[Thomas McDonald]

I'm going to post up some of the wonderful artwork of C.N. McIntyre North (1881), and some of his pertinent infomation concerning the plates. I'll add more as I upload pic's , & get these fingers 'a typing !

C.N. McIntyre North "Leabhar Comunn nam Fior Ghael", Vol. II (1881)
The Book of the Club of True Highlanders

Plate 43

Another sword belonging to Major Graham Stirling of Craigbarnett has the date 1499 on it.
The claymore, owing to the careful distribution of weight for balance, handiness, and power of execution is unequalled;
the specimen (Plate 43) weighs 2 lbs. 7 1/4 oz. , the blade & tang, 1 lb. 2 1/4 oz.; the hilt, handle, and pommel, 1 lb. 4 oz.;
a small button was added to the pommel, and was screwed on to secure the tang about three years ago, but this is not shown in the illustration. This sword has the rear of the hilt bound together by a ring, the earlier one being merely butted into a groove in the pommel.

The claymore in it's best form has the hilt and catch fashioned so that one face has not the same projection as the other, and this fits closer to the side of the wearer; this will be clearly seen on the illustration (Plate 43) of the sword in our possession; the maker's name is Runkel, of Solingen; the sword was pronounced by Logan to be a fine specimen of the claymore. The hilt was hand-burnished by an old soldier twenty-two years ago, and it retains it's polish ever since.

The curved guards, it is supposed, were for the purpose of locking an opponet's sword and breaking it or disarming him.

(ee) The weights were taken by a spring balance, with the exception of the specimen Plate 43 -- this was taken to pieces and each part carefully weighed; the one on Plate 45 was also carefully weighed.

* Plate 43 - Claymore belonging to C.N. McIntryre North; pistol an targaid in the Tower ........

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 44

The second illustration (Plate 44) shows a claymore in the possession of F. Mortimer, Esq., the hilt is a beautiful specimen of workmanship; the blade is 31" inches from hilt to point, the sword weighs 2 lbs. (ee); the maker's name is entirely obliterated; it was bought at the sale of the collection belonging to Mr. Drummond.

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 45

The next plate (plate 45) is from a claymore in the possession of A. Walker, Esq., Dean of Guild, Aberdeen; the blade is 35" inches from hilt to point, and weight of sword is 2 lbs. 3/4 oz. , blade marked "Andria Farrara".

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 46

On plate 46 is another illustration (C.) drawn from a photograph, taken to a quarter full size, and forwarded to me by the kindness of the same gentleman , who writes, "This two-edged sword (a Ferrara sword) is in the possession of the great grandson of the man who used it at the Battle of Culloden. The Connans are a Ross-shire family; the present owner, his father, grandfather, and great grandfather, never parted with the weapon; the scabbard has long been awanting".
The blade is 34" inches from hilt to point, and 2" inches broad at the hilt, and the sword weighs 2 lbs. 8 oz., it is marked Andria Ferrara, and the device ( see illustration plate 48) is a gold inlay.

The illustrations on the same plate (A.) show the sides of a claymore belonging to S. Wilcocks, Esq., this was also used, we believe, at Culloden; the thumb side of the hilt has a curious oval, which we think, must have been designed to allow play for the long muzzle of the pistol. ( * actually for a horseman's reins to pass through - Mac)
The blade is marked "Ferrara" on one side, with "Andria" on the other; the words are divided by groups pf crowned heads which appear to have been stamped in with a punch. The hilt is not, in this specimen, secured to a ring next the pommel, but is fitted to it.

The other illustration in this plate is from a specimenin the Tower, which appears to be the same age asone dated 1681, and the hilt is of the same character, the blade is marked "Salingen & me fecit"; the hilt, like the preceeding illustration, has no ring next the pommel; the tang appears to have been broken at some time,as the pommel is fixed inside the hilt; the basket on the other sword is smashed. We believe the hilts of the most ancient of claymores were not secured, and the liability to being damaged in the manner above mentioned no doubt led to their being secured by a ring, which greatly adds to the strength of the hilt.

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 47

Plate 47 shows a beautiful specimen of the hilt with the oval in the same; this is in the possession of F. Mortimer, Esq.; the sword of McKenzie of Kintail is taken from his monument in Beauley Priory.

