what about the hardwear?

**RockyMount'sClanBrown** · 22nd February 08, 06:57 PM

I have never been to the highland games and I am curious to know if it's common to see weaponry at the highland games. Looking around the net, I see some people with claymores, axes, etc. Do many people carry claymores and the such for the fun of it or is that more of a Renaissance Festival thing?

**ChattanCat** · 22nd February 08, 07:23 PM

I see very few with much more than a skean dubh. Of course the reinactors have full battle dress but usually leave the swords in the arena. Dirks, to me, belong with pipers.

**Nighthawk** · 22nd February 08, 08:09 PM

Judging from your name, I'd say we're discussing the Highlands Ranch or Estes Park games, correct? Personally, I have an ancient dirk and a stag horn sgain dubh that I wear. It's not a faux pas to go armed I don't think, it's just not particularly common.

And by the way-

from another Coloradoan.

**RockyMount'sClanBrown** · 22nd February 08, 08:22 PM

I have been to the Ren. Festival near Charlotte for the last several years and it seems like everyone there is armed. Then again, I saw a group of Klingons and a stormtrooper last year too. After reading and posting here, I kind of expect that the highland games group may be a different crowd and not as well armed. I have a 52" claymore that I may take for fun but, I didn't want to look like a total goof.

**thescot** · 22nd February 08, 08:30 PM

You are correct, not as well armed.

Many will carry a dirk, especailly an undressy dirk as you might carry when in the woods. But being armed, as such, is not common at the Highland games. You'll see the occassional fellow with a basket hilt or something, but it looks kind of silly to me.

**Monkey@Arms** · 22nd February 08, 08:34 PM

In California you see everything. They sell a lot swords of varying eras (including fantasy) at the games, so its not surprising to see someone carrying one, especially at the larger games, or if the person is in some kind of period garb.

Best regards,

Jake

**JRB** · 22nd February 08, 08:59 PM

Highland games almost always have several vendors selling weapons (dirks, swords, axes, etc.). They are usually very poor quality, by the way. Once in a while I've seen someone buying one of those weapons. However, it's pretty uncommon to see anyone other than reenactors actually wearing a weapon larger than a dirk to a highland event.

**Prester John** · 22nd February 08, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

I see very few with much more than a skean dubh. Of course the reinactors have full battle dress but usually leave the swords in the arena. Dirks, to me, belong with pipers.

What he said.

**emolas** · 22nd February 08, 10:17 PM

My personal opinion is that, unless you are a reenactor in period attire, walking around a Highland games with a sword strapped to your back is akin to walking around a rodeo with a shotgun on your shoulder. While accepted, it's pointless and there is no reason for it. That's just my opinion though, I have seen people at Highland games carrying all manner of large pointy objects.