THE LANES ARMOURY INFORMATION PAGE. BRIGHTON GALLERY OPEN MONDAY TILL SATURDAY 11.00 AM TILL 5.00 PM

In the past year we have appeared in many international newspapers and journals such as the Glasgow Herald [see the article copied below under Falkirk Battle Axe] and the New York Times, including an article that was published about us on City News Live
This is that article copied below;
With so many different histories to offer, you can feel freer in Brighton than in most British cities in order to select trips which coincide with your interests – and of course, you're much more likely to find in Brighton things to do which bring the history you love to life. For the lover of militaria, a visit to The Lanes Armoury is a must, but with a difference. The Armoury's housed in a three-storey 16th century building and is a real treasure trove – it's a museum which is not a museum, as everything is for sale. It has been nominated and then short-listed for the British Antique & Collectors Awards as the best Antique Shop in Great Britain and is the latest incarnation of a much older business – David Hawkins Brighton Ltd – which was one of the earliest and largest British dealers in Antiques and Collectibles within the whole of Europe. It's their current specialization in Arms, Armour, Militaria, and Books which really marks them out, and creates such a fascinating and fantastic place to visit. From bronze-age swords, suits of armour, guns, revolvers, duelling pistols, American Civil war swords through to medals, thousands of military books, and also World War II weapons, it's all there to be viewed and drooled over. It's not a museum but when you leave, you've had the same experience!***********************************

You can always contact us direct at The Lanes Armoury by telephone on 01273 321357.[or Int'l 00 44 1273 321 357]
You will also find us listed on the official 'Visit Brighton' website*********** [www.visitbrighton.com] and we are listed as one of the 50 'must see' places any visitor to Brighton & Hove City ought to experience.

Brighton has for many decades been known as 'London-by-the-Sea', and as it is only 50 miles due south of London and within 40 miles of England's two largest airports [Heathrow and Gatwick] it is one of the most popular city tourist destinations in the whole of Europe. If you visit Brigthon you will find that alongside the world class Royal Palace, the Brighton Pavilion, the Brighton Pier, Brighton Marina and Brighton Racecourse we are universally recommended as a truly amazing place to visit.
Even though we are not quite the biggest of the amazing Brighton attractions, many regular visitors tell us we're the best!

If on your visit you decide to purchase one or many of our items, we will be delighted to provide, on request, our certificate of authenticity. All visitors are welcome to ask opinions on items they have that we may be able to identify. This we will happily do, free of charge. However, please be aware, although we have traded for generations and personally in our business for many decades, there is no limit to the amount of items we haven't seen or never come across before, so sometimes we simply can't help through lack of knowledge in that area.

"Bearded battle axe from Battle of Falkirk in 1298" From the GLASGOW HERALD August 6th 2009

by GEORGE MAIR
A Medieval battle axe used against the English at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, has been put up for sale by an English armoury.
The rare weapon was discovered on the site of the battle, in which William Wallace's Scots army was defeated by the English king Edward I.
The steel "bearded" axe is thought to have belonged to a Scots foot soldier who may have used it the previous year to help win the Battle of Stirling Bridge before dying on the battlefield at Falkirk.His axe was found centuries later and hung on the wall of a noble's mansion until it found its way to Lanes Armoury in Brighton, East Sussex. Mark Hawkins, of the Lanes Armoury, said yesterday: "This was a pretty gruesome thing, designed expressly for combat, to chunk in to people.

"And it was a very effective weapon - a man who knew how to wield a battle axe was a very dangerous opponent.

"An axe like this has an awful lot of metal, so it could be lost on the battlefield and lie buried for hundreds of years relatively intact - unlike a sword which will rot away."

Medieval bearded axes - so called because of their beard-like appearance - like those used at the Battle of Falkirk, and later also at Bannockburn in 1314, were influenced by the Vikings.

They were a standard weapon for foot soldiers on both sides. Mr Hawkins, a leading expert in antique arms and armour, said: "This was the weapon of a foot soldier - its haft is too long to wield from a horse.

"It was his prized possession, and simply too valuable to discard so it is likely its owner was killed.

"The only alternative is that a small crack visible on the socket occurred on the battlefield and rendered it un-useable.