On this plate is also shown the sword borne by the ill-fated James IV. at the Battle of Flodden, and is interesting as a relic of rivalry, happily now but a thing of the past.

The remaining claymores are the finest of their several designs, and, as beautiful examples of hammered and pierced smith work, require no further discription.

Where the numerous claymores were made has not yet been satisfactorily settled, and the puzzle as to whether Ferrara was the name of a smith or a place is still unsolved. Tradition says that Ferrara was a smith, who jealously guarded his secret of manafacture; for this purpose he worked in secret, and the son discovering the process was killed by the father.
But it is more probable that the blades were made at Ferrara, and the hilts were of native manafacture (gg).

* (gg) Captain McEnery, Royal Irish Academy, has some Ferrara blades with Moorish hilts, and in plate 47 is shown an ornamented hilt to a blade marked with "Ferrara" and a fox (plate 48, fig. 19) .

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 48

In plate 48 is shown a number of cutler marks; the first (fig. 1), on one side of the Claidheamh-mor of McLean of Coll (see plate 41), has a peculair mark like a globe and broad arrow; the second is scratched on the fellow sword before mentioned as being in possession of McLean of Coll, but the end is turned into a figure resembling the eight points of a compass; fig. 4 shows the cross and globe pure and simple , in conjunction with the fox, which is on a sword belonging to Stewart of Ardvorlich; fig. 3 is the only mark on the sword of Lundin; figs. 5 and 6 have already been mentioned; fig. 8 is on a blade, the hilt of which is like the one belonging to Mr. Cionnan (plate 47), and this, we are inclined to believe, from the style, was the mark of the most celebrated of the Andreas; fig. 9 is on Mr. Connan's sword, the ball and globe being inlay gold; fig. 10 is the mark of the charmed sword of Cluny, the wearer of which is believed never to have been killed in battle; figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 show the name in conjuction with heads (hh); most of the heads have crowns, but one belonging to Mr. A. Davie, St. Fillans, has a sort of turban; 11 and 12 are on the blade at Drummond Castle; fig. 15 is from Ardvorlich; fig. 16, Mr. Davie of St. Fillans; fig 17, at Drummond Castle; fig. 18 is on the claymore belonging to Lord Archibald Campbell; fig. 19 is on the blade of the sword shown on plate 47; the blade is marked "Ferrara"; the hilt is a fine specimen of the work of the period ( the date of it being 1663) (ii), and although it cannot be called a claymore is worthy of preservation. Fig. 20 is on a sword belonging to Mr. Isles of Blairgowie; the hilt appears to have been made by the same maker, although the marks on the blade are very different, and is inserted for comparison with No. 19 .
Fig. 21 is from rubbings kindly forwarded by Major Graham Stirling, of Craigbarnett, and figs. 22 and 23 are on claymores in the Tower Armoury.

*(hh) Mr. W. Allan, of Sunderland, has a claymore with a similar mark, the hilt is like one side of the Wilcock, and the blade is a fine specimen of smith's work.

*(ii) This sword is in the Armoury, Drummond Castle; it was presented to the late Lord Willoughby as "Hal o' the Wynd's sword", who accepted it as a token of friendship, but nothing more was known about it at Drummond Castle. We have reason to believe that it belonged to Robertson of Butter Gask, who sold it for one pound; a history was made, which demonstrated that it belonged to "Hal o' the Wynd" and it was bought for ten pounds by the donor referred to.

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 49

Next to the claymore the dirk was the most deadly weapon the Highlander was armed with. The finest and most perfect specimen we know belongs to B. Homer Dixon, Esq., Consul-General of the Netherlands, at Toronto (plate 49). It was presented by him some time ago in Canada. The handle is of a yellow wood , like old box, and the top has been fitted with an iron ring, but we have shown the unsheathed dirk, with a top of the same shape as the one found at Sheriffmuir ; the sheath is a beautiful specimen, which has the initials "I. C." in front in raised letters (jj). There is not a sperate sheath for the unique sgian which belongs with it, and which lies flat to the blade of the dirk. This and one belonging to Sir Noel Paton are the earliest types of the Highland dirk. later specimens have a knife and fork in the sheath. The one belonging to Stewart of Ardvorlich is in the most perfect condition; the other specimen shown was found on the field at Culloden, and is at Culloden House. The one in our possission is a fine specimen, about 30 years old; it is silver-mounted, with cairn gorm stones in the handles of the dirk, knife, and fork. The dirk weighs 13 1/2 oz., the knife and fork 1 oz. each; and the whole weighs 1 lb. 2 1/2 oz. The sgian dhu is carried in the folds of the hose of the right leg. The specimens are modern (kk), but have a strong resemblance to those shown in MS (plate 29). The dagger belonging to James IV is also shown in plate 49, and, with the sword, is at present in the Herald's College, London.

