Antique Arms & Militaria

An Antique Australian Aboriginal Boomerang With an Elaborate, Super Chip Carving and Decoration

Stone carved, with beautiful chip-carving and a good patinated surface. Over decorated snake and symbol design.

The Australian aboriginal peoples boomerang has probably been around for at least 40,000 years. It is an iconic symbol associated with Australia. What most people do not realize is that many antique aboriginal boomerang don’t actually come back. Only a few of the many forms of old boomerang return.
Antique aboriginal boomerangs come in a large variety of sizes, forms, and decoration. Different boomerangs had different functions. This variation reflects the social and cultural diversity of Aboriginal people. Aboriginals were not one group but had over 200 language groups.

As mentioned most old boomerangs were not made to return. The function of most boomerangs is to hit and kill whatever they are thrown at. Some boomerangs were for hunting but others were for fighting. Some huge antique boomerangs were up to 2 metres long and function like clubs. The majority of aboriginal returning boomerangs were for hunting birds

The Aboriginal boomerang has great aerodynamic properties. It is capable of going 200 metres compared to a throwing stick, which will only travel 60 metres.

Aboriginal Boomerangs could have engravings or be painted with ochre for ceremonial purposes. These designs are not decorative. Designs relate to the Dreamtime ancestors and totems. Collectors like boomerangs with designs and simple chip carved examples.
The Aboriginal boomerang is also used as a digging tool, for making fire and as a club.
Collectors like boomerangs that are old, unique, and rare or have elaborate designs.
60cm x 7.8cm  read more

Code: 17519

Napoleonic Wars 10 Bore 'Brown Bess' or Heavy Cavalry Pistol Scissor Mould

This is a most rare piece of Napoleonic Wars infantryman's and heavy dragoon trooper's combat kit, but curiously the second we have had this year which is very unusual. A mould to create bullets for the 10 bore 'Brown Bess' musket and the 10 bore 1796 full bore Heavy Dragoon pistol. A .75 inch mould that creates a .68 inch ball. These military 10 bore 'Brown Bess' ball moulds are now very rare indeed, and a great addition to a collector that owns an original 'Brown Bess' or the 1796 Heavy Dragoon pistol that would want their original Napoleonic Wars scissor ball mould. Slight pitting overall, some were made by William Davies but this one is not maker marked  read more

Code: 24470

A Very Good Victorian 92nd Gordon Highlanders Silver Cross Belt Badge

92nd Regiment (Gordon) officer's crossbelt badge, silver plated 4 pointed star with St Andrew cross with battle honours, Sphinx below XCII Highlanders, with three threaded screw mounts.

In December 1878, the regiment was ordered to Afghanistan where it was engaged in various security operations following the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. In October 1879, it took part in the Battle of Charasiab, where the regiment captured three hills, thereby turning the enemy's flank. Major George White received the Victoria Cross for his part in this action. A further Victoria Cross was won by Lieutenant William Dick-Cunyngham at the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment on 13 December 1879. At the end of August 1880, the regiment formed part of the force which marched under General Frederick Roberts from Kabul to Kandahar, and at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880, formed part of the 1st Brigade, which led the advance in sweeping the enemy out of the closely wooded enclosures along the western slopes of the hill on which the village of Gundi Mullah Sahibdad stood.

Instead of returning to the United Kingdom in 1881, the regiment was diverted to Natal to serve in the First Boer War. The regiment participated in the disastrous Battle of Majuba Hill on 27 February 1881. After capturing the hilltop in order to dominate the Boer line, the force of 350 British soldiers of the 58th and 92nd Regiments including a number of Royal Navy gunners, found themselves exposed to heavy and accurate fire early on the following day. This was followed by an assault by 2,000 Boers; despite a desperate last stand, the survivors were swept from the summit.  read more

Code: 16705

A Very Good Steel 'Belted Bullet' Mould Marked 14 and WD (William Davies)

A rare collectable for a 19th century 'two-groove' British rifle, such as the Brunswick. Cavity measures .750" at the bottom of the grooves, with approx .70” ball. This mould casts a spherical ball with bands for two-groove rifling. stamped by maker W.D. William Davies who was one of England's best bullet mould makers in the reign of King George in England, and later during the early part of Victoria's reign. This mould is in excellent plus condition.

The rifle with belted ball two-groove rifling that was at the pinnacle of rifle development in the 1830s and 1840s. With multi-groove rifling it was difficult to ram the ball down particularly if the barrel was fouled up and often a hammer had to be carried to belt down the ramrod.

With a belted ball, a belt was created around the bullet and two corresponding deep grooves were cut in the barrel. The ball was carefully located in these grooves and it could be easily pushed down. Since the two-groove rifling was deep cut, there was no possibility of the bullet stripping and quite high charges could be used. Belted ball rifles tended to be in the bigger calibres as they were too tricky to load in smaller calibres.