"When it was found many years later it would not have been of much use, but it was a fabulous looking thing."

The battle axe is available from Lanes Armoury for £1195.

The Battle of Falkirk, on July 22, 1298, was a disaster for Scotland, with more than 2000 Scots killed. LATEST. The Lanes Armoury are especially pleased to announce the axe has now been returned home to Falkirk under it's latest stewardship by a new owner.

Japanese Items.

Thanks to an extensive contact base [built up over the past 80 years or more] that stretches across the whole world, including collectors [both large and small], curators, academics and consultants, we have been very fortunate, that this effort has rewarded us with the ability to offer, what we believe to be, the most comprehensive selection available in Europe. Although we would never arrogantly credit ourselves to be experts on Japanese Nihonto, for, quite simply, some of the most learned scholars studying this art all theirs lives often only scratch the surface of the knowledge to be learnt in this field, we have always loved history of the Samurai and admired and envied their unparalleled beauty. We therefore stock all forms of Original Japanese Weaponry Arms and Armour, Antique Samurai Swords, Antique Samurai Wakizashi, Antique Samurai Tanto Daggers, Armour, Art etc, from all periods, and it will only be found in the 'Japanese' department in their relevant 'Select Department..'.section. The ages that these items were made or used in will be described in the recognized Japanese Era and Period Terms. If you are unfamiliar with these please see the Era and Period guide below or e.mail us for details as required. Most WW2 Officers swords may be listed under 'Tachi' not 'Katana' as they were usually mounted in the ancient Tachi style. What generally differentiates the different swords is their length. Japanese swords are measured in units of shaku, a shaku being around 30cm or one foot). A blade shorter than 1 shaku is considered a tanto (knife). A blade longer than 1 shaku but less than 2 is considered a shoto (short sword). The wakizashi and kodachi are in this category.

A blade longer than 2 shaku is considered a daito, or long sword. Before 1500 most swords were worn suspended from cords on a belt, blade-down. This style is called jindachi-zukuri, and daito worn in this fashion are called tachi (average blade length of 75 cm). From 1500 – 1867, almost all swords were worn through an obi, paired with a smaller blade. Both blades were blade-up. This style is called buke-zukuri, and all daito worn in this fashion are katana, averaging 65 cm in blade length. Dating of Japanese edged weaponry is done with great care, but it can on occasion be quite difficult as styles, forms and designs can vary very subtly, the eras that a blade is designated as being from is judged as most likely, by opinion, but it can be later or even earlier. The age of an edged weapon always relate to it's blade not the external fittings. In regards to some blade's Kanji [signatures]. Probably around 70% of blades were never signed by the swordsmith [mumei], and those that are, may bear a name that is not necessarily the name of the smith himself [gimei]. If we have a sword that bears Kanji [a signature], and we feel that it is very likely to be accurate, we will clearly state it as such. Please further bear in mind, some swordsmiths had a name that was also used by many different smiths, all with the same name [or variation thereof]. We do, on occasion, have the requirement for some Japanese blades to be re-polished. We do not have them polished 'traditional style' in Japan, as the costs, time, and risks involved [not to mention the punitive import duty costs, paid in the UK, for items returning from abroad] are too great. We have them polished domestically, at far more reasonable cost, time, and risk.

Goods Ordered and Held

We are very pleased to hold items for clients in order for payments to clear. However, if payment has not been made, or arrangements have not been made to clear the item within 14 days, it will be automatically returned to our website for sale.

VISITORS TO BRIGHTON & TO THE BRIGHTON MILITARY SHOP

If you plan to visit Mark and David Hawkins in Brighton, England, you are always most welcome to come and see us, at what is known locally as the world famous shop-museum called THE LANES ARMOURY, the best Brighton Gunshop, Brighton Sword shop, and Brighton Militaria Shop . Hundreds of thousands of visitors and tourists come to see us every year, many returning to us over and over again, amazed at our display of unique ANTIQUE SWORDS, OLD SWORDS, Long Guns , Flintlocks and Pistols in fact all manner of Arms, Armour and Books, where, unlike regular, small and National Museums, everything is for sale!. Please note, we sell only original or collector's items .We do not sell fantasy swords or weapons. Please ask for details for our consignment terms if required. All our guns are license free and sold under the auspices of; Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act 1968 exempts from the provisions of the act-including certificate controls under sections 1 & 2 and prohibition under section 5-antique firearms which are sold, transferred, purchased, acquired or possessed as curiosities or ornaments.

