The History of the Claymore Sword

A claymore sword is a type of battle weapon from several eras of the Middle Ages. The sword comes in two distinct categories; the Two-handed claymore sword, and the basket hilt.

The two handed claymore version was a huge sword that was used primarily by the English and Scottish during Medieval and early modern times. It was the favored weapon of many different clans of Scotsmen as well as a popular weapon among English soldier regulars. Though the claymore is massive, it is somewhat smaller and easier to maneuver than other two-handed blades of the era. The sword sports a cross-hilt that have slopping arms that stretch out towards the blade of the sword. These arms usually ended in small round swellings that could be used for bludgenoning in the event of the sword's breaking. An average two-handed claymore usually runs around 150 cm in length, with an average blade weight of 5.5 lbs. This sword was meant to be slightly less heavy than other two handed blades of the time, enabling it to to adequate damage while still being faster than some other blades. It retained its heavy blade so that momentum gathered during a swing would have impact enough to slice through opponents armor. Because the armor of the time was usually thick plate mail, it was necessary for the sword to carry enough weight to still do damage to an armored opponent. Even with the sword's reduced weight, it was still considered superior to many larger, heavier swords simply because of its speed to power ratio.

The basket hilt sister blade of the two handed claymore sword was far shorter than its predeceasing inspiration. It was made to be a one-handed blade that would become very popular with Scottish soldiers during the 17th century. The claymore has been used as a practical weapon as recently as World War II by English officers. The basket hilt claymore can be either single or double edged in type, usually having an average weight of between 2 and 3 pounds. The blade is somewhat wider than other blades used as recently as this, being around 30 to 35 inches in length. Not only was the basket hilt claymore a functional weapon as early as this, it was also a decorative blade. Because of the appeal of the basket hilt style, it was often worn in ornament by officers, but a less decorated blade had to be carried in combat. The basket hilt was originally formed to protect the hand during combat, but because a staple of the average gentleman of the time. During its time of practical application in its early usage, it was often paired with a buckler, or small round shield used for defense as well as offense.

Medieval Weapons