Scottish Claymore

The two-handed Scottish Claymore, or “claidheamh mor” in Scottish Gaelic, was one of the final developments of the distinctive Scottish sword. By the 16th century, the single-handed Scottish sword with its down-turned quillons had evolved not just into a basket-hilted variety of the same blade, but also a long, two-handed sword with an unique quatrefoil guard.

The Claymore was an aggressive infantry weapon. Too large to use on horseback or with a shield, it delivered overpowering blows that would sweep aside any efforts to block or parry. For over two hundred years, the Claymore witnessed inter-clan rivalries and was used in wars against the English crown until the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.

Based on a early 16th century Claymore, this sword is gracefully engineered as a tough, high-impact, yet impressively balanced weapon. The quatrefoil quillons are carefully crafted from originals on display in the Scottish National Museum, the British Museum, The Royal Ontario Museum and The Royal Armouries (Leeds). The blade, specifically designed to deliver devastating strikes, is elegant in its simplicity. The Claymore is a weapon evocative of the Scottish highlands, and the fierce clansmen who lived, fought, and died there.