Antique Arms & Militaria

A Most Rare, Original, 1st Century Ancient Roman-Parthian Wars Period Legionary's or Centurion's Dagger with Cross Guard. From The Time of Julius Caeser and Augustus Caeser. Circa 2000 Years Old

An iron double-edged dagger, triangular blade tapering to the sharp tip, quillons and hilt made of iron as well, fastening nail to the hilt, which once would have had organic material grips.

The Roman–Parthian Wars (54 BC – 217 AD) were a series of conflicts between the Parthian Empire and the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. It was the first series of conflicts in what would be 682 years of Roman–Persian Wars.

Battles between the Parthian Empire and the Roman Republic began in 54 BC. This first incursion against Parthia was repulsed, notably at the Battle of Carrhae (53 BC). The Battle of Carrhae (Latin pronunciation: ˈkarrae̯) was fought in 53 BC between the Roman Republic and the Parthian Empire near the ancient town of Carrhae (present-day Harran, Turkey). An invading force of seven legions of Roman heavy infantry under Marcus Licinius Crassus was lured into the desert and decisively defeated by a mixed cavalry army of heavy cataphracts and light horse archers led by the Parthian general Surena. On such flat terrain, the Legion proved to have no viable tactics against the highly-mobile Parthian horsemen, and the slow and vulnerable Roman formations were surrounded, exhausted by constant attacks, and eventually crushed. Crassus was killed along with the majority of his army. It is commonly seen as one of the earliest and most important battles between the Roman and Parthian Empires and one of the most crushing defeats in Roman history. According to the poet Ovid in Book 6 of his poem Fasti, the battle occurred on the 9th day of June.

Crassus, a member of the First Triumvirate and the wealthiest man in Rome, had been enticed by the prospect of military glory and riches and decided to invade Parthia without the official consent of the Senate. Rejecting an offer from the Armenian King Artavasdes II to allow Crassus to invade Parthia via Armenia, Crassus marched his army directly through the deserts of Mesopotamia. His forces clashed with Surena's troops near Carrhae. Surena's cavalry killed or captured most of the Roman soldiers. Crassus himself was killed when truce negotiations turned violent.

His death ended the First Triumvirate. The following four-year period of peace between the remaining two members of the Triumvirate, Julius Caesar and Pompey, argues against the view that Crassus had been a peacekeeper within the group and supports the views of most Roman historians that friction between Crassus and Pompey had always been a greater cause of tension than that between Caesar and Pompey.
During the Roman Liberators' civil war of the 1st Century BC, the Parthians actively supported Brutus and Cassius, invading Syria, and gaining territories in the Levant. However, the conclusion of the second Roman civil war brought a revival of Roman strength in Western Asia.

In 113 AD, the Roman Emperor Trajan made eastern conquests and the defeat of Parthia a strategic priority, and successfully overran the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon, installing Parthamaspates of Parthia as a client ruler. However he was later repulsed from the region by rebellions. Hadrian, Trajan's successor, reversed his predecessor's policy, intending to re-establish the Euphrates as the limit of Roman control. However, in the 2nd century, war over Armenia broke out again in 161, when Vologases IV defeated the Romans there. A Roman counter-attack under Statius Priscus defeated the Parthians in Armenia and installed a favored candidate on the Armenian throne, and an invasion of Mesopotamia culminated in the sack of Ctesiphon in 165.

In 195, another Roman invasion of Mesopotamia began under the Emperor Septimius Severus, who occupied Seleucia and Babylon, however he was unable to take Hatra.
15 3/8 in. Fine condition.

According to Pliny the elder the best steel was made by the Seres and then by the Parthians.  read more

Code: 24260

Antique Victorian Regimental Other Ranks Helmet {Chapka } Of the 17th Lancers, Motto ‘Or Glory’ Of The 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' Fame. One of the Most Famous & Historical Cavalry Regiments in the World.

Victorian 17th Lancers Helmet {a chapka lance cap} One of the great British cavalry regiments that took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.

“When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!”

These words were made famous by Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, and refer to that fateful day on 25th October 1854 when around six hundred men led by Lord Cardigan rode into the unknown.

