Latest / The Story of Scotland: Clans, Crowns, and the Fight for Identity — Fexingo History / The Highland Broadsword: Scotland's Forgotten Weapon
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the battles and the politics of Scotland, but I realised we've never really looked at the weapons themselves. And one that keeps coming up — in the Wars of Independence, the clan feuds, the Jacobite risings — is the Scottish broadsword. Luna: The claymore, you mean? Lucas: That's the word everyone knows, but it's not quite that simple. 'Claymore' comes from the Gaelic 'claidheamh mòr' — literally 'great sword'. And originally, that referred to a massive two-handed sword, like the ones Wallace supposedly wielded. But by the 16th and 17th centuries, the term started shifting. The sword people picture as the 'claymore' today — the basket-hilted broadsword — is really a different weapon. Luna: So the name moved from one sword to another? Lucas: Exactly. The two-handed claymore was a medieval weapon, around 55 inches long, used in the schiltrons at Bannockburn and later in the clan battles of the 15th century. But as warfare changed — more firearms, more mobility — that huge sword became impractical. So by the 1600s, Highlanders were using a lighter, one-handed sword with a distinctive basket hilt that protected the hand. And somehow, that became the new 'claymore' in popular imagination. Luna: Were they actually made in Scotland? Lucas: Not always. There were Scottish bladesmiths, sure — especially in places like Stirling and Glasgow. But a lot of the blades were actually imported from Germany, from the Solingen region. The hilts were often made locally, though. And that's where the real artistry came in. The basket hilt could be simple iron, or it could be elaborately decorated with Celtic motifs, silver inlay, even family crests. These swords were status symbols as much as weapons. Luna: Did the clans have their own distinctive styles? Lucas: To some extent. There's a famous collection in the small museum in Crieff — the 'Clan Museum' — that holds several broadswords with clan connections. One is said to have belonged to Rob Roy MacGregor himself. It's a beautiful basket-hilted sword with a blade that may be German. But whether it's really his or not is debated. Still, it's a tangible link to that world. Luna: I've seen pictures of those — the basket work is incredible. Lucas: It really is. And the design wasn't just decorative. The basket evolved to give maximum protection to the hand while still allowing flexibility in the wrist. In the Highland charge, the tactic was to fire a volley at close range, then drop the musket and charge with the broadsword and targe — that's the small shield. The broadsword was perfect for that: quick, balanced, and devastating in close combat. Luna: So it's not just a Hollywood thing — the Highland charge really relied on the sword. Lucas: Absolutely. At Killiecrankie in 1689, the Jacobite charge with broadswords broke the government line in minutes. At Prestonpans in 1745, the same thing happened. The broadsword was the decisive weapon. But after Culloden, the British government tried to suppress Highland culture, and that included the carrying of weapons. The Disarming Acts of 1746 and 1748 made it illegal to own a broadsword or any other weapon. Thousands were confiscated, and many were destroyed or taken south. Luna: That must be why so few survive. Lucas: Partly. But a surprising number did survive, hidden away in castles or by families who refused to give them up. And later, in the 19th century, there was a romantic revival — Walter Scott, the novels, the Highland tourism — and suddenly everyone wanted a 'claymore' on their wall. So a lot of reproductions were made, and some genuine old swords were bought up by collectors. That's why you find them in museums today, like the one in Crieff. Luna: Did the broadsword have any ceremonial role? Lucas: Oh yes. The broadsword was used in clan ceremonies, in the 'walking the sword' rituals where a chief was inaugurated by having a sword held over him. And of course, it's central to the 'sgian-dubh' — the small knife worn in the sock — which is a remnant of the old Highland custom of always being armed. The broadsword was the primary weapon, but the sgian-dubh was the backup. They're both part of the same tradition. Luna: I always thought it was just a fashion accessory. Lucas: It is now, but it started as a practical thing. Highlanders were known for never going unarmed, even to church. There are accounts from the 17th century of men sitting in church with their broadswords laid across their knees, ready to defend themselves or answer a call to arms. That sense of readiness was part of the clan identity. Luna: If you've been stepping into history with us, episode by episode, and if these conversations — about Scotland, about weapons, about the stories that shaped a nation — matter to you, there's a small way to help keep this going. We keep the show ad-free, and listener support is what makes that possible. If you'd like to help, you