Scottish Weapons
As a general principle, the same armament was common to all the nations of Western Europe about the same period, modified, however, in each country by certain peculiarities more or…
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“Scottish Weapons” by Charles Whitelaw from Scottish History & Life, edited by James Paton.
As a general principle, the same armament was common to all the nations of Western Europe about the same period, modified, however, in each country by certain peculiarities more or less distinctive. In Scotland early types remained in use till a late period.
The Body Armour in Scotland was similar to that in England at the same period, except that the open bascinet with camail appears to have survived in the former for some time after it had gone out of use in the latter. In fact, this helmet, along with the quilted canvas hauberk and mail shirt (Fig. 281), seems to have survived in the Highlands as late as the 17th century, to judge from a description of the Highland levies brought down to overawe the Covenanters in 1678, which is quoted by Wodrow from an anonymous writer.
Mail would naturally be more suitable for the Highlands than plate armour on account of the roughness of the country, which demanded considerable freedom of movement and a pliable and light defensive covering.
Images from text.
Although troublous times showed that there was 'na sic quantity of armour made within this realm' as could supply the demand and consequently necessitated its importation along with arms, still we have the craft of Armourers in the towns, the Hereditary Armourers of the Highland Clans, and Royal payments to the 'factor armorum,' to show the existence of the industry in Scotland.
We have few specimens of Scottish Swords anterior to the 17th century, and a comparison of the early West Highland tombstones with English monumental effigies of the 13th century shows that the swords represented thereon differ only in an exaggerated depression of the quillons in the Scottish type. These weapons probably remained in use in the Highlands till the 17th century. The Scottish variety of the two-hand sword called in Gaelic "Claidheamhmor " (Fig. 282), unmatched for its beautiful proportion and fine balance, was modelled on the foregoing with the addition of a pierced quatrefoil termination to the quillon. It probably made its appearance in the 15th century, when the two-hand sword began to come into general use, and remained in evidence till the close of the 17th century. It was less in size than others of the same type, being about 4 feet 6 inches long in comparison with 5 to 6 feet, and was carried in a sheath probably slung on the back. In the Lowlands the heavy German type of from 5 to 6
feet long was used (Figs. 283, 284, and 285). It was carried at the slope on the shoulder, and does not appear to have been furnished with a sheath. One can readily understand how these differences suited the Claidheamhmor for the long distances it had to be carried and for the rough and uneven ground of the Highlands, where it was mainly, if not exclusively, used.
The two-hand swords now shown as the weapons of Wallace and Bruce (see Fig. 129), and their supporters, belong to this period. The legends attached to them probably arose from their being preserved in houses or localities intimately connected with these celebrities and the popular fancy associating great deeds with great physical strength. What could be more suggestive in this respect than the immense two-hand sword of the 16th century!
When in the 16th century armour began to fall into disuse and with it the iron gauntlet, a protection for the hand became necessary, and hence the basket hilt. The basket-hilted broad sword appears to have come into use in Italy and Germany about the middle of the 16th century, and would naturally find its way into Scotland by the close of that century or the beginning of the next. The German hilts show by far the stronger resemblance to the Scottish, many of them having the 'S' form (Fig. 291) included in the same manner as in the latter. This connection is further strengthened by the fact that most of the Scottish sword blades were imported from Germany, as shown by the proof marks. The earliest Scottish varieties are Figs. 290 and 289. In Fig. 289 the 'pas d'ane ' of the antecedent German type, a contrivance for protecting the first finger which it was the custom to place round the quillon, has been reduced, on account of the disuse of this practice, to two loop-like projections to protect the lower part of the hand, a feature altogether wanting in Fig. 290 where protection is provided otherwise. The long and sometimes counter curved German quillons are eliminated in the Scottish variety, and are only suggested by little curled projections; on the later hilts probably retained to guard the wrist from an upward cut. The simple form of basket had, by the close of the 17th century, gradually improved in design by perforation and fluting in parts (Figs. 288, 291).
