This rare Scottish basket-hilted broadsword is an exceptionally fine example of a pre-Battle of Culloden sword typical of those favored by Scottish highlanders, civilian and military alike. A high quality example such as this one would have been a fine fit for the hand of a clan chief or officer in one of many highland regiments in the British army. These iconic swords remain incredibly desirable to collectors, especially those bearing Scottish maker's marks such as this one. The hilt of this weapon bears the deeply struck maker's mark "I-S/G" on the rear quillion, the mark of John Simpson the Younger of Glasgow. Simpson the Younger was the son of, and likely apprenticed to, John Simpson the Elder, who was admitted to the Incorporation of Hammermen in 1683, and later admitted as a Guild-Brother and Master in 1692, before dying around 1718. Simpson the Elder is believed to be one of the first Scottish makers to stamp his mark on the hilts he manufactured. Simpson the Younger was admitted to the Incorporation of Hammermen in 1711 as a freemason and died in 1749. The lenticular sectioned blade of this example is marked as made "IN SOLINGEN" on both sides in the center of three deep fullers arranged around the forte, and the Solingen "running wolf" mark is stamped just above the center fuller on both sides. These Solingen-made blades were of very high quality and commonly used by Scottish swordsmiths of the period. The basket is of the typical Glasgow style, though more elaborate, featuring grooved rectangular bars, scalloped shields and side guards pierced with triangles and dots, and pierced terminal lobes of the side guards flanked by ram's horns. The pommel is an elaborately grooved flattened dome with a visibly peened tang, and the saltire bars and knuckle guard bars correctly fitted into a groove at its base. Some of the original black Japanned finish on the hilt remains visible in the grooves of the basket and pommel. The grip is shagreen and attractively wrapped in period brass wire. A very similar example to this sword is held in the Royal Armouries Collections (IX.873) and is pictured on p. 103 of "British Basket-Hilted Swords" by Cyril Mazansky.

Fine, the blade showing a mix of bright and dark grey patina with a few light nicks in the edges, some scattered light pitting, some slight edge erosion due to sharpening, and crisp markings. The hilt is also very fine retaining traces of the original Japanned finish in sheltered areas with the balance mostly a bright grey patina and some light pitting. The grip is very fine showing some mild wear and most of the period wire wrapping remaining tight. It would be very difficult to find a finer example of a pre-Battle of Culloden, maker's marked Scottish basket-hilted broadsword!