Are you a Scottish Highlander headed for the fields of Culloden? How about a warrior of the Rajput empire facing its enemies? Whether you're a mercenary in the battlefields of Europe or a hardened soldier protecting the Doge of Venice, what you need is a proper sword. No, you don't need some effete rapier or its cousin, the small sword. What you need is a sword appropriate for the battlefield with the correct guard.

Presented for your rendering pleasure is a set of four basket hilted blades along with their scabbards found in history. First is the infamous basket hilted Scottish claymore with its double edged blade. Next is the khanda, a sword hailing from the Rajput empire of India, with its distinctive long pommel that allowed one to grab it with the second hand. Following that, we have the Sinclair hilted backsword, a type of sword carried by many mercenaries on the battlefields of Europe, with its side guard protecting the back of the wielder's hand. Finally, we have the Schiavona, a sword primarily carried by the guards of the Doge of Venice, with its distinctive basket hilt and cats head pommel.