Antique Arms & Militaria

The Lanes Armoury, World Renown As Britain’s Best Antique Museum-Shop and Gallery, Is Closed, As Usual, This Bank Holiday Monday 31st August. We Re-open Tuesday Ist Sept As Normal

Last Saturday, we had pass through our doors somewhere between 2,600 to 3,200 visitors, and, as usual, just about every one most kindly expressed we were probably the most interesting and incredible shop they had ever seen. And so many continually remarked we are not really a regular shop, we are far more like a museum and gallery, that happens to be a shop as well!. As literally, every single thing we show and offer for sale, is an incredible piece of history, and many pieces they have never before even seen, let alone offered for sale, anywhere else in the country.

One very polite young man said to us earlier, one afternoon;
“ where else in the world can you buy an arrowhead, fired by Alexander the Great’s army, for £65, sitting next to a gold fob chain, in the shape of a Zeppelin, given by the former captain and survivor, of doomed Luftschiffer airship, The Hindenburg, to a colleague in the RAF.”

Several decades ago back in the 1970s Mark used to have conversations on a fairly regular basis with President Ronald Reagan when he was still governor of California.

In one conversation President Reagan remarked “it’s a shame the whole world doesn’t know you exist. I know you’re really famous in the antique world, but most people in America will simply have not have heard of you, which is a great shame. I hope one day this will change.”

Well it did change, thanks to Tim Berners-Lee and the Internet, and various articles, from such as the New York Times, declaring we were the one of the most interesting places to visit in the whole of Europe, we have now expanded our presence, to literally, the entire world, with visitors every day from every possible continent and country you can imagine.

Once Mr. Reagan was elected president he mentioned in one call that he was going to visit Her Late Majesty at Windsor Castle, and he hoped very much to be able to visit again.

Sadly, after a visit from the Secret Service to Brighton, they decided that any visit to the town would be impossible due to the narrowness of the streets, and the size of the cortège that President Reagan had to be accompanied by, including up to three of the bespoke armoured limousines the president used, nicknamed by the Secret Service, ‘the beast’. In the 1970s and 80s these vehicles were simply huge , and they would never be able to negotiate the lanes of Brighton, or most of the streets of Brighton to be fair, in any way whatsoever.

However, we were graced and honoured to a passing visit by Her Majesty and Prince Philip, in March 2007, but of most of her entourage were in Range Rovers!

However, although closed Monday, we will re-open for our thousands of personal visitors and customers, this Tuesday as usual, but we are always contactable by email, or on 07721 010085 during our closing hours this Bank Holiday..

All website activity carries on 24-7 as usual .

Why not choose an ancient or antique original collectable for your loved one, or even you! Every day we try our utmost to supply all our customers with that something really special and unique, and as usual we believe have some simply amazing offerings, thousands of them from all over the world, from ancient to vintage, and every one a little part of history.
All our items supplied with our unique lifetime guarantee of authenticity, detailing its full history as known. The Lanes Armoury is proud to be known, as declared by many of our thousands of daily visitors, as their most favourite shop in all Great Britain!

Enjoy The Lanes Armoury Website, it Has Been Over 105 Years in the Making.

Probably the only shop in Europe where you can view, and buy, original collectables from over 300,000 years of human history, from almost every major civilisation

"Gloria Antika" { translated, from the Latin, ‘Glory of the Ancient’} our old family motto, and it has been for generations, are words we live buy every, single, day.  read more

Code: 24909

A Fabulous, Original, Museum Piece, A Medieval Knight's 13th to 15th Century Long Dagger From the Time of the Plantagenet & Lancastrian Kings, From Henry IIIrd, Edwards I/II/III, Richard IInd to King Henry IVth, & King Henry Vth's Battle of Agincourt

Worthy of a world class collection of fine and early arms and armour, or a single statement piece as a compliment to any form of home decor from traditional to ultra contemporary. A piece that would be the centre of conversation and attraction in any location. A most rarely seen, original, complete, & intact, long dagger or short sword of the medieval period, used from the reigns of King Henry IIIrd to King Henry Vth, from the era of the Crusades and the Templar Knights, right through to the Anglo French Battles, the Victories of England against France, at the Battle of Crecy, in 1346, by King Edward IInd and His son the Black Prince, and later at the Battle of Poitiers, in 1356, the victory of King Edward IInd's son, the Black Prince, and King Henry Vth's victory at Agincourt, in 1415.

