This article is about the two-handed sword. The term "claymore" is sometimes also applied to the Scottish broadsword of the 17th and 18th centuries. For other uses, see Claymore (disambiguation).
| Claymore | |
|---|---|
 Claymore replica | |
| Type | Sword |
| Placeoforigin |  Kingdom of Scotland |
| Service history | |
| Inservice | ca. 1400—1700 |
| Usedby | Highlanders |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | ≈2.2–2.8kg (4.9–6.2lb)[citation needed] |
| Length | ≈120–140cm (47–55in)[citation needed] |
| Bladelength | ≈100–115cm (39–45in)[citation needed] |
| Bladetype | Double-edged |
| Hilttype | Two-handed cruciform, with pommel |
The term claymore (/ˈkleɪmɔər/; from Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mòr, "great sword")[1] refers to the Scottish variant of the late medieval two-handed longsword. It is characterised as having a cross hilt of forward-sloping quillons with quatrefoil terminations. It was in use from the 15th to 17th centuries.
Contents
- 1 Terminology
- 2 Two-handed (Highland) claymore
- 3 See also
- 4 Notes
- 5 References
Terminology[]
The term claymore is an anglicisation of the Gaelic claidheamh mòr "great sword", first attested in 1772 (as Cly-more) with the gloss "great two-handed sword".[2]The sense "basket-hilted broadsword" is contemporaneous, attested in 1773 as "The broad-sword now used [...] called the Claymore, (i.e. the great sword)."[3] OED observes that the latter usage is "inexact, but very common". The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica likewise judged that the term is "wrongly" applied to the basket-hilted sword.[4]
Authors arguing that the basket-hilted sword is "incorrectly" called claymore have been known to suggest that claybeg (from a purported Gaelic claidheamh beag "small sword") should be used instead.[5]
This does not parallel Scottish Gaelic usage. According to the Gaelic Dictionary by R. A. Armstrong (1825), claidheamh mòr translates to "broadsword", and claidheamh dà làimh to "two-handed sword", while claidheamh beag is given as a translation of "Bilbo".[6]
The term "claymore" became part of vocabulary of the Victorian era sentimental or Romanticist "retro-Jacobite" literature and poetry such as the Skye Boat Song (1870).
Other contemporary Gaelic descriptives of swords include claidheamh cuil or back sword, referring to a single-edged sword with a flat "spine" (not one worn on the back, a common misinterpretation), the claidheamh crom or crooked sword, which could describe either a typical sabre style blade (such as that worn by Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll, in the painting by Medina) or a scimitar style blade known as a "Turcael" ("Turkish" blade) such as that brandished by Alasdair Mor, the Champion of Clan Grant, in the c. 1715 portrait by Waitt, or the claidheamh caol or narrow sword, usually describing a rapier or small-sword.[citation needed]
The term claybeg, purportedly from Scots Gaelic claidheamh beag meaning "little sword" is not seen in clan-era Gaelic song or poetry, 'Dwelly's' [ibid.], or other authorities, and seems to be a fairly recent invention.[citation needed]
Two-handed (Highland) claymore[]
The two-handed claymore was a large sword used in the late Medieval and early modern periods. It was used in the constant clan warfare and border fights with the English from circa 1400 to 1700.[7] Although Claymores existed as far back as the Wars of Scottish Independence they were smaller and few had the typical quatrefoil design (as can be seen on the Great Seal of John Balliol King of Scots).[8]The last known battle in which it is considered to have been used in a significant number was the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.[citation needed] It was somewhat smaller than other two-handed swords of the era. The two-handed claymore seems to be an offshoot of Early Scottish medieval longswords (similar to the Espee de Guerre or Grete war sword) which had developed a distinctive style of a cross-hilt with forward-angled arms that ended in spatulate swellings.The lobed pommels on earlier swords were inspired by the Viking style. The spatulate swellings were later frequently made in a quatrefoil design.[9]
The average claymore ran about 140cm (55in) in overall length, with a 33cm (13in) grip, 107cm (42in) blade, and a weight of approximately 5.5lb (2.5kg).[citation needed]
Fairly uniform in style, the sword was set with a wheel pommel often capped by a crescent-shaped nut and a guard with straight, forward-sloping arms ending in quatrefoils, and langets running down the centre of the blade from the guard.[citation needed] Another common style of two-handed claymore (though lesser known today) was the "clamshell hilted" claymore. It had a crossguard that consisted of two downward-curving arms and two large, round, concave plates that protected the foregrip. It was so named because the round guards resembled an open clam.[citation needed]
The largest claymore on record is a sword measuring 7 feet 6 inches (2.24 m) and weighing 23 pounds (10kg). The claymore was wielded by a 15th-century Scottish giant of unknown name and origin, though the individual is believed to have been a member of the Maxwell Clan.[citation needed]
See also[]
- Historical fencing in Scotland
Notes[]
- ↑ "claymore". Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989. [1] (subscription required)
- ↑ Thomas Pennant, A map of Scotland, the Hebrides, and part of England, cited after OED. See also Alexander Robert Ulysses Lockmore (1778). Annual Register Vol. 23. London.[Clarification needed]
- ↑ James Boswell, The journal of a tour to the Hebrides, with Samuel Johnson, cited after OED.
