Gift Ideas

Robert the Bruce was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. He was one of the most famous warriors of his generation and eventually led the Scottish army to victory against the English in the Scottish Wars of Independence. He fought successfully during his reign to regain Scotland's place as an independent nation and is today remembered in Scotland as a national hero. When he died in 1329 and his body was buried in Dunfermline Abbey and his heart was placed in a silver casket and taken on crusade by his lieutenant and friend, Sir James Douglas – as was his dying wish. Douglas was killed fighting the Moors in Spain, but not before he launched the casket into the thick of the battle. The casket was found after the battle and was returned to Scotland to be interred at Melrose Abbey.
Our Robert the Bruce Axe is a replica of the one that is held by his statue at the Bannockburn Battlefield site. This was the axe that was used to slay the English Knight Humphery de Bohun before the battle, the blow being so hard that it split his helmet and head in 2! The King’s only regret was that he had broken the shaft of his favourite axe! The Miniature Robert the Bruce Axe is one of the best replicas available to buy in the UK. It is a scale replica of our full sized Robert the Bruce axe and features a real wood shaft and forged axe head. It comes complete with a presentation box and is a great gift for anybody who is passionate about history.

Length: 22cm
Width: 4.5cm
Depth: 1cm
Weight: 18g

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece

Buy the Miniature Robert the Bruce Axe with confidence from the UK’s leading historical giftware retailer.

Robert the Bruce was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. He was one of the most famous warriors of his generation and eventually led the Scottish army to victory against the English in the Scottish Wars of Independence. He fought successfully during his reign to regain Scotland's place as an independent nation and is today remembered in Scotland as a national hero. When he died in 1329 and his body was buried in Dunfermline Abbey and his heart was placed in a silver casket and taken on crusade by his lieutenant and friend, Sir James Douglas – as was his dying wish. Douglas was killed fighting the Moors in Spain, but not before he launched the casket into the thick of the battle. The casket was found after the battle and was returned to Scotland to be interred at Melrose Abbey.

Tabards were worn over chainmail to protect the metal from the elements such as the blistering heat of the sun and rust inducing rain. They were also worn to display the wearer’s coat of arms or affiliations so that they could be easily identified on the battlefield and in tournaments. Our Robert the Bruce Tabard is hand crafted from 100% cotton and features the rampant lion of Scotland embroidered on the front. The sides are left open so that it can accommodate pretty much any size of wearer. It is usually worn with a belt which is not supplied – but there are plenty to choose from in our “Belts” category. Great for LARP or fancy dress!  

Width: 36cm
Length (from neckline to hem): 65cm

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece

Buy the Robert the Bruce Tabard with confidence from the UK’s leading historical clothing retailer.

This style of shield first appeared in the medieval period. It evolved from the larger kite shield – which gradually became smaller as head and leg protection became better. It is commonly referred to as a “Heater” shield because of its resemblance to the shape of an old flat iron.

This half sized shield is great for kids or as a display piece when you don’t have the room for the full sized version. It is hand painted and lacquered and features leather straps on the back. Shields may vary slightly due to the hand painted nature of this item.

Length: 34cm
Width: 22cm
Depth: 4cm

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Buy the Robert the Bruce Shield with confidence from the UK’s leading Medieval Shield retailer.

Our handcrafted Viking Journal/Diaries are a great gift for all members of the family. They are bound in real leather featuring ornate handcrafted Viking Yggdrasil designs and have A9 parchment style pages made from recycled paper. 

Buy the Mini Leather Journal Keyring - Tree of Life with confidence from the UK’s leading historical giftware retailer.

Height: 5.1cm
Width: 3.9cm
Thickness: 1.8cm
Weight: 20g
Material: Leather, paper

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Helmet:
Height: 17cm
Height on Stand: 23.5cm
Depth: 14cm
Width: 11.5cm
Weight: 482g
Weight on Stand: 686g

Letter Opener:
Length: 20.5cm
Weight: 28g

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Our Great Helm is hand crafted from polished steel and features and adjustable leather "spider" liner and large brass decorative cross. It is constructed from 18 gauge steel and not recommended for re-enactment.

Height: 26cm 
Length: 35cm 
Width: 18cm 
Weight: 2060g 

All sizes are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

Buy the Pigface Bascinet with confidence from the UK’s leading Medieval Helmet retailer.

"What we do in Life echoes in Eternity"

This helmet is inspired by the one worn by the General Maximus as "The Spaniard" to conceal his identity when fighting in the Colosseum in the hit movie "Gladiator". It is constructed from polished 18 gauge steel and features an adjustable leather liner and chin strap. Great for display or fancy dress!

Width: 21cm  
Depth: 25cm  
Height: 34cm 
Circumference: 68cm 
Weight: 1726g  

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.

The Roman Gladius was the primary weapon of the Roman Legionary and was used in conjunction with the 'Scutum' (shield) and 'Pilum' (spear). Its design was strongly influenced by the swords used by the Iberian (Spanish) Celts. It was predominantly designed as a thrusting weapon and was in use in one form or another from the 4th Century BC to the 3rd Century AD. The Pompeii Gladius takes its name from the archaeological site in Italy where, during excavations, 4 such swords were found. The swords are dated to before 79AD - the year that Pompeii was buried in volcanic ash. The Pompeii Gladius, along with the earlier Mainz Pattern Gladius, would have been issued to the garrison at Hadrian’s Wall. Examples can be seen in H. Russell Robinson’s book "What The Soldiers Wore On Hadrians Wall'".

Our Pompeii Gladius features a turned wood pommel and bone grip. The straight blade is hand forged from steel and in housed in a wooden scabbard with red leather covering and decorated brass fittings. This sword is not designed or recommended for contact reenactment (fighting) but is favoured by living history enthusiasts.

Overall Length: 70cm
Blade Length: 48cm
Width: 4.9cm
Grip Length: 10.8cm
Weight: 1135g
Thickness: 5mm
P.O.B.: 11cm
Edge: Blunt
Pommel: Threaded
Scabbard: Wood, Leather, Brass

All dimensions are approximate and may vary from piece to piece.