Wahoo! This is my stuff
Ok heres the skinny version of Scottish fighting:
It is true that the only weapon that was called a 'claymore' by Highland Scots was the baskethilt variety.
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/display ... =19&pos=95
The Gaelic word for this sword is "claidheamh-mor ". There are also single edged baskethilted backswords which had the Gaelic name of "claidheamh cuil".
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/display ... =19&pos=68
There are late 18th century documents where English visitors to the Scottish highlands must have been confused or misinformed and refer to the two handed swords as 'claymores'. There are dozens of instances from Scottish and English sourses that refer to the basket hilt sword as a 'claymore'. This is also the only weapon to be propperly known in its time as a "broadsword'.
The large two handed sword most people call a claymore was known by the Gaelic word, "claidheamh da laimh" - If you see people today refering to a 'CDL' this is what they are talking about.
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/display ... =41&pos=74
There is also a clamshell sword unknown by many. As far as I can tell, it was also called a "claidheamh da laimh".
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/display ... =41&pos=70
It is also true (as far as we can guess) that the Highland Dirk evolved from the ballock dagger. Here is a fantastic article with dozens of historical examples that shows the evolution of the dirk:
http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_spot_dirks.html
Now as far as actually using this stuff. In all reality there is not a whole lot of application of this stuff other than perhaps the knife. Just depends on if the knife you practice with and carry around with you is similar in nature to the dirk.
(btw- Im going to be bringing my dirk waster to Jay's dagger workshop in Oct and am excited to see how it works out!
)
I agree that for the CDL's some German greatsword stuff could be applicable. Unfortunatley there are no native Scottish manuals prior to the 18th century. (Two handed swords were too old for even Scotland by this time) So we dont know EXACTLY how it worked. There is some discussion and debate by others that a better possible source for Scottish two hander use is looking at English staff techniques. I havent had a chance to explore this really, but on the surface it dosent seem too off the wall. George Silver, if I remember correctly, also mentioned a two handed sword should be used like a staff.
With baskethilts there is much more stuff to work with. However, as we start to get these manuals from the mid to late 18th century we can start to see the downfall of practical sword use. Much of the later broadsword manuals seem to be heavily influenced by smallsword and spadroon techniques. Indeed we see the wide cutting blades of earlier baskethilts being slimmed down for this reason. Compare this image with the above baskethilt.
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/display ... 19&pos=155
So perhaps the best place to start is to identify what you really want to work on. If your main drive is real life practicality then you probably want to look at the dirk. And in that case there really dosent seem to be any native techniques that are identifiable at this point.
There was a Sgian Dubh mentioned earlier... This is a Gaelic term for 'black knife' or 'black handled/hitled knife'. These are small knifes that you will commonly today see blinged out and worn in peoples hose at Highland Games:
http://kiltstore.net/sr_wscot_sgiandubh ... ghlandwear
There is no historical evidence for this being worn in the sock prior to the 19th century. There is documetation of it being worn, "near the armpit". Quite what that means, we don't know. Most people who study this stuff pretty much agree that the Highlander would have worn it or just stuck it where ever he found it most useful. This might have more real world application as its easier to carry around a small boot knife than a 12 inch + dirk. Again, there are no texts on its use so we have to look at the weapon it self, figure out from its design, what its best suited for and work on it from there. I think you would be fine using it with the many modern manuals about fighting with smaller blades. The problem is finding a decent one. 99.99% of the ones you see on the market are decorative pieces and arent funtional as a real weapon. (I've been through 3)
Hope this has been helpful. Feel free to pepper us with questions- especially if its anything to do with Scottish stuff!
Sometimes its gets a little too German around here for me
kidding...kinda
"Why is there a picture of a man with a sword in his head on your desk?" -friends inquiry
