How to wear my 39 Inch broadsword

[Liam]

Have you considered joining a chapter of the SCA? I don't know if they are active in Connecticut, but they seem to be everywhere.

[Kamilavalamp]

Have you considered joining a chapter of the SCA? I don't know if they are active in Connecticut, but they seem to be everywhere.

That's what I was talking about, I might do that eventually but it would take me a long time to gather the money because they make you buy your own armor.

[Chip]

I did the SCA thing for a bit, even helped run a local fighting practice. It might be significantly different in your area, but for the most part anyone who showed up and showed interest would get lent equipment for the night. If they stuck with it long enough, someone or group would typically adopt them and that person might get a complete set of beat up cobbled together loaner armor, suitable for practice, until they could get their own.

[Orvis]

I agree that there is no need to wear a broadsword with your modern kilt. In my case, I have been with two 18th century Highland living history/reenacting groups since 1989. In one, I portrayed a red-coat Highland soldier in the British Army, and my uniform included wearing a basket-hilt backsword at battle reenactments and other events. My other, current group portrays a 1745 Jacobite clan regiment detachment, and if I portray a member of the clan gentry, I generally wear my broadsword, dirk, pistol and sgian achlais (or have my ghillie carry them), as that's how Highland gentlemen dressed in those days. However, I'd never take my blades along to the Scottish games or a local Renn Faire unless my group had been invited to participate as reenactors. The most I might wear would be a sgian dhu, and sometimes not even that. As to carrying a sword at the Renn Faire, I've noted that while paying customers are welcome to dress in period costume, personal weapons of any type are very often banned from the event.

You have to be careful - in some places carrying replica firearms or edged weapons in a non-reenacting context can be illegal or (at the very least) viewed suspiciously by the authorities and others. As an example, back in the days when I was married I went in late July with my wife to eastern Ontario in Canada to visit my in-laws. On a Saturday I decided to go to the nearby Maxville Highland Games wearing my 77th Highland Regiment (1757) uniform and plaid, complete with a dirk and backsword (cognizant of Canada's laws, I had left my replica flintlock Scottish pistol at home in the USA). Once I arrived and started to walk around, I soon found myself with a small tail of Ontario Provincial Police following me around. I didn't know why they were doing that, but I got the impression that they thought I might be some sort of dangerous eccentric who might run amok in the crowds with the sword and dirk (both of which had blunt edges, but they didn't know that) and because I was definitely out of character with the rest of the crowd, who were unarmed. So....before the OPP could pull me aside, I made my way back to my car and dumped the weapons! The police went on to deal with other matters and my problem was solved. Lesson learned: Know your environment!

[Father Bill]

*snip* I didn't know why they were doing that *snip*

It's because, as Jock has said elsewhere, "We just don't do that sort of thing around here old chap."

You'd stand out like a sore thumb and it would be subtly obvious to every Canadian in the place that you didn't fit in.

[Kamilavalamp]

It's because, as Jock has said elsewhere, "We just don't do that sort of thing around here old chap."

You'd stand out like a sore thumb and it would be subtly obvious to every Canadian in the place that you didn't fit in.

I love being American, we cause trouble even when we try our best not to. lol

[Father Bill]

I love being American, we cause trouble even when we try our best not to. lol

. . . and this is a source of pride?

[Orvis]

It's because, as Jock has said elsewhere, "We just don't do that sort of thing around here old chap."

You'd stand out like a sore thumb and it would be subtly obvious to every Canadian in the place that you didn't fit in.

Father Bill and Jock,

That one experience at the Maxville games (as related above) was enough to teach me my lesson about event-appropriate Scottish apparel, especially outwith the US!

[Kamilavalamp]

I agree that there is no need to wear a broadsword with your modern kilt. In my case, I have been with two 18th century Highland living history/reenacting groups since 1989. In one, I portrayed a red-coat Highland soldier in the British Army, and my uniform included wearing a basket-hilt backsword at battle reenactments and other events. My other, current group portrays a 1745 Jacobite clan regiment detachment, and if I portray a member of the clan gentry, I generally wear my broadsword, dirk, pistol and sgian achlais (or have my ghillie carry them), as that's how Highland gentlemen dressed in those days. However, I'd never take my blades along to the Scottish games or a local Renn Faire unless my group had been invited to participate as reenactors. The most I might wear would be a sgian dhu, and sometimes not even that. As to carrying a sword at the Renn Faire, I've noted that while paying customers are welcome to dress in period costume, personal weapons of any type are very often banned from the event.

You have to be careful - in some places carrying replica firearms or edged weapons in a non-reenacting context can be illegal or (at the very least) viewed suspiciously by the authorities and others. As an example, back in the days when I was married I went in late July with my wife to eastern Ontario in Canada to visit my in-laws. On a Saturday I decided to go to the nearby Maxville Highland Games wearing my 77th Highland Regiment (1757) uniform and plaid, complete with a dirk and backsword (cognizant of Canada's laws, I had left my replica flintlock Scottish pistol at home in the USA). Once I arrived and started to walk around, I soon found myself with a small tail of Ontario Provincial Police following me around. I didn't know why they were doing that, but I got the impression that they thought I might be some sort of dangerous eccentric who might run amok in the crowds with the sword and dirk (both of which had blunt edges, but they didn't know that) and because I was definitely out of character with the rest of the crowd, who were unarmed. So....before the OPP could pull me aside, I made my way back to my car and dumped the weapons! The police went on to deal with other matters and my problem was solved. Lesson learned: Know your environment!

The Ren Faires around here let you carry whatever you want as long as you tie it to the scabbard (they'll even supply the tie and tie it for you if you want). They even sell battle ready weapons there as well as display ones. That's one of the main reasons I got it was to wear it to the Ren Faires with my kilt as many of the people that go there bring their own. This one guy in particular who won the "most authentic award at the kilt contest really impressed me with his outfit sword and all.
IMG_0863.jpg

[Jock Scot]

The Ren Faires around here let you carry whatever you want as long as you tie it to the scabbard (they'll even supply the tie and tie it for you if you want). They even sell battle ready weapons there as well as display ones. That's one of the main reasons I got it was to wear it to the Ren Faires with my kilt as many of the people that go there bring their own. This one guy in particular who won the "most authentic award at the kilt contest really impressed me with his outfit sword and all.
IMG_0863.jpg

Authentic Scot? A representation of a Scot from the past perhaps, certainly they are not judging a modern Scot,or even a vintage Scot! One wonders what the judges actually know to make that judgement. I have to admit that I am glad Ren Fairs have, thus far, avoided Scotland!

I do have to wonder if some----not all---- Americans and perhaps others too, think Scotland is and has been for centuries some sort of theme park!

I despair sometimes.