The items of militaria shown below can be viewed in our on-line shop complete with full descriptions, photographs and prices.
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| 15th C. Rondel Dagger of the Era of Agincourt, Jean d'Arc & the Inquisition A super small dagger from the time of The Battle Of Agincourt, through to The Siege of Orleans, and to the beginning of The Spanish Inquisition. With Mail Piercing blade of triangular section with two cutting edges. The hilt is of root wood with disc pommel, gilt bands and a golden coin under at the blade base. The history that this dagger has seen is only to be amazed at, possibly the greatest and significent times of Medeivil history. The Battle of Agincourt, one of the most incredible conflicts in Anglo French warfare, the time of the Maid of Orleans, Saint Joan, certainly one of the most famous events in all history, and into the Spanish Inquisition, one of the so called darkest times for the interrogation of heretics. |
| 16th Century Style Funery Helm In the Manner of Sir Richard Lee's Helmet Sir Richard Lee (c.1513-1575) was a professional soldier and military engineer. He was a friend of King Henry VIII and following the dissolution of St Albans Abbey he purchased the grounds of the abbey (the abbey itself was given to the people of St Albans), Sopwell Priory and the rectorship of St Stephen's church. He tore down the priory and built a Tudor house on the site which he named Lee Hall. The ruins of this house still survive today, on Cottonmill Lane. He is buried in St. Peter's Church, St. Albans. Sir Richard's Helmet is in St Albans Museum. If one compares this antique out of period helmet here, to Sir Richard's helmet, one can see the obvious similarities. The Cuirassier Close Helm of the Tudor era, although subject to variances was basically formed around a generic design. A close helmet entirely covers the head, face, and neck, having on the front perforations for the admission of air, and slits through which the wearer may see objects around him, this part of the visor lifts up by means of a pivot over each ear. The last small photo in the gallery is of Sir Richard's helmet [for information and interest only] We have had the entire surface professionally cleaned and preserved by a conservator at great expense. |
| 17th Century Style Cast Bronze Desk Cannon A fine and substantial Executive or Gentleman's Desk ornament. A large wheeled Field Cannon popular from the Renaissance era to the 19th century. Heavy bronze casting probably late 19th to early 20th century.Approx. 12 inches by 7 inches 6 inches. |
| 1861-1896 Royal Engineers Haynes Medal For Field Fortifications in Bronze Bust right facing of Captain Haynes, to edge of field the Legend Captain A.F.Haynes, R.E. 1861-96. Rev:Wooded background to field with two engineers looking at tressle bridge over a ravine legend to the edge of field:Engraved italic capitals naming; 342290 Sapper W. Hatton 355 party
Bronze Haynes Medal was awarded the best sapper in each party of recruits going through the field works course at the School of Military Engineers. In original case, mint condition [Medal 57mm]. Captain Haynes was a 19th Century British Hero, an officer of the Royal Engineers who was killed on campaign in Mashonaland in 1896. This medal was dedicated in honour to his memory. |
| 1888 Pattern Lee Metford Boer War Bayonet MkI, Type 2 Type 2With scarce non regulation scabbard.2 Rivet hilt. With scabbard. Good condition for age all usual British acceptance marks |
| 18th Cent.George IIIrd [Naval] Blunderbuss & Bayonet, by John Harcourt This is an officer's grade gun made by John Harcourt, possibly as part of his Royal Government contract for Blunderbuss naval boarding guns with spring bayonets in around 1795. He was a fine and well regarded maker, based in Suffolk [between 1780 and 1830], who was known for his fine cased duelling pistols, with all accessories, when he was awarded a contract to supply flintlock boarding blunderbuss guns by Royal order for the King's navy. His guns would have been of varying grades of quality and this is a superior quality with fine engraving throughout. At some point it was 'drum and nipple' converted to the later percussion system, in around the 1830's, in order to enable it's continued use well into the 1850's. All steel mounts, bayonet, and hook breech barrel, with a finely engraved pineapple finial to the trigger guard. Fine walnut stock with chequered wrist. The pineapple motif became most popular in England as a representation of the pineapples brought back by Captain Cook after his expeditions to the south sea islands.This gun has been in long term storage for decades and required full hand cleaning and polishing etc in our workshops, but 35 hours later it has much returned to it's former glory. Naturally it has seen use and has natural wear etc. but it looks so beautiful now it is a joy to behold. Spring on the bayonet is weak at present. |
| 18th Century Indo Persian Tulwar All steel hilt and blade |
| 18th Century Moghal Sword, of the Battle of Plassey 1757 Apparently, through family legend, captured at the Battle of Plassey by a British Officer, and bought back as a war souvenir. The Battle of Plassey was an East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in India and British rule over much of South Asia for the next 190 years. The battle took place on 23 June 1757 at Palashi, West Bengal, on the riverbanks of the Bhagirathi River, about 150 km north of Calcutta, near Murshidabad, then the capital of the Nawab of Bengal. The opponents were Siraj Ud Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, and the British East India Company. The battle was waged during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) and in a mirror of their European rivalry the French East India Company sent a small contingent to fight against the British East India Company. Overall russet finish with feint traces of gold decoration on the slightly loose hilt. Small picture in the gallery shows Robert Clive after the victory at Plassey. [Picture for historical information and context only, not included]. |
| 18th Century, Very Rare Reservoir -Butt Air Gun circa 1785, Likely German. As far back as 250BC, Pharaoh Ktesbias II of Egypt, first described the use of compressed air to propel a projectile. Modern air gun history began in the 15th century. These weapons were known as wind chambers and were designed using an air reservoir connected to a cannon barrel. These devices were capable of propelling a four pound lead ball over a distance of 500 yards, and able to penetrate 3 inch oak board. These weapons rivaled the power of gun powder based firearms of that time and came into use in the Napoleonic wars in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Due to the fact that high powered air guns were both silent and deadly, they were feared by many, Nobility tired to keep these air guns out of the hands of commoners Air guns even saw much combat in battle, an Austrian Army used a air rifle designed by Grandoni in 1779 that shot 20 rounds of .44 cal. bullets at speeds as high as 1,000 feet per second. They fought well against Napoleon's Army and even though the Austrian Army was out numbered and lost the battle, the Austrian's armed with air guns demoralized Napoleon's Army and they suffered had a great number of casualties. Air guns were so feared by Napoleon's Army that any enemy soldier captured with a air rifle was executed as an assassin. One important reason Napoleon was so upset about air guns was because there was no cloud of smoke upon firing which would allow the sniper to be pin-pointed and killed.
One of the most famous air guns in history is the .36 caliber air gun that Lewis and Clark took along with them on their expedition of 1804-06. They took it along for hunting, just in case the black powder got wet and also used it to impress the Indians, the Indians call this air rifle, "The smokeless thunder stick.". In overall very fine condition. The round, smoothbore, appox .44 calibre, sighted, steel barrel with smooth untouched surfaces, fine bore with front site.. Exposed cocking "hammer" with an external mechanism and sculpted mainspring: matching, smooth, blued surfaces and in functional order. Complete with its original air release lever. Leather wrapped, conical, hollow, steel butt stock/air reservoir. Matching mechanism with all of its original components, a strong mainspring and air release valve. Very fine stock A very nice and complete example of a rare late 18th century German or Austrian Reservoir-Butt Air Rifle. Overall length, 55". |
| 18th- to early 19th century, Indo Persian, Islamic Sword “Khyber Knife” or Salawar Yatagan. This is a traditional sword of the Afridis and many other tribes living in and near the Khyber Pass, Turkistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Straight and heavy single-edged possibly Damascus steel t section blade tapering gradually from the hilt to the point with wide rib at the back, the hilt is formed of two pieces of ivory riveted to the tang. A superb example of these formidable swords and in generally pretty good condition for age, at present rather grubby in sleeper condition. 30.5 inches overall 25 inch blade. |
| 1910 Russian Maxim Armoured Machine Gun. Deactivated A truly superb example of the world famous Russian Maxim Machine Gun. [Deactivated] Sokolov wheeled carriage, fluted barrel, Armoured Protection Shield excellent condition. As used at the Siege of Stalingrad, the great Battle of Kursk and the assault into Berlin. The Pulemyot Maxima PM1910 [Pulemyot Maxima na stanke Sokolova] comprises a 7.62mm water cooled Russian machine gun adopted in 1910 and modelled closely on the original Maxim gun developed by Hiram S. Maxim. Highly durable and reliable, the water-cooled Pulemyot Maxima, which weighs approximately 72kg with its mounting, was loaded via rounds of 250 fabric belt Mosin-Nagant cartridges. A period photo in the gallery shows a Maxim being ferried across to Stalingrad on a raft. Deactivated not suitable to Export to US |
| 1928A1 'Tommy Gun' Thompson Sub Machine Gun With Drum and Stick Mags Straight foregrip model [not to be confused with the early pistol foregrip model]. The infamous round magazine machine gun of the Roaring Twenties, and used by the US Army and Marines in WW2. Also as used by all the infamous Gangsters of the era. Photos of John Dillinger with his, and a WW2 US War Bond Poster, showing a GI with this early pre-war model 'Tommy' [with horizontal fore grip] in the Pacific theatre. Finned barrel, Lyman site, Cutts Compensator, round drum magazine, top cocking lever, removable butt, horizontal bar foregrip, moving cocking lever. Deact post '02. Sadly not exportable to the U.S. |
| 1936 Third Reich Bilder Deutscher Geschichte (Pictures of German History) Heavy but relatively good quality paper, printed in Roman font typeface. The book is 12.25" high by 9.25" wide. The cover is sort of a dark yellow color. There is some spotting and definite browning here and there nothing unusual for a relatively inexpensive quality laminated layer, soft cover boards. The layers are beginning to separate a little at the corner, The volume is otherwise in decent shape on the outside, with some raggedness to the cover edges. In slightly raised relief on the cover is a beautiful eagle with upright (semi-folded) wings, perched atop a plinth-style gold base with the title BILDER DEUTSCHER GESCHICHTE. The binding is a smooth, dark brown strip that covers the spine with a little overlap on the cover on each side. The book title is printed in gold geprägt.. The binding itself appears to be solid; all the pages are quite secure. The book is divided into chronological groups of picture motifs Group 1: The German Middle Ages, Group 2: The Reformation and the 30 Years War; Group 3. The Start of Brandenburg-Prussia; Group 4. The Age of Friedrich the Great; Group 5. German Spiritual Life around 1800; the Unification of Germany, and so on up to 1914. Each Group ( or section) starts off with a brief historical text, which is followed by pages with captions each caption having a box above it for pasting in picture labels (depicting a multitude of people, places events) printed on glossy paper. These were traded for using collectible seals off of cigarette packs. The little reproduction paintings are quite interesting and in excellent condition. Slightly worn exterior cover and edges but overall an excellent and colorful book. Very interesting and informative. 9,25 inches x 12 inches |
| 1938 Moisin Nagant Rifle of The Red Army of WW2 Dated and in overall good condition but the bolt action is further deactivated. |
| 1943 Dated WW2 'Red Army' Nagant Rifle Fitted For Sniper Use, With Scope Very good condition overall. Scope excellent with superb optics. Good tight action. Deactivated not suitable for export Scope marked with Red Army traditional 'Hammer and Sickle' stamp, undated. Complete with strap. The sniper rifle M1891/30 is basically the M1891/30 adapted for use with a telescope. "During the Winter War of '39-'40 the Russians learned from the Finns through bitter experience the value of snipers. Simo Häyhä, a farmer, is credited with the killing of over 500 Russian soldiers in fifteen weeks with his Model 1928 Mosin-Nagant rifle. As a result, the Russians began to place more emphasis on their sniper training programme. Extract from: "Enemy at the Gates - The Battle for Stalingrad." by William Craig:
"The Russians backed out of their trench. Anxious to put the German sniper in a maximum amount of blinding sunlight, they followed the irregularly curving front line until they found a spot where the afternoon sun would be at their backs... Aware that the sun would reflect on their scopes, they waited patiently for it to go down behind them. By late afternoon, now wrapped in shade, they had Konings at a disadvantage. Zaitsev focused his telescopic sight on the Germans hiding place. A piece of glass suddenly glinted at the edge of the sheet. Zaitsev motioned Kulikov, who slowly raised his helmet over the top of the parapet. Konings fired once and Kulikov rose, screaming convincingly. Sensing triumph, the German lifted his head slightly to see his victim. Vassili Zaitsev shot him between the eyes...
Zaitsev is credited with 242 kills in Stalingrad before he was injured by a landmine." Both the rifle and the sniper rifle were standard issue in some Soviet satellite armies into the 1970s. |
| 19th century German Cavalry Sabre by Schnitler and Kirshbaum Modelled on the British 1788 pattern, a good example of these early Prussian Cavalry Sabres. Marked S&K at the Forte. Langets missing, with steel combat scabbard. Napoleonic War Era |
| 19th Century Swiss Pioneer and Artillery Sword Saw back short blade, with chequered 5 rivet grip and brass hilt, fully maker marked and stamped. Excellent near mint condition [no scabbard]. A rather scarce and collectable item. |
| 1st Class German Third Reich War Merit Cross With Swords Wide pin fixing, Alloy metal in good order. One of the highest awards for officer's, just under the Knights Cross award. With relief Swastika between the cross and swords. A medal for bravery when in military and maritime service but not necessarily when facing the enemy. For example, awarded for rescuing wounded in minefields, rescuing men from sinking ships, bomb disposal, or bravery during aerial bombardment. Curiously the bravery required to achieve this medal could be greater than was required to receive the traditional combat bravery medal, the Iron Cross Ist Class. Part of a very fine and significant collection of German medals and awards we were most fortunate to acquire. General Karl Wolff, SS-Oberstgruppenfûhrer Friedrich Otto and SS-Oberstgruppenfûhrer Gotlob Berger [see photo] were all awarded and wore this form of award |
| 25 Year Faithful Service to the Third Reich Medal In Silver In Original Box Excellent condition unusually still in it's original red case. For 25 Years Faithfull Service to the NSDAP and Reich. Black enamel on silver, blue silk ribbon.One of the most beautiful quality medals ever made during Hitler's Third Reich.Part of a very fine and significant collection of German medals and awards we were most fortunate to acquire |
| A Beautiful Samurai Daisho. An Absolute Bargain A matched Daisho comprising a Shinto period Shoto and a Showa Daito. Matching battle wrap. The Tsuba are, Edo period and sukashi iron. The lacquer on the sayas has been slightly damaged [and basically repaired] and one saya has lightly faded. We have been quoted to fully re-lacquer the saya, to fully match once more, at around £250 ps. The traditional Samurai wore two distinctly differing swords (called Daisho). One was long; the other short. The long sword (daito - katana) was more than 24 inches. The short sword (shoto - wakizashi) was between 12 and 24 inches. The Samurai often gave names to their swords and believed it was the "soul" of their warriorship. The oldest swords were straight and had their early design in Korea and China. The Samurai's requirement for ever tougher and sharper swords for combat and battle and these gave rise to the curved blade that is still in use today. The sword had its origins as iron combined with carbon. This is how all great blades are made. The swordsmith used fire, water, anvil and hammer to shape the world's finest swords. After forging the blade, the sword polisher did his work to prepare the blade for the "furniture" that covered it and within it was mounted. These Swords have a battle wrap to the Tsuke [hilts] with Edo era sword fittings.The Shoto blade is in full polish, the Daito blade is in around 85% polish. We are selling these swords for the benefit of a highly respected non UK based client. |
| A Gendaito Japanese Officer's Sword of WW2 Signed Nagamura Kanekiyo Signed Nagamura Kanekiyo. A good and well recorded Gendaito [traditional] maker. He was born in 1894 and died in 1964.He received his traditional sword makers licence in 1939 on the 26th of October. He was ranked 4th in the Fine New Made [Samurai] Sword Exhibition in Japan of March 1941. He appears in Hawley's Book [of Samurai Swordsmiths] reference KAN1216 and KAN 1217. He also appears in Gregory and Fullers Swordsmiths of Japan 1926-1945, Oshigata numbers 120 & 357 and John Slough's Modern Japanese Swordsmiths no's. 221, 227. A good traditionally made Samurai sword with good hamon but probably would much improve with a good polish. Leather mounted scabbard, Shingunto mounts. Surrendered in 1945.This sword is 'straight out of the woodwork', simply kept in storage since it's surrender and left entirely 'as is' since it was last used. There is no doubt at all this sword's owner, a devoted and most loyal officer of his Emporor, saw considerable combat service, but sadly all of this is now unknown and lost to history. |
| A Nato Issue Ceramic Bullet Proof Plate A most interesting military curio. A bullet proof ceramic plate designed to withstand up to 7.62 ballistic bullet rifle rounds. This was an accessory to be worn in conjuction with a bullet proof vest, in order to upgrade a standard kevlar vest, in order for it to withstand a high velocity rifle round. Please note this piece is in not to be used for it's designed purpose in way, it is now simply a rare and most interesting collectors piece. |
| A Scarce WW2 German Sports Badge Badge of the sports and gymnastics club Kieler Männerturnvereins von 1844. Woven cloth shield in Blue Red and Gold. An offshoot of this club formed the Kiel Football club the Kieler Sportvereinigung Holstein von 1900 e.V, just after WW1, and they continued to play successfully right until the end of WW2. This badge came as a WW2 souvenir from a British Serviceman of WW2, who fought in Germany until 1945, and then transferred to the Military Police to continue to serve during the occupation till 1947. He was stationed in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It was worn in conjunction with the Nazi Sports badge, which is also for sale in our gallery |
| A '3 Band' Enfield 1853 Pattern Musket Made and used in Empire in the British Raj. Possibly used by a Seapoy in the Indian Mutiny era. Smoothbore. Good walnut stock with two section forend. Brass furniture, steel lock and barrel. Possibly made with some Enfield parts. Superior Empire made long gun, but not quite to the Tower London made quality. Damascus twist barrel. Lock and hammer stamped with undecipherable markings. |
| A 'Historismus' Morian Helmet 16th Century Elizabethan Style A typical 'Morian' helmet of the Spanish Armada Era style. Iron, curved, boat shape with wide brim and high crescent comb. A very good 19th century museum replica. Good antique patina.Traditionally hand made in heavy grade iron/steel |
| A 'Princess Mary' Box and a Killed in Action Trio With Accompanying Letter An original box in near mint order that belonged to the owner of these medals, who was killed in action at Arras in 1916. He was Gunner H. Owram, no; 50191, "V" 1st Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who was KIA age 23 on 25 June 1916 Son of George and Agnes E. Owram, of 19, Howden Place, Hyde Park, Leeds. Remembered with honour on the
Arras Memorial. The letter is from the Colonel of the Royal Garrison Artillery to his mother notifying her that her late son had been awarded the 1914-15 Star. The embossed brass box, created in 1914 for sailors and soldiers of Great Britain during the early days of World War 1 as a Christmas gift, was the inspiration of the 17-year-old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, Princess Mary. The Princess wanted everyone wearing the King's uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day 1914 to have a 'gift from the nation'. The boxes were filled with a variety of things, which depended on where the servicemen and women were stationed, whether they were smokers, and whether they were male or female. All contained a Christmas card and a picture of the Princess. Some of the items included tobacco, pipe and lighter, a bullet pencil and sweets, spices or chocolate.The box still has all it's original gilt lacquer finish, the Star has been polished, the Civilisation medal also has all it's original gilt. Burial commemorated at Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery Arras Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region, France Plot: Bay 1.The Arras Memorial is in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, which is in the Boulevard du General de Gaulle in the western part of the town of Arras. The cemetery is near the Citadel, approximately 2 kilometres due west of the railway station. The Memorial commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both the cemetery and the memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. |
| A 12th to 15th Century Medieval Bearded Side Axe An iron long bearded axe with an off set blade. A good axe suitable for combat and craft. Since the days of the Roman Legionaries, soldiers were both warriors and builders. The Romans trained their soldiers not only for combat, but for engineering and fort building, for the times of combat may be few, but the times of construction were many. Forts, roads, defenses, siege engines and drain construction were all part of a Legionary's skills, and although the armies of ancient Rome died centuries before, the lessons for future warriors lived on. A medieval foot soldier would be simply armed, with a weapon that may have had many functions, and the axe was the most effective of them all. This side axe would have been incredibly effective in the hands of a trained exponant of the battle axe, but, it would have been just as effective for aiding the construction of forts, battlements, boats or engines of war. Affixed to a later haft. 13cm blade 13cm wide. |
| A 13th Century Battle Axe with Viking Style Crescentric Broad Blade A large Medieval two handed broad axe adapted from the earlier Viking Briedox [ broad axe], as used by the Anglo-Danish Huscarls at the Battle of Hastings, whose blades were up to 12 inches across, or even bigger. This is a superb example, on a later hardwood haft. This fine axe is from the time of King Henry III and The Battle of Lewes, which was one of two main battles of the conflict known as the Second Barons' War. It took place at Lewes in Sussex, on May 14, 1264. It marked the high point of the career of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and made him for a while the "uncrowned King of England", until his defeat and death, at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, at the hands of Edward Longshanks, King Henry's son, who became King Edward I. As a point of local interest the famous battle took place only around 10 miles from The Lanes Armoury, and our farm [ Sifelle, which was once part of King Harold's personal estate in Sussex] is just three miles north east of the battle site. Three pictures in the gallery show a broad axe being used in the Bayeaux Tapestry [depicting King Harold's and King William's Battle of Hastings], a foot soldier leaning on his broad axe, and a map of the Battle of Lewes [these are for information and interest only and not included]. A very similar axe to this one appears in the London Museum catalogue of 1940. Full length 59 1/2 inches, blade 11 3/4 inches across [front to back] |
| A 13th Century Iron Head Battle Mace Pineapple shaped head with large mounting hole. The type as were also used as a Flail Mace, with the centre mount being filled with lead and a chain mounted hook, when it was not mounted on a haft, as this mace is. Flattened pyramidical protuberances, possibly English. Made for a mounted Knight to use as an Armour and Helmet Crusher in mortal combat. It would have been used up to the 15th to 16th century. On a Flail it had the name of a Scorpion in England or France, or sometimes a Battle-Whip. It was also wryly known as a 'Holy Water Sprinkler'. King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon, as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat. Although blind he was a valiant and the bravest of the Warrior Kings, who perished at the Battle of Crecy against the English in 1346. On the day he was slain he instructed his Knights [both friends and companions] to lead him to the very centre of battle, so he may strike at least one blow against his enemies. His Knights tied their horses to his, so the King would not be separated from them in the press, and they rode together into the thick of battle, where King John managed to strike not one but at least four noble blows. The following day of the battle, the horses and the fallen knights were found all about the body of their most noble King, all still tied to his steed. Fitted on a late wooden haft, approx. 2.5 inch head. |
| A 15th Century German Dagger With single edge and armour piercing reinforced tip. A rare piece from the period of the Battle of Agincourt. In battlefield recovery condition. |
| A 1796 British Infantry Flank Officer's Sabre With copper gilt hilt triple wire bound wooden grip and all steel combat scabbard. Used in the era of the Peninsular War and Waterloo.The scabbard has overall surface pitting and the blade has had field service repair to blade mid section |
| A 1796 Heavy Cavalry Trooper's Combat Sword with LC Knuckle bow Now this is a rare piece, due to it's anomalous feature. A traditional Peninsular War and Waterloo era Heavy Cavalry sword, used in the Heavy Brigade, with it's good, straight, single edged blade, maker marked Gill, bearing fine ordnance inspectors stamps and markings, but, with a replaced knuckle bow of the standard Light Cavalry P Hilt form. Over the past 40 years or so we have only seen just a very few of these adapted swords but we have never run to ground their true origin. It has certainly been used in it's working life just as it is, and the guard is fully contemporary to the blade and blackstrap. We can only make conjecture as to it's history, was it an option for an officer of the Heavy Brigade to use a trooper's sword?, but only after the hilt was adapted?, for as an officer he could not be seen to use the rather brutish steel disc guard of the HC trooper, but, however, in the Light Cavalry, the P Hilt guard was identical for both officers and other ranks, and what's more it was far more comfortable to wear, especially in the uniform of the day. Or, possibly, a trooper may have damaged his hilt in combat and the standard cavalry P type was far easier for the regimental armourer to replace it with. Who knows?, but maybe a reader does know the answer to this question, and if so we would love to hear from them. Overall russeting to the hilt, excellent condition blade with sharpened edge and spear point. No scabbard. Used by a man of the British Heavy cavalry. The Heavy Cavalry were seperated into two brigades at Waterloo. The 1st Brigade, known as the Household Brigade, commanded by Major-General Edward Somerset (Lord Somerset), consisted of guards regiments: the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, the Royal Horse Guards (the Blues), and the 1st 'King's' Dragoon Guards The 2nd Brigade, also known as the Union Brigade, commanded by Major-General Sir William Ponsonby, was so called as it consisted of an English (1st, 'The Royals'), a Scottish (2nd, 'Scots Greys'), and an Irish (6th, 'Inniskilling') regiment of heavy dragoons. More than 20 years of warfare had eroded the numbers of suitable cavalry mounts available on the European continent; this resulted in the British heavy cavalry entering the 1815 campaign with the finest horses of any contemporary cavalry arm. They also received excellent mounted swordsmanship training. The two brigades had a combined field strength of about 2,000 (2,651 official strength), and they charged with the 47-year-old Uxbridge leading them and little reserve Scots Greys Regt. The Scots Greys, as part of the Union Brigade [so called as it was made up of a regiment of Heavy Cavalry from each part of Britain] were some of the finest heavy Cavalry in Europe and certainly one of the most feared. A quote of Napoleon of the charge at the Battle of Waterloo goes;
"Ces terribles chevaux gris! Comme il travaillent!" (Those terrible grey horses, how they strive!) At approximately 1:30 pm, the second phase of the Battle of Waterloo opened. Napoleon launched D'Erlon's corps against the allied centre left. After being stopped by Picton's Peninsular War veterans, D'Erlon's troops came under attack from the side by the heavy cavalry commanded by Earl of Uxbridge including Major General Sir William Ponsonby's Scots Greys. The shocked ranks of the French columns surrendered in their thousands. During the charge Sergeant Ewart, of the Greys, captured the eagle of the French 45th Ligne. The Greys charged too far and, having spiked some of the French cannon, came under counter-attack from enemy cavalry. Ponsonby, who had chosen to ride one of his less expensive mounts, was ridden down and killed by enemy lancers. The Scots Greys' casualties included: 102 killed; 97 wounded; and the loss of 228 of the 416 horses that started the charge. This engagement also gave the Scots Greys their cap badge, the eagle itself. The eagle is displayed in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards museum in Edinburgh Castle. The British Heavy Cavalry, during the Peninsular War and at Waterloo it fought with incredible distinction and exemplary bravery, and saw some of the most incredible and courageous combat. Fighting the elite French Curassiers and Carabiniers of Napoleons Imperial Guard was no mean feat, for at the time the French Cavalry was some of the most formidable in the world, and at their very peak. Never again was the French Cavalry to be as respected and feared as it was during the great Napoleonic era. Some of the battles this may also have been used at were; [during 1808-14] The Peninsular Campaign, including, Salamanca , Toulouse, Albuera Talavera, Pyrenees then from 1814: La Rothiere, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Athies, La Fere-Champenoise and Paris
1815: and Quatre-Bras. The last photo in the gallery is of Lady Butler's painting, the Charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo. One of the heavy cavalry regiments who used this form of sword. |
| A 17C. Civil War Ballock Dagger Circa 1600 From the time of the English Civil War, this fine European dagger is a typical weapon that was favoured by Knights and Lords for over 400 years. The tombs of the Crusaders are often resplendent with full engraved brasses, which depict the interred, dressed in full Knightly Armour adorned with a Ballock Dagger worn at his side. The Ballock Dagger, with it's distinctive kidney form, evolved into the famous Highland Dirk during the late 17th to early 18th century. Some middle hilt restoration. |
| A 17th to 18th Century Katar Armour Piercing 'Punch' Dagger Ribbed spine blade for strengthened penetratative powers. Replacement formed scabbard. An interesting weapon, in reasonable condition for age, extremely distinctive in it's uniquely Indian shape. Popular with Seikh but especially the Mahratta warriors. The Katar [Devanagari] is a type of short punching weapon that is native to the Indian subcontinent and popular elsewhere for swift and quick attacks. It is notable for its horizontal hand grip, which results in the blade of the sword sitting above the user's knuckles.The katar is unique because to stab an opponent one has to simply punch instead of thrust, unlike when using a regular knife or dagger. It is more like an extension of the fist than a dagger, and it seems more natural to attack and defend with a katar. Sometimes, a katar is also used as a main-gauche in dual blade fencing.The history of the states and dynasties comprising the Maratha Empire constitutes a major portion of the history of late medieval India. It is noteworthy that the rise of the Marathas represented the revival of the political power of the Hindus in north India after many centuries of Muslim rule, it prevented the spread of the Mughal Empire and associated Islamic culture to south India and was the primary cause of the decline of the Mughal Empire. One support has an old repair. |
| A 1938 Sudetanland Medal Awarded to those who took part in the entry of the Sudetanland on 1st October 1938. On September 29, Hitler met Daladier, Chamberlain and Mussolini in Munich where all four leaders signed the Munich Agreement ceding the Sudetenland to Germany. The Czechoslovak government capitulated September 30 and agreed to abide by the agreement. The Sudetenland was occupied by Germany between October 1 and October 10, 1938. This unification with the Third Reich was followed by the flight and forcible expulsion of the region's Czech population to the remaining parts of Czechoslovakia, which were subsequently invaded and annexed by Germany in March 1939.Part of a very fine and significant collection of German medals and awards we were most fortunate to acquire from a grandnephew of a U-Boat commander. |
| A 19th Century British Masonic Sword, Wide Grade Blade Finely etched beautifully bright blade, with traditional all brass cruciform hilt and scabbard mounts red leather covered scabbard. Overall in very nice order and some little scabbard leather wear. Maker marked Spencer and Co. Gt Queen St London. A very nice quality example. |
| A 19th Century 'Crimean War' Military Officer's Trunk, Probably Russian A wooden and steel strap banded military trunk from the Crimean war. Painted in faded pale Russian blue-grey. Said, from family history, to have been used by an officer of the 17th Lancers who acquired it from various kit captured from a Russian baggage train. The British officer then used it for his gun case and military kit during this campaign, and later by his sons.The last picture shows the bottom rear strap loops for mounting the trunk on the rear of a horse drawn baggage coach. 13 inches deep x 21.5 inches wide x 11.5 inches high. |
| A 19th Century French Armour Back-Plate Part of a Heavy Cavalry Cuirass, a great display piece of an original, antique, French Cavalry armour |
| A 19th Century French Cavalry Armour Back-Plate A great display piece of original French Heavy Cavalry Armour. Superb for a display of Stand-of-Arms |
| A 19th Century French Chassepot Sword Bayonet With Leather Belt Frog. Made around the era of the Franco Prussian war these highly distinctive French Army issue Yataghan bladed sword bayonets came to England via the good services of a English Midlands china exporter, who was shipping English pottery and porcelain to France, in the late 19th century. He required his empty keeless barges to be stabilised with ballast, and bought French bayonets from French scrap merchants. |
| A 19th Century French Gladius Short Sword Short powerful double edged blade, brass hilt with leather and brass mounted scabbard. Used from the first quarter of the 19th century till the Crimean War, then many were sold to the US for the Civil War. |
| A 19th Century Indonesian Kris Dagger With traditional meteoric steel blade with serpentine form. Very long elongated boat shaped hilt. Very nice example of a Keris in good sound condition. Nickle covered scabbard. 20 inches long overall 11 inch blade. |
| A 19th Century Islamic Koummya Kindjal Very nice chisseled decorated scabbard and matching brass mounted dagger. The blade is German bearing a very impressive armourer's mark. |
| A 19th Century Medievil Style Knightly Sword 13th-14th Century style, but made in the Victorian era, most probably as a faithful representation and display piece for a country estate. In the early 19th century Sir Walter Scott's novels created a great resurgence in the interest in romantic Knightly tales of derring do and chivalry, and this was strongly followed in architecture at the time. To reflect the interest, numerous great castles and gothic mansions were built, and many were furnished with Knightly Armour and Weaponry such as this. |
| A 19th Century North African Koummya Dagger A beautifully decorated piece with all metal scabbard, wooden hilt with metal mounts.The mounts are nickle.
The overall length is 420mm. The blade length is 202mm. |
| A 19th Century Percussion Long Musket Walnut stock, steel barrel, percussion action. Made Circa 1830 and used in the British Empire, most probably in Indian Raj. A good sound musket, recently repaired a little at the wrist. Great patina, good tight action. A very simple but charming item. It would make a super, decorative and original wall piece. |
| A 19th Century Syrian Jambiya Carved horn hilt inlaid with red and white discs. Very well preserved leather scabbard, double edged steel blade with central rib. |
| A 600 Hundred Year Old Ancient Koto Katana with Wonderful Koshirae This is a beautiful sword that was surrendered as a war trophy in WW2 and the saya is still covered in it's Imperial Japanese Navy black leather combat cover [with the two naval type suspenders]. The whole sword is fully traditional samurai mounted otherwise. This is a traditional Samurai sword of a Japanese WW2 naval officer's ancestor, who may have possibly been from a long and distinguished line of Samurai forbears. The blade when it arrived with us was very poorly grey, but over the past few months we have had the blade polished and it has now returned. You can see the blade as it is now, but also in the gallery how poor it looked before, I think all will agree it has been totally transformed. The mounts are decorated with gold and silver and depict insects and birds and the menuki are pure gold overlay of Shishi [lion dogs]. As the blade is so old, as one must expect, there can be seen one or two very tiny natural age pits, and a couple of very small edge to edge combat nicks, but none are larger than around the size of an ant's eye. To return this sword to it's orioginal Samurai form one can either relacquer the saya after removing the leather, or have a separate new saya made. We can arrange for either of these if required. Some of course may prefer to keep this Katana exactly as it is, as of course it does show that it was continually used for nigh on 600 years as a Samurai warrior's combat sword, for likely twenty generations, right up to the end of WW2, when it was used by the men who considered themselves the last Japanese warriors vested with the rules of Bushido, the true and ancient traditional Samurai code. Photo 9 shows the yakiba close but inside the edge. |
| A 7th Light Dragoon Pistol of the the Peninsular Campaign and Waterloo Marked to the trigger guard 7th LD [Light Dragoons], [Troop number] I , [Pistol number] 22. An historical regimental pistol used by one of the great and famous light dragoon regiments in Wellingtons army during the Peninsular War, Quatre Bras and the Battle of Waterloo. A newland pattern dragoon pistol, with traditional brass furniture regimentally marked for the 7th. The 7th's history from Corunna to Waterloo
In October 1808 the 7th Hussars embarked for Corunna to reinforce Sir John Moore's Army. Moore had started the retreat before the 7th Hussars had reached the Army. Two minor conflicts brought the cavalry some renown during the retreat, the first at Sahagun in which two regiment of French Cavalry were overwhelmed, the second at Benavente when the over-enthusiastic leading elements of the French advance were pushed back into the river they had just crossed. The remainder of the retreat over the mountains in the January snow and ice were disastrous, 150 effective soldiers were left of the 749 Queen's Own who had landed two months before. The Coup-de-Grace was delivered to the regiment when one of the troopships was wrecked on the way home, drowning sixty more of the regiment. The remainder reconstituted and served in Ireland for three years before being recalled to London for ceremonial duty owing to the Life Guards being overseas, and proceeding from there to the Peninsula as part of the Hussar Brigade arriving in September. The 7th crossed the Pyrenees and wintered near Bayonne, not fighting until Orthes in February 1814 when they mauled the retreating French infantry and were the only Cavalry regiment mentioned by Wellington in his dispatches. In June the regiment arrived home for service along the south Coast and an interlude keeping order during the Corn Law Riots in London.
A year later the 7th were hurriedly mobilised after Napoleon had escaped from Elba. Their Brigade Commander was the late Commanding Officer, Maj General Sir Hussey Vivian and their regimental Colonel, Henry Paget, Lord Uxbridge was commander of the whole British Cavalry. On the eve of the Battle of Waterloo the 7th were Honored by Uxbridge by being given the charge on the advancing enemy in Genappe, who were Polish Lancers. After a spirited and fearless succession of charges only nineteen of the 120 men of the 7th Hussar squadron were left in the saddle. For the Battle of Waterloo itself, the 7th were on the extreme right of the allied line, 300 yards north of the Chateau of Hougoumont. Until 5pm they were not used, but then they were charged more than twelve times.
"And having charged every species of troops, infantry, artillery and cavalry we halted about half a mile in the rear of the French position and there found, tho' of the 7th and 15th there remained only 35 men, Colonel Kerrison and four Officers". In 24 hours the 7th Hussars had lost two Officers killed, and eleven wounded, sixty two other ranks killed and 109 wounded, not to mention Uxbridge losing his leg.
For three years the regiment was part of the Army of Occupation around Paris. In October 1818 the Duke of Wellington held a final grand parade before the regiment sailed to England in January and back up to Scotland by July after a forty year absence. Good walnut stock with captive ramrod, converted percussion action to enable the pistol to be serviceable for another 30 years.. The ramrod swivel has a missing half ring and detaches. |
| A Ball Race, Part of the 'Little Boy' Manhattan Project Although barely 64 years old, it is probably one of the rarest items we are ever likely to offer. A superb, single, micro engineered Ball race, one of a pair, [and to be sold by us separately] we acquired from the late collection of Professor Samuel Eilenberg, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Columbia University in WW2. One of the spare parts used in the construction of 'Little Boy' Uranium Bomb, constructed in The Manhattan Project. Apparently souvenirs of the Manhattan Project were taken by [or presented to] many of the consultants and scientists working on, or associated with, the greatest secret project of the 20th century. The diameter of the Ball race is 160mm which is within a small tolerance of the diameter of the gun barrel [165mm] that was central to the construction of 'Little Boy'. This measurement may indeed be relevant to the ball races actual function or use in the project. The Manhattan Project was the project to develop the first nuclear weapon (atomic bomb) during World War II by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Formally designated as the Manhattan Engineer District (MED), it refers specifically to the period of the project from 1941–1946 under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under the administration of General Leslie R. Groves. The scientific research was directed by American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
The project succeeded in developing and detonating three nuclear weapons in 1945: a test detonation of a plutonium implosion bomb on July 16 (the Trinity test) near Alamogordo, New Mexico; an enriched uranium bomb code-named "Little Boy" on August 6 over Hiroshima, Japan; and a second plutonium bomb, code-named "Fat Man" on August 9 over Nagasaki, Japan.
The project's roots lay in scientists' fears since the 1930s that Nazi Germany was also investigating nuclear weapons of its own. Born out of a small research program in 1939, the Manhattan Project eventually employed more than 130,000 people and cost nearly $2 billion USD ($23 billion in 2007 dollars based on CPI). It resulted in the creation of multiple production and research sites that operated in secret.[1]
The three primary research and production sites of the project were the plutonium-production facility at what is now the Hanford Site, the uranium-enrichment facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the weapons research and design laboratory, now known as Los Alamos National Laboratory. Project research took place at over thirty different sites across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The MED maintained control over U.S. weapons production until the formation of the Atomic Energy Commission in January 1947. Included is an original photo print taken from HMS Colossus, [part of 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron, that was based in the Pacific, commanded by Rear Admiral Harcourt]. It was taken on 7th August 1945 [the day after Little Boy was detonated]. It is a picture of two I/d profiles of two Japanese T/E fighters that were originally observed in July 1945. These photographs were sent to the Manhattan Project HQ, but why, to us, this remains a mystery. Also, it includes another souvenir, the serial tag from the Army Air Corps Bell and Howell sound projector, that apparently showed the original film of the detonation of 'Little Boy' to Professor Eilenburg and others from the project. |
| A Ball Race, Part of the 'Little Boy' Manhattan Project Although barely 64 years old, it is probably one of the rarest items we are ever likely to offer. A superb, single, micro engineered Ball race, one of a pair [that we are selling singly] we acquired from the collection of Professor Samuel Eilenberg, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Columbia University in WW2. One of the spare parts used in the construction of 'Little Boy' Uranium Bomb constructed in The Manhattan Project. Apparently souvenirs of the Manhattan Project were taken by [or presented to] many of the consultants and scientists working on, or associated with, the greatest secret project of the 20th century. The diameter of the Ball race is 160mm which is within a small tolerance of the diameter of the gun barrel [165mm] that was central to the construction of 'Little Boy'. This measurement may indeed be relevant to the ball races actual function or use in the project. The Manhattan Project was the project to develop the first nuclear weapon (atomic bomb) during World War II by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Formally designated as the Manhattan Engineer District (MED), it refers specifically to the period of the project from 1941–1946 under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under the administration of General Leslie R. Groves. The scientific research was directed by American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
The project succeeded in developing and detonating three nuclear weapons in 1945: a test detonation of a plutonium implosion bomb on July 16 (the Trinity test) near Alamogordo, New Mexico; an enriched uranium bomb code-named "Little Boy" on August 6 over Hiroshima, Japan; and a second plutonium bomb, code-named "Fat Man" on August 9 over Nagasaki, Japan.
The project's roots lay in scientists' fears since the 1930s that Nazi Germany was also investigating nuclear weapons of its own. Born out of a small research program in 1939, the Manhattan Project eventually employed more than 130,000 people and cost nearly $2 billion USD ($23 billion in 2007 dollars based on CPI). It resulted in the creation of multiple production and research sites that operated in secret.[1]
The three primary research and production sites of the project were the plutonium-production facility at what is now the Hanford Site, the uranium-enrichment facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the weapons research and design laboratory, now known as Los Alamos National Laboratory. Project research took place at over thirty different sites across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The MED maintained control over U.S. weapons production until the formation of the Atomic Energy Commission in January 1947. |
| A Battle Worn Royal Naval Officer's Dirk Circa 1790 to 1810 With copper gilt lion pommel hilt and chequered ivory grip.Traditional crescent form blade. Ivory damaged at the pommel region and the crossguard lacking. Used by a Royal Navy officer in the wars with France at the time of the Battle of the Nile and Trafalgar. This dirk was damaged in combat and then saved as a souvenir of service. However, in the most part it is complete and a jolly nice and evocotive piece of the greatest era in Royal Naval history. There are several very similar examples in the National Maritime Museum |
| A Beautiful 17th-18th Century, Moghul, Islamic Tulwar Sword With a very good steel blade with a fine armourer's seal mark. All steel hilt with single bar guard. Emperor Aurangzeb [or Muhiuddin Mohammed] was the last significant Mughal emperor. His reign lasted from 1658 to 1707. During this phase, the empire had reached its largest geographical expansion. Nevertheless it was during this time period that the first sign of decline of the great Moghul Empire was noticed. The reasons were many. The bureaucracy became corrupted and the army implemented outdated tactics and obsolete weaponry. The Moghul Empire was descended from Turko-Mongol, Rajput and Persian origins. It reigned a significant part of the subcontinent of Asia from the initial part of the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century. When it was at the peak of its power, around the 18th century, it controlled a major part of the Asian subcontinent and portions of the current Afghanistan. To understand it's wealth and influence, in 1600 the Emperor Akbar had revenues from his empire of £17.5 million pounds, and 200 years later, in 1800, the exchequer of the entire British Empire had revenues of just £16 million pounds. Photo in the gallery and thumbnail of Emperor Auranzeb with his Tulwar [information only, not included] |
| A Beautiful 18th Century Cased Pair Of English Flintlock Duelling Pistols By a good English maker, Essex of London. Set in a most charming oak case that has been at some time relined in dark brown. With good, tight actions that we have fully serviced and cleaned. As used by Officers and Gentlemen in the King George IIIrd era of the Napoleonic Wars. English guns of this period are probably the most sought after in the world by collectors, and pairs of pistols, fully cased, are especially highly prized and very fine indeed. Finest walnut full-stocks and steel hooked barrels. Excellent engraved steel furniture , fully engraved throughout with pineapple finials to the trigger guards. Original horn tipped ramrods. Case includes additional bun topped ramrod with detachable brass jag cleaner, rare Georgian ring top powder measure tube in brass, adjustable with variable charge measures and a pierced, blued steel turned wood handled turnscrew. Dueling practices and rituals were codified in the Code Duello of 1777 which set forth rules describing all aspects of an "affair of honour," from the time of day during which challenges could be received to the number of shots or wounds required for satisfaction of honour. For gentlemen the law "offered no redress for insults" he might be subject to from rivals and enemies. Shooting a fellow officer in a duel "gave a sharp edge to one's reputation, earned congratulations in the regimental mess, and brought admiring glances from the ladies.... higher military authorities...regarded dueling as a proof test of courage..." Although theoretically banned by British Army regulations, refusing a challenge was likely to result in an officer having to leave his regiment, for the same rules that banned dueling forbade an officer from submitting to "opprobrious expressions" or "any conduct from another that should degrade him, or, in the smallest way impeach his courage." To decline a challenge was often equated to defeat by forfeiture, and was sometimes even regarded as dishonorable. Prominent and famous individuals ran an especial risk of being challenged for duels.
Among the most famous duels are the American Burr-Hamilton duel, in which notable Federalist Alexander Hamilton was fatally wounded, and the duel between Duke of Wellington and the 10th Earl of Winchilsea, wherein each participant intentionally missed the other. 200 years ago, in the middle of the Napoleonic wars, Britain launched a military and naval expedition to Walcheren in Holland. It failed. George Canning, the foreign secretary, sought covertly to blame his rival, Lord Castlereagh, and to have him removed from the War Office. When Castlereagh discovered what was going on, he wrote to Canning: “You continued to sit in the same Cabinet with me, and to leave me not only in the persuasion that I possessed your confidence and support as a colleague, but you allowed me to… proceed in the Execution of a new Enterprise of the most arduous and important nature, with your apparent concurrence… You were fully aware that if my situation in the government had been disclosed to me, I could not have submitted to remain one moment in office, without the entire abandonment of my private honour and public duty. You knew I was deceived, and you continued to deceive me.” Castlereagh demanded “satisfaction”, by which he meant a duel. The two men met on Putney Heath. Both missed with their first shots, but Castlereagh insisted on a second round and wounded Canning in the thigh, without doing him serious injury. There was a public scandal: duelling was against the law. Both men resigned, but both later returned to high office: Castlereagh’s career, which had been expiring, revived, while Canning ultimately, though briefly, became prime minister.Two officers in Napoleon’s army spent 19 years attempting to eliminate each other up in a series of duels that were always bloody but never lethal. Their dispute began in 1794 when Captain Dupont was ordered to stop Captain Fournier attending a party. Fournier took umbrage, challenged Dupont and thy fought the first of 17 duels. As the years passed, they drew up a contract. If they came within 100 miles of each other, they would fight, military duty alone excusing a duel. Such was their companionship in honor that on occasion they dined together before fighting. In the end, by 1813, General Dupont tired of fighting General Fournier. he also wished to marry. So he arranged an unusual duel in which they stalked one another in a forest, armed with two pistols. Dupont stuck his coat on a stick and tricked hi opponent into firing twice. Dupont spared Fournier’s life but told him that if they dueled again, he reserved the right to fire two bullets first from a few yards range. They never fought again. These very pistols were photo illustrated in the world famous Miller's Antiques Guide in 1998. |
| A Beautiful 18th to 19th Century, Indo Persian Gold Koftgari Inlaid Ankus Steel blade hook and spike head with superb gold inlay known as Koftgari work with the matching hilt pommel, and a fine sectional haft [likely, either ivory or bone] inlaid with a red and black geometric ball and line pattern. The Ankus or elephant goad was the part of the elephant driver's equipment that was used to guide and instruct the elephant to follow his instructions. Although not strictly speaking a weapon, it is always traditionally revered as of the same status, and is always displayed alongside the normal armour and swords of the time in the great military museum collections. From about the mid 1st millennium BC elephants were used in warfare in India, gradually ousting war chariots from the battlefield. The last recorded use of elephants was in the late 18th century, although they continued to be used as draught animals. In the time of the Great Mughals in India (1526-1858) people either rode an elephant or sat in a ‘Howdah’. The most valuable elephants were protected by armour. Some were fully clad in armour, others had only their heads and parts of their trunk protected, others had no protection at all. Elephant armour was made of; plates and mail (As in the royal Armouries example), Scales sewn on a piece of cloth, brigandine (steel plates sewn in between layers of cloth), or just quilted cloth or leather. The armour also had a peculiarity – protective ‘ears’, two projections on the elephant’s head to protect the driver. |
| A Beautiful American 'Kentucky' Rifle Late 18th century to early 19th century with a fine traditional pierced brass patch box, percussion convert action, brass crescent butt and fancy trigger guard. Heavy steel rifled barrel. The 'Kentucky Rifle' is probably the most famous, and certainly the most beautiful Rifle ever made in America's long history of fine arms making. It was used to incredible effect by the backwoods and mountain men in the American Revolutionary War, and by Congressman and Tennessee hero Davy Crockett and his riflemen in the Creek Indian War in 1813 and at The Alamo, in the battle with the Mexican forces of the despot Santa Anna in 1836. Fine striped wood effect on the stock. |
| A Beautiful Ancient Han Dynasty Chinese Jian [Sword] Around 2000 and 2400 years old this stunning sword was made by the Dian Peoples in South West China Yunnan Province. The Bronze hilt has amazing form and the blade is most certainly not the original fitted [although well corroded] Hilts were frequently remounted as like the Samurai Culture in Japanese blades and fittings were frequently changed and altered many times. Han Dynasty bronzes are practically indistinguishable from earlier Warring States bronzes so it could indeed be older than estimated. |
| A Beautiful Ancient Koto Katana Circa 1530 Deep wide blade with wide full length hi and thin inner hi on both sides. Long Kissaki. Thin sugaha hamon typical on the era. Shibuishi gold and iron fushi kashira decorated with gold and silver ornamentation of drums, pouches and fans. A pait of very fine gold dragon minuki under the traditional wrap. An o sukashi tsuba of prunus branches and blossom. Superb lacquer saya with matching mounts of iron. |
| A Beautiful and Elegant Koto Wakazashi With polished rayskin saya, horn Kurigata and silver Kojiri. Gold inlaid Shibuishi Fushi, gold and silver crane Minuki under gold wrap over traditional Same. Horn Kashira. Superb Tsuba in full relief swirling seas and with gold and silver birds, in fine detailed relief, in flight. Two piece gold and silver Habaki [blade collar]. Gunome [gently undulating] Hamon. Polished rayskin Saya are a good indication of quality as the process and cost was very labour intensive and highly expensive. The rayskin [called, Same, {pronounced sarmee} from the skin of a giant ray fish] was formed, dried, then hand polished down to form a perfectly smooth surface. The size of the nodules were important, as, for the status of the wearer, it was the larger the better. It was then stained and dyed and applied to a wooden saya to form the sword scabbard known as the Saya |
| A Beautiful Antique 19th Century 'Dolphin' Music Stool. Carved gilt wood decorated Dolphin support, on a black lacquer trefoil base, with a black lacquered rotating 'oyster shell' formed carved wooden seat. Designed after the Regency Music Stools made for H.R.H.The Prince Regent's Palace, The Royal Pavilion in Brighton. |
| A Beautiful Antique Helmet of the Elite, 3rd Prince Of Wales Dragoons. A fine, original, 1871 Pattern Helmet from Queen Victoria's elite heavy cavalry. All brass wreathed skull with black and red horsehair plume and regimental badge of the 3rd Dragoon Guards. With liner and chinscales. Used in the Boer War in South Africa and in WW1. A regiment with an impressively long record of loyalty, bravery and tenacity that one expects to see, from one of the regiments of the finest cavalry division, in the finest army in the world. Regimental Honours.
1701 - 1705 Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet during the war of Spanish Succession.
1756 - 1763, Warburg during the Seven years war
1793 - 1802, Beaumont and Willems during the French revolutionary wars.
