What is a claymore?
A claymore is a Scottish two-handed sword of the late 15th to 17th centuries. The typical example is around 140cm long overall with a blade of 100 to 110cm, weighs between two and three kilograms, and has a long grip for two hands, a wheel or globe pommel, and the sloping quillons with quatrefoil ends that no other sword has. It was a Highland weapon, carried by clansmen and Gallowglass mercenaries, and it fell out of use as the basket-hilted broadsword took over in the 17th century.
That later sword is the source of the confusion. From the 18th century onwards Scots called the basket-hilt a claymore too, and the name stuck. So "claymore" now means two different things: the two-handed Highland great sword, and the single-handed basket-hilted broadsword of the Jacobite era. If you are looking for the basket-hilt, it is on our broadswords page.
Hand-forged claymores
These are the historical pieces: forged carbon steel, leather-wrapped grips, sold to adults only with age verification, and intended for collectors rather than use.
Honshu Historic Forge - Scottish Claymore. A 1065 carbon steel blade of over 43 inches with a leather-wrapped handle and a leather scabbard. Honshu's Historic Forge line is their most faithful historical work, and this is the biggest sword in it. Currently a pre-order in small numbers.
Hanwei Claymore. Hanwei's recreation of the Highland two-hander, with the sloping quillons and quatrefoil terminals of the 16th-century originals. Hanwei has been the reference brand for hand-forged historical swords for thirty years; when it is in stock, this is the one collectors ask for by name.
Kingston Arms Scottish Claymore. Available with a black or brown handle. Kingston Arms builds swords for people who know the difference between a display piece and a properly balanced blade, and this claymore is made to the same standard as their HEMA and re-enactment range.
House Stuart Royal Scottish Claymore. A stainless steel display claymore of 143cm with a plaque for wall mounting. Styled on the swords of the Stuart period, and the most affordable full-size claymore in the collection.
The Braveheart claymore
The William Wallace sword from Braveheart is the sword most people picture when they hear the word claymore, which is slightly unfair to history: Wallace died in 1305, two centuries before the classic two-handed claymore appeared, and the film sword is its own design. It is still the most popular claymore we sell. Stainless steel, 132cm overall with an 87cm blade, and it looks exactly like the one Mel Gibson swings about.
The Highlander claymore
Connor MacLeod's Clan MacLeod claymore from Highlander is the other film sword in the collection: a 38-inch 440 stainless steel blade, suede handle and wall plaque. The Highlander collection has the rest of the MacLeod arsenal, including the katana.
Elden Ring's Claymore
In Elden Ring the Claymore is the dependable greatsword, the one everybody picks up in Castle Morne and half the player base never puts down. Our full-size replica captures its broad, grounded silhouette. It is on this page because of the name and on the greatswords page because of what it is.
Cosplay-safe claymore
A wooden claymore, plain or painted, for conventions, LARP and re-enactment displays where a steel blade is not allowed. Always check the weapons policy of the event you are attending. More event-safe options are in our cosplay weapons collection.
About The Sword Stall
UK-based, UK-stocked. Everything in this collection is in our warehouse in Bacup, Lancashire: no dropshipping, no customs, no import delays. Free delivery on orders over £200. The hand-forged claymores are traditionally forged pieces supplied with a sharpened edge, sold to over-18s only and intended for collection and display, not use. The stainless steel replicas are blunt display pieces. New customers provide age verification once before their first order is dispatched.
