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Fig. 689. Claidheamh-mor
Latest type, about 1610. Collection: H.M. the King, Windsor Castle
- portions of the Noël Paton sword; for not only are the quillons of the latter
fashioned on a large and fine scale, but they retain that central drooping tongue which lies closely over the upper portion of the blade groove. This feature is usually missing in extant specimens of the Claidheamh-mor; although those we have illustrated are complete. Upon the blade of the Noël Paton sword is an armourer's mark, a heart with two small longitudinal bars at its base. The grip, which is of pine wood covered with leather, shows immediately below the pommel that cup-like cavity into which the pommel should sink. In this case the pommel has sunk too far; for it has been driven down on to the top of the grip, splitting it, thus revealing above a portion of the blade-tang, between its upper edge and the riveted finial that should fit arch-like upon the pommel. The original pommel of every genuine Claidheamh-mor with which we are acquainted is, like that of the Paton example, of the flattened wheel form; but its proportions always appear too small for the sword to which it is attached. These
