Scottish Basket Hilt Sword

The basket-hilted sword is the name of a group of early modern sword types characterized by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand.

The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. Also known as the broadsword, the basket-hilted sword was a military sword, termed "broad" in contrast with the rapier, the slim duelling sword worn with civilian dress during the same period. The basket-hilted sword rose in popularity in the 17th Century and became the traditional weapon of the feared Highland Clansmen.

These swords were used extensively during the Jacobite uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by Parliament during the Glorious Revolution. The series of conflicts takes its name from Jacobus, the Latin form of James.