Cage Hilts

[Dan McKinley]

I was wondering if somebody could please explain to me the difference between basket hilts and cage hilts, or are they the same? I've seen the terms used synonymously in the context of such swords as the broadsword and schiavona but have also seen "cage hilt" used to refer to swept hilt rapiers. I know this question must be a no brainer to most here but it's been bugging the heck out of me so I just wanted to make sure of the correct meaning of the term. Thanks.

I asked this same question on another forum but nobody seemed to know the answer (only one response and that was prefaced by a "maybe").

[Allen Johnson]

I think it may be a little vauge because there are a few weapons that are in -between and then there is the conflict of modern terminology vs historical terminology. I do not recall a weapon being referred to as a "cage hilt" anywhere in a period text. A basket hilt is definatley a type- though they can vary quite a bit. Some people call rapiers cage hilts- which I dont really agree with because...well, they are rapiers. In fact any weapon I can think of that could be called a "cage hilt", I feel has a more appropriate name. Whether it's a scottish or english basket hilt, a walloon hilt, schiavona, mortuary hilt, shearing sword, spadroon, ect. So in my humble opinion, it is a generic 'term' that is used when someone dosent know what kind of sword it is or wants to emcompass a huge variety of non basic cross hilt weapons. I'd avoid using it.

[Dan McKinley]

Allen, your reasoning pretty much goes along with mine. I always had the impression that it was used as more of a general and somewhat dubious term to refer to those compound guards that enclosed the grip in a series of metal bars including basket hilts, mortuary hilts, some rapier hilts and so on (a term of convenience in other words) rather than a more specific type, kind of like how some people still insist on referring to medieval swords in general as "broadswords", but I just wanted to gather some opinions that were more expert than mine. Thank you for the clarification.