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.
Okay, duh on me again. I know what an entrenching tool is. Every kid in my neighborhood had one or two, along with surplus shelter halves, canteens, web belts, .50 cal machine guns...wait a minute. Scratch the machine guns.
In my galloping senility, though, I just couldn't get past "e-" meaning "electronic." e-Mail, e-commerce, etc.
With a good tailwind, you've got about a 6-7 hour drive ahead of ya.
Start packing....:)
You're obviously destined to make a holy mountain under a molehill...:)
*sigh*
The miles between us mean I'll have to worship you from a'far.
[ye gittit? at dere's hillbilly speak]...:D
LOL!
Pretty much!
LOL!
Holy mountain under a molehill, I love it!
I have watched escrima, akido and the gracie brothers fight and took all the instruction I could afford on uncle sugars dime (yer tax dollars thank yew very much) and after many years I decided upon a few select tools and they were a 1911A1, an M1A, an E-tool w/ razor sharp edges, a Randall Number 14 (More of a demo EOD tool in my case), and a toy I carried around the world a few times.........
a triangular spike with a 12 inch blade and custom grip made from micarta that I had checkered with a very deep and agressive pattern. My "spike" was a very sharp point and smooth serrations were cut into the edges. I used a wheel that knifemakers use to grind such serrations in their designs. The serrations were not so agressive that they "caught on clothing or "bone" and it was thick enough at the base that it did massive damage. I tried to emulate the old WWI trench knife without the brass knuckles yet all the durability to probe for UXO or a vital organ.
I used it more for UXO than pig stickin over my career...lots more. I did get to try it on a fresh pig carcas once that was being prepped for a BBQ........it would have filled the task of deep fast thrusting wounds quite nicely. Happliy I always had enough ammo to never get into a knife fight .......
Ya'll Stay safe !
True confession time. I have spend over twenty years as a machinist and I don't know how to sharpen a knife. No patience I guess. I usually get to certain degree and that's it. No shaving the hair off my arm. No paper slicing. I have no idea why I haven't learned.
My pat answer has always been that I don't like knives. I can't unload them.
LOL.........man I'm glad ya stopped by to freep for a while....always enjoy the posts.
Stay safe !!
Very informative posts -- thanks...
Hey, jumped on my favorite hobbyhorse, rode hell-for-leather for the border, and got thanked for it. That doesn't happen every day.
Usually people's eyes glaze over and a line of drool appears at the corners of their mouths.
I wonder why that is. It couldn't be that I'm boring, surely.
"Son of Ugly" here.
Less abiguous than "steep hill" and I think much more akin to the brotherhood aspect of Highland life since the vikings.
Here ya go...
One of my favorite films. Must get back to this later.
Ahh....a Macpherson are ye?
Aye, one might expect that you'd cherish a peek.;=)
Regards,
/jasper
Aye 'Tis the truth ye be tellin
Take heart, once a MacPherson, always a MacPherson. ;^)
/jasper
http://www.thearma.org/essays/weights.htm
Found this.
http://www.thearma.org/essays/weights.htm
Found this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.