Daggers surviving from this ancient era are most rare, substantially more rare in fact than the swords themselves. Items such as this were oft acquired in the 18th century by British noblemen touring Northern France and Italy on their Grand Tour. Originally placed on display in the family 'cabinet of curiosities', within his country house upon his return home. A popular pastime in the 18th and 19th century, comprised of English ladies and gentlemen traveling for many months, or even years, througout classical Europe, acquiring antiquities and antiques for their private collections. This dagger's history travels from the English Plantagenet Kings Henry IIIrd, Edward 1st, Edward IInd, Edward IIIrd, & Richard IInd, to the Lancastrian Kings Henry IVth & Henry Vth including use at The Battle of Agincourt, where King Henry carried a near identical dagger and his longer version matched sword that are part of his achievements, hanging above his tomb at Westminster Abbey.
A very fine and very rare museum grade medieval knight's long dagger, with large segmented circular pommel, used for a period of around three centuries from the 13th to 15th century.
An iron double edged dagger with lentoid section tapering blade, curved quillon crossguard and scrolled ends, with narrow tang and with an impressive large segmented wheel pommel.
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory in the Hundred Years' War. The battle took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) in the County of Saint-Pol, Artois, some 40 km south of Calais. Along with the battles of Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), it was one of the most important English triumphs in the conflict. England's victory at Agincourt against a numerically superior French army crippled France, and started a new period in the war during which the English began enjoying great military successes.

After several decades of relative peace, the English had renewed their war effort in 1415 amid the failure of negotiations with the French. In the ensuing campaign, many soldiers perished due to disease and the English numbers dwindled, but as they tried to withdraw to English-held Calais they found their path blocked by a considerably larger French army. Despite the disadvantage, the following battle ended in an overwhelming tactical victory for the English.

King Henry V of England led his troops into battle and participated in hand-to-hand fighting. The French king of the time, Charles VI, did not command the French army himself, as he suffered from severe psychotic illnesses with moderate mental incapacitation. Instead, the French were commanded by Constable Charles d'Albret and various prominent French noblemen of the Armagnac party.

This battle is notable for the use of the English longbow in very large numbers, with the English and Welsh archers forming up to 80 percent of Henry's army. The decimation of the French cavalry at their hands is regarded as an indicator of the decline of cavalry and the beginning of the dominance of ranged weapons on the battlefield.

Agincourt is one of England's most celebrated victories. The battle is the centre-piece of the play Henry V by William Shakespeare. Juliet Barker in her book Agincourt: The King, the Campaign, the Battle ( published in 2005) argues the English and Welsh were outnumbered "at least four to one and possibly as much as six to one". She suggests figures of about 6,000 for the English and 36,000 for the French, based on the Gesta Henrici's figures of 5,000 archers and 900 men-at-arms for the English, and Jean de Wavrin's statement "that the French were six times more numerous than the English". The 2009 Encyclopaedia Britannica uses the figures of about 6,000 for the English and 20,000 to 30,000 for the French. Overall 20.5 inches long in very sound and nice condition for age. There are very few such surviving long daggers from this era, and just a few are part of the Royal Collection. As with almost all surviving daggers and swords of this age, none have their wooden grips remaining, and as such the surviving crossguards are somewhat mobile.

A fine example piece, from the ancient knightly age, from almost a thousand years past. Although this dagger is now in an obvious ancient, and historical, russetted condition, every item made of iron from this era, such as the rarest of swords and daggers, even in the Royal Collection, are in this very same state of preservation.