URGENT, Sending Us Photo's

Please, Please, Please, if you email photos to us make them no bigger than 150 kb each. Most cameras automatically download pictures at around 1.5 mb or more each, these are too big to send, and they may be rejected by most servers if sent in an email [and they don't allways tell the sender thay are not sent]. We are being sent pictures every day, but mostly the big ones just don't arrive and the senders think we are ignoring their email, we are not, they are simply not arriving. When you send them to us at the finest Brighton Militaria Shop, Gun Shop, and Sword shop

Old Swords, Japanese Swords, 1796 Swords, Samurai Swords and Books at The Lanes in Brighton

As you will see we are one of the foremost sources of collector's items, in the world of Antique Military Books, Swords and Militaria. You can regularly see our shop, and the partners, Mark & David, on the BBC and numerous other British TV and Satellite channels. We have appeared frequently in glossy magazines all over the world and our stock regularly features in dozens of Movies and even Computer Games. We sell online, and from our shop, Items from the Ancient and Antediluvian era, Swords, Antique Samurai Swords, Militaria, Samurai Wakazashi, American Swords, Sword Sticks & British Swords, we also stock Brown Bess Muskets, Light Cavalry Pistols, Baker Rifles, Martini Henry Rifles, Colt Revolvers, Remington Revolvers and Guns and Pistols of all eras including the American Civil War and other Wild West Pistols. We also sell Medals, Badges, thousands of Books, Helmets, German WW2 items, Russian weapons, Blunderbuss, Armour, Suits of Armour, Armor, both Japanese and European [however, these may be photographed on our website for sale with swords or pole arms, these are for display purposes only and not included with the Armour unless specified]. We sell Flags & Hire Deactivated Guns etc. [these factory made weapons may be displayed with generic photos]. Please contact us at The Armoury in Brighton [in The Lanes] or visit us personally. We are also very happy, when possible, to provide [for items purchased from the Lanes Armoury] translations of foreign inscriptions that may be on various guns and swords, however, they are third party interpretations of vintage text for information only, and we cannot be responsible for the accuracy of the translation or the text. If any errors are noticed in our descriptive text please let us know and we will be happy make any corrections as necessary.

Our Modus Operandi

Our business is based on the 'cherry pick' principle. Likely 75% of everything we are offered we refuse, on the basis of either, condition, completeness, originality, quality or simply dislike. Although you will see thousands of items in our inventory it is all based on choosing the most beautiful, or, the most interesting, most complete, most original, or most historical that we see. We effectively take all the hard slog and effort out of the tedious work of trying to find the beautiful or simply interesting available on the market, in whatever line that we sell in. Actually, just because we have chosen the best, that we consider in our opinion available, it may not actually be the most expensive, or, in fact quite perfect [nothing old usually is], but, we have used our four generations of experience to filter out what we consider the problem, later adapted, worn out, or simply wrong items, that are offered in abundance by dealers or sellers all over the world.

Although we have generations of experience between us and at our disposal, and Mark alone has handled all manner of delights within the weaponry world for over 40 years now, we never arrogantly allude to ourselves as so-called experts, we are simply heavily experienced and have faith in our opinions and decisions when we buy. Therefore, if the time, effort and decisions have been thorough in the acquisition, it is a relatively simple matter to pass it on within the sale. Our whole modus operandi is based on good relationships, a reliable friendly service and the encouragement of repeat business. Our family businesses have been successfully established and based in Brighton since long before the war, it is now one of the oldest businesses of any kind, still remaining in the same family, in the county, and one of the oldest family businesses, within this specific trade, in the world, and entirely based on continued and regular repeat business from soundly established client relationships, and we believe that record alone hopefully speaks for itself.