* (jj) The drawings were made from some admirable photographs by Bruce, of Toronto, and for which I am indebted to Consul-General Dixon.
* (kk) The large one, carved by ourselves some twenty-five years ago: it weighs 2 1/2 oz.

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 50

The axes known as the Lochaber axes had their Keltic representatives in the axes shown on plates 5 & 7, and a crushing retort was often delivered by the Mace (plate 9).

A monument, supposed to commemorate the murder of King Malcolm, shows two figures joining hands, and with axes in the other, very much like the Lochaber axes at Blair Castle (pp).

They were first mentioned being used by the Scots in 1388. froissart describes them as with a long shaft, with a blade larger than an axe, and shorter than a sword, with a hook behind it ; and, describing the battle of Neville's Cross, he says, "The Scottes had great axes, sharpe and hard, and gaue with them many great strokes" . The Highlanders attacked King Robert Bruce with Lochaber axes with great effect at Dalree.

The Lord of the Isles made an attack at the battle of Harlaw with men armed with swords, fitted to cut & thrust, poleaxes (afterwards called Lochaber axes), bows & arrows, short knives, and round bucklers, formed of wood and strong hides, with bosses of brass or iron.

An ancient statute of William, King of Scotland (1165), says : --"Concerning those presenting themselves to serve in war, and whoever has less than 40 shillings' worth of land, shall be armed with a gisarum, which is called a hand bill (habeat gysarum quod dicitur, hand bill), and bow and arrows" (qq).

The various shapes of the Highland and other battle axes are shown on plates 47 and 50 (rr), and can speak for themselves, as they have done before in many a hard-fought field.

* (pp) See also plate 5 .
* (qq) Meyick
* (rr) The weapons on plate 50 are drawn to half the size of the others, on account of their size. The axe in the centre is a "Jeddart" axe. Fig. C is modern, from a design by Logan for the C.T.H.

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 51

The bow, even after the introduction of firearms, was a favorite weapon of the Highlanders (ll). The cross-bow was also used. One was formed in Auchmeddan, Aberdeenshire, and the stock of another, with Keltic enrichments, is in the possession of the Rev. A. Stewart -- it was found in Corran Moss in 1868, five feet down; it is of birchwood, beautifully carved; it's length is 20" inches; breadth at broadest part 4" inches; and as a family of Camerons, famous in Gaelic song as cross-bowmen, lived in the neighborhood in the 15th century, it is supposed to have belonged to one of that family. A cross-bow is also at Ardvorlich.