This piece will come with a complimentary display stand, but could also look spectacular suitably framed. We are delighted to offer such a service if required.  read more

Code: 23016

A Superb Napoleonic French 'Prisoner-of-War' Portable Travelling Dressing Case, Shaped in the Form of a Book

In wood covered in straw-work parquetry. crafted by a prisoner of war during the1793 - 1815 War between Napoleon's French Navy and the Naval forces of King George III of England. This piece was hand crafted by a captive, French, master artisan who created this unbelievably detailed box with nothing but coloured pieces of straw, paper and scraps of wood, {often taken from their bunks} for a frame, and boiled glue. This piece would have taken weeks to hand create, and the tiny pieces of straw are somehow cut into thousands of minuscule pieces and assembled in tiny multicoloured geometric patterns. A very similar example to one that is on display in the Burghley House Collection. Made by the captured Napoleonic and French wars French Prisoners-of-War in the early 1800's in order to subsidise their meagre prison rations, and this fine piece is made to give the impression it is a sizeable book when closed. The interior bears two small sections, lidded compartments with interior mirror in Georgian Vauxhall plate, and a geometric parquetry All of the interior straw-work is pristine in colour and unfaded showing wonderful contrasts.

Great Britain was at war with France continuously from 1793 to 1802. Hostilities ceased briefly in 1802, but conflict soon recommenced. The Napoleonic Wars continued until 1815, when Napoleon?s forces were finally defeated at Waterloo.

For example,iIn 1796 the first prison to house French prisoners was built at Norman Cross, some 5 miles north of Peterborough. Conditions must have been both harsh and crowded; disease killed more that 1,700 inmates between 1797 and 1814.

To supplement their rations and to provide small income, some prisoners made ornaments, models and toys, which they were allowed to sell. The materials used included straw, wood, bone and even human hair. Many of the items made were extraordinary in their complexity and design and were always very desirable to collectors. The proximity of Burghley House to the camp meant that members of the Cecil family acquired many fine examples.

Those displayed at Burghley include a number of containers made of wood with applied decoration of coloured straw, a stationery box, a set of bone spillikins in a pocket case, a framed straw-work picture of the house built for Napoleon Bonaparte on St Helena, to where he was exiled, a bone set of dominoes and playing cards and a detailed model of an 80-gun ship-of-the-line with hair rigging..

Two photos in the gallery are of New Cross market for the French POWs to sell their wears and hand made pieces to the locals and nobility who used to travel to such markets to buy these pieces that were incredibly popular with members of the aristocracy and high society. a a painting of a prison hulk in Sheerness, often made from the hulks of a scrapped old British man o'war, or a captured, damaged French or Spanish frigate,  read more

Code: 24739

Rare & Highly Desirable Prussian M1860-98 Fusilier Sword-Bayonet, Originally Made For the Dreyse Needle Fire Rifle, Used in the Franco Prussian War Service. Then Upgraded By The Prussian Ordnance For A Mauser Gew98 Guard Reserve Fusiliers Regiment For WW1

This rare recognised service pattern issued bayonet is an absolute corker! After a detailed appraisal we have determined it would be near impossible to find a better example, anywhere, including museum collections, of this highly rare bayonet. Especially so as it is stamped and marked with so many details of its past service history in both iconic Imperial Prussian German wars.

In fabulous condition, regimentally marked and German inspection proofed throughout its service life, from 1860 up to 1918. a rare beauty made even rarer still due to its condition. The blade ricasso is first issue date stamped, {61} for 1861 with Prussian inspection stamp. The regimental stamping on the scabbard throat mount is for a WW1 Guards Fusilier regiment, with regiment numbering 3, and sword-bayonet number 146, and above them, the deleted previous 1860’s stampings for its service in the Guard Fusiliers Regt. 2? {now difficult to decipher} in the Franco Prussian War from 1869. The hilt pommel is WW1 inspection stamped. The brass scabbard throat opening is further marked with Franco Prussian War inspection stamps

The Prussian M1860-98 designation refers to the extended service use life of the Model 1860 Fusilier Sword Bayonet, which was originally issued for the Dreyse needle-fire rifle, and later updated through successive rifle eras up to 1898 and World War I.
Initial Adoption and authorized on August 4, 1860, the M1860 sword bayonet was custom-built for the new Dreyse Zündnadel-Füsiliergewehr (Model 1860 Fusilier Needle-Fire Rifle).