The charge against Russian forces was part of the Battle of Balaclava, a conflict making up a much larger series of events known as the Crimean War. The order for the cavalry charge proved catastrophic for the British cavalrymen: a disastrous mistake riddled with misinformation and miscommunication. The calamitous charge was to be remembered for both its bravery and tragedy.

The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1759 and notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. The regiment was amalgamated with the 21st Lancers to form the 17th/21st Lancers in 1922.


In December 1857 the regiment arrived in India to reinforce the effort to suppress the Indian rebellion against British rule. By the time the regiment was prepared for service, the rebellion was effectively over, although it did take part in the pursuit of Tatya Tope, the rebel leader. During the course of the pursuit, Lieutenant Evelyn Wood earned the Victoria Cross for gallantry. The regiment returned to England in 1865. The regiment became the 17th Regiment of Lancers in August 1861. When, in 1876, it gained Prince George, Duke of Cambridge as its colonel-in-chief, the regiment adopted the title of the 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers.


The regiment was sent to Natal Colony for service in the Anglo-Zulu War and fought at the Battle of Ulundi under Sir Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe in July 1879. The regiment was deployed inside a large British infantry square during the attack by the Zulu Army, which had surrounded the British. When the attack appeared to be wavering, the regiment was ordered to advance: their charge routed the warriors with heavy loss and proved to be decisive. The regiment returned to India the same year, remaining there until about 1890 when they returned to England.


Second Boer War
In February 1900 a contingent from the regiment, comprising Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Herbert and 500 troops, was deployed to South Africa for service in the Second Boer War, and arrived to Cape Town on the SS Victorian early the next month. The contingent missed the large pitched battles, but still saw action during the war. In 1900, Sergeant Brian Lawrence won the regiment's fifth and final Victoria Cross at Essenbosch Farm. The contingent's most significant action was at the Battle of Elands River (Modderfontein) in September 1901. C Squadron was attacked by a unit of Boers under the command of Jan Smuts; the Lancers mistakenly assumed the unit was friendly because of their attire. The Boers immediately opened fire, attacking from both the front and the rear. The Lancers suffered further casualties at a closed gate that slowed them down. Only Captain Sandeman, the squadron commander, and Lieutenant Lord Vivian survived. The regiment suffered 29 killed and 41 wounded before surrendering, while Boer losses were just one killed and six wounded.


They stayed in South Africa throughout the war, which ended June 1902 with the Peace of Vereeniging. Four months later, 540 officers and men left Cape Town on the SS German in late September 1902, and arrived at Southampton in late October, when they were posted to Edinburgh.

Painting in the gallery of the 17th Lancers in the Charge of the Light Brigade in this case the lancers wear the 'foul weather' covered helmet version. And another painting of the 17th Lancers in India, this time the cap is covered in the dessert cover, and the third painting of the 17th Lancers in the Zulu War wearing the regulation pith helmet  read more

Code: 26188

An Original, French, Napoleonic Year 13 Modele, & Dated 1809 French Flintlock Line Cavalry Pistol, Manufacture Imperial St Etienne. Manufactured For Napoleon's Grande Armee

One of the flintlocks from a fabulous & large original collection of finest Imperial French swords and pistols we recently acquired this one from the Grande Armee period, and the other from the period after the loss of the Grande Armee in Russia. Each part of this flintlock pistol bears the poincon stamps plus the date of 1811 on the stock, and 1811 repeated on the barrel. The gun lock shows it was made at the St Etienne Manufacture Imperiale.

A fantastic quality and condition original regulation pattern pistol, Manufacture Imperial St Etienne year 13 pattern, dated 1811. In Revolutionary France the dates were changed to year 1 from 1792. A prime piece for collectors of original Napolean and scarce original weaponry from the elite cavalry of Napoleon.

Excellent condition overall with a crisp spring action.

