barbucomedie:“Halflang” Sword from Scotland dated to 1410 on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery
barbucomedie:“Halflang” Sword from Scotland dated to 1410 on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in GlasgowThis hand and half sword (Halflang) were supposedly used to break armour, mainly chainmail, of opponents in battle. A late 17th Century manuscript covering the history of Clan Montgomery records the the swords used by the 15th Century clans soldiers:The old people used no other; for these swords could cut through a sleeve of mail and break the arm bone.This seems to be backed up by contemporary chroniclers such as Blind Harry (author of The Wallace) who describes the effects of Scottish long swords “Shearing” and “Decapitating” English soldiers.Though many swords in Scotland have blades from Germany, Solingen primarily, tentative analysis of the blade here suggests it was made from local ores in Scotland. The hilt is similar to the larger two handed Great swords (Claidheamh-mór) and can be seen on grave slabs in many parts of Scotland such as the grave of Robert de Greenlaw in Aberdeenshire who died at the battle of Harlaw in 1411.Photographs taken by myself 2018 -- source link