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How to Take Apart a Scottish Broadsword

The Scottish Broadsword is more commonly known as a "Claymore." It is a distinctive basket-hilted broadsword with a roughly 3-foot long blade. The sword dates to the 17th century. It was worn by noblemen and carried by army officers as recently as World War II. Many of these antique swords still exist today. However, Scottish broadswords are also still in production with decorative and functional models available for collectors, historical re-enactors and Renaissance Faire attendees.

Things You'll Need

Penetrating Oil (such as WD-40)
Adjustable Wrench
Small Rubber Mallet
Rags

Instructions

- 1
  Examine how the Scottish broadsword is assembled. Generally, they have four major components: the blade and tang, the basket hilt, the grip and the pommel. Determine whether your sword has a threaded or peened hilt. Historic swords, or higher quality replicas, will have a peened hilt which cannot be unscrewed or removed without specialist tools. If you have a threaded hilt, the pommel of the sword will generally unscrew, or contain a hidden nut which can be loosened with your adjustable wrench.
- 2
  Unscrew the broadsword's pommel. You may need to use the penetrating oil to loosen the thread, especially with older or antique swords. Use sufficient force but be gentle to avoid fracturing stressed steel components or twisting or warping the blade or tang.
- 3
  Remove the pommel and place to one side. You should now be able to disassemble the broadsword by removing each component piece by piece. Begin with the grip, then slide the basket hilt off the threaded hilt. You may need to use the small rubber mallet to tap components like the grip and hilt to loosen them from the tang to remove them.
- 4
  Place each component to one side as you remove it. You should be left with a minimum of four components: the pommel, the grip, the basket hilt and the blade with tang.
- 5
  Oil each component with penetrating oil and a rag. A very small amount of oil will go a long way, so don't use more than a few drops. Pay special attention to the threading on the tang of the blade. This will preserve your blade and make it easier to take the sword apart in the future.
- 6
  Reassemble the sword in the reverse order you took it apart. This generally means placing the hilt on the tang, followed by the grip and reattaching the pommel. Screw the pommel or attach nut as tightly as you can to give your assembled sword rigidity.
- 7
  Take apart and oil your sword at least once every two years and after exposure to rain, humidity or dampness.

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