The price of an English bow (mm) was 16 shillings, and a Scottish one 9 shillings, and bows and arrows were sent as presents from the king to his loving vassels (nn), and we find that they were used as late as 1688 in the clan battle between the Macintosh and McDonald of Keppoch. When bows went out of fashion the pistol was the firearm most prized by the Highlanders, and the waepon manafactured in the Highlands was distinguished by it's peculiar shape. Plate 51 shows the lock of the pistol shown on plate 45; the mainspring of this is carefully worked. When the hammer was pulled back the sere, if we may use the term, was pushed by the spring over the tumbler, and when the trigger was pulled the hammer sprang forward with a jerky movement, which disconcerted the aim, the flash-pan being very imperfectly covered, the powder was lost, and missfires were so frequent, that it became a saying that the dirk never missed fire (plates 45 and 47). The one on plate 47 weighs 1lb 1/4 oz. and the bore will take a bullet about 7/12 diameter. Another (plate 47) , belonging to R. Glen, Esq., has a sliding lid to cover the powder in the pan; the bore of this takes a 5/8" inch bullet. A fine specimen (plate 47) is in the possession of davie of St. Fillans. The barrel is inlayed with silver. Another of the same design is in the possession of J. Noble, Esq., of Inverness. A later form of lock, belonging to the pistols (plate 43) shown on plate 51, is furnished with a catch, projecting from the face of the lock, apparently to prevent the hammer falling by accident. When the trigger was pulled the catch was drawn inwards, and the tumbler was released. Plate 44 shows a beautifully engraved and silver-mounted stock and barrel; the name on it is John Campbell; it's weight is 1 lb. 8 oz., and will carry a 9/16 bullet . The pistol on plate 43 appears to be one returned to store, and the initials "R.H.R." (oo) seem to suggest that they belonged to the Black Watch when they were allowed to carry pistols. The pistols were generally of iron, or with brass stocks, and had slides, which placed the butts the right hand, one pistol being carried in the belt, the other by a small shoulder belt, so the pistol rested under the left armpit (plate 33). Some, however, had the slide fixed the reverse side (plate 47). A pricker was screwed to the butt end of the pistols for cleaning out the touch-holes, & c.

* (ll) The Grenadiers of the Highland companies in William the Third's time wore the old red bonnet, and carried bows & arrows.--Meyrick. McKay's regiment, which so gallantly distinguished itself in the Thirty Year's War, consisted chiefly of pikemen and musqueteers. The other weapons used were two-handed swords, dirks and pistols, bows & arrows. -- Mckay of ben Reay, "History of McKay's Regiment."

* (mm) We were unable to pay our expected visit to the west coast, and as there were no photographers in that part of the world (we are informed), it is a matter of deep regret that we were not able to add it to our list of illustrations.

* (nn) Item. -- The 2nd day of December, 1532. Paid to the English bowar for a dozen of bows and six dozen of arrows, delivered to the King's Grace for his own shooting, Twenty pounds.

* (oo) In Sir Noel Paton's collection are a pair of pistols by the same maker, "Bissett", with "R.H.R"; also specimens by Murdoch -- one engraved Dono Ja. D. De Hamilton, Pat Lundin, James Lundin, and others by Alexander Shireff, old Meldrum, and Jo. Christie.

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 41

The Claidheamh-mor, "great sword", or two-handed sword, was common at one time, but when it was introduced into the Highlands is unknown. The one shown on plate 41(believed to have been used by Robert Bruce) is known to have belonged to the founder of the family of the McLeans of Coll. The handle is a fine specimen of carved work, the blade is of very good temper, and the sword is a very fine specimen of the armourer's art. The scabbard is not of the same age (plate 41, fig. A). The sword weighs 4 lbs. 8 oz., and the scabbard 1 lb. 1/4 oz.

Another sword, apparently by the same maker (also in the possession of Col. McLean of Coll), has not the same amount of finish bestowed upon it; the quatre-foils of the guard are left rough from the anvil, and the handle is plain; the scabbard is, however, older than the one previously described; both of the scabbards are of leather.
Figs. BB show the sword used by Lundin of that ilk at Bannockburn; the blade is about 49" inches long, and the weight is about 6lbs. 8oz.
Fig. C shows a two-handed sword at Cluny Castle, which formerly belonged to Fraser of Struie; there is a very good specimen at Ardvorlich, and one in the possession of Sir Noel Paton.

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 42

There are a number of two-handed swords in the Tower (aa), but none so fine as those already mentioned; one of them weighing 8lbs. 8oz., is shown on plate 42, and on comparison the difference in make will be seen (bb). On the same plate is also shown a representation of a two-handed sword, with the hilt and targaid (taken fron Stuart's work); this sword, from it's great length, was hung at the back, and was drawn from over the shoulder; the targaid shown must have been used simply as a protection from missiles, until the bearer came within striking distance, when it was cast on one side for the onslaught. The Harleian MS., 3542, in the British Museum, contains instructions for, and plate 52 shows the manner of using the two-handed sword.

The scarcity of two-handed swords has often been remarked, but they were evidently altered in later times, for we find that a two-handed sword was used at the Battle of Glenfruin, by the chief of the McGregors, and was afterwards cut down to it's present size by major Evan McGregor, who acted as an aide-de-camp to Bonnie Prince Charlie; it is at present in the possession of lady Helen McGregor of McGregor.

