicks so I think they'll have to do even though they are a little of the mark for the period.