Hilt of a basket-hilted sword

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This detail shows the basket hilt and part of the blade of a sword dating from the mid 18th century. The hilt, decorated with silver thistles, was made by Walter Allan of Stirling. The blade was imported from Germany.

The hilt has been fitted to a back blade - a blade which is sharp on the fore edge only, unlike a broad blade which is sharp on both edges.

Like the Doune gunsmiths, a large part of the Stirling armourers' business was with the Highlands in the years before 1745. But although John Allan's two sons carried on the business and produced fine hilts, the industry came to an end about 1770.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-002-250-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.LA 125
• Date: Mid 18th century
  
• Material: Inscription: On underside of quillon: WA [and] S [beneath the WA]
  Backsword
  
• Dimensions: 1010 mm L x 110 mm max W x 130 mm max D
  
• What: Backsword
  
• Subject: Swords (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Milne-Davidson Collection
  Walter Allan, Stirling (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Stirlingshire, Stirling
  
• Event:
• Description: Backsword with a basket-hilt and inscribed blade, with WAS inscribed on the underside of the quillon
  
• References:
• Translations:
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