This sword was taken by a member of the Macpherson Regiment at the skirmish at Clifton in December 1745. Although it has the Andrea Ferrera blade mark, it was not that of Highlander but belonged to an Englishman -- Lt. Col Phillip Honeywood, commander of the 3rd Dragoons who engaged the Highland army's rearguard at Clifton during the withdrawal from England.

      Details of that fight are presented on Panel 17 but the circumstances of how Col. Honeywood was parted from his sword are not. According to material provided by a Honeywood descendant, the Macphersons broke fourteen swords on the metal skullcaps that the English Dragoons were wearing. "We did very well," said one Highlander after the fight, "until the lang man in muckle boots came over the dyke." This was Col Honeywood but before he could engage the Macphersons "he slipped on a sheep's terd and suffered cuts to his head." It is not known if this was because of the fall or he had neglected to wear his skullcap. In any event he dropped his sword in the process and failed to retrieve it before he scrambled back over the dyke. The sword might have been picked up by one of the Macphersons who broke his own sword earlier.

      Although he lost his sword in the fight, Honeywood went on to be a general officer, was knighted and acquired another sword. The latter is shown in the portrait of him below --

      The Clifton sword was purchased at the Cluny Castle sale in 1943.