MACALLEN HISTORY AND PRODUCTS
Iain Macallen is a true Master Armourer. His
high level of skill and craftsmanship has been passed from father to son for
many generations. Macallen family armourers were represented on the battlefield
of Stirling Bridge with William Wallace during his great victory over the
English in 1297, and again at the side of King Robert the Bruce at Bannock Burn
in 1314 during the battle that finally defeated the English and won
independence for Scotland.
Allen Armourers remained in the Stirling Area of Scotland,
and in the 16th century became renowned for their ornate Basket
Hilted swords. These weapons were beautifully designed, wonderfully balanced and
showed the true skill and craftsmanship of the times. Many of these swords are
still on display in museums, castles and family Armouries throughout the British
Isles. Reference books of edged weapons feature Macallen swords under the names
of Walter, Stewart or John Allen.
Today, Iain Macallen is proud to add to this honorable tradition, making historically accurate replicas of the most famous Scottish swords in history.
Iain has made an exact replica of King Robert
the Bruce’s sword by handling and taking precise measurements of the original
sword. Earl Elgin, the Eleventh Earl of Elgin and Fifteenth Earl of Kincardine,
gave his kind permission for this work, and is pleased to authenticate it as a
true copy of the original. This large, two handed sword of Robert the Bruce
has been in Earl Elgin’s family armoury for over 700 years.
His replica of the William Wallace Sword of
Freedom was created using the original sword as a pattern. It is a two handed
sword, 66 inches in length and weighing 8 pounds. Holding the sword, one can
fully appreciate the rare strength and courage it takes to wield such a weapon
on the field of battle. The replica is true to the original sword, which is
currently displayed in the William Wallace Monument, Stirling, Scotland. Like
the Robert the Bruce sword, only warriors with exceptional strength, courage and
will, feel at one with these swords.
Iain continues to make replicas of the famous
Basket Hilted swords, preserving his family’s tradition by offering some of
the finest blades currently available. These swords are complimented by an
impressive range of other weapons, including Highland and Lowland two-handed
swords, traditional Scottish Claymores, Celtic War swords, Swept Hilted Rapiers,
and English Crusader and Cruciform swords. There is also an extensive range of
traditional and left-handed Daggers, Dirks, Sgian Dubh and Armour.
Especially for the ladies, Macallen Armourers hand crafts a range of practical and elegantly crafted small swords, tailored light armour and slender daggers.
Our range would not be complete without
authentic replicas of chains, shackles, thumb and toe screws, racks and other
torture products. Made in leather or metal, these items can be
customised to your own requirements.
Macallen Armourers will also accept commissions for one-off swords, daggers or special products and personalize them to the customer’s exact specifications.
Only
the finest materials are ever used and, where practical,
traditional methods of manufacturing are employed. Using these traditional
methods, no two products are exactly the same and, if closely examined, you will
see our fine hand finishing and small working marks. Our products are built as a
tribute to history, and we are proud to stand behind every item that leaves our
Armoury.
We hope our customers cherish our products and pass them down to further generations, thus preserving their own piece of history. We just pass through life and become fading memories, historic items live forever.