A true museum grade original souvenir from the Napoleonic Wars

This flintlock pistol was made at the French Imperial Arsenal at St Etienne in 1811, during the time of Napoleon's Grande Armee during the Peninsular Campaign, before the Grande Armee's invasion of Russia, and five years before Napoleon's defeat in 1814 and exile to Elba, and later, after his return in 1815. Thus this pistol was made, and issued to the cuirassiers, that then years later transferred their loyalty to the King, then back once more back to their old emperor, Napoleon, upon his return from exile in Elba. It was used by the cuirassiers in the 100 Days War, culminating in Napoleon's final defeat at Quatre Bras and Waterloo by the Duke of Wellington, and this pistol being taken as war booty.

Used as a regimental issue sidearm, by and the very best French Napoleonic frontline cavalry, the carabineers, cuirassiers, chasseurs, dragoons and lancers, serving in Napoleon Bonaparte's army during the Napoleonic Wars. 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. This is the pattern of pistol that would have first seen service in the Elite Imperial Guard, cavalry and dragoons, plus the Cuirassiers of Napoleon's great heavy cavalry 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 distinction at their last great conflict at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and most of the Cuirassiers pistols now in England very likely came from that field of conflict, after the battle, as trophies of war. This pistol may well have been taken from a vanquished Cuirassier pistol that was drawn for combat on the field of battle. One can imagine this pistol lying freely, or, maybe, even still clasped in his cold desperate hand, or even under his fallen steed, at the field of conflict at Waterloo. Every warrior that has ever entered service for his country sought trophies. The Mycenae from a fallen Trojan, the Roman from a fallen Gaul, the GI from a fallen Japanese, the tradition stretches back thousands of years, and will continue as long as man serves his country in battle. In the 1st century AD the Roman Poet Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis Juvenal
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". A truly super Napoleonic pistol. The cuirassiers were the greatest of all France's cavalry, allowing only the strongest men of over 6 feet in height into it's ranks. The French Cuirassiers were at their very peak in 1815, and never again regained the wonder and glory that they truly deserved at that time. To face a regiment of, say, 600 charging steeds bearing down upon you mounted with armoured giants, brandishing the mightiest of swords that could pierce the strongest breast armour, much have been, quite simply, terrifying. Made in the period that Napoleon was Emperor and ruling most of Europe, it was used through the Napoleonic period from 1813, later in the the Royal restoration period, when Napoleon was imprisoned at Elba, and then during the War of the 100 days, culminating at Waterloo .
All Napoleon's heavy Cavalry Regiments fought at Waterloo, there were no reserve regiments, and all the Cuirassiers, without exception fought with their extraordinary resolve, bravery and determination. The Hundred Days started after Napoleon, separated from his wife and son, who had come under Austrian control, was cut off from the allowance guaranteed to him by the Treaty of Fontainebleau, and aware of rumours he was about to be banished to a remote island in the Atlantic Ocean, Napoleon escaped from Elba on 26 February 1815. He landed at Golfe-Juan on the French mainland, two days later. The French 5th Regiment was sent to intercept him and made contact just south of Grenoble on 7 March 1815. Napoleon approached the regiment alone, dismounted his horse and, when he was within gunshot range, shouted, "Here I am. Kill your
Emperor, if you wish." The soldiers responded with, "Vive L'Empereur!" and marched with Napoleon to Paris; Louis XVIII fled. On 13 March, the powers at the Congress of Vienna declared Napoleon an outlaw and four days later Great Britain, the Netherlands, Russia, Austria and Prussia bound themselves to put 150,000 men into the field to end his rule. Napoleon arrived in Paris on 20 March and governed for a period now called the Hundred Days. By the start of
June the armed forces available to him had reached 200,000 and he decided to go on the offensive to attempt to drive a wedge between the oncoming British and Prussian armies. The French Army of the North crossed the frontier into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, in modern-day Belgium. Napoleon's forces fought the allies, led by Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815. Wellington's army withstood repeated attacks by the French and drove them from the field while the Prussians arrived in force and broke through Napoleon's right flank. The French army left the battlefield in disorder, which allowed Coalition forces to enter France and restore Louis XVIII to the French throne. Off the port of Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, after consideration of an escape to the United States, Napoleon formally demanded political asylum from the British Captain Frederick Maitland on HMS Bellerophon on 15 July 1815. The pistol is in very nice condition overall.