can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Yeah, and it genuinely makes a difference. Even a small contribution helps cover research time, hosting costs, and keeps the podcast independent. And we really appreciate everyone who's already supported us. Luna: Right. Now, back to the broadsword. One thing I've always wondered — were there famous Scottish swordsmiths whose names we know? Lucas: A few. There's a 17th-century maker named 'McDonald' who had a shop in Glasgow, and some blades are marked 'Andrea Ferrara' — that's an Italian name, but it became a generic term for a good sword in Scotland. There's also a tradition of 'stainless' or 'watered' steel in some Highland blades, though that might be more legend than fact. But the most famous might be the 'Claymore of the Wolf of Badenoch' — a huge two-handed sword from the 14th century, now in the National Museum of Scotland. Luna: Wait — the Wolf of Badenoch? That's a name I've heard before. Lucas: Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan. He was the son of Robert II, and he became notorious for burning Elgin Cathedral in 1390. His sword is massive — over 60 inches long — and it's a true claidheamh mòr. It's the kind of sword you'd need two hands to swing, and it's a reminder that the medieval claymore was a weapon of immense power. Luna: So you had the two-hander for the early period, then the basket-hilt for the later. Is there a clear dividing line? Lucas: Not really. The two-handed sword continued in use into the 16th century, especially in the Highlands. But by the 17th, the basket-hilt had taken over. And interestingly, the basket-hilt itself evolved. Early ones had simple bars, later ones had more complex woven patterns. The 'Culloden' type has a distinctive basket with heart-shaped openings. You can often date a sword just by the hilt. Luna: What about the blades — any famous ones? Lucas: There's the 'Claymore of Sir William Wallace' — but that's almost certainly not genuine. The one at the National Wallace Monument is a 19th-century replica based on a real medieval sword. But there are documented blades from the 16th century with maker's marks, like the 'running wolf' of Passau — that was a German mark, but it appears on many Scottish broadswords. It was a sign of quality. Luna: So a lot of their swords were German imports with Scottish hilts. Lucas: Exactly. Scotland didn't have a major steel industry, so blades were imported from the Continent. The hilts were the local contribution. And that makes sense — the hilt is what you see, what you hold. The blade is the tool, but the hilt is the art. And the Scottish basket-hilt is one of the most distinctive sword designs in history. Luna: It's amazing how much one object can tell you about a culture — warfare, craftsmanship, identity. Lucas: That's why I wanted to do this episode. The broadsword isn't just a weapon; it's a symbol of a way of life that was systematically dismantled after Culloden. When you look at a basket-hilted broadsword in a museum, you're looking at the last remnant of a warrior society that had existed for centuries. And the fact that so many survived — hidden in thatched roofs, buried in bogs, passed down through families — shows how much they meant to the people who owned them. Luna: I'll never look at a kilt pin the same way again. Lucas: Well, and there's another layer: the broadsword became a symbol of Scottish national identity in the 19th century, especially after Walter Scott's novels and the visit of George IV to Edinburgh in 1822. Suddenly, everyone wanted to be associated with the Highland warrior. So the broadsword was resurrected as a ceremonial object, part of the 'invented tradition' of tartan and kilts. But it's rooted in a real history of steel and blood. Luna: That's the tension, isn't it? Between the romantic image and the harsh reality. Lucas: Exactly. And I think the best way to appreciate the broadsword is to see it in person. The Crieff Museum has a small but excellent collection. The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh has several, including the Wolf of Badenoch's sword. And there's a private collection at Blair Castle that includes swords used at Culloden. If you ever get the chance, it's worth a look. Luna: I'll put that on my list. So, final thought — if you had to pick one broadsword that tells the story of Scotland, which would it be? Lucas: Probably Rob Roy's sword in Crieff. Not because it's definitely his, but because it embodies the contradictions: a weapon of a Highland outlaw, preserved in a museum, seen by thousands of tourists. It's a real object from a man who lived between worlds — a cattle thief, a soldier, a folk hero. And the sword itself, with its German blade and Scottish hilt, is a perfect metaphor for Scotland's place in Europe: independent but connected, fierce but adaptable. Luna: That's a good note to end on. Thanks, Lucas. Lucas: Thanks, Luna. And to our listeners — if you want to see these swords for yourself, or just learn more, the links are in the show notes. Until next time.