GRENADES & ORDNANCE

All our grenades and ordnance are examples of previous wartime eras relics. They are completely empty, inoperable and purely harmless curiosities and keepsakes. We sell such items to historical collectors and ordnance museums only. They contain no harmful contents in any way and are for curiosity or historical purposes only. We do not sell or deliver such items outside of the UK.

Packing & Shipping

Our packing is undertaken with extreme care and fastidiousness, and all and every effort is made to ensure our excellent 'Safe Arrival' record remains unblemished. We use the best materials available and all packages are inspected twice, independently, before dispatch. However, this does mean delivery can take a little bit longer, but we feel safety and protection is paramount. Antique Guns sent to the US and Canada are now taking much longer due to new restrictions, please see below for the section on the latest delivery costs for guns to North America. Please be patient we will try our best but long delays now are quite normal. If you require items urgently though please ask and every effort will be made to expedite sooner. Sorry, Deactivated arms cannot normally be shipped to the USA. If our European clients buy de-activated or antique arms from us it is the responsibility of the client to explore all local legislation as to import regulations, we cannot be responsible for any non UK regulations. We are very aware here at the Brighton Lanes Gunshop and Swordshop [The Lanes Armoury] that collector's want to get their purchases as soon as possible but please be assured it is better to arrive safely than quickly.

Eras and Periods in Japanese and British Weapon Making History & Terminology

JAPANESE;
CHOKUTO or KEN up to 900 [Heian 749-1191 Kamakura 1192-1336],………….
KOTO 900 to 1595 [Nambokochu 1333 to 1391, Muramachi 1392-1573, Momayama 1574-1602]…………….
SHINTO from 1596 to 1781 [Edo 1599 to 1867]………….
SHIN-SHINTO from 1781 to 1876………..
Modern era MEIJI, TAISHO, SHOWA [GENDAITO, SHOWATO,] from 1876 to Current day [SHINSHAKUTO]……Saya = Scabbard, Tsuka = Hilt, Nakago = Tang, Mekugi = Tang Peg, Same = Giant Ray Skin, Tsuba = Sword Guard, Hamon = Blade Temper Line, Shinken = Live Blade, Mumei = Unsigned by the Smith on the Tang, Gimei = Not the Blade Smith on the Tang, Kissaki = Blade End, Koshirae = Sword Furniture ………………………...BRITISH ERAS:
ANGLO SAXON -NORMAN, 600 to 1154………….
MEDIAEVIL, 1066 to 1500 approx…………...TUDOR [HenryVII to Elizabeth I] 1485-1603,….. STUART [James I to Queen Anne] 1603-1714 [Interregnum 1649 to 1660],
William IIIrd 1689-1702, Queen Anne 1702-1714, …………..
GEORGIAN [George I to William IV] 1714 to 1837,………….
VICTORIAN [Victoria] 1837 -1901,…………….
EDWARDIAN [Edward VII] 1901-1910, …………..
Modern Era ….George Vth 1910 to 1936, .. Edward VIIIth 1936,.. George VIth, 1936 to 1953,.. Elizabeth IInd 1953 to Current day.

Long Polearms and Extra Long Muskets or Arquebuss

The overseas delivery for very long items by Air Delivery is limited to 1.5 meters in length. As it can be expensive to deliver single articles by shipping them Sea Freight, some over-long items are not prudent to send abroad. Polearms can, however, have the shaft cut in half and very simply re-affixed at the destination [either personally, by the buyer, or by a basic carpenter]. This has been the accepted method of transporting polearms for many, many, years and is perfectly suitable and effective.

OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS, CONDITIONS, AND INFORMATION PAGE

NONE OF OUR ITEMS REQUIRE LICENCES OR ARE RESTRICTED TO OWN OR COLLECT. WE DO NOT SELL EDGED WEAPONRY OR ARMS TO ANY PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. Our website on Arms & Armour & Books is now updated with new additions [and deletions] every two hours. There are different forms of searches on our site, if you click 'other searches' you may also search by keyword/s or stock numbers. Then click 'category search' to return to normal. Every effort is made to be accurate in our stock descriptions, however, if you notice any errors or spelling mishaps please feel free to let us know and we will be pleased to rectify them. Some items of Military Kit, such as Military Cap Badges and Buckles etc etc are Silver and / or Gold in colour, this is not to infer they are solid Silver or Gold unless they are Hallmarked, and if so they will be stated in the description as such ie. 'Hallmarked Silver' or 'Hallmarked Gold'. In regard to the embellishment and the furniture of weaponry, the 'Act of 1738' [the Plate [Offences] Act 1738, & the 1738 exemptions] exempted the requirement of an assay mark for gold and silver mounts of swords, daggers, pistols and guns. Therefore on the many weapons that may be fitted with solid silver mounts [for example] no hallmarks will be present, unless stated otherwise. Regarding Webshop photos, for items that are Generic, such as Pattern Swords or De-activated Military Arms we may use generic photographs, but for illustrative purposes only.