French Cuirassier discharging his pistol on a British square at the Battle of Waterloo.  read more

Code: 26197

A Wonderful, Original, Napoleonic Wars, British Hussars and Light Dragoon Officer's Sword Circa 1805. In The Traditional Mameluke Style Adopted from the Mamelukes of the Battle of the Nile Campaign. The Favoured Sword Style of Napoleon and Wellington

In these British made versions of the Mameluke sword were in fact so popular for use by officers of both the British and French in the Napoleonic wars that it was formally adopted as the British generals and field marshals pattern of service sword in 1831,

In overall superb condition, ivory and steel hilted Hussars sword, with steel mounted leather scabbard, from the Napoleonic Wars.

British Hussars in the Napoleonic Wars, converted from light dragoons around 1803–1807, they acted as elite light cavalry for scouting, screening, and shock charges.

Renowned for their stylish uniforms (pelisse, busby) and reckless bravery, regiments like the 7th, 10th, and 15th served with distinction in the Peninsula War and at Waterloo, often at the forefront

The 15th Hussars (King's): Achieved fame at Sahagún (1808) under Sir John Moore, defeating two French cavalry regiments. They played a significant role at Vitoria (1813) and in the final Waterloo charge (1815).

7th Hussars (Queen's Own): Distinguished themselves at Orthez (1814) and conducted a notable rearguard action at Genappe before fighting at Waterloo.

10th Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own): Played a major role in the 1808–09 retreat to Corunna and was prominent in the 1813–14 battles of Morales and Vitoria.

18th Hussars: Heavily involved in the 1813 Vitoria campaign, where they were known for cutting off King Joseph’s retreat.

We show a Portrait of Major Hodge of the 7th Light Dragoons with his same mameluke sword. Before 1815, during the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Waterloo, the Mameluke-hilted sword was a fashionable, often personal, choice for British light cavalry officers (such as Hussars) and high-ranking staff officers, rather than a standard 1796 light dragoon officer's sword.

The style was adopted following campaigns in Egypt and India, influenced by Napoleon's Mameluke units and it was the personal preference of edged weapon of the Duke of Wellington.
Pictures in the gallery of paintings of the Duke of Wellington, with his favoured mameluke sword. And another, held upon his shoulder by Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, a British Hussar general, with his Mameluke sword of Turkish manufacture ( painted in 1812)

All the steel mounts are very good, the hilt ivory is also good with a small north south crack at the pommel area. The leather is good and with a thumb print size bruise to the surface around 2/3rd the way down the scabbard. No scabbard seam stitching present at the reverse side.

Ivory Declaration Submission

IAntique ivory, 'worked' declaration submitted, but we can only sell this sword within the UK, it is not allowed for export. Ivory, however old cannot be imported into the USA.  read more

Code: 26196

An Absolutely Superb & Stunning, Fully Provenanced, Victorian, British Generals Wilkinson Sword Of The Commander of the Grenadier Guards In The Crimean War At Alma, Sevastopol, and The Battle of Inkerman, In the Guards Brigade

The sword is as close to mint for its age that you could possibly get. The fabulous hilt has all its original mercurial fire gilt, and in the centre of the quillon it has the crossed sword and field marshal's baton symbol of a British general. the blade has remarkably beautiful, full, deluxe etching for a general of the army, with royal cypher of Queen Victoria, florid scrolls, and again the crossed swords and field marshal's baton generals symbol. Overall in superb condition. Only the all brass scabbard has signs of its long service use by way of a few dings and dents.

Commissioned from Wilkinson Sword Co. for General Thomas Wood who commanded the 3rd batallion Grenadier Guards In the Crimean War in his capacity as colonel of the regiment.

The 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards served in the Crimea (1854–1856) as part of the 1st Guards Brigade, participating in major actions including the battles of Alma, Sevastopol, and the Battle of Inkerman, where they famously defended the Sandbag Battery. Four members earned the Victoria Cross during the campaign, and they were noted for carrying their colours into action at Inkerman.