During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), the Guards Fusilier Regiment (Garde-Füsilier-Regiment) served as an elite light infantry unit within the Prussian Guards Corps, participating in major campaigns including the battles of Gravelotte and Sedan, as well as the Siege of Paris.

At the Battle of Gravelotte (August 18, 1870): Fusiliers fought fiercely in one of the bloodiest engagements of the war, helping secure a strategic victory against the French.

At the Battle of Sedan (September 1, 1870): They Participated in the encirclement and decisive defeat of the French Imperial Army.

In the Siege of Paris (1870–1871): They Maintained operational lines and containment during the prolonged investment of the French capital.

Their service In WW1
The Guards Fusilier Regiment (Garde-Füsilier-Regiment) and reserve, were an elite infantry unit of the Prussian Army's Guard Corps (Gardekorps), garrisoned in Berlin.
During World War I, it fought as a premier frontline formation on both the Western and Eastern Fronts, suffering heavy casualties as part of the German Imperial elite forces.

1914 (Western & Eastern Fronts): They Fought in the initial invasion of France and Belgium (including the Battle of the Marne), then shifted east to counter Russian offensives (including operations in Poland and East Prussia).
1915–1917: Engaged in intense trench warfare and major defensive/offensive battles on the Western Front, including the Somme and operations in Flanders.
1918: Participated in the German Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht) before facing the final Allied Hundred Days Offensive.

It originally featured a distinctive cast-brass hilt with a T-shaped slot, a leaf-spring locking button, a steel crossguard with an "S"-shaped quillon, and a 21mm muzzle ring.

It uses a powerful and robust, roughly 500mm "quill-back" or pipe-backed blade designed to double as both a sidearm and a heavy cutting tool for light elite infantry.
Conversions and the Model 1898 Transition
Mauser 1871 Adaptations: Following the introduction of the single-shot Mauser Model 1871 rifle, surplus M1860 fusilier blades and modified variants were reissued, often resized or repurposed for foot artillery units (Artillerie-Seitengewehr) by altering muzzle ring dimensions.

The 1898 upgrades as the German military transitioned to the bolt-action Gewehr 98 (Model 1898) rifle, older high-quality blades like the M1860 and M1871 were recycled.

By 1913 (culminating in configurations like the 71/98 and related patterns), armourers mated these trusted, long fusilier blades onto modern {at the time} 98-style handles and pommels.

These hybrids allowed artillery, and reserve troops (Landwehr/Landsturm) to maintain effective sidearms well into the First World War.

The blade is near mint, the scabbard also near mint, the hilt is excellent, with the ventilation oiling holes, at the bottom of each wooden grip side, now no longer round but slightly misshapen with light cracking {but still perfectly sound} due to age and service use.  read more

Code: 26336

A Very Rare Antiquity of Ancient Roman Empire. The 1st Roman Legion, Late 1st century AD, Rectangular Building Block With Stamped Text 'LEG I ITAL' for 1st Legion 'Italica';

A notable and substantial piece formerly from the renown Scammell Collection of ancient artifacts. Its original mortar is still attached to the reverse. LEG I ITAL was the first legion raised by Emperor Nero in September 66 AD. In 181 AD, Marcus Valerius Maximianus, an important Roman general, was the general of the 1st Legion Italica, and he was a confident of Emperor Marcus Aurelias, during the period of the Marcomannic Wars. It is said he inspired the composite fictional general Maximus Decimus Meridius, the main character and Roman General in Gladiator played by Russell Crowe, and it was the Marcomannic wars that are depicted in the earliest scenes in Gladiator in which the fictional Marcus Valerius Maximis was a commanding general. Marcus Valerius Maximianus was placed in charge of detachments of the praetorian fleets of Misenum and Ravenna and also of African and Moorish cavalry used for scouting duties in Pannonia. While on active service with the cavalry Maximianus killed a Germanic chieftain named as "Valao, chief of the Naristi" with his own hand and was publicly praised by the Emperor, who granted him the chieftain's "horse, decorations and weapons". He was appointed prefect of the lance-bearing cavalry and was in charge of the cavalry. The Ist Legion was still based on the Danube in the 5th century. We show a Roman marble bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius who was played by Richard Harris in Gladiator. The main fighting unit of the Roman army was the legion. During the first three centuries of the empire the army contained between 25 and 34 legions. Each legion was made up of about 5000 men recruited from the citizens. Although the soldiers of the legion were Roman citizens, they were drawn from all walks of life and legions often consisted of natives from conquered countries.

