Scottish Claymore

Timeline

1. 1371–1374Lowland Scottish smithies · LowlandsDuring the Wars of Independence in Bruce's era, Scottish warriors were renowned for using the great sword together with the spear. After Robert II acceded to the throne in 1371, the kingdom's armory system continued to supply or sanction great sword forms for nobles and clan warriors. Lowland smiths, following the European longsword tradition, forged two-handed great swords with blades four to six inches wide for knights and wealthy clan members.
2. 1374–1378Scottish Highlands · HighlandsIn the mid-1370s, Highland clan warriors commonly carried great swords on campaign—wielded either two-handed or with a sword in one hand and a round shield (targe) in the other. The great sword was highly effective in close combat and breaking enemy formations, especially suited to hilly and marshy terrain where cavalry could not easily charge. Clan chiefs often used ancestral great swords as symbols of status and authority.
3. 1378–1380Scottish–English Border · Scottish BordersDuring the border raids of 1378 to 1380, both Scottish and English raiders made extensive use of great swords in close combat. The great swords of Scottish Border clan warriors were practical both mounted and on foot, and their design and use influenced the later development of the cross-guarded claymore in the 16th and 17th centuries, though the 1370s form was closer to the medieval longsword than the classic claymore shape of later ages.