Battle of the Alma (Sept 1854): The battalion was part of Lord Raglan’s army that stormed the heights, marking their entry into the campaign.
Battle of Inkerman (Nov 1854): Known as the "Soldiers' Battle," the 3rd Battalion, along with the Scots Fusilier Guards, held the Sandbag Battery against overwhelming Russian numbers in thick fog, holding their ground despite immense losses.
Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855): Participated in the long siege of the Russian fortress until its fall in September 1855.
At least four members won the Victoria Cross for bravery, including Major Sir Charles Russell, who led a charge to the Sandbag Battery, and Private Anthony Palmer.

The 3rd Battalion was the only unit in the brigade to carry its colours into the fight at Inkerman, with Ensign and Lieutenant Charles Napier Sturt severely wounded while bearing the regimental colour.
:
The Brigade of Guards lost roughly half its men during the Battle of Inkerman.
Cholera, scurvy, and the extreme cold caused more deaths than direct combat.
When the troops returned and were reviewed by Queen Victoria, she was shocked by their appearance, noting they were "quite broken down".

The 3rd Battalion’s actions at Inkerman are still honored today by The Inkerman Company of the Grenadier Guards.

The sword bears the Wilkinson Sword Co. marks and serial number 8756 relating to him, from Wilkinson's records, as the commissioner and the owner of this fabulous bespoke British General's sword.

5th November 1854

On this day, amidst the fog and chaos of the Crimean War, The 3rd Battalion stood resolute at the Battle of Inkerman. Facing overwhelming Russian forces in brutal close-quarters combat, the Guards held their ground on Kit Spur and at the Sand-Bag Battery, demonstrating unmatched courage, discipline, and brotherhood.

It was during this “Soldiers’ Battle” that three Grenadiers earned the Victoria Cross for extraordinary bravery:

Picture in the gallery of General Woods full portrait painting in his uniform in his capacity as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards prior to the Crimean War.
Ivory Declaration Submission

Antique ivory, 'worked' declaration submitted, but we can only sell this sword within the UK, it is not allowed for export. Ivory, however old cannot be imported into the USA.  read more

Code: 26195

Napoleonic Year 9 Musket of The 13th French Dragoon Regt. Used In Napoleon's Grande Armée at The Battles of Austerlitz , Jena, Salamanca, Madrid, La Corogne, Oporto, Ciudad-Real. Borodino, Leipzig, Vauchamps, Mormant, Saint-Dizier, Waterloo: Wavre

It is extraordinary that we have the privilege to present a superb, French Dragoon musket, regimentaly marked for the elite ‘13e Regiment de Dragons’, and one that was used in so many historic battles, in almost all of Napoleon's campaigns, during the era known as the Napoleonic Wars, up to his final defeat in the Waterloo Campaign. The 13e dragoons further fought for the emperor after his famous defeat at Waterloo, into July, in order to defend against the Prussian advance at the Battle of Rocquencourt. This musket, and its user dragoon's, has seen such an incredible amount of combat service during its service for Napoleon. 13e is the French military abbreviation for treize {13} regiment. It is still in service today as a French paratroop regiment of dragoons.

More photographs to add tomorrow. In superb condition, lock engraved and made at the Napoleonic arsenal of St Etienne, fully stamped and inspector marked throughout, and its issued regiment's number, 13e. The musket is the typical regimental type with the usual three barrel bands, two of brass on of iron. Single swivel located by the trigger guard . With ring neck cock and octagonal barrel at the breech. Despite being longer than the British infantryman's musket, the Brown Bess, it is actually classified as a carbine.

In fact they performed with heroism and bravery in so many battles, and engagements, that it would take an entire volume, or even two, of concise historical detail of their exploits in combat for their beloved emperor.

The 13th French Dragoon Regiment (13e Regiment de Dragons) was an incredibly distinguished medium cavalry unit during the Napoleonic Wars (1792–1815), known for its flexibility in both mounted combat and dismounted skirmishing. Designated as the 13e Dragoon Regiment in 1791, The 13th Dragoon Regiment was a French cavalry unit in Napoleon's Grande Armée, recognized for its role in the 1812 Russian campaign and subsequent, it served throughout major campaigns including the 1805 Italian campaign, 1809 Wagram, and the 1812 Russian campaign.