The legion contained within its ranks troops trained and equipped to perform many duties in wartime and peace. Although the vast majority of soldiers served as heavy infantry, other legionaries fought as cavalry, archers or light infantry. Other troops operated artillery such as the ballista, onagar and scorpio The troops were however not solely prepared for combat. Legionaries regularly served as engineers constructing fortifications, roads and bridges. As the legion counted among its complement a vast number of men with special skills, it was in many ways self-supporting. A large part of its military equipment could be produced by craftsmen drawn from the ranks. Soldiers trained as surveyors, engineers and architects ensured that the legion needed little outside help for its building requirements. As far as a Legion travelled it built buildings, bridges, even sewer systems. And their efforts were stamped upon some of their building bricks to show which legion had constructed them. There are some parts of London that still bear bricks stamped by their engineers of the Roman Legions. Bricks, blocks and tiles stamped P.P.BR.LON or some variant of this has been found associated with the traces of the old Roman palace off Cannon St. Whatever the meaning of the first P, it is clear that the P.BR.LON or PR.BR., as it sometimes appears, is an abbreviation for PROVINCIAE BRITANNIAE LONDINII. At the site of a Roman bath house in Jerusalem, three of the bricks recovered bore the same style of rectangular stamped impression of the Roman Legio X Fretensis – stamped thus LE X FR. Legio X Fretensis ("Tenth legion of the Strait") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. It was founded by the young Gaius Octavius (later to become Augustus Caesar) in 41/40 BC to fight during the period of civil war that started the dissolution of the Roman Republic. X Fretensis is then recorded to have existed at least until the 410s. This Roman block is from the private collection of Antony John Scammell (1937-2019); acquired on the UK art market from 1960. Antony John Scammell (1937-2019) was born, and lived his entire life, in the city of Bristol, England. Already from an early age he was enthralled by history and the heroes that it created. While serving overseas with the British Army, Antony began collecting coins and banknotes and this led to collecting a variety of different items throughout his life. From the early 1960s onward, Antony invested in acquiring ancient artefacts. Antony's vast collections started with Egyptian antiquities, but soon branched into Greek and Roman civilisations. The Roman civilisation fascinated him most and, when family commitments allowed, archaeological digs were coordinated in the west of England. These digs uncovered numerous artefacts, many of which were donated to local museums. In retirement, the collecting continued apace, branching into UK coins, British Empire banknotes and fossils. It weighs 4.6 kg, and is 19 x 19cm (7 1/2 x 7 1/2").  read more

Code: 23424

Archaic Zhou Dynasty Bronze Halberd or ‘Ge’ Circa 5th Century BC the Period of the Great Military Doctrine 'The Art of War' by General Sun-Tzu

From a collection of ancient Chinese weapons we recently acquired including three 'Ge'. This is the very type of original ancient ceremonial halbard, defined by the ancient Chinese as a dagger axe 'Ge' and exactly the type as used by the warriors serving under the world renowned General Sun Tzu, in the Kingdom of Wu, who is thought by many to be the finest general, philosopher and military tactician who ever lived. His 2500 year old book on the methods of warfare, tactics and psychology are still taught and highly revered in practically every officer training college throughout the world.

In excavated condition, cast in one piece, slightly curved terminal blade of flattened-diamond section, pierced along a basal flange with three slots, and a hole with fabulous areas of crystallized malachite, blue/green patina.

We also show in the gallery a schematic of how this 'Ge' halbard would have been mounted 2500 odd years ago on its long haft, and used by a charioteer warrior, there is also one depicted being carried in a painting that we show in the gallery being used in a chariot charge in the Zhou dynasty.

