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'Braveheart' Sword Leaves Scotland for 1st time in 700 years (William Wallace’s sword coming to NYC)
AP via Yahoo! ^ | Wed Mar 30, 8:12 AM ET Europe - AP

Posted on 03/30/2005 1:06:55 PM PST by dead

LONDON - One of Scotland's national treasures, the 5-foot sword wielded by William Wallace, the rebel leader portrayed in the Academy Award-winning film "Braveheart," left its homeland for the first time in more than 700 years Wednesday.

The double-handed weapon that belonged to Wallace will be the centerpiece of an exhibition at New York's Grand Central Station during Tartan Day celebrations, which begin later this week.

Mick Brown a specialist remover prepares to pack William Wallace's sword at the Wallace Monument in Stirling, Scotland Wednesday March 30, 2005. The sword will leave Scotland Wednesday for the first time in more than 700 years, travelling to the United States as part of the country's Tartan Day celebrations being held in April. Members of Stirling Council met earlier this month to decide whether to allow the national treasure make the trip to New York, where it will form the centerpiece of an exhibition. (AP Photo/Andrew Milligan, PA)

This year marks the 700th anniversary of the execution of Wallace, who led the Scots in their battle to free themselves from English rule and whose story was brought to the screen by Mel Gibson in the 1995 film "Braveheart." The film won five Academy Awards.

"This is an historic moment. It is the first time in 700 years that a relic of this importance has left these shores," said Colin O'Brien, a Scottish official accompanying the sword to the United States.

The 6-pound weapon will be returned to its home at the National Wallace Monument in Stirling, Scotland, after the celebrations.

Wallace's sword was kept at Dumbarton Castle for 600 years. King James IV is said to have paid for it to be given a new hilt in 1505.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: archaeology; ggg; godsgravesglyphs; history
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To: Porterville

Too Cool! Too Cool! :)
Well at least we don't have to worry about the Muslims getting any new ideas /sarc


21 posted on 03/30/2005 1:18:33 PM PST by 1FASTGLOCK45 (FreeRepublic: More fun than watching Dem'Rats drown like Turkeys in the rain! ! !)
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To: dead

6 pounds is what it costs to see it.


22 posted on 03/30/2005 1:18:50 PM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: sauropod
Here is the website for Grand Central CLICK . It gives you info on events at Grand Central including Tartan Week.
23 posted on 03/30/2005 1:19:14 PM PST by areafiftyone (The Democrat's Mind: The Hamster's dead but the wheel's still spinning!)
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To: Clint N. Suhks

Aye, Laddie. Lift that kilt, moon the buggers, and charge through them like a hot knife through butter.


24 posted on 03/30/2005 1:20:06 PM PST by ColoCdn (Neco eos omnes, Deus suos agnoset)
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To: sauropod

OOPS my error - thats April 2nd thru April 10th.


25 posted on 03/30/2005 1:20:16 PM PST by areafiftyone (The Democrat's Mind: The Hamster's dead but the wheel's still spinning!)
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To: SittinYonder; bulletinthegun

Scots-Irish ping


26 posted on 03/30/2005 1:23:23 PM PST by eyespysomething (It starts off as a drum circle, next thing you know you've got a college.)
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To: AppyPappy

At this website www.macallenarmourers.com/wallace_sword.htm it displays, and sells, an exact replica.

64 inches
8 pounds

Heavy piece of steel. Would've hit like a ton of bricks.


27 posted on 03/30/2005 1:24:03 PM PST by ColoCdn (Neco eos omnes, Deus suos agnoset)
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To: Oberon
That MUST be 60 pounds.

A sword of 16 pounds would be more likely.

28 posted on 03/30/2005 1:25:35 PM PST by MJemison
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To: areafiftyone

Too bad this didn't find Longshanks heart!


29 posted on 03/30/2005 1:25:54 PM PST by Sybeck1 (Michael, is it the movie and books deals you're waiting for, my boy?)
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To: AppyPappy

6 pounds is how much the person who saw it pointed at him left on the battlefield.


30 posted on 03/30/2005 1:26:31 PM PST by Andyman (The world should not be ruled by those who are most easily offended.)
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To: AppyPappy
Same weight as one of these:


6 lb. solid cannon shot

31 posted on 03/30/2005 1:28:16 PM PST by The_Victor (Calvin: "Do tigers wear pajamas?", Hobbes: "Truth is we never take them off.")
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To: Sthitch
There was a PBS show called "Connections" that tried to follow technological progress. The (probably) first show
had the host whacking a side of beef with a [broad] sword to demonstrate combat wounds 700 years ago.
32 posted on 03/30/2005 1:28:31 PM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: Calvin Locke
"Connections" is one of the high points for PBS, it is a very well done show. I believe that it is actually a BBC production. The episode about the mini ice-age of 14th or 15th century was amazing.
33 posted on 03/30/2005 1:34:31 PM PST by Sthitch
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To: dead

What's the cut-off (no pun intended) date? Mr. HR would be THRILLED to see this!


34 posted on 03/30/2005 1:36:16 PM PST by hispanarepublicana (I was Lucy Ramirez when being Lucy Ramirez was't cool.)
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To: Porterville

Here's a link from google that gives about a one page synopsis on the sword:


http://www.tartans.com/modules.php.srl.op+modload,name+News,file+article,sid+113,mode+thread,order+0,thold+0.html


35 posted on 03/30/2005 1:36:56 PM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: dead

There's a great book called "In Freedom's Cause" about William Wallace and Robert the Bruce with an accurate portrayal written from the perspective of a fictional character. I've read this quite a few times; it's hard to put down. There's now an online version of it here...

http://gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=5891


36 posted on 03/30/2005 1:38:26 PM PST by loreldan
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To: dead

Very cool. "Braveheart" is an amazing movie, one of the all-time greats.


37 posted on 03/30/2005 1:38:27 PM PST by trisham (proudly clad in pajamas and jackboots)
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To: MJemison

You are both wrong. Where do you get the idea that med. European swords are overly heavy?


38 posted on 03/30/2005 1:42:30 PM PST by fishtank
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To: dead
Good movie about a largely forgot and very brave Man; nice job Mr Gibson.
39 posted on 03/30/2005 1:44:36 PM PST by Fast1 (Destroy America buy Chinese goods,Shop at Wal-Mart 3/18/05 American was gone when I woke up)
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To: Fast1

Very good movie but a lot of Scots hate it for its inaccuracies. As a Brit I like it a lot despite the theme (I mean it happened a heck of a long time ago after all).
I did not like the Patriot at all. All that church burning was total BS.


40 posted on 03/30/2005 1:46:33 PM PST by kingsurfer
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