The French 13e Régiment de Dragons, known as the Empress's Dragoons during the Napoleonic era, fought in numerous major conflicts between 1792 and 1815, including the Revolutionary Wars, the Peninsular War, the 1812 Russian Campaign, and the Waterloo Campaign.
At Austerlitz (1805), Jena (1806), Borodino (1812), and Leipzig (1813) in the action at the Raevsky Redoubt, Borodino,The 13e Dragoons were part of the massive cavalry engagements in the centre of the battlefield, at Borodino, which was described as one of the most stubborn in history.

Napoleonic Wars (1805-1809): Action in 1805: The 13th Dragoons were part of the Grande Armée that achieved a decisive victory at Austerlitz on December 2, 1805, which effectively brought the War of the Third Coalition to an end. Crossing the Rhine/Danube, Enns, Hollabrun (1805), Austerlitz (1805), Jena (1806), and Nasielsk/Pułtusk (1806).
At the Battle of Jena on October 14, 1806, the 13e régiment de dragons served in the brigade commanded by General of Brigade André Joseph Boussart, which was part of Marshal Joachim Murat’s Cavalry Reserve.
The regiment participated with its 1st, 2nd, and 3rd squadrons.
The regiment was part of the massive cavalry force that, under Murat, secured the victory by charging the Prussian lines, particularly as the Prussian army began to break and retreat in the afternoon.

They fought alongside the 22nd Dragoon Regiment in Boussart's brigade.
French Dragoons at this battle were instrumental in shattering the Prussian army's morale and cohesion, leading to a total rout

The Peninsular War (1809–1811)
The 13th French Dragoon Regiment served in the Peninsular War as part of the Army of Portugal and later the Army of the Centre, often associated with the 18th Dragoons under Colonel Marie-Antoine Reiset. They were involved in campaigns in Spain and Portugal, including the 1812 Salamanca campaign and the actions around Madrid.: La Corogne, Oporto, Crossing the Tage, and Ciudad-Real.


The Russian Campaign (1812): Battle of Borodino.

The German/French Campaigns (1813–1814): Battle of Leipzig (1813), Vauchamps (1814), Mormant (1814), and Saint-Dizier (1814).

The Waterloo Campaign (1815): Battle of Wavre and Battle of Rocquencourt.

The 13e Régiment de Dragons was present at the Battle of Wavre on June 18–19, 1815, as part of Marshal Grouchy's right wing of the Army of the North.

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Saviot and was composed of 4 squadrons.
The 13th Dragoons were part of the cavalry force under General Exelmans, which operated on the French right flank in front of Basse-Wavre, interacting with General Vandamme’s 3rd Corps, which did the bulk of the fighting against Prussian General von Thielmann.
During the engagement, the French cavalry were tasked with threatening the Prussian flank and attempting to find a crossing over the Dyle river. In the course of the battle, some of the French dragoon squadrons were engaged with Prussian cavalry.

The battle was a tactical victory for the French, who forced the Prussians to withdraw from the town on the 19th.

A first hand account of a dragoon's bravery in the Peninsular campaign is detailed below as follows;

"One of their videttes, after being posted facing English dragoon, of the 14th or 16th Light Dragoon Regiment displayed an instance of individual gallantry, in which the French, to do them justice, were seldom wanting. Waving his long straight sword, the Frenchman rode within 60 yards of our dragoon, and challenged him to single combat. We immediately expected to see our cavalry man engage his opponent, sword in hand. Instead of this, however, he unslung his carbine and fired at the Frenchman, who not a whit dismayed, shouted out so that every one could hear him, "Venez avec la sabre: je suis pret pour Napoleon et la belle France"(Come with the sabre: I'm ready for Napoleon and beautiful France). Having vainly endeavored to induce the Englishman to a personal conflict, and after having endured two or three shots from his carbine, the Frenchman rode proudly back to his ground, cheered even by our own men. We were much amused by his gallantry, while we hissed our own dragoon ... "
(Costello "The Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns" pp 66-67)

In the gallery two superb renditions of Napoleonic elite dragoons, both with the same service issue Dragoon musket-carbine, paintings in oil, by Édouard Detaille (1848–1912)
An élite Soldier of the Dragoon Regiment on vedette, Oil on canvas, private collections.  read more