The close of the 17th or beginning of the 18th century saw many finely executed basket hilts (Fig. 287); several of elaborate and fanciful design were in the Historical Collection shown in Glasgow, 1901 (see Fig. 188). The upper terminations of the guards, which originally fitted into a groove in the pommel, were shortly after 1700 united to a ring on which the pommel sat. Latterly the baskets became very heavy, and we find on the inner or thumb side, to reduce weight, a large oval ring substituted for the diagonal counter guards, eventually leading, towards the close of the century, to the complete cutting away of that side of the basket.
This hilt was not originally polished as now seen, but, to suit our climate enamelled usually in black picked out with gold ornamentation. Some of the finest examples were oxydised, engraved, and inlaid with silver in the manner of the pistols.
Some varieties of the 'Scottish' type were certainly in use in England in the 18th century, and probably earlier. The English 'Mortuary' basket hilt of the Commonwealth period (Fig. 292) and other types used abroad (Figs. 286, 293) were also in common use in Scotland.
The manufacture of weapons appears to have been carried on in all the principal towns of Scotland, and the minute books of the Incorporations of Hammermen show an industry of considerable importance as far back as they take us.
Four trades seem to have participated in the production of swords: Armourers, Gairdmakers, Cutlers, and Lorimers.
A statute of 1548 refers to cutlers making 'byknyves, quhingaris, dudgeons, sowrds, grithand, sowrds with hilt and plummet, and Lorimers making 'gairds.'
In 1583 a Gairdmaker wrought for his essay 'a pair of clain skellit gairds and ane pair ribbit gairds.' At this time a Lorimers' essay was ' ane pair of small ribbit sword gairds,' and ' ane bridle bit, etc.'
In 1590 the Armourers' essay was 'a great hit sword.' We find mention of the broad-sword in 1600, when an Armourer's essay was 'an mounted braid sword, sufficiently wrought' ; and apparently of the Highland basket hilt in 1649 when the essay of the Armourers consisted of 'ane mounted sword with a new scabbard and ane Highland gaurd.' " That many of these hilts exhibited a high quality of workmanship and finish is evident from the fact of a Dalmascar submitting as his essay in 1590 'a pair gairds dalmash'd and gilt with lief gold.'
The best sword blades in use in Scotland, including those marked 'Andrea Ferara,' were imported from Germany and Spain, but principally the former as shown by the guild and armourers' marks. That blades were made in Scotland at least in the ijth century, as was the case in England, is most probable although no direct evidence has yet been produced.
The frequency of Andrea Ferara's name on Scottish sword blades is remarkable. The most probable explanation is that some importer of blades brought over a consignment marked 'Andrea Ferara,' which being found of good quality created a demand for more, and the sword smiths of Solingen and Toledo took care to satisfy it. A careful study of the marks shows where the majority came from and in some cases who made them.
Previous to, say, the 16th century, a Dagger was used, similar in features to the swords with the depressed quillons, but the weapon of this nature, showing distinct national characteristics, is the Highland dirk. It has a heavy, single-edged fluted blade, with a handle of aider, briar root, box, heather root, or such like, mounted with brass, silver, or pewter, and carved with interlaced work. The sheath is of leather, stamped with ornament and furnished with two side pockets containing a knife and fork. The earliest examples carry a knife only.
It developed from the dagger-knife used in the Lowlands, England, and abroad from about the 14th to the early part of the 16th century (Fig. 294), and known in England as a 'ballok knife.' It had a diamond-section or heavy single-edged blade, straight grip of circular or octagonal section, kidney-shaped haunches, and a slight mushroom-shaped pommel finished by a small metal cap. The sheath contained a small knife in a side pocket. The Highlander, probably late in the 16th century, proceeded to bring his artistic taste to bear on it by slightly swelling the grip, enlarging the haunches and pommel, and decorating with interlaced work. Fig. 296 illustrates the transition and Fig. 298 the perfected weapon. (See also Fig. 222.) The decadence set in during the latter half of the 18th century. This is shown by the exaggeration of proportion (Fig. 300) and the degeneration in the ornamentation, which finally, about 1800, culminated in the balluster shaped article now in use.
