[MR] BBC: Scottish "Claymore" Stolen from Museum

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots,

Today the BBC is reporting the theft of a historic "claymore" sword from a
local museum on the Scottish Island of Canna. The 7' sword dates from the
17th century:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-44532524 . The story
makes no mention of the targe on the wall next to the sword in the photo.
Let's hope it is safe.

Whether the sword deserves to be called a "claymore" is somewhat dubious.
It seems to fall into a special class known by the English as "slaughter
swords". The Canna sword is larger than the usual claymore, and lacks the
typical downward pointing cross-guards typical of the late medieval
Highland weapons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore . Although such
huge swords were sometimes used in battle, they were often really for
martial display and ceremony. There are several swords of this type on
display in Edinburgh Castle. For further discussion of these large swords,
see http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html#.Wyoa02aZM3g .

Another interesting sword of dubious authenticity sometimes called a
"claymore" is the so-called William Wallace sword, proudly displayed in the
Wallace Monument at Stirling. This sword was sold to King James IV around
1500 and passed off as being the real sword of Wallace. The King had the
sword re-hilted with furniture typical of his time, and in the style of a
Lowland two-hander. Even the blade is dodgy, apparently being reforged from
three blades: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Sword . While it is
possible that some of the blade dates from Wallace's time, the style of the
sword is all wrong for Scotland's great hero. Sort of like "alternative
facts" of today, though fake, the Wallace sword is a powerful symbol.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