| No sword was ever wielded with greater bravery | | | | is still worn as an integral part of the ceremonial, |
| than the Claymore sword. They are one of the truly | | | | full-dress uniform of the Highland regiments of the |
| great swords of the world, and thanks to their | | | | British Army. |
| popularity, they are a piece of history that lives on | | | | But the original Claymore sword, simple yet elegant, |
| today. | | | | stands out as one of the classic swords of the |
| The original Claymore swords were massive, | | | | world, one that is immediately recognizable to |
| two-handed, double-edged broadswords that were | | | | weaponry afficionados everywhere. It is a beautiful |
| wielded during the 16th to 18th Centuries by | | | | but deadly design. |
| hard-bitten, hard-fighing Scottish Highlanders. Used for | | | | |
| both cleaving and smashing in melee combat, they | | | | True to their early Scottish roots, the Claymore |
| were the Highlanders' weapons of choice during their | | | | swords that are available today often have a wood |
| continual uprisings against the English and in their | | | | or leather-wrapped handle and sometimes come with |
| bloody and seemingly-constant inter-clan battles. Their | | | | a leather scabbard or sheath. Some Claymore swords |
| design almost always incorporated a cross-hilt with | | | | have chrome-plated steel hilts and blades, others |
| downsloping arms that had quatrefoils (a design that | | | | have solid silver or brass hilts and polished stainless |
| is somewhat similar to a four-leaf clover) on the | | | | steel or carbon steel blades. Some are decorative |
| ends. These Claymore swords required a great deal | | | | replicas, while others are advertised as being |
| of strength to use effectively: they were usually | | | | "battle-ready." Swords have been used as weapons |
| around 4 1/2 feet long and they typically weighed | | | | of war since time immemorial, and in hundreds of |
| around 5 1/2 pounds. The blade alone was usually | | | | different cultures throughout the world. But no |
| around 4 feet of cold, brutal steel. | | | | culture has ever used the sword against higher odds |
| A different type of Claymore sword, somewhat | | | | than the Scots with their Claymore swords. No |
| shorter, somewhat more advanced in design, had | | | | sword was ever wielded with greater bravery than |
| only a single edge. Instead of the cross-hilt, it utilized | | | | the Claymore sword. They are one of the truly great |
| a basket hilt in order to more effectively protect the | | | | swords of the world, and thanks to their popularity, |
| hand in combat. This type of Claymore became | | | | they are a piece of history that lives on today. |
| popular with Scottish troops during the 1700s, and it | | | | |