There has been much fruitless discussion as to whether the sgian dubh (a small knife carried in the stocking) was known before the late 18th century or not. The custom of carrying a knife in the stocking existed in England in Chaucer's time (14th century) and we may infer that it was also practised in Scotland and elsewhere.
The sporran very closely resembled the pouches made at Nürenberg in the 16th century, but had only one compartment and a simple catch mechanism. The earliest examples were hung, like the dirk, from the waist-belt by a loop (Figs. 295, 217), the later (Fig. 297, 299) being slung on a separate strap over the haunches. An average size was 8 in. by 6 in.
Until the introduction of the rapier towards the close of the 16th century, the sword and buckler were the necessary equipment of a man in his daily walks. During the 16th century, the buckler was about a foot in diameter with a short central spike about 4 in. or 5 in. long; it was held in the left hand by a central handle. The target was larger, about two feet in diameter, and was intended for the battle-field; it had a spike about 10 in. or 12 in. long, and was held on the left fore-arm by two loops.
Scotland conformed to the general practice, except in the Highlands where we find the Targe a compromise between the buckler and the target, its width being about 1 ft. 8 in., and weight about 4¼ Ibs. It was held on the left fore-arm by two loops, the hand holding the dirk point downwards for use in closing. It was constructed of two ply of light boards running crosswise,
the whole covered with leather, the inside padded, the outside divided by circles and lines of brass studs into panels filled with tooled Celtic ornament. It had in addition a central boss, and sometimes also side bosses, engraved or pierced. (See Figs. 201 and 301.) The boss survives in the targe as an ornamental feature, but on the earlier shield served to cover the hand and central handle. The latter part of the 17th and first half of the 18th century have left a number of examples to show how such articles could be made the medium of most beautiful and imaginative decoration. They were still in use in the Highland regiments for a few years after 1745.
The first form of portable Firearm was the matchlock musket. It was a long cumbersome weapon fired from a rest, and remained in use as late as the reign of William III. The invention about 1517 of the wheel lock (which gave rise to the pistol) revolutionised all classes of weapons. Later on in the century came the snap-haunce which developed into the flint-lock about 1630-40. Scotsmen were not slow to avail themselves of these great improvements, and (in the 16th century) every merchant trading abroad was ordered to bring home each voyage two or more hagbuts, or metal to make them? From the Privy Council records, etc., we learn that at least by the latter half of the 16th century firearms were in general use both in the Highlands and Lowlands, and that their manufacture was then an established industry. The records of the Incorporations of Hammermen contain definite information on this point, dagmakers, being mentioned, in 1594, as submitting as essay, 'a hagbut and a dag.'' The inventory of the house of Balloch belonging to Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenurchy of date 1600, mentions 'ane long hagbute that was maid in Dundie gilt with the Lardis arms,' one 'stockit with Brissel,' and 'a hagbot that come out of Menteith,' etc. The pistols were also sometimes mentioned as of brass. We cannot say whether or no the wheel lock was made in Scotland,
or was altogether imported, but this is certain that snap-haunce weapons of high quality and
finish were manufactured there at a very early date, with mounting and decoration marked by
distinctive national characteristics; although the mechanism and general form of the lock resembled to those in use in Germany and France. The makers' initials were stamped by a square die on the face of the lock-plate, not inside as usual abroad. Of the guns of this period (Figs. 302 and 303), the latter, made apparently in 1634, is one of the finest now existing; Fig. 304 is a very characteristic piece. The gun seems to have lost its individuality by the close of the 17th century.
The earliest known examples of Scottish firearms are three pair of pistols in the Dresden Museum, dated respectively 1598, 1611, and 1615. The date of the oldest shows how remarkably abreast of the times the Scottish dagmakers were. At this period the stock is of wood, steel, or brass, the butt finished by a scroll-outlined mount, or a globose terminal of ball or lemon shape, some-times pierced, and resembling in form those of contemporary foreign wheel locks,while the locks are the same as those of the guns, but generally left-hand. There is usually a hook or 'slide' on the stock for attachment to the belt.