* (aa) Others in the Tower have blades 4 ft. 6" inches long, and elaborately worked; the handles appear to have been covered, and the blades to a distance of about 3" inches beyond the small guard were covered in stout leather; the blades are indented.

* (bb) The following record would seem to show that there was a recognised difference between the Highland and the Lowland "Claidheamh-mor : -- Inventory, dated anno 30, Henry VI. It'm : --"A Scottyssh swerde hylte and pomell, coved with sylver, and a small corone aboute the pomell, which was stolen out of the king's chambr, and the blade broken, and cast into Tempse." -- Tower Records, read by S. Lyons, A.D. 1807.

[Stephen A. Fisher]

Mac,

Great stuff! Thanks!

[Scott Bubar]

Have mercy, Mac!

Too much to assimilate at one reading, at least for this old guy. I'll have to come back and spend some time with it.

What's "(ee)"?

[Thomas McDonald]

[Thomas McDonald]

[Thomas McDonald]

Plate 30

* Frontispiece, Plate 30 -- Ornament from Rochester Cathedral; Relics of the Bonnie Prince; the Pistols, Targaid, Sporran, Coffee Mill, Dirk, Goblet, Silver Cuach, Wooden ditto, Walking Staff, Knife, and Tartan.

According to Logan, the first record of the leather targaid in the Act of the Scottish Parliament is dated 1456, and directs that this weapon of defence is to be "eyther of ledder or of fyrme borde, with twa bands on the bak" .

The best of the Highland targaids were formed with two thicknesses of board placed crossways of the grain (they were probably glued together), and covered with a stout bull's hide. The design for the ornamentation was than set out, and the pattern worked on in much the same manner as that used by the bookbinders and stampers of the present day; brass bosses were fixed as fancy dictated; sometimes a spike was fixed in the centre (i), the inner face was covered with deer or sheep skin, with the hair on; one band was first fixed on the back, but the other was placed afterwards to suit the length of the owner's arm. Where the targaids were all made is not certain; one writer maintains that they were made in Glasgow, because mention is made of Glasgow targets, but this reference would seem to imply that the Glasgow targets were Glasgow targets (to perpetrate a bull), and that they were thus distinguished from those made in other towns; but whether by their excellence or otherwise we cannot determine .

The targaids shown in plates 43, 45, 46, are in the Tower Armoury, and are believed to have been gathered at Culloden; one weighs 4 lbs. 8 oz., the remainder average about 4 lbs 4 oz.; one on plate 46 is of very inferior workmanship, and it would almost appear that the art of decoration was dying out at that period, or that it was a spoiled piece of work used in the day of need; the bosses and studding shown on the plate are wanting in the original. The other targaid shown in this plate is in the Perth Museum; the indistinct portions of the pattern are hatched over in the drawing. On plate 42 is shown a small targaid with the edges projecting; it is the property of F. Mortimer, Esq., and was purchased at the sale of the Drummond Collection; the shield is divided with a kind of diaper pattern, and from existing marks it would seem to have had some kind of ornament (of stone or metal) stuck on the surface with a kind of cement. Another targaid belonging to the same gentleman is shown on plate 46.
The targaid shown on plate 44 is an undoubted relic of Culloden; it is a very beautiful specimen of workmanship, and is preserved at Culloden House; unforunately at the time of our visit the key of the glass case in which it is kept could not be found, so that we are not sure that the exact diameter is given, but in other respects it is a careful detailed drawing.

Plate 47 shows shows a targaid with a very fine chaste design; it belongs to Colonel Stewart of Ardvorlich, and has a long spike for screwing in the boss in time of danger; at other times it is carried in the small sheath at the back.

[David Wilson]

Cool stuff! Thanks for sharing this.

Wish there was a reprint available..... this and Drummond's book too!

[Thomas McDonald]

[Ivan Campos]

This is my first post on this forum and I just couldn't let this topic pass without saying that I am very impressed with these drawings.
Really cool! Thanks for sharing them.

[Allen Johnson]

Many thanks for this wealth of info! We're really lucky to have someone around like you with so many great sources and you willingness to take all that time to share them. Thanks again!