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.
"'Tis but a scratch."
http://www.americanscottishfoundation.com/tartandayevents2005.htm
http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-1225-1243_1682811,00.html
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050330-124516-2581r.htm
Hope that helps!
6 stone maybe ?
If you go further into that web site, it looks like Gibson copied the Robert the Bruce Sword instead.
My second thought was William Wallace was alleged to be around 6'5" and even if you factor in some exageration due to legendary status he had to be one big MOFO for his time. If you see the sword you can tell he would have to be very big and strong to wield it.
From an article on The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts ( www.thehaca.com)page:
http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html
"Identification - Definition of the Two-Handed Great Sword
To understand what we are discussing it is important to first have a working definition. The respected work, Swords and Hilt Weapons, offers this description of the weapon:
"The two-handed sword was a specialized and effective infantry weapon, and was recognized as such in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Although large, measuring 60-70 in/150-175 cm overall, it was not as hefty as it looked, weighing something of the order of 5-8 lbs/2.3-3.6 kg. In the hands of the Swiss and German infantrymen it was lethal, and its use was considered as special skill, often meriting extra pay. Fifteenth-century examples usually have an expanded cruciform hilt, sometimes with side rings on one or both sides of the quillon block. This was the form which remained dominant in Italy during the sixteenth century, but in Germany a more flamboyant form developed. Two-handed swords typically have a generous ricasso to allow the blade to be safely gripped below the quillons and thus wielded more effectively at close quarters. Triangular or pointed projections, known as flukes, were added at the base of the ricasso to defend the hand." (Coe et al, p. 48) "
Good article at the link I gave.
Yeah, I noticed that. It does have a cleaner, leaner look, IMHO.
I got a kilt from Sport Kilt and I'm wearing it to the offce on Tartan Day.
Maybe someday the Scots will be free of the Brits, like us.
Oberon is flat wrong.
Look at this:
http://albion-swords.com/swords/albion/squire/sword-squire-warsword.htm
47 inches.
3 pounds 10 ounces.
I got a kilt from Sport Kilt and I'm wearing it to the offce on Tartan Day.
Maybe someday the Scots will be free of the Brits, like us.
Sorry 'bout the double post. It's been awhile.
Aye. It is fairly thin, however. Mine is about 3 1/2 feet and weighs in at 7 pounds.
Whoa, 8 pounds? My single hand sword is less than 3.
Supposedly it's also balanced quite well.
I'd love to know how they did that.
"The 6-pound weapon will be returned to its home..."
Wouldn't a 5ft sword be closer to 26lbs than just 6lbs? At 5ft and only 6lbs I can't imagine it would survive very many two handed swipes.
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