A SCOTTISH BASKET HILTED BROADSWORD LAST QUARTER OF THE 17th CENTURY

Swords of this type, identified as ribbon hilts, represent the Scottish basket hilt in its early fully developed form. The cross guard terminates in projections from which the term beaked derives, and are vestigial quillons. While nearly all surviving examples are heavily patinaed, this example is distinguished by retaining remnants of its original japanned finish with some areas of the hilt showing original surfaces. The blade is marked with a series of stars and ANDRIA one side and FERARA the other. A closely related example of identical date is illustrated in Culloden, The Swords and Sorrows, #1:46. 32" length blade.