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Broadswords UK - Basket-Hilt and Medieval Broadsword Replicas

"Broadsword" is one of those words that has meant several things. To a Jacobite it meant the basket-hilted sword of the Highland charge. To a Victorian it meant any wide-bladed cutting sword, as opposed to the narrow rapier or smallsword. To a modern collector it usually means the classic one-handed medieval knight's sword with a cross guard. All three are on this page.

The basket-hilt is the one with the history. It was the sword of Culloden, of the Highland regiments that followed, and of the Scottish officer for two centuries after that, and its steel cage of a guard is as recognisable as any sword ever made.

Our broadsword collection covers the Scottish basket-hilt from Cold Steel and Hanwei, Honshu's modern-tactical take on the medieval broadsword in carbon and Damascus steel, a hand-forged Damascus medieval broadsword, a polypropylene practice version and a cosplay-safe wooden one. All UK stock, dispatched from Bacup, Lancashire.

11 products

What is a broadsword?

The word first appears in the 17th century to distinguish wide, double-edged cutting blades from the narrow thrusting blades of the rapier. In Scotland it attached itself to the basket-hilted sword: a straight, broad, double-edged blade of around 75 to 85cm on a single-handed grip, with a guard of steel bars forming a basket around the whole hand. The basket-hilt was carried by Highland clansmen through the Jacobite risings, became the regulation sword of the Highland regiments after 1745, and is still worn with dress uniform by Scottish regiments today. Confusingly, Scots also called it a claymore; the two-handed sword of that name is on our claymore swords page.

Used more loosely, broadsword means the medieval arming sword: the one-handed cruciform knight's sword of roughly 1000 to 1350, used with a shield. Our Honshu and Damascus "medieval broadswords" are that sword, and the Cold Steel Man at Arms Arming Sword is a hand-forged historical version of it.

Scottish basket-hilt broadswords

Cold Steel Scottish Basket-Hilt Broadsword. A forged carbon steel blade with a full steel basket guard, built to the 18th-century pattern. Cold Steel's historical swords are made to be handled, and the basket on this one is properly proportioned for a hand, not shrunk for display.

Hanwei Basket Hilt Broadsword, in polished and antiqued finishes. Hanwei's version leans towards the mid-18th-century regimental sword, with a leather-wrapped grip and a blade fullered along its length. The antiqued finish is the collector's choice. Both are restocked periodically.

Medieval broadswords

Medieval Broadsword with Hand Forged Damascus Blade. A cruciform one-handed sword with a folded Damascus-pattern blade, a leather-wrapped grip and a plain cross guard. The Damascus patterning is what people buy it for; no two blades look the same.

Honshu Broadsword and Honshu Damascus Broadsword. Honshu's modern interpretation of the medieval broadsword: a 33-inch 1060 carbon steel (or Damascus) blade with a partial fuller, a heavy traditional hand guard, a moulded no-slip TPR grip and a wooden scabbard. Traditional blade, contemporary furniture.

Honshu Single Handed Broadsword. The shorter, lighter version at just over 30 inches of stainless steel, with the same TPR grip. A display sword that handles like a proper one-hander.

Honshu Midnight Forge Broadsword. The black-bladed edition. Restocked periodically.

Practice and cosplay broadswords

Honshu Practice Broadsword. A heavy-duty polypropylene training sword, 43.5 inches overall, with a textured grip. For drills, stage combat and the person who wants to know what a broadsword feels like in the hand without the steel.

Broadsword (Cosplay Safe Wood), plain or painted, for conventions and LARP. See the full cosplay weapons range.

About The Sword Stall

UK-based, UK-stocked. Everything here is in our warehouse in Bacup, Lancashire: no dropshipping, no customs, no import delays. Free delivery on orders over £200. The Cold Steel, Hanwei and Damascus broadswords are traditionally forged pieces supplied with a sharpened edge, sold to over-18s only and intended for collection and display, not use. New customers provide age verification once before their first order is dispatched.

Broadswords UK - Basket-Hilt and Medieval Broadsword Replicas FAQs

Is a broadsword the same as a claymore?

Sometimes. From the 18th century Scots called the basket-hilted broadsword a claymore, so the basket-hilt is often sold under either name. The original claymore is a two-handed sword from two centuries earlier. Basket-hilts are on this page; two-handers are on the claymore swords page.

What is a basket-hilt?

A sword guard made of steel bars that wrap around the whole hand like a cage. It appeared in the 16th century and reached its classic form in Scotland in the 18th, on the broadsword carried through the Jacobite risings. It protects the hand without a gauntlet, which is why it suited a sword meant to be worn every day.

How heavy is a broadsword?

A historical basket-hilt weighed around 1.2 to 1.5kg, most of it in the guard. Medieval arming swords were lighter, typically 1 to 1.3kg. Film and fantasy have given the broadsword a reputation for being a lump of iron; the real ones were not.

Are your broadswords sharp?

The hand-forged ones (Cold Steel basket-hilt, Hanwei basket-hilts, Damascus medieval broadsword) are supplied with a sharpened edge, as traditionally forged swords are, and are sold to adults only for collection and display. The Honshu single-handed broadsword is a stainless steel display piece, and the practice broadsword is polypropylene.

What is your Shipping Policy?

Please see our Shipping policy for more information