Exchange Rates for Non UK Based Clients

With the constant fluctuation in the world's currency exchange rates we try to update our exchange rate guide fairly regularly in respect to the three main rates of Pounds Sterling, US Dollars and Euros. However, our exchange rates are for general guide purposes only, we are only able to charge for each sale in our domestic currency of Pounds Sterling, and the current prevailing conversion rate is then charged by the purchaser's bankers or charge/credit card issuers. This rate may differ, either up or down, from our guide rate.

E.mail 'Spam' Difficulties, Incoming and Outgoing

AOL email servers are very sensitive and temporarily blocking some outside servers due to potential spam problems. It may mean for all our customers that use AOL our replies can take up to a week or more to get through. We are taking steps to rectify this difficulty, but it may take some weeks to solve. The opposite problem is that some genuine e.mails are still being excluded as Spam by our server. If you do not receive a reply in 7 days please try again, we may not have received your e.mail the first time. Please put in the subject box the single word 'Question' this may help the Spam filters to identify it and not exclude it.

BOOKS

Please see our shop in The Sunday Times Culture Magazine in the Book section March 2006. As with our old site, we have many thousands of books, and as books are our largest single selling line we have just too many pass through our hands to even begin to list them all in stock. Please e.mail us if you seek a particular item you don't see available. We are, as usual, actively seeking rare old books with a historical interest, we have an urgent request for a numbered second edition "The 7 Pillars of Wisdom", by T.E. Lawrence. Please contact us if you may be able to help. Please contact us personally for all our consignment terms for all types of items, we will be happy to send you a copy. Special discounts can be arranged for the purchase of books in excess of 50 in one order.

Quote

"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't." Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States 1801-1809

WE ARE SEEKING NEW ITEMS EVERY DAY

Many items you see on our site have taken us great efforts to acquire, involving the traveling of thousands of miles, and we urgently wish to buy similar items from those seeking to sell. We can be contacted by telephone on; 01273 321357, or, email us at; mail@thelanesarmoury.co.uk, or, simply write to; The Lanes Armoury, 26 Meetinghouse Lane, Brighton, East Sussex BN11HB. All transactions are accomplished with the very highest courtesy, and full discretion and confidentiality is assured.

Notice Regarding UK Gun Licenses

We do not sell Arms or Swords that are restricted or licensable. All our items are entirely restriction free. All UK customers may purchase our weaponry safe in the knowledge that no restrictions or licenses are required, or, apply.

GIFT VOUCHERS

For those who would like to buy a gift but wish to leave the choice to the recipient,
a GIFT VOUCHER may be the perfect choice. There are different value vouchers in every dept. They are all valid without time limit, for any type of item/s. If the amount you wish to buy is not listed please order the next lowest amount available and state your actual figure required in the 'Comment' section. Gift vouchers can be for any amount as required please place the amount desired in the 'Comment' section. For any exchange that is for less than the face value of the Gift Voucher a new Voucher shall be issued to the named holder for the remaining amount.

German WW2 Third Reich and Stalinist Items

Important notice, the German WW2 Third Reich items, and Stalinist period communist items, that we sell, are highly relevant pieces of recent, modern history, from likely the most important and significant era in modern man's evolution. They are in no way sold to reflect or aid any political bent whatsoever. They are the symbology of errant states, and ideologies, corrupted by despots [ie Mr Hitler and Mr Stalin] and no offence is made, or intended, to those that find the representations of Nazi or Communist symbols offensive. They are sold by us to collectors of modern historical artifacts only.