CIRCA 1760-70

Details

A MILITARY OFFICER'S BASKET-HILTED BACKSWORD OF SCOTTISH TYPE
Circa 1760-70
With hollow-ground blade double-edged towards the point and with two narrow fullers bordering the back over two-thirds of its length on each face, the elaborate iron hilt formed of slender bars (one broken, two incomplete) forming open oval panels filled by shaped crosses, and a single vacant aperture (perhaps for the reins), detachable pierced fore-guard secured by screws, bun-shaped pommel with button, original shagreen-covered wooden grip spirally bound with twisted copper wire, and original leather liner faced with red cloth (blade and hilt with scattered surface pitting)
33¾in. (85.7cm.) blade

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

For an account of basket hilts of this type, some of which are seen in portraits of 18th-century Scottish officers, see John Wallace, Scottish Swords and Dirks, no. 44

An old handwritten label attached to the hilt links this sword to the abortive Jacobite rising in 1752-3

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