- ↑ Chisholm 1911, p.474.
- ↑ so Nick Evangelista, The encyclopedia of the sword, 1995, ISBN 978-0-313-27896-9, p. 113.The suggestion appears as early as 1835, in a letter to the editor of The United service magazine p. 109: "... the claybeg or Andrew Ferrara, now worn by the officers and sergeants of the Highland corps, and which has usurped the venerable name of the ancient Scottish weapon".
- ↑ A Gaelic Dictionary, p. 120. see also Wagner, Paul; Christopher Thompson (2005). "The words "claymore" and "broadsword"". Highland Village, Texas: The Chivalry Bookshelf. pp. 111–117.. Dwelly's Illustrated Gaelic to English Dictionary (Gairm Publications, Glasgow, 1988, p. 202); 'Culloden - The Swords and the Sorrows (The National Trust for Scotland, Glasgow, 1996).
- ↑ swords and sabres harvey J S withers
- ↑ Ewart Oakeshott= Records of the Medieval Sword pg.117 BOYDELL&BREWER Ltd
- ↑ Highland grave slab national museum of Scotland.
References[]
- Dwelly's Illustrated Gaelic to English Dictionary (Gairm Publications, Glasgow, 1988, p.202)
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911) "Claymore" Encyclopædia Britannica 6 (11th ed.) Cambridge University Press p.474
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The original article can be found at Claymore and the edit history here.
As a seasoned enthusiast with a deep understanding of historical weaponry, particularly two-handed swords, I can provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts covered in the article about the claymore, the Scottish variant of the late medieval two-handed longsword.
The term "claymore" itself is an anglicization of the Gaelic "claidheamh mòr," meaning "great sword." This term was first attested in 1772, with the gloss "great two-handed sword." The article delves into the historical context of the claymore, emphasizing its use in Scotland from the 15th to the 17th centuries. It is characterized by a cross hilt with forward-sloping quillons and quatrefoil terminations.
The two-handed claymore, discussed extensively in the article, was a significant weapon in late Medieval and early modern periods, particularly during the constant clan warfare and border conflicts with the English from around 1400 to 1700. The article sheds light on the evolution of the two-handed claymore, tracing its roots to early Scottish medieval longswords, with a distinctive cross-hilt featuring forward-angled arms ending in spatulate swellings.
The specifications of the two-handed claymore are detailed, including its length (approximately 120–140cm), blade length (approximately 100–115cm), and mass (around 2.2–2.8kg). The article also mentions variations in the design, such as the "clamshell hilted" claymore, which had a distinctive crossguard resembling an open clam.
Notable historical battles involving the two-handed claymore are highlighted, with the last significant use recorded at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. Additionally, the article mentions the largest claymore on record, measuring an impressive 7 feet 6 inches and weighing 23 pounds, wielded by a 15th-century Scottish giant from the Maxwell Clan.
The terminology section clarifies the historical usage of the term "claymore" and addresses debates around its application to basket-hilted broadswords. The article also provides insights into other Gaelic descriptives of swords, including "claidheamh cuil" or back sword, "claidheamh crom" or crooked sword, and "claidheamh caol" or narrow sword.
In summary, this article serves as a comprehensive guide to the claymore, offering historical context, technical specifications, and insights into its evolution and variations. It caters to both enthusiasts and scholars interested in the rich history of Scottish weaponry, particularly the iconic two-handed claymore.
