Has anyone ever made a broadsword

[StarnesRowan]

Not exactly north american 18th-Century but has anyone ever made a scottish basket hilt broad sword. If you have I need any advice or info in general I can get

 

[Dale Lilly]

Can't help you but I have made a broadsword. However, it is only six-and one-half inches long with a four-inch blade made from an old file. It has a sterling silver guard [made from one tine of an old serving fork], teakwood and buffalo horn hilt. I wish I could show you but my ability to post pictures is nonexistent until I get my new computer online. Oh yeah, my wife uses it for a letter opener and seam ripper. Polecat

 

[tenngun]

I told a real politically incorrect joke very off color to boot, and this lady just fainted, like it was a Victorian movie or something
Whoops I thought you said make a broad swoon

 

[nhmoose]

Not by me

 

[Pukka Bundook]

I had a good bloke in the Czech Republic make me the odd blade, but I hilted these up Anglo-Saxon or Viking Age.
Serious work in a basket hilt!

 

[SOLANCO]

Forum member Tallpine has been making knives for 30 years. He likes big knives but I don't know that he has ever made a sword. I am sure that his thoughts would be of value.

 

[Artificer]

Not exactly north american 18th-Century but has anyone ever made a scottish basket hilt broad sword. If you have I need any advice or info in general I can get

Actually it IS North American 18th century, as Georgia Governor James Oglethorpe's Highlanders used them in the War of Jenkin's Ear and the Scottish Regiments in the FIW carried and used them here. However, by the AWI and even though by that date a very nice Basket Hilted Back Sword (only one sharpened edge) was issued to "All Ranks" (meaning all Enlisted Ranks) most of those swords were placed in storage after they got here. Some were still used by special guard detachments, though and sometimes worn by Serjeants.

I have made a War of 1812 Non Standard Ship's Cutlass out of an original short broadsword blade I found and made the D shaped Hilt and handle myself. I was surprised to find the blade was correctly hardened and annealed, as I thought it was just a repro made for the stage, because I got it so cheap. It was battle worthy, and though I never intended it to be a fake, it was mistaken for an original on several occasions. However, I never had the ability to make my own sword blades.

First of all, after handling between 1/2 dozen to a dozen original 17th-18th century real Scottish Basket Hilt Swords, I can tell you the blades don't weigh near as much as they appear in photo's. Original blades are almost always lighter and livelier than most repro's, unless a repro maker really does his homework. If at all possible, you REALLY need to handle at least a few originals to see what I mean. I've mostly handled them at large collector gun shows all over the country.

I'm not a blacksmith and I wouldn't dream of trying to make the basket hilt. HOWEVER, there are still Hilt Makers in Scotland who will make an authentic reproduction one to order and though not cheap, are reasonable.

What information do you mostly need?

Scots wha hae,
Gus

 

[Artificer]

OMG I'm ashamed I forgot to mention the following use of Scottish Broadswords in the AWI.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/scottish-settlers-frontiersmen.88479/page-3#post-1204584

 

[StarnesRowan]

Actually it IS North American 18th century, as Georgia Governor James Oglethorpe's Highlanders used them in the War of Jenkin's Ear and the Scottish Regiments in the FIW carried and used them here. However, by the AWI and even though by that date a very nice Basket Hilted Back Sword (only one sharpened edge) was issued to "All Ranks" (meaning all Enlisted Ranks) most of those swords were placed in storage after they got here. Some were still used by special guard detachments, though and sometimes worn by Serjeants.

I have made a War of 1812 Non Standard Ship's Cutlass out of an original short broadsword blade I found and made the D shaped Hilt and handle myself. I was surprised to find the blade was correctly hardened and annealed, as I thought it was just a repro made for the stage, because I got it so cheap. It was battle worthy, and though I never intended it to be a fake, it was mistaken for an original on several occasions. However, I never had the ability to make my own sword blades.

First of all, after handling between 1/2 dozen to a dozen original 17th-18th century real Scottish Basket Hilt Swords, I can tell you the blades don't weigh near as much as they appear in photo's. Original blades are almost always lighter and livelier than most repro's, unless a repro maker really does his homework. If at all possible, you REALLY need to handle at least a few originals to see what I mean. I've mostly handled them at large collector gun shows all over the country.

I'm not a blacksmith and I wouldn't dream of trying to make the basket hilt. HOWEVER, there are still Hilt Makers in Scotland who will make an authentic reproduction one to order and though not cheap, are reasonable.

What information do you mostly need?

Scots wha hae,
Gus

How to make the basket, wat size of steel to start with, what the final whight needs to be

 

[Artificer]

How to make the basket, wat size of steel to start with, what the final whight needs to be

The only thing I could find was the following, but I don't "do" facebook, so I don't know how much help it may be.


Gus

 

[CTShooter]

Not quite a broadsword, considered a “bastard” sword, they were used during the transition period from broadswords to rapiers.

 

[ZUG]

I do make "hunting style" knives but I would never attempt anything with a blade length over 14". If I want a sword, I will find one by a reputable maker at a reasonable price.