Overall length 7.5"  read more

Code: 17356

A French 1830's Belltop Shako Helmet Plate 2nd Regiment

Louis Philippe I (6 October 1773 - 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 as the leader of the Orleanist party. As a member of the cadet branch of the Royal House of France and a cousin of King Louis XVI of France by reason of his descent from their common ancestors Louis XIII and Louis XIV of France, he had earlier found it necessary to flee France during the period of the French Revolution in order to avoid imprisonment and execution, a fate that actually befell his father Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orleans. He spent 21 years in exile after he left France in 1793. He was proclaimed king in 1830 after his cousin Charles X was forced to abdicate in the wake of the events of the July Revolution of that year. His government, known as the July Monarchy, was dominated by members of a wealthy French elite and numerous former Napoleonic officials. He followed conservative policies, especially under the influence of the French statesman Francois Guizot during the period 1840-48. He also promoted friendship with Britain and sponsored colonial expansion, notably the conquest of Algeria. His popularity faded as economic conditions in France deteriorated in 1847, and he was forced to abdicate after the outbreak of the French Revolution of 1848. He lived out his life in exile in Great Britain.  read more

Code: 20588

Rifle Brigade Victorian OR’s Helmet Plate

An excellent example, die-stamped blackened on two loops. Within a laurel wreath surmounted by a Guelphic Crown resting on a tablet inscribed Waterloo, a Maltese cross with lions between the arms and ball finials to the tips. The arms of the cross bear numerous honours; the wreath bears honours Sevastopol Alma Inkerman. Between the bottom arm of the cross and the wreath, three scrolls Lucknow over Peninsula with Ashantee below; across the base of the wreath, a scroll The Prince Consort’s Own’
9.5cm high  read more

Code: 18569

A Wonderful Georgian ‘Grand Tour’ or Campaign Travelling Miniature Foldaway Corkscrew and Hook

In delightfully blued steel and only 3.25cm long when folded. Made to be used with very small, corked, glass bottles containing everything from gun oil, for gun cases, to writing ink, poisons or colognes. And as a button hook for shoes, riding boots or gaiters. It could be contained in a travelling officer and gentleman’s gun case, campaign toilette case, sabretache or even waistcoat pocket. It would make a delightful additional accessory for a cased set of duellers, a single pistol or hunting guns. Circa early 1800’s  read more

Code: 17412

A Scarce Pattern, Edwardian Army Service Corps Helmet Plate

This is not the standard type used from 1902 as they are gilt and have an upright capitalised type font. The Canadian version is very similar but with the word Canada below within asmall scroll, and again, gilt, whereas this example is white metal. Two lugs remaining. The officers and men of the ASC ? sometimes referred to in a joking way as Ally Sloper?s Cavalry ? were the unsung heroes of the British Army in the Great War. Soldiers can not fight without food, equipment and ammunition. They can not move without horses or vehicles. It was the ASC?s job to provide them. In the Great War, the vast majority of the supply, maintaining a vast army on many fronts, was supplied from Britain. Using horsed and motor vehicles, railways and waterways, the ASC performed prodigious feats of logistics and were one of the great strengths of organisation by which the war was won. The largest element of the ASC was the Horse Transport section.

Most Horse Transport Companies were under orders of Divisions, with four normally being grouped into a Divisional Train. Others were part of the Lines of Communication where they were variously known by subtitles as Auxiliary Supply Companies or Reserve Parks.

Soldiers who served in the Horse Transport usually had the letter T as a prefix to their number. The British Army was already the most mechanised in the world when the Great War began, in terms of use of mechanical transport. It maintained that leadership, and by 1918 this was a strategically important factor in being able to maintain supply as the armies made considerable advances over difficult ground.

All Mechanical Transport Companies were part of the Lines of Communication and were not under orders of a Division, although some (unusually known as Divisional Supply Columns and Divisional Ammunition Parks) were in effect attached to a given Division and worked closely with it. Those in the Lines of Communication operated in wide variety of roles, such as being attached to the heavy artillery as Ammunition Columns or Parks, being Omnibus Companies, Motor Ambulance Convoys, or Bridging and Pontoon units.

Soldiers who served in the Mechanical Transport usually had the letter M as a prefix to their number.  read more

Code: 20295

An Original Edwardian English Lord Lieutenant's Tunic Circa 1902

Superb silver bullion eppaulettes, collar, and cuffs. Gilt crown buttons red melton wool cloth, with gold bullion sash. To have a current Lord Lieutenant's tunic bespoke mde today by a Saville Row tailor would cost around £4,600 with an additional £750 for the sash. In England and Wales and in Ireland, the lord lieutenant was the principal officer of his county. The office's creation dates from the Tudors. The cloth has various small moth and liner incomplete

Lieutenants were first appointed to a number of English historic counties by Henry VIII in the 1540s, when the military functions of the sheriff were handed over to him. He raised and was responsible for the efficiency of the local militia units of the county, and afterwards of the yeomanry, and volunteers. He was commander of these forces, whose officers he appointed. These commissions were originally of temporary duration, and only when the situation required the local militia to be specially supervised and well prepared often where invasion by Scotland or France might be expected. Tunic in average condition for age, but tiny moth holes and very little inner liner remaining. Ideal for collection or display  read more

Code: 17833

A Rare, Victorian, British Royal Engineer's Sword, Prussian Designed, British Army Issue, Experimental Sword of The Royal Engineers, The Driver's Sword, Model of 1850

Used in the Crimean War, and for sale as a very, very inexpensive rare Royal Engineers sword, due to its pitted surface. This sword was originally 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 finally approved by the Prussians, but it's form was continued and developed until it's successor sword eventually evolved to become the Prussian Model of 1852 Cavalry Hussar Sabre. Those experimental 1850 swords were withdrawn from service by the Prussian Cavalry, and they were placed in storage in Liege in Belgium for disposal.
There was an article published in the "Deutsches Waffen Journal" about this sword. On the sword they had, it had on the guard, 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 this pattern of sword was thus purchased and 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 known as the Prussian experimental Hussar sword, that after disapproval were then removed to Liege and later sold to the British Ordnance through the Liege armourers. It came from the descendant family of a Crimean War Royal Engineer. Our example is certainly age worn, in fact none of it's original markings are now still visible unfortunately. However, it is a most rare and fascinating piece. 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, if at all. The condition is certainly not good, but its rarity and significance is considerable. All over russetted, no scabbard, damaged grip. There used to be an example identical to this one in the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield. Pattern Room  read more

Code: 14569