1808 - 1802 Talavera, Albuhera, Vittoria, peninsula during the Peninsula War
1867 - 1868 The Abyssinian war
1899 - 1902, The South African war
1914 - 1914, Ypres 1914, and 1915, Loos, Arrass 1917, Scarpe 1917, St Quentin, Avre, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Mons, in France and Flanders |
| A Beautiful Antique Japanese Tanto A fine Samurai's dagger around late Koto to Shinto era. Signed blade, Sukehiro, with super Hamon. Deep brown lacquer stone ground saya in original Edo era lacquer. Matching brown hilt wrap. A Kodsuka pocket on the saya which is, interestingly, lined with early embossed and coloured leather. Good Shakudo Fushi, plain copper tsuba, and buffalo horn Kashira and scabbard mounts. Blade quite bright showing good grain in the Hada. |
| A Beautiful Antique Keris, A World Famous & Legendary Weapon. A long straight bladed type known as the Executioner's Kris. Used by the Indonesian high born warrior. Wonderful Indonesian hardwood hilt and scabbard of Javanese Pelet. With a singularly stunning blade showing incredible grain. With traditional Meteorite iron blade with hammered nickle for the contrasting pattern. |
| A Beautiful Antique Renaissance Style 'Heroic' Armour Gorget Made in iron, in the Italianate 16th century style, somewhat reminiscent of the truly magnificent heroic amours made by master armourer Filippo Negroli (ca. 1510–1579) and his contemporaries. In the manner of armour that one can only now see in the greatest historical collections, such as the British Royal Collection, and in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Of course, if this was by one of the finest renaissance armour masters, such as Negroli, it would quite simply be priceless, however, in many ways it is most fortunate it is not an original, as, in this case, it is easily affordable to most antique armour collectors, or, admirers and collectors of fine and beautiful things. It was likely made during the renaissance revival period, of the time of Sir Walter Scott, when that reknown Scots born British author was recreating the great historical periods. Such as in his heroic novels such as Ivanhoe, The Lady of the Lake and Rob Roy. The renaissance revival gripped the imagination of Europe, and many of the most famous armours were recreated, for the fortunate few, and cast from the originals held in the great museum collections. Fantastical neo classical and neo gothic mansions and great estates were created, by the new industrial magnates with the incredible wealth that they often commanded. The classical revival was superbly expressed in the extravagant décor, based on those earlier styles, that was commissioned to decorate their finest estates and grand palatial homes. This gorget is in very good condition, cast, and with fine patina. The last picture in the gallery is an original period portrait of a plain and simpler gorget being worn, without full armour [for information only not included]. When full armour was not suitable or required the gorget was often worn on it's own as a badge of rank. Width 9 inches approx. |
| A Beautiful Antique Shinto Samurai Edo Tachi in the 15th Century Style A fine and very impressive traditional Samurai court sword, known as the Tachi, with a most attractive suite of original Edo period matching court fittings, covered in gold and finely engraved, with a matching corresponding gold lacquer to the saya. The blade is signed Rai Kunifusa but it is unlikely to be a period signature as Kunifusa was a highly praised early smith who lived before the time this sword was made, during the Shinto era. It was not uncommon for earlier and great master smiths names to be put on blades that were not actually made by them, and these signatures are called gimei. Also, smiths that worked in the same style or school of a notable smith may also use his given name.The blade is in around 95% original polish with some of the mounts retaining 98% of the original gold finish, excepting the kashira , kojiri and tsuba that have been the exposed areas subject to wearing of the gilt from the court Kimono.The Tsuba is in a traditional Tachi tsuba multi plate form with some plate age seperation. Not including the stand as shown. |
| A Beautiful Brass Hilted Early 18th Century Small Sword Circa 1730 with cast brass double shell guard. Cast decoration throughout of mulitiple Stands-of-Arms. D shaped sigle bar knuckle bow and cast pommel. Double edged blade. A fine rapier small sword used in the American Revolutionary War and the Indian-French Wars in America in the 1750's and 60's by Officers of both sides. |
| A Beautiful Early 19th Century American Folk Art Pen Work Walking Stick Later mounted in England with a staghorn handle with a silver hallmarked collar made in Sheffield silver in 1904. The scene is beautifully done and highly intricate. It depicts a brick built house, within a garden of pine trees and a great tree. The scene also has mounted huntsmen, coming past the house, with whips and chasing a fox or a wolf with hounds. There is also a walking, pipe smoking figure, and a man holding an iron pronged capture device, and a dog walking from a kennel. All the men are wearing Shakos. |
| A Beautiful Early 19th Century Naval Officer's Dirk Good single edged 13 inch blade in bright polish. Copper gilt hilt showing very fine cast detailing with a traditional Naval lion's head pommel and a pair of langets, each superbly relief cast with crowned fouled anchors. Original wire bound grip. |
| A Beautiful Early Tribal War-Club, Likely Fijian [Polynesian Islands] Circa 1800. Similar to the slightly shorter native 'Ula' [Throwing Club]. Typical root ball type. Heavy native wood, with fine reddish brown patina, a tapering haft with a slightly swollen base. Superb fluted, grooved head, with very slight subtle spiraling. 22 inches long. Superb condition, a exceptional example of a very fine tribal club with a wonderfully carved ball head. |
| A Beautiful Edo Samurai Senior Retainer's Jingasa Helmet Decorated all over in abilone shell lacquer with clan mon on the underside. One of two stunning helmet we acquired and two of the nicest we have seen in years. |
| A Beautiful Hussars Officer's Sabre from The Crimean War Era Made by in 1850 by Lambert Brown and Co of London and Dublin, this is a stunning mamaluke sword, in excellent condition for It's age, and used by an Hussars or Lancer Officer in the Crimean War era. A simply stunning and beautifully etched blade with rolls of scrolling acanthus leaves and fine Stands-of-Arms, depicting Lances Cannon Drums Swords and Trumpets. Ivory hilt with fine facetted iron rivets. Steel cross quillons and steel combat scabbard. The other ranks in the Crimean War used the 1853 or '21 o/r pattern sword, the officers, the Marmaluke or a '21 Officer Pattern |
| A Beautiful Koto Katana by Osafune Yoshimitsu A 'sleeper' Samurai sword of around 500 years old that has lain untouched for likely 200 odd years. The blade has a stunning elaborate hamon and saya of fine original Edo era lacquer of pine needle patterning. The all original Edo Koshirae [hilt mounts] are in shakudo [bronze copper] and decorated with relief flowers over a hand hammered nanako ground. The iron Tsuba is decorated in relief with birds and a bamboo grove. |
| A Beautiful Koto Katana, of Stunning Form. This blade on this sword shows beautiful activity including what is known as 'summer lightning' within the Hamon. The fittings are a full suite of matching Shakudo mounts with Dragon Minuki. The tsuba is a superb Hawk preying on small birds in O sukashi and signed. The Saya is decorated with pine needles under lacquer. 26.75 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Beautiful Koto-Shinto Wakazashi of Exemplary Order, A Museum Grade Piece We have the greatest pleasure in offering this magnificent Samurai sword will all original Edo era fittings of the most wonderous quality. A full matching suite of Koshirae, probably Goto school, Edo era, of Takabori [deeply carved relief] Prunus in Shakudo and gold. Blade signed Kanesada circa 1600, with all original polish and a deep Notare hamon of the finest water. Finest decorated lacquer work to the saya. The Fushi Kashira both have prunus with beetles, the Kodsuka has Shishi with prunus. SOLD |
| A Beautiful Military Drum of 1st Cadet Btn of the Northumberland Fusiliers Now set as a most attractive side table with detachable legs and a mirror glass top. Made by Potters of Aldershot. Superb painted crest of the Northumberland Fusiliers one of the great British Regiments. Brass drum with rope tensioners. King George's Crown crest mark. Ist or 2nd World War Vintage. Some wear marks |
| A Beautiful Noble's Antique Sinhalese [Ceylonese] Piha Kaetta Knife Dagger A most engaging ornate pihas and likely made exclusively by the Pattal Hattara (The Four Workshops). They were employed directly by the Kings of Kandy. Kandy, the independent kingdom, was first established by King Wickramabahu (1357–1374 CE). The last Kandyan king was in the early 1800's, and the workshops are no longer in existence today.The simplest are of plain steel, but very graceful form, with wooden or horn handles, and carried in the belt by every villager, to lop off inconvenient branches as he passes through the jungle, to open coconuts, or cut jungle ropes. From these knives there are all transitions to the most elaborate and costly of silver or gold inlaid and overlaid knives worn by the greatest chiefs as a part of the costume, and never intended for use. The workmanship of many of these is most exquisite but this fine work is done rather by the higher craftsmen, the silversmiths and ivory carvers, than by the mere blacksmith. Many of the best knives were doubtless made in the Four Workshops, such as is this example, the blades being supplied to the silversmith by the blacksmiths.
"The best of the higher craftsmen (gold and silversmiths, painters, and ivory carvers, etc.) working immediately for the king formed a close, largely hereditary, corporation of craftsmen called the Pattal-hatara (Four Workshops). They were named as follows; The Ran Kadu [Golden Arms], the Abarana [Regalia], the Sinhasana [Lion Throne], and the Otunu [Crown] these men worked only for the King, unless by his express permission (though, of course, their sons or pupils might do otherwise); they were liable to be continually engaged in Kandy, while the Kottal-badda men were divided into relays, serving by turns in Kandy for periods of two months. The Kottal-badda men in each district were under a foreman (mul-acariya) belonging to the Pattal-hatara. Four other foremen, one from each pattala, were in constant attendance at the palace.This beautiful noble's dagger is stunningly decorated with veka deka liya vela [double curve vine motif] and the flower motif sina mal, and a bold vine in damascene silver. The blade is traditonal iron and the hilt beautifully carved horn |
| A Beautiful Original Antique Samurai Daisho. Around 300 to 400 years old With superb polished rayskin saya and finest quality full suite of Kashirae of cockerels and hens in gold Shakudo with Nanako including the matching Kodzuka. Early Shinto, Wakazashi with wavy notare hamon possibly Seki in Mino, ubu, mumei with beautiful Hamon. Charming Sukashi Tsuba. The daisho is a Japanese term referring to the traditional weapons of the samurai. The daisho is composed of the katana and the wakizashi. The daito, meaning big sword, and shoto, meaning small sword, The katana, the longer of the two swords, was typically employed in man-to-man combat. The wakizashi made an effective main-gauche or close-combat weapon. A daisho allows for defense while fighting or the fighting of two enemies. Also, the daisho allows the fighter to have a longer or more widespread fighting range. Polished ray skin was, at the time of the Samurai, some one of the most expensive and highly prized forms of decoration to be used on sword scabbards [Saya]. It was the same material as is used on sword hilts under the binding, but the large and small protuding nodules were hand polished, for hundreds of hours, to create a highly polished flat surface, that was then hand dyed and thus created a decorated scabbard with immense natural beauty. |
| A Beautiful Original Edo Period Wakazashi Saya Superbly decorated in multi colour patinated copper soft metal strips. A wonderful high end saya that would compliment any suitable blade that may fit. Small repair required at the throat and opening. 17.75 inches long |
| A Beautiful Pair of Boutet Style French 1st Empire Officer's Pistols From the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era. These are typical pistols used by an officer in Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's service, during the wars in Europe, in the Grande Armee against Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria and Spain. Such as the Battles of Austerlitz, Wagram, and Moscow, the Battles of Wertingen, Marango, Salamanca Badajoz etc. etc.Typical Boutet style oval, flat butt caps beautifully engraved with an Revolutionary symbols of a Shield over a crossed Fasces, Arrow, Quiver and Club. All steel mounts and the finest octagonal to round Damascus barrels. Lacking rammers, one barrel end with some forend corrosion. A stunning pair of pistols from the greatest era in France's history. 6.5 inch barrels, both 12 inches long overall |
| A Beautiful Pair of Original Antique Native American Cowboy Gauntlets A Beautiful Pair, Circa 1850, from the early 'Wild West Frontier' period. These stunning and rare fringed gauntlets are beautifully embroidered with flowers, florid patterns and a western monogramme, and were likely from the Cree, or the Lakota Sioux tribes of North and South Dakota. The most famous members of the Lakota Sioux were Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. In yellow hide [likely buckskin] with long fringing. Excellent condition, small split in base of finger.The style of Gauntlets worn by 'Kit Carson' and his contemporaries. Superb, charming and highly collectable pieces from the old, American, Wild West Frontier. Gauntlets are protective gloves that have a flared cuff. For centuries, these cuffs protected European and Asian bow hunters and military archers from being snapped on the wrist by their bowstrings. Medieval soldiers and knights began wearing chain-mail gauntlets during the 1300s, and armored gauntlets appeared in Europe during the 1400s. Four hundred years later and halfway around the world, leather gauntlets appeared in the American West as military uniform accessories. They were soon appropriated by Indian artists, embellished with diverse ornaments, and incorporated into the civilian wardrobe. Here they became intrinsically linked with Western people, history, and landscape, and a symbol of the frontier. The original European form was reworked with a wild American veneer. Former mountain men -- Jim Bridger and Kit Carson among them -- occasionally worked guiding emigrant trains and military units through little-known country. They also helped track renegades of diverse stripes. These scouts were colorful characters, highly skilled, and not required to maintain a military dress code. Their attire was subsequently functional, comfortable, and drawn from a variety of media and cultural sources. By the 1870s, long and abundant fringe was in style and pinked edges provided decorative flair to leather clothing that was by nature quite showy.A similar pair [though later] of Lakota Sioux gauntlets can be seen in the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art in the Fenimore Art Museum NY. |
| A Beautiful Samurai Koto Tanto Fully matching suite of Koshirae including a pierced tsuba depicting a relief pony and with a matching pony decorated Shakudo Kodsuka and red leather over decoration stamped with the Kamon of crossed Hawkfeathers. A good blade probably Koto era with a running itami grain. The bottom of the saya is embellished with an applied relief gilt bronze fighting cockeral. The tanto differs from others Samurai edged weaponry as it was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument, but the edge can be used to slash as well. Tanto first began to appear in the Heian period, however these blades lacked artistic qualities and were purely weapons. In the Early Kamakura period high quality tanto with artistic qualities began to appear, and the famous Yoshimitsu (the greatest tanto maker in Japanese history) began his forging. Tanto production increased greatly around the Muromachi period and then dropped off in the Shinto period. Shinto period tanto are quite rare. Tanto were mostly carried by Samurai; commoners did not generally carry them. Women sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi for self defence.It was sometimes worn as the shoto in place of a wakizashi in a daisho, especially on the battlefield. Before the 16th century it was common for a Samurai to carry a tachi and a tanto as opposed to a katana and a wakizashi. |
| A Beautiful Shinto Katana Circa 1600 With a full suite of multi coloured signed Shakudo mounts of superb quality all following a theme of a moonlit night over a tree with a crane flying in front of the moon at the tree top with a turtle at the foot of the tree. The Tsuba is square with a spilled basket at the bottom of the tree. The blade has a beautiful hamon in around 85% original polish and overall this is a most lovely sword. The saya has an very fine quality original Edo lacquer of pine needles and abilone, most beautiful and highly intricate. |
| A Beautiful Shinto Katana With Full Hi Circa 1650 this Katana has a superb blade with beautiful Choji Hamon with crabclaw. 3 mekugi ana in the tang. Full suite of matching edo Koshirae with matching Kojiri, gold folded fan Minuki. Now repolished this shows beautiful activity in the hamon. 27.25 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Beautiful Shinto Wakazashi Polished rayskin saya, Shakudo Koshirae, fine Kodsuka depicting mount Fuji. Inscribed by the smith, Tango [no] kami Kanemichi. Blade shows good Notare Hamon with islands of deliberate Tobeyaki . Small elements of light surface rust that need to, ideally, be polished out. Most attractive pierced Tsuba with gold rims and highlights. Price includes repolish.18.75 inches blade length, Tsuba to tip Polished ray skin was, at the time of the Samurai, some one of the most expensive and highly prized forms of decoration to be used on sword scabbards [Saya]. It was the same material as is used on sword hilts under the binding, but the large and small protuding nodules were hand polished, for hundreds of hours, to create a highly polished flat surface, that was then hand dyed and thus created a decorated scabbard with immense natural beauty. |
| A Beautiful Shinto Wakazashi A Good Samurai Wakazashi Blade Circa 1650 Signed Idzumi no Kami Fujiwara Kunesada. Fully remounted in antique Edo fittings with no expense spared. Shakudo Kashira inlaid in gilt and Shibuichi of figures under a moon,. Fuchi, possibly Goto school depicting a dragon with gold highlights, in high relief, signed. Carved by Seiun sai Hiroshige koku. Edo Sukashi Tsuba of ponies. He was a highly rated smith and the father of Inoue Shinkai [Shinkai being one of the finest Shinto smiths ever to have lived]. The signature is very good but there is a distinct possibility it may be gimei. Beautifully polished showing a super Sugaha hamon. |
| A Beautiful Shinto Wakazashi Fully refitted and with a re-lacquered saya. A fine signed Shinto blade in full polish, by Izumi kami Kunesada, circa 1660. Gold foil Habaki. Good Gunome Hamon. Blade in super order. A nice, early Edo, Sukashi Tsuba. An Edo copper Fushi with finely detailed tendrils, flowers and Nanako, a lacquered wood Kashira. Ka-mon Minuki. The Habaki [fitted blade collar] is an old Edo example with some old fracturing to the gold and slightly loose. |
| A Beautiful Wakazashi With Very Fine Gold and Bronze Goto School Mounts Shinto period. Unsigned probably by one of the fine Tamba smiths, such as Yoshimichi made circa 1600. It has a stunning and beautiful, typically Tamba Hamon in around 85% polish. Good curvature, gold ribbed habaki [blade collar]. This is a wonderful Samurai short sword, by one of the finer smiths of the Shinto era with gorgeous gold and bronze fittings. A wonderful and fine Tsuba inlaid with gold flowers leaves and tendrils. |
| A Beautiful, Scarce 19th Century Spanish Guard Du Corps Officer's Sword Bearing the stunning 18th century Royal Spanish Coat of Arms. A beautiful brass four bar hilted sword, based on the sword used by the French Guarde Du Corps [Royal Mounted Bodyguard for the King and Queen] in 1814. It has a fully etched pipe back blade. 19th century. The marriage of Queen Isabel of Castile and King Ferdinand of Leon resulted in a coat of arms depicting the symbols of both kingdoms-two castles and two lions. After the Bourbons prevailed in the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714), the French fluer de lys was added to centre of the Spanish Coat of Arms. The standard Spanish cavalry sword patterns of the 19th century are fairly unusual to see, but the very fine examples, of the elite Spanish cavalry regiments, are simply never seen at all these days. Overall in very nice order for a rarely seen sword of this age, large 4 bar half basket guard with substantial Royal crest, original fishskin grip worn in small areas. no scabbard. |
| A Boat Shaped Hilt Infantry Sword, 19th Century Very similar in style to the British 1796 pattern heavy cavalry officer's sword but with a lesser grade hilt than one would expect and a non regulation blade. On consideration this is likely European or possibly Scandinavian but we simply can't define it as to it's specific country of origin. None the lass an interesting sword and it would make a charming display sword. No scabbard. |
| A Borneo Dyak Headhunter's Sword, Mandau This Mandau (sometimes also called “Parang Ihlang”) is the traditional sword of the Dyak tribes of Borneo. It was primarily associated with the Head Hunting tradition of the Dyaks. Carved wooden hilt, rattan bound scabbard.Traditional blade with convex obverse and concave reverse.The blade was apparently designed in such a way as the head could be decapitated more easily by a swinging arc while running. Likely after the 19th century, and into the 20th century period. |
| A British 1796 Light Dragoon Sabre From the Peninsular War and Waterloo Era A fabulous combat sword that has certainly seen much combat. From the greatest and most significant period of European warfare, against the mighty French General & Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. With a signed blade by Gill. The blade is, in small areas at the end, fairly deeply pitted [ with some applied compound to aid long term preservation] but it is priced accordingly. Probably the best value original historical sword available today. |
| A British 1803 Pattern Light Infantry Officer's Sabre. Kings German Legion of the Peninsular War and Battle of Waterloo fame. With a beautiful copper gilt, pierced King George's GR cypher slotted hilt, with lions head pommel and original triple wire bound fishskin ribbed grip. Blackened combat sharpened blade [likely sharpened by the regimental armourer]. An unusual variant with a blackened steel combat scabbard [as opposed to the usual leather and coppergilt scabbard]. After much examination and debate we logically assume that this may well have been used by an officer of the Kings German Legion Light Infantry [Rifles] as it's distinctive scabbard is very close to the design of Prussian steel combat scabbard used at that time, with a typical Prussian form scabbard chape. This is a nice and interesting example that has obviously seen considerable service in combat during the entire Peninsular War and Waterloo era, but fortunately it shows just about average combat wear. The blade has very old overall surface pitting. It has returned to us from our workshops after over 21 hours specialist hand cleaning, which has fortunately restored 75% of it's original mercurial gilt that was initially thought lost due accumulated surface grime and age discolouration . A historically interesting sword, and well reknown as the most beautiful combat sword ever used by the British army. The King's German Legion (KGL) was a British Army unit of expatriate German personnel, from 1803 till 1816. The Legion achieved the distinction of being the only German force to fight without interruption against the French during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Legion was formed within months of the dissolution of the Electorate of Hanover in 1803, and constituted as a mixed corps by the end of 1803. Although The Legion never fought autonomously and remained a part of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars (1804–1815), it played a vital role in several campaigns, most notably the Walcheren Campaign, the Peninsular War, and the Hundred Days (1815).
Although the Legion never fought autonomously, its units participated in campaigns in Hanover, Pomerania, Copenhagen and Walcheren, the Peninsular under General Sir John Moore; and the retreat to Corunna; the Peninsular Campaign under the Duke of Wellington, including the battles of Bussaco, Barrosa, Fuentes de Onoro, Albuera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Garcia Hernandez, Burgos, Venta del Pozo , Vittoria, San Sebastian, Nivelle, Sicily and the eastern parts of Spain, Northern Germany and Göhrde.
In the Peninsular Campaign, the Germans enhanced the veteran core of the British army. At Sabugal, in April 1811, several hundred German hussars augmented the Light Division, and the Hussars found the proper ford of the Coa River. At the Battle of Garcia Hernandez, the Dragoons performed the unusual feat of smashing two French square formations in a matter of minutes.
At the Battle of Waterloo, the 2nd Light Battalion — with members of the 1st Light Battalion and the 5th Line Battalion — famously defended the farmhouse and road at "La Haye Sainte." As a Hanoverian militia battalion was on its way to reinforce the defenders of Haye Sainte, the French cavalry attached to Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Comte d'Erlon's Corps rode them down; only a few of the intended relievers survived. After a six hour defense, without ammunition, or reinforcements, the Germans were forced to abandon the farm, leaving the buildings in shambles and their dead behind. It is distinctly possible this sword may have been carried by the likes of Major Baring of the 2nd Light Btn KGL,. [or one of his brother officers] who fell at the most noble and valiant defence of La Haie Sainte at the Battle of Waterloo. The Legion was disbanded in 1816. Several of the units were incorporated into the army of the Kingdom of Hanover, and became later a part of the imperial German army after unification in 1871. |
| A British 1860's 32 Rimfire Cartridge Revolver, Smith & Wesson Pattern Address marked Robert Jones, 5 Great Howard St., Liverpool. A most attractive pistol, overall grey aged patina |
| A British Army 'Jack Knife' Dated 1943 Maker marked C.S.C. Knife blade, Can-opener, Rope-Splicer spike and Screwdriver. Flat blat chequered grips.Good condition for age. Good tight fittings. |
| A British Army Corps Officers Sword Made and used from WW1 and WW2 and perfectly suitable for use in any of the Army Corps today.Very good condition indeed . No scabbard. |
| A British Army, Pattern 1853 3 Band Enfield 'Snider' Conversion Rifle This is an honest example of these most interesting rifles that were used first in the Crimean war then converted to the more modern cartridge system. The British .577 Snider-Enfield is a type of breech loading rifle. It was one of the most widely used of the Snider varieties, (the action invented by the American Jacob Snider). It was adopted by Britain as a conversion system for its ubiquitous Enfield 1853 rifled musket muzzle loading arms. In trials, the Snider Pattern 1853 conversions proved both more accurate than original Pattern 1853s and much faster firing as well. This gun has got extensive pitting on the steel but it is still a good representation of these historical weapons of the British Army and priced according to it's condition at around one third it's normal cost. The wood and brass furniture is good, the action mostly functional. |
| A British Crimean War Medal. Un-named with Sebastopol Bar. Slight bruising to edge.Name removed.The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units (land and naval) which fought in the Crimean War of 1854-56 against Russia. The medal is notable for its extremely ornate clasps, being in the form of an oak leaf with an acorn at each extremity, a style never again used on a British medal. The suspension is an ornate floriated swivelling suspender, again unique to the Crimea Medal. |
| A British Expeditionary Force, Great War, 'Mons Star' Pair of Medals Named to NTE N.G.OLD A.S.C. Awarded to men serving with the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces in France or Belgium between 5th August 1914 and midnight on 22nd November 1914.The battle of Mons was the first major battle fought by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) The BEF had advanced along a 20 mile front along the Mons canal, and were on there left flank of the French 5th army. But when the French army had been defeated at the Battle of the Sambre on the 22nd August, The British commander Sir John French agreed to hold his position until the morning of the 23rd. The BEF were attacked by the German First Army . The German infantry advance was repelled by the British infantry and sustained very large losses: the British lost 1600 killed or wounded. But with the French forces retreating the British forces had no alternative but to retreat also, and on the morning of the 24th of August they began retreating to the outskirts of Paris over a fourteen day period. He was entitled to three medals. |
| A British Horse Guards Jacket of the Life Guards The Royal Horse Guards are part of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Household Division which comprises of seven, separate and distinct foot and mounted regiments. The Blues And Royals and The Life Guards are the two mounted bodyguard sections of the Household Cavalry. The red tunics are worn by the Her Majesty's Life Guards. Used at the Royal Palaces and Trooping of the Colour. In brilliant red with gilt bullion and blue trim, epaulettes, and cuffs. [Not including belt] |
| A British Infantry Officers Sword 1897 Pattern FS pattern scabbard, full cyphers and deluxe etching. Great War period George V th sword in good overall condition. Scabbard with wear. Traditional half basket hilt in steel. |
| A British Royal Corps Of Transport Army Sergeant's Uniform Tunic, Trousers and Cap. Circa 1970's. In overall very nice order. |
| A British Royal Scots Badge The bonnet or glengarry cap badge for the Royal Scots regiment. |
| A British WW1 Infantry Officer's Sword With full etched blade with King Edward VIIth Cypher.Nickle plated hilt [some wear to plating] triple wire fishskin bound hilt. No scabbard. A standard Infantry Officer's sword as used by Officers of the Britisd Army since 1897. |
| A British WW2 'Tommy's' Steel Helmet In good overall order. An original combat helmet of the British army soldier from 1939 till 1945. |
| A British WW2 Union Flag. Used By A WW2 Para Regiment Officer. In very nice order. With cord ties. The Union Flag, also commonly known as the Union Jack [but it should only be called the Union Jack when used on board ship, and flown from the jack staff ]. It is the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. The current design [although the change at that time was quite slight] dates from the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. Amongst the proclamations issued by King George III at the time of the union of 1801 was a proclamation concerning flags at sea, and which referred to "Our Flags, Jacks, and Pendants" and forbade merchant vessels from wearing "Our Jack, commonly called the Union Jack" nor any pendants or colours used by the King's ships. In contrast, the King's proclamation of the same day concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom, not colours at sea, called the new flag "the Union Flag". 22 inches x 32.5 inches |
| A British, Adams Patent, 1854 'Improved Frame' Crimean War Revolving Pistol A pistol much favoured by British officer's in the Light Brigade and Regular and Light Infantry during the Crimean War against Russia. All steel frame and action with chequered wood grip. Fine scroll engraving and stamped on reverse side 'Adams Patent' in a traditional oval 1851. Obverse engraved Adams Patent and serial number 9644. Areas of pitting overall, bright polished. Adams was the manager for the London arms manufacturers George & John Deane. On August 22, 1851, he was granted a British patent for a new revolver design. The Dean and Adams was a five-shot percussion (cap-and-ball) revolver with a spurless hammer, and the first revolver with a solid frame. The revolver used a double-action only system in which the external hammer could not be cocked by thumbing it back, like most other pistols of the era, but instead cocked itself when the trigger was pulled. This made it possible to fire the gun much more rapidly than contemporary single-action revolvers, such as the Colt, which had to be cocked prior to each shot. An "Improved Frame" model was offered in 1854, presenting both a sleeker look and more comfortable grip. In that same year the British Board of Ordnance reviewed the Adams together with other percussion revolvers with a view to adopting one as an official service sidearm. Concerns about the gas escape between the cylinder and barrel during discharge resulted in no decision being made. Nevertheless, British officers purchased the Adams privately and the gun proved its worth in battle during the Crimean War. Approx 36 cal, continental proof. |
| A British, Victorian, Regimental Drummer's or Bugler's Sword Brass cruciform hilt short double edged blade. Made for the days when the British military band marched alongside the men, in formation into battle. Whereupon, if the bandsman or bugler came under attack in close quarter action he had adequate means of defence. No scabbard. |
| A Bronze Age Spear Circa 800 bc A good leaf shaped bronze spear, with prominent central rib, wrapped with copper wire around a square section haft. Most certainly and old replaced oak haft. The spear blade looks as if at some time in it's life it has had a central repair. A strong and weighty piece of most fascinating interest. Bronze head 15.5 inches. Overall length 88.5 inches. |
| A Brown Bess Musket India Pattern Circa 1805 A very nice example of what is probably the most desireable British weapon of the Napoleonic Wars, as was used against the 'Little Corporal', better known as the most feared General and Emporor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte. This type of bess was known as the third or 'India' Pattern, and in many cases the most collectable of them all. It has a very clean Tower of London Armoury 'lined' lock stamped 'Tower' and with the Royal Crown and GR [for King George IIIrd] with the early swan-necked cock. A fine patina to the stock of fine walnut, and although, naturally, it has signs of use, which is absolutely as it should be. Britain's Brown Bess flintlock musket is simply one of the most important military arms ever devised. Beginning its life almost 300 years ago, it created one of the greatest empires the word has ever seen and, among other achievements, helped to win the entire continent of India. Made in four distinct patterns [with several derivitives] the British musket, known affectionately as the 'Brown Bess', started life as a 46 inch barrel musket called the Long Land or Ist pattern. Then in around 1768 the gun evolved and the barrel was shortened to 42 inches [as 46 was deemed unwieldy] and renamed the Short Land or 2nd pattern. Although the Long Land was made continually for another 20 years. With the onset of the Napoleonic Wars in the 1790s, the British Board of Ordnance found itself woefully short of the 250,000 muskets it would need to equip its forces. At that time the British East India Company maintained it own troops and had contracted with makers to produce a simplified version of the Brown Bess musket with a 39-inch barrel and less ornate furniture and stock work. It was generally felt that the standard of these East India Company "India pattern" muskets was not quite up to the standard of the earlier standard Besses, but necessity required action so the authorities convinced Company officials to turn over their stores to the Crown. By 1797 the urgencies of war ultimately created the demise of the Short Pattern, and all manufacture was turned to building the now famous 'India' pattern. For the most part, the gun underwent few changes from its introduction until Waterloo, with the exception of the cock, which was altered from the traditional gooseneck style to a sturdier, reinforced version in around 1809. This is the long arm that gained fame, forever more and throughout the world, as the musket of the 'British Square' the near imprenetrable defensive phalanx that was developed and honed to it's ultimate efficiency, in the Napoleonic Wars.Arms such as this would have seen many of the battles of the Peninsular War, such as Badajoz, Corrunna, Talavera Salamanca and Toulouse, plus the Quatre Bras and the Battle of Waterloo during the Hundred Days. As well as British usage, some were also carried by King George's allies, among them the Russians and Prussians.They saw immense service within the whole Empire from the South Seas and the North American War of 1812, right through to the British Empire in India |
| A Cased Colt 1851 Navy Revolver. Case Named to John Lucas [VC] 40th Rgt. Lucas, who was born in County Carlow, Ireland, was approximately 34 years old, and a colour-sergeant in the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot in the British Army during the Taranaki Maori War, New Zealand, when he was awarded the VC for gallantry for his bravery under fire in 1861. This lovely cased Colt 1851 revolver was made in New York USA, with the specific 'London' iron backstrap especially for the London export market, in 1862. As this gun was made a year after Lucas earned his distinguished medal for valour it is obvious he could not have ever owned it during his New Zealand service. However, it would be nice to believe that maybe he was given the case as a token of his heroic deed by a grateful officer or even regimental colleagues and friends. The case contains a super Colt Navy with at least 5 matching numbers and very clear English proof marks. It is in excellent condition with a good tight action and very small areas of original blue. It has it's English made powder flask, percussion caps, oil bottle, cleaning rod and Colt marked bullet and ball mould. The case is lined in green with it's Colt instruction label to the lid, which is lined in blue velvet. At some time the lining may have been replaced. The VC story; On the 18th of March, 1861, Colour-Serjeant Lucas acted as Serjeant of a party of the 40th Regiment, employed as skirmishers to the right of No. 7, Redoubt, and close to the Huirangi Bush, facing the left of the positions occupied by the natives. At about 4 o'clock P.M., a very heavy and well-directed fire was suddenly opened upon them from the Bush, and the high ground on the left. Three men being wounded simultaneously, two of them mortally, assistance was called for in order to have them carried to the rear: a file was immediately sent, but had scarcely arrived, when one of them fell, and Lieutenant Rees was wounded at the same time. Colour-Serjeant Lucas, under a very heavy fire from the rebels, who were not more than thirty yards distant, immediately ran up to the assistance of this Officer, and sent one man with him to the rear. He then took charge of the arms belonging to the killed and wounded men, and maintained his position until the arrival of supports under Lieutenants Gibson and Whelan. John Lucas VC (1827 - 29 February 1892) was born in Glasgomy, Bagenalstown, County Carlow and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. |
| A Cased US Military Purple Heart Medal In original blue leather case. In gilt bronze and purple enamel with profile of George Washington. With original collar badge, and breast ribbon. Issued to American Servicemen for wounds |
| A Celtic, Iron, Votive Axe Circa 50 b.c. to 50 a.d. Around 2000 years old. A good and rare ancient Celtic museum piece. Used as a small Axe, set within a wooden haft, and carried as a token of good luck, then, it would be cast into a sacred lake or river as a offering to the Gods. In a well preserved condition. 65mm x 76mm. |
| A Charming 19th Century Scottish Basket Hilted 'Claymore' Boys Sword Made for use by a boy, this is a miniature sword but certainly made for use, with full a length blade. Into the 19th century regiments still had boy soldiers, but this being a miniature officer's sword it may well have been for the son of a clan chief.One small bar to the multibar guard is missing. |
| A Charming Silver Topped WalkIng Cane Hallmarked silver top and ebonised shaft. Small bruising to the silver top.Overall length 32.75 inches. Silver top 2.75 inches. |
| A Chinese Ching Dynasty Dao [Sword] A big battle sword, probably brought back to this country as a souvenir of the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. Large curved blade with single groove. Large disc guard, wood grip and flattened iron bun pommel. |
| A Circa 1900 German Cavalry Sabre Probably by Clemen and Jung With traditional Lion's Head pommel. Beautifully intricate guard with unusually an Iron Cross circled in relief on the knuckle bow. Nickle plated blade. Many were used in the early Third Reich by early serving Cavalry Officers, [and by SS officers until they had their designated pattern sword in 1936 see page 228 of John R. Angolias Swords ogf Germany 1900/1945 |
| A Classic WW2 Single Draw Royal Naval Officer of the Watch Telescope Engraved 'W.OTTWAY & Co Ltd EALING, LONDON. PATT. 373 No 1193. A good original WW2 Royal Navy telescope especially designed and issued to the Officers Of The Watch for use on all of the Navy's combat fleet vessels. It has signs of combat service use and wear, but as to be expected, as it saw use in the greatest naval combat era by the greatest and most indomitable navy of modern times. When reproduced as a collectors edition some 20 years ago [as a Diners Club Special Edition] they were costed at £441.00. 1 small central tube dent |
| A Cold War Period, Scarce, USAF Security Police Badge Cica 1965 With officer's serial number engraved L6353. A much collectable original piece of early USAF memorabilia. The Air Force Security Police Badge is a military badge of the Air Force Security Forces of the United States Air Force. Originally known as the "Air Police Badge", the Air Force Security Police Badge has existed since the early 1960s. The badge is worn on the lower left pocket of an Air Force uniform and is the primary identification for officers and enlisted airmen of the Air Force Security Police. Each badge is imprinted with a unique number that the Security Forces Member will wear their entire SF career.
The Air Force Security Police Badge is considered a symbol of legal authority and Force Protection on Air Force Installations. |
| A Collection of Silver Commemorative Regimental Medallions Great British Regiments.Each one depicts a different famous regiment and a relief scene [on the reverse of the coin] of one the of the most famous battles that the regt. took part in. Incredible quality. Each one is approx one and a half ounces of hallmarked silver, one and three quarter inches in diameter. Sold individually at £25 or two for £40 |
| A Cunard White Star Line 'R.M.S.Queen Elizabeth' Lapel Badge Red white and blue enamel on gilt brass in the form of a Steamship Wheel. Launched in 1939 used in WW2 as a Troopship, then restored to service as the worlds greatest luxury cruise ship after the war. Excellent condition. |
| A EIC Percussion Lancer Pistol Mid 19th Century. Made and used in the old Raj period by the East India Company Lancer regiments. The mounts and stock are jolly nice, but the nipple and rammer swivel is missing. Crown stamp still just visible at the rear of the lock plate. The action cocking slips off the sear. |
| A Fabulous 18th Century Indo Persian Battle Axe Tabar A large fine quality horseman's axe with long wooden haft fine wide crescent blade with a pronounced bearded cutting edge, 'hammer' helmet breaker and pommel cap . Superbly chiseled with an elaborate geometric pattern of beautiful style. Steel pole type socket mount. This is a very superior axe of great quality and immensely powerful presence. |
| A Fabulous and Rare, High Rank Samurai, Edo Period Horse Pack Saddle The whole frame is beautifully decorated with crushed abilone shell and the arch mounts engraved with family Clan crest or Mon. To be fully lacquered, finely embelished, and bearing the clan mon, the conclusion is fair that it is a high ranking piece, for the transport of weapons, armour boxes or even women, in the baggage train of a Daimyo. They amy also have been used for the transport of the women or weaponry of a senior ranking Samurai. This is a spectacular piece and they are very rarely seen, and the few that have survived over the centuries are more usually the fairly crude utility examples, completely undecorated and very plain. Over the decades we have had early Japanese woodblock prints showing a procession of horses, in a Daimyo's or Shogun's entourage, some occasionally show a pack saddle exactly such as this, with it's distinctive high crested top. They were usually racked with tanegashima [arquebuss guns] or even polearms. Also, in one early print three women are seated on one example. They may have been attendant's for a Daimyo's consort. |
| A Fabulous Edo Samurai Senior Retainer's Jingasa Helmet A high rank helmet In stunning deluxe laquer in gold in Takamakie (raised lacquerwork), and Kawarinuri (fancy lacquer) with a superb clan mon [crest]. This is without doubt one of the most beautiful and fine quality helmets of it's kind we have seen in may a year |
| A Fabulous Samurai O-Tanto with Delightfully Fine Mounts A large Tanto almost Wakazashi size. Shinsinto period, signed blade and signed fittings. The signature is in an unusual form and it's translation, as yet, eludes us. The fittings are all bronze and hammered with with fine gold and probably the much sought after Goto school. Supern Kodsuka with gold foil and carved. Leather covered saya with iron and gold Kojiri. Gold rimmed bronze tsuba with nanako ground and Shishi. Lacquered leather bound hilt. |
| A Fabulous Sword in the Style of the Greatest Edo Master, Minamoto Kiyomaro This sword is in the style of the most eminent shinshinto smith, Minamoto Kiyomaro. It has a beautiful blade showing wonderful hamon typical of Kiyomaro school with rounded gunome hamon. A typically large blade with a Matahaba [width] of 3.25cm and Nagasa [blade length] of an amazing 78 cm. A most attractive iron sukashi Tsuba of a waterwheel with a silver fukurin rim. Fine gold decorated mounts of very nice subtlety. Second only to Masamune, in the eminince of swordsmiths, he was certainly the finest swordsmith to have lived in the Edo period. Born in 1813 the second son of Yamaura Jizaemon Nobutomo of Saku in Shinano province (present-day Nagano Prefecture). He followed his elder brother Saneo into the swordsmith's craft under Kawamura Toshitaka of the Ueda clan. In 1835, Kiyomaro went to Edo to continue working under the name Masayuki and enter the military academy of Kubota Kiyone. In 1839, Kubota arranged for the commission of a hundred swords from Masayuki by the families of the young men in the academy, in recognition of Masayuki's skill and need for encouragement. Masayuki is said to have made only one sword before fleeing to Choshu province. In 1843, he returned to Edo, and two years later Kubota again helped him to set up a forge in Yotsuya. In the following year, Masayuki adopted the name by which he is better known, Kiyomaro, and flourished as the "Yotsuya Masamune." He committed suicide at the age of forty-two. His life was filled with immense difficulties and his production of swords was painfully small. However he made many swords that were completed yet unsigned by him. His students went on to become some of the greatest Shinshinto smiths in their own right such as Masao, Kiyondo, Saneo and Masahide .It bears the signature of Minamoto Kiyomaro dated 3rd Year of KA-EI [1848] His unsigned swords became Alto mei swords, and were signed posthumously by his students, and it would be nice to hope that this is one of those examples, as although this blade bears his name is is highly unlikely it was by his hand at all. A sword known as 'Kotetsu' and according to Yasu Kizu's pamphlet on the swordmaker Kotetsu, that may actually have been made by Minamoto no Kiyomaro. Yasu described him as a swordmaker of high repute roughly contemporary to Kondo, and it was carried by Kondo Isami. Kondo Isami was a Japanese swordsman and official of the late Edo Period, famed for his role as commander of the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi members were originally known as the Miburo , meaning "Ronin of Mibu". However, the reputation of the Shinsengumi became tarnished quite early on, and their nickname soon changed to "Wolves of Mibu". They were appointed by the Tokugawa shogunate to protect Tokugawa Iemochi. As one might expect being possibly the second highest rated smith in the world of Samurai swords if it was by the great man himself it would likely be as near to priceless as one could imagine, however, we do not believe it was made by Kiyomaro and we are pricing it accordingly, as a wonderfully impressive sword bearing the greatest name of the Edo era, but, with interesting possibilities, that may well be revealed one day. We have sent the blade for repolishing. |
| A Fabulous, Early, 15th Century Koto Katana An ancient sword up to 600 years old!. With a gorgeous long blade with full length Hi [fuller] and Chu-Kissaki [small tip], typical of the early Koto era. It's beautiful polish shows a very pretty hamon with much light and elegant activity. Signed iron Tsuba decorated with a Sage seated under a flowering tree in blossom. Early Edo iron fittings decorated with gold and silver. Edo era wrap over giant rayskin Same [pronounced 'Sarmay]. The sword was made in the great Warring period of Japan when combat throughout the whole islands of Japan was a daily occurrence and the rivalry between clan and clan saw some of the greatest conflicts in Japanese history. These conflicts eventually culminated in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1599, likely the most significant battle in the Samurai era.Blade length, Tsuba to tip, 28.25 inches |
| A Fabulous, Original Antique, Ching Dynasty Chinese 'Tiger Tooth' Huya Dao A huge original antique chinese sword polearms, likely of the Manchu Reign, and simply spectacular in it's presence, the blade has a great deal of very difficult to read inscribed Chinese script. We have had a partial translation which we believe describes that this sword was last used at the historical battle of the Marco Polo bridge at the beginning of the Sino Japanese War in 1937. It is six feet three inches tall with a blade to haft ratio of 1:1.1 and the blade tang goes right to the bottom of the haft. Every year we have the privelidge to buy several, standard, original, antique Chinese swords, such as the Dao or Jian, but sadly the frequency is continually diminishing, however it must be nearly 40 years since we have had examples of the huge Huyadao, and we are amazed to get two such superb examples. Truly original, antique, Chinese weapons are very scarce indeed, as historically, few swords were ever brought back from China. Porcelain and silk were far more popular and preferable souvenirs and exports for Europeans, and in China, in the mid 20th century, nearly all the surviving antique edged weapons were melted down and destroyed in the era of Mao, under Mao's instructions, in order to create new steel. This is a true 'sleeper', one of two matching examples we were thrilled to acquire, in absolutely untouched condition since they were brought back from China just after the Boxer Rebellion in Peking. We show in ther gallery a Chinese Mandarin seated with his guard around him and four of them are holding these very swords. Another picture are of the Ming Emperor Jiajing's Imperial Guard, all horse mounted and all carrying the same Tiger Tooth dao known as the the Huyadao. We have simply cleaned the light storage grime off the surface. 75 inches long |
| A Fairly Plain Victorian Powder Flask 19th Century, copper 'bag' body, brass measure pourer. Good condition for age. In our Military Antiques and Regimentals items list |
| A Fine & Beautiful Shinto Samurai Tanto Hira-zukuri Koshi-zori form, in full polish, Omokumi Hada, Midare based on Notare Hamon, in Shirasaya. Mumei Tang |
| A Fine & Beautiful Tachi By A Good Samurai Smith A rare form of Tachi of O Wakazashi size with an almost straight blade. Beautifully mounted and fitted. Shinto era around 1640. Signed by the eminent smith Echizen Ju Harima Daijo Fujiwara Shigetaka, Most impressive hamon and beautifully signed Tang. One mekugi ana silver plugged. 23 inch blade from the Tsuba. 23.25 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Fine 17th Century Italian Stilletto With all steel hilt and triangular triple edged slender blade. Hounds head quillon baluster grip. A truly elegant piece of great style. |
| A Fine Ancient Koto Era Samurai Battle Sword Signed Moritaka [Circa 1480] Chikuzen province. A most handsome ancient sword of around some 530 summers that is most charmingly fitted with Edo era mounts including beautiful gold shishi [lion dog] menuki and a carved horn kashira, hawk feather pattern fushi. A pierced sukashi iron tsuba. Original Edo era lacquer saya. The whole katana is traditional Samurai battle mounted with simplicity in mind but with areas of reserved elegance. The blade is unusually long at 28.25 inches from tsuba to tip with a Suguha hamon. The Chikuzen province resided on the Island of Kyushu. During the late Kamakura period, the Samurai of this area were under attack by waves of new foreign invaders. The most significant attacks came in 1274 and 1281, by the Mongols, under the rule of Kublai Khan. The Mongol invaders were a foe that the Samurai had not encountered before and were thus, ill equipped to deal with their new enemy. Heavy Mongol armor severely tested the strength of the Samurai implements. As a result, Chikuzen swords evolved at that time towards becoming more break resistant, paying little attention to aesthetics. A Battle sword from the great warring era of Japan, the period of the Battle of Sekigahara and for the entire Tokugawa era up to the Meiji period. Excellent condition wrap binding. A very inexpensive sword, considering, amazingly, it was made around the time of the Wars of the Roses, in England, and the reign of King Richard IIIrd. And any fine European sword from this age and era, in this condition, would likely cost at least ten times this price. |
| A Fine and Beautiful Volunteer Company 'Brown Bess' Infantry Musket,1808 Fine and beautiful Walnut stock of the highest grade, good brass mounts. The stock has a small old contemporary repair on one side of the forestock, but this is very well done, and very difficult to see. Lock maker marked by T. Potts of The Minories London. Fine and beautiful Walnut stock of the highest grade, good brass mounts. The stock has a small old contemporary repair on one side of the forestock, but this is very well done, and very difficult to see. Thomas Potts [formerly of the partnership Brander and Potts] was apprenticed to Martin Brander in 1792, he was Free of the Gunmakers Co. in 1801, Master Gunsmith and Contractor to the Ordnance and The East India Co. He was also maker and supplier to the Queen of Spain and The Shah of Persia. His widow Mary Anne continued making guns after his demise. The stock has a Military Regt. Mark WYC2. This may relate to the West RidingYorkshire Militia. This is a most handsome piece worthy of any collector of fine gunmaker's military arms. Barrel stamped with Ordnance crown by the Breech Tang. With a replacement rammer Thomas Potts [formerly of the partnership Brander and Potts] was apprenticed to Martin Brander in 1792, he was Free of the Gunmakers Co. in 1801, Master Gunsmith and Contractor to the Ordnance and The East India Co. He was also maker and supplier to the Queen of Spain and The Shah of Persia. His widow Mary Anne continued making guns after his demise. The stock has a Military Regt. Mark WYC2. This may relate to the West RidingYorkshire Militia. This is a most handsome piece worthy of any collector of fine gunmaker's military arms. Barrel stamped with Ordnance crown by the Breech Tang. With a replacement rammer |
| A Fine and Rare Long Barrel Miniature Percussion Muff Pistol A rare third size pocket pistol with carved ivory butt [with hairline crack], and boxlock percussion action, but with a very rare, exceptionaly long, damascus twist barrel. |
| A Fine British Army Martini Henry Rifle MkII Short Lever Dated 1889 and a truly superb example. All it requires is some polish and this will truly be an exceptional example. Fully tight action. Made by the Birmingham Small Arms & Manufacturing Co. Excellent British ordnance markings and inspection stamps. Used in the Battle of Omdurman Era. At the Battle of Omdurman (2 September 1898), an army commanded by the British General Sir Herbert Kitchener defeated the army of Abdullah al-Taashi, the successor to the self-proclaimed Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad. It was a demonstration of the superiority of a highly disciplined European-led army equipped with modern rifles and artillery over tribesmen with older weapons and marked the success of British efforts to re-conquer the Sudan. However, it was not until the Battle of Umm Diwaykarat, a year later, that the final Mahdist forces were defeated. Omdurman is today a suburb of Khartoum in central Sudan. The village of Omdurman was chosen in 1884 as the base of operations by the Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad. After his death in 1885, following the successful siege of Khartoum, his successor (Khalifa) Abdullah retained it as his capital. The battle began in the early morning, at around 6 a.m.. After the clashes of the previous day, the 8,000 men under Osman Azrak advanced straight at the waiting British, quickly followed by about 8,000 of those waiting to the north-west. It was a mixed force of riflemen and spearmen. The British artillery opened fire at around 2750 m and the Ansar forces were badly reduced before they even came into range of the Maxim guns and volley fire. The frontal attack ended quickly with around 4,000 Ansar casualties, none coming closer than 50 m to the British trenches. A flanking move from the Ansar right was also checked and there were untidy clashes on the opposite flank which scattered the Ansar forces there.
The picture in the gallery shows the British bttle lines. The red uniforms had in fact been superseded by khaki since 1848 in India.
Kitchener was anxious to occupy Omdurman before the remaining Ansar forces could withdraw there. He directed the army to advance on Omdurman. The army was ordered into columns and began the advance. The British light cavalry regiment, the 21st Lancers, was sent ahead to clear the plain to Omdurman. They had a tough time of it. The 400-strong regiment attacked what they thought to be a few hundred dervishes, but in fact were 2,500 infantry hidden behind these dervishes in a depression. After a fierce clash, the Lancers drove them back at some cost (three Victoria Crosses were awarded, for the loss of five officers, 65 men, and 120 horses, roughly one-fourth of their total manpower). On a larger scale, the British advance allowed the Khalifa to re-organize his forces. He still had over 30,000 men in the field and directed his main reserve to attack from the west while ordering the forces to the north-west to attack simultaneously over the Kerreri Hills.
Kitchener's force wheeled left in echelon to advance up Surgham ridge and then southwards. To protect the rear, a brigade of 3,000, mainly Sudanese, commanded by Hector MacDonald, was reinforced with Maxims and artillery and followed the main force at around 1350 m. Curiously, the supplies and wounded around Egeiga were left almost unprotected.
MacDonald was alerted to the presence of around 15,000 enemy troops moving towards him from the west, out from behind Surgham. He wheeled his force and lined them up to face the enemy charge. The Ansar infantry attacked in two prongs and MacDonald was forced to repeatedly re-order his battalions. The brigade maintained a punishing fire. Kitchener, now aware of the problem, "began to throw his brigades about as if they were companies".MacDonald's brigade was soon reinforced and the Ansar forces were forced back and finally broke or died where they stood. The Ansar forces to the north had regrouped too late and entered the clash only after the force in the central valley had been routed. They pressed Macdonald's Sudanese brigades hard, but the Lincolnshire Regiment was quickly brought up and with sustained section volleys repulsed the advance. A final desperate cavalry charge of around 500 men was utterly destroyed. The march on Omdurman was resumed at about 11:30. Winston Churchill was present at the battle and he rode with the 21st Lancers. He published an account in 1899 as "The River War: An Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan", which is the basis for this article. Present as a war correspondent for the Times was Col. Frank Rhodes, brother of Cecil, who was shot and severely wounded in the right arm. For his services during that battle he was restored to the army active list. Churchill wrote an account of seeing victims of the Martini Henry .450 577 rounds and the terrible effects that their wounds inflicted. The gun photos show the stock walnt very dull indeed, we are having it polished. |
| A Fine German MG34 Of Exceptional Condition Made in 1943, code marked 'dot' [ for manufacturer Waffenwerke Brunn AG] and with considerable and well defined WW2 German, Third Reich, Waffenamt stamps [wartime ordnance]. In truly excellent condition overall. The MG 34 was used as the primary infantry machine gun for the German armed forces, and also remained as the primary tank and aircraft defensive weapon. It was intended that it would be replaced in infantry service by the related MG42, but there were never enough of the new design to go around, and MG 34s continued on in all roles until the end of World War II. It's quality and design was the envy of all, and it's replacement was only deemed necessary in order to save on it's extreme cost.Deactivated not suitable for export. |
| A Fine Handachi Mounted Katana Koto era blade circa 1550. The blade with two mekugi-ana, midare hamon (some staining), fully bound tsuka with gilt fuchi and kabuto-gane decorated with foliage, large copper and gilt dragon menuki, and iron sukashi tsuba, in its black ishime lacquered saya with shakudo mounts decorated with waves within gilt rims.
