(History) One SERIOUS chunk of steel!!

[alsih2o]

Is that a Scottish word? What does it mean?

Here is how the dictionary defines it, if you must know-

Sclae-
n.

A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in exploring how much your average potter desires ownership of cool weapons.

So there, straight from the dictionary Mr. Smarty Pants.

 

[Mystaros]

That's a big sword, definitely, but it still seems small compared to some zweihander swords I saw in Germany. True greatswords are 6 feet long or more, the blade portion alone nearly as long as a claymore entirely, while what Wallace wielded was closer to the classic claymore. When walking into battle the landsknechts had to carry the sword with the pommel in a belt-cup, with the blade up and toward the enemy, like flag bearers do in modern bands, to keep the weight from tiring their arms before the battle began...

 

[Krieg]

These swords featured a blunt portion of the blade forward of the hilt, which was meant to be grasped.

The ricasso

When walking into battle the landsknechts had to carry the sword with the pommel in a belt-cup, with the blade up and toward the enemy, like flag bearers do in modern bands, to keep the weight from tiring their arms before the battle began...

Are you sure you weren't dealing with bearing swords?

All of the period artwork & descriptions I have seen just show the big swords being carried in essentially the same position as a rifle at shoulder arms...

 

[Krieg]

Bah, I laugh at William Wallace's puny blade...

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

-Gen 6:4

 

[Kuld]

Not true; the english called them 'Grete-swerdes' and they were typically exceptionally large versions of the hand-and-a-half warswords they were using at the time.

As well, all of the conventions for weapons were broken to some extent at any given time in history; I don't have any direct sources, but I remember several references to two-handed viking swords and very accutely tipped one-handed swords from the 11th century. And don't get me started on mycenean 'rapiers'.

However, greatswords as seen in D&D most definately did not exist in scotland at the end of the 1200s. My feeling is that Wallace's sword was just a 'grete-swerde' that was made to scale for the 6'6" tall wielder.

The earliest I can find here is the "Grete-swered" you mentioned, Oakeshott's type XIIIa 12-13c. I can't find anything that predates that as of yet. Nothing in the viking or migration periods per Petersen/Behmer. Most blades were similar then, mainly hilt differences were used for their typology.

 

[jonesy]

Bah, I laugh at William Wallace's puny blade...

I think this picture has been everywhere in the media:

Picturing a dervish giant.

 

[Dispater]

Bah, I laugh at William Wallace's puny blade...

Got to love Stavanger...

 

[Krieg]

I think this picture has been everywhere in the media

I have some photos of myself standing underneath those.

There are actually two matching sculptures at each end of the parade grounds, but strangely enough you almost never see a shot from an angle that shows both sets...

 

[alsih2o]

I have some photos of myself standing underneath those.

There are actually two matching sculptures at each end of the parade grounds, but strangely enough you almost never see a shot from an angle that shows both sets...

Really?!?!?! I would love to see them.