Early in the latter half of the 17th century when the flint lock had come into use, the whole pistol was made of metal, steel or brass. The flat wooden butt with the scroll-outlined metal mount developed into the 'scroll-ended butt' (Fig. 306), and the globose into the heart-shape (Fig. 305). The steel stocks and butts were oxydised dark blue, and ornamented with slight engraving, inlaid bands and circular or heart-shaped placques of silver.
Shortly after 1700 we have this weapon at its best. The form was gracefully proportioned and the surface almost completely covered with beautiful scroll-work, engraved and inlaid with silver. (Figs. 307-309.) In rare examples gold and niello were also used. The latest form of butt was the lobe-shape, which developed about the middle of the 18th century (Fig. 310). Some makers employed two or more varieties of butt, but the scroll-ended type seems to have been most favoured in the Highlands, and the heart-shaped in the Lowlands.
The lock mechanism of these 18th century pistols shows certain peculiarities. There is no bridle, and a feature of the snap-haunce is retained, or rather revived, by the sear being prolonged into an arm with a hook-like projection protruding beyond the lock-plate and in front of the dog head to retain it at half-cock. Many with the scroll-ended butt show a unique feature in having a perforated disk behind the dog head (Figs. 308 and 309). This industry died out shortly after 1800.
The following makers' names are found on pistols of the late i/th and the 18th centuries:
Thos. Caddell, Doune. D—l Walker, Dumbarton.
John Campbell, ,, W. Hunter, Stirling.
Alex r - Campbell, David M'Kenzie, Dundee.
Jo. Murdoch, And. Strahan, Edzell.
James Paterson, T. Murdoch, Leith.
Charles McCulloch, Inverness. McNab, Dalmally.
MacLeod, Perth. Alex r Shireff, Old Meldrum.
Locality not yet ascertained:
Daniel Steuart. David Dunbar.
Jo. Chrystie. Jo. Petcairn.
Jas. Sutherland. Jo. Stuart.
S. Michie. Alex. Murdoch.
J. M'Rosty. Bissell.
Some of the above were doubtless descendants of the old clan armourers, and made dirks, sporrans, etc., in addition to pistols. It would be difficult to say who was the best maker, but I am inclined to give the palm to Alexr. Campbell, of Dounc.
The Highland Powder Horn was made from a neat's horn flattened and mounted with brass, pewter or lead. The broad end was closed by a wooden bottom occasionally furnished with a perforated lug for suspension, and the narrow-end plugged by a moveable stopper a short distance below which was a second loop for suspension. As will be seen (Figs. 311-313) the surface and nature of the material afforded scope for artistic treatment, which was taken advantage of by engraving thereon interlaced work, conventional foliage, figures and mottoes. The oldest date I can quote is 1643. Fine Celtic work remained the form of decoration during the 17th century, but in the early 18th it began to deteriorate and become mixed with other forms, degenerating into compass work, and finally dying out by the close of the century.
Contemporary documents mention Hafted Weapons, such as halbards, gysarms (bills), which seem to have had no particular national characteristics, excepting the Jedburgh staff and the Lochaber axe. These were both pole-axes about 5 ft. long, and the latter had a heavy broad blade, resembling the German and Swiss 'Voulge' of the 14th-16th centuries, but differing in usually having a hook on the top of the shaft. We find mention of them in the 17th century, but they were no doubt in use earlier.
The three Axe-Heads, Figs. 314-316, were dug out of peat-mosses on the borders. Fig. 314 belongs to the Anglo-Saxon period. This form of axe is figured in the hands of the centaur on the sculptured stone at Meigle (10th century). Fig. 315 is also a Norwegian type of the Viking period. It is remarkable in having a hard steel cutting edge welded on to a soft steel or iron body. Fig. 316 appears to be also of the Anglo-Saxon period but may possibly be later.
Charles E. Whitelaw.
Paton, James, editor. Scottish History & Life. James MacLehose & Sons, 1902.
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