Code: 26190

A Most Rare And Superb, Napoleonic Wars Year 9 French Gendarmerie Flintlock Pistol. It Great Condition For Age. All Blackened Steel Mounts And Made From The Maubeuge Manufacture Contract

an absolute stunner, in superb condition. Lock engraved Maubeuge Manufacture Imperiale, with a good and crisp action, barrel with proof stamp and . Finest walnut stock stamped and dated 1812 for the Grande Armee and the imminent invasion of Russia, with traditional; birds head butt. Although designed and initially made for the incredibly well respected French armed gendarmerie, it was so good at it’s task, being smaller than the regular officer’s flintlock pistols, but capable of packing a huge punch, it was chosen by many officers of both infantry and cavalry to be their personal carried pistol of choice.

The gendarmerie of France, from the Revolutionary period into the Imperial 1st Empire, was incredibly efficient at keeping the streets of Paris, and beyond, safe. They had a no nonsense attitude {as they still do} and they were feared and respected in equal measure. There was very often a comparison made in the press at the time, that the streets of France were relatively safe, compared to those of England {without armed police}, that were notoriously unsafe. Although, however unsafe in Britain, murder was still relatively rare, possibly, as punishments, when the villain was apprehended for any crime, were most harsh.

Général de brigade Charles André Merda, baron Meda was a famous French officer. A National Guards commander in the Parisian National Guard from September 1789, then a general of the gendarme from 1794, and he participated in the arrest of |Citizen Revolutionary Maximilien de Robespierre on the night of 9/10 thermidor Year II (27 July 1794) and claimed to have fired the pistol shot which broke Robespierre's jaw and hit Couthon's helper in his leg, {see the painting of him using the very same form of gendarmerie pistol}


Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre was a French lawyer and statesman, widely recognized as one of the most influential and controversial figures of the French Revolution. Robespierre fervently campaigned for the voting rights of all men and their unimpeded admission to the National Guard.
Additionally he advocated for the right to petition, the right to bear arms in self-defence, and the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade. He was a radical Jacobin leader who came to prominence as a member of the Committee of Public Safety, an administrative body of the First French Republic. His legacy has been heavily influenced by his actual or perceived participation in repression of the Revolution's opponents, but is notable for his progressive views for the time.

As one of the prominent members of the Paris Commune, Robespierre was elected as a deputy to the National Convention in early September 1792. He joined the radical Montagnards, a left-wing faction. However, he faced criticism for purportedly trying to establish either a triumvirate or a dictatorship. In April 1793, Robespierre advocated the mobilization of a sans-culotte army aiming at enforcing revolutionary laws and eliminating any counter-revolutionary elements. This call led to the armed Insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793. On 27 July he was appointed a member of the Committee of Public Safety.

Robespierre faced growing disillusionment among others due in part to the politically motivated violence advocated by the Montagnards. Increasingly, members of the Convention turned against him, and accusations piled up on 9 Thermidor. Robespierre was arrested and taken to a prison. Approximately 90 individuals, including Robespierre, were executed without trial in the following days, marking the onset of the Thermidorian Reaction.

As is so often the case, in fact almost without exception, revolutionaries, once successful in casting out the old political caste, and so called enemy of the people, then turn on themselves and
either depose, execute, murder or imprison their Co-conspirators. In fact this writer cannot think of a single revolution in history where this was not the case. For example even in technically non-revolutionary causes, the French, Italian and Belgian resistance groups of WW2, once successfully witnessing the removal of the occupation of their countries by the Third Reich, then set amongst themselves, often attempting to kill their opposing resistance organisations leaders, and or members, in the very brief time that the rule of law was vacant.

