Original Item. Only One Available. There are few weapons that carry such cultural significance as that of the Scottish Basket-Hilted Broad sword. "...frequently a family heirloom-often in its second or third hilting-the Highlanders 'sword was far more than just a weapon. The great symbolic value of these arms was not lost upon the Duke of Cumberland. A bounty was paid from the royal purse of one shilling for every broadsword picked up from the battlefield".

Just as intriguing are the sheer number of baskets absent from the field of Culloden after the battle. In other words, despite the massive numbers of fallen Scots, others retrieved their baskets and hid them away. Those that were recovered, perhaps 150 or so, were taken as war trophies or chopped up/destroyed. Of the 190 swords recovered from the field, 150 of them were given to the master of ordnance, John Hay, 4th Marquis of Tweeddale, who then had points broken off and hilts removed, taking these amazing blades made into a travesty of poor taste of a fence at his estate at Twickenham House. The ultimate insult!

This is a tremendous Late 17th Century Scottish basket-hilted broadsword which is marked on both sides of the blade with ANDREA FERARA next to the “Running Wolf” or “Running Fox” often associated with blades exported from Solingen, Germany during this period.

Andrew Ferrara or, more correctly, Andrea Ferrara was a make of sword-blade highly esteemed in Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries. Sir Walter Scott notes that the name of Andrea de Ferrara was inscribed "on all the Scottish broadswords that are accounted of peculiar excellence". No historical person of that name can be identified, but Scott reports a general belief that Ferrara was a Spanish or Italian artificer who was brought to Scotland in the early 16th century, by either James IV or V, to instruct the Scots in the manufacture of the high-quality steel blades current in Renaissance Europe. According to some sources, the name of the manufacturer was Andrea dei Ferrari of Belluno, according to others, Andrew Ferrars or Ferrier of Arbroath.

His method of manufacture remains much a mystery, but it is suspected that they were made by interlamination, a process of welding the blade in alternate layers of iron and steel. Andrew Ferrara blades were special in their extreme flexibility. For instance, it is said that Andrew Ferrara, the manufacturer of the blades, always carried one wrapped up in his bonnet. They rarely broke, even under immense force and when used to deal horizontal blows.

This example features a lovely basket which has gone through some heavy oxidation and loss of some material, with a wooden grip that is now loose on the hilt. The hilt has a lovely design which has lost some material, with some areas that once connected no longer having a connection. Additionally, there is one spot where there appears to have been a soldered repair, likely to stop it from breaking further.

The blade of the sword is well-retained, with partial triple fullers along the first 8 inches. The blade is roughly 35½” long and has pitting in several spots across. The blade retains its original length and is marked with the “Running Wolf” insignia often found on Solingen-imported blades of this period. There is much variation in the design and composition of the wolf, making this a great research project.

This is one of the most tremendous basket-hilted broadswords we have offered, one that dates before the first Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, ready for further research and display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 35 1/2"
Overall length: 40 3/4“
Crossguard: 5 1/2”