27.5 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Fine Indo Persian Tulwar With Silver Hilt and lslamic Armourers Seal Mark Beautifully engraved silver overlay hilt of great quality.18th century, fine blade of likely damascus steel, but over the years polishing has obscured any blade graining. |
| A Fine Jade Archers Ring A Chinese Jade Archers ring of typical large size and pale green hue. Very good condition. Worn on the thumb. from Ming to Qing Dynasty |
| A Fine Japanese Shinto Samurai O-Tanto [Large Dagger] Very fine quality Edo era fittings of Takabori [deep carved relief] prunus in Shakudo [with nanako] and gold, in Goto school manner. Signed Kodsuka in matching design of prunus in Shakudo with nanako. A super lacquered Saya with a bottom section decorated with fine crushed abilone lacquer and a top section overlaid with embossed leather in the form of leatherwork acquired from the Portugese traders who arrived in Japan in the early 16th century. Fine signed blade by Sukekane with deep active hamon and distinctive Yakideshi. The blade has just been polished and looks absolutely super!. New photos to follow. |
| A Fine Koto Era Chisa Katana of Good Quality.O suriagi blade. is a short katana. A katana was two shaku or longer in length (one shaku = about 11.93 inches). However, the Chisa katana is longer than the wakizashi, which was somewhere in between one and two shaku in length. The most common blade lengths for Chisa katana was approximately eighteen to twenty-four inches. They were most commonly made in the Buke-Zukuri mounting (which is generally what is seen on katana and wakizashi). The chisakatana was able to be used with one or two hands like a katana (with a small gap in between the hands). The hilt was usually around ten to eleven inches in length, but could be longer or shorter depending on the Samurai's preference. This Chisa katana is most unusual in that it is mounted Handachi tachi style, and with very nice quality shakudo Koshirae. The Kashira is a decorated in relief with Samurai in full armour, with his sword set a tiger's tail saya, holding a baby, with a tree blossom background and on a nanako ground. with it's matching fushi decorarated with the blossom over a nanako ground. This may well represent the legendary Samurai General, Kintaro. Each minuki, under the wrap, is of a pair of dancing Shishi [lion dogs] The blade has two holes punched in the nakagoi with just a single kanji remaining visible. A very active hamon in around 80% original polish, and with a burl grain hada. The Tsuba is iron sukashi and pierced with the ancient conch shell Jinkai [war trumpet] The trumpeter was called a kai yaku. The jinkai served a similar function to drums and bells in signaling troop formations, setting a rhythm for marching, providing something of a heroic accompaniment to encourage the troops and confusing the enemy by inferring that the troop numbers were large enough to require such trumpeters. Many daimyo (feudal lords) enlisted yamabushi to serve as kai yaku, due to their experience with the instrument. The lacquer on the saya is completely worn away on one side and requires re-lacquering, which we can undertake. Due to age the blade face shows a little outer layer thinning as to be expected. The Habaki is silver foiled over copper with some foil wear. |
| A Fine Koto Period Tanto Around 500 Years Old Deep and rich brown wide ribbed lacquered saya and hilt with a most attractive blade that shows a very active Hamon. The whole Tanto is quite beautiful and the condition for it's age in very good indeed, with only a little wear around the mekugi ana on the tsuke. |
| A Fine Old Large Ship Model of a British Naval 100 Gunner Ship of the Line A Beautiful George IIIrd model of an unrigged 100 Gunner 'Ship of the Line' such as HMS Victory. In a large glazed case. Most likely mid Victorian. Collection from store only, delivery not available. 36 inches x 17 inches x 23inches [case size] |
| A Fine Quality Shinto Katana Circa 1660 Beautiful blade a very highly rated master swordsmith. Importantly, it is signed with the mark Ichi, signed Ichi, Hishu Dewa (no) Kami Yukihiro. Shakudo botanical Koshirae [signed] and gold pony Minuki. Silvered double Habaki. Beautiful Hamon. It is believed that, with the nidai Tadakuni, Yukihiro travelled to Edo to learn the techniques of the old Ichimonji school as practiced by Shirobei Noriyoshi of the Ishido school. It is the Ichi from ichimonji that he inscribed on his nakago after this study visit. Yukihiro became the retained swordsmith of Nabeshima Sakyo and moved to Saga City, the provincial capital.Yukihiro was quite widely travelled for that day he even made swords in Hiroshima in Aki province. Eguchi believes this was due to a relationship with Norifusa who was originally from Saga, but had become the fief smith of the castle town of Hiroshima.Yukihiro received the title Dewa Daijo in the 5th year of Shoho (1648) and was promoted to Dewa (no) Kami in the 3rd year of Kambun (1663). 25. inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Fine Wakazashi Probably Late Koto Early Shinto A beautiful blade in 90% original polish, with thin Sugaha hamon. Sukashi Tsuba of stormy waves with seaspray. A very attractive Saya, original Edo era, crushed abilone shell decoration, in an alternating dark green and dark red lacquer. |
| A Fine Zulu War Martini Henry Rifle MkII Short Lever The most famous British Infantry breech loading rifle of the 19th century. An original, singularly beautiful example, and the very form of rifle as was used at the Defense of Rorke's Drift, and was featured in the classic film, ZULU, starring Sir Micheal Caine & Sir Stanley Baker. A very nice short lever example, dated 1877, with the early large cocking indicator. Excellent action and a super walnut stock, overall in excellent plus condition for age. The Martini-Henry was a breech-loading lever-actuated rifle adopted by the British, combining an action worked on by Friedrich von Martini, with the rifled barrel designed by Scotsman Alexander Henry. It was the first British service rifle that was a true breech-loading rifle using metallic cartridges. During the Martini-Henry period in service, the British army were involved in a large number of colonial wars, most notably the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. The MH Mk II rifle was the type used by the company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot present at Rorke's Drift during the eponymous battle. The rifle went on to be used with great distinction throughout the British Empire right into late 1880's. |
| A Fine, Kentucky Pattern Rifle By Charles Osborne of London A beautiful light rifle made for the burgeoning American market in the 1840's. A Kentucky pattern rifle with the usual fancy patch box, elongated trigger guard and a browned damascus twist barrel, platinum safety breech plug . This is a very charming and beautiful long gun with very nice quality features, and absolutely typical of a traditional Kentucky or Pensylvania Rifle, but around twenty percent lighter than usual, likely for ease of aiming while shooting on horseback. British gunmakers had been supplying the American market, just as the British blade makers had, since the very earliest days of the Pilgrim settlers. It is likely that over 80% of all the arms used in the Revolutionary war were British, and a vast percentage of the infantry guns used in the American Civil War were made at Enfield in England. Makers such as Ketland even had members of their family emigrate to the Americas in order to maintain supply to this highly lucrative market, as, although there were many fine American makers, demand for good quality arms was always usually higher than the local producers could supply. |
| A Finest English Silver Mounted, Silver Inlaid Bronze Barrel Pistol of 1787 An absolute gem. A gentleman's flintlock holster pistol of such beautiful quality. Finest Juglans Regia walnut stock, with finest silver wire scroll inlays at the breech. Hallmarked 1787 silver butt cap [with bruising], trigger guard, ramrod pipes, escutcheon and lock side nail mount. A silver mounted bronze barreled English pistol of simply delightful charm. We acquired this pistol in a woeful and dirty state, but all pretty much complete and original [barring rammer], but it had been damaged in use and left 'as is' for likely the past 200 years. We have had the fine stock superbly repaired and all the silver mounts cleaned, but we decided on the 'museum standard' repair in so much as no attempt was made to create an 'as new' finish. We felt it important that it still shows it's age and historic useage and it's natural aging has been left as it was. All that now remains is for the lock's action to repair and the butt cap to be reset, although now it is such a beautiful state once more, it may not be deemed necessary to repair the lock etc. We price it, in it's present state, without that cost yet included. This work can be undertaken or it left as is, the choice is for the new owner. In good and original order a gun of this qualilty would be normally around £5,000, or up to £20,000 for a pair. We feel this price satisfactorily reflects it's present condition. Barrel 8 inches long, overall 13,5 inches long |
| A Finest, English, King George IIIrd Duelling Pistol By Bond of Cornhill, London. Set trigger action with percussion conversion, safety catch. Octagonal barrel with hook breech for rapid removal for cleaning. Finest Juglens Regia walnut stock with hand micro chequering and oval escutcheon barrel slides. Original rammer with worm screw end. All steel deluxe engraved mounts. Pineapple finial trigger guard. Atkinson traces the development of the British dueling pistol with specific examples of the art, describing them in detail. Also discussed is the moulding of bullets, making of cases for pairs of pistols, the manufacture of stocks locks and gunbarrels, powder and flints. As Atkinson points out, on "the best dueling pistols there was lavished the talent[s] of the wood carver, metal worker and engraver and sometimes the art of the silversmith and goldsmith as well. Dueling pistols were generally long and slender, and of comparatively light weight. They might be engraved with floral designs, with silver mountings, decorated with pineapples, clamshells and acorns, and given elegant chequering. Barrels for dueling pistols were often made from stub iron, iron recycled from old horseshoe nails collected from country farmers or collected from the streets. Percussion systems were first experimented with by the start of the nineteenth century. The British Army tested a cap-lock in 1820. Dueling pistols began to adopt the system soon after. Flintlock pistols were often converted to cap ignition by their owners. Dueling practices and rituals were codified in the Code Duello of 1777 which set forth rules describing all aspects of an "affair of honour," from the time of day during which challenges could be received to the number of shots or wounds required for satisfaction of honour. For gentlemen the law "offered no redress for insults" he might be subject to from rivals and enemies. Shooting a fellow officer in a duel "gave a sharp edge to one's reputation, earned congratulations in the regimental mess, and brought admiring glances from the ladies.... higher military authorities...regarded dueling as a proof test of courage..." Although theoretically banned by British Army regulations, refusing a challenge was likely to result in an officer having to leave his regiment, for the same rules that banned dueling forbade an officer from submitting to "opprobrious expressions" or "any conduct from another that should degrade him, or, in the smallest way impeach his courage." To decline a challenge was often equated to defeat by forfeiture, and was sometimes even regarded as dishonorable. Prominent and famous individuals ran an especial risk of being challenged for duels.
Among the most famous duels are the American Burr-Hamilton duel, in which notable Federalist Alexander Hamilton was fatally wounded, and the duel between Duke of Wellington and the 10th Earl of Winchilsea, wherein each participant intentionally missed the other. |
| A French WW1 Military Medal for Valour Silver enamel and gilt.Created by Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, President of the French Republic, on 22 January 1852, by decree. The Médaille Militaire (Military Medal) was created to reward warrant officers, corporals, sergeants, soldiers and sailors for military service, especially for acts of courage in combat. In June 1852, it was decided that the Médaille Militaire would also be awarded to generals and marshals. Amongst others it was awarded to French Fighter Ace Maurice Arnoux. His citation read; Maurice Arnoux is an elite pilot who distinguishes himself each day by new exploits. Always prepared to accomplish all his missions with the same zeal and courage; pursuit, reconnaissance or strafing trenches. He has already downed two balloons and one aircraft and has executed missions successfully both in day and night reconnaissances of long distances without allowing himself to be impeded by enemy attacks. During the night of 17 September 1918, while on reconnaissance behind enemy lines to strafe a train station a low altitudes, he returned with his plane damaged by enemy fire. Five citations.
Médaille Militaire citation, 4 October 1918 |
| A George IIIrd Man-Trap Gun An interesting piece of early gun curiosa. A man-trap in the form of a flintlock gun, bed into a mount of wood, and set with an iron swivel. Historically man-traps were mechanical devices for catching poachers and trespassers. The devices have taken many forms, the most usual being like a large bear trap, the steel springs being armed with teeth which met in the victim's leg. In 1827, their use was made illegal in England, except in houses between sunset and sunrise, as a defence against burglars and ne'er do wells. Quite recently firearm Mantraps have become very sought after indeed, and their values have increased considerably. The lock is now seized. |
| A Georgian Naval Day and Night Telescope by Dolland Of London By one of London's most important and premier optical instrument makers. A King George IIIrd to George IVth era Naval Telescope with mahogany centre and a single, long, draw in brass. The brass cover slide is missing as is the end cover. Engraved Dolland, London, Night and Day. Used from the era of the Royal Navy's 100 Gunner Men O' War Sailing Ships and into the early Iron Clad Sail and Steam Battle Ships. A beautifully crafted instrument that still works perfectly with a fine and sharp image. |
| A German 'Prussian' Franco Prussian War Badge with Silk Tail Ribbon Maker marked, excellent condition. Ribbon stamped Preussischer Landes Kriegsverband [National Association of Prussian War] |
| A German K98 Mauser Rifle of WW2 A great example simply bristling with German Waffenamt markings.Deactivated. Fully moving and firing bolt. Sold to over 18's only. Not suitable for export. |
| A German WW2 Fire Service Dress Dagger Eagle head pommel, chequered grip, complete with original knot. Double quillon and original leather frog. Excellent bright blade, around 20% original paint remaining to the scabbard. Light surface cracking to the nickle hilt. |
| A German WW2 K98 Bayonet Etched With "In Memory of My SS Service" A good K98 rifle bayonet with red bakelite grips etched throughout [in the post war period] with "Fur Errinnerung an meine Dienstzeit in der SS" with two sigrunen rune in circles, and on the reverse, 1 Liebstandarte SS "Adolf Hiltler" with two SS eagles with circle swastika held in their claws over the profile of two german stahlhelm. The eagle head pommel is also etched with SS within a shield. Maker marked ASW with date 1944 to both blade and scabbard. Non matching serial numbers. One of a small collection of three very nicely etched bladed WW2 German service knives. Please note once more, this example does not have wartime period etching. |
| A German WW2 Kriegsmarine Officer's Dagger With Some Known History Maker marked blade by Clemen & Jung. Fully etched blade but quite worn. Lightning flash scabbard, white Ivorine grip with small craking under the pommel. This badge came as a WW2 souvenir from a British Serviceman of WW2, who fought in Germany until 1945, and then transferred to the Military Police to continue to serve during the occupation till 1947. He was stationed in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He served in Kiel, location of the U boats during and after WW2, and this Kriegsmarine Dagger and the Officer's Breast Eagle came from the family of a U Boat officer in Kiel. |
| A German WW2 Luftwaffe Officer's Dagger A nice clean example with crisp mounts and very clean blade. This is the pattern most commonly worn by the Battle of Britain pilots in Goring's Luftwaffe, and many shot down fighter pilots were captured wearing their daggers, although the wearing of the dagger in the fighter was not strictly permitted. Aero alloy hilt mounts, ivorine grip wire bound. Saved as a war souvenir after WW2 by a British soldier. It has been the tradition of soldiers of all nations for thousands of years to claim trophies of war, for it was once written "Man thirsts more for glory than virtue. The armour of an enemy, his broken helmet, the flag ripped from a conquered trireme, are treasures valued beyond all human riches. It is to obtain these tokens of glory that Generals, be they Roman, Greek or barbarian, brave a thousand perils and endure a thousand exertions". Juvenal, Roman poet, Ist Century AD. |
| A German WW2 Messerschmitt Fighter Canon Shell From A ME109, ME262, ME110 A fabulous but very scarcely seen original, unfired, 20mm cannon shell from a WW2 German fighter plane. All of the Messerschmitts including the jet, the ME262. About the best, original 3rd Reich, small conversational piece, money can buy today. All of the Messerschmitts including the jet, the ME262. Phosphorous head. Inert, safe and deactivated. Not suitable for export |
| A German WW2 Messerschmitt Fighter Canon Shell From An ME109, ME262, ME110 A fabulous but very scarcely seen original unfired 20mm cannon shell from a WW2 German fighter plane. All of the Messerschmitts including the jet, the ME262. Phosphorous shell early case dated 1943. Inert, deactivated Not suitable for export |
| A German WW2 Messerschmitt Fighter Canon Shell From An ME109, ME262, ME110 A fabulous but very scarcely seen original unfired 20mm cannon shell from a WW2 German fighter plane. All of the Messerschmitts including the jet, the ME262. Solid armour piercing late case shape. Inert, deactivated Not suitable for export |
| A German WW2 Mortar Bomb Amunition Case Complete with 1 Mortar. Fully Waffenamt stamped and maker coded, in very good order indeed. Mortar 22cm long overall. Photo of one in use in WW2 [not included] Not suitable for export |
| A German WW2 War Merit Cross With Swords Post war 1957 issue without Swastika. This award was created by German dictator Adolf Hitler in 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars (same medal but with a different ribbon). The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service in battle above and beyond the call of duty.The post war example was awarded to servicemen and officer's in the post war German forces so they were able to wear their WW2 decorations but without the forbidden Nazi symbols. |
| A German WW2 War Merit Cross with Swords Wide pin fixing, Alloy metal in good order. With relief Swastika between the cross and swords. A medal for bravery when in military and maritime service but not necessarily when facing the enemy. For example, awarded for rescuing wounded in minefields, rescuing men from sinking ships, bomb disposal, or bravery during aerial bombardment. Curiously the bravery required to achieve this medal could be greater than was required to receive the traditional combat bravery medal, the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Part of a very fine and significant collection of German medals and awards we were most fortunate to acquire from a grandnephew of a U-Boat commander. General Karl Wolff, Friedrich Otto (13.5.1900-7.1984) [SS-Oberstgruppenfûhrer] had and wore this form of award. Two photos in the gallery are Dr Hans Geschke, Gestapo Protectorate Chief and Horst Bohme, Protectorate SD Chief, both wearing their War Merit Cross with Swords.For information only not included. |
| A German WW2 West Wall Medal Issued to the constructors and men that manned the West Wall defenses built to protect the occupied and home territories of the Third Reich in WW2, against the allied invasion. |
| A Good Victorian Detective's Small Truncheon A small truncheon ideal for concealment but ideal for use in the right circumstances
The Early Detectives. The logic behind creating a force of detectives was to allow police officers to mingle with the public and gather intelligence. In this way, they could collect information to prevent crime and apprehend criminals.
Undercover officers worked in the streets in the 1830s.
n 1840, divisions were told to select men who would work on individual cases rather than patrol a beat. These men wore their own clothes so they were not easily identifiable; they were the first plain-clothes detectives.
It soon became obvious that these detectives were producing results in preventing and solving crime. A more co-ordinated force was needed. The detective branch of the Metropolitan Police in London was founded in 1842 and the Detective Branch was first stationed in a house at the back of a small square. The name of that square has become synonymous with detection and solving crime - it was Scotland Yard. |
| A Good 'Re-enactors' Luftwaffe Fleigerbluse A good post war M1940 pattern Luftwaffe Flying Jacket fully dressed with blue cuff title of the von Richtofen Fighter Squadron. Yellow backed rank collar badges and shoulder boards with sleeve chevrons [for obergefreiter] and Luftwaffe breast eagle. This jacket was purchased by the last owner and owned for some years believing it was original and genuine, but sadly, it was not. A good collector's or re-enactor's piece. The shoulder boards may be original but not sold as such. Approx 42 to 44 inch chest. A super quality piece, and a fair amount of effort has been made into this items creation. |
| A Good 18th-19th Century Cossack Kindjal With Silver Niello Mounts Signed Persian blade by Hassan Ali, with single off set fuller per side, horn grip scales. Interestingly it's scabbard has at some 100 years or so ago been recovered in North African leather and crocodile skin. Also known as a Qame, made in Persia for the Caucasian Cossacks. The native land of the Cossacks is defined by a line of Russian/Ruthenian town-fortresses located on the border with the steppe and stretching from the middle Volga to Ryazan and Tula, then breaking abruptly to the south and extending to the Dnieper via Pereyaslavl. This area was settled by a population of free people practicing various trades and crafts.
These people, constantly facing the Tatar warriors on the steppe frontier, received the Turkic name Cossacks (Kazaks), which was then extended to other free people in northern Russia. The oldest reference in the annals mentions Cossacks of the Russian city of Ryazan serving the city in the battle against the Tatars in 1444. In the 16th century, the Cossacks (primarily those of Ryazan) were grouped in military and trading communities on the open steppe and started to migrate into the area of the Don (source Vasily Klyuchevsky, The course of the Russian History, vol.2).
Cossacks served as border guards and protectors of towns, forts, settlements and trading posts, performed policing functions on the frontiers and also came to represent an integral part of the Russian army. In the 16th century, to protect the borderland area from Tatar invasions, Cossacks carried out sentry and patrol duties, observing Crimean Tatars and nomads of the Nogai Horde in the steppe region.
The most popular weapons used by Cossack cavalrymen were usually sabres, or shashka, and long spears, but all Cossacks traditionally carried a Kindjal
Russian Cossacks played a key role in the expansion of the Russian Empire into Siberia (particularly by Yermak Timofeyevich), the Caucasus and Central Asia in the period from the 16th to 19th centuries. Cossacks also served as guides to most Russian expeditions formed by civil and military geographers and surveyors, traders and explorers. In 1648 the Russian Cossack Semyon Dezhnyov discovered a passage between North America and Asia. Cossack units played a role in many wars in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries (such as the Russo-Turkish Wars, the Russo-Persian Wars, and the annexation of Central Asia).
During Napoleon's Invasion of Russia, Cossacks were the Russian soldiers most feared by the French troops. Napoleon himself stated "Cossacks are the best light troops among all that exist. If I had them in my army, I would go through all the world with them." Cossacks also took part in the partisan war deep inside French-occupied Russian territory, attacking communications and supply lines. These attacks, carried out by Cossacks along with Russian light cavalry and other units, were one of the first developments of guerrilla warfare tactics and, to some extent, special operations as we know them today.
Western Europeans had had few contacts with Cossacks before the Allies occupied Paris in 1814. As the most exotic of the Russian troops seen in France, Cossacks drew a great deal of attention and notoriety for their alleged excesses during Napoleon's 1812 campaign. |
| A Good 19th Century Presentation 'Horses Head' Dagger, Likely American Made by Woodcocks, Universally Approved, Celebrated Cutlers. Double edged blade with excellent makers mark and 75% original bright finish. Silver throat mounted leather, tooled, scabbard. Hilt in carved ivory and silver ferrule, blued steel, pyramidical ended quillons.The horses head pommel has been repaired across the neck. Presentation inscription reads Presented to Edward Roberts. The horses head dagger or bowie hilt motif is much collected by American antique knife collectors and is to be seen predominantly on only the best knives and daggers from the mid 19th century. 10.5 nches long overall 6 inch blade. This knife is in need of some restorative attention, but with a little care it would turn out to be a superb collectors piece, that would grace any of the finest antique knife and dagger collections.Part of an extensive dagger collection, that was accumulated over many years, that we have just acquired, and is being expertly cleaned by our conservator to remove decades of dust and grime. Although with a straight blade it is part of the 19th century Bowie knife family |
| A Good Afghan Jazail Rifle Early 19th Century With East India Company flintlock with later percussion conversion. Silver inlaid long barrel. Good untouched stock with traditional cappucines [barrel bands] |
| A Good Antique Edo Era Samurai Helmet Kabuto With iron hachi of eight plates. Ribbed copper tehan kanemono, three stage shikoro, downturned mabisashi. Maedate of a symbolic closed fan in carved wood and red and black lacquer. Interior retains original lining [worn] |
| A Good British Infantry Officers 1897 Pattern Sword King George VIth WW2 issue made by Flights Ltd. FS scabbard with frog mount [slight damage to leather]. Good overall condition fully etched blade. Signs of wear but a nice honest example. |
| A Good British Royal Naval 1756 Pattern Long Sea Service Pistol Lined Tower lock, belt hook, walnut stock and brass furniture. Non standard pattern trigger guard, also in brass. This is a still well functioning pistol, but it has without doubt seen considerable combat service. The naval battles and conflicts it may have seen are simply to be in awe of. Such as The Battles of ; Cape St Vincent, Camperdown, The Nile (Aboukir Bay) , Copenhagen, Algeciras, Cape Finisterre, Trafalgar, San Domingo, Dardanelles, First battle of Sackett's Harbor, Second battle of Sackett's Harbor, Lake Erie, & Plattsburg (Lake Champlain). It is certainly not to say this pistol saw anything like all of those battles, but likely some of them and certainly many more smaller ones that are not now commonly known of. There are various signs of small, contemporary, field repairs etc. likely by the ship's armourer, to the walnut stock. This pistol most certainly saw a great deal of service, as the Royal Navy's various fleets simply encircled the globe, it was, in it's day, the greatest and largest navy the world had ever seen. On the lock interior the sear leaf spring is now aided with a coil spring adaption. |
| A Good British WW2 Model 36m Original Mills Bomb Grenade With base plug dated 1940. A very nice inert deactivated example.William Mills—a hand grenade designer from Sunderland—patented, developed and manufactured the "Mills bomb" at the Mills Munition Factory in Birmingham, England, in 1915. The Mills bomb was adopted by the British Army as its standard hand grenade in 1915, and designated as the No. 5. It was also used by the Irish Republican Army.
The Mills bomb underwent numerous modifications. The No. 23 was a variant of the No. 5 with a rodded base plug which allowed it to be fired from a rifle. This concept evolved further with the No. 36, a variant with a detachable base plate to allow use with a rifle discharger cup. The final variation of the Mills bomb was the No. 36M, which was specially designed and waterproofed with shellac for use initially in the hot climate of Mesopotamia in 1917, but remained in production for many years. By 1918 the No. 5 and No. 23 were declared obsolete and the No. 36 (but not the 36M) followed in 1932.
The Mills was a classic design; a grooved cast iron "pineapple" with a central striker held by a close hand lever and secured with a pin. Although the segmented body helps to create fragments when the grenade explodes, according to Mills' notes the casing was grooved to make it easier to grip and not as an aid to fragmentation. The Mills was a defensive grenade: after throwing the user had to take cover immediately. A competent thrower could manage 30 metres (98 feet) with reasonable accuracy, but the grenade could throw lethal fragments further than this. It could be fitted with a flat base and fired with a blank cartridge from a rifle with a "cup" attachment, giving it a range of around 150 m.
At first the grenade was fitted with a seven-second fuse to accommodate both hand and rifle launch, but during combat in the Battle of France in 1940 this delay proved too long—giving defenders time to escape the explosion, or even to throw the grenade back—and was reduced to four seconds.
The heavy, segmented bodies of "pineapple" type grenades result in an unpredictable pattern of fragmentation. After the Second World War Britain and the US adopted grenades that contained segmented coiled wire in smooth metal casings. The No. 36M Mk.I remained the standard grenade of the British Armed Forces and was manufactured in the UK until 1972, when it was completely replaced by the L2 series. The 36M remained in service in some parts of the world such as India and Pakistan where it was manufactured until the early 1980s. That the Mills bomb remained in use for so many years says much about its effectiveness. |
| A Good Bronze Age Dagger Around 3000 Years Old In one piece daggers of this form the hilts were flanged so that they could take inlaid scales of wood, bone, or metal. Made within the Persian Empire this dagger would have been a prized possession of a Warrior from the time of the legendary 'Seige of Troy'. A beautiful antiquity with good patina and charming form. Circa 800 B.C. 14 I/2 inches long |
| A Good Bullion British Parachute Regimental Blazer Badge In silver and gold bullion on a black cloth ground, excellent unused condition. |
| A Good Cambridgeshire Constabulary Police Helmet Blue cloth helmet with strap and worn liner. |
| A Good Civilian Coaching Pistol by Harding of London Fine brass mounts, walnut stock, steel barrel [reduced]. The stock ahows signs of wear and use as to be expected. This pistol conforms in many ways to the Post Office pistols made by Harding in Borough, London who was the maker for His Majesty's Post Office. His post coach pistols were usually made with brass barrels and plain brass mounts and a sliding safety steel lock. This gun has engraved brass mounts, and a reduced, steel barrel, but the very same sliding safety flintlock as the Royal post pistols. This may deem this pistol to have been for a civilian road coach as opposed to a Royal coach. Some 40 years ago we owned, for several years the 19th century horse drawn Royal Wells to London road coach, made by Holland and Holland, a magnificent and simply beautiful road coach, and it was a great priveledge for us to own it. We use to run the coach, for the benefit of Brighton's Penny Gobby School for Children's charity, between the two Brighton piers, for several years during those wonderful 1960's and early 70's summers. That coach was in fact fitted out with a blunderbuss and two of these very pistols, by Harding of London, with steel barrels. In regards to the Royal Mail Coaches they began in 1784. To ensure the maximum speed was maintain the horses would be swiftly changed every 10 miles and in 1764 it took just 16 hours for the Coach to travel from Bristol to London: a speed considered remarkable at the time. By the end of 1785 Mail Coaches were in use all over England. Mail Coach Guards carried a blunderbuss and a brace of pistols to protect them from attack. The first recorded hold-up of a Mail Coach took place in 1786; it was unsuccessful as the Guard shot the highwayman dead. Two pictures in the gallery are of our family's 19th century Holland & Holland road coach [photo taken around 40 plus years ago] embarking for one of our charity rides along Brighton seafront, and another picture of our oil painting of a Georgian road coach travelling past the Brighton Pavilion. Both of these coaches carried Harding pistols such as this one. Both pictures are for interest and education only. Small safety slide lacking. |
| A Good Crimean War Artillery Officer's Sword Very similar in design to the British Army 1821 Cavalry pattern sword [that British officer's used in Charge of the Light Brigade] this is the Artillery officer's version 3 bar hilted sword but with a slightly straighter blade. No scabbard. Russetted blade and hilt, good original fishskin grip with twisted wire binding. With some judicious polishing this sword may reveal considerable beauty |
| A Good Early Tetsu Iron Tachi Katana Tsuba Four lobed Mokko Gata form. Pierced Udenuki-ana Sukidashi rim.Pierced with Hitsu-ana and Kogai Hitsu-ana |
| A Good Edo Era Japanese Antique Sodegarami The Edo era ran from 1599 till 1867. A Super Japanese, Edo Era, Pole Arm, Also known as a Shishigashira, it is a Yoriki Pole arm of great interest which name translates to 'The Lions Head' [or Mane]. When one sees the fearsome profile of this amazing piece it is very obvious why it has such a descriptive name. When up against a foe the head is thrust into the victim's Kimono, rotated quickly and it's barbarous prongs ensnare and tangle the cloth. The victim is then pushed to the ground with relative ease, and the haft's spikes prevent the victim grabbing it in order to resist. It can also be known as another name a Torigami [Grasping Hand]. See an almost identical example illustrated on page 188 of 'The Samurai Sourcebook' by Stephen Turnbull. In Medieval Europe there was a similar pole arm called a 'Morning Star', of almost identical proportions, with vicious and most similar spikes, but, more usually the spikes were straight. The European version was used more for inflicting dreadful injury than for disabling. In essence the Japanese used theirs more intelligently, in order to disable a victim, and make him powerless, before a hand to hand conflict even starts, the Europeans used theirs far more brutally, and simply for grievous intent in battle. Around 5 foot long. |
| A Good Edo Samurai Pole Arm, Nagamaki no Wakazashi Around 500 Years Old With early blade sometime between the Koto to Shinto era. Photo shows original Samurai holding a Polearm [Yari]. Traditional pole with polished abilone shell décor and carved simulated iron ishizuki. More photos to follow |
| A Good Edo Samurai Pole Arm, Nagamaki no Wakazashi Around 500 years Old With early blade of the Koto era. A form of Samurai polearm Naganata made with a Wakazashi type blade. Traditional pole with polished abilone shell decoration. Good old Koto sukashi Tsuba guard, signed blade. A Picture in gallery shows the Samurai polearm in combat. Polished blade. The term naginata first appeared in the Kojiki in 712 AD and was used by Sohei warrior priests during the Nara Period, around 750 AD. It is most likely based on the Chinese Guan Dao. In the paintings of battlefield scenes made during the Tengyo no Ran in 936 AD, the naginata can be seen in use. It was in 1086, in the book Oshu Gosannenki ("A Diary of Three Years in Oshu") that the use of the naginata in combat is first recorded. In this period the naginata was regarded as an extremely effective weapon by warriors.
During the Gempei War (1180–1185), in which the Taira clan was pitted against Minamoto no Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan, the naginata rose to a position of particularly high esteem. Cavalry battles had become more important by this time, and the naginata proved excellent at dismounting cavalry and disabling riders. The widespread adoption of the naginata as a battlefield weapon forced the introduction of sune-ate (shin guards) as a part of Japanese armor. The rise of importance for the naginata can be seen as being mirrored by the European pike, another long pole weapon employed against mounted horses. An excellent example of the role of women in Japanese society and martial culture at this time is Itagaki, who, famous for her naginata skills, led the garrison of 3,000 warriors stationed at Toeizakayama castle. Ten thousand Hojo clan warriors were dispatched to take the castle, and Itagaki led her troops out of the castle, killing a significant number of the attackers before being overpowered. Naginatas were often used by foot samurai to create space on the battlefield. They have several situational advantages over a sword. Their reach was longer, allowing the wielder to keep out of reach of his opponent. The long shaft offered it more leverage in comparison to the hilt of the katana, enabling the naginata to cut more efficiently. The weight of the weapon gave power to strikes and cuts, even though the weight of the weapon is usually thought of as a disadvantage. The weight at the end of the shaft and the shaft itself can be used both offensively and defensively. Swords, on the other hand, can be used to attack faster, have longer cutting edges (and therefore more striking surface and less area to grab), and were able to be more precisely controlled in the hands of an experienced swordsman. Blade length to Tsuba 17.75 inches, Pole Length 71inches, total 89 inches |
| A Good English 18th Century, Double Barrel, Tap Action Over-Coat Pistol By Richardson. Large bore and good action and pan swivel. Slab sided walnut grips, all steel mounts and turn off barrels. Gadget weapons that have unusual actions such as this rotational tap-action meant the gun could be fired each barrel singly or both barrels simultaneously. They were much more expensive than standard guns, but with two barrels they fufilled the function of pair of pistols but on it's own. |
| A Good George Vth WW1 British Infantry Officer's 1897 Pattern Sword All etched blade with King George's Cypher. Nickle silver pierced guard with triple wirebound fishskin grip. The standard British Infantry Offficer's Sword, used in WW1 and still in use today by current serving officers. Good condition for age and perfectly suitable for use today. This sword does have an FS scabbard. However, the leather outer is very poor indeed and it would need recovering if this sword were needed for use in current Army service. |
| A Good German Imperial Officer's Sabre With good gold plated hilt black celluloid grip with wire bound grip. Manufactured 1900, used in WW1 & WW2 |
| A Good German WW2 Kriegsmarine Officer's Dagger Traditional white ivorine grip mounted hilt with eagle pommel bearing swastika and anchor crossguard. Good plain blade and ligtning bolt engraved nickle scabbard that is most unusually near enough dent free. A Kriegsmarine officer’s dagger in very nice condition. This is the plain-blade version of the original-issue type. These are actually considered more scarce than the etched-blade models, which were generally private purchase. Maker marked by Carl Eikhorn. |
| A Good Indonesian Silver Mounted Kris. With traditional Meteorite iron blade. Carved Garouda hilt and embossed silver covered scabbard.Blade 18th to 19th century. A beautiful example of these much prized and collected short swords. Good condition Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. |
| A Good Iron Kozuka, Edo era Signed blade, ? Ki [Castle] yama chu Hiromichi |
| A Good King George IIIrd Officer's Flintlock Pistol Large bore. Walnut stock all steel fittings. Octagonal barrel. Signed Dutton. Fine engraving overall incuding a pineapple finial to the trigger guard. Used by an officer in the Napoleonic Wars and Waterloo. |
| A Good Koto Samurai Sword Circa 1550 blade with deep choji hamon and mumei tang with 3 mekugi ana, bronze edo Koshirae engraved with billowing clouds with an early Iron Mokko shaped Tsuba. Smooth spiral effect [reminiscent to the look of a narwhal tusk] black lacquer saya. A sword made around two generations prior to the Battle Of Sekigahara in 1600. Blade has been re-polished and looks beautiful, showing a very nice Gunome based Hamon. |
| A Good Lt Col's, WW2 British Light Infantry Regt. Officers Sword of Lt Col. Ben Frost. With good FS scabbard, excellent blade with full traditional etching including the royal cypher of King George VI th complete with it's original frost ground. A good British sword in perfect condition suitable by an officer today for current service use. Photo of Lt Col Frost, as officer, in WW2 service uniform. With knot and current Sam Browne. Overall all in near mint condition. |
| A Good Luftwaffe Double Decal M40 Combat Helmet Double decal helmet complete with original liner and replaced chin strap. Original Luft decal and overpainted state decal. Made by ET Maker stamped ET [Eisenhutten Werke, Thale] .Size 64 [Medium 56 to 57 cm] |
| A Good Mauser Bayonet for the Siamese Mauser. Wood grips with two rivets, heavily fullered 10 inch blade in blued all metal scabbard. Siamese military markings. Good condition |
| A Good Medieval Knight's Battle Mace of Bronze Circa 13th to 14th Century, made of Bronze Copper Alloy. Four stout pyramidal knobs on a cubic body. Probably of eastern European origin. A weapon made at the time at great cost, and only for the most affluent. A battle mace for the crushing and smashing of armour. Old, replaced, wood haft. Not a large mace head but quite effective. Excellent patina highly evocative signs of use. The mace head is approx. the size of a pool or billiard ball. A similar Mace is preserved in the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest |
| A Good Nickle Plated Civil War Era Pinfire Revolver A fine European Imported Pinfire Revolver with luxury engraving and fancy grips [with a roccoco relief acanthus leaf design] 9mm. calibre, beautifull anthus leaf pattern scroll engraving. These deluxe hand made pistols were very popular indeed during the Civil War [but very expensive] as they took the all new pinfire cartridge, which revolutionised the way revolvers operated, as compared to the old fashioned percussion action. In fact, while the percussion cap & ball guns were still in production [such as made by Remington, Colt and Starr] and being used in the American Civil War, the much more efficient and faster pinfire guns [that were only made from 1861] were the fourth most popular gun chosen, by those that could afford them, during the war. General Stonewall Jackson was presented with two deluxe pinfire pistols with ivory grips, and many other famous personalities of the war similarly used them. The American makers could not possibly fulfill all the arms contracts that were needed to supply the war machine, especially by the non industrialised Confederate Southern States. So, London made guns were purchased, by contract, by the London Arms Company in great quantities, as the procurement for the war in America was very profitable indeed. They were despatched out in the holds of hundreds of British merchant ships. First of all, the gun and sword laden vessels would attempt to break the blockades, surrounding the Confederate ports, as the South were paying four times or more the going rate for arms, but, if the blockade proved to be too efficient, the ships would then proceed on to the Union ports, [such as in New York] where the price paid was still excellent, but only around double the going rate. This pistol is the pocket or overcoat size, and is the very type that was so popular, as a fast and efficient personal protector, by many of the senior rank officers of both the US and the CSA armies.Small area of the right hand grip is lacking.5.5 inch barrel, 10.25 inches overall long |
| A Good Radom Pistol From the WW2 German Occupation of Poland. A very nice example with very good order and good clear Third Reich military waffenamt markings for acceptence into the military. The Radom pistol was alongside the Browning Hi Power in it's desirability by the German Armed Forces Elite Sections. Nearly all the production of this pistol at the Polish Radom factory was taken by the Waffen SS, but some issued to Falshirmjager units. Good clear Waffen Amt stamps and frame maker marked Radom VIS Model 1935. Considerable original blue finish remaining. Poland's cavalry had long been emulated in Europe, and as the newly-reconstituted nation built up an army after WWI, they searched for a domestically produced sidearm to equip their cavalry troopers. In 1935 a design by Wilniewczyc and Skrzypinski was settled on and, dubbed the ViS wz.35, was adopted by the Army that year. It was made at the Radom plant with the assistance of Fabrique Nationale engineers working under contract, and offered an interesting blend of familiar Colt/Browning features with some new touches. After Poland was overrun by the German and Soviet invasion of 1939, the Radom plant fell in the German -occupied half of the country and the Poles were soon forced to manufacture arms for their conquerors, who called it the Pistole 645(p). The wz.35 was an issue weapon to the Waffen SS. Deact. |
| A Good Russian Cold War Era Poster Original poster with interesting subject matter of military and maritime uniforms and ranks. This is one of a collection of Russian USSR posters we have acquired from the estate of an ex British Glider Pilot of WW2. This poster is folded and in condition as seen in the photos. 36.5 inches x 24 inches. This poster is a real and used item, not just for show, would look super nicely framed |
| A Good Samurai Tanto. With Iron Edo Era Fittings Probably Koto blade, circa 1580, with suriagi nakago, two Mekugi ana, deep Hamon of, most likely, Sanbonsugi form, but ideally in need of polish. Early to mid Edo period Iron fittings with silver inlays, Crushed Abilone shell decorated Saya with Iron Kojiri. Very scarce Minuki, in copper, of Samurai armour Menpo face masks with tying cords. 20cm cutting edge 33cm overall long. |
| A Good Shin Gunto WW2 Officer's Tachi Signed & dated blade, Mantetsu no Kitau Tsukuru Korewo, howa Mizunoto Hitsuji Haru [made by Tsukuru in Mantetsu Steel in the 20th Zodiacal Cycle year of Showa, in the Spring]. A beautiful sword made with the distinctive, folded, hard and soft steel method, traditional shingunto mounts. Sugaha Hamon. Used by a Japanese officer in Manchuria in the War with China in WW2.27.25 inch blade measured Tsuba to tip |
| A Good Shinto Samurai Naganata Polearm Signed blade Bizen ju Sukemune. Blade in around 90% polish and shows a good gunome hamon. Nice polearm with crushed abilone decoration to the top section of the haft. The term naginata first appeared in the Kojiki in 712 AD and was used by Sohei warrior priests during the Nara Period, around 750 AD. It is most likely based on the Chinese Guan Dao. In the paintings of battlefield scenes made during the Tengyo no Ran in 936 AD, the naginata can be seen in use. It was in 1086, in the book Oshu Gosannenki ("A Diary of Three Years in Oshu") that the use of the naginata in combat is first recorded. In this period the naginata was regarded as an extremely effective weapon by warriors.
During the Gempei War (1180–1185), in which the Taira clan was pitted against Minamoto no Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan, the naginata rose to a position of particularly high esteem. Cavalry battles had become more important by this time, and the naginata proved excellent at dismounting cavalry and disabling riders. The widespread adoption of the naginata as a battlefield weapon forced the introduction of sune-ate (shin guards) as a part of Japanese armor. The rise of importance for the naginata can be seen as being mirrored by the European pike, another long pole weapon employed against mounted horses. An excellent example of the role of women in Japanese society and martial culture at this time is Itagaki, who, famous for her naginata skills, led the garrison of 3,000 warriors stationed at Toeizakayama castle. Ten thousand Hojo clan warriors were dispatched to take the castle, and Itagaki led her troops out of the castle, killing a significant number of the attackers before being overpowered. Naginatas were often used by foot samurai to create space on the battlefield. They have several situational advantages over a sword. Their reach was longer, allowing the wielder to keep out of reach of his opponent. The long shaft offered it more leverage in comparison to the hilt of the katana, enabling the naginata to cut more efficiently. The weight of the weapon gave power to strikes and cuts, even though the weight of the weapon is usually thought of as a disadvantage. The weight at the end of the shaft and the shaft itself can be used both offensively and defensively. Swords, on the other hand, can be used to attack faster, have longer cutting edges (and therefore more striking surface and less area to grab), and were able to be more precisely controlled in the hands of an experienced swordsman. Blade length |
| A Good Sudanese Kaskara of the Mahdi Era An antique sword from the era of The Mahdi [Mohammed Ahmed 1845-1885] and the cold blooded insurrection against the British Colonialism and seige and massacre of General Gordon at Khartoum. A good Cruciform Hilted sword based on the Knights Crusaders Swords that were captured on their way to the Holy Land in the 13th century, and much admired and copied by the native tribesmen. Cruciform Hilt, leather scabbard, leather wrapped grip, long double edged blade.The last photo in the gallery shows a contemporory engraving of the 'Death of Gordon' in Khartoum [not included] |
| A Good Sukashi Tsuba Koto Era Iron tsuba with mon piercing, pierced with Kodzuke Hitsu-ana and Kogai Hitsu-ana |
| A Good Third Reich German Medal Dated 1st October 1938, Occupation of Sudentanland Instituted on October 18, 1938, the medal commemorated the return of the Sudetenland to Germany. Once again Hitler employed skillful diplomacy, using brinkmanship as a dangerous tool to bring the Sudetenland under German control and paving the road for the annexation of Czechoslovakia. On September 29, Hitler met Daladier, Chamberlain and Mussolini in Munich where all four leaders signed the Munich Agreement ceding the Sudetenland to Germany. The Czechoslovak government capitulated September 30 and agreed to abide by the agreement. The Sudetenland was occupied by Germany between October 1 and October 10, 1938. This unification with the Third Reich was followed by the flight and forcible expulsion of the region's Czech population to the remaining parts of Czechoslovakia, which were subsequently invaded and annexed by Germany in March 1939.
It was awarded until December 1, 1939. |
| A Good USSR Lenin Banner In red synthetic silk with yellow fringing. Nice condition. 40 inches x 55 inches |
| A Good Victorian Police Constable's Truncheon Traditional form with ribbed grip long black shaft and decorated with Queen Victoria's cypher and Crown. The 18th century had been a rough and disorderly age, with mob violence, violent crimes, highwaymen, smugglers and the new temptations to disorder brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Clearly something had to be done. In 1829 the Metropolitan Police Force, organised by Sir Robert Peel, was established to keep the order in London. The force, under a Commissioner of the Police with headquarters at Scotland Yard, was essentially a civilian one: its members were armed only with wooden truncheons and at first wore top-hats and blue frock-coats. The "Peelers" or "Bobbies" were greeted largely with derision by Londoners, but they did become accepted fairly quickly. Thier primary purpose was to prevent crime, and some London criminals left their haunting grounds of London for the larger provincial towns, which in turn established their own forces on the Metropolitan model. The pattern followed through to the small villages and countryside. To secure co-operation between the spreading network and establish further forces, Parliament passed an act in 1856 to co-ordinate the work of the various forces and gave the Home Secretary the power to inspect them. In the counties, under the Police Act of 1890, the police became the combined responsibility of the local authorities - the County Councils - and the Justice of the Peace, while in London, the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard remained under the Commissioner appointed by the Home Office. At the turn of the century, the British police force established a reputation for humane and kindly efficiency. Their mere existence undoubtedly did a lot to prevent crime, and they built up what was on the whole a highly effective system of investigation and arrest. |
| A Good Vintage 'Leg O'Mutton' Leather Guncase Superior grade handmade leather gun case, circa 1890 to 1920. Monogrammed 'M.P' Overall length 30 inches x 7 inches at widest. Barrel length capacity 28.5 inches. I strap AF [easily replaceable]. |
| A Good WW1 Great War German Butcher Bayonet Made for the standard, Imperial German infantryman's Gew98 rifle. A good example with maker mark, R. Stock Berlin, scarce big 'eared' model. Dated 1915 |
| A Good WW1 Great War German Butcher Bayonet Made for the standard, Imperial German infantryman's Gew98 rifle. A good example with maker mark |
| A Good WW1 Great War German Butcher Bayonet Made for the standard, Imperial German infantryman's Gew98 rifle. A good example with maker mark, Haenel of Suhl. Rare leather scabbard type. Dated 1915 |
| A Good WW2 American Officers Cap Badge Typical large size Wingspread Eagle with Shield and motto, with olive branch and arrows clasped in claws. Maker marked. Good condition. |
| A Good, Astral of Coventry, WW2 Royal Navy Submarine & Warship's Clock. A very nice example of these interesting and most collectable WW2 naval souvenirs. Made by Astral of Coventry, a clock making company that was bought and owned by Smiths in 1932. The previous owner stated it was removed from light cruiser HMS Ajax before she was scrapped in 1949. And although we have no reason to doubt this at all, we have no way of confirming it either. The history of HMS Ajax is as follows. She was built by Vickers Armstrong at barrow and launched 1st march 1934 and completed 12th April 1935..HMS Ajax was a Leander class light cruiser Built at Vickers shipyard, Barrow-in-Furness, England, she was laid down on 7 February 1933, launched on 1 March 1934, and completed on 12 April 1935. Ajax served on the America and West Indies Station from completion, then joined the South American Division on the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. There she sank the German merchant Olinda and intercepted the German merchant Carl Fritzen and the passenger ship Ussukuma. Both ships scuttled themselves to avoid capture. She was the flagship of Commodore Henry Harwood's Force G during the hunt for the Admiral Graf Spee. Ajax was hit seven times by the Germans but inflicted more damage on the Graf Spee during the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939. Ajax was also in Chile and assisted in relief work after an earthquake in Concepcion, and many years later surviving members of HMS Ajax were awarded medals from the Chilean Government for valued assistance. Under repair until July 1940, during which time Ajax was also fitted with a Type 279 Radar, she then moved to the Mediterranean. On 11 October/12 October 1940 she engaged Italian forces off Cape Passero, sinking the Spica class torpedo boats Airone and Ariel, and badly damaging the Italian destroyer Artigliere, which was later sunk by HMS York. According to Seaman Harry Mansfield, the Ajax intercepted retreating German and Italian warships which were cruising towards Crete and fired a variety of small arms and large guns completely destroying the enemy. The Ajax then took part in the Battle of Taranto, a night operation which was held under by RDF (radio detection finder). Ajax was one of the escort vessels of that highly successful operation, the first all-air attack by a naval force in history. Ajax participated in the Battle of Cape Matapan and was hit by bombs from Ju 87's on 21 May. She evacuated many troops from Crete up until 29 May 1941. She then covered Syrian operations in June, and joined Force K at Malta in November 1941, but was withdrawn in February 1942.She was refitted in England from May to October 1942, then returned to the Mediterranean where she was again damaged by bombs. After repairs in New York between March and October 1943, Ajax went back to the Mediterranean. As part of Force K, she bombarded Gold Beach during the D-Day invasion, and later supported the landings in southern France. Ajax operated in the Aegean during the reoccupation of Athens and the communist uprising in Greece.