One of the greatest exponents of the permanent removal of co-revolutionaries and former ‘comrade allies’ was Josef Stalin
Joseph Stalin executed or caused the assassination of thousands of his co-revolutionaries, particularly during the Great Purge (1936–1938), as he consolidated power and eliminated potential rivals from the early Bolshevik era.
Nearly all of the top party leaders from the time of the 1917 revolution were targeted. Of the 139 Central Committee members elected in 1934, 93 were killed.
High-ranking Bolshevik rivals, including Lev Kamenev, Grigory Zinoviev, and Nikolai Bukharin, were victims of staged show trials that resulted in their execution.
Stalin executed 81 of the 103 generals and admirals in the Red Army, including Mikhail Tukhachevsky.
Stalin had murdered thousands of foreign communists, including over 600 Bulgarian communists and numerous members of the German Communist Party central committee. Many opponents were assassinated by the NKVD (secret police) on Stalin's direct orders, most notably Leon Trotsky in 1940. While total executions during the 1937–1938 "Great Terror" numbered roughly 700,000 to 1.2 million citizens—including many ordinary people—the targeted elimination of party "co-revolutionaries" constituted a large portion of the upper-level purge

“ Revolutionaries follow the ancient principle of the Greek God Kronos, they always eat their young”
{ M. H. }  read more

Code: 26189

Welcome to The Lanes Armoury, Britain's Truly Magical Place, Where Thousands of Original & Breathtaking Wonders Are For Sale And New Fantastic Original Treasures Added, Every, Single, Day.

Our beautiful pieces from history are not always just for looking at, some {such as the B3 Pilots Jacket} can still be enjoyed, and even worn, for every one to see.

Recently acquired and added to our web store and also due to be added.

Some superb French Napoleonic weaponry from the Grande Armee. A sword of the commander of the Grenadier Guards in the Crimean War, A fabulous quality and very good Napoleonic Wars Brown Bess, an incredible pair of Zulu War knopkerrie clubs, one a fabulous rare chiefs war club, the other a telegraph wire bound impi warriors war club, NOW BOTH SOLD, and one of the best and beautiful regimental pattern Napoleonic Wars swords, for one of the great Scottish regiments that saw incredible action in the Peninsular war and Waterloo. Also a stunning Martini Henry 450-577 rifle {with both optional bayonet patterns} one of the first 1400 ever made. And, one of the rarest Royal Marines pattern swords, 1796, we have ever seen. Trafalgar battle damaged.
We also have two amazing Japanese swords both Museum pieces, by high ranked smiths, Dewa Daijo Fujiwara Kunimichi circa 1615, and Hamabe Toshizane, 1814.. Plus another super Brown Bess, (now sold ) and a remarkable WW1 German snipers bullet proof armour shield. Some jolly nice Imperial and Third Reich German swords. And a super very rare Victorian tchapka lance cap of the 17th Lancers, of The Charge of the Light Brigade fame. Plus, lots, lots more!

“When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!”

These words were made famous by Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, and refer to that fateful day on 25th October 1854 when around six hundred men led by Lord Cardigan rode into the unknown.

The charge against Russian forces was part of the Battle of Balaclava, a conflict making up a much larger series of events known as the Crimean War. The order for the cavalry charge proved catastrophic for the British cavalrymen: a disastrous mistake riddled with misinformation and miscommunication. The calamitous charge was to be remembered for both its bravery and tragedy.

Recently we also have some superb, British, Victorian swords from the Crimean War, for a new young officer serving in The Zulu War, and one beauty, regimentally marked to the 1st Battalion The Welsh Regiment, for an officer that served in combat Mahdist War (1888): The 1st Battalion was dispatched to Egypt in 1886, playing a key role in the Mahdist War at the Battle of Gemaizah (Suakin) in December 1888, where they were highly praised for their efficiency by their commander, Col.Kitchener.

Colonel Herbert Kitchener, {later to become known as the great Field Marshal Lord Kitchener} who wrote in his dispatches:

‘The half-Battalion of The Welsh Regiment are seasoned soldiers and whatever I asked of them to do they did well. They’re marksmen at Gemaizah Fort and the remainder of the half-Battalion on the left fired section volleys driving the Dervishes from their right position and inflicting severe punishment upon them when in the open. Significantly the Battalion did not lose a man”

Later, the 1st Battalion was dispatched to South Africa in November 1899 for the Second Boer War: it was engaged in Battle of Paardeberg in February 1900, where they suffered heavy losses