This is a superb original ancient piece from one of the great eras of Chinese history, it is unsigned but near identical to another that was signed and inscribed with details that have now been fully translated, deciphered and a few years ago shown at Sothebys New York estimated to a sale value of $300,000. Its research details are fully listed below, and it is photographed within our gallery for the viewers comparison. Naturally, our un-inscribed, but still, very rare original version, from the same era and place, is a much more affordable fraction of this price

The signed and named Sotheby's of New York example that we show in the gallery, was formerly made for its original warrior owner, Qu Shutuo of Chu, it is from the same period and in similar condition as ours. We reference it's description below, and it is photographed within the gallery, it is finely cast with the elongated yuan divided by a raised ridge in the middle of each side and extending downward to form the hu, inscribed to one side with eight characters reading Chu Qu Shutuo, Qu X zhisun, all bordered by sharply finished edges, the end pierced with three vertically arranged chuan (apertures), the nei with a further rectangular chuan and decorated with hook motifs, inscribed to one side with seven characters reading Chuwang zhi yuanyou, wang zhong, and the other side with five characters reading yu fou zhi X sheng, the surface patinated to a dark silver tone with light malachite encrustation
An Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Ritual Bronzes. Loaned by C.T. Loo & Co., The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, 1940, pl. XXXIII.
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, March - June 1948.

This inscribed bronze halberd blade, although typical in form, is uniquely important as its inscription serves as a critical primary source that reveals the name of its original owner: Qu Shutuo of Chu. The only known close counterpart to this blade is a damaged bronze halberd blade, missing the yuan, and inscribed on the hu with seven characters, which can be generally translated to ‘for the auspicious use of Qu Shutuo of Chu’. That halberd is now in the collection of the Hunan Provincial Museum, Hunan, and published in Wu Zhenfeng, Shangzhou qingtongqi mingwen ji tuxiang jicheng Compendium of inscriptions and images of bronzes from Shang and Zhou dynasties, vol. 32, Shanghai, 2012, no. 17048

The remaining thirteen inscriptions can be translated as: 'Qu Shutuo of Chu, Qu X's grandson, yuanyou of the King of Chu'. Based on the inscription, the owner of this blade can be identified as such.

See for reference; The Junkunc Collection: Arts of Ancient China / Sotheby's New York
Lot 111

We also show in the gallery a photo of another similar halberd from a museum exhibition, of a Chinese ancient king bodyguard’s halberd gilt pole mounts for his personal charioteer

This is one of a stunning collection of original archaic bronze age weaponry we have just acquired. Many are near identical to other similar examples held in the Metropolitan in New York, the British royal collection, and such as the Hunan Provincial Museum, Hunan, China. As with all our items, every piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Approx 8.5 inches across.
 read more

Code: 24341

A Most Rare & Beautiful British Percussion Half Stock Light Rifle By Isaac Riviere. A Very Finely Regarded London, Bespoke, Hand Made Rifle Maker Holding Patent for His Unique Percussion Action Designs

The Riviere gun making family were Huguenots that fled France and settled in London, this rifle likely by Isaac Riviere. A very lovely rifle in a very fine state of condition. It clearly shows this to be an excellent example of British hand made finest gunmaking, at its very best, in the 19th century.

Approx 12mm rifled 10 bore. The barrel shows a nice contrasting plum and darker brown Damascus pattern its full-length. There is a simple silver bladed front sight and folding rear twin site, with the maker name ''Riviere Rifle Gun Maker London'' on the top flat ahead of the breech. The breech shows some nice mottled smoky colour with a platinum blowout plug on the bolster, and hook breech. barrel affixed to the stock with a barrel key. There is nice quality scroll engraving on the tang which shows nicely.

The English walnut stock is highly figured and rates very fine with excellent original varnish and overall light dings and handling marks from the years. It features a checkered pistol grip area. with its original ramrod with screw cap covering the worm screw for extracting missfires.
The stock bears its two original sling swivels.

Fine steel mounts and fittings.
Overall in superb condition for age, with a fine hairline in the stock behind the lock.  read more

Code: 26323