After the war, the Ajax was involved in the Exodus incident, where she formed part of the Royal Navy task force trailing the illegal immigrant ship. Brass case with traditional opening face. The clock is working but we have not had it working long enough to confirm accuracy, but Astral and Smiths were noted for reliability. Two photos in the gallery of HMS Ajax and Winston Churchill leaving the Ajax in Athens 1944 [for information only not included]. The Astral name was used in the early 1930's, and Smiths took over the company in 1932. They used and changed the trade name to Smiths Astral from around '33, '34, and as the ship was built in 1933 this may well indeed go some way to confirming it's connection to HMS Ajax as the clock bears just the single Astral trade name. 10.5 inches wide at the back plate, front 9 inches wide, dial 8 inches. |
| A Good, English Use, Spherical Iron Head Battle Mace 600 to 800 years old A fine and original weapon from the 13th to 15th century with a multi spiked head of rounded pyramidical projections. On a replaced old haft. One of the oldest forms of battle weaponry that can trace it's origins back to the stone age, long before the use of daggers and swords.This is a super Medievil example, that most likely inflicted a terrible yet most effective result in hand to hand combat. Used from the time of the early Crusades. |
| A Good, Original US Army Springfield Infantry Musket Used in the Civil War A very good American Infantryman's Rifle issued to Union Troops in the American Civil War. Good walnut stock, brass furniture, good action, clearly marked lock with Springfield and American Eagle, Dated 1835, a M16 percussion conversion. One photo in the gallery is of the Battle of Williamsburg that shows very well how the Springfield was used to such great effect [information only not included] |
| A Good, Original, Vintage Ship's Binnacle Compass A super original maritime Xmas gift for someone with a naval bent. Brass case that is covered in wartime green paint [should strip beautifully]. Working liquid filled compass, patent markings. Oil lamp lighting section. |
| A Great Russian Cold War Era Poster Original poster with interesting subject matter of Russian Cosmonauts. This is one of a collection of Russian USSR posters we have acquired from the estate of an ex British Glider Pilot of WW2. This poster is folded and in condition as seen in the photos. Dated 1969 17.5 inches x 23.5 inches. This poster is a real and used item, not just for show, would look super nicely framed |
| A Great, Original, 'Tommy' 1928 Thompson Sub Machine Gun The absolute archetypal Tommy Gun of the Chicago Ganster era. Known as the 'Chicago Piano' it is probably the most famous American Machine gun ever made. There was certainly not a single 1930's Chicago Gangster movie made in Hollywood that did not feature the Tommy Gun. 1920's Millionare Industrialist Richard B. Mellon once said of it "You could not run a coal company without Machine Guns".. 1928A1 model with Fluted Barrel, forward Pistol Grip, Lyman Site, Cutts Compensator, 50 round Drum Mag, moving Cocking Lever. Forward Pistol Grip. De-activated with moving cocking lever. In the USA this gun is supremely collectable as one of the very best, and one of the most famous guns, ever made. Incredibly a 1928 pattern 'Tommy Gun' gun could sell in the US for up to $40,000, in fact one that was sold by a Sheriffs Dept, for charity, in April 2006 at Rock Island, was sold for $80,500. Very sadly, even though deactivated, we cannot export this gun to America, or outside Europe. 3 photos in the gallery show Jimmy Cagney, a scene with Paul Muni from 'Scarface' 1932, and Winston Churchill, each holding a Tommy Gun. For information only not included. Deactivated |
| A Highly Attractive Antique Suit of Original Edo Era Samurai Gosuku With Shinari Kabuto [acorn shaped helmet] of built up lacquer construction [some distressing to left side lacquer surface. With fully laced Shikoro [neck armour lames]. Open Menpo [face guard] without nose, with laced Nodowa [throat armour]. Dark brown lacquer thin plates with full lacing to the Do in Maru-do type form [breast plate without hinge, single side opening]. Chain mail over silk Kote [arm armour] with plate Tekko [hand armour]. Fully laced and plate Sode [shoulder armour] Fully laced four panels of Haidate [waist armour] Fully laced Kasazuri [thigh Armour], without lower Suneate. The armour is trimmed in printed and decorated doe skin and all the connection fittings are in traditional carved horn. This armour is all contemporary and, as far as can be ascertained, not composite. It's condition is very good indeed apart from the lacquer wear distressing to the helmet, some silk perishing on part of the thigh armour top section, and some colour fading to one hand armour lacquer. |
| A Highly Rare and Super Scottish Regimental Battle Sword.Made By Prosser. In it's original coppergilt and leather scabbard. A 1796 Infantry Officer's Sword of the 'Royal Scots' the 1st Regiment of Foot. With it's distinctive very wide double edged broadsword blade. The Royal Scots regimental badge to the shell guard with the Egypt Battle Honour of the Sphinx, and the Scottish Staff Badge engraved on the blue and gilt blade. The Staff Badge is the Star of the Order of the Thistle, inscribed with the motto of the Order - "Nemo me impune lacessit'' The Royal Scots, the oldest Infantry Regiment of the Line in the British Army, was formed in 1633. The Regiment has one of the most noble of histories and incredibly, during the time of this swords use, they saw service the Battle of Egmont op Zee in the 1799 Helder campaign, the capture of Egypt (in 1801), the Egyptian campaign at the Battle of Aboukir and the Battle of Alexandria.They then moved to the West Indies (1803-05) They fought at the capture of Saint Lucia, as well as of Demerara and Essequibo in 1803, and the capture of Guadeloupe in 1810. In the American War of 1812 Royal Scots were in Quebec at the outbreak of the war. It fought in the battles of Sackett's Harbor and Buffalo & Black Rock, as well as the capture of Fort Niagara (1813), the battles of Longwoods, Chippawa, and Lundy's Lane, along with the Siege of Fort Erie and the battles of Niagara and Cook's Mills (1814). In February 1812, the regiment was retitled as the 1st Regiment of Foot (Royal Scots), the first official appearance of the popular name. From 1808 to 1809, the 1st were fighting at the Battle of Corunna in 1809, before being withdrawn by sea and sent to the Walcheren Campaign with the 1st Division. It returned to Portugal in 1810 with the 5th Division, fighting at the Battle of Buçaco (1810), the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro (1811), the battles of Badajoz, Salamanca and Burgos (1812), the Battle of Vitoria, capture of San Sebastian, Battle of Nivelle, and the Battle of Nive (1813), before advancing into France in 1814. It was sent to Belgium during the Hundred Days, and fought in Picton's Division (the 5th) at the Battle of Waterloo (1815). This sword has seen incredible action, as detailed above, and it does show it's signs of combat use, with one badge no longer retained on the guard. However, bearing this in mind, it is still in very good order considering, with it's silver wire grip perfectly in place, some blue and gilt to the blade remaining and it scabbard fully intact but with slight leather shrinkage. A fabulous sword, rich and overflowing in some of the greatest battle history of the Scots Warriors fighting for the British Empire. |
| A Historismus English Civil War 'Lobster-Pot' Officer's Helmet A finest quality lobster pot cavalry helmet of the English Civil War style. This is an antique, probably 19th century, expertly aged, historismus helmet that was originally acquired by a civil war armour collector, under the impression that it was an original, early 17th century example, which, sadly, we identified as incorrect. However it is a remarkable piece of workmanship that has skillfully created a beautiful piece, that would easily convince many that it was completely original, but despite that, it easily stands on it's own merit as a super piece of early style cavalry officer's armour. Excellent condition, and if original this could easily be, a most superior, £4,000 to £5,000 officers example. Lacking nasal bar, articulated lobster tail. Photo in the gallery of Cromwell at Dunbar, showing cavalry officers adorned with numerous helmets of this grade. [for information only not included] |
| A Historismus Medievil Style War Hammer A four pronged Medieval style War Hammer and Armour Piercer with a nailed wooden steel braced haft. Probably 19th century. The War Hammer sometimes referred to as the 'Lucerne Hammer' was a fearsome piece of Medieval Knightly weaponry designed to smash heavy steel helmets and puncture heavy breast Armour. It was remarkably effective. |
| A Hopkins and Allen Ranger No.2 Revolver of the Wild West Era Nickle plated finish with polished horn grips, spur trigger, hair trigger action .One of the Wild West era pocket revolvers so popular in the frontier towns out west, and used by all the infamous gamblers and nefarious characters associated with that unique time in American history. Ranger No2 model Patent March 26th 1871. Obsolete calibre no license required. Small area of grip bears old restoration. |
| A Horn Hilt Jambiya With solid horn hilt double edged blade and leather scabbard.19th century. |
| A Jager Military Rifle, As used by the Early, British, 60th Rifles Regt. During the Napoleonic Wars, The Peninsular War The War of 1812 in America and at Waterloo. The near identical predecessor to the Baker military rifle, a super and fine example, but with the traditional German style patch box in wood [as opposed to the Baker's brass version]. A very fine walnut stock, brass furniture, including scroll trigger guard, large ramrod pipes, heavy steel ramrod. 28.75 inch rifled octagonal barrel, 44 inches long overall, and covered in military regimental markings. It is matching serial numbered 157 D [company] on the butt plate, rammer and barrel. The barrel tang has another number [possibly applied when converted to percussion action], and a King George IIIrd crown stamp is on the stock. It also bears a CJH which may be Corps[ Jager ] Hompesch. Incredibly, inside the patch box is it's original hand written label circa 1800 that gives what we believe the name of the rifleman [Kluge] it's calibre, the gun's number [157] promise right of supply?? and notes on it's accuracy at 100 ,150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600 & 700 meters. Before the standard Baker rifle [which was a near direct copy of the Jager rile] replaced the Jager rifles, this was the type of gun acquired from Prussia by the British ordnance and issued to the earliest British rifle regiments formed in the late 18th century. They were then used in America and Ireland, and then in Spain, Portugal & France in the Napoleonic Wars. These rifles are referred to in British Military Firearms 1650 to 1850 by Howard Blackmore. The story of the earliest British rifle regiment goes as follows; at the end of 1797 - the year in which the Duke of York became colonel in-chief -of the 60th, it was decided to increase British forces in America, and an Act of Parliament was passed authorizing the Crown "to augment His Majesty's 60th Regiment of Infantry by the addition of a Fifth Battalion," to serve in America only, and to consist of foreigners. This battalion, the first green-coated rifle battalion in the Army, was organized under the command of Lieut-Colonel Baron de Rottenburg, of Hompesch's Corps. It was formed of 17 officers and 300 men from Hompesch's Chasseurs, and was dressed in bottle-green cut-away coats with scarlet facings, white waistcoats, blue pantaloons, with black leather helmets and black belts. They were armed, at first, with inferior 'contract' rifles imported from Germany, but after those were rejected this better type was chosen. This fifth or "Jager" battalion served in Ireland in 1798 during the Rebellion, and then proceeded to the West Indies, where, in June, 1799, it received 33 officers and 600 men from Lowenstein's Chasseurs, another regiment of foreigners, at the capture of Surinam in 1791 and afterwards in South and North America. In 1804 an Act was passed authorizing 10,000 foreign troops to serve in England, and the 5th Battalion was brought home in consequence in 1806. It went to Portugal in June, 1808, and from the opening skirmish at Obidos, on 15th August, two days before the battle of Roleia or Rolica down to the end of the war, took part in Wellington's campaigns in Portugal, Spain and the South of France. After the peace, this battalion was disbanded. This rifle is a superb piece and all the metal is in great condition. In the last picture in the gallery there is a picture of a 60th Rifleman next to a 95th in the Peninsular War. Note the 60th Rifleman's patchbox on his Jager Rifle. |
| A Japanes Zunari Samurai Kabuto [Helmet] A Zunari Style Kabuto, the type of Helmet design that was first introduced to Samurai armour in the 15th century. It became a highly popular style, and came in numerous forms.This example is possibly late edo. Plain iron plate skull with articulated neck defences, overall black lacquer. No lining. |
| A Japanese WW2 Officer's Sword with Very Early Ancestral Blade All traditional 1936 pattern mounts in good condition for age. Blue tsuka ito with traditional fiittings. The blade is probably Koto, 15th century, or possibly even earlier. In the ancient Ichimonji style. The blade has super Funbari and a beautiful and elegant form. Signed blade on the Nakago but not readable any longer. This is a very interesting piece, of great age and interest. This sword has now been re-polished and looks amazingly improved compared to how it was. There is still the odd flaw in the blade, which considering it's age it is only reasonable, and to be expected, but the transition has been breathtraking. We are leaving one pre-polish photo on the site so one can compare the incredible difference. It is well worth regarding all of the photos to see how much can be achieved with a re-polish..28 inch blade measured Tsuba to tip . For the Nihonto officionado this would without doubt be a sword of considerable interest, as by general consensus [when recently viewed by two Nihonto specialists] and it is likely a Ko-nio school blade [with the original Nakago, and the ha-machi reformed during it's mounting for WW2] and exhibiting many features as to expected of that school. However, the hagire would certainly exclude that direction of ownership. This sword is absolutely the preserve of the collector of beauty, age and history but not perfection. If one bears in mind a sword of this age, and particularly as it was last used in WW2, it has likely seen almost uninterrupted combat service for nigh on 600 years. During that period it may well have seen countless battle situations, and thus it is showing these scars, and any sword of this vintage that shows nothing but perfection has likely never seen anywhere near as much Samurai warfare as this beautiful sword has experianced. |
| A Japanese 1889 Regulation Pattern WW2 NCO'S Sword, Year 32 Type. Issued to Infantry NCO'S Superior Privates and NCO's of the Kempei [Military Police] from 1937 till 1945. They first saw service in the 1937-45 Chinese Invasion and Occupation known as the Manchukuo war [or the second Sino-Japanese War] and these swords were the short bladed version of the 1889 Cavalry Sabre, that [with a longer blade] were issued to the Army mounted divisions of WW2. They were also issued and used, alongside the standard 1935 pattern NCO's Katana, in the Japanese Army during WW2. In very good condition. No scabbard. Steel hilted, wooden grip, number stamped blade. Steel blade with central fuller. Overall very good condition, but a liittle cleaning to the blade would transform it. |
| A Katana by Master Prize Winner Fujiwara Kanefusa 23rd Generation Blade by 23rd Generation Kanefusa with the Kiku-sui crest carved as a horimono. Signed Noshu Seki ju Ni Ju San Dai Fujiwara Kanefusa saku kore. The Kanefusa were a line of swordsmiths of Mino Province that can be directly traced back to the 1400,s Muromachi era. The 23rd generation Kanefusa was a Showa smith of WW II and was a direct 23rd descendant of these famous swordsmiths. His born name was Kato Koichi. During the Showa period he studied under Kato Jumyo and worked in Seki (Mino / modern Gifu prefecture). He won numerous awards in sword exhibitions and contests during the Showa era. He was ranked 1st Seat (National Swordsmith) in the 6th Exhibition of Swords held in 1941 (Slough). He was ranked Kibin no Retsu in 1942 by Kurihara Hikosaburo at the Tosho Banzuke (J.Kim). Many of his blades are signed as being prize winning blades. His school of smiths is noted for making a special style of hamon known as "Kanefusa midare". His blades can on occasion bear the Minatagawa mon, but only a very few of his recorded surviving swords have this horimono as this blade has. It was originally feared that this blade was in such very poor condition that it was considered a very high risk restoration project. But, it was researched and repolished highly successfully, and we think you can see, even from these limited photos, it most fortunately survived unblemished and the risks, and most considerable costs undertaken, were well worth while. Occasionally, as in this case, we get such immense satisfaction when we are successful in saving such a [now] beautiful and historically interesting piece, effectively from destruction. Fewer than 30% of swords in this sword's state are salvageable, and are simply lost forever to future generations. This sword was saved and resurrected from near fatal neglect, but now looks as if nothing had ever been unhappy with it, and it would now grace any collection of prize winning Japanese master swordsmiths, and swordsmiths with significant historical ancestry. It comes with standard, worn, 1936 pattern Shingunto complete fittings and mounts. |
| A Khedive Star Medal Five pointed star with a central raised circle bearing an image of the Sphinx with the Pyramids behind, the word ‘EGYPT’ above followed by a year (for the first three issues and undated for the fourth) with the same written in Arabic below. The reverse has the monogram of the Khedive under a crown within a raised circle. The Khedive of Egypt presented a bronze star to all Officers and men of the Navy and Army who were engaged in the suppression of the rebellion of Egypt in 1882. The suspender [lacking] was straight with a crescent and five pointed star in the centre which is attached to the star with a small metal loop passing through a small ring between the two top points of the star. Ist issue dated 1882. Good Very Fine condition. No ribbon,mount.Unnamed as issued. |
| A King George IIIrd Fowling Piece A most charming long gun, circa 1790, with a walnut stock, steel furniture with pineapple trigger guard finial, gold lInd damascus twist barrel, that at one time had a gold makers seal inlaid at the breech, now lacking. A long gun that would make an eminently attractive display piece. The action has been percussion converted and no longer functions. |
| A King George IIIrd Officer's Chinoiserie Papier Mache Snuff Box Decorated in gold with three mandarin figures, with painted faces, standing next to a pagoda in a garden. Rectangular box in black lacquer. In exceptional near mint condition. Paper was first made by Ts' ai Lun, an official at the Chinese court of the Emperor Ho Ti, who developed an ingenious way of breaking down plants and rags into single fibres. The fibres were pounded to a pulp and collected on a fabric-covered frame, where they matted
and dried as paper. The knowledge of paper-making spread to Japan, the Middle East and India, finally reaching Europe via Spain in the 10th century AD. Papier mache devoloped from paper in China into the making of Royal artefacts, including furniture, boxes screens and even armour for the royal palaces. It's popularity in Europe gained great interest and it was similarly made into many useful and interesting objects. The Chinosserie style was very popular indeed from the 17th century and reached it's peak in the era of King George IIIrd. |
| A Knights Rowel Spur of the 16th Century With Buckle From the era of the War of The Holy League. An alliance between King Henry VIII, Pope Julius II, Venice and Ferdinand of Spain against the feared force of France and Germany under the brilliant command of the 21 year old Gaston de Foix. The Papal alliance suffered very badly against the young General but they eventually defeated and killed him at the Ronco River during the siege of Ravenna. After his death the French forces were crushed at Novara by the Swiss, the German Landsknechts fled their French army comrades and the English marched into France from Calais, and it was only due to the indecisiveness of the alliance forces that France was eventually saved immediately before the war was over. |
| A Koto Chisa Katana Around 450 to 550 Years Old A short long sword Katana known as the Chisa Katana. Repolished blade showing a jolly nice undulating Hamon with nice activity. The fittings are Edo era and are depicting dragons on the fushi and menuki and flowers on the kashira. The dragon fushi is on a hammered nanako ground with small gold highlighted areas, they are all highly attractive and nice quality. A most charming iron tsuba, fully signed, and decorated with flying geese. The saya is old Edo and a little worn in parts. The blade has a few areas of fukure [openings] due to it's age, which naturally influences the price. Blade approx 20.75 inches long from tsuba to tip |
| A Koto Era Samurai Tanto With very charming mounts including a horn hamadachi tsuba, horn kashira and engraved fushi. Pine needle lacquer saya and a most beautiful copper hilted kodzuka decorated with a samurai pony wearing saddle tied to a cherry tree embellished with gold highlights. The blade is completely grey and ideally needs to be polished. A very nice early piece over 500 years old that with some repolishing may well be transformed into a little gem. |
| A Koto Era, Ancient 600 Year Old Samurai Katana Sword of Phenomenal Beauty A sword that is a stunning example of original Samurai warfare from the great Warring era and the one of the greatest periods of war in the history of ancient Japan. And this is one of the most beautiful swords it has been our priveledge to own for some time. It is singularly, splendid, and a sumptuous sword set with strikingly, superb, sublime and stunning Edo period Soten mounts of Shakudo and finest gold with a beautiful matching Tsuba also signed. A highly hand polished and coloured rayskin saya of the finest quality, showing really wide nodules only to be seen in the finest Same [ pronouced Sahmay], that was made form the skin of the greatest giant ray. And judging by the size of the polished down nodules, an ancient fish never seen today. A most slender, elegant blade, fully polished, showing the typical Koto era chu-sugaha hamon and small Kissaki of the 1350 to 1400's and a lovely running grain in the hada with a few typical ware allways expected to be present in very early and ancient swords of this era. Mumei o suriagi Nakago. |
| A Koto Era, Over 500 Year Old Samurai Battle Sword In typical all over black décor of the traditional Samurai battle sword. Black leather binding over black Same [ray skin]. Hilt and saya in blackened handachi mounting, and the lacquer in a simulated stone ground finish. The sword bears a powerful blade, in good Japanese polish [around 85%]. Bears some inscription Kanji on the hilt. |
| A Koto Era, Very Ancient Battle Sword Circa 1440 In the Near Archaic Style A truly ancient style very long sword with a blade pattern of almost Chokuto form of the 850ad Heian period, and made some 550 to 600 years ago. The blade is barely a few millimeters off straight, and it has rarely seen form of hamon, that is most active early from the habaki, and then it becomes very thin and straight to the kissaki. Fine Iron fushi Kashira with silver clan mon. There are some thinning areas but this really is a most interesting and early sword that follows an even earlier style rarely seen in the 1400's. To put it in perspective in regard to this sword's age, when it was being used, by it's first Samurai owner in ancient Japan, these are the following events that were occuring at that time in Europe; in 1424 King James I of Scotland returns to Scotland after being held hostage under three Kings of England since 1406. In 1429: Joan of Arc ends the Siege of Orléans and turns the tide of the Hundred Years' War. In 1455 the commencement of the Wars of the Roses – the English civil war between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. Decades later, In 1481 the Spanish Inquisition begins in practice with the first auto de fé. And some 50 years later or so from when this sword was made, Christopher Collumbus lands in America in 1492. Blade from Tsuba to tip 30 inches long.Very nice mokko tsuba in iron with copper inlays. We have sent this sword for polishing and it has returned beautifully improved |
| A Koto Katana With Beautiful Iron Tsuba of Onlaid Gold, Silver Butterflies. Brown lacquer Saya with good blade, possible very faint traces of signature Kanji, but very indistinct due to considerable ageing to the Tang. Shakudo Handachi hilt mounts with a good gold Dragon Minuki. Very good Hamon on a strong, powerful blade that has substantial presence. Blade length, Tsuba to tip, 27 inches |
| A Koto to Early Shinto Era Seki Bladed Katana. With a firm substantial Seki blade showing superb grain and a good gunome hamon. Black lacquer saya with edo brass mounts matching throughout. Iron, early Edo tsuba with fisherman scene. Bound in rich dark blue tsukaito. A very attractive sword indeed, in good Seki style, with good dimensions, curvature and funbari, simple yet elegant. Blade now repolished and the hamon is really attractive and very nice indeed.28.25 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Koto Wakazashi Around 500 Years Old Edo era oval iron tsuba relief decorated with a tiger in a tree. Very attractive Fushi Kashira with a signature on the iron fushi that is relief decorated and inlaid with gold. It has a mountain scene with a pagoda. The saya is beautifully decorated with original Edo lacquer and an iron bottom mount. Interestingly the binding on the hilt is unique to one specific event in Japanese Samurai history, the Satsuma rebellion in 1877. The swords used in that short war were specifically bound in a most distinctive fashion that is very identifiable to that event. It means that this sword was used continually, by each successive Samurai owner, for around 500 years, and it was then finally used in the very last battle the Samurai ever had, [as can be seen, and quite well depicted, in Tom Cruise's movie The Last Samurai]. We have had this blade nicely polished, as, when it arrived it was in a very sad state. The blade was completely gray, and the blade face had no visible or identifiable features at all to enable condition appraisal or dating etc. before it's polishing. |
| A Kyoto School Kyo Sukashi Iron Tanto Tsuba Geometric openwork design of birds, 17th to 18th century Edo era.5.8cm Mokko Gata, Tetsu |
| A Large & Stunning, Antique Ivory Mounted 'Dragon' Jinja Tachi A Beautiful huge Jinja Tachi of sectional carved ivory [possibly walrus] depicting entwined relief Dragons. Most likely made for presentation to a Shinto Shrine or for an Exhibition during the 19th Century. The blade is old, worn and in a retired state, as is usual for swords of this form. Overall 43.5 inches long.This is a singularly attractive piece showing beautifully skilled carving, of full relief Dragons. This item must not to be confused with the relatively common, tourist 'export market' pieces, produced in Japan since the early 20th century, in fairly large numbers, which have crude, basic and rudimentary carving. The sword shows some small areas of old damage. |
| A Large And Hugely Impressive Antique Chief's Spearhead Extraordinary large size leaf shaped spear head in forged iron with central rib, likely a lance head for the tribal chief or king to carry as his badge of rank. 17.5 inches long o/a, 4.75 inches wide, weighs just over 1.5 pounds. |
| A Large Antique Chinese Dao of the Ching Dynasty A big and sturdy Chinese Dao. Ching Dynasty. Used into the Boxer Rebellion era, and most likely brought back to England by a soldier that either served in the Opium War, or defended the legations at the siege in Peking. This weight of sword was frequently used not only in battle but for executions. Leather covered wooden scabbard with iron mounts. A pair of Anglo initials carved into the scabbard, probably the soldiers who returned it from China after the rebellion. All black finish. A super example of these most collectable swords.Truly original, antique, Chinese weapons such as this one are very scarce indeed, as historically, few swords were ever brought back from China. Porcelain and silk were far more popular and preferable souvenirs and exports for Europeans, and in China, in the mid 20th century, nearly all the surviving antique edged weapons were melted down and destroyed in the era of Mao, under Mao's instructions, in order to create new steel. 38 inches overall, blade 29 inches |
| A Large Chinese Ching Dynasty Dao Sword Circa 1820 A Large Antique Chinese Dao of the Ching Dynasty A big and sturdy Chinese Dao. With most unusual large all pommel. Ching Dynasty. Used into the Boxer Rebellion era, and most likely brought back to England by a soldier that either served in the Opium War, or defended the legations at the siege in Peking. This weight of sword was frequently used not only in battle but for executions. Leather covered wooden scabbard with iron mounts. A pair of Anglo initials carved into the scabbard, probably the soldiers who returned it from China after the rebellion. All black finish. A super example of these most collectable swords. Truly original, antique, Chinese weapons such as this one are very scarce indeed, as historically, few swords were ever brought back from China. Porcelain and silk were far more popular and preferable souvenirs and exports for Europeans, and in China, in the mid 20th century, nearly all the surviving antique edged weapons were melted down and destroyed in the era of Mao, under Mao's instructions, in order to create new steel. Rope rebound grip. 40 inches long overall, blade 29.75 inches. The extra large pommel may denote this sword was suitable for public executions |
| A Large George IIIrd 19th Century Military Campaign Cupboard Large brass carrying handles, brass edge mounts, two door, mahogany cupboard.Campaign furniture is very scarce and much sought after. Used by British Officer's when on campaign to create a highly civilised gentleman's living accomodation even when in the remotest parts of the Empire.Excellent condition. Approx 4'.6'' high x 4' wide x 1' 2'' deep 'Old Georgian Green' painted interior with adjustable, slide shelving. Buyer arranges collection only |
| A Large Tettsu Iron Edo Era Tsuba. In Mokko form with folklore figure pointing to the river. Small copper highlights..Pierced with Hitsu-ana and Kogai Hitsu-ana |
| A Late Victorian Model Desk Cannon Cast Bronze Cannon Barrel set on an oak Ship's Deck Carriage. A beautiful and most attractive gentleman's desk ornament. 9 inch barrel 11,5 inches overall. Brass wheels [1 missing]. A simple and small item to replace with the most basic of engineering skills required. |
| A Lead Figure of an English Civil War Arquebusier Musketeer Nicely hand painted and a most charming figure from the Civil War. Made in the last 30 years or so, 3.5 inches high. |
| A Lee Metford 1888 Pattern Bayonet With scarce non regulation scabbard |
| A Light & Elegant Koto Samurai Katana Circa 1400 This is a simply stunning Samurai sword and absolutely typical of the finely balanced swords of that ancient era. This sword was made in the time when the whole of the Japanese Empire was in turmoil, and internecine and clan warfare was absolutely rife. A very elegant slender blade, around 600 years old, with a thin Gunome based on Sugaha Hamon. Tori zori curvature, Chu Kissaki, very pleasing old ubu nakago, beautiful Shakudo Koshirae. The Fushi of a group of figures in a bamboo grove with silver and gold, the Kashira of a tree with blossom. Shakudo Minuki of Plums. A most attractive Tsuba in iron with copper relief inlays of turnulant seasprays and flying birds, probably early Edo era. The Saya has it's original Edo era lacquer finish with a few [as to expected[ skuff marks etc. Blade length, Tsuba to tip, 25 inches. The blade is unsigned. |
| A Long Arab Kabyl Musket With a good Snaphaunce lock of 17th century form, fine detailed engraving around the stock, distinctive deep flattened butt, and the stock is inlaid with Ivory and an Ivory butt plate. 8 barrel cappucines. In Europe these most distinctive and elaborate Snaphaunce guns gained great favour in the Elizabethan era and their influence was greatly felt in Arabia, originally along the eastern trade routes, that were travelled and used by early Europeans in order to buy the finest eastern silks, gemstones & spices. They were continually used in the Middle East and the Maghrib long after they had become unfashionable in Europe. |
| A Long Back Action Percussion Pistol Circa 1835 All steel mounts with good patina and walnut stock. Good tight action. Steel rammer. A sound antique pistol from the late Georgian era used on horseback or as a long belt pistol. Birmingham proof barrel. 14inch long overall 8 inch barrel |
| A Long Ballock Dagger With a long, single edged blade with good ornamental brass geometric inlay. Typical carved wood hilt with brass cap pommel held by a single tang rivet. The ballock dagger is a type of dagger with most distinctively shaped haft, with two oval swellings at the guard resembling the male member. The guard is often in one piece with the wooden grip, and reinforced on top, as is this example, with a shaped metal pommel. The dagger was popular in Flanders, England and Scotland between the 13th and 18th centuries, and in particular the Tudor period. A large number of such weapons were found aboard the wreck of the Mary Rose.The last photo in the gallery shows a brass rubbing from a Crusader's Tomb, on his left side one can see his Knightly sword, and on his right, shown very clearly, is his Ballock Dagger. |
| A Long Indian 'Firangi' Horseman's Sword Circa 1680 to 1720 a beautiful long sword called the Firangi [or Foreigner] as the blades were usually European made. A wide flat guard with wide knuckle bow and an elongated pommel spike for holding it two handed for extra cutting power.112cm long overall. |
| A Long, Horse Holster Flintlock Pistol Of the Ottoman Empire Fancy cast and chisseled brass mounts, including a long eared butt with very fine and elegant casting designs. Long 12 inch steel barrel. Fully engraved lock with fine intricate floral scrolls. Good quality walnut stock, of an excellent close grain, very nicely scroll engraved. Circa 1790. Pistols of this form were not only popular in the whole Ottoman Empire, but also throughout the whole Mediterranean region and southern Europe during the entire Napoleonic wars period and for some considerable time after. Very tight lock indeed. |
| A Martini-Henry Carbine Mark I (Cav Carbine Mark I) In fully cleaned repolished and restored order. We had to spend some time to completely strip down the gun to inspect and evaluate it's condition, but by doing so, we discovered surviving markings and proofs. The refurbishment has been extensive [only the inner trigger guard, site, and fore end were not refinished] and it has removed all external surface markings, but, unexpectedly, it had not removed the underbarrel markings. Fortunately the underbarrel markings and inspection stamps were complete and in mint order on the barrel and stock. Also it's manufacture date was present. I butt plate screw and cleaning rod lacking. With the date and markings we could identify it's mark and type, which is important as the Martin Henry Carbine was made in several forms and right up to the 1890's. The Cavalry Carbine MkI was the first in the carbine range which included later models for Garrison Artillery, and Artillery. The King's Dragoon Guards carried these carbines in the Zulu War, as did the 17th Lancers. The 17th were wearing uniforms of dark blue tunics faced white, dark blue breeches with thin double white stripes, Lance pennons red over white, but often rolled up on the lance and not flying. They had white sun helmets -later stained and black half boots, they carried their Martini-Henry Mk I [Cavalry CarbinesMkI] in a bucket on the saddle of their horses. The 17th fought at Ulundi and an account thus follows; The Death or Glory Boys by Bud Bradshaw.
The Battle of Ulundi took place at the Zulu capital of Ulundi on 4th July 1879. Ulundi became the last battle to be fought during the Zulu war and the British victory finally broke the military power of the Zulu Nation. The battle began at 6 a.m. when Buller led out an advance guard of mounted troops and South African irregulars. The British force comprised of five companies of the 80th regiment in square in four ranks, with two Gatling Guns in the centres, two 9-pounders on the left flank and two 7-pounders on the right. The 90th Light Infantry with four companies of the 94th regiment made up the left face with two more 7-pounders. On the right face were the 1st Battalion of the 13th Light Infantry, four companies of the 58th Regiment, two 7-pounders and two 9-pounders. The rear face was composed of two companies of the 94th Regiment and two companies of the 2nd Battalion of the 21st Regiment. In the middle of the square were headquarters staff, No. 5 company of the Royal Engineers which was led by Lt John Chard who had commanded the troops at Rorkes Drift, the 2nd Native Natal Contingent, fifty wagons and carts with reserve ammunition and hospital wagons. Bullers horsemen protected the front and both flanks of the square. A rearguard of two squadrons of the 17th Lancers and a troop of Natal Native Horse followed. In total the British force stood at just over 5300 against the Zulu warrior regiments in total over 15000. The Zulu warriors charged again and again at the square but with the strong British firepower of rifle and gatling gun, they could not get close. As the Zulu warriors strength weakened, Lord Chelmsford ordered the cavalry to mount, and the 17th Lancers and the 1st Kings Dragoon Guards along with colonial cavalry were ordered to charge the now fleeing Zulus. The Zulus fled towards the high ground with the cavalry in pursuit. The Lancers were checked at the Mbilane stream by the fire of a concealed party of Zulus, causing a number casualties before the 17th Lancers overcame the Zulu resistance. The pursuit continued until not one living Zulu remained on the Mahlabatini plain, with members of the Natal Native Horse, Natal Native Contingent and Woods Irregulars slaughtering the Zulu wounded, done in revenge for the massacre at Isandlwana. The near last picture in the gallery is of The London Illustrated News front page, showing Lt. Fisher of the 10th Hussars using his Martini Mk1 Cavalry Carbine to defend to his brother officer, Capt Manners Wood, at the Battle of Futtehabad in the Afghan War of 1879. The last picture in the gallery is of the 17th Lancers charging at Ulundi with their identical carbines in their saddle holsters [for historical information only] |
| A Massively Impressive King George IIIrd Era Blunderbuss A British EIC Lion crest lock [dated 1815] and barrel and a most attractive 'Jezail' type, highly decorated deeply curved stock, in the North West Indo-Persian manner, that is inlaid with mother o'pearl. This is a hugely impressive blunderbuss, and the barrel muzzle is incredibly expansive. Blunderbusses from this era were essentially used for close quarter action and intimidation. Being faced with a gun of this magnitude, at close range, would deter even the most aggressive of foes. Thus so, hopefully, one would create the situation where it's use was not even required at all, other than it's awesome threatening presence. The stock had been poorly maintained for over 100 years or more so we had it expertly repolished and restored by our conservator. Yet again he has excelled himself and the work achieved is exemplary, by returning the stock to superb order once more. Lacking small top jaw and screw. 38.5 inches long overall, barrell 22.5 inches long, muzzle 3.25 inches across |
| A Mauser based Combat Knife Bayonet Made on a Mauser Bayonet Design but probably not for German Forces. Double edged fighting blade similar to the FS Fighting Knife. Very good condition. |
| A Medieval Knight's Battle Mace 12th to 13th Century, An unusual, heavy iron [415 grams] knobbed mace, comprised of four large knobs and 8 smaller knobs. Probably English. Similar examples have been excavated in Kent. And an almost identical one, in bronze, was found in the cesspit of Dryslwyn Castle in Wales, and it is believed to date from the 1287 siege of that castle. This is a most impressive and weighty piece capable of crushing the strongest helmet or armour. Rehafted on old wood. Small longitudal crack, probably initiated by battle damage, to one side. |
| A Metropolitan Toronto Police Officer's VisorCap ERII With gold bullion visor |
| A Minifestly Beautiful Soten Wakazashi, Koto Era, Circa 1500. Fine Signed Soten Tsuba and Fushi mount depicting full relief scenes of sages in a bamboo garden in gold embellished iron. Soten school mounts are of the most desireable of all the schools of sword mounting, and their quality and beauty are superb. A Good Koto Blade Circa 1500. Recently repolished Samurai short sword blade showing a beautiful, good, tight Choji Hamon with ashi and a small ware lamination opening along the hamon [as is to be expected with early, koto blades]. Double copper Habaki. A beautiful elegant blade probably Mino school. |
| A Mk IV Periscope An Interesting Piece of WW2 British Tank Equipment Marked the MK IV Periscope and dated 1945. Possibly the Vickers Mk IV Tank Scope, as used on the Churchill and the Sherman. Lenses a/f. Total length inc. handle 28 inches |
| A Most Amusing and Scarce Pepperbox Derringer Revolver Or "Fist" Pistol A stunning little English 6 barrel revolver of small proportions that simply ticks all the boxes of the unusual and rare Victorian gun collector's desires. In 19th century France these pistols were called "Apache" or "Fist" pistols ["coup de poing", translating to "fist blow"] and were much favoured by the Parisian street gangs. It is unusual to see one of the rare English examples as most were made in France or Belgium.
Its long, fluted cylinder is a modified pepperbox design made from a single piece of metal, and the front end of the cylinder axis pin is supported by a bracket screwed to the front end of the lower frame. The breech consists of a thick, flat, circular plate with a semi-circular opening cut out on the right-hand side so that the weapon could be loaded from the breech end. This opening is filled by a bottom-hinged gate shaped to match the circular breech block, which is held closed by a small, horizontal, L-shaped spring lever screwed below it on the frame.Within the butt is the screw removable cartridge ejector and barrel cleaner. Folding trigger. 2.75 inch long cylinder barrel, 4.25 inches long overall. The cylinder bears full English proof stamps. The whole pistol fits comfortably within a single hand. |
| A Most Attractive 200 Year Old 'Brown Bess' Infantry Musket Good overall condition with excellent proof marks, stamp of the 'Tower of London' Armoury and government ordnance inspection mark.Very good, rounded wrist, walnut stock and all brass furniture. Known as the third pattern or 'India' Pattern. Tower of London Armoury 'lined' lock, stamped Tower and Crown GR with swan necked cock. Britain's "Brown Bess" flintlock musket is simply one of the most important military arms ever devised. Beginning its life more than 200 years ago, it created one of the greatest empires the word has ever seen and, among other achievements, helped to win the entire continent of India. Made in four distinct patterns it stated life as a 46 inch barrel musket called the Long Land or Ist pattern. Then in around 1768 the gun evolved and the barrel was shortened to 42 inches [as 46 was deemed unwieldy] and renamed the Short Land or 2nd pattern. Although the Long Land was made continually for another 20 years. With the onset of the Napoleonic Wars in the 1790s, the British Board of Ordnance found itself woefully short of the 250,000 muskets it would need to equip its forces. At that time the British East India Company maintained it own troops and had contracted with makers to produce a simplified version of the Brown Bess musket with a 39-inch barrel and less ornate furniture and stock work. It was generally felt that the standard of these "India pattern" muskets was not up to the standard of the earlier Besses, but necessity required action so the authorities convinced Company officials to turn over their stores to the Crown. By 1797 the urgencies of war ultimately created the demise of the Short Pattern, and all manufacture was turned to building the more simple 'India' pattern. For the most part, the gun underwent few changes from its introduction until Waterloo, with the exception of the cock, which was altered from the traditional gooseneck style to a sturdier, reinforced version in around 1809. As well as British usage, some were also carried by King George's allies, among them the Russians and Prussians.Sling swivel lacking. Last picture in the gallery is Lady Butler's painting of the 28th Foot at Quatre Bras [information only not included] |
| A Most Attractive Antique Percussion Long Gun Circa 1840. The action's mainspring is no longer operational. Back action lock, carved stock with a cheekpiece form butt and a scollop shell shaped brass patchbox inset. The whole gun is rather charming and would much benefit from a little light wax polishing, as the stock is rather dry. This would make a superb wallpiece |
| A Most Attractive Back Action Lock Percussion Pistol A personal protector overcoat pistol. Nice walnut stock with chequered crosshatching, fully engraved steel mounts with pineapple finial to the trigger guard. Captive ramrod with swivel. Octagonal barrel with hook breech. Originally as there were no proofmarks present we believed it may have been continental, but after we passed it over to our gun polisher and finisher he found two English proofs on the underside of the barrel, so this is indeed and English pistol of the 1840's. The action is fully working but the main spring is very light. |
| A Most Attractive Late Koto to Shinto Era Wakazashi. With original Edo period lacquer saya of fine quality depicting a flowering branch and an exotic bird. Namban sukashi tsuba. Copper habaki copper fushi and carved horn kashira, bronze. Gilt and copper Kodzuka of entwined tassels.Fine blade but totally bright polished, with possible views of likely a sugaha hamon. Undoubtedly requiring re-polishing to reveal all the traditional aspects one needs to see in the hada and hamon. Two hole mumei nakago.This is a most endearing sword with a super saya and with polishing it should become a most beautiful piece. |
| A Most Attractive Nagamaki Naoshi Style Wakazashi. With typical Naga nata style double hi. Unokubi Zukuri Blade. Signed tang.Very distinctively 'Satsuma Rebellion' bound Tsuka with buffallo horn Koshirae. Probably a late Koto blade that saw much good service, to it's numerous Samurai owners over 400 odd years, and then last used at the very end of the existance of the Samurai, in the war of the Emperor Meiji reign, known as the 'Satsuma Rebellion'.This war was fairly well depicted in the film 'The Last Samurai' starring Tom Cruise. Early iron Tsuba, With Boars eye piercings one infilled with silverwith Ameda rays, Mokko Gata form, requires new Saya. The hilt is bound in this very particular way, that is only ever seen during this famous war. The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from 29 January 1877 to 24 September 1877, 11 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new modernising government. It resulted in inevitable defeat and the end of the Samurai class. The last picture is of the Samurai leader Saigo Takimori's high command before the battle. For information only, not included. |
| A Most Attractive Shinshinto Samurai Battle Katana Recently repolished showing a fabulous Sugha hamon of great understated quality. A very restrained Samurai sword in the true understated Japanese style much regarded by collectors of Japanese art. A very interesting Tsuba in iron, decorated with a shi-shi [lion dog] and an elephant. Elephants very rarely appear in Samurai decoration and even more rarely on Japanese swords and weapons. Plain iron hilt battle mounts, and a pair of very nice minuki that are samurai banners. A very good sugaha hamon and a most charming saya decorated in deep red with black speckles and an good iron bottom mount. |
| A Most Attractive Shinto Kodzuka in Iron with Brass Vine Inlay Circa 1700. Simple iron blade. |
| A Most Beautiful and Remarkable Shinto Katana In a Full Dragon Theme Circa 1640 and made in the same time period as the English Civil War. Every part of this wonderfully attractive sword has representations of the Dragon. Including an irregularly shaped marubori sentoku tsuba of a coiled dragon, which matches and reflects all of the Koshirae [sword mounts] which are inlaid with silver and gold dragons. Also fully matching is the sayagaki [sword scabbard chape] which similarly inlaid with a silver and gold dragon to fully match the entire theme. A very fine 'sang de beouf' lacquer saya, fully inscribed with an overall billowing cloud pattern. The blade has a most elegant hamon with most beautiful features in around 85% original polish, and has an incredible six mekugi ana and is suriagi. The habaiki is gold covered and raindrop engraved of the best grade. This is a beautifull sword of eminent quality and form, that would grace the most discerning collection and compliment any elegant interior décor. One certainly doesn't have to be a collector of original Japanese edged weapons to admire and enjoy this beautiful object. The epitome of what a Samurai katana can be, a true 'art sword', in every sense of the word, that happens to be an eminently efficient weapon once made and carried by a Samurai of the highest rank. Overall 36.75 inches long. Blade, Tsuba to tip 26.75 inches long. |
| A Most Beautiful Edo Period [1599 to 1860] Samurai Matchlock Powder Flask Decorated with orange lacquer, with carved decoration of ferns and a black lacquer centre. The middle centre of both sides is mounted with a Meiji era silver 1 yen coin and a maiji era silver 1 trade dollar. A superb and rare example with this very scarce silver coin decoration feature.Very good superior Edo powder flasks for the Tanegashima and Teppu are very scarce now and incredibly difficult to find. Later replaced cords and plug |
| A Most Beautiful Koto Era Katana Set in Very Fine Signed Koshirae The blade is around 1450 to 1500 and in nice polish showing a gentle undulating hamon. The mounts are in shibuishi and showing exquisite caraftsmanship of the very highest beauty. A very attractive original Edo saya with fine multi toned lacquer. |
| A Most Charming King George IIIrd Officers' Horn Drinking Cup In carved horn used from the 1790's until the Crimean War. A super Napoleonic wars collectable. |
| A Most Charming King George IIIrd Officers' Horn Small Drinking Cup In carved horn used from the 1790's until the Crimean War. A super Napoleonic wars collectable. |
| A Most Charming Oval Tanto Tettsu Tsuba Inlaid With Gold Oval mokko shape intricately inlaid with delicate gold flower heads and leaves open Kodzuke Hitsu-ana. Mid Edo era 54mm |
| A Most Charming Pesh-Kabz Dagger with Armour Piercing Form Recurved Blade With attractive incised carving to the blade including deep scroll decoration incorporating wild animals. Bone handle with horn pommel. Leather and brass mounted scabbard. The fine and clean condition of the blade leads us to believe this is very likely a 20th century display piece, but what a beautiful and most unusual blade shape. |
| A Most Collectable British Issue Iron 'Lusitania' Medal Originally made In August of 1915, several months after the sinking of the Lusitania, Karl Goetz produced the Lusitania medal in Germany and it was said to have been created to celebrate the sinking of the the Steam Ship RMS Lusitania, by the German U Boat U.20, in May 1915, and therefore the subsequent death of 1195 men women and children aboard, [including 123 Americans]. Unfortunately for Karl Goetz, he put the wrong date of sinking on the medal, an error he later attributed to an error in the newspaper account he had read. Instead of the correct date of 7 May, Goetz engraved 5 May, two days before the actual sinking of the Lusitania. This allowed the British to claim that the Germans had waited for the ship to leave port and committed wholesale premeditated murder. Goetz later corrected the date but it was too late by then. This appalling event and the creation of a so-called celabratory medal in Germany was greeted with such outrage it was actually replicated in Britain, by Gordon Selfridge in April 1916, and distributed by sale for £1 Pound each [for the benefit of widows and orphans] in order to demonstrate to the people of Britian what callous fiends the Germans were, for them to plan and then celebrate the deaths of innocent civilians in such an extraodinary way. The original medal was actually apparently created to show the callousness of the Cunard Shipping Line in letting civilians traval upon a ship allegedly carrying arms, but it's production was entirely counter productive and without doubt an allied propaganda bonanza at the expense of the Central Powers. It is hardly surprising that this proved to be an extremely effective piece of British counter propaganda, and highlighted only too well the British cause against ruthless Imperial Germany. With original leaflet. |
| A Most Impressive English Long Musket Circa 1830 Extra long barrel, percussion action, good walnut stock with chequered grip, 68 inches long [approx] overall. A good stout musket of fine proportions. |
| A Most Impressive Matchlock Military Musket From India 17th to 18th Century Long fine barrel. Good walnut stock. Overall in very good condition for age. 87 inches overall. Two pictures in the gallery are showing these matchlock type guns in use. One illustrated in the Baburnama [early 16th century, it is the name given to the memoirs of Zahir ud-Din Mohammad Babur (1483-1530), founder of the Mughal Empire] and another from a hunting scene in the Rajput Kingdom of Kishangarh (18th century) Another picture shows Emperor Akbar the Great using his matchlocks and artillery at a siege towards the end of 1568 Akbar concentrated his forces around the fort of Ranthambhor, held by a vassal of the Maharana of Chittor, Rao Surjan Hada of Bundi. This fort had been attacked earlier in 1560, but that Mughal army had been defeated by the Rajputs. The fort of Gagraun, to the south of Bundi, had however been captured that year. Now after the capture of Chittor Akbar could turn once again to Ranthambhor. [additional pictures for information only] |
| A Most Impressive Samurai Katana From the Shinshinto Era Fine Shakudo mounts all of a central theme of a Samurai and prunus. The Fushi Kashira decorated with full reliefs of Samurai in armour under a prunus in gold and copper. The Menuki are flowering blooms. The Tsuba is Iron and is decorated with a figure in a window under a prunus tree. The blade is long and most impressive and signed. The Hamon is typical Sugaha but the blade should ideally be repolished to show it at it's best. Signed Seishinshi Masayuki of Mito province. |
| A Most Interesting 17th Century Backsword A sword that evolved in the 1640's from the Civil War Mortuary hilted sword, with pierced guard and scrolling knuckle defenses. Long single edged blade. One side of the guard has been adapted and removed, possibly for better use when worn closer to the body. Due to this removal it's value has been reduced somewhat, however, this happens to make this sword a super addition to any collector that appreciates rare 17th century English swords, but is reluctant to pay the more normal price. |
| A Most Interesting And Scarce 19th Century Swiss Officer's Sword Dated 1916. Beautiful peirced and engraved all nickle guard and oval cartouche with Swiss cross. Wire bound sharkskin grip. Fine double fuller blade. Very good condition overall and a sword we very rwarely see here. No scabbard |
| A Most Interesting Antique Chinese -Tibetan Sword An 18th to 19th century short sword of typical Chinese Tibetan form with short stabbing blade and hand grip wrapped with silver wire. Metal rimmed scabbard with wooden centre and a strip of white metal embossed with waves and set with coloured stones.Blade length 40cm |
| A Most Interesting Japanese WW2 Medal Made for the Imperial Japanese military awarded to the combatants who were part of the 'incident' known to us in the west as the Invasion of Manchukwo [China] in 1937, which in turn led to the infamous 'Rape of Nanking'. This was the Imperial Japanese war with China that continued from 1936 and into the second world war 1939-1945. According to Japan it was not a war but an 'incident', as was used by Japan, as neither country had declared war on each other. Japan wanted to avoid intervention by other countries such as the United Kingdom and particularly the United States, which had been the biggest steel exporter to Japan. American President Franklin D. Roosevelt would have had to impose an embargo due to the Neutrality Acts had the fighting been named a war. In very good condition with original box of issue. Box lid worn. |
| A Most Interesting Persian, 'Russian' Cossack Brigade Martini Henry Carbine One of the very scarce Belgian made Martini Henry marked Mascate [made for the Middle East Market, Franco-Belgian spelling for Muscat] and with the Imperial Russian Romanov eagle crest on the gun frame, that were acquired for the newly formed [in 1879 and 1880] Russian - Iranian Cossack Brigade of cavalry. Nasir al-Din Shah made a visit to Europe, and subsequent to this a Russian and Austrian mission came to Iran to re-organize the Iranian cavalry. The Russians formed what was known as the Cossack Brigade and Russian officers remained to command this new part of the Iranian Army. The brigade was part funded by Russia in the supply of Russian weapons, which created great influence for Russia in Iran, and the Austrian mission sold to the Iranian Minister of War, Na-ib al-Saltana, Werndle rifles, which were sold by him at great profit to the northern Iranian tribesmen. Many Martinis and Lee Metfords were acquired by 'Martini Khan' [who was said to be Shah] through Bushire from Muscat, and this is almost certainly one of those arms. It is the rare Romanov crest on the frame that shows that it was an arm that very likely went to the Cossack Brigade as opposed those that went to the non Russian commanded irregular units. This gun also has an Islamic inscription [mash'allah] frequently seen on the scarce 'Mascate' Martinis. See reference to the 'Muscate' Martinis in Firearms of the Islamic World in the Tareq Rajab Museum by Robert Elgood. Decorated with leather and studwork. A fascinating gun with an incredibly interesting and circuitous Russian and Islamic history. Action works fine, some time long past the breech has been internally blocked to render inactive. Floridly engraved, now worn, similarly to the Romanov crest. |
| A Most Interesting Samurai Tanto Made from an Early Samurai Yari Spear Head Set in an all black lacquer case saya and tsuke, with a central formed white metal koiguchi. A beautiful piece that would have been amazingly effective at samurai helmet and armour piercing in hand to hand close combat. This is a charming and most unusual early dagger that could be nicely repolished if desired. 9.5 inches long overall blade length 5.25 inches. |
| A Most Meritable 1861 'Round Barrel' Colt Navy Revolver of 36 calibre An outstanding Colt six-shooter, and one of the greatest Colt "big guns" of American history. In praiseworthy condition, with all matching numbers, full naval scene cylinder, excellent action, good clear barrel address, and original varnished grips. A crackerjack piece from the most famous era of US legend and folklore. Some believe Colt designated the revolver the "Navy" in reference to the naval scene engraved around the cylinder, which commemorates the 1843 Battle of Campeche between Texican and Mexican vessels. However, it was collectors and historians who later dubbed it the Navy Model
of 1851. Colt himself never used dates to define new weapons; factory records simply described
it as the Navy or Belt Pistol. In 1861, when Colt introduced a round-barreled version, the original Navy then became the Old Model Navy. The New Navy round barrel version was only made in
limited quantities [38,000], being outnumbered by around six to 1 by the amount of Old Model Navies [215,000]
produced by Colt.
While most Union cavalry regiments used the new .44-caliber Army, some were armed with the
Navy revolver. It also became a favorite of guerrilla bands on either side of the Civil War. Many
carried spare loaded cylinders and extra Colts in their belts, giving them massive firepower when
raiding or attacking. The Navy revolver also proved popular with Civil War spies, wagon
masters, guides and scouts, such as Union scout James Buffer Hickok, who by war's end had
earned the moniker "Wild Bill" for his action against Rebels. Wild Bill Hickok James Butler
Hickok (May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876), better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a legendary
figure in the American Old West. carried two colt Navies and was deadly accurate with both.
Confederate guerrilla leader William "Bloody Bill" Anderson carried at least three Colt Navies.
Saloon owner/gunman "Rowdy Joe" Lowe once kicked one from a sheriff's hand, discharging the
gun and wounding an innocent bystander
Hickok's skill with his pair of ivory-handled Navies is legion, but others, too, were credited with
sometimes amazing feats of arms. Back in the 1850s both the British and American governments
had tested the Navy's power and accuracy. Its seven-groove rifling (with a right- or left-hand
twist) made it accurate up to 200 yards (perhaps more, depending upon the marksman). It was certainly deadly within 100 yards. Hickok proved this on July 21, 1865, in Springfield, Mo., when he shot Davis K. Tutt through the heart at 75 yards. Tutt was standing sideways, dueling fashion, which made Hickok's shot even more remarkable.
Through the middle and late 1860s, despite rivalry from the likes of Remington and, later, Smith & Wesson the Navy remained popular on the frontier after the war, prior to the introduction of metallic cartridges, and it was the chosen weapon among Texas cowboys and also favored by gunfighters in the cow towns. |
| A Most Pleasing 18th Century Flintlock Pistol by H F Jacobi of Dresden Steel furniture and barrel. The barrel is inlaid in gold with Jacobi's name and the city of Dresden. Walnut stock. Birds head butt cap. |
| A Most Pleasing Koto Katana With An Elegant Blade This is a most attractive Katana around 500 to 550 years old. Unsigned blade with a nice clear hamon and tori zori. The fittings are iron Edo period, and the menuki are very nice quality inlaid with gold. An iron tsuba also Edo period. It has no saya so it will require a saya to be made. Long three hole mumei nakago. Most interesting iron fushi kashira decorated with relief frogs. |
| A Most Rare Antique 17th to 18th Century Sinhalese Kastane Sword Interesting kastane with the carved wood makara pommel a recurved knuckleguard and two quillon also with the Makara head and counter quillon with Makara [5 in all]. The hilt is delictely inlaid with brass inlays as is the blade. A typical 17th to 18th century sword from ancient Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) which was in ancient times known as the Kingdom of Lions (Sinhaladwipa) often termed Sinhala. The term Sinha is lion in Hindu. These lionheads in grotesque form are of course representing this heritage. The makara represents the Hindu water beast (fish/crocodile) ridden by Varuna. Pommel with small jaw section lacking.The kastane is the national sword of Sri Lanka. It typically has a short curved single-edged blade, double-edged at the point. The hilt comprises a knuckle-guard and down-turned quillons, each terminating in a dragon's head. The swords were intended to serve as badges of rank; the quality of ornamentation depending on the status of the wearer.
The establishment of European trading contacts with South Asia by the late 16th and early 17th century led to these swords becoming fashionable dress accessories among European gentlemen. A kastane can be seen in an equestrian portrait of Colonel Alexander Popham at Littlecote House in the care of the Royal Armouries Collection (I.315). |
| A Most Unusual Imperial German Cavalry Sabre With Nemian Lion Pommel 1900 . Imperial German Swords often were adorned with Lion's Head pommels but this form is very scarce indeed. The Nemian Lion was killed in combat by Hercules [as one of his great labours] and the head and skin were worn by him as a badge of victory and heroism. The Nemian Lion pommel was also used on the Lloyds Patriotic Fund Swords, awarded to British Officers for heroism in the time of the Napoleinic Wars, as the symbol for Victory & Heroism. A very fancy and beautiful brass hilt with relief cast stands-of-arms and crossed-sword motif langet [for cavalry]. Steel scabbard, nickle plated blade. In beautiful polish. |
| A Much Sought, French, Napoleonic Gendarmerie Officer's Pistol, Model An 9 These overcoat size pistols were much in demand by all officer's in Napoleon's army and Cavalry, and they are especially still much sought after today. Made at the Maubeuge Munufacture Rle in 1814, during the French Royal restoration era, before the period known as the '100 days'. This was when Napoleon [who had been exiled to Elba during 1814] returned to France for his last reign of 100 days of power, to once more attempt to defeat the allies, at Waterloo in 1815. All steel fittings and typical birds head butt cap. Percussion conversion action. A very nice example indeed, with very good tight action. Lacking rammer. Barrel 5 inches, overall 9.5 inches long. |
| A Museum Grade Baby's Gas Mask Dated 1939 A most evocative memory piece of WW2. A baby's respirator with metal backing frame. Pump action and in very good condition. Ideal for the collector of WW2 respirators or for a film or theatre costumier hire company. |
| A Napoleonic Figural Desk or Mantle Bell Originally made for the summoning of servants, this is a cast brass bell with a full figure of Napoleon for the handle. The Imperial Eagle with Crown, in relief, on the bell, with Fleur de Lys, Wreaths and Lion, also stamped NAPOLEON WATERLOO. It has most charming yet effective ring to the bell. |
| A Napoleonic French Imperial Guard Sword Now this French, historical sword is a very interesting indeed. It has the typical hilt for an officer of the pre and First Empire French Cuirassier or Garde de Bataille Light Cavalry but, with, what we believe, to be the blade of an Imperial Guard Officier de Sappeurs sword. The hilt has also had a few small adaptions to the shell guard area. Having dealt and collected French swords of this era for some 40 years, we have, on occasion, come across swords with such similar and variant adaptions before. After some discussion and deliberation we believe this sword may well have been made for an Officier de la Imperial Guard Sappeurs, who, either previously served as an officer of the heavy cavalry, or, obtained a sword from one who did [possibly his father for example]. Officers had far greater latititude into the sword that was used for their service, than, say any other ranks soldier would have been allowed. For them [officers] regulations could be both fluid and flexible. There is absolutely no doubt this sword has seen service in the Revolutionary period and the Napoleonic Wars, and, it may well have been, in two seperate sections of Napoleon's army, first in the elite cavalry, then in the elite sappeurs. Naturally, it would for purely intrinsic sake, have been more valuable as an unaltered and standard sword of either service, however, it is none the less, a most interesting and fascinating sabre from the greatest era of French military might and European history. And some may feel it's history must have been even greater because of it. Imagine the conflicts it could and very likely have been present at, such as, in a magnificent charge of Curassiers against the best that the Prussian or Russian Cavalry had to offer, at Wagram, Austerlitz or Moscow, or, building defences or sieges at Salamanca, Badajoz or Orthez. The crash of armour, the slash of sabre against sabre, the thunder of cannon and the dense fog of burnt powder, culminating in the greatest, and likely the most important land battle in the 19th century, Waterloo. During combat they broke in gates, chopped gaps in palisades, built small bridges or destroyed them, broke garden walls or loopholed them to provide protected firing positions for the infantry. Before Waterloo Napoleon had ordered the sapper companies of I Army Corps (d'Erlon's) to be ready to construct barricades around the conquered buildings of La Haye Sainte and prevent the enemy from reoccupying them. During the battle of Ligny the French infantry attacked the strongly defended chateau. Their skirmishers opened fire while sappers attempted to smash down one of the three gates. The Prussians shot the sappers within moments and opened fire on ths skirmishers. A considerable amount of gilt remains on the hilt, and it is complete with it's copper gilt mounted leather scabbard. The blade has traces of engraving, the typical sawback edge for the combat sappeurs, and, it has been combat edge sharpened. 29.5 inch blade. For information and interest purposes a standard French Garde de Bataille Light Cavalry sword would now be in the region of £5000 |
| A Napoleonic Wars Infantry Musket. A French Charleville pattern musket made at the arsenal at Liege. 3 steel barrel bands, all steel mounts good walnut stock. Small wood loss to forend. Made and used by the allies of Napoleon of occupied Austria-Netherlands [now Belgium]. Although the forces of Belgium changed sides and fought for the British Allies at Waterloo, some were still secret Bonapartists and their forces were not to be relied upon. Although ostensibly, willing to fight on the allies side strategically they would frequently be straddled by British and Dutch forces on each flank, as, regretfully the Belgians at that time, were notorious for failing and retreating in the face of any French onslaught. Unfortunately this was well known on both sides, so they frequently had attacks concentrated on them, knowing their likelihood of withdrawal. This fact however could be used to both sides advantage as Wellington could put the Belgians in such a position as to invite this predictable attack, knowing full well Napoleon might oblige. Consequently the men, and their guns, used by the Belgian forces saw considerable action. |
| A Napoleonic Wars Officer's Pistol All steel mounts, walnut stock. Used during the Napoleonic Wars right through from the beginning. Used in the great campaigns of Napoleon by the Elite Grande Armee from Austria through the Russian Campaign, into the Peninsular War and finally the The Battle of Waterloo. Some of the battles this may have been used at were; 1808-14 The Peninsular Campaign, including, Salamanca , Toulouse, Albuera Talavera, Pyrenees then 1812: Borodino and Moscow, Ostrowno, and Winkowo 1813: Reichenbach and Dresden, Leipzig and Hanau
1814: La Rothiere, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Athies, La Fere-Champenoise and Paris
1815: Quatre-Bras and Waterloo |
| A Native American Stone Axe Carved from stone with crystalline inclusions in a uniform rib pattern. It has overall Native beadwork, decorated in a geometric pattern in the 'plains' form. Wooden haft, with small beadwork hanging panel, on cured deerhide. Most likely 20th century, the haft has had a mid section repair. |
| A Native American War Club Carved stone head with ribbed finish wooden haft over decorated with Plains type beadwork and a beadwork panel on hide affixed to the end. 20th century. |
| A Native North American Pair of Child's Boots. Reservation Period Probably Cree Tribe. Beautifully made and thoroughly charming. Not antique, 20th century, but very interesting and Native American art is never normally to be seen in Europe. Superb detail and workmanship |
| A New South Wales Police Visor Cap ERII |
| A Nice Early Samurai Wakazashi Circa 1400 Blade around 600 years old but in remarkably good condition for it's age, still in some original Japanese polish. Crushed abilone decorated emerald colour Saya with triple section black stripe over decoration. Gilt bronze fittings. Good sukashi iron Tsuba probably Shinto. |
| A Nice Koto Wakazashi With a simple Tsuka with an iron Higo style Kashira and a copper Fushi decorated with waves. Dragon Minuki. Charming slender blade with suriagi nakago, mumei. Brown ribbed saya. Lacquer requires attention which we are preparing to undertake. Plain Edo copper Tsuba in very good simple form. 18.25. inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Norman Knightly Crusader's Style Sword Circa 1100. Brazil Nut Pommel Type A beautiful antique Knightly style sword in excellent condition, and having a very nicely balanced blade. Known historically as the Peterson type X sword. With a good Brazil nut pommel, leather bound slightly tapering grip and straight quillons.With a very nicely tempered single fullered double edged blade that still has a remarkably keen edge. Likely a Georgian, 18th century copy of an early, 12th century Knightly Norman and Crusader's sword. Possibly made for a Knightly display of arms for a stately home. For all intents and purposes this is a very good, faithfully copied functioning sword, made in the same way and form of an original Crusader knight's sword from the era of the Norman conquest [in 1066] up to the third Crusade of King Richard [Coeur De Lion] The Lionheart of England [in 1190] |
| A North European Early 17th Century Burgonet Helmet Rounded two piece skull joined medially at the apex with high roped comb with some losses, projecting forward to an acutely pointed peak. Fairly corroded overall, but this is a good, honest early helmet, now quite scarce, and from around the late Queen Elizabeth Ist era. |
| A P.14 Bayonet For The British WW1 P.14 Rifle Used in WW1 & WW2 by the British Forces. Made by Remington in 1913.Unusually it is Regimentally marked 6LF [Lancashire Fusiliers]. No scabbard |
| A P14 Bayonet for the American Army in WW1 Dated 1917 with US markings made by rare maker, Winchester. No scabbard |
| A Pair of Attractive 18th Century Long Holster Ottoman Pistols Used from the 18th and into the 19th century, these long and impressive pistols are extravagant in all manners. The steel trigger guards and sideplates are overlaid in highly decorative scrolling silver with much skill, and over engraved in fine detail. The long eared butt caps are probably in Tutaneg, and the early banana shaped locks are engraved with script. The Cannon end barrels are held by embossed for-end capuchins and have numerous armourers marks struck at the breech. Used from the era of the Revolution in France and the Napoleonic Wars. Appearing singly more often, pairs of this form of pistol are now becoming quite scarce indeed.The "golden age" of the Ottoman Empire was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th Century. In different fields, this can be seen both in the architecture of Koca Mimar Sinan Aga, and in the domination of the Mediterranean by the Ottoman navy, led by Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha. The Ottoman Empire reached its territorial peak in the 17th century. From a diverse system of Millets, to a multi-ethnic state (Ottomanism), it developed its own distinctive culture, influential both in the European and Islamic worlds.With Istanbul (or Constantinople) as its capital, the Ottoman Empire was in some respects an Islamic successor to earlier Mediterranean empires — the Roman and Byzantine empires. The Empire was the only Islamic power to seriously challenge the rising power of Western Europe between the 15th and 19th centuries. The bottom small retaining cap on one butt cap is missing, one ramrod + pipe missing. The steel has been untouched for some 170 odd years and apart from light cleaning of the silver they are in 'sleeper' condition. |
| A Pair Of Boxlock Pocket Percussion Pistols Circa 1835 In very good order, with what appears to be very nice original finish. All steel furniture with engraved side plates, barrel tangs and trigger guards, slab sided walnut butts, oval name cartouches to sides, one engraved D.EGG. Durs Egg was one of England finest ever gunsmiths, but at this period his working life was coming to an end, and after his death, his relatives [John and George Frederick[son] ] carried on working in his name. Good turn-ff breech loading barrels with excellent proof markings. Both actions are very crisp indeed, but one pistol is reticent to engage past first cock. |
| A Pair of Bronze 'Model' Trafalgar Style Royal Naval Deck Cannon A pair small of desk Naval Cannon, with bronze barrels and oak carriages approx 6 inches long. Typcal cannon style as seen [pwhen full sized] on Nelson's Flagship HMS Victory. 19th century. |
| A Pair of Decorative Japanese Sword Placques Made from a full set of pre 1937 ShinGunto Officer sword fittings [complete with tsuka and 'bulls blood' red lacquered wooden saya] that have been cut in two, equally, from 'bow to stern' and mounted on two dark brown lacquered wooden panels. A very attractive, imaginative and most pleasing decorative effect has thus been achieved. |
| A Pair of German Medals The Kaisers medal of and the Franco Prussian War medal.Very good condition. Made from the cannon captured from France.Part of a very fine and significant collection of German medals and awards we were most fortunate to acquire from a grandnephew of a U-Boat commander. |
| A Pair of Very Charming, Late Georgian Period, Box Lock Pistols In very good order indeed, with steel barrels and frames and bag shaped walnut grips and boxlock action. A pair of sound and effective personal protection pistol that were highly popular during the late Georgian to early Victorian era. London, like many cities around the world at that time, could be a most treacherous place at night, and every gentleman, or indeed lady, would carry a pocket pistol for close quarter personal protection or deterrence. The early London Police force recruits 'Bobbies' or 'Peelers' [name after Sir Robert Peel their founder] were initially poorly selected. Of the first 2,800 new policemen, only 600 kept their jobs, and the first policeman, given the number 1, was sacked after only four hours service! Eventually, however, the impact upon crime, particularly organised crime led to an acceptance, and approval, of the Bobbies. Meanwhile, as they were so initially unpopular, and as the public of London had little or no confidence in them, armed personal protection was considered essential. Normally carried in singles the option to have a pair was expensive, but on occasion extremely prudent, for if attacked, once a pistol was discharged in defense there would likely be no opportunity to reload, and only a second pistol may stand between you and a painful or even mortal wound. Hand made circa 1830 but by an unknown maker. They bear several proofs, including a French, St Etienne proof. |
| A Pair Of WW2 British Parachute Wings Woven on cloth, pale blue and white over khaki. Breast pin mount |
| A Pair of WW2 Gas Shield Eye Protectors 'Rommel' Type Made of an early form of clear celluloid. Used to great effect by the Desert Rats in North Africa for sand protection. In fact Rommel used the very same protectors for that purpose as one can see from the photos of Rommel taken in Africa. Presumably he used captured British kit. Dated 1942 |
| A Pattern 1853/6 2 Band Enfield Short Rifle in Calibre .577. Made by commercial British maker Worral of Chester. All brass furniture, steel bands. Stock with silver escutcheon at the wrist. A sound honest gun with good action, and some elements of overall surface pitting and russetting to the steel. Royal Crown stamp to lock and dated 1859. Made in 1859 this gun was made in an era when the British were engaged in just a few serious smaller wars, namely the Opium War in China, and the Maori War in New Zealand, so between the great British wars in the Crimea [1854-56] and the Zulu War in South Africa [1879] for 20 years or so the British Ordnance had guns in relatively adequate supply, and of little need for continual rearmament.But when the Civil War broke out in America the Northern Union and Southern Confederate armourers hurriedly journeyed across to England to buy up all our available weapons. Of course, England was officially neutral which meant that its Armoury at Enfield did could not supply these buyers from the Union or Confederate Armies. Instead, Union and Confederate buyers turned to Commercial manufacturers centered in Birmingham, London, and numerous cities such as Liverpool and Chester from large and small makers such as Barnett, Bond, London Armoury, Parker Field, Potts & Hunt and Worral and also from groups of sub-contractors who pooled their resources together like the BSA.[Birmingham Small Arms] Trade. In 1863 Confederate purchasing agent, Major Caleb Huse reported to Josiah Gorgas, Commander of the Confederate Ordnance and Mining Bureau, that he had purchased 21,040 "Obsolete British Muskets" along with "2,020" Model 1837 British Brunswick rifles. How did he get these from the British Government if they were officially neutral? Of course Britain could and did declare a large portion of British arms in store obsolete and thus they were likely disposed of to private buyers such as Barnett in London, who approached the British Government to buy up surplus weapons it no longer needed or regarded as worthy of use. It is reasonable supposition that the ones at the bottom of their list in terms of serviceability were made available…such as their worn three band and two band rifles and other obsolete British rifles and muskets . Since these private buyers were getting the grade two surplus Crimean war guns, they probably had to refurbish most of them so they'd pass inspection by the Confederate-employed viewers. Some Brunswick rifles that ended up in the US, as part of a Confederate purchase, would usually be restocked and even re-locked with P39 lockplates. Many Civil War collectors believe most Enfields imported during the Civil War were indeed purchased from privately-owned commercial manufacturers. These surviving guns have no British Government proofs, broad arrow marks, and usually, no "V.R" underneath the Crown on the lockplate. Lockplates will be marked with the name of the Private Maker or Tower. The barrels are usually marked with London or Birmingham proofs instead of the small lines of inspector numbers, broad arrows, and cyphers that you find on standard British military guns. Commercial manufactured Enfield pattern guns were by far the most popular purchases for the Civil War, certainly by the South. This gun is the very type that were bought for the Civil War, with no broad arrow or V.R marks, and many identical commercial examples are to be found in the great private and public arms collections in both the North and South of the US. This gun has a 32 inch barrel and is 48 inches long overall. We have had it completely cleaned but there are two small stock areas that need attention, a scuff at the wrist and a splinter at the butt, we can repair these invisibly. |
| A Peirced Tetsu Iron Edo Rounded Square Sukashi Katana Tsuba Kaku Gata, Pierced with geese in flight.Pierced with Hitsu-ana and Kogai Hitsu-ana |
| A Pen and Watercolour By Robert Early of Our Family Stables in Jubilee St. Another picture from our archive, for those that are interested, from the history of both our family business and Brighton. You can see in the picture the family name David Hawkins adorning one of the carts, and above the entrance to the carriage repair workshop in the far distance. It was located in Jubilee St. and was the very last operational stable yard in Brighton. It was located opposite The Prince Regent's stable, next door to his Royal Pavillion Palace, and that stable is now the Brighton Dome concert hall. Very sadly [or it might still exist today]our stable was compulsory purchased by the council in around 1974, in order to demolish and build the new Brighton swimming pool. 30 years later the swimming pool had been built elsewhere, and the yard lay empty, however it was eventually partially demolished, only a few years ago, and a hotel, My Hotel, built on the site. |
| A Perfectly Charming and Delightful 18th Century Hunting Sword. Ivory hilt set with three silver headed rivets. Silver scroll end quillons. Long wide blade with mystical symbols, and the profile head of the Grand Sultan. A fine German Nobleman's hunting sword, used for personal protection, or for the coup de grace while hunting Boar or Wolf. This is only the second of this rare type of hunting sword we have had, with the beautiful and unique mystical symbols [the last one, near identical, was last year]. We strongly believe it was near certainly made at the same swordmakers workshop and possibly even for the same Nobleman. |
| A Persian Percussion Horse Pistol [Tapance] from the Qajar Period From the mid 19th century, a Persian pistol with likely a high carbon steel octagonal barrel with traces of 8 groove rifling. Fully engraved, probably Persian lock, with matching florid scroll engraving to the barrel breech tang and fore end. Chequered stock with steel butt cap and lanyard ring. Half stocked with rammer lacking. Plain steel trigger guard. Persian pistols are very scarcely seen, even within Iran, and more often than not with imported locks, usually British, this example though has more likely a Persian lock [based on a British import] |
| A Pierced Tetsu Kosukashi Tsuba Old iron plate probably early Edo. Maru Gata Numerous pierced blossom..Pierced with Hitsu-ana |
| A Plain, Circular Copper Edo Tanto Tsuba The simplest yet one of the most desirable of traditional tsuba forms. |
| A Political Russian Cold War Era Poster Original poster with interesting subject matter of the Hammer and Sickle encircling the globe. This is one of a collection of Russian USSR posters we have acquired from the estate of an ex British Glider Pilot of WW2. This poster is folded and in condition as seen in the photos. Dated 1989. 38 inches x 26 inches. This poster is a real and used item, not just for show, would look super nicely framed |
| A Practical Discourse Concerning Death by Dr. W.Sherlock. Published in 1760 As one might expect not exactly a cheery little book, but none the less interesting for it's relatively persuasive arguments for the benefits of a maintaining a religious life during the mid 18th Century. 5"x 7.5"x .75". Some interesting hand written notes within, concerning timings and moon phases, and, we presume, a poem to Plato about the longing for immortality etc., written by Anna Bashford in 1798, and a hand written, loose, original owner's label of William Hardham of Spitalfields. |
| A Pre War Colonial Photo Album Of Hong Kong A most interesting Chinese lacquer album, with some remaining original photos, of Hong Kong just before the Japanese Invasion. Apparently the album was hidden during the occupation and recovered after the war.The leather hinge section needs some attention.14.5 inches x 10.75 inches x 2 inches |
| A Presentation Regimental "Claymore" Basket Hilted Sword of WW1 Hero Presented upon his being gazetted in 1916, to a killed in action Hero, S/Lt Maurice Hillier [formerly of Peking, China] late of the 6th Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers, 9th Division, and named to him on the blade, along with his regiment. In it's combat field service scabbard of leather trimmed with steel. Traditional full plain steel basket hilt with red deerskin liner and silk tasselling, double edged broadsword blade. Sword made by Wilkinson with their makers mark and serial number. The blade has some old pitting to the top section. He was killed on day one of the second battle of Arras in the Allied spring offensive of 1917. The 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers attacked from their lines at Arras on the 9th of April, 1917. Their positions for the start of the battle were actually beyond the British front line – they were within the craters in No Man’s Land named Claude and Clarence. The men of the 6th KOSB were so far forward in the craters that they suffered some casualties from their own artillery shells falling short of the German front lines ahead of Zero Hour. At 5.30 a.m. the 6th KOSB attacked from the craters, and in half an hour reached their objective, a German trench named Obermayer, having crossed at least four other German trenches to reach this. Here they stopped in a sunken road, allowing the 11th Royal Scots to pass through and continue the advance. Men from the 6th KOSB did help out the 16th Royal Scots to their left, firing on a German machine gun position which was holding that battalion up. Men from both battalions are buried in the cemetery near where they started their attack at Bailleul Road West Cemetery . Later in the day, they followed on the advance, eventually reaching a strong point known as Point du Jour. Second Lieutenant Hillier was killed on the 9th of April in that offensive aged 19. He was survived by his parents Mr and Mrs E.Guy Hillier of Peking, China. Mr. E.Guy Hillier was a most prominent gentleman in Chinese affairs as a senior representative of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and a significant figure in the Boxer Rebellion. |
| A Queen Anne Hunting Sword as Favoured by Naval Officers In the days of the early Royal Navy, officers carried short swords in the pattern of hunting swords, with both straight or curved blades, fancy brass mounted single knucklebow hilts with principally stag horn or reeded ebony grips. The brass was usually repousse with a floral and figural design. The sword has a front and back view of a reclining nude lady within the design at the forte. Single fullered straight blade with Armorer's struck mark.There are numerous portraits in the National Portrait Gallery and The National Maritime Musuem that show British Admirals [such as Benbow and Clowdesly Shovel] holding such swords. |
| A Rai Kunifusa Signed Shingunto Gendaito Tachi An unusual shape for a sword made in the 1900s; the shape is typical of a Kamakura Tachi. Custom pre 37 mounts with steel saya and leather combat cover. Blade in need of repolish. Signed Tachi mei. Also signed on the Nakagomune but very difficult to read. He frequently places a Bonji at this point it may well be a Bonji for Buddha. Blade length 69cm to the tsuba. |
| A Rare 14th Century Samurai Tanto Dated 1398 Over 600 years old, tang signed Bizen Osafune Sukemitsu. In Shira saya, but and this is very unusually seen, in it's original, flaxen, cloth leather edged cover, that was made for a Japanese Air Force officer in WW2, in order to carry his ancient ancestral dagger on his service belt, or within his uniform, and into combat. |
| A Rare Brace of 18th Century American Revolutionary Infantry Spontoon Made and used during the American Revolutionary War and into The Napoleonic War Eras. It is very rare to get two matching Infantry Spontoons [half pikes], and they evidently came originally from the same infantry regiment, and they were made in Germany, in around 1770. Good traditional steel blades with elongated 'S' quillons [cross bars] & 3 base rings. A Spontoon is type of European lance that came into being after the long pike, becoming widely used by the middle of the 17th century. Spontoons are first found to have been used by the Italians. Also called the European half pike, this very much resembled a pike that had a much shorter staff, usually no more than 7 feet long. The spontoon was as much a signaling weapon used by the company sergeants to direct battle lines as a combat weapon. During the Napoleonic wars the spontoon was used by sergeants to defend the colors of a battalion or regiment from cavalry. During the Revolutionary War, General Washington [and may others] strongly believed an officer should carry a Spontoon as method of identification, so as not to have his attention distracted from his men by the relatively involved procedure of loading and firing a shoulder arm. The order was thus issued to the Continental regiments. 7ft 4inches long [2240mm]. 13 inch long steel head plus two 16 inch straps that extend down either side of the haft. The straps are bracing bars to prevent the head being cut off by a sword blade and they further support the head. The bottom of each haft has a steel butt cone. For additional reference material see 'Swords and Blades of The American Revolution' by George C.Neumann [publ. by Promontory Press 1973]. Pages 220 & 221 for near identical examples that are illustrated from the great American Revolutionary War Weapons collections. |
| A Rare Central Indian 18th C.Battle Axe, Used in Chinese Boxer Rebellion Brought Back From the Boxer Rebellion and used in the Ching Dynasty, but likely imported from central India in the middle of the 18th century. A very rare Central Indian battle axe, that somehow has ended it's working life used by a Boxer, in the rebellion. Part of a small colonial collection of antique arms that have just arrived. A super fighting axe that can be used in conjunction with the Chinese Dao fighting sword.The Boxer Rebellion, more properly called the Boxer Uprising, or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement was a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement called the "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" in China, but known as the "Boxers" in English. The main 'Boxer' era occured between 1898 and 1901. This fascinating era was fairly well described in the Hollywood movie classic ' 55 Days in Peking' Starring Charlton Heston and David Niven. The film gives a little background of Ching Dynasty's humiliating military defeats suffered during the Opium Wars, Sino-French War and Sino-Japanese war or the effect of the Taiping Rebellion in weakening the Ching [Qing] Dynasty.Pictures in the gallery of a watercolour of the Boxers [1900] and the combat in the siege. A photo in the gallery shows a contemporary group of Boxers in Peking during the seige of the legations. For information only not included |
| A Rare Ceramic 'Pull' Toggle for a German WW2 Stick Grenade If you can't get a stick grenade, or, as is more usual, you have a grenade and the toggle is missing [they often are] this is an absolute 'must have' for only £8. Recovered from Norway. The last photo shows a complete grenade stripped down [for illustration purposes only] |
| A Rare Ceramic 'Pull' Toggle for a German WW2 Stick Grenade If you can't get a stick grenade, or, as is more usual, you have a grenade and the toggle is missing, a 'must have' for only £8. Recovered from Norway. The last photo shows a complete grenade stripped down [for illustration purposes only] |
| A Rare Ceramic 'Pull' Toggle for a German WW2 Stick Grenade If you can't get a stick grenade, or, as is more usual, you have a grenade and the toggle is missing [they often are] this is an absolute 'must have' for only £8. Recovered from Norway. The last photo shows a complete grenade stripped down [for illustration purposes only] |
| A Rare Ceramic 'Pull' Toggle for a German WW2 Stick Grenade If you can't get a stick grenade, or, as is more usual, you have a grenade and the toggle is missing [they often are] this is an absolute 'must have' for only £8. Recovered from Norway. The last photo shows a complete grenade stripped down [for illustration purposes only] |
| A Rare Imperial German Postal Sword Nickel plated hilt, wire grip, plain single shell guard, single edged etched blade. This is a very scarce sword, we have only previously had the Prussian type [with Prussian Eagle Guard] see page 399 John R Angolia 'Swords of Germany 1900/1945'. This has the plain guard for a different Imperial State's service.No scabbard. |
| A Rare Imperial Russian and Bavarian, Uhlan and Hussars Regimental Sword Named to the elite Kaiser Nicholas II Von Russland Regiment. A rare sword, and from a very desireable Uhlan Hussar regiment of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, in the King of Bavaria's Cavalry. The blade is fully etched with the Czars name and the hilt bears the Royal crest of the Kingdom of Bavaria. The blade does have some plating loss so it's condition is only average, but this is a very rare sword, with superb collectable interest of both the Imperial Russian, and, the Imperial German period just before the Great War and the Russian Revolution. A sword, made around 1900, that crosses numerous historical territories within the greatest period of upheavel in both those Empire's history. Naturally it also has considerble interest to British collectors as both Czar Nicholas and Kaiser Willhelm were cousin's of King George Vth, and the Czar was Britain's ally against Germany. Lacking scabbard.The background of the etching is blackened and now flaking, it makes the section very difficult to photograph. Some restoration or polishing may bring good results in returning the inscription to it's original state. In better order we would estimate it's value to us would be closer to £3000. |
| A Rare Mid 19th Century British Army Infantry 'Redcoat' Coatee Crimean War In coarse red cloth with trim. White lacings with black trim. Some repair sections to front. Lined. Replacement old Imperial buttons. |
| A Rare Namibian Ovambo [War Axe] 19th century.Good condition nice carving with iron axe blade. |
| A Rare Original Royal Naval Officer's Sword of Trafalgar Vintage A combat sword of traditional 1805 pattern with copper gilt hilt triple wire binding over fishkin grip doves head pommel and fouled anchor langets. Traces of engraving to blade. There are several identical swords of this kind in the National Maritime Museum and in the Royal Collection. We count ourselves very fortunate to have owned this sword [with another] once before, some 17 years ago. It is said to have originally come from a small collection of swords from Admiral Jerram who commanded the second battle fleet at Jutland. Admiral Jerram apparently gave them as a gift to a friend and colleague in the 1920's. By family repute this sword was carried by a young officer at the Battle of Trafalgar on HMS Royal Sovereign. However, we cannot verify this definitively. No scabbard. Pictures in the gallery are of original oil paintings depicting the Battle of Trafalgar. For information only not included. |
| A Rare Original, French, 1833 All Steel Naval Cutlass An authentic regulation Model 1833 French Naval boarding cutlass or "sabre de bord." Blackened iron guard in full cup configuration. It is this form of sheet guard cutlass that influenced the design of the near identical US Navy cutlass of 1860 that was used in the US Civil War. During the major conflicts of the 19th Century, and in the French colonies from Africa to China fighting against pirates or local warlords, this new 1833 pattern saw decades of action all around the world. This cutlass has overall pitting and the guard has seperated at the side due do a combat blow. |
| A Rare P.58 Enfield Naval Cutlass Bayonet The rare Victorian Naval Cutlass Bayonet type with the official 'removed bowl' hilt.Good condition for age, some surface pitting. Chequered leather grip. |
| A Rare Pair of Antique Ottoman Empire Iron Stirrups A pair of antique 17th to 18th century Turkish Ottoman Empire russet iron stirrups of characteristic form, with broad arch treads. All steel construction in the early style that goes back to the mediaeval period. One picture in the gallery shows Fatih Sultan Mehmet II [using his identical stirrups] entering Constantinople, after his conquest, in 1453 |
| A Rare Prussian-British Experimental Sword of 1850. The Royal Engineers Driver's Sword Model 1850. This sword was a Prussian experimental cavalry sword that was once issued for testing to a limited number of Prussian Hussar regiments in 1850. It was in fact not actually approved by the Prussians, but it's form was continued and developed until it's successor sword eventually evolved to become the Prussian Model 1852 Cavalry Hussar Sabre. Those experimental swords were withdrawn by Prussia and they were placed in storage in Liege for disposal.
There was an article published in the "Deutsches Waffen Journal" about a sword that is a pair to this sword. On that sword, on the guard, was the regimental marking of the 4th squadron, Prussian Garde-Husaren regiment and on the spine of blade a crowned FW 50 and german D mark. This confirms it was the Prussian Hussar experimental issue of 1850. On the ricasso was an S&K marking with Crowned L 8 and two British Ordnance broad arrows to show that sword was also re issued to the British army. So, these very rarely seen swords are recorded as the Royal Engineers 1850 Driver's pattern swords, but they were originally the Prussian experimental Hussar swords, that after disapproval were then removed to Liege and later sold to the British Ordnance through the Liege armourers. Our example is very worn indeed, in fact none of it's original markings are still visible at all unfortunately. However, it is a most rare and fascinating piece, that until our extensive research [lasting many days], we believed to be a simple, and un-interesting Prussian sabre of unknown parentage.To collectors of British and Prussian swords this would make a most fascinating addition, especially, that if particularly searched for, it may take many years to find another. All over russetted, no scabbard, damaged grip. |
| A Rare Regimentally Marked and Dated Kurassier Trooper's Sword Marked K.No. 9 / 863 / 1815. We believe it is from one of the German Kurassier regiments that fought in the Napoleonic wars, and the date on the hilt may have been represent the date the trooper's final year of service. The sword has the look of a hybrid between the steel hilted British 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, and the French brass hilted Curaissier. The various German Guard Kurrassier swords were somewhat similar but, with side bars, and it may have once had bars that have been removed for regular service. This is a very scarce sword indeed, and highly distinctive, as only the heavy cavalry Kurassiers [of all nations] carried these big, straight swords during this era. No scabbard. Overall blackened finish. |
| A Rare WW2 German Postal Protection Service Bayonet Frog The DRP (Deutsches Reichs Postschutz--German Postal Protection Service) was a small branch providing armed protection of the post, telegraph, and telephone service throughout Germany. The organization was an auxiliary to the Ordnungspolizei and during the war were absorbed into the SS. They carried a non-military proofed bayonet This is an original metal plate backed leather frog for that bayonet. Mark D R P |
| A Rare, Early, United States of Brazil Sword From the Old Republic Era. Fully etched blade. Nickle plated hilt with Brazil Crest, date 5th November 1889,ribbed fishskin grip. Nickle plated scabbard. Fully etched deluxe blade. Based on the Victorian British Infantry sword. A very scarce and highly collectable antique sword. Overall good condition |
| A Rare, German, WW2 Railway Protection Service Sword [Bahnschutz] A good example of these very scarce swords used by the security personnel on the Third Reich railway system in WW2. The Railway Protection Service under the control of the Reich Finance Administration and it's mission was the protection maintenance of law and order of all railway transport services. It worked in cooperation with the customs service but it was the SS organisation that provided staff direction and supervision and personnel [that wore these swords in WW2] were frequently taken from the ranks of the SS and the Gestapo, as security on travel within the Reich was considered to be of paramount importance. The training and expertise to recognize, resistance operatives, OSS, SOE operatives and agents, and escaped POWs, while traveling on the occupied rail networks, needed special security service training. This meant the officers chosen for this work were graded far higher in security status than their position and uniform might lead one to believe. This type of sword was first introduced in the Imperial era of Germany, during the Great War, and also in Austria. Most German swords used in WW2 were the Imperial or Weimar issue, just like this sword, and this was due to the fact that WW2 was only twenty years after the great war, so likely a quarter to a third or more of all swords carried by German officers in WW2 were using Imperial issue swords. Certainly, in all the still existing photographs taken of German officers [ that were posed in the 1930's] by far the greater part were carrying Imperial pattern swords, possibly passed down by their fathers. In fact, there was no specific sword introduced in the Hitler era for the Bahnschutz's officers exclusive use at all, as the previously issued Imperial Bahnschutz sword was deemed perfectly acceptable. [See; John R Angolia, "Swords of Germany 1900/1945" ] They were produced by the Eikhorn company. Brass ''D' Gala-Degan hilt with winged railway wheel motif on shell guard, embossed brass mounts to leather scabbard, straight steel blade. Very good condition. This is only the second example we have had in around five years. |
| A Rare, Samurai Sunnobi Tanto With Gold Inlaid Cutting Test Kanji A Samurai's long bladed dagger around 400 years old, from the late Koto to early Shinto period. Fabulous mounts of Shakudo with Nanako, Superb gold inlaid Kanji for a Tameshigiri cutting test of the Trunk [Do, which is body, centre]. The whole piece is absolutely stunning, the Saya has graded relief lacquer in the form of simulated worn tree bark, probably Cherry. It has a beautiful Iron and gold highlighted Kodsuka with a very nicely signed blade. Blade of Hira Zukuri, shallow zori, length of 355mm, that crosses the border of Sunnobi Tanto to Ko Wakazashi length. The charming Tsuba is finely detailed, with fishing poles, a fishing basket, a goose in flight and all in heavy rain, with signature kanji in small seals. |
| A Rare, WW2 Pattern " F.A.N.Y" Women's Transport Badge. THE FIRST AID NURSING YEOMANRY (FANY) was created in 1907 as a first aid link between front-line fighting units and the field hospitals.
During the First World War, FANYs ran field hospitals, drove ambulances and set up soup kitchens and troop canteens, often under highly dangerous conditions. By the Armistice, they had been awarded many decorations for bravery, including 17 Military Medals, 1 Legion d'Honneur and 27 Croix de Guerre.At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Corps was called upon to form the nucleus of the Motor Driver Companies of the ATS. Another section was attached to the Polish Army, and a Kenyan unit formed in 1935 also joined the war effort. A spirit of independence led others to join the FANY in the Special Operations Executive.
These women worked on coding and signals, acted as conductors for agents and provided administration and technical support for the Special Training Schools. Their work was top secret and often highly skilled. Members operated in several theatres of war, including North Africa, Italy, India and the Far East.
Many of the female agents sent by SOE to France were commissioned into the Corps. Twelve died in concentration camps. Three of these courageous women - Odette Hallowes, Violette Szabo and Noor lnayat Khan - were awarded the George Cross, the last two posthumously. In all 54 names are recorded on the FANY memorial at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London. Photo in the gallery of the magnificent heroine and F A N Y, Odette Churchill [Sansom Hallowes] GC, MBE. She worked for the Special Operations Executiove SOE during Second World War. She was captured by the Germans and sentenced to death, sent to Ravensbrook concentration camp but liberated by the Americans and survived the war and later awarded George Cross and MBE, seen here proudly wearing her F.A.N.Y. badge. |
| A Red Army Officers Makarov Leather Holster with Belt Frog The medium size small pistol used in the Cold War period |
| A Royal Flying Corps Leather Coat, Helmet. With tan leather flying gauntlets. A super tan leather flying coat, with angled access pocket opening and another pocket access opening. Designed to go over a flying under jacket. The tan leather is excellently supple, in very good order indeed overall slight markings to sleeve.Double over buttoning for additional high wind protection. With it's good, fur trimmed RFC helmet with ear flaps, [a variation of the RFC standard pattern type 1]. Near mint gauntlet type flying gloves in tan leather. In the gallery is a copy of an article in November 19th 1915 'Flight' magazine's article on the latest WW1 Flying Corps coats and helmets sold by Burberry and Gamages to the officers of the RFC. And it shows two versions of this very type |
| A Royal Horseguards Jacket of the Blues and Royals The Royal Horse Guards are part of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Household Division which comprises of seven, separate and distinct foot and mounted regiments. The Blues And Royals and The Life Guards are the two mounted bodyguard sections of the Household Cavalry. The blue tunics are worn by the Her Majesty's Blues and Royals.. Used at the Royal Palaces and Trooping of the Colour. In fabulous blue with gilt bullion and red trim, epaulettes, and cuffs [not including belt] |
| A Royal Sussex Regt, Father and Son QSA with WW1 Trio A Queen's South Africa medal to the father A.Graves Royal Sussex regiment, and a WW1 trio to his son William Graves, also of the Royal Sussex regiment. With photocopy of medal record and two photocopy photographs of both men [included with medals]. |
| A Russian 1937 Dated Moisin Nagant Rifle Complete with bayonet. Dated 1937 and made several years before the German WW2 Invasion of Russia, the siege of Leningrad, the great tank battle at Kursk, the German retreat, and finally the Russian seige of Berlin, and thus the fall of Hitler's Reich. Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941.Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a 2,900 kmfront. In addition to the large number of troops, it also involved 600,000 motor vehicles and 750,000 horses. Planning for Operation Barbarossa started on 18 December 1940; the secret preparations and the military operation itself lasted almost a year, from spring to winter 1941. The Red Army repelled the Wehrmacht's strongest blow, and Adolf Hitler had not achieved the expected victory, but the Soviet Union's situation remained dire. Tactically, the Germans had won some resounding victories and occupied some of the most important economic areas of the country, mainly in Ukraine.Despite these successes, the Germans were pushed back from Moscow and could never mount an offensive simultaneously along the entire strategic Soviet-German front again. Operation Barbarossa's failure led to Hitler's demands for further operations inside the USSR, all of which eventually failed, such as continuing the Siege of Leningrad, Operation Nordlicht, and Battle of Stalingrad, among other battles on the occupied Soviet territory.
Operation Barbarossa was the largest military operation in human history in both manpower and casualties. Its failure was a turning point in the Third Reich's fortunes. Most important, Operation Barbarossa opened up the Eastern Front, to which more forces were committed than in any other theatre of war in world history. Operation Barbarossa and the areas that fell under it became the site of some of the largest battles, deadliest atrocities, highest casualties, and most horrific conditions for Soviets and Germans alike — all of which influenced the course of both World War II and 20th century history .Very nicely maker marked and in very good condition indeed. A great example of WW2 history. . Deactivated not suitable for export out of Europe. For sale to over 18's only. |
| A Russian Kindjal Dagger, from the Caucasus Mountains A Russian kindjal dagger, from the Caucasus Mountains region. Circa beginning to mid 1900's. Brass and nickel silver hilt and scabbard, quite decorative on the obverse side, and as tradition dictates, perfectly plain on the reverse. The decorative side has most intricate pattern of an applied swirling curlicue décor plus, within it a most interesting broadsword and shield decoration to both the scabbard and hilt. A most interesting feature that we can't recall ever seeing before. |
| A Russian Red Army WW2 SVT40 Rifle A Russian Red Army WW2 SVT40 Rifle Dated 1942 a semi auto rifle that was quite prized by the Germans when captured during the advance into Russia. A complicated rifle that was, at the time of it's first issue, too complex for the basic, and poorly trained Red Army soldier to operate effectively. The highly trained German soldier however, easily adapted to it's complexity and found it to be an effective and popular weapon. The German arms industry developed their own version the G41, however, apparently some German combat soldier in the field preferred this Russian version. The SVT rifles first saw combat use in the Winter War (1939- 40) invasion of Finland. Fantastic example in beautiful condition. Photos in the gallery show the SVT40 captured and used by the Germans in Russia |
| A Russian RPD Light Machine Gun The RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemet Degtyarova - Degtyarov Light MG) was one of the first weapons designed to fire a new, intermediate cartridge 7.62x39mm at 650 rounds per minute. Work on the weapon commenced in 1943. and was a standard squad automatic weapon of Soviet army right through the 1950s and until 1960s, used in Korea and Vietnam, when it was generally replaced by the RPK light mg, which, in many opinions, was not a good decision. The RPD can be described as a further development of the earlier Degtyarov machine guns, tracing its ancestry to DP-1927 LMG. RPD is a gas operated, full auto only weapon. Gas drive uses a long stroke piston and a gas regulator, located under the barrel. It uses a simple and robust bolt locking system seen in other Degtyarov guns, which uses two locking flaps, that are pushed out of the bolt body into recesses in the receiver walls to lock the bolt. Flaps are pushed out by the bolt carrier to lock and are withdrawn from recesses to unlock the bolt by specially shaped cams on the carrier. RPD uses belt feed. A detachable round box (drum) can be clipped under the receiver. This box can hold a 100-rounds non-desintegrating metallic belt, and loose belt also can be used. Each belt drum has its own folding carrying handle, but usually belt drums were carried in special pouches. Unlike earlier Degtyarov guns, the return spring is located inside the butt. Heavy barrel cannot be replaced quickly, but RPD still can provide a significant firepower at the ranges up to 800 metres. Rear sights are ajustable for range and drift, folding integral bipod is located under the barrel. All RPDs were issued with carrying slings and could be fired from the hip, using the sling to hang the gun on the shoulder. A great display piece in nice condition. Deactivated with a working action it can be cocked, stripped and dry fired.Complete with our deactivation certificate |
| A Russian Scud Missile Launcher 'Level' Site A war trophy of the first gulf war, a Russian Scud Missile Rocket Launcher Level Site on adjustable tripod stand.Originaly designed for use with the USSR Red Army 'Frog' nuclear rocket. |
| A Russian, Red Army Pattern CCCP Shaska A classic Red Army pattern sabre with all the standard markings of the USSR [CCCP] Red Army Cossacks, no scabbard. The Red Army Cossacks were formed after the Revolution period [of which there were several, in a relatively brief period from 1917 to 1921, and known as the Russian Civil War] and they were made up of the Red Cossacks that failed to go over to the Royalist White Russian forces. The white Russians maintained an anti Bolshevik stance for over two decades and those Cossacks, in the 1940's, having no Russian Royal family to be loyal to anymore, eventually went over to the German side in 1942, and fought as the Don and Kuban Cossacks for the third Reich. This force also included captured Red Army Cossacks, from Operation Barbarossa, that were languishing in German POW camps, that were persuaded [by Cossack émigrés Pyotr Krasnov and Andrei Shkuro] to join Dons and Kubans in the Ist Cossack Division, under the command of Helmuth von Pannwitz, in the war against Stalin. Although the Cossack units were formed to fight the Bolsheviks, by the time they were formed the Red Army had liberated most of the German-held territory, and they were instead sent to the Balkans to fight Yugoslav Partisans under command of Josip Broz Tito. By war's end, the Waffen-SS controlled the Cossack units. On May 28, 1945, two thousand and forty six Cossack officers and generals, including the cavalry Generals Pyotr Krasnov, Andrei Shkuro, and Kelech-Giray, were disarmed and transported in British cars and trucks to a nearby Red Army-held town. There they were handed over to the commanding Red Army general, who ordered them tried for treason. Many Cossack leaders had never been Soviet citizens, having fled revolutionary Russia in 1920, hence they could not be guilty of treason. Some were executed immediately; the higher-ranking officers were tried in Moscow and then executed. Most notably, General Pyotr Krasnov was hanged in a public square. Helmuth von Pannwitz, the German general instrumental in the formation and leadership of the Cossacks taken from German POW camps to fight the USSR, chose to accompany the Cossacks in their Soviet repatriation, and was executed with five Cossack generals and atamans in Moscow in 1947. One photo in the gallery shows a rank of German Cavalry Cossacks complete with their traditional CCCP Shaska and uniform. |
| A Samurai Naganata Polearm With Early Blade with Red Bo Hi A nice early blade with good form of medium weight. Black lacquered pole with copper mounts and bands and very unusually it's original blade protective saya. The term naginata first appeared in the Kojiki in 712 AD and was used by Sohei warrior priests during the Nara Period, around 750 AD. It is most likely based on the Chinese Guan Dao. In the paintings of battlefield scenes made during the Tengyo no Ran in 936 AD, the naginata can be seen in use. It was in 1086, in the book Oshu Gosannenki ("A Diary of Three Years in Oshu") that the use of the naginata in combat is first recorded. In this period the naginata was regarded as an extremely effective weapon by warriors.
During the Gempei War (1180–1185), in which the Taira clan was pitted against Minamoto no Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan, the naginata rose to a position of particularly high esteem. Cavalry battles had become more important by this time, and the naginata proved excellent at dismounting cavalry and disabling riders. The widespread adoption of the naginata as a battlefield weapon forced the introduction of sune-ate (shin guards) as a part of Japanese armor. The rise of importance for the naginata can be seen as being mirrored by the European pike, another long pole weapon employed against mounted horses. An excellent example of the role of women in Japanese society and martial culture at this time is Itagaki, who, famous for her naginata skills, led the garrison of 3,000 warriors stationed at Toeizakayama castle. Ten thousand Hojo clan warriors were dispatched to take the castle, and Itagaki led her troops out of the castle, killing a significant number of the attackers before being overpowered. Naginatas were often used by foot samurai to create space on the battlefield. They have several situational advantages over a sword. Their reach was longer, allowing the wielder to keep out of reach of his opponent. The long shaft offered it more leverage in comparison to the hilt of the katana, enabling the naginata to cut more efficiently. The weight of the weapon gave power to strikes and cuts, even though the weight of the weapon is usually thought of as a disadvantage. The weight at the end of the shaft and the shaft itself can be used both offensively and defensively. Swords, on the other hand, can be used to attack faster, have longer cutting edges (and therefore more striking surface and less area to grab), and were able to be more precisely controlled in the hands of an experienced swordsman. Blade length to pole 14.5 inches, Pole Length 66inches inches, total 81 inches 17.25 inch long saya. Photos shown of the blade unpolished. This blade has now been repolished, and the photos of it, now improved, will be added soon |
| A Scarce 'Head-Hunting' Dao Sword of The Nagas of Assam An antique Dao Sword of The Nagas of Assam in Nagaland. The furthermost state of North East India. Little is known of the Nagas as most of their history is undocumented, until the British East India Co. took control of the country in 1826. The internecine tribal warfare involved head-hunting, which is the decapitation of captives for their religious ceremonies, but the British and the Christian missionaries did all that was possible to eradicate the head-hunting religious traditions, and converted a portion of the population to Baptist. The sword has a traditional straight rounded hilt [probably bamboo] with a central section tightly bound with most intricate geometric patterned cord that is over lacquered. The blade is flattened with two hand cut grooves and a stamped dot and semi circular decorative pattern design, the blade ends fairly wide. The scabbard is wood and open sided with a most attractive and skillfully executed floral pattern carved in relief at the bottom section. These swords were multi- functional, perfectly adaptable from decapitation to bamboo cutting. |
| A Scarce All Steel Boxlock Pistol Overlaid in Silver Circa 1790, the pistol is almost completely overlaid in sheet Silver.Foldaway trigger.A beautiful small pistol of much rarity and quite charming. |
| A Scarce Antique Lombok High Born Warriors Kris [or Keris] From the Lombok island of Indonesia. The Dutch first visited Lombok in 1674 and settled the eastern part of the island, leaving the western half to be ruled by a Hindu dynasty from Bali. The Sasaks chafed under Balinese rule, and a revolt in 1891 ended in 1894 with the annexation of the entire island to the Netherlands East Indies. This is a beautiful and scarce Kris with a hair bound grip [typically indicative of Lombok Keris], typical hardwood scabbard and a fantastic Pamor, meteoric iron, and nickle inlaid blade. The design is a rare herringbone pattern executed with, quite simply, breathtaking skill. 24 inches long overall |
| A Scarce British Pattern 1879 Artillery Sawback Sword Bayonet It was also initially a conversion bayonet, made from the Pattern 1859 Cutlass Bayonet. Originally they were made for use with the newly adopted Martini Henry Artillery Carbine. They feature a 9.25 inch, 41 tooth integrated saw on the top of the blade. The primary use for this saw in the Artillery realm was for falling small trees to be used in constructing abaitis. New production Pattern 1879s have the button for the latch on the right side of the pommel, and the catch leaf spring on the left. Converted Pattern 1879s have these parts on the opposite sides. A very clean and smart example. |
| A Scarce German Political Leaders [Commander-In-Chief's] Buckle With most original gilt remaining. Large size. A beautiful and most impressive piece. Worn over the Uniform Great Coat. |
| A Scarce German WW2 Hoheitsfahne of the DAF Blucherplastz 9 regt.Berlin Alluminium braded Standard banner of Blucherplatz 9 Regt of the DAF Organisation.Cogweel Swastika over red and white, some moth holes. A rare collectors piece |
| A Scarce German WW2 Sword Knot [Portopee] Issued to the Fire Protection Police. Silver with carmine. See page 326 of Swords of Germany 1900 1945 by J R Angolia. |
| A Scarce Italian WW2 Combat Helmet Unusually fitted with a WW2 British helmet liner. This may have been a field service replacement, fitted during the Africa campaign, with a liner taken from a captured British Tommy helmet. |
| A Scarce King George IIIrd Light Infantry Musket of 'Tippu Sultan' Era A Bess type musket with a Baker bayonet type barrel bar. Good walnut stock, good mounts barrel and furniture. Feint traces of an EIC mark to the lock. A very interesting musket in very good order. Good aged patina to whole gun. This long gun was made at the time when Light Infantry regiments of the British Army [and it's cousin, the Army of the EIC] were in their infancy. The 95th Regt and the 60th became what was known as light infantry 'rifle regiments' and experimentation with various arms was undertaken in order to come up with the best arm for the unique task required of them. The 'Baker Rifle' was the most famous result of these experiments, [ a gun that copied the Prussian Jager Rifle] and this gun is another of those very early Light Infantry variant long guns. In 1798, Tippu Sultan ruler of Mysore formed a vague alliance with the French, which gave the British governor-general Lord Wellesley a pretext to invade Mysore in alliance with the nizam of Hyderabad. Tippu was killed May, 1799 defending his capital at Shrirangapattana. This event against the 'Tiger of Mysore' was the subject of one of the later 'Sharpe of the 95th' books by Bernard Cornwall. His kingdom was divided among the victors. The East India Co. [for those who are unfamiliar with it] was one of the largest organisations ever to have existed, and it even had it's own Army and Navy, large and powerful enough to rival those any of any country in the world. It was run by British Officers and Gentleman, in India, to enable peaceful free trade throughout the British Empire. Founded by Royal Charter in 1600 it continued until 1858. It's successes were numerous and included the Victory of Sir Robert Clive [Clive of India] at the Battle of Plassey and the eradication of the infamous and fearful 'Thuggees' of the Cult of Kali [Pierce Brosnan starred in a film of this particular event]. It created the greatest trading cities in the world Hong Kong and Singapore, it's Shipyards were the model for Peter the Great's city of St Petersberg, and it created the fortune of Elihu Yale, of Boston Mass., who was Governor of Madras for the EIC, and whose contribution, which eventually amounted to 560 pounds sterling, gained him Yale University to be named in his honour. To get an impression of it's size, the Company was, in it heyday, larger and more significant than say Microsoft, British Petroleum, General Motors, Coca Cola, Ford Motor and probably the next 20 largest companies in the world combined. The barrel has a Jaipur Armoury mark to barrel so it was in store there at some time. A very interesting musket indeed in very good order. |
| A Scarce Large Antique Lombok High Born Warriors Kris [or Keris] From the Lombok island of Indonesia. The Dutch first visited Lombok in 1674 and settled the eastern part of the island, leaving the western half to be ruled by a Hindu dynasty from Bali. The Sasaks chafed under Balinese rule, and a revolt in 1891 ended in 1894 with the annexation of the entire island to the Netherlands East Indies.This is a beautiful and scarce Kris with a hair bound grip [typically indicative of Lombok Keris], typical hardwood scabbard and a fantastic Pamor, meteoric iron, and nickle inlaid blade. This blade is an amazing form of Mahomets Ladder [Bendo Sedago] pattern more normally seen on rare Islamic Shamshir swords. 25 inches long overall |
| A Scarce Military Buckle and Belt With Elaborate Crest Brass Buckle, brown leather belt. A scarce belt of unknown [to us] origin |
| A Scarce Polish Item of The 1st 'Krechowiecki' Lancers Regt.of Poland. A beautiful collector's piece of Polish & Lancer history. Silver and enamel, with superimposed eagle with date 1915, patinated, two part construction, order of Vertuti Militari in centre. Maker's mark A.PANASIUK, WARSZAWA. Excellent Condition.46.5 x 46mm. Lt.Gen Wladyslaw Anders (1892- 1970) - General in the Polish Army and later in life a politician with the Polish government-in-exile in London. As a young officer Anders served the Tsar Nicholas II in the 1st Krechowiecki Lancer's Regiment during World War I. Made by Andrzej Panasiuk, [under license] who was licensed to produce pre WW2 pattern Polish military badges for the Polish Army Museum. |
| A Scarce Swiss M1914 Schmidt-Rubin Sawback Bayonet With M1878 Scabbard Sawback sword bayonet for use on the 7.5 mm. Schmidt-Rubin M1911 carbine and M1931 Short Rifle. The M1914 has a swell-point blade profile, where the blade is wider at the point than at the ricasso, it is fullered on only one side. The M1914 was issued to only select troops, including drivers for Motorized Field Artillery, Howitzers and Heavy Howitzers. Near mint condition, maker marked Waffenfabrik, Neuhausen, with the rare leather and steel mounted M78 scabbard. |
| A Scarce US Militia Or Secret Society Sword. This is a very unusual sword the like of which we have not come across before. It's of the vintage of circa 1860 to 1870, in the classic Civil War New York Militia style, with a traditional helmet pommel and ribbed bone hilt. The part that confounds us is the diamond motif that contains six letter F. There are no records known to us of any State Militia or Secret Society, from the 1870's, that had a name that comprised of six F's, or even three repeated F's. |
| A Scottish Regimental Feather Bonnet A good feather bonnet of a Scottish Highland Regt. Ostrich Feathers on a chequered red and white band, complete with tails Cane basket interior.Good condition. A full dress and combat helmet combined. Two pictures in the gallery show the bonnet worn in the Napoleonic wars and worn currently [For information only not included]. |
| A Shingunto Japanese Officer's Katana Together With Fascinating Historical Souvenirs. A surrendered samurai sword and the collection of British Colonel Frederick Charles Cook, who was wounded in combat, fighting the Japanese in 1942. It comes with a wonderful amount of items from the Colonel, including his regimental photos and drawings. A collection of military mementos and souvenirs. Formerly the property of the late Lt-Colonel Frederick Charles Cook. [1914-1960s] including the Certificate of Merit to Lt-Col Frederick Cook for 33 years Valuable & Meritorious Service in the Royal Engineers, a bullion-embroidered blazed patch with crown emblem (unused), a Royal Engineers polychromed metal badge wall-plaque, a group of photographs taken at Hospital in Poona and other related service and staff personnel photographs relating to service in India, Burma and the Far-East, two original artist drawn caricatures of the subject Col. Fred. Cooke, by a Japanese Artist in Yokahama in Nov 1945.
Signing up to Military Service with the Royal Engineers during the inter-war years and serving most of his time in India and the Far-east, when as acting-Captain Frederick Cook was shot & wounded in action and hospitalised during 1942 with a bullet lodged in his spine. Following an X-ray, this was considered too difficult to remove, and he was subsequently discharged back into service, continuing until he left the Military in 1961, and enjoyed further long and active life in retirement. The bullet was never removed even after further X-rays were taken in 1962. The original 1942 and 1962 X-rays are included |
| A Shinto Wakazashi with a Good Signed Blade Simple iron Koshirae with Minuki of what appear to be peas in a pod. Nice Shinto blade with good grain, thin Sugaha hamon. Blind ribbed saya in black lacquer. Most attractive iron Sukashi Tsuba of flowering plants. Very nicely detailed in light relief. Double Habaki in silver and copper [signs of wear]. Signed Bizen no Kuni no ju Kunimune. Probably Teikyo: 1684-1688 18.5 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Side Drum Of the Royal Monmouthshire Regt. Made in the 1980s a Drum of the now no longer existing Welsh Regt. The Royal Monmouthshire.Top skin needs replacing. A most attractive piece of British Military History. |
| A Siebe Gorman and Co Diver's Knife Circa 1920's Double edged steel blade with cutting edge and serrated edged. Celluliod grip and brass scabbard. Maker marked Siebe Gorman & Co. Good overall condition areas of light pitting to blade |
| A Silver Plated Solid White Metal Figure of a 28th Foot Infantryman 13cm High set on a wooden plinth. |
| A Silver Plated Solid White Metal Figure of a British Fusileer 12cm. High set on a wooden plinth |
| A Silver Plated Solid White Metal Figure of a British Rifleman Napoleonic Rifleman with his 'Baker Rifle'. 12cm high set on a wooden plinth. |
| A Silver Plated Solid White Metal Figure of a Highland Regt. Officer Wearing Highland Trews a 11.5cm figure set on a wooden plinth. |
| A Silver Plated Solid White Metal Figure of a WW2 British Army R/O 11cm high set on a wooden plinth. |
| A Silver Plated Solid White Metal Figure of a WW2 British Commando 11cm high on a wooden plinth |
| A Silver Plated Solid White Metal Figure of the Duke of Wellington 12.5cm high set on a wooden plinth |
| A Simply Fascinating Piece. A Section of Barbed Wire From Colditz Castle Part of a long coil of outer ring fence barbed wire of Colditz Castle POW camp, taken by Major Pickering, Highland Light Infantry. A prisoner of Colditz Castle took the barbed wire as a souvenir after the liberation. Acquired from his direct family. Accompanied with Cert of Authenticity. Approx 15 inches. We have just a few of these which we are selling separately. |
| A Simply Stunning Handachi Mounted Katana. 17th Century. This is one of the most beautifully fitted Katana we have seen in quite a long time. Blade signed Suruga Kuni Fujiwara Kanetoshi, Shinto era.
The blade with one mekugi-ana, has a beautiful long notare hamon, nashiji hada, fully bound tsuka with shakudo-nanako fuchi and kabuto-gane decorated with butterflies in copper and gold within gilt rims, shakudo, gold and silver menuki [underwrap fittings] each in the form of a kabuto [Samurai helmet] and naginata [Samurai spear], and mokko-shaped shakudo-nanako tsuba decorated with Shi-shi and peonies in gilt, in its lightly ribbed black lacquer saya with specks of mother-of-pearl and leaves in black lacquer, the mounts including koi-guchi, kurikata and kojiri fully decorated en suite with the tsuka. |
| A Simply Super Medieval Knights 'Spiked' Battle Mace A most impressive but fearsome early weapon from the 1200's to 1300's, around 700 to 800 years old, and probably of German origin. An incredibly elaborate iron spiked head that would be extremely effective at the function it was designed for. In fact, in a small area, some of the spike tips have been broken off where it has made crushing contact, probably against a helmet. This is also the form of Mace that was mounted on a short chain with a haft and then used as a Flail Mace for extra reach on horseback. Unlike a sword or haft mounted Mace, it doesn't transfer vibrations from the impact to the wielder. This is a great advantage to a horseman, who can use his horse's speed to add momentum to and underarmed swing of the ball, but runs less of a risk of being unbalanced from his saddle.
It is difficult to block with a shield or parry with a weapon because it can curve over and round impediments and still strike the target. It also provides defense whilst in motion. However the rigid haft does have the advantage as the flail needs space to swing and can easily endanger the wielder's comrades.
Controlling the flail is much more difficult than rigid weapons. Mounted on a replaced old haft. One photo in the gallery is from a 13th century Manuscript that shows Knights in combat, and one at the rear is using a stylized and similar Mace [photo for information only and not included with Mace]. The head is around the size of a tennis ball. |
| A Simply Superb Master Conductor/Composer's Solid Silver Presentation Baton For those with an interest in presentation pieces in the realm of musical memorabilia. Engraved 'Geisha', O.M. [Order of Merit] 25th April 1925. C.A.O.S. [Choral & Orchestra Society]. In mallacca and mounted in hallmarked solid silver. Presentation gifted to a composer/conductor who would have been a contemporary of Sir Edward Elgar O.M. Sadly, we know not to whom it may have been presented. However research in the right quarter may well bear fruit. Unscrews at the midsection into two pieces. Superb quality as one might expect. |
| A Simply Wonderful 18th Century, Silver, American War of Independence Sword A Beautiful Silver Hilted Small Rapier, from the era of the American War of Independence. This is quite simply a stunning work of art that demonstrates how the unique skills of the artisan silversmith, and the bespoke swordsmith, combined to create a object of absolute joy. General George Washington, who later became the first President of the United States of America, had an almost identical silver sword. One can see him wearing his sword, in the earliest known portrait of Washington, aged 40, in his position of colonel of the then British colonial Virginia Regiment. Painted by Charles Wilson Peale in 1772. The hilt, like Washington's, is cast silver, decorated with wonderful detail including two intricate, chased and embossed, stands of arms with classical and ancient armour with helmets, shields, polearms, battle standards, battle axes and war trumpets, with two allegorical figures of a God and Goddess seated back to back. The other shell guard has a similar stand of arms but this has a single classical figure blowing a trumpet. It also has two small Putti embellished on the pommel. Silver hilted swords, were mostly not 'hallmarked'. English silver swords, were and are, specifically exempt from the English hallmark act, so frequently they don't bear hallmarks, as this one doesn't. Although George Washington was the first uniformly accepted President of of the United States of America, there were 16 men who held the post of President before him. However, the so called 'Forgotton Presidents' were either Presidents of Congress or Presidents of the United States Under the Articles of Confederation. This sword is without doubt a sword of quality and status, from the time of the Revolutionary War, and absolutely the very kind carried by men of Washington's position. It is an interesting thought, that, however unlikely, it is certainly theoretically possible, that Washington himself may have indeed known the very man who wore this sword. |
| A Singularly Attractive, Fine Quality Nickle Plated & Ivory London Revolver By William Moore of Old Bond St. London. Beautifully hand engraved, finest hand carved ivory grips and much original blueing remaining to the steel parts. One of the best we have seen in many years. Super tight action, of 7mm calibre. Barrel stamped Moore, London, and with Cast Steel on the inside barrel edge. These deluxe hand made pistols were very popular indeed [but very expensive] as they took the all new pinfire cartridge, that revolutionised the way revolvers operated, as compared to the old fashioned percussion action. In fact, while the percussion cap & ball guns were still in production [such as made by Remington, Colt and Starr] and being used in the American Civil War, the much more efficient and faster pinfire guns [that were only made from 1861] were the fourth most popular gun chosen, by those that could afford them, during the war. General Stonewall Jackson was presented with two deluxe pinfire pistols with ivory grips, and many other famous personalities of the war similarly used them. The American makers could not possibly fulfill all the arms contracts that were needed to supply the war machine, especially by the non industrialised Confederate Southern States. So, London made guns were purchased, by contract, by the London Arms Company in great quantities, as the procurement for the war in America was very profitable indeed. They were despatched out in the holds of hundreds of British merchant ships. First of all, the gun and sword laden vessels would attempt to break the blockades, surrounding the Confederate ports, as the South were paying four times or more the going rate for arms, but, if the blockade proved to be too efficient, the ships would then proceed on to the Union ports, [such as in New York] where the price paid was still excellent, but only around double the going rate. This pistol is the pocket or overcoat size, and is the very type that was so popular, as a fast and efficient personal protector, by many of the senior rank officers of both the US and the CSA armies. |
| A Singularly Beautiful 1796 Presentation Grade Flank Co. Officer's Sword This sabre is quite simply wonderful in it's elegance, beauty, quality and style. The hilt is copper gilt with the senior rank ivory grip, and union flag stand of arms embossed langets. Every part of the copper gilt has been sublimely engraved and embellished by the finest hand, with sunbursts, scrolls, acanthus leaves and herringbone lines. Maker inscribed on the scabbard throat mount by Clarke of London. A deep sweeping curved blade, fully engraved with scrolls stands of arms, British crest and cypher. Copper gilt and leather mounted scabbard with the leather having been beautifully restored during it's lifetime. It's overall condition is very good indeed with signs of use, naturally, but it has been very nicely cared for indeed. Used in the Peninsular War, the War of 1812, and The Battle of Waterloo this sabre was the sword of a senior officer in one of the flank companies of the British Army. |
| A Singularly Beautiful and Very Rare Samurai Katana A Very fine fully Iron-Mounted Katana from the Shinto era.
The blade is o-suriage with two mekugi-ana, midare hamon of nie. It has a fully bound tsuka with iron fuchi-kashira decorated with silver nunome clouds within gold nunome borders, gold menuki [underwrap hilt mounts] in the form of horses, and rounded square iron tsuba decorated in gold and silver with a Ho-ho bird, in its very unusual and very rarely seen Komei decorated all iron saya inlaid overall in gold and silver with a Ho-ho bird sitting on a branch against a russet ground.This sword displays beautiful craftmanship of the highest order and it's style and manner is rare indeed. 23.15 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Singularly Beautiful Shinto Period Tachi With Full Clan Mon Decoration Decorated with Tokugawa kamon [crest] of the ruling family of Japan. Signed Terushige. Circa 1680. Superb suite of Koshirae of matching Shakudo copper and gold alloy mounts, with fighting Shi shi in full relief decoration on the Fushi Kashira, with the Tsuba all over decorated with gold Kiri mon. The lacquer to the saya is finely and superbly decorated in gold with mon, to match the Koshirae, and the whole effect is stunning.The blade has been repolished and shows a super Sugaha hamon. Some consider the Tachi to be the most beautiful of the Samurai edged weapons. They can be superlatively elegant, such as this example, and they are worn by the Samurai in a different manner to the standard Katana, by being tied in place and not pushed through the obi. The Tachi was the earliest form of traditional Samurai sword, after the earliest Ken period, with the Katana only making it's appearance in around the 13th century. |
| A Singularly Good Shinto Wakazashi By Eminent Smith Shoshu ju Tsunahiro A Stunning looking sword, Circa 1680. With all matching Koshira in silvered finish depicting turbulant waves in relief with gilt Dragons. Blade with fine carved Horimono of Dragons chasing the pearl of wisdom. Saya with dark lacquer speckled with abilone and gold specks with a gold ribbon stripe. Carved cat scratch gold Habaki.The smith is rated in Hawleys book of Japanese Swordsmiths [1981 ed.] page 879. Repolished blade and now showing immense beauty. |
| A Singulary Stunning Wakazashi of Museum Quality. Fully decorated with an overall theme of turtles. Habaki signed Masachika, Tsuba signed Masayoshi. Shinto circa 1700. In full polish, fine Horimono, matching kodzuka beautiful grain and vibrant hamon. SOLD |
| A Small Royal Navy Midshipman's Dirk Circa 1800. Ivory and copper gilt hilt with turned ivory grip. All coppergilt scabbard. Thin double edged diamond section blade. Made and used by Royal Navy Midshipmen in the wars with France during the Battle of Trafalgar period in 1805. Small dents to scabbard and blade tip. 8.5 inches long overall blade 5.25 inches. A similar Dirk is in the National Maritime Museum Collection, circa 1805, once owned by Lt. Noble RN. [1783 till 1843] item no. WPN1144. Although the dirk was the weapon of a midshipman many naval officers wore a dirk as a most useful weapon for close quarter action. |
| A Solid Bronze Desk Cannon In fine deluxe gilt finish, a modern representation of a an early Lantaka Cannon and Carriage, bearing the Royal Crest of the Sultan of Brunei. Especially commisioned for the Independence of Brunei in January 1984. 28cm long. |
| A Solid White Metal Silver Plated Figure of a Lancer 13.5cm high set on a wooden plinth. |
| A Spanish Armada Period, One Piece 'Pear Stalk' Cabasset Helmet From the time of the unsucessfull Spanish 'Armada' attempted invasion, during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Ist. A Fine Spanish / Italian One Piece High Peak Cabasset mid to late 16th century. With a very fine armourer's mark of a crown over 3 fleur de lys. Wonderfully hand forged with hammer marks and with patches of delamination.Helmet is nicely consructed with good edgework and quality throughout, and it is a fine period piece in excellent condition for age.There is a picture in the gallery of the same form of helmet [heavily rusted] recovered from Jamestown, the early American colony fort. One other picture is a period engraving of an Elizabethan soldier with his pear stalk cabasset, another picture of The Battle of Gravelines, August 8, 1588, the defeat of the Spanish Armada by Sir Francis Drake.For information only. |
| A Spanish WW2 Period Bayonet With German K98 Rifle Adaptor A very good silver plated finish bayonet with a blued steel German K98 rifle adaptor fitting in order to affix the bayonet on the standard German rifle of WW2. Areas of plate wear. A bayonet scarcely seen in the UK. Untouched would much improve with simple polishing. |
| A Spare Set of German WW2 Gas Mask Lenses In original paper packet. |
| A Special Operations Australian Bolo Machete, Used By Australian Commando In issue leather scabbard, marked [in crude hand paint] 'Z' and maker stamped and dated 1940. Used in Borneo and New Guinea. Bears the blade maker mark of Martindale Birmingham England and Crocodile logo, and in it's original leather riveted form fitted scabbard. Martindale is one of the best makers of such weapons. The knife is made of high carbon steel and it is razor sharp to the tip. It measures 20 inches long [out of scabbard] with 14.8 inch blade (tip to grip along the spine). The handle is secured with five large rivets. This is a most practical knife not excessively heavy and well balanced. The condition is used, otherwise near excellent throughout. This is a very nice example of an Australian WW2 use Special Operations jungle knife, that no doubt saw a lot of distinguished service by a brave Aussie that very fortunately survived the dreadful privations and conditions fighting the Japanese in the jungles and islands of the Pacific theatre. |
| A Standard Dress Sidearm for Heer and SS of the early 1930's Third Reich The dress sidearm that was based on a bayonet but never made to fit a rifle. Before the regulation 1933 pattern Holbein dress SS Dagger was designed, the Heer dress sidearm, with eagle head pommel, bright nickle finish with black grip and black scabbard, was the dagger of choice for enlisted men when walking out, and this dagger continued to be worn by men right into the war period, by both Heer and SS. With original leather frog. Made by E. Pack & Sohne. Solingen. Excellent blade, near mint hilt, slight wear to paint on scabbard. |
| A Standard Dress Sidearm for Heer and SS of the early 1930's Third Reich Eagle pommel stylized hilt with single curved quillon in plated finish [with surface corrosion] Steel scababrd. Maker marked blade but with old corrosion. An honest sidearm dagger of the early Reich but in fairly worn order. |
| A Stunning 19th Century Swept Hilt Long Saxon Rapier, With Gilt Bronze Hilt A beautiful sword in the manner of a Royal Rapier, after master sword maker Juan Martinez of Toledo, maker to the King of Spain. A similar style sword was made for the Elector of Saxony in 1606 and sold by the Saxon Royal Collection in 1970, and is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The hilt is of chisseled gilded bronze with a long elegant and beautifully crafted blade [95cm long] gilded bronze mounted scabbard over leather. The leather is now quite worn and areas of old repair. The design and form is typically in the stunning 17th century baroque style, in both extravagance and beauty. We believe it was made to be used by such as the world's greatest actors of the 18th or 19th Century, such as David Garrick. His portrayal of the great Shakespearian Kings, such as King Richard IIIrd, were dressed with magnificent extravagance with costumes, sets and weaponry that were recreated with skill, beauty and style with no expense spared. It may also have been made as a presentation piece or gift for a famous [albeit unknown today] individual. Around 90% of all the original gilt remains. Overall length 116cm long. |
| A Stunning and Beautiful Samurai Shinshinto Katana Signed by Muneoki this sword has a hugely impressive blade showing amazing grain throughout the hada. Beautiful fully matching suite of marine wave Koshirae [mounts] Kashira and Kojiri in Shakudo and a matching silver Fushi and Kurigata also matching with marine waves. Beautiful saya of crushed gold over black lacquer. A most attractive Sukashi Tsuba of unusual form. Now with a repolished blade revealing a good hamon with intermittant crab claws and beautiful grain with small islands of hamon within the grain.This is a substantial sword, made for an unusually large framed Samurai of great stature, most likely in excess of 6 feet tall.29.75 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Stunning Finest British Antique Rifle Reduced by an Amazing £1400 ! ! Magnificent antique percussion Rifle, by master Scottish gunsmith Ancell of Perth [ Maker to HRH Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's Consort] Approximately the same size and form as the famous British Baker Rifle. This is ideally for the benefit of our regular clients who view our site every day, and offered considerably under cost price, but as a thank you for their continued and regular custom. But please decide quickly our very infrequent back catalogue sale weapons can go very quickly indeed!. We have a regular stock of many thousands of items but we place on sale only a very few every year to make room for newly added or expected stock items. A finest handmade bespoke antique rifle with superb, top grade walnut which is superbly carved with wonderful scrollwork worthy of Thomas Chippendale himself. The handmade gun of a Prince or Duke similar in status to His Royal Highness Prince Albert, with amazing quality engraving, as would be expected with a gun of this class, but the difference, from all the other guns of it's type, is the rifled barrel, which has to be seen to be believed. A gun of this quality could likely only ever be made today by the finest London gunsmiths such as Purdey, or Holland and Holland, and at a likely cost in excess of £70,000 [Purdeys handmade basic shotguns start today at around £50,000. each] Carbine length barrel 25.5 inches, 21 mm bore, 40.5 inches long overall |
| A Stunning Japanese Samurai Half Armour.Composite 17th Century Do and Menpo Full Do, front and back & plates [laced]. Court Cap style Kabuto Helmet in Red Lacquer skull over iron with laced and lacquer neck defences.Lacquer over iron Menpo.17th Century Do and Menpo. Arms with mail. |
| A Stunning Large Boxlock Flintlock Pistol By Barber of London A 'Queen Anne' Cannon barrel pistol with finest silver scroll inlay to the butt in the elaborate scrolling chinoiserie style. Forward sliding safety trigger guard.This is one of the large silver inlaid turn-off cannon barrel pistols that were highly popular in the Revolutionary War era, and many similar pistols are in the great American museums and collections that were used, in the American Revolution, by Officers of both sides of the conflict. 13 inches long overall. Good working action. |
| A Stunning Long Barreled Ottoman Flintlock Pistol Fine Tutaneg silver alloy mounts decorated with full embossed relief portrait busts, and a fine serpent sideplate. Gold inlaid steel barrel. A truly amazing chisselled steel lock of the finest quality. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked silver. |
| A Stunning Quality Samurai Sword With Wonderful Fittings A very fine Wakazashi by a very highly rated master swordsmith. Importantly, it is signed with the mark of 'Ichi', Dewa no kami Yukihiro. The superb quality Fushi Kashira are Shakudo with gold bats and a thin crescent moon over a nanako ground. The Tsuba is a very fine piece of craftsmanship, of a false rimmed mokko form, depicting a chisseled relief rattan basket weave patten with panels finely decorated with multi coloured gold and silver leaves, grasses, reeds and birds in flight, it has a matching Kojiri on the scabbard with a similar basket weave, of a relief, rattan pattern with leaves and small gold highlights. Deep red lacquer saya over decorated in a very fine, delicate, black patterning. The blade has a mild, undulating Hamon, based on Sugaha, in around 85% original polish. The whole aspect of this wonderful sword is a very subtle story, with its flowing connection of fish awaiting capture under a moonlit sky. The woven basket sitting in grasses [of the Kojira], a reeded grassy marshland, with night flying birds, and the woven rattan fihing mat [the Tsuba], the the evening sky filled with bats beneath a 16th moon, [the Fushi Kashira] the fabulous golden carp swimming in the marshes [the Kodsuka] and finally the dark red of early night sky overflowing with the coming darkness [the Saya].It is believed that, with the nidai Tadakuni, Yukihiro travelled to Edo to learn the techniques of the old Ichimonji school as practiced by Shirobei Noriyoshi of the Ishido school. It is the Ichi from ichimonji that he inscribed on his nakago after this study visit. Yukihiro became the retained swordsmith of Nabeshima Sakyo and moved to Saga City, the provincial capital.Yukihiro was quite widely travelled for that day he even made swords in Hiroshima in Aki province. Eguchi believes this was due to a relationship with Norifusa who was originally from Saga, but had become the fief smith of the castle town of Hiroshima.Yukihiro received the title Dewa Daijo in the 5th year of Shoho (1648) and was promoted to Dewa (no) Kami in the 3rd year of Kambun (1663). 22. inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Stunning Royal Naval 1805 Commander, Captain's & Admiral's Sword An original King George IIIrd [Heavy Grade] British Naval Sword and the very type of sword carried by Nelson and his Captain's at The Battle of Trafalgar. Although officially known as the 1805 Pattern, Royal Navy Senior Officer's Sword, they were actually used from the end of the 18th century [from around the 1790's]. Lion's head pommel, ivory grip [ivory being the symbol of Royal Navy high rank] with original twisted wire grip and cast relief fouled anchor langet. All copper gilt mounts, with copper gilt and leather scabbard. Much original gilt is remaining to the hilt, the ivory has a superb patina. The blade has the full Royal Navy devices of fouled anchor plus Crown with Lion and Unicorn plus a top mast with sails and a stand of arms. Sword to sword edge contact nicks and some old corrosion Original copper gilt mounted leather scabbard. There are a few similar surviving examples of this very sword, in the Royal Collection, in the collection at the Tower of London, and in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. In the National Maritime Museum there is a most similar example, that was the sword of Admiral Earl St Vincent. Although a beautiful sword, suitable for the very finest of formal dress occasions, Admirals [usually aboard Flag Ships] and Captains were well used to combat circumstances, such as the Admirals Earl St Vincent, Nelson, & Collingwood, and these swords were carried, and frequently used, in full combat. Last pictures in gallery show a group portrait of Admiral Nelson carrying his sword, and a portrait of Naval Hero, Admiral Earl St. Vincent, painted in 1805 by Domenico Pellegrini clearly holding his very same sword.[pictures not included with sword] In 1797, Admiral Earl St Vincent won a crushing and much needed victory over the Spanish off Cape St Vincent [hence his title]. In 1799, he commanded the Channel fleet in a close blockade of the French fleet at Brest. His period as first Lord of the Admiralty made him many enemies as he fearlessly denounced corruption in high places and in low. In 1806, he took the Channel fleet to sea for the last time, carrying this very type of sword. However, it was now a fleet whose authority on the sea could not be challenged, largely due to years of untiring effort by its commander. There is a very similar sword indeed, in the National Maritime Museum, that was presented by Captain Duncan of the Mercury to his First Lt. For gallantry and leadership in action in 1809. |
| A Stunning Russian Cold War Era Poster Original poster with interesting subject matter of medal of a Hero of the Soviet Union. This is one of a collection of Russian USSR posters we have acquired from the estate of an ex British Glider Pilot of WW2. This poster is folded and in condition as seen in the photos. Dated 1968 38 inches x 22 inches. This poster is a real and used item, not just for show, would look super nicely framed |
| A Stunning Russian Cold War Era Poster Original poster with interesting subject matter of Lenin with an outstretched arm. This is one of a collection of Russian USSR posters we have acquired from the estate of an ex British Glider Pilot of WW2. This poster is folded and in condition as seen in the photos. Dated 1969 34 inches x 23 inches. This poster is a real and used item, not just for show, would look super nicely framed |
| A Stunning Shinshinto [1781-1868] Moroha Zukuri, Samurai's Tanto [Dagger] Signed Yoshikanu saku, with a rare Moroha Zukuri double edged blade. This very rare type of blade shape was developed for samurai tanto, and the design dates from the Mid-Muromachi period (AD.1384 - AD.1574). The blade has double sided cutting edges with a hamon on both edges. Known as ken, this is a very scarce shape and very rarely to be seen outside of great collections or museums. Blade in full polish with double sugaha hamon. Superb quality fittings and shirasaya storage mount. |
| A Stunning, 18th century Indian Tiger Headed 'Tipu Sultan' Style Shamshir Sword. Used in the era of the battle of the Siege of Seringapatam (4 May 1799). It was the final confrontation of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War between the army of the British East India Company, under the command of Governor General Richard Wellesley, [later enobled as the Duke of Wellington], and the Kingdom of Mysore. The British achieved a decisive victory after breaching the walls of the fortress at Seringapatam (as Srirangapatna was then known) and storming the citadel. Tippu Sultan, Mysore's ruler, was killed in the action. The British restored the Wodeyar dynasty to the throne after the victory, but retained indirect control of the kingdom. A fabulous sword such as this would have been used in combat and then it was likely captured as war booty. However in that era it was perfectly permitted for a English officer to carry such a trophy sword in combat when in service. In fact many of Wellingtons generals carried all manner of Indo Persian and Islamic swords captured on campaign during this time, including Wellington himself. The National Portrait Gallery has several portraits of Generals in full uniform adorned with captured trophy swords such as this. This fabulous sword has an all copper gilt hilt and mount. Decorated with very likely a Tiger's head pommel, and fully designed with great cat mask suspension mounts and all over highly elaborate patterning. The brief story of Tipu Sultan (c.1753–99) the Sultan of Mysore from (1782–99) is as follows; He inherited the kingdom recently created by his father, Hyder Ali and was a formidable enemy to both the British and neighbouring Indian states. Failure to secure active French support left him without allies in resisting the British. He was finally besieged in his own capital, Seringapatam, when unfounded rumours that he had secured an alliance with Revolutionary France gave the British the necessary pretext for a final assault. He was killed in the attack. On a number of Tipu's swords, such as those at Powis Castle, near Welshpool; British Museum, London; and Museo Stibbert Museum, Florence, tigers form the hilt, with tiger pommel, tiger quillons and langet. A tiger motif on the blade, as at Ipswich Museum, and the Wallace Collection, London, occurs less frequently. "Each tiger is of a different design. The tiger and tiger's head denotes the certainty of it having belonged to royalty as none but Princes are allowed to introduce it," wrote Lord Mornington, the Governor General, in 1800. Known to Europeans as the scimitar, the shamshir is the quintessential long-sword of the horsemen of Persia, Moghul India and Arabia.The name means ‘tiger’s claw’, and alludes to its distinctive curve. This curve is a direct functional development, intended to widen the blade’s cutting portion and permit deeper wounds when used in a downwards ‘drawing’ cut. Shamshirs are highly adapted to the horse-mounted form of hand-to-hand combat practiced in western and southern Asia between the 16th and 18th centuries, whereby attacks could be made either in passing or by slashing down on infantry from above. On this sword the blade is inlaid in silver with a hunt of tigers or lions and other beasts, with figures firing matchlock guns. Islam did not directly forbid representational, figurative art, but there is no religious tradition governing it as there is with calligraphy and the more geometric decorative arts. Islamic figurative art is generally secular (separated from religion). Representational examples of Islamic art often illustrate battles or animal hunts, and were used to decorate the private apartments of the nobility. Although unfortunately there is no known remaining direct connection with this sword and Tipu Sultan, or Seringapatam, at all, it is so similar to the Tiger of Mysore's solid gold sword as it is to be logically concluded to possibly have been used by a noble/prince in his service, or, at the very least an admirer-supporter. The last photo in the gallery shows the death of the Sultan at Seringpatam. Please note, the body of the tiger on the Sultans pure gold sword is decorated not with traditional stripes, but tear shaped precious rubies and emeralds, and these tear shapes are called bubris [meaning stylized tiger stripes]. The bubris are similarly engraved within the tiger's body, on the pommel all over this sword, in it's various scabbard and blade hunting scenes etc. There is a defensive sword cut on one of the quillon, the scabbard fits 1/4 inch to the bottom of the hilt and the tip of the blade has seen some old corrosion. |
| A Stunning, Original Japanese, Samurai Full Gosuko [Armour] A full Ceremonial armour 19th to 20th century from most likely the late Taisho Era. Fully laced Do [breast and backplate], helmet in deluxe Koboshibachi [dome rivetted] style. Probably from the 16th century style |
| A Stunning, Signed, Soten School Shinto Wakazashi by Sukesada Fine quality Koshirae, signed Soten, depicting the dragon. All the fittings, kodzuka, saya and minuki are in the dragon form. The Tsuba is also signed [a little feintly] and represents the water Dragon. The overall condition is very good indeed but would improve with a little gentle cleaning. The Soten school was created by one of Masamune's students, named Kanemitsu, who was one of a select group of ten pupils.17th century.Blade signed Bizen osafune Sukesada.- |
| A Suite of Edo Period [1599 to 1863] Wakazashi Koshirae [Fittings] Edo period Fushi Kashira and Saya, saya with small damage to bottom. Kashira of Shakudo, with a relief blossom decoration and with matching Minuki. These are Koshirae [fittings] only and without blades |
| A Super Antique Gold Prospector-Miner's 'Shovel Pick and Nugget' Brooch An original gold prospectors brooch. In Australia and in America's Wild West and Alaska [the '49ers] the gold prospectors would, on occasion, have made by jewellers fancy brooches to represent their gold strikes, and this is one of those. Beautifully designed and executed it has a gold prospector-miner's pick axe, crossed with a shovel and set with a gold nugget at the centre. There is a similar example in a national museum in Australia and in a few in the great museum collections in the US. Stamped 9ct, safety chain with spring mount. 52mm long. Two photos of similar brooches in the gallery. One from the National Museum of Australia, another from Cowan's sale in Ohio. |
| A Super Back-Action Percussion Overcoat or Travelling Pistol King George IV Circa 1830 made by Harvey of Plymouth. Fine full fancy scroll engraving all steel mounts and octagonal hook breech barrel. Finest juglans regia walnut stock with fine chequered grip. Back action percussion lock. The whole pistol has a lovely patina and is really a most handsome fine quality piece. A very small piece of walnut is broken off at the forend, we will repair this near invisibly, the hammer's nipple cover part off. 11inch long overall, barrel 6 inches |
| A Super British Rifles Regt.General's Sabre Of The Napoleonic Wars Copper gilt hilt with lions head pommel, 1796 type knuckle bow and langets, Ivory hilt which denotes for use by a General Officer. The blade is deluxe engraved with a Rifles Light Infantry Regt. foot officer wearing a Rifles Light Infantry Tarlton helmet brandishing this sword. King George IIIrd cypher and fancy scroll work, all highlighted with gilt.The Light Infantry Rifles Regiments were predominantly the 95th and the 60th and this is a very fine and historical example of a senior officer's sword of the Peninsular and Waterloo. |
| A Super English Civil War Era Cavalryman's Cuirass From Warwick Castle A fine composite cuirass direct from the Armoury of Britain's [and perhaps Europe's] greatest Medieval Castle. With the Castle's armoury inventory metal tag still affixed. With fine Armourers marks of The London Armourers Company[* see below] of the 'A' mark [for the Commonwealth], and also the helmet mark to the back plate. During the Civil War the Castle was besieged by the Royalists, they failed in their endeavours and they were captured and incarcerated within the castle dungeons. It certainly possible this armour was used in this conflict or later. William the Conqueror ordered the start of the building of Warwick in the 11th century, and by the 14th century the great Towers were completed. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have the opportunity to acquire some wonderful arms and weaponry from a small disposal from the Castle Armoury, in order to benefit the restoration of the Castle. In the year 1264, the castle was seized by the forces of Simon de Montfort, who consequently imprisoned the then current Earl, William Mauduit, and his Countess at Kenilworth (who were supporters of the king and loyals to the barons) until a ransom was paid. After the death of William Mauduit, the title and castle were passed to William de Beauchamp. Following the death of William de Beauchamp, Warwick Castle subsequently passed through seven generations of the Beauchamp family, who over the next 180 years were responsible for the majority of the additions made to Warwick Castle. After the death of the last direct-line Beauchamp, Anne, the title of Earl of Warwick, as well as the castle, passed to Richard Neville ("the Kingmaker"), who married the sister of the last Earl (Warwick was unusual in that the earldom could be inherited through the female line). Warwick Castle then passed from Neville to his son-in-law (and brother of Edward IV of England), George Plantagenet, and shortly before the Duke's death, to his son, Edward. Several Kings owned Warwick including King Henry VIIth, and Henry VIIIth, James Ist, and also Queen Elizabeth.* In 1322, in the reign of King Edward II, the Guild of St George of the Armourers was instituted, by ordinance of the City of London, which laid down regulations for the control of the trade. King Henry VI presented the Armourers with their first Royal Charter in May 1453.One pictire in the gallery shows Warwick Castle today [for information only, not included] |
| A Super Koto Era 500 to 600 Year Old Tanto With Taka no ha Clan Crest Beautifully decorated with a full matching suite of Koshirae, signed on the fushi by the maker, all finely engraved with a flower and leaf theme. The blade has Horimono of Bonji script and an ancient symbolic Ken sword blade.The [Hawk Feather] crest is known as a Kamon, and the Kamon have been in use for a very long time ... the first documented usage of a kamon symbol dates back to the Asuka era (around 700 A.D.), when Emperor Suiko used one of these emblems on his flags. The earliest common usage of Kamon begins in the Heian era (794-1192 A.D.), however, when it became common for the nobility to either choose their own Kamon, or have it bestowed upon them by their superiors in rank. |
| A Super Medievil Bearded Battle Axe With good armourer's mark struck on blade face. Slightly bent blade. Triangular socket. Rehafted. Heavy stout blade of very good form. A most similar Battle Axe in the Staadtsmuseum in Munich is shown in the gallery. |
| A Super Neolithic Polished Stone Axe. A British polished [probably greenstone] axe, most similar to examples from the Mendip in Somerset. A super early Bronze age piece and in great condition. Around 5500 years old. Incredibly an amount of the stone axes used in Britain at this time were imported from Italy. |
| A Super Pair of Samurai Warror's Abumi [Stirrups] In iron completely overlaid with ornate silver decoration. Shinto era likely Circa 1700. |
| A Super Remington .44 Revolver, With 'Wild West' Era' Rimfire Conversion A Civil War Issue revolver that saw much use during the war and after into the Wild West era. One of the most widely used handguns of the Civil War, the Remington New Model Army was the primary revolver issued to Union cavalry after the fire at the Colt's factory in 1863, and these revolvers remained in service with the regular cavalry regiments on the frontier until they were replaced with the Model 1873 Colt Cavalry Revolvers in 1875. Matt nickle plated finish, sound action, Civil War issue with inspector's marks, with serial number and separate conversion serial number. Three years after the end of the Civil War, Remington started to offer conversions for metal cartridges to be used instead of the cap & ball style paper cases. Remington paid a small fee to the renowned Smith & Wesson company who owned the 1855 Rollin White patent #12,648 on the method and principles for re-boring out cylinders and thus Remington was the first company to offer big .44 caliber metal cartridges a couple of years before the main competitors of Colt and S & W . The Remington 1858 New Model Army in .44 caliber was quite a powerful gun in its day and the bullet or ball could be fired out at over 1,000 feet per second (f.p.s) which was quite fast in the 1860's as most bullet velocities were around 750 f.p.s A very good example indeed, and would be an excellent addition to any fine collection. The Remington was a popular but expensive side arm used in the American Civil War. It was a "cap and ball" .44 caliber, single-action new model army revolver, that was considered by many to be more durable than the Colt-made revolvers of the same time period. They were manufactured from 1863 to 1875 . Many of these revolvers were copied in the Confederacy which often had brass frames due the shortage of steel during the war. A prized possession of the Remington Arms Company is an original New Model Army with ivory grips once carried by William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The historic revolver is on display with Cody's simple handwritten note, "It never failed me". Cody carried the revolver in original percussion form well into the cartridge era. We are one of Britain's leading specialists in especially sourcing rare and original American 'Wild West' revolvers, that used antique metallic cartridges that are deemed obsolete by UK Home Office firearm regulations, and therefore legitimate and lawful to own by collectors in the UK without license or restriction. |
| A Super Samurai Warrior's Horse's Bit Iron construction decorated with pierced Kiri clan mon designs. Circa 1700. Early Samurai horse bit's are certainly very rare and to have family crests in the design a most pleasing feature. |
| A Super Shinto Chisa Katana By Isa No Kami Minomoto Kaneshige Silver Koshirae [mounts] with very unusual and most charming original wrap, from the Edo era, decorated with a printed flower pattern.The blade is in good polish showing a beautiful hamon. A very well rated master smith with the Chrysanthemum stamp above his name on the tang. The Chisa Katana is a slightly shorter Katana highly suitable for two handed, or two sword combat, or, combat within enclosed areas such as castles or buildings. As such they were often the sword of choice for the personal Samurai guard of a Daimyo, and generally the only warriors permitted to be armed in his presence. Daimyo were the most powerful feudal rulers from the 10th century to the 19th century in Japan. The term "daimyo" literally means "great name." From the shugo of the Muromachi period through the sengoku to the daimyo of the Edo period, the rank had a long and varied history. The term "Daimyo" is also sometimes used to refer to the leading figures of such clans, also called "lord". It was usually, though not exclusively, from these warlords that a shogun arose or a regent was chosen. |
| A Super US Civil War Dated [1864] Springfield Rifle An American Infantry Rifle, lock dated for the Civil War in 1864, with the model 1866, Allin, breech loading trap door, for use in the American Indian Wars of the early 1870's. This was he war that cost Colonel George Armstrong Custer his life at the Little Big Horn. Buffalo Bill used a 66 trap door conversion Springfield which he nicknamed Lucretia Borgia'. Good Springfield markings and US Eagle. Good working action. |
| A Super Victorian Policeman's Lantern With Original Bull's-eye Lens. The earliest and rarest candle type [as opposed to the later oil burner type] with clip open door, bulls eye 'torch beam' lens and ribbed cowl vent. Two traditional foldaway handles. An original Victorian Police Constable's bulls eye lantern, possibly by Hiatt & Co. but not maker marked. Hiatt were well known Police equipment suppliers and makers of police lanterns, handcuffs, leg-irons, manacles and shackles for over 200 years. The very type as can be seen in all the old films of the White chapel Murders, and Sherlock Holmes' adventures in the gloomy London Fog. An ingenious design that can also be used as a hand warmer, on a bitter Victorian winter's night. Complete in sound condition overall. In the gallery can be seen an original drawing of a 'Bobby' discovering a Jack the Ripper victim using the very type of lantern. [For information only not included] Overall 6 inches high. |
| A Super, Antique Bronze ' Horse Racing' Collectable Ideal for the gentleman or lady with a passion for Horse Racing or simply Horses. In fine bronze, a super desk, mantle or sidetable ornament. With a finely detailed relief design of a Horse Race, showing two race horses side by side with jockeys. With rear finger loop for holding. |
| A Super, British, "Tower Of London" Infantry Brown Bess Musket. Excellent action, finest walnut stock, made in the most famous armoury in the world. A fine front line military musket used from the Peninsular Wars The War of 1812 in America and the Battle of Waterloo. This is a super example with fabulous patina. Small contemporary forend stock work around 2ft from end. |
| A Super, Commando WW2 'Heroism, MID' Medal Group, with Original Bar Ribbon. 5 Medal group with bar and Mentioned In Despatches oakleaf. Mentioned in Despatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry. This in an interesting group but with one strange anomaly. 39/45 Star, Atlantic Star* with France and Germany Bar, Africa Star, Italy Star, War Medal with MID. However it's original court mounting has not the Atlantic Star, but a Burma Star fitted, with the Atlantic ribbon and Bar, and we can't really explain why. Was the Burma Star sent by the MOD in error? we have simply no idea, but it has been worn this way since issued, and is none the less a very interesting heroism group indeed. The 5 medal ribbon bar also has two rosettes [one on the Atlantic ribbon and another on the Africa ribbon]. Medal recipient not to be named. |
| A Superb German Artillery Officer's Sabre of WW1 & WW2 Lions head pommel with crossed cannon langet. Celluloid black grip with original wire binding. With traces of original gilt to the hilt. Very good blade, hilt superb with excellent patina. No scabbard |
| A Superb 'Moghul Style' Dagger.Carved Jade Goats Head Hilt Damascus Blade Indo-Persian Dagger with a beautiful Jade hilt in the form of a carved relief Goat's Head surmounting a giold Koftgari work hilt mount.Damascus steel blade. Fancy silk scabbard with pure gold Koftgati decorated scabbard throat and chape mounts.14 inches long overall |
| A Superb 'Wild West' Smith and Wesson Revolver One of the greatest names in the world of American pistols. Smith and Wessons have been owned by all the greatest and infamous characters in Wild West history, such as Jesse James, Cole Younger, Bob Ford and Wyatt Earp. The Smith & Wesson Model No. 1 1/2. [Second issue] with birds head butt and top strap cylinder stop. The 'second type' intermediate manufacture model between the Old Model No. 1 and the No 2 Model Army. With a considerable amount of original blue remaining. Good tight action and fine and clear Smith and Wesson address to barrel top strap with patent dates. Overall length 7.5 inches. Barrel 3.5 inches 32 Rimfire calibre. Small marks to barrel top strap. |
| A Superb 17th Century Cavalry Semi Basket Hilted Sword With a stunning bronze hilt with a mythical beast head pommel, elaborate intertwined and twisted bars [with thumb-ring] and a pomegranate and strawberry shaped guard. In the Renaissance fruit had an important iconography. It can be symbolic of a theological concept such as fall, incarnation, passion, redemption etc…. Pomegranates frequently meant immortality and resurrection as since ancient times it has been associated with the return of spring. Strawberries symbolize Paradise [which is exactly what you shall find at the market near St. Lorenzo if you are fortunate enough to be in Florence when the delicately flavoured fragoline
di bosco (wild strawberries) are in season]. This is a fine and beautiful early sword, and used by an officer of Cuirassier or Cavalry from the era of the Thirty Years War, The English Civil War, and continually in to the 9 years War [the War of the Great Alliance]. This war also encompassed King William's War, the French-Indian War of North America,which was also much fought in Europe against the French Armies of Louis XIV by Britain's King William and his continental Allies. |
| A Superb 19th Century Meiji Period Carved Whale Bone Handled Walking Stick A wonderful Japanese walking stich with a handle of a carved figure of Fukurokuju, one of the Japanese seven deities, the tall headed god of happiness, wealth and long life one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (“Seven Gods of Luck”), particularly associated with longevity. He is supposed to have once lived on earth as a Chinese Taoist sage. He is often depicted as an old man with a white beard, wearing a scholar’s headdress and sometimes accompanied by a stag. He carries a large stick to which is attached a scroll containing the world’s wisdom. The seven are drawn from various sources but have been grouped together from at least the 16th century. They are Bishamon, Daikoku, Ebisu, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, Hotei, and the only female in the group, Benten. The carving is beautifully executed and the figure has an most charming jolly smile. The collar is silver coloured metal and the shaft is finest mallacca wood terminated with a turned horn tip. Excellent condition overall |
| A Superb AN 13 French Cavalry Pistol Of The Napoleonic Wars Dated 1813 The cavalry issue pistol for carabiniers, cuirassiers, chasseurs, dragoons and lancers, serving in Napoleon Bonapate's army during the Napoleonic Wars. It bears superb stock markings and all fully marked steel and brass parts. Lock engraved Manufacture Mauburg Imperial. This is the pattern called the AN 13 [year 13] which represents the 13th year of French Ist Republic of 1792. The French Republican Calendar or French Revolutionary Calendar was a calendar proposed during the French Revolution, and used by the French government for about 12 years from late 1793 to 1805 and at this point it was then abolished by Napoleon. The pistol is in excellent condition with a superb tight action. However the hammer is lacking it's top jaw and screw, and requires just the most basic repair and replacement piece and ram rod. |
| A Superb and Elegant Koto Samurai Katana With a partial signature to nakago Hizen no kuni Fuji.. Probably Koto with a beautiful hamon with fabulous activity, excellent funbari, good floral shibuishi fushi kashira, shakudo minuki of war banners. Iron leaf pattern tsuba, signed. Fine gold wrap. Possibly one of the Tadayoshi [hiro] of Hizen 28.25 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Superb And Simply Beautiful King George IIIrd Snuff Mull of Lt Col Gordon . As a Major in 1st Foot 13 August 1807 he served in the Peninsula War fighting Napoleon from October 1808 to January 1809; and again from August 1810 to February 1811; he also served with honour at the Battle of Walcheren in 1809; and he then commanded the 1Btn.1st Foot in Canada as Lt Colonel; He commanded the Ist at The Battle of Buffalo (also known as the Battle of Black Rock) which took place during the War of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States on December 30, 1813 in the State of New York, near the Niagara River. The British forces drove off the hastily-organized defenders and engaged in considerable plundering and destruction. The operation was conceived as an act of retaliation for the burning by American troops of the Canadian village of Newark. Major General Riall [Lt Col Gordon's commanding officer] crossed the Niagara around midnight on December 29 and landed with most of his men some 2 miles downstream of Black Rock in the early hours of December 30. He delegated Lieutenant Colonel John Gordon and the Royal Scots to land at Black Rock itself in order to attack the Americans from a different direction. Major General Amos Hall was first alerted to the British presence when Riall's advance guard, the light infantry company of the 89th Regiment, drove off the American piquet at Conjunckaty Creek (now known as Scajaquada Creek) and captured the bridge and the battery there. Hall sent the militia under Warren and Churchill to reconnoiter. When they ran off at the first enemy fire, Hall dispatched a second force under Adams and Chapin but exactly the same thing happened. Hall now took personal command of the remainder of his force. He ordered a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Blakeslee to attack the British left and advanced toward Black Rock with the rest of his men.
As dawn broke, Hall directed "a very heavy fire of cannon and musketry" at Colonel Gordon's 1st Royal Scots as they tried to land at Black Rock. Gordon was supported by the fire of a five-gun battery but several of his boats grounded and his regiment took substantial casualties before they could force their way ashore. Riall now advanced with his main body against Hall's center, sending a detachment from his left wing to hit the American right flank. Although the Americans fought with considerable obstinacy, according to Riall, after half an hour of fighting the American right wing broke into a rout. In order to avoid being outflanked, Hall ordered a general retreat. The British pursued all the way to Buffalo, two miles away. Once in Buffalo, the British and Indians sacked it, burning down all but four of its buildings. The British troops also destroyed the navy yard and three armed schooners (the Chippewa, Ariel, Little Belt) and one sloop (the Trippe).
Riall's force then moved on to Black Rock, where once again, all but one building was razed to the ground, before going back over the Niagara to Canada. Lt Col.Gordon then he commanded 7 companies of the reserve at the battle of Lundy's Lane 1814, The Battle of Lundy's Lane was a battle of the Anglo-American War of 1812, which took place on 25 July 1814, in present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, and one of the deadliest battles ever fought on Canadian soil. The Lt Col was killed in action in the same year of 1814. Horn lid with a silver thistle motif hinge and an engraving of John Gordon around the silver rim of the horn body. In the 18th century and early 19th century these such mulls were highly popular with Scottish gentleman and they are highly collectable today. This is one of the nicest examples we have seen and simply wonderful to have history and the inscribed name of a Napoleonic and American War hero, Lt.Col. John Gordon of the 1st Foot, who was killed in action at the Siege of Fort Erie in 1814. 12 British officers and 138 men died during that siege, and there is monument to their name, that was erected in the 1930's Lt Col Gordon is listed alongside the 11 other officers on the monument. Picture in the gallery of The Battle Of Lundy's Lane. The mull measures 3 inches x 3 inches. We first owned this super piece around 20 years ago, and at that time it was sold to a collector of ours, together with some papers of Colonel Gordon. Col. Gordon's effects had been returned to his surviving family, after his death, including this mull and his papers. Very sadly those original papers that we had found were lost some time during the past 20 years. |
| A Superb Antique Barong. An Indonesian Warriors Short Sword. Leaf shaped watered blade, showing superb tempered grain and structure. The hilt has a “cockatoo beak” (kakatua) handle. Silver band with mother of pearl decoration. Rattan bound scabbard with mother of pearl bottom mount.During it's life some of the rattan has been lost and the bottom mount reaffixed. |
| A Superb Antique Katar Decorated with Gold Koftgari 18th Century. An Indian Sikh Push-Dagger Decorated with Gold onlaid Koftgari work. Finest blade with a central fuller with three ribs, the innermost in the form of the kundalini flame of Sushumna, with a simply stunning crows-beak armour piercing tip. Used in many wars it was able to pierce straight through armour. This technique was very good for Medieval warfare. The blade has a small museum collection number stamped at the forte of the blade 19. For a near identical Katar dagger, see the world renown collection of magnificent Mogul arms of Dr Leo S. Figiel, item 2142, [The collection was sold in San Francisco in 1998]. |
| A Superb Antique Keris [Kris] With a Singularly Beautiful Blade The traditional Indonesian weapon allegedly endowed with religious and mystical powers. Wonderful Indonesian hardwood hilt and scabbard, with a stunning blade showing incredible grain. With traditional Meteorite laminated iron blade with hammered nickle for the contrasting pattern |
| A Superb Battle of Trafalgar RN Captain's Sword, But With Combat Scars This is a fabulous battle weight sword with the traditional senior rank indicator for British Royal Naval officer's, of the carved solid ivory grip [with it's original triple wire binding], and around 90% of all it's original, pure gold, mirror bright gilt remaining. However, it has certainly seen some influential sword-to-sword combat damage in it's service life. Most of it's conflict impacts has been incurred in the hilt region, where there are three, distinct, sword defensive strikes on the langets, and the quillon has been broken. The knuckle bow guard is slightly misshapen, and this is absolutely a classic sign of close quarter combat sword-punching, likely against a very bony French sailor's jaw!.The blade is overall blue and fully engraved with scrolls and swags, royal devices, GR etc. and the 1801 Royal Crest. For condition, this sword rates about six out of ten overall, but, as a highly evocative symbol of magnificent British maritime conflict, in the time of Nelson's navy, it scores ten out of ten all the way. This sword was terribly grubby and we have undertaken an intensive, yet most sensitive, conservation cleaning to the hilt and blade that has managed to keep all it's original condition completely intact. |
| A Superb British Pattern 1856 "2-Band" Enfield Sword Bayonet Yataghan blade maker marked with Solingen knight's helmet mark. Excellent pressed leather grips with British ordnance stamps.This bayonet was issued with the 2 band model of the Enfield, and the later Snider-Enfield conversion.
These rifles were used with this sword bayonet by Sergeants in line infantry regiments, and issued as a sword to all ranks of British Rifle regiments. Many Enfields were exported to the U.S. during the Civil War and this sword bayonet was used by both North and South. Steel mounted leather scabbard last half inch lacking to scabbard mount. |
| A Superb Bronze Age Sword, around 3000 years old Copper alloy circa 1200 B.C. A beautiful Bronze Age battle sword [as opposed to the heavy and unwieldy form of sword made for burial offerings]. The very same shape, form and length of stabbing sword that was carried and used in combat, during the 1st millennium B.C., by the fearsome warriors of ancient history, such as the noble Hector and the valiant Achilles. Some 22 3/4 inches long. With a conical hat shaped pommel, a double edged blade with two outer fullers and four thinner fullers leading to a central, ribbed, ridgeline. Superb patina with fine natural age encrustations. Most likely made in the area of the upper valleys of the Zagros mountains, that was conquered by the Persian Medes and integrated into the Persian Empire in the second millennium B.C.The area on the western border of Persia (Iran), is the source of many bronzes that have been dated from 1500 to 500 BC and include chariot or harness fittings, rein rings, elaborate horse bits, and various decorative rings, as well as weapons, personal ornaments, different types of cult objects. The area, was in many respects, the centre of bronze manufacturing and casting for the whole region, and their wonderful works were traded throughout the whole eastern region, right down to the Mediterranean, into Greece and Macedon. Due to an influence from the West, around the 14th century B.C, smiths from Luristan began to manufacture blades with hilts that were cast together in one mould. In these examples, the hilts were flanged so that they could take inlaid scales of wood, bone, or metal. Bone inlays were often cut in a way so that the hilt had a winged or “ear-shaped” pommel. Later, these inlaid hilts were exactly copied in bronze with the hilt made separately and, then, cast onto the blade. |
| A Superb Copy of the Grimani Breviary Illuminated Manuscript Facsimiles A glance at the Grimani breviary : preserved in S. Mark's. Venice.Ferd. Ongania 1906. Bound in maroon velvet. One of only 500 copies, frontis., with 2 coloured reproductions of the binding, 4 coloured and 110 plain plates, original. velvet binding, deep relief stamp on upper cover, uncut. As printed in 1475 and preserved in St Mark's Library Venice. Originally accumulated by Cardinal Grimani for the Pontiff Sextus IV who founded the Vatican Library. |
| A Superb English Civil War 'Mortuary Hilted' Sword for Cavalry Officer Straight slender and elegant blade, single-edged towards the tip, then double edged on the back return for 6 inches, cut with several slender fullers along the back-edge on each side, with small armourers marks of four equally spaced darts. A symmetrical steel basket hilt chiseled with foliage and a portrait busts of two bewigged figures most likely King Charles 1st., on the underside of the guard, drawn-up to form the knuckle-guard, fitted with vertical bar and two side bars with bifurcated scrolling bases front and back, each joined to the knuckle-guard by a pair of moulded bars, a pair of short domed langets, vestigial quillon, and chiseled pommel (later plain grip), In the Civil War, the opening of the battle usually involved groups of cavalry, with the officers carrying these very form of swords. The main objective was to make the opposing cavalry run away. When that happened, the victorious cavalry turned on the enemy infantry. Well-disciplined pike men, brave enough to hold their ground, could do tremendous damage to a cavalry charging straight at them. There are several examples of cavalry men having three or four horses killed under them in one battle. At the start of the war the king's nephew, Prince Rupert, was put in charge of the cavalry. Although Rupert was only twenty-three he already had a lot of experience fighting in the Dutch army. Prince Rupert introduced a new cavalry tactic that he had learnt fighting in Sweden. This involved charging full speed at the enemy. The horses were kept close together and just before impact the men fired their pistols, then arming themselves with their swords for the all too fearsome hand to hand combat
During the early stages of the Civil War the parliamentary army was at a great disadvantage. Most of the soldiers had never used a sword or musket before. When faced with Prince Rupert's cavalry charging at full speed, they often turned and ran.
One of the Roundhead officers who saw Prince Rupert's cavalry in action was a man called Oliver Cromwell. Although Cromwell had no military training, his experience as a large landowner gave him a good knowledge of horses. Cromwell became convinced that if he could produce a well-disciplined army he could defeat Prince Rupert and his Cavaliers. He knew that pike men, armed with sixteen-foot-long pikes, who stood their ground during a cavalry attack, could do a tremendous amount of damage.
Oliver Cromwell also noticed that Prince Rupert's cavalry were not very well disciplined. After they charged the enemy they went in pursuit of individual targets. At the first major battle of the civil war at Edge hill, most of Prince Rupert's cavalrymen did not return to the battlefield until over an hour after the initial charge. By this time the horses were so tired they were unable to mount another attack against the Roundheads.
Cromwell trained his cavalry to keep together after a charge. In this way his men could repeatedly charge the Cavaliers. Cromwell's new cavalry took part in its first major battle at Marston Moor in Yorkshire in July 1644. The king's soldiers were heavily defeated in the battle. Cromwell's soldiers became known as the Ironsides' because of the way they cut through the Cavaliers on the battlefield. The Mortuary hilted swords actually gained their unusual name some considerable time after the Civil War. For, as they bore representational portraits of King Charles Ist, it was believed in Victorian times that they were to symbolize the death of the King, however, as these swords were actually made from 1640, long before he was executed, it was an obviously erroneous naming, that curiously remains to this day. This example is a beautiful, fine and singularly handsome piece and would certainly be a fine addition to any collection of rare English swords. There are a few examples near identical to this sword in the Royal Collection and the Tower of London Collection. 82cm blade As the sword is black steel we have emphasized the design of the basket hilt using a red velvet insert within the guard, this is for display purposes only. |
| A Superb Imperial 1889 German 'Boys' Infantry Officer's Sword An 1889 pattern Prussian Infantry officer's sword for the army of Kaiser Willhelm Iind, but custom made for a boy. Exact in every detail [in fact probably better quality than usually found] but only two thirds the normal size. Fully etched blade with Imperial devices and beautifully chisselled hilt, with the traditional Imperial eagle and Kaiser's cypher. All steel black scabbard. Overall 31 inches long. Blade 24.5 inches |
| A Superb Imperial German Captain's or Admiral's Sword Gilt bronze lion's head pommel hilt with around 90% of the original gilt remaining, deluxe senior rank ivory grip and the deluxe fully etched blade with sailing ship, naval devices and an Imperial navy battleship [junior and mid ranked officer's swords normally had celluloid grips and plain blades]. Folding guard with anchor and Imperial crown. Gilt mounted leather scabbard.This is without doubt one of the best examples we have ever seen for quality and condition and the only fault present is a small piece of the grip is missing, and the very small folding guard pin is lacking. A very rare and highly collectable sword from the German Navy. |
| A Superb Indo Persian 17th Century Firangi Sword The name ‘Firangi’ (Foreigner) was given to these swords in the 17th Century, as they were mounted with European (Foreign) blades, which were highly valued. Some blades were locally made in the European style. The blades were mounted on the ‘Khanda’ style hilt and with the long spike extending from the pommel which enabled them to be used as two handed swords. 29 inch blade to hilt, 35 inches overall |
| A Superb Koto Han Dachi Katana, 550 Year Old A singularly beautiful sword with wonderful Edo mounts in silver, and a stunning lacquer Saya with seven clan Mon. A Kpto era sword that has seen use through the greatest eras of Samnurai combat history. The blade has been repolished.26,25 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. Katana is the word for "sword" in the Japanese language. It is also used specifically for a type of Japanese backsword or longsword (aito) in use after the 1400s: a curved, single-edged sword traditionally used by the samurai. Pronounced [kah-tah-nah] in the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji, the word has been adopted as a loan word by the English language; as Japanese does not have separate plural and singular forms, both "katanas" and "katana" are considered acceptable plural forms in English.
The katana was typically paired with the wakizashi or shoto, a similarly made but shorter sword, both worn by the members of the warrior class. It could also be worn with the tanto, an even smaller similarly shaped blade. The two weapons together were called the daisho, and represented the social power and personal honor of the samurai. The long blade was used for open combat, while the shorter blade was considered a side arm, more suited for stabbing, close quarters combat, and seppuku, a form of ritual suicide.
The katana was primarily used for cutting, and intended for use with a two-handed grip. While the practical arts for using the sword for its original purpose are now obsolete, kenjutsu and iaijutsu have become modern martial arts. The art of drawing the katana and attacking one's enemies is iaido. |
| A Superb Koto Tanto In the Form of a Salmon, Some 500 years old. Good signed blade with full Hi and an active Gunome Hamon. The mount is in full relief, in all Shakudo bronze, in the form of a beautiful Salmon. In the Edo period, it was, on occasion, high fashion to have blades concealed within a full relief representation of a creature, albeit a Dragon, Crayfish or as on this occasion a Salmon. They were normally in wood and lacquered, but rarely they were in all metal. These metal mounts were usually made by the traditional sword furniture makers that would otherwise have made more traditional sword Koshira in Shakudo or iron. The tail section has very possibly re-coloured at some time in the long distant past. |
| A Superb Late Koto Tanto of Immense Beauty and Quality With all original Edo fittings. The Tsuka has beautiful wrap of flattened leather with fine gold minuki overlaid of a cockerals and chicken. The saya is charmingly decorated in a honeycomb pattern in pine needles with specifically decorated areas most cleverly depicting the crumbling of the geometric pattern. It has some damage that we shall be taking care of, but the photos show it 'as is' before restoration. |
| A Superb Medieval 13th Century 'Crusades' Iron 'Flanged' Battle Mace A rare example of mace, and it is known that just a few remaining examples of it's type are in existence. An offensive Battle Mace that would be an amazingly effective piece against Armour or shield. In almost spherical form with multi layered protruding flanges in hollow-cast iron. Affixed to a replacement haft. They were also carried as a symbol of power and rank, as it is so now, the Parliamentary Mace and the Queen's great Mace of State being just two examples. In the Crusades era this was, on occasion, also an ecclesiastic symbol [used by Bishops or even Popes], but more usually by Knights in noble combat. The last photo in the gallery is from a 13th century Manuscript that shows Kinghts in combat and one at the rear is using a stylised mace. The mace head is approximately the size of a tennis ball. |
| A Superb Original Head Hunters Sword, an Antique Dayaks Mandau, A rare Mandau of the Dayak people, of Kalimantan, Indonesia. With beautifully traditionally carved antler hilt, complete with red and black hair. Traditional blade with convex obverse and concave reverse. Wooden sheath with upper and lower surfaces carved in relief with matching motif, bound with wonderfully woven bi-colored reed wraps, including the original woven reed hanging cords and bi-knife sleeve (bi-knife not present). The last photo in the gallery is a period photo of an indigenous Head Hunter, holding his 'prize', achieved with his Mandau.[Photo not included] |
| A Superb Original USAAF, WW2 Pilot's, Bomber Flying Jacket
Winter Type B-3 Contract No. 42-22899. Named to the pilot on the back 'Ralph' with USAAF Wings symbol. With it's original maker label with contract number. This has been a well loved jacket that has seen several old tears, patches and repairs, but what a jacket, and what piece of history!. If I was still young or fit enough to ride the Vincent I would sooner sell my soul than this little cracker. Made and issued for the Army Air Forces, from 1933 till 1943. Original examples of these super WW2 Aeronautical gems are so very scarce indeed, and the beauty of them is, they are still superbly wearable, in fact the more aged the better!. Probably not the original zipper. US legend General George Patton wore his favourite B3 during the entire Battle of Bulge campaign and we show a photo of him wearing it, plus Steve McQueen and Bob Wagner in theirs. A faithful modern copy will cost well over a thousand dollars, how much more can you value an early war original, with the original owner's name and the USAAF wings motif emblazoned on the back! |
| A Superb Pennsylvania 'Kentucky' Flintlock, Lock Signed by Ketland & Co. . These finest 18th century century early American longarms, were the epitome of beauty and function. In 1789 Thomas and John Ketland emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. They eventually married the daughter's of George Meade a well regarded American patriot and good friend of George Washington. This fine gun has a superb, long, heavy barrel, traditional crescent butt, a flintlock action, and a beautiful stock, wonderfully set of with a finely engraved brass patchbox. A full length stock with striped wooden ramrod. All fine brass funiture with lock marked Ketland. It was the early American Long Guns that were shown to great effect in the film 'The Patriot' the award winning film of the American Revolution. The back country riflemen of the Carolinas and the Mountains of Virginia confounded the British due to their weapons accuracy and long range effectiveness, these were true beginnings of guerrilla warfare which influenced the British decision to create the Rifles Regiments of skirmishers. Early in the conflict gunsmithing was placed under virtual control of the Continental Congress, which fixed the prices for guns and decreed that gunsmiths deliver all guns to the patriot army or be branded as enemies and deprived of the tools of their trade. Pennsylvania makers helped materially to supply the nine companies of riflemen that were raised in this State and placed initially under the command of Colonel William Thompson of Carlisle. The defeat suffered by the riflemen under Benedict Arnold in the ill-fated attack on Quebec was avenged somewhat by the later victories at Saratoga and at King’s Mountain, where the “Tomahawks” comprised a large part of the American forces. Major Patrick Ferguson, commander of loyalist American troops fighting for the British army, who was killed by a rifle bullet at King’s Mountain, had his unit experiment with a breech-loading rifle of his own invention at the battle of the Brandywine. He had urged its adoption by the British army, but the musket continued to be used commonly by all European armies until well into the nineteenth century. The bloody repulse of the British at New Orleans early in January 1815 by the men of Tennessee and Kentucky under Andrew Jackson’s command is another epic in the saga of this historic firearm. Westward across the plains, over the mountains, and beyond the sunsets it was carried by hunter, trader, prospector and settler. Indians respected the “fire stick” and learned to use it against the white intruders in many forays that chronicle the struggle for the West. To the south and west our national domain was in part carved out by the use of the Pennsylvania-type gun in the war with Mexico. 42 inch barrel. 57 inches overall. Small crack in the toe of the stock [as usual]. Some of the above information was from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and for information and education purposes only. The Pennsylvania long arm is a most significant part of American history and it's evolution, and it is essential that this history, it's use and it's stories, be passed on to future generations. Showing these arms, in conjunction with their history, is a vital way to ensure that these important past events remain alive. By making it as interesting as possible, hopefully, the young of today will learn and enjoy it, and thus want to continue learn, as much as we did in our youth. |
| A Superb Turkish Ottoman Flintlock Pistol A beautiful long barreled horse pistol with fine brass mounts, and a stunning butt cap intricately inlaid with fine silver in superb detail of scrolls and figurative designs. Used from the 18th century, in the Caucasus, and throughout the Ottoman Empire, this fine pistol would have been a highly prized piece, carried on horseback, either in a saddle holster or pushed through the sash belt. The silver inlay reflects the styles and is distinctly inspired by the great English gunsmiths who pioneered such fine silver work in the 18th century, such as Richard Wilson of London. The stock is made from the finest hand carved Turkish walnut [even today Turkey is still the source of the finest walnut for bespoke gunstocks]. This is a very impressive Turkish pistol, and of imposing size. The "golden age" of the Ottoman Empire was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th Century. In different fields, this can be seen both in the architecture of Koca Mimar Sinan Aga, and in the domination of the Mediterranean by the Ottoman navy, led by Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha. The Ottoman Empire reached its territorial peak in the 17th century. From a diverse system of Millets, to a multi-ethnic state (Ottomanism), it developed its own distinctive culture, influential both in the European and Islamic worlds.With Istanbul (or Constantinople) as its capital, the Ottoman Empire was in some respects an Islamic successor to earlier Mediterranean empires — the Roman and Byzantine empires. The Empire was the only Islamic power to seriously challenge the rising power of Western Europe between the 15th and 19th centuries. |
| A Superb US Civil War Cavalry Sabre Dated 1864 Identical to Custer's Sabre. Made by the same maker, in the same year, and even inspected by the very same man. This sword is probably one of the nicest examples of an original 1860 US Cavalry Sword we have seen in some time. Made by C.Roby of Chelmsford Mass. The hilt has a leather grip, all steel scabbard and excellent maker marks to the blade forte. Civil War Union Government inspectors initials stamped at blade forte 'A.G.M'. This is the very same form of sword as was used by Col.George Armstrong Custer, made by the same maker, in the very same year, and inspected by the same Government inspector AGM. Custer's sword was late of the Charles A.Custer's family collection, and it's maker, date and inspectors initial stamp are well documented. Custer is shown wearing his sabre in a photo in the gallery [for information only not included with sword]. This sabre was obviously made, and part of, the same small batch of swords that Col. Custer's sword came from. It is logical to assume they may well were all made for Custers regts of the lst Brigade, lst Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac (March 25 - August 6, 1864) and Army of the Shenandoah (August 6 -September 26, 1864); temporarily commanding 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia serving with the Army of the Shenandoah (September 26-30, 1864).Grip wire lacking to grip, good scabbard. We have only ever had one sword before [in 35 years] from this small batch made at the very same time by Custer's maker. Interestingly the scabbard throat area has some small deliberate notches carved into the steel, traditionaly they are recognised as symbols of combat victories. |
| A Superb WW1 German Trench Club Wooden haft and lead egg shaped end. A ferociously effective club for hand to hand combat in the trenches of the great war. Excellent condition overall. Very rarely seen these days, only normally now to be viewed in the Imperial War Museum collection in London. |
| A Superb, Cased, Gold Plated 7mm Pinfire Revolver of the US Civil War era Circa 1860's. A most beautiful fully engraved and gold plated single action revolver in a case. The fourth most popular gun of the American Civil War. Fine walnut case with oil bottle and original Lefrauchaux 7mm pinfire cartridge case. Lidded box and partitions for extras. Some surface wear to the plating. Spur cocking action. Only the best revolvers were ever gold plated, and they were more usually hand made and commissioned for presentation. Cased personal protector pistols, such as this high quality example, were very popular for presentation, and some have survived the war, and are presently in great gun collections, in America and Europe. They were frequently given to generals and senior officers [most usually by fellow comrade officers] in both the armies of the North and South. Case lacks shield escutcheon. |
| A Superb, Original, WW1 'Arts and Crafts' Royal Engineers Picture Frame. A stylised hammered and formed copper frame with dome head copper rivets [can be known as 'Liberty' style after the world reknown, and elite, Liberty department store]. The bottom section has an original Great War period Royal Engineers badge with King George Vth Cypher. Arts and Crafts was a reformist movement that influenced British, Canadian, and American architecture, decorative arts, cabinet making, crafts, and even the "cottage" garden designs of William Robinson or Gertrude Jekyll. Its best-known practitioners were William Morris, Charles Robert Ashbee, T. J. Cobden Sanderson, Elbert Hubbard, Walter Crane, Nelson Dawson, Phoebe Anna Traquair, Herbert Tudor Buckland, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Christopher Dresser, Edwin Lutyens, William De Morgan, Ernest Gimson, William Lethaby, Edward Schroeder Prior, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gustav Stickley, Greene & Greene, Charles Voysey, Christopher Whall and artists in the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The Arts and Crafts movement came into being in the end of the 19th century and was at it's peak at around 1910. It style attained great iconic fashion status and this is an near perfect example of everything it represented. Widely exhibited in Europe, the Arts and Crafts movement's qualities of simplicity and honest use of materials negating historicism inspired designers like Henry van de Velde and movements such as Art Nouveau, the Dutch De Stijl group, Vienna Secession, and eventually the Bauhaus. The movement can be assessed as a prelude to Modernism, where pure forms, stripped of historical associations, would be once again applied to industrial production. Oak mount. 9.5 inches x 6.5 inches size overall, picture aperture 6.5inches x 4.5inches. Basic, original easel type stand. With few small bruises to the copper edge. This is a super, original and historical example of an iconic style that is now very collectable indeed, with the added compliment of the contemporary Royal Engineers connection from WW1. Period picture of WW1 Royal Engineer [not an original photo] included. |
| A Superbly Attractive Koto Tanto A charming blade, probably 15th century. Nambam style fittings with stunning Koshirae fully pierced detailing flying cranes and flowers. A super Kodsuka in Shakudo detailed with cranes. Signed Kodsukatana.The overall decoration is lacquer, simulating woodgrain, and incredibly well executed. |
| A Surprising Russian Cold War Era Poster Original poster with interesting subject matter of impaling on bayonets Germans, Americans, Turkish and French. This is one of a collection of Russian USSR posters we have acquired from the estate of an ex British Glider Pilot of WW2. This poster is folded and in condition as seen in the photos. Dated 1968. 33 inches x 24.5 inches. This poster is a real and used item, not just for show, would look super nicely framed |
| A Tasmania Police Officer's Visor Cap |
| A Tibetan Dagger. Copper Mounts Set with Coloured Stones A very decorative and beautiful Tibetan Dagger with all embossed copper mounts, steel blade, mounts set with coloured stones. |
| A Toronto Police Officer's Visor Cap With bullion visor |
| A Truly Beautiful Shinto Katana With Dragon Koshirae and Wonderful Temper Circa 1650 ad. With a highly attractive Edo era ] Iron Tsuba [1599 till 1868] with relief dragon decoration with small Sentoku inlays. The blade shows a truly wondrous Hamon of incredibly active form. The whole sword is typically 'quiet' of the true traditional of the Samurai. With a fabulous square form Tsuba that gives the whole sword a really distinctive and highly appealing Katana manner. This is one of the favourite swords that we have had, with a very subtle exterior, but an amazingly vivid interior, everything one likes to see, but rarely does.Blade length, Tsuba to tip, 25.5 inches |
| A Truly Exceptional and Beautiful Jade and Gold Hilted Sword, 19th Century. Indo Persian. A fully carved, hilt with lotus flower at the pommel with stunning gold inlaid Koftgari mounts and a singularly beautiful wide T section blade with an inlaid Islamic gold cartouche and a golden tiger. The scabbard is mounted with matching gold Koftgari fittings and green parchment covering [small losses to parchment]. Similar examples of this quality workmanship were to be seen in the distinguished collection of Dr Leo S. Figiel, a renown collector of remarkable Mogul arms and art. Blade 543mm long by 45mm wide at the hilt, sword [blade and hilt] 692mm, overall sword in the scabbard total length 755mm |
| A Truly Exceptional Quality Samurai Short Sword By Hishu ju Tadatsugu This is, what one might call, in Europe, a 'Royal' class sword of, quite simply, breathtaking beauty. The whole design is based on insects, flowers and birds. The Kashira [mounts] are multi coloured gold Shakudo over bronze, Mino Goto school, and the tsuba, which is one of the most wonderful we have ever seen, completely harmonises with the lacquerwork on the saya, and has three dimensionally carved praying mantis and a beetle over a deeply carved carved key pattern ground, and then it is set off a solid silver edged rim. The blade is in full polish and shows a superb hamon. The Habaki is gold with a pierced and carved boars eye design |
| A Truly Magnificent Original Samurai Matchlock Hand Cannon Twice the width or more of a standard Japanese matchlock long gun [the Tanegashima arquebuss] and three times the weight. A truly massive gun. Fully engraved decorated with a fabulous silver dragon with gold eyes. Fully signed by Nobukatsu of Sesshu province. 27.25 inch barrel, 2 inches wide at the breech. The whole cannon is 42.5 inches long overall. It weighs approx 25lbs. A very heavy beautiful cannon barrel of fabulous form. A picture in the gallery is of Samurai General Inauye Masatada, and another one of one of the legendary 47 Samurai Ronin, Horibe Yahei, and both are holding their hand cannon in combat, a woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi [not included for information only].The matchlock gun was introduced to Samurai warfare in 1535 by the early Portugese traders One significant place to see other original Samurai Tanegeshima in present day Japan is in Matsumoto Castle, within their armoury. Particular importance in the collection are the Tanageshima, which played an important role during the massive battle for Osaka Castle in 1615. The main articles in the collection are matchlocks manufactured in the period from 1543 (when guns were introduced by the Portuguese through Tanegashima island) through to the late Edo period during the long Tokugawa peace. In total there are 141 guns of different design, caliber and period, and 230 pieces of armor. All of the weapons were made in Japan during a century in which enormous changes took place, both in Japan's social and political organization and modernisation prior to the closing of the country and 250 years of relative isolation. Matsumoto Castle was built some 50 years after the introduction by Portuguese traders of firearms into Japan. For this reason the walls of the turrets (Nurigome-zukuri) are thick enough to withstand bullets, and the defences were built in depth. As firearms were also used to defend the castle, the donjon has 55 square holes called teppozama, from which matchlock muskets (and in some cases the hand cannon) could bring fire to bear on an assaulting force. Rammer tube under barrel |
| A Turkish Long Holster Pistol 18th Century Walnut stock, steel engraved trigger guard with symbolic pineapple finial, banana shaped lock fine fine engraving , tutaneg long eared butt cap. Long engraved and chisseled steel barrel with armourers seal stamp held with two steel cappucines. |
| A Uniform Tunic of Her Majestys Coldstream Guards Part of the Household Infantry Division, the Monarchs Royal Foot Bodyguard. Used at the Royal Palaces and Trooping of the Colour. In brilliant red with black and white trim, epaulettes, and cuffs |
| A Uniform Tunic of Her Majestys Grenadier Guards Part of the Household Infantry Division, the Monarchs Royal Foot Bodyguard. Used at the Royal Palaces and Trooping of the Colour. In brilliant red with black and white trim, epaulettes, and cuffs |
| A Uniform Tunic of Her Majestys Scots Guards. Part of the Household Infantry Division, the Monarchs Royal Foot Bodyguard. Used at the Royal Palaces and Trooping of the Colour. In brilliant red with black and white trim, epaulettes, and cuffs. |
| A Unique, Unissued Sheet of WW2 British Army Formation Badges for Sussex District, South Eastern Command. As far as we can recall we have never seen an original, complete, unnissued sheet of WW2 combat uniform badges before. For just one of these rare wolf's head badges [multicoloured in paint print] we have sold in the past for around £25 each. The sum of the parts of this sheet would, if cut up and sold seperately, come to over £1100. A rare and most interesting lot. |
| A US Navy Silver Submariners Submarine Warfare Badge Silver Dolphins and Submarine symbol in very good condition with pin attachment.Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. |
| A USSAF Glider Badge & Cap The USAAF Gliders were part of the D.Day invasion of France in WW2. Their badges were very distinctive and all the connected memorablia is most collectable. Badge has two pin backing. |
| A Very Fine 1796 Light Dragoon Sabre By Gill, & Monogrammed I. C. A British Battle of Waterloo & Peninsular War Period Dragoon Combat Sabre. Bearing the owners initials I.C.. A mighty swash buckling sabre from the era of the great Napoleonic Wars, The Peninsular War and Waterloo. With good traditional form blade, steel P hilt with ribbed grip. General signs of combat use and age wear, excellent blade with makers name, Gill and Warranted. Combat sword cuts to the edge. No scabbard. A traditional sabre of the British Cavalry Light Dragoons. An amazingly effective sword of good stout quality. British Light dragoons were first raised in the 18th century. Initially they formed part of a cavalry regiment (scouting, reconnaissance etc), but due to their successes in this role, (and also in charging and harassing the enemy), they soon acquired a reputation for courage and skill. Whole regiments dedicated to this role were soon raised; the 15th Light Dragoons 1759 were the first, followed by the 18th Light Dragoons and the 19th Light Dragoons.
The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons 1715. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 had been converted to the light role. In 1796 a new form of sabre was designed by a brave and serving officer, Le Marchant. Le Marchant commanded the cavalry squadron during the Flanders campaign against the French (1793-94). Taking notice of comments made to him by an Austrian Officer describing British Troopers swordplay as "reminiscent of a farmer chopping wood", he designed a new light cavalry sword to improve the British cavalryman's success. It was adopted by the Army in 1797 and was used for 20 years. Le Marchant was highly praised by many for his superb design and he further developed special training and exercise regimes. King George IIIrd was especially impressed and learnt them all by heart and encouraged their use throughout the cavalry corps. For a reward Le Marchant was promoted to Lt Colonel and given command of the 7th Light Dragoons. He soon realized that the course for educating the officers in his own regiment would spread no further in the Army without suitably trained instructors. His vision was to educate officers at a central military college and train them in the art of warfare. Despite many objections and prejudices by existing powerful members of the establishment, he gained the support of the Duke of York in establishing the Royal Military College, later to become the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and the Army Staff College. In 1804 Le Marchant received the personal thanks of King George who said "The country is greatly indebted to you." In 1811, when nearing completion of this task, he was removed from his post as Lieutenant Governor of the College by Lord Wellington to command the heavy cavalry in the Peninsula. Appointed as Major General, he arrived in Lisbon fifteen days after leaving Portsmouth. On 22nd July 1812, Lord Wellington and the Allied Army of 48,500 men and 60 cannon were situated at Salamanca, Spain, against the French Commander Marshal Marmont. Wellington had ordered his baggage trains westwards to provide a covering force in the event of a full scale retreat, however Marmont mistakenly took the movement to be the retreat of the Army itself and ordered eight divisions of Infantry and a cavalry division westwards in an attempt to outflank the retreat. Wellington on seeing the enemy's army now spread out over four miles and therefore losing it's positional advantage, ordered the full attack. Le Marchant, at the head of one thousand British cavalry rode at a gallop towards the surprised French infantrymen, who had no time to form squares, and reduced their numbers greatly. The Heavy Brigade had received thorough training under Le Marchant and on reforming their lines charged repeatedly, until five battalions of the French left wing had been destroyed. After twenty minutes, in the final charge, Le Marchant fell from his horse having received a fatal musket shot and General Packenham who watched the attack later remarked " the fellow died sabre in hand...giving the most princely example".
Two days later, he was buried, in his military cloak, near an olive grove where he had fallen. Aged forty-six John Le Marchant was buried on the field of battle, however, a monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral, London. The survival today of this sword is a testament to the now little known British hero, who, in many ways transformed the way that cavalry sword combat, and many military tactics were conducted for many decades after his valorous death. His fearsome sabre was, it is said, so feared by the French that protests were submitted to the British government stating that it was simply too gruesome for use in civilized warfare. Photo in the gallery of a Peninsular period 7th Light Dragoon [later known as Hussars] wearing his 'Le Marchant' designed Sabre identical to this example. We are at present doing research on the initials to try to find it's possible owner during the Napoleonic Wars. |
| A Very Fine British Rifles & Light Infantry Officer's Sword Made in the Boer War era and used during that war and in WW1& WW2. A superb sword eminently suitable for use today by a serving officer of the Rifles Regiments. No scabbard, a little wear to the fishskin grip but a superb vintage sword used in three great wars. |
| A Very Fine Connaught Rangers Senior Officer's Sword for 'Battle' and Full Dress. A beautiful Victorian sword of decorated hero Colonel Horatio George Broke, of the 88th, The Connaught Rangers [the scabbard throat bears his full name] Clonel Broke joined the Army as a young ensign in May 1806, and through his own skill and accomplishments was eventually promoted to Major General and Colonel of the 88th Foot Regiment, in December 1858. Traditional open pierced, gothic pattern, brass hilt, with cypher of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and a dried sharkskin bound grip, but with the all brass scabbard that was reserved for officers of 'field rank', such as Majors or Colonels, serving in the field. Fully etched blade but with only traces of the full etching remaining. No doubt the Colonel's batman polished the blade everyday, and his constant endeavours wore through the etching somewhat. The Colonel, as a young Ensign, accompanied the Oxfordshire Regt. [The 52nd] as a young Ensign on the expedition to Copenhagen in 1807, and in the following year served in the Peninsular War against Napoleon at, Vimiera, the advance into Spain, and the retreat under Sir John Moore. In 1809 he served in the Walcheren expedition. In 1811 he joined the Light Division on the retreat to Massena from the lines of Lisbon and served in Spain until the end of the Peninsular War. In 1812 he served as Aide de Camp at the seige of of Burgos and was shot through the lungs while serving with him at the Battle of Orthos. He served in the Army of Occupation in France from 1815 till 1818 as Aide de Camp to Sir Henry Clinton. He was awarded the War medal with four clasps for Vimera Salamance Nive and Orthes. The Connaught Rangers, The 88th Foot ("the Devil's Own") was an Irish Regiment of the British Army. It gained numerous battle honours for the 'colours' in the Peninsular War and in the Crimean War. |
| A Very Fine Crimean War Royal Naval Officer's Battle & Dress Sword With a fine etched pipe back blade, brass hilt with a superb relief 'deluxe quality' lion and mane pommel, and the original wire bound fishskin grip. A magnicent sword of slightly heavier quality than standard for serious combat use. An almost identical sword was made for Admiral Sir James Saumarez. Fully etched blade with Crown and Anchor, made by Widdowson and Veale of Strand London. Blade marked Warranted. Nearly all the original fire gilt remaining. Edge to edge combat nicks on the blade. There are a few identical swords in the National Maritime Museum Collection, previously owned by noted Admirals and Commodores of the early to mid 19th century. No scabbard. |
| A Very Fine English King George IIIrd Boxlock Spring Loaded Bayonet Pistol Circa 1830, one of the very earliest percussion pistols that were based on the flintlock boxlock action, but utilizes the sprung frizzen steel design into a semi safety action to encase the percussion nipple and, ingeniously, designed to hold in place all sizes of cap, including top hat types. On first view it gives the appearance of being a flint percussion conversion, but it is not, and is therefore much the scarcer for that. Made by the gun maker Storkey of Southwold, of whom there is no known record in existence, that we can find. A most competently and well made pistol, with a good tight action and very well functioning. All nice quality fittings and engraving.No safety slide. The pictures at present show this 'sleeper' pistol completely uncleaned. |
| A Very Fine Pair of Cased WW1 Great War Imperial German Eppaulettes For the Imperial German 40th Infantry. Out of interest it was the 40th that relieved Adolf Hitler's company in the trenches when he was fighting in combat in WW1. In their original storage case in mint condition overall. Mid blue cloth background with gilt crescent and Infantry number 40. Red back cloth. |
| A Very Fine Vendetta Dagger from Corse, France, of the 19th Century Made by Besset-Muret it is an antique Corsican Vendetta knife, stamped by the maker, 76 Veritable Bernard. It is in excellent overall condition, but it has quite obviously been used, and thus sharpened many times. It closes with good hard snap, and has no blade wobble. The blade being sharpened so many times for use has now gained an endearing uneven blade edge shape. It is the much used examples, such as this, that are the most desireable to the collectors of the true Vendetta knife. The blade has traces of two inscriptions on either side but we cannot read it well enough to describe it here. They date back into 19thC and tend to have colourful inscriptions like: 'May your wounds be mortal' or 'You go straight to the heart of the enemy' Although politically a part of France, Corsica has had close ties with Italy. As in Sicily and other parts of Italy, Corsica was long noted for the practice of the vendetta, a blood feud between families or clans. Blood feuds are no longer common, but they have not been stopped in the less accessible parts of the island.
It has been estimated that in the course of the 17th and 18th centuries the vendetta cost the lives of 30,000 Corsicans.
In Corsica, when a man is wronged by another, public sentiment requires that he redress his own grievance, and that his family and friends shall share the consequences.
" Before the law made us citizens, great nature made us men."
" When one has an enemy, one must choose between the three S's-schiopetto, stiletto, strada : the rifle, the dagger, or flight."
" There are two presents to be made to an enemy, palla calda o ferro freddo : hot shot or cold steel."
The Corsican code of honor does not require that vengeance be taken in fair fight. Rather should there be a sudden thrust of the knife, or a pistol fired point-blank into the enemy's breast, or a rifle-shot from some ambush picked in advance.
The assassin is not conscious of any cowardice in such act. If the trouble between him and his foe had been strictly a personal matter, to be settled forever by one man's fall, then he might have welcomed a duel with all the punctilios. But his blood is not his alone-it belongs to his clan. Whenever a Corsican is slain his family takes up the feud. A vendetta ensues-a war of extermination by clan against clan. 14 .75 Inches long overall [open] closed, 8 inches. Blade 6.75 inches long |
| A Very Fine Victorian Royal Naval Officer's Sword With nearly all the original fire gilt still remaining to the hilt. An elegant lightweight sword, with a fully etched pipe-back blade, from the era of the Crimean War. No scabbard. |
| A Very Fine, Victorian, Unwin and Rodgers Patent Pistol-Knife, Circa 1837 A highly desireable percussion action gadget gun, that emcompasses the field of rare knives, rare guns, and, patented, combination & gadget weaponry collecting [also known as firearm curiosa]. Philip Unwin and his partner James Rodgers were Unwin and Rodgers, and they were a famous Victorian Sheffield knife cutlers, and for a brief period they made these very fine and most interesting combination knife-guns in percussion action [the later type were in rimfire]. This is a particularly fine example, with the early pattern blade mark, and all complete with the concealed accessories. Solid nickle barrel with Birmingham proof marks, carved horn side plates, folding trigger and two folding blades. Unwin & Rodgers was known for interesting markings on their guns. This marking "NON-XLL" when read aloud, becomes "non-excelled" meaning "without peer".Very good condition overall, very small piece of horn plate missing. |
| A Very Good 450 577 Martini Henry Rifle Dated 1872 Mk1 / 2 One of the earliest Martini Henry rifles we have seen in a quite a while the stock is absolutely beautiful, in walnut, with a very high grade polish. The bore appears to be absolutely super [just a little dirty], and all metal parts are fully ordnance marked. As we have a client list stretching back 40 years we are allways seeking fine examples of all the most famous historical, British, Commonwealth and American arms, and the Martini Henry is certainly one of the most famous of all, likely thanks to the classic film 'Zulu' starring Micheal Caine. As such it is one of our most popular collectables, and being specialist historical dealers we pride ourselves on actively seeking the most attractive examples possible we can find anywhere. We refer to our method as 'cherry picking', and using this system to source the most interesting, most beautiful, or simply the most historical we can find, we often refuse 80% of items we are offered. This is the very type of gun as used in the Zulu War in 1879, and a true piece and representation of British Army history. Made at Enfield, VR Crown, MK I /II, 1872, stamped lock plate. During the Martini-Henry period in service, the British army were involved in a large number of colonial wars, most notably the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. The MH Mk II rifle was the type used by the company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot present at Rorke's Drift during the eponymous battle. The rifle went on to be used with great distinction throughout the British Empire right into late 1880's then transferred to service in the Raj were it was used almost up to the Great War era. This rifle has an old contemporary service hairline mark on one side of the rear stock section |
| A Very Good and Rare G Date 1935 German K98 Rifle With Original pre war dress bayonet and frog. Good clear markings, fine condition overall. These rarely surviving weapons were specifically made before WW2, in 1935, and marked with a 'G' code date [instead of the normal year date]. This was done in order to confuse the allies arms monitor's, that were being used to ensure Germany was not breeching the arms restrictions and regulations, that were imposed by the allies on Germany at the Treaty of Versailles. This confusion led to Hitler's Germany being able to lie about arms production, and thus hide his massive rearmament programme. Very few of these guns survived as they were used for four years before, and then, throughout the entire 6 year period of WW2. Many years ago I was in a conversation with an elderly friend and German militaria collector, and he believed of the few 'G date' guns he had seen, many had frequently been in very good order, in fact in better order than one might expect for weapon that would have seen such long and continued service, especially in wartime. This may be explained, he argued, that they might possibly been issued to the early formed SS [of the Berlin based elite guard] of Hitler's personal SS units, who saw little combat until the fall of Berlin, but carried their G date K98's, and with the nickle plated dress bayonets exactly as this one has. The nickle plated dress bayonets were worn the SS man, as well as the Heer, as a dress sidearm before the 1933 pattern SS Man's dagger was designedIt was also used as the unfixed dress bayonet when on full dress duty. Of course this assumption, as to the issue use of this rifle, can only be deemed to be educated theory, however, being political protection units, and not strictly speaking combat units, it could also be easily argued to the monitors at the time that they [the personall SS guard] should not count as combatants, and therefore the weapons they carried were not counted amongst the quantity list of approved weapons, that were used by the German standing army, under the Versailles treaty. Hitler was most astute at these devious acts of getting around the punitive Versailles rules. Deactivated not suitable for export. Complete with our deactivated statement. The dress bayonet is only designed to fit in position with the cleaning rod removed |
| A Very Good Antique Daimyo Tachi Efu-no-dachi [Phoenix Birds Head] The Phoenix design is of course the private reserve of the Emporer and his family.Tachi are the Samurai Swords worn on Court occasions by the Daimyo Lords of Japan. They are distinguished by the fact that they are worn with the cutting edge down, from one or two hangers in the center of the scabbard. Katana are slid through the belt or Obi, and thus do not have these two hangers. Only Daimyo are allowed to wear Tachi and there were only about 50 Daimyo in any one period in all Japan. Signed blade by the smith Nanki Shinkai showing a beautiful Horimono of a Dragon, on the superb blade from the Shinshinto era. It has a stunning carved Horimono with Bo Hi and carved Bonji. The Hamon is vibrantly active with good tight grain to the Hada, the Kissaki is superbly elongated and the blade is U no kubi zukuri. This is one of the most impressive Tachi we have had the privilege to offer, and it is truly exceptional in it's beauty. The combination of the shape, engraving, temper and Efu Tachi mounting is absolutely captivating. There is little finish remaining to the Koshirae, there is wear in this area and one part of the cord mount is lacking. Gold lacquer saya. The blade has been re polished in order to return it to it's natural great beauty, and the result is stunning, the mounts are in sleeper condition and will be tenderly and lightly cleaned. We have photographed it in it's present state, prior to the light cleaning of the mounts, but showing the re-polish. The blade is now unblemished and perfect. |
| A Very Good Armour Piercing Bladed Tanto, Shinshinto Period 1781 till 1863. Exceptionally thick and powerful blade, in full polish showing superb crabclaw hamon with back edge tempering. Fine red lacquer saya with Tokugawa Aoi mon. Buffalo horn fittings with gold inlaid Minuki under original Edo wrap.Kodzuka with nanako ground and two gilt and bronze phoenix in relief |
| A Very Good British 1822 Pat. Infantry Officer's Sabre The mercurial gilt hilt has around 95% of all it's original pure gold mirror bright gilt remaining, and the blade is very nice indeed, bearing all the royal cyphers and devices of Queen Victoria. The blade bears the maker mark of Firmin of Conduit St. London. The guard has the uniform side fold down rim and this has been slightly bent out of true. No scabbard |
| A Very Good British Light Dragoon 'Blue and Gilt' 1796 Officer's Sabre With much original 'Blue and Gilt' remaining to the blade, around an even 50%. With all the expected and traditional engravings, royal cyphers, 'warranted' and devices. All steel hilt and scabbard with silver wire bound grip. |
| A Very Good British, Victorian, Regimental Bandsman's Sword A super example of a British, Victorian, Regimental Musician's Sword. Brass cruciform hilt, double edged blade. Brass mounted leather scabbard. Made for the days when the British military band marched alongside the men, in formation, into battle. Whereupon, if the bandsman or bugler came under attack in close quarter action he had an adequate means of defence. Monogrammed blade |
| A Very Good French Cuirassier, Dragoon and Hussars Flintlock Pistol of 1806 Bearing good circular inspector's seal mark EF [Empire Francais] and date 1806, similar date to barrel and and Manufacture Imperial Tulle mark on the lock. The French Elite Cuirassier regiments were surely the most impressive heavy cavalry regiments ever created, being of incredible size quality and stature. Used in the great campaigns of Napoleon by the Elite Grande Armee Cavalry. All the Cuirassier were front line regiments, none ever utilized as Militia. A true Napoleonic gem, made in 1806, and a battle souvenir of Napoleon's 'Grande Armee', elite Cuirassiers or Cavalry that would have seen service throughout the whole Napoleonic Wars and the greatest Napoleonic Battles, from Austerlitz, Wagram and Moscow to the Peninsular War and Waterloo. All of Napoleon's Heavy Cavalry Regiments fought at Waterloo, there were no reserve regiments. The Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Regiments used the largest men in France, recruited to serve in the greatest and noblest cavalry France has ever had. They fought with incredible distinction at their last great conflict at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and much of the weaponry used by Napoleons cavalry came home to England after the battle, as trophies of war. One can imagine, the noble, fallen, French Cuirassier, who had carried this pistol into his last vainglorious combat, would still likely have had this pistol in hand as he fell under his fallen loyal steed. His fine piece, may have been lying freely, or maybe even still gripped within his hand, on the field of conflict, waiting for a victorious British soldier or cavalryman to claim his well deserved trophy of battle. Every warrior that has ever entered service for his country sought trophies. The Mycenae from the fallen Trojan, the Roman from the fallen Gaul, the GI from the fallen Japanese, and the tradition stretches back as far as combat itself, and will continue to do so as long as man serves his country as soldier and warrior in battle. In the 1st century AD the Roman Poet Juvenal [Decimus Junius Juvenalis] wrote; "Man thirsts more for glory than virtue. The armour of an enemy, his broken helmet, the flag ripped from a conquered trireme, are treasures valued beyond all human riches. It is to obtain these tokens of glory that Generals, be they Roman, Greek or barbarian, brave a thousand perils and endure a thousand exertions". Some of the battles this pistol would have been used at were;
1806: Jena and the Capture of Lubeck.
1807: Hoff and Eylau.
1809: Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling, Wagram, Hollabrunn, and Znaim.
1812: Borodino and Moscow, Ostrowno, and Winkowo 1813: Reichenbach and Dresden, Leipzig and Hanau
1814: La Rothiere, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Athies, La Fere-Champenoise and Paris
1815: Quatre-Bras and Waterloo. |
| A Very Good German WW1 Wound Badge Issued The Wound Badge was established on 3 March 1918 by Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia. In recognition for wounds received in combat, German military personnel were awarded the black wound badge for up to three wounds. Blacking worn |
| A Very Good London Made Back Action Sporting Musket Circa 1840 Damascus barrel with hook breech and barrel retaining slides. Finest walnut stock in very good order. Back action lock finely engraved. All steel mounts with old russet traces. A most attractive and well made hand made gun of the second quarter of the 19th century. Would make a fine compliment to any collection of antiques and fine art. |
| A Very Good Moisin Nagant Sniper Rifle With Original WW2 Scope Very good condition overall, dated 1934. Scope excellent with superb optics. Good tight action. Scope marked with Red Army traditional 'Hammer and Sickle' stamp, serial numbered and marked for the model of gun it was made for, the 91/30, undated. Gun comes complete with it's strap. The sniper rifle M1891/30 is basically the M1891/30 adapted for use with a telescope. "During the Winter War of '39-'40 the Russians learned from the Finns through bitter experience the value of snipers. Simo Häyhä, a farmer, is credited with the killing of over 500 Russian soldiers in fifteen weeks with his Model 1928 Mosin-Nagant rifle. As a result, the Russians began to place more emphasis on their sniper training programme. Extract from: "Enemy at the Gates - The Battle for Stalingrad." by William Craig:
"The Russians backed out of their trench. Anxious to put the German sniper in a maximum amount of blinding sunlight, they followed the irregularly curving front line until they found a spot where the afternoon sun would be at their backs... Aware that the sun would reflect on their scopes, they waited patiently for it to go down behind them. By late afternoon, now wrapped in shade, they had Konings at a disadvantage. Zaitsev focused his telescopic sight on the Germans hiding place. A piece of glass suddenly glinted at the edge of the sheet. Zaitsev motioned Kulikov, who slowly raised his helmet over the top of the parapet. Konings fired once and Kulikov rose, screaming convincingly. Sensing triumph, the German lifted his head slightly to see his victim. Vassili Zaitsev shot him between the eyes...
Zaitsev is credited with 242 kills in Stalingrad before he was injured by a landmine." Both the rifle and the sniper rifle were standard issue in some Soviet satellite armies into the 1970s. This is a lovely pre WW2 example used right through the war.Government deactivated but fullly actionable and stripable. Complete with our deactivation certificate |
| A Very Good Superior German WW2 Kriegsmarine Officer's Dagger A very fine example by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen with a fully etched blade with dolphins entwined and anchor, with all it's original grey frosting. Traditional wire bound ivorine grip mounted hilt with eagle pommel bearing swastika and anchor crossguard. Excellent condition. Very small contact dents to scabbard. |
| A Very Good WW2 Red Army Auto Rifle Tokarev SVT 40 A superb and well advanced semi auto rifle that was quite prized by the Germans when captured during the advance into Russia. The German Army and Waffen SS operated many thousands of captured SVT-40 semi-automatic weapons under the designation of SIG.259. A complicated rifle that was, at the time of it's first issue, too complex for the basic, and poorly trained Red Army soldier to operate effectively. The highly trained German soldier however, easily adapted to it's complexity and found it to be an effective and popular weapon. The German arms industry developed their own version the GEW.41, however, apparently some German combat soldier in the field preferred this Russian version. The SVT rifles first saw combat use in the Winter War (1939- 40) invasion of Finland. This fine gun dated 1942 was used in the seige of Stalingrad period and into the relentless march on to Berlin. Deactivated. Generic photos. |
| A Very Honest M1940 LuftWaffe Combat Helmet Good skull with original paint and single decal. Steel inner but no leather. Blue/grey finish with 2nd pattern Luftwaffe decals,. Good condition Two photos in the gallery of original Luftwaffe men wearing the helmets in aeriel combat. One man an air gunner another a pilot in the cockpit.Maker stamped ET [Eisenhutten Werke, Thale] .Size 64 [Medium 56 to 57 cm]. Pictures Not included |
| A Very Impressive 1796 Light Dragoon Sabre By Gill A British Battle of Waterloo & Peninsular War Period Dragoon Combat Sabre. A mighty swash buckling sabre from the era of the great Napoleonic Wars, The Peninsular War and Waterloo. With good traditional form blade, steel P hilt with ribbed grip. General signs of combat use and age wear, good blade. No scabbard. Hilt has overal russetting and the blade is lightly tarnished. A named blade bu Gill but his makers panel is very worn and difficult to see. Combat sword cuts to the edge. A traditional sabre of the British Cavalry Light Dragoons. An amazingly effective sword of good stout quality. British Light dragoons were first raised in the 18th century. Initially they formed part of a cavalry regiment (scouting, reconnaissance etc), but due to their successes in this role, (and also in charging and harassing the enemy), they soon acquired a reputation for courage and skill. Whole regiments dedicated to this role were soon raised; the 15th Light Dragoons 1759 were the first, followed by the 18th Light Dragoons and the 19th Light Dragoons.
The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons 1715. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 had been converted to the light role. In 1796 a new form of sabre was designed by a brave and serving officer, Le Marchant. Le Marchant commanded the cavalry squadron during the Flanders campaign against the French (1793-94). Taking notice of comments made to him by an Austrian Officer describing British Troopers swordplay as "reminiscent of a farmer chopping wood", he designed a new light cavalry sword to improve the British cavalryman's success. It was adopted by the Army in 1797 and was used for 20 years. Le Marchant was highly praised by many for his superb design and he further developed special training and exercise regimes. King George IIIrd was especially impressed and learnt them all by heart and encouraged their use throughout the cavalry corps. For a reward Le Marchant was promoted to Lt Colonel and given command of the 7th Light Dragoons. He soon realized that the course for educating the officers in his own regiment would spread no further in the Army without suitably trained instructors. His vision was to educate officers at a central military college and train them in the art of warfare. Despite many objections and prejudices by existing powerful members of the establishment, he gained the support of the Duke of York in establishing the Royal Military College, later to become the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and the Army Staff College. In 1804 Le Marchant received the personal thanks of King George who said "The country is greatly indebted to you." In 1811, when nearing completion of this task, he was removed from his post as Lieutenant Governor of the College by Lord Wellington to command the heavy cavalry in the Peninsula. Appointed as Major General, he arrived in Lisbon fifteen days after leaving Portsmouth. On 22nd July 1812, Lord Wellington and the Allied Army of 48,500 men and 60 cannon were situated at Salamanca, Spain, against the French Commander Marshal Marmont. Wellington had ordered his baggage trains westwards to provide a covering force in the event of a full scale retreat, however Marmont mistakenly took the movement to be the retreat of the Army itself and ordered eight divisions of Infantry and a cavalry division westwards in an attempt to outflank the retreat. Wellington on seeing the enemy's army now spread out over four miles and therefore losing it's positional advantage, ordered the full attack. Le Marchant, at the head of one thousand British cavalry rode at a gallop towards the surprised French infantrymen, who had no time to form squares, and reduced their numbers greatly. The Heavy Brigade had received thorough training under Le Marchant and on reforming their lines charged repeatedly, until five battalions of the French left wing had been destroyed. After twenty minutes, in the final charge, Le Marchant fell from his horse having received a fatal musket shot and General Packenham who watched the attack later remarked " the fellow died sabre in hand...giving the most princely example".
Two days later, he was buried, in his military cloak, near an olive grove where he had fallen. Aged forty-six John Le Marchant was buried on the field of battle, however, a monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral, London. The survival today of this sword is a testament to the now little known British hero, who, in many ways transformed the way that cavalry sword combat, and many military tactics were conducted for many decades after his valorous death. His fearsome sabre was, it is said, so feared by the French that protests were submitted to the British government stating that it was simply too gruesome for use in civilized warfare. Photo in the gallery of a Peninsular period 7th Light Dragoon [later known as Hussars] wearing his 'Le Marchant' designed Sabre identical to this example. |
| A Very Interesting Infantry Shako of the 5th Regt 1867 An Infantry Shako with original gilt metal Helmet plate of the 5th regt. It has a Latin motto 'Decus et Praesidium' ['An Honour and a Guard'] and the date 1867. Victorian era Shako are very rare and this is a very nice, clean and most pleasing example. Although an original antique piece we have not seen this kind of Shako plate before, but we are resonably certain that it is most probably American. The 175th Infantry [of the USA], was originally designated the 5th [by Act of Assembly in Maryland in 1794] after it's service in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War [Confederate], and WW1. The 5th Regiment was organised in May 1867 [after the Civil War] as sucessor to the Old Maryland Guard, which was formed in 1859 but was dissolved when most of it's men went South, in 1861, to the Confederate Army. Their motto was [and still is] 'Decus et Praesidium'. The helmet is complete with it's chinscales. |
| A Very Interesting Long Service Good Conduct, Egypt [Tel El Kabir] Group 3 silver medals. Egypt Campaign medal Tel El Kabir Bar, marked [some letters indistinct] ****** Mullins 1st Battalion, 1/ R I Fusiliers, [Ist Batallion Royal Irish Fusiliers], Victorian LSGC medal, marked P.M.SERJT. T Mullins 1st BN 15th FOOT, 1914 1918 War Medal marked, 1 A.M, T Mullins RAF. As these medals cover three regiments and one initial is indistinct we cannot say they all were issued to the same man, but certainly at the very least to the same family, possibly two brothers? The LSGC medal has edge bruising. One picture in the gallery is of the Royal Irish Fusiliers at the battle of Tel El Kabir.I n 1882 the 1st Battalion were Part of General Grahams Brigade which sailed to Egypt. The Egyptian population were aggrieved over the British and French ownership of the Suez Canal and when rioting in Alexandria resulted in 130 European deaths, the British government despatched warships and a large force under Sir Gamet Wolseley. The army was not given any time to acclimatise and a 24 hour march was followed by the battle at Tel-el-Kebir. From Egypt the 1st Battalion went to India on garrison duties, though by 1898 they found themselves back in Egypt fighting the Mahdists at the battle of Omdurman. Fresh from this battle the 1st Battalion moved to South Africa to take part in the Boer War. In 1882 the 2nd Battalion went to India on garrison duties. In 1884 they were ordered to the Sudan to fight the Mahdi and his Arab forces. The 2nd Battalion fought at the battles of El Teb and Tamai in which the Arabs were defeated. The 2nd Battalion was then based in Cork and Colchester until the outbreak of the Boer War.The 15th Foot was raised in 1685 under Sir William Clifton, and was known as Clifton's Regiment of Foot. In 1702, the regiment formed part of Marlborough's Army,distinguishing itself at the battles of Blenheim, Ramilles, Malplaquet and Oudenarde.The regiment was numbered the 15th Regiment of Foot in 1751 and was heavily
engaged during the French and Indian War. The 15th Foot "took the fort" at Louisburg in 1758 and was part of General Wolfe's Army fighting on the Plains of Abraham, above the city of Quebec, on September 13, 1759.The 15th Regiment of Foot saw action during the defense of Quebec
and took part in the expedition against Montreal in 1760. After Montreal, the 15th was sent to the West Indies, taking part in the capture of Martinique and the Spanish citadel of Havana in 1762. 15th Regiment of Foowas the Yorkshire East Riding Regiment. After 1881 became East Yorkshire Regiment |
| A Very Interesting Set Japanese WW2 Propaganda Matchboxes During the war the Japanese flooded Shanghai with anti-American and anti-British propaganda of various images on a matchbox covers. For example one depicts Japanese planes flying in formation over the U.S. and British flags, with the Japanese flag rising in triumph. Dropped over Shanghai, China, between 1943 and 1945. Some boxes were dropped over the Indonesian Islands and the box with the bomb dropping onto Churchill and Rosevelt translates to 'Certain victory'. These match boxes were a fiendishly clever propaganda idea worthy of Dr Goebbels or Lord Mandelson. During the war, in the Japanese occupied territories, a matchbox full of matches was a disposable yet great luxury item, when provisions of all kinds, in both Shanghai and Indonesia were few and far between. Even if they depicted awful pro Japanese propaganda they were very reluctantly discarded [until empty] as matches were in such short supply. Although hundreds of thousands were made, and of course very cheaply, very, very few of these little pieces of history survive today, and they are only normally to be seen these days in the museum collections. A very rare, most interesting and intriguing collection, and likely, unique. |
| A Very Interesting US Remington Arms Russian Rifle Made for Czar Nicolas II 's armed forces for use in the Great War. Moisin Nagant rifle Marked Remington, dated 1917, bearing the Romanov Eagle mark of Czar Nicolas IInd. Good stock, good perfect action in working order. Including bayonet. Known as the U.S. Magazine Rifle, calibre 7.62mm, Model of 1916. Remington made Mosin Nagants were originally part of a contract with Imperial Russia for rifles from Remington to help supply the Czar's army during WW1. The contract with Remington was in November 3, 1916. Remington received a down payment of $7,500,000 from Russia with manufacture of rifles starting shortly after. Of the Mosin-Nagant pattern rifles manufactured by Remington only around half had been delivered to Russia by February 1917. In March of 1917, Nicholas II was forced to abdicate and the Provisional Kerensky Government took power. Remington continued to build rifles during this time and the Russian Kerensky government continued to accept deliveries from Remington When the Bolsheviks took power the U.S. contracts were cancelled. Remington faced an horrendous economic loss from both Russia defaulting on the balance of the weapons and because of the United States canceling the contracts due to not wanting to deliver weapons to the Bolsheviks. Many U.S. made Mosin Nagant rifles were actually issued to arm the A.E.F. sailors, including USMC and an Army contingents which were dispatched to Murmansk, Archangel and Vladivostok during the Red/White Russian Civil War. U.S. made Mosin Nagant rifles were also issued to British and French troops as part of the same expedition known as "Polar Bear" that was a military intervention in northern Russia at the end of World War I. The ostensible purpose was to open an Eastern Front following the Russian withdrawal from World War I, but in practice the unit stayed to fight Bolshevism. There were over 20,000 allied troops in Russia by 1919, and a quarter were American. It was a most unstisfactory operation. Deactivated with certificate. Not for sale to under 18's. Not suitable for export. |
| A Very Interesting WW2, British, Cased, Gun Barrel Telescope and Collimator A large heavy and highly engineered pair of instruments In their original case dated 1944. The telescope is marked; Instrument Measuring Straightness of Bore No3 MKII.Telescope MKII Focal Length 18 inches. The other, the Colliminator, is marked; Instrument Measuring Straightness of Bore No 3 MKII. Collimator MKII Focal Length 18 inches.They are likely for measuring barrel accuracy of big Artillery. A fabulous lot. Instruments and case likely 20lbs in weight. Case, worn. Size 23.25 inches x 11inches x 6.5 inches |
| A Very Interesting, Scarce, US Civil War Cavalry Sabre An 1833 pattern US Dragoon Sabre. Tiffany and Company of New York are mostly famous as one of the most celebrated and luxurious jewelry stores in America, but they also used to be suppliers of fine presentation officers swords during the Civil War. They gained contracts to supply cavalry sabres for the war, and in order to fulfill it, which was greater than their production capabilities, they out-sourced part of the contract to PD Luneschloss of Solingen. Tiffany's made two patterns, the 1833 and the 1840, both with steel hilts instead of the usual standard brass. The Tiffany made swords, that have survived the war and been recorded so far, were either marked TC or Tiffany & Co, the imported ones, from PD Luneschloss, were either marked PDL with TC as well, or just PDL. This scarce example of the 1833 US Pattern sword has the plain PDL mark [in their script font, as opposed to their alternative Roman font in an oval], and, the standard brass 3 bar hilt. PDL were very good sword makers, and their swords that were imported for the Civil War were usually of a very high grade in order that their customers [such as the aforesaid Tiffany & Co.] did not have their contracts placed in jeopardy. A contemporary picture in the gallery of a Union Cavalry charge from Harpers Weekly. For information only not included. 34.5 inch blade measured across the curve. Overall length 40 inches. |
| A Very Long Sodegarami Japanese Polearm A Good Edo Era Japanese Antique Sodegarami The Edo era ran from 1599 till 1867. A Super Japanese, Edo Era, Pole Arm, Also known as a Shishigashira, it is a Yoriki Pole arm of great interest which name translates to 'The Lions Head' [or Mane]. When one sees the fearsome profile of this amazing piece it is very obvious why it has such a descriptive name. When up against a foe the head is thrust into the victim's Kimono, rotated quickly and it's barbarous prongs ensnare and tangle the cloth. The victim is then pushed to the ground with relative ease, and the haft's spikes prevent the victim grabbing it in order to resist. It can also be known as another name a Torigami [Grasping Hand]. See an almost identical example illustrated on page 188 of 'The Samurai Sourcebook' by Stephen Turnbull. In Medieval Europe there was a similar pole arm called a 'Morning Star', of almost identical proportions, with vicious and most similar spikes, but, more usually the spikes were straight. The European version was used more for inflicting dreadful injury than for disabling. In essence the Japanese used theirs more intelligently, in order to disable a victim, and make him powerless, before a hand to hand conflict even starts, the Europeans used theirs far more brutally, and simply for grievous intent in battle. Around 8+ foot long. The haft has been cut and reaffixed in the middle and for transportion this will have to be repeated once more. |
| A Very Nice 'American' Victorian Bowie Knife Made at the American west suppliers in Sheffield. With large double edged blade, signed by the Sheffield maker Rookes & Crookes with typical Shell Pattern Nickle Cutlery handle, much sought after by the mid 19th century American Frontiersmen etc. Ball end quillon.9.5 inch blade. Approx.15 inches overall. |
| A Very Nice 18th Century Gentleman's Sporting Gun by Bond of London Finest walnut stock, converted from flintlock to percussion action at the Bond workshop. Octagonal barrel. Half stock for end, fine steel mounts with acorn finial trigger guard. A most charming hand made long gun by one of London's pre eminent makers of the 18th century in the King George IIIrd period. 18th century painting of gentlemen in a hunting scene, using the same sporting gun, for illustration only |
| A Very Nice Early Pepperbox Revolver Of Fine Quality In very good condition for age, with fine overall engraving and very good action. With a good amount of original finish and areas of natural wear. Made by J Calvert of Leeds. The pepperbox revolver was effectively the first kind of revolver designed in the early 19th century. It worked on a rotating multi barrelled system that over the decades evolved into the multi chambered, revolving cylinder with single barrel, that is still in use today. |
| A Very Rare Austrian Tube-Lock Horse Pistol [With US Civil War Connections A well recorded import for the American Civil War Cavalry of both The North and South. Using the Augustin system, a rarely seen and highly collectable pistol of the mid 19th century.One of the last examples of this rare pistol was sold by the Visser Collection in 1991. The Henk Visser collection was one of the finest collections in the world, and it was a private collection the rarest European arms. This example of the 1850 Austrian Cavalry Horse Pistol was made in 1853 by Fruwirth [maker mark F.F.], it was a pistol that was in service production for only 4 years, before the Augustin tube-lock system was abandoned for the standard percussion system. The Austrian tube lock arms were placed in storage and then sold to the US for the Civil War, being bought by both the Union and the Confederates, with some being converted to the standard percussion in Belgium before their journey to America. It is unknown exactly how many were bought but it is recorded that [ of the more common 1849 pattern longarm version] some 25,000 were imported and sent to Freeman's forces in Missouri in 1861. The North also acquired a recorded 346 imported horse pistols, but it is unknown how many were bought by the Confederates. A picture in the gallery of a Civil War cavalryman with his horse pistol in it's holster [saddle-bucket] attached to the front of his saddle. |
| A Very Rare Early Royal Navy Sea Service Flintlock Pistol The very rare pre-regulation model, made before the1756 Sea Service regulation pattern. Crown GR lock made by Willits, and dated 1742, [a recorded London maker up to 1789] with the crowned ordnance inspector's/receiving mark, swan necked cock. All brass furniture, sea service butt cap with traditional short ears. Brass side plate with covered brass hole for the contemporarily removed long belt hook screw. In 1756 the Royal Navy was issued with the official, regulation Long Sea Service Pistol, which over the next century was changed adapted and remodeled to encompass modern advances in technology. Prior to the 1756 pattern the Navy used pistols that were based around the standard regulation Dragoon Pistols, used by the British cavalry regiments, but it took almost two decades to regularize the pattern for the Royal Navy in 1756. This highly scarce piece is one of those rarely seen pre-regularized pistols that were made in the years before the official pattern was determined. On first viewing it appears almost identical, but on closer inspection, and once it's date is revealed, one can see the subtle differences that set it apart from it's 1756 successor. A near identical example in wreck recovered condition is in the National Maritime Collection, Their pistol was allegedly recovered from the wreck of the St Mathias in St Mary's Creek Chatham, that was sunk by fire during the assault by the Dutch on Chatham in 1667. This pistol has a further highly interesting feature. In the stock, at the grip, there are two purposefully cut notches. It has long been a tradition of both legend and fact that some would 'notch-up' a victory in combat on the hilt or handle his weapon. Some of the most infamous of these were outlaws and gunmen of the American Wild West, but the tradition is said to go back thousands of years. These notches are so deliberate, and without any other easily explained purpose, that it is very reasonable to assume these were executed for one and the same purpose, as a symbol or memory of victory by the sailor, maybe a ship sunk or captured, or an enemy cut down by gunfire in close quarter action. The wreck recoved pistol can be viewed on the national maritime museum website. |
| A Very Rare Early, WW1 RAF Tropical Sun Hat With traditional puggaree and early RAF [three colour] service band. Good order overall. A Long time ago this was on display in Nottingham Museum |
| A Very Rare Indeed, Zulu to Boer War Military Copper Canteen and Cup A large size tinned copper, military, regimental or Red Cross drinking canteen with cup lid, used to give wounded men relief on the battlefield. Probably around 2.5 pint size. Made by Harrison Bro's and Howson for the Board of Ordnance and bearing the Broad Arrow mark. This was never a commonly made piece when new, but their survival rate has been so poor that we have only ever seen it's like in the Canadian Anglo-Boer War Museum, where they have on display a near identical tinned one that still retains it's Victorian Red Cross markings. Of course that is not to say it is unique, but by the quantity of items we view on a day to day basis, Victorian, Zulu War and Boer War kit and equipment is really phenomenally rare to see these days. The flask has the innovative curved body form that hugs the side of the carrier and that was later adopted and used in the Great War for all men's flasks. A Brief History on Harrison Bro's & Howson
They became one of Sheffield's biggest cutlery firms. They developed from a Norfolk Street cutlery business established in 1796 by Thomas Sansom under the style of Thomas Sansom & Sons. They were later joined in business by sons William and John in 1826 and 1834 respectively. In 1803, George Howson joined as an apprentice and by the 1840's he had become influential within the company. He died in 1847 and it was around then that the style Harrison Bro's & Howson was adopted. The chief partners were William Howson (1824-1884, George's son) and two brothers William Harrison (1816-1897) and James Harrison (1825-1893).The cup is on tight and we are reluctant to try to force it off. Overall height 9,5 inches, width 6.75 inches depth 3 inches. Cup size 3.25 inches across, 2.5 inches high. |
| A Very Rare [1822/45 Gothic Hilt Pattern] Victorian Senior Sergeant's Sword In a most attractive nickel finish with a nickel and leather mounted scabbard. Also an unusual transitional blade that has features of the 1845 Wilkinson type blade and the early 1822 pattern pipe back point. The 1822/45 pattern gothic pierced cypher hilt with non folding guard, with the post 1845 dove head pommel, These sabres must by definition have been made in very small numbers indeed [due to the small number of senior sergeants in any regiment] and we certainly have not had more than a very few of these most interesting swords during the last thirty years or so. The sword that was carried by the most senior nco of each regiment. Usually he would be the most, experienced, responsible, respected [and feared] man in the whole regiment [likely including the C.O.]. |
| A Very Rare, Straight, Chokuto Archaic Style Katana In Shira Saya. A beautiful signed shinto sword, a real and rare gem, set in Shira saya, and that has been at some time in it's history identified and inscribed on the saya, with the attributed smith's name and his location, Sanshu Yoshida ju Fujiwara Kanefusa Saku. Translates to; "Made by Lord Kanefusa of Yoshida, [part of Mikawi no kune, an Eastern part of Aichi prefecture] in Sanshu province". It has further Kanji inscriptions that may indicate it's length. A rare, traditionally made, yet ancient style of blade called 'Chokuto' which is perfectly straight with no curvature, called Mu-Sori, and with a small Kissaki. The edge tempering [Hamon] is beautiful, of O-Choji Midare with Ashi, lots of Sunegashi and some Kinkuji. It also has one small Nioi Kuzure. This would make a super addition to any collection of fine swords [albeit small or large] as the ancient Chokuto style is so rarely seen in the Katana form but highly prized. Sanshu Yoshida ju Fujiwara Kanefusa Saku appears in Hawley's book of Japanese Swordsmiths, page 162, KAN 755 ………………………. |
| A Very Scarce 56th London Infantry Division WW2 Ski Award A rare enamel badge of a black cat on crossed skis over a red ground set on a brass ski [engraved 56 London Div. Slalom Race 2nd]. Pin missing |
| A Very Scarce French Chassepot Rifle Artillery Musketoon Modele 1866 The scarce Artillery Musketoon model, St Etienne. Converted to the Gras system in 1874. Renamed the 1866-74. At some time this gun has been used by the French colonial troops, the famous Spahi, and over decorated with flamboyant inlays at the butt, possibly when the gun was retired from military service . 11mm calibre, .20+ inch barrel. no licence required.Its inventor was, Antoine Alphonse Chassepot, and it became the French service weapon in 1866. It was first used at the battlefield at Mentana, November 1867, where it inflicted severe losses on Garibaldi's troops. The event was reported at the French Parliament: "Les Chassepots ont fait merveille!", {The Chassepots did marvelous execution !} In the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) it proved greatly superior to the German Dreyse needle gun, outranging it by 2 to 1. Although it was a smaller caliber but the chassepot ammunition had more gunpowder and thus faster muzzle velocity. The Chassepots were responsible for most of the Prussian and other German casualties during the conflict. Small Gras cartridge adaption bolt head lacking |
| A Very Scarce Ist Pattern Victorian Royal Navy Midshipman's Dirk, and even rarer still, it is the broad bladed variant. The very first 1856 pattern midshipman's dirk with a custom made extra wide blade, with fine gilt hilt depicting the traditional lion's head pommel, wire bound fish skin grip. Beautifully etched blade with Queen Victoria's cypher. Used from the Crimean War period by the youngest officer's in the Royal Navy in the last days of the great 100 gunner Man O'War sailing ships, and the earliest days of the steam and sail 'Iron Clad' battleships. |
| A Very Scarce Ottoman Period Turkish Cadet's Sword Brass D Hilted sword with a small single fuller edged blade, very nicely etched and with an Islamic script panel.19th century. Probably only the second example we have had in at least 20 years. |
| A Very Scarce WW2 25 Pounder British Armour Piercing Round Designed and made to penetrate the near invincible Tiger Tank of Hitler's Third Reich. In late 1942 the Tiger Tank was introduced to the Afrika Korps, in order to be used against the British armored division in the dessert campaign. Our tanks were totally unable to penetrate the Tiger's armour, so some extra powerful self propelled guns, carrying 25 pounders, were despatched to Afrika to counteract the threat. This is a fired example and very rarely seen. Not suitable for export |
| A Very Unusual Civil War 'C.Howard' Rimfire Long Gun with Underlever Action This is undoubtedly one of the scarce patent action guns made in the 1860's to 1870 that didn't make it into greater production. There are elements of similarity in this rifle to the profile of Jean Baptiste Revol's [of New Orleans] patent breech loading rifle of 1853. In America around this time all manner of new gun actions and mechanisms were being created, in order to utilize the latest breech loading cartridges that had been designed to replace the outdated percussion muzzle loading system. This rifle, although not in pristine condition, is a must for collectors of unusual and patented actions from this incredible era. For it was this very time, when no one new for certain which way the new cartridges could be made to function to their best advantage, that probably the most significant weapons were being created, and those systems and actions were to mould the whole industry of arms production even until today. Great and legendary gunsmiths, such as Henry [who sold out to Winchester], were striving to create the best, most efficient, and indeed most marketable methods to evolve the rifle into the next level of development and progress, and this is likely one of those that simply failed to make the grade. This gun is one of only 2000 Mr. C. Howard's patent guns ever made, including the examples made under contract by Whitney Arms of Conn. USA. Made from the 1862 patent by Howard from the Civil War and by Whitney from 1866 to 1870. Most examples are marked by Whitney but just a few were completely unmarked, and this is one of those few. Just a very few came to England in the late 19th century so although a very rare gun relatively speaking, it is far rarer here in the UK. |
| A Victorian 1839/42 Pattern Carbine. Full walnut stock, all brass furniture. VR Crown Lock marked Tower. Hanovarian bayonet catch recess in brass forend. 26.5 inch barrel, 43 inches overall. |
| A Victorian British Connaught Rangers Officer's Helmet Tin the case which is emblazoned with the makers name Hawkes and a brass plaque with the officer's name and regiment engraved, Addis Delacombe Esq Connaught Rangers. The 1st Battalion deployed to South Africa as part of 5th (Irish) Brigade which was commanded by Major-General Fitzroy Hart. The Rangers took part in numerous engagements during the Boer War.
The regiment took part in the Battle of Colenso on 15 December, part of the attempt to relieve the town of Ladysmith, besieged by Boer forces. The Rangers and the rest of the 5th (Hart's) Brigade, who were on the left flank, had been forced to perform over 20 minutes of drill before the advance. The Brigade suffered heavily during their participation in the battle, the Boers inflicting heavy casualties. The advance was met with a fire from three sides that forced them to withdraw. The battle ended in defeat for the British. That battle and two previous defeats at Magersfontein and Stormberg became known as 'Black Week'.
The Rangers fought at Spion Kop and the Tugela Heights during further attempts by General Sir Redvers Buller to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith. In late February the siege of Ladysmith finally came to an end after it was relieved by British forces. The regiment was awarded the battle honour Relief of Ladysmith in addition to South Africa 1899–1902.
The 5th Brigade subsequently deployed to Kimberley and took part in further operations against the Boer guerillas.
The Rangers finally departed South Africa for Ireland after the Boer War ended in 1902, and were also awarded the theatre honour.
In 1908 the 1st Battalion arrived in India while the 2nd Battalion returned home to Ireland. The 1st and 2nd battalions of the regiment were given new Colours by HM King George V in 1911. The 2nd Battalion had left Ireland and was in England when the "war to end all wars", the First World War, began in August 1914. This tin is in untouched condition and could be much improved with simple cleaning but we have left 'as is' for those that prefer it as such. |
| A Victorian British Heavy Cavalry Sabre of The Household Cavalry The sword of the elite Royal Horse Guards, the monarch's mounted bodyguard. A sabre of the Boer War vintage, fully ordnance marked and dated.Blackened finish. Overall surface pitting. No scabbard. |
| A Victorian British Royal Artillery Officer's Undress Sabretache A Victorian officer's despatch and document case worn with the Artillery officer's uniform, suspended from a belt by straps, until it's use was discontinued in 1901. Bearing it's original, good, Royal Artillery badge with cannon. |
| A Victorian, Deluxe, Regimental Sword of The Lancashire Rifle Volunteers A good combat weight blade. With a noble crest design within the regimental patterned blade with a delightful frosted finish overall. Pierced steel hilt |
| A Victorious War Japanese War Flag WW2. Captured in 1945. Signed by dozens of men in the officers company including Kiyotsugu, Kazukuni, Michiyama,. Silk with some age tears. Blue ink named presentation by the British officer. |
| A Vintage American Flying Jacket WW2 B6 Type As the Army Air Corps acquired more closed-cockpit planes, there arose the need for a warm flying jacket that was not as heavy or bulky as the B-3. In response to this need, they developed a medium- weight shearling jacket, designated the B-6. Good overall condition with 2 front pockets. B-6s were not really warm enough for high-altitude use by bomber crews, but were warm enough (and trim enough) for use in the marginally heated cockpits of some fighters. And, like the B-3s, they were most often seen on the backs of ground crews working on the planes. B6 was used from WW2 to Korea. A couple of small holes at the rear one sleeve stiching adrift. |
| A Vintage 'Silver' Badge of Clan Grant A 'Silver' Clan badge of a garter with the motto 'Stand Fast' , centred with a burning hill. The Grants are one of the oldest and certainly one of noblest of Scottish history. Not hallmarked. Good condition heavt grade 2 inches max width.Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. |
| A Vintage American US Navy Serviceman's Hat in Cotton Khaki With rear neck protector. Marked USN |
| A Vintage Officer's Ingersoll Stop Watch. Fully Working order |
| A Wartime British Middlesex Regt. Officer's Field Service Cap. Regimental officer's cap badge of the Middlesex Regt. Very good order with maker label Herbert Johnson of London. It's last known useage was in WW2. Used at El Alamein and Normandy landings, Caen, the Battle for Hill 112 etc.etc. The Middlesex Regt were a regiment that fought with magnificent distinction, from Africa against Rommel, through to D. Day [against Rommel, for a while, once more] and continually in the very thick of the fighting, till the German surrender in 45. Small moth to rear headband. |
| A WO's Enamelled Forage Cap Badge of the Coldstream Guards A super and much sought after vintage example of these fine British foot guard's badges. |
| A Wonderful Late 17th Early 17th Century 'Royal Naval' Hunting Sword Brass hilt with fine detailed repousse hunting scenes. Finely engraved blade. Tortoishell grip, with contemporary, 18th century horn and nail repair to the outer grip.The very form of sword used by all the great Royal Naval Captains and Admirals of the William and Mary to Queen Anne period. Such as Admirals Benbow, Shovel, Hopsonn etc. Usually simple examples this is an especially finely engraved example of high quality, and the repair is actually so charming and indicative of the age as to be a positive advantage. |
| A Wonderful Ancestral Bladed Shin Gunto Mounted Officers Sword A simply wonderful sword with a rare early blade, probably Koto era circa 1550. The blade, signed Tachi mei Hiromasa, is in the early Nagamaki form without Yokote, and full length Hi. The Sori is beautifully deep and finely elegant. The Kashira has a super silver Kamon. This is one of the nicest ancestral Shin Gunto swords we have seen in a long time, and was certainly mounted for an officer of very high status and rank. The Nakago has been reshaped slightly in order to accommodate the Gunto Tsuka. In the reshaping one mekugi ana has been filled with copper, the tang was also part blued. Given considerable thought and taken opinion from a learned colleague, there is a possibilitythe nakago may have been reshaped not for WW2 but in the early 1900's when it was mounted Kyu gunto style, maybe for the last owner's Father who may have used in in the Russo-Japanese war. We will have this sword polished. |
| A Wonderful and Truly Astounding Katana, Late Shinto to Shinshinto Era This is a wonderfully impressive and fine quality sword, no doubt made for a Samurai of significant importance, or possibly a Daimyo [Samurai war lord]. It has a magnificent blade, full of presence, with an elongated O Kissaki and deep 'Crab Claw' Hamon. The Saya is in rich brown with a beautiful relief decoration of dragonflys. All the mounts are fully matching, of fabulous quality, and fully ensuite, in Shakudo on a Nanako ground, depicting in full relief pure gold Shishi [Lion dogs]. They are complemented by a Shibuishi iron Tsuba with a matching design of a gorgeously carved gold Shishi prancing among flowers. Silver habaki. 26.75 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A Wonderful Antique Drum. With the badge of the Royal Sussex Regiment Fully painted with the regimental badge, of all the regiments Battle Honours of Louisburg, Quebec, 1759 Maida, and Nile 1884-1885 before the Boer War period. One of the great British Regiments that saw fine and noble service by it's officer's and men throughout the British Empire. Originally formed as the Earl of Donegal's Regiment of Foot in 1693 (raised by Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall in Belfast), it was disbanded in 1698 and raised again in 1701. The regiment was also known as the Belfast Regiment and by two other colonel's names before it was given the numerical title of 35th in 1747. It was given the title Prince of Orange's Own Regiment in 1751 and in 1782 became the 35th (The Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot. In 1805 the regiment changed its county allegiance and recruiting ground becoming the 35th (Sussex) Regiment of Foot.
In 1881 during the Childer's Reforms of the British Army the 35th Regiment was united with the 107th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Light Infantry) to form the The Royal Sussex Regiment. Following it's last name change the regiment was sent to Egypt in 1882 as part of General Wolseley's expedition to crush the Urabi Revolt and conquer Egypt in the name of the Khedive. The 2nd Battalion was stationed in Alexandria after its bombardment by the Royal Navy and the 1st Battalion was engaged in several of the decisive land battles in that short-lived conflict. Later, in 1884, the regiment was part of the Nile Expedition--the unsuccessful attempt to save General Gordon and his garrison at Khartoum during the Mahdist War. Twenty men of the regiment, lead by Lt. Lionel Trafford, lead the advanced party towards Khartoum. Being told that the enemy would flee at the sight of the British in their red coats, they traded their khaki for the scarlet of the Camel Guards. Nevertheless, the British relief force was two days too late, as Khartoum had fallen and Gordon was killed. The 2nd Battalion, stationed in India, was part of the Black Mountain Expedition of 1888, as one of many battles fought along the North-West Frontier Province. The Tirah Campaign was a campaign organised in 1897 by Sir William Lockhart against the Afridis and the Orakzais in the Tirah Valley on the North West Indian frontier, part as what was known as 'The Great Game' the conflict between Russia and the British Empire for control of India. As Imperial Russian expansion threatened to collide with the increasing British dominance of the Indian sub-continent, the two great empires played out a subtle game of exploration, espionage and imperialistic diplomacy throughout Central Asia. The conflict always threatened, but never quite developed into direct warfare between the two sides. However, there were great battles and conflicts that were created by 'The Great Game', including the Tirah Campaign and The Punjab Frontier in 1897-98. Rudyard Kipling's clasic novel KIM was made into a Hollywood spectacular starring Errol Flynn, and the entire novel was based around the espionage and conflict derived from this fascinating and significant era of the converging interests of Russia and Britain. There is a bronze monument in Eastbourne, Sussex, to the casualties of the 2nd Battallion serving in Tirah.. In 1900, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Royal Sussex Militia) Battalions of the regiment joined the British Army in the bloody Anglo-Boer War. The 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment served in India till 1914 when they were transferred to Europe for service in the the Great War. |
| A Wonderful Silver Hilted 1796 Blue and Gilt Light Dragoon Officer's Sabre Silver hilt, carved horn grip and bound with triple wire silver binding. Stunning 'Blue and Gilt' fully engraved blade with an engraved dragoon officer on horseback with sword drawn and with the crowned cypher of King George IIIrd overall in around 80% condition. It is in it's combat all steel scabbard [with some denting] and the cutting edge has several offensive and defensive combat sword cuts. This sword is top drawer quality, in simply super condition for age, that combined with it's obvious and original combat battle scarring to the edge makes it simply a collector's dream. In it's day this sabre would have cost a king's ransom in the order of around 20 guineas which was a sum probably never seen all together in the entire lifetime of a regular trooper, as a trooper's pay at that time was just 1 shilling a day. Used in one of the great British Light Dragoon regiments in the time of the greatest war of the 19th century agianst the seemingly unstoppable armies of France under the command of the legendary Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte |
| A Wonderful Wakazashi of Fabulous Style. Rarely seen now, the Iris leaf shape, was popular for Wakazashi and Tanto in the Muromachi era [1342-1573] and this beautiful blade, of some 500 to 600 years old, is very nearly Moroha Zukuri [double edged] with a barely perceptable mune. It has a good saya in black and a Habaki.. The blade is quite beautiful with it's distinctive highly elongated kissaki. The Fushi Kashira are very fine quality Shakudo and gold, decorated with fishermen and nets. 22.70 inch blade length, Tsuba to tip. |
| A WW1 British Army Scottish Regt.Sweetheart Badge With Photo. A Scots Regt. Badge in gilt with a photo of the soldier within. Worn as a representation for a lady to show she has a husband/brother/father or sweetheart fighting at the front |
| A WW1 German Iron Cross Medal for Bravery With black and white ribbon.In very good conditionAmong the holders of the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class was Adolf Hitler, who held the rank of Gefreiter. Hitler can be seen wearing the award on his left breast, as was standard, in many photographs. The Iron Cross 1st Class and the Iron Cross 2nd Class were awarded without regard to rank. One had to already possess the 2nd Class in order to receive the 1st Class (though in some cases both could be awarded simultaneously). The egalitarian nature of this award contrasted with those of most other German states. |
| A WW1 Lapel Badge of the Royal Army Service Corps Brass and enamel on a Mother O' Pearl base |
| A WW1 Royal Naval Fleet Medal Long service medal for the Royal Navy Fleet Reserve. |
| A WW1 Silver and Enamel Lapel Badge of the Gloucestershire Regt. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. |
| A WW1 Silver Tie Pin of The London Scottish Regt In silver metal and enamel.Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. |
| A WW1 Theodolyte Rapporteur Calculator. St Ettienne 1915 Used by Artillery in the trenches of France and Belgium in WW1. Maker marked serial numbered. A superbly crafted and engineered piece of calculation equipment. |
| A WW1 Use Beautiful Imperial German Artillery Officer's Sword Made in 1900. In very good condition. 90% original gilt remaining. Ruby glass eyes, good blade, black steel scabbard [wear to paint]. A stunningly attractive and fine quality sword.Maker marked Clemen and Jung [Crown Shield with Z.] |
| A WW2 American Occupation Soldier's Hand Painted Cartoon Watercolour Titled the 252 Club 'Happy Days' Graz 1946. Depicting 2 uniformed GI's playing instruments, an Accordian [squeeze-box] and a Harmonica, in typical period 'Swing' poses. In oak frame |
| A WW2 Atlantic Star [France And Germany Bar] Trio A super WW2 trio of medals in excellent condition mounted on a medal bar.The Atlantic Star with the France and Germany Bar, and set with the 1939-45 Star and the War Medal. The Atlantic Star; This star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic within the period 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. The 1939-45 Star must have been earned by 6, or 2 for aircrew, months service before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star.
The recipient was awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. Also the award of a gallantry medal or MID also produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.
Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel, together with Army and RAF personnel serving with either Naval service, had to complete 6 months service in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters west of longitude 20 degrees East. The medal could have an additional bar awarded, provided the recipient qualified, a France and Germany or Air Crew Europe bar. The recipient could not receive both bars. |
| A WW2 German 40 Year Faithfull Service Cross With NSDAP Swastika In superlative mint condition. Ist class award for 40 Years Faithfull Service to the NSDAP and Reich. Black enamel on gold blue silk ribbon.One of the most beautiful quality medals ever made Part of a very fine and significant collection of German medals and awards we were most fortunate to acquire from a grandnephew of a U-Boat commander. Just like the current Olympic medals, all German gold and silver class medals are not hallmarked solid gold or silver |
| A WW2 German Third Reich Fire Service Dress sidearm Dagger With original leather frog. Plated blade, plated hilt with celluliod grip. Plating wear to hilt. Double 'S' quillon guard. |
| A WW2 Heer German Dress Bayonet With original leather frog, excellent blade maker marked Puma. Although in the form of a bayonet it was never designed to fit any gun. Eagle head pommel black chequered grip. |
| A WW2 Italian Machine Gun Sight This is a scarce collector's piece but not one we are familiar with. Dated 1943 and maker marked, it is a rare piece but we know not which Axis Power weapon it was made for. |
| A WW2 Japanese Officer's 1936 Pattern Shin Gunto Officer's Sword A very nice clean collector's piece. Signed blade by Yoshimichi of Noshu in Mino province, but with some surface marks. Overall a typical early WW2 sword used by an officer in the service of the [once divine] Emperor Hirohito. These Japanese katana are now most collectable and eagerly sought, and you couldn't do better for an honest, combat used, but well cared for sword than this example. Not an arsenal made sword, possibly gendaito. |
| A WW2 Luftwaffe Buckle in Alluminium One pin broken. Worn overall but a nice example. |
| A WW2 RAF Air Crew Observer's Brevet [Battle of Britain era] Pre 1941 issue, the Observer was first qualified in 1917 in the Royal Flying Corps and at that time was in command of the plane, the pilot was just the driver. His tasks were many, and he was also trained to fly the plane if the pilot was killed or injured. In 1941 the O Brevet qualification was replaced with 1939 type individual N, RO, & AG etc. Brevets each for a designated use i.e. Navigator, Radio Operator, Air Gunner etc. As the 0 type were from the early war period, and they were continually worn by the owner right through the war, few examples [and their owners] survived, and alongside the Air Gunner [the least likely survivable position in the RAF] they are, quite rightly, highly prized by collectors. |
| A WW2 Regimental Silver Presentation Tankard to a Lt Col Royal Engineers. Heavy gauge tankard with presentation inscription. Presented to Major Cook, Pannagarh. We have a collection of his wartime militaria and sword etc.of Lt Col Cook. He signed up to Military Service with the Royal Engineers during the inter-war years and serving most of his time in India and the Far-east, when as acting-Captain, Frederick Cook was shot & wounded in action and hospitalized during 1942 with a bullet lodged in his spine. Following an X-ray, this was considered too difficult to remove, and he was subsequently discharged back into service, continuing until he left the Military. We are selling this tankard separately from the Colonel's WW2 and post war service mementos, as regimental presentation silver are collectable items attracting their own distinctly separate collectors. The tankard is Indian Empire silver, stamped 'pure silver' on the base. This mark does not qualify as English grade silver, and it bears no English assay mark. |
| A WW2 Royal Air Force Swift Training Rifle Series B MK III WW2 Issue. The Swift Training Rifle was designed for training and was used with a target. The target, fixed to the wall, was gauged to be the size of a man at 100 yards. The trainee would lie on the floor with the muzzle of the gun touching the target. When the trigger was pulled, two pins shot out and perforated the target. These were colloquially known as vipers teeth. The safety catch of the rifle was designed into the butt so that when the rifle was not properly held to the shoulder, it would not fire.Top barrel bands missing, small areas of surface rust. Photos in gallery show the targets [not included with gun] |
| A WW2 Russian Maxim Machine Gun With Sokalov Wheeled mount with armour shield. Made and used for the winter campaign against the German invasion of WW2. The barrel cover has the large cap cover for filling the cooling jacket with snow. The gun is the 1910 model but with the later WW2 adaptions. Deactivated not suitable for export, heavy item |
| A WW2 Special Forces Sten Gun and Tommy Gun Light Projector & Instructions Dated 1940, made by Everready. A long torch type piece of equipment [marked with serial number] that adapts and fits to the underside of either a Sten or Tommy for Special Forces operations. We got it from an old SOE man who kept it as one of his last remaining souvenirs of WW2. Used by SOE & OSS operatives, Special Ops Commandos and SAS. Apparently it fitted with a strangely complicted wiring loop to fit to the trigger, and an effective but simple bracket system [not present]. It comes with his 'Restricted' Small Arms Training Pamphlet, that directs the fitting instructions of it to the two Machine Carbines. Simply speaking, it's an elongated torch, but it's modus operandi is very interesting indeed. Unfortunately we cannot reveal the name of the man to whom it belonged and was issued to. Lens cracked across but it's still fully operational. |
| A WW2 Territorial Efficiency Medal Awaded to Bombadier Deacon Royal Artillery |
| A WW2 USAAF Air Crew Member Badge In Sterling Silver. Silver coloured metal, not English hallmarked silver. |
| A WW2 War Merit Medal The medal of War Merit awarded to civilians for merit but not in combat circumstances. |
| AGE DATING FOR JAPANESE SWORDS, FITTINGS AND ARMOUR Please see Announcements page for the relevant dates of the Japanese eras and periods |
| All Steel Antique Silver Inlaid Kindjal. A medium size Kindjal typical of these Russian and Caucasian daggers. Silver worn in parts. A nice antique piece.19th century. 40cm o/a length |
| Amazing & Historical Collection of 37 Original German 3rd Reich Photographs A Museum grade Hoffmann collection, nearly all taken pre war, in the late 1930's. Most are photographs from Presse Illustration Hoffmann of Berlin and sent to London for the International Graphic Press, Chancery Lane, for once use only, and for return. Many are stamped copyright 'THIS ORIGINAL MUST BE RETURNED' All the copyrights are now expired of course. The war stopped the return of this historical archive and we were very fortunate to acquire it. It contains many original photographs of Hitler at rallies etc. and notables such as Baron Von Neurath [Reichs Protector of Czechoslovakia], Baldur Von Shirach [the Jugendfuhrer and Imperial Governor of Vienna], Richard Walter Darre [the Reich Agriculture Minister & Director of the Race and Settlement Office], Arthur Seyss-Inquart [The Gaulieter of Holland] and Victor Lutze [Leader of the SA] . These amazing 37 original photographs [13 of them are of Hitler] have not been seen on the open market in almost 70 years. Most stamped Presse Hoffmann, and International Graphic Press with typed details for each photograph, mostly dated 1937or 38. In addition to being an early member of the Nazi Party and a personal friend of Hitler, Heinrich Hoffmann was a professional photographer and the owner of a publishing house. He had personal and professional access to Hitler that no other photographer had, and achieved a favoured position in the publication and sale of photographs of Nazi political activities and formal and informal portraits of Hitler. Eva Braun [Hitler's mistress and latter day wife] was Hoffmann's assistant, and Hitler met her via a meeting with Hoffmann.These photos, that were originated and acquired by the Hoffmann firm, are of political activities, rallies, meetings and personalities, and provide documentation of the economic, cultural,social and political life in Germany and, to a lesser extent, Europe as a whole. Some are taken just into the war for International Graphic Press.Only a small selection in the portfolio are shown here in the gallery, most are 7 x 5 inches. Below each photograph we show the details and stamps on the reverse of each photo. |
| American 19th Century Socket Bayonet Marked from Rock Island Arsenal a good 19th century bayonet with traditional 'US' brass disc within leather scabbard mount. |
| Amost Interesting and Attractve Albanian Rat-Tail Pistol Traditional Miquelet Lock with all metal stock with fancy scroll work design.18th century, short barrel.39cm long overall. |
| An 1801 'Tower of London' Brown Bess Musket, Front Line Regt Issue Fine walnut stock, ordnance stamped & dated 1801, traditional brass furniture, 39 inch barrel. The mainstay of British Infantry, used in the famous British 'Squares' at Waterloo and all the famous battles of the Napoleonic Wars. Front line regimental issue. Good overall condition. A fine and highly collectable piece. The nickname Brown Bess started in the 1740's. Early uses of the term include the newspaper, the Connecticut Courant in April 1771, which said "...but if you are afraid of the sea, take Brown Bess on your shoulder and march." This familiar use must indicate widespread use of the term by that time. The 1785 Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue, a contemporary work which defined vernacular and slang terms, contained this entry: "Brown Bess: A soldier's firelock. To hug Brown Bess; to carry a fire-lock, or serve as a private soldier.". Rudyard Kipling, wrote in 1911 "In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes, and brocade Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise - An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade,
With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes -
At Blenheim and Ramillies, fops would confess
They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess. ” This gun is a lovely example with a beautifully tight action, some barrel pitting. It also has a Londonderry gun census stamp that shows it was, during it's later working life, in Ireland. |
| An 1816 East India Co. Fusil Converted to a Fowling Gun It was not uncommon for British officer's who served in the British Army or the East India Co. army, when leaving service, to convert their military Fusil or arm to civilian life. Although officers would never use a musket in service [only, more usually, officer's pistols or a sword], some, may have required the service of a Fusil, which was effectively a better quality, light weight musket, possibly with finer mounts or features, such as stock chequering. When one's regular army career was over, and one was placed on the reserve or half pay list, one's fusil, that had been used in the service of the regiment, possibly, for many years, could be half stocked and reformed for it's retired life on the farm or country estate. This is one of those long arms. The lock is marked for the East India Co, and dated 1816. It was the independant Chartered British controlled Army [and Navy] that ran India for the British Empire for nigh on a 100 years, until the Indian Mutiny, when it was dissolved. |
| An 1856 East India Pattern Percussion Cavalry Carbine Victorian, Birmingham, marked. With VR cypher and EIG mark of the East India Government. Lock marked Birmingham and dated 1869. Captive swivel ramrod. The 1856 'East India Pattern' carbine was made in Enfield, and at the London and Birmingham trades. This was made at the latter, in smoothbore .65 cal. Just returned from being fully cleaned and polished in our workshops, serviced lock action, very tight action. Typical East India light stock. |
| An 1856 Percussion East India Pattern Carbine Two band with the front band replaced with a cappucine. Captive ramrod with linkage lacking. Percussion action, with good action, a refinished stock and reblued steel. The bore has now lost any rifling that may have been remaining. |
| An 1886 Pattern Japanese Cavalry Officer's Sword Russo Japanese War Made prior to, and used in, the Japanese Russian War of 1904. Brass pierced guard, black horn grip, with original wire binding. Bright steel fullered blade, steel scabbard. The last picture in the gallery is of the Japanese and Russian cavalry troops clashing near Chonju, North P'yongan Province, Korea in the war of 1904.1886 [type 19] Cavalry parade sabre The sword is in good overall condition and has been completely cleaned and polished in our workshops as it had been left uncleaned for likely 60 years or more. The hilt backstrap is lacking, but as the rear of the hilt has a superb hand frictioned patina, this may have been lost in combat, but the sword still continually used without it for some reasonable time within it's working life. Scabbard has some contact dents. See pages 49 to 53 of 'Japanese Military and Civil Swords and Dirks' by Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory. Examples of these swords are rare and at the time of print [of the aformentioned book] only two examples had been located, but other examples known of through photograph only. Although a rarely seen sword this one is lacking it's backstrap so valued accordingly. Do not confuse this sabre with the very common 1875 pattern officer's parade sabre or the much reproduced 1886 pattern cavalry troopers sabre. The sword was used right through the Russo Japanese War and into WW2. In fact on the surrender of Borneo, in September 1945, Lt General Baba Masao, Commander of the 37th Imperial Japanese Army, he surrendered his sword in the ceremony, which was indeed the same sword as this, an 1886 pattern officer's cavalry sabre. 30 inch blade |
| An 1897 Victorian British Infantry Officers Sword Steel half basket hilt in pierced honeysuckle pattern with the pierced royal cypher of Queen Victoria. Fine fully etched blade with royal cypher and devices. All steel scabbard. Used in the Boer War and WW1. Burnished bright steel with ribbed wooden grip. |
| An 18th Century Small Sword Rapier. A Long, Boot or Cloak Sword Cast brass hilt with relief figural decoration, and hawthorn wood grip. Steel rapier blade with engraving and deep fuller. No knuckle bow or guard. No scabbard. Circa 1750. The knuckle bow and guard have been purposefully removed and the hilt re-attached. We had one quite similar, around 20 years ago, which came with an old article from a Connoisseur journal, It described, what was called, a boot or cloak sword. In the days of the threat by highwaymen, when a gentleman may have the need to consistently travel from town to town on horseback, but not by mail coach, a constant traveler might adapt a sword that could be easily slotted into knee high riding boots, or slipped into an especially constructed sleeve inside a riding cloak. For in wet and inclement weather a gentleman's flintlock pistol could not function, so without a sword for protection he was dangerously defenseless. Naturally a standard rapier short sword would be more normal, but on occasion, a gentleman that traveled constantly, or journeyed on perilous pursuits [such as a revenue man] might require a more concealable sword that would be far more easily manageable on both horseback or on foot. It also has the unique advantage of being eminently useable as a short distance spear type weapon, as it's weight balance is now very effective for that alternate purpose. 29.75 inches long overall |
| An 18th Century Tulwar Sabre. With Knucklebow Guard Disc hilt, single edged blade. This sword was a part of a stand of arms in a fine old country hall that had been on display for around 200 years, along with two other swords from the same display. Family history has it that this sword [and two others, sold separately] came from an officer that served on board ship in the Marines in the 18th century. His swords were trophies of his service and were confiscated from successful actions against captured pirate vessels, during the 1780's and 90's off the Barbary coast. This sword came to us is a dreadfully dirty condition, and had not been touched, or removed from the great hall, for likely 200 years. Long single edged blade and disc hilt. We have lightly cleaned the sword to a more attractive burnished grey steel patina. Overall surface pitting |
| An 18th Century Turkish, Bone Hilted Kindjal Short Sword The blade has traces of a complex etched design that may include Islamic script. Carved bone hilt with single silver leaf and nail stud. |
| An 18th To 19th Century Indo Persian Sword With an inscribed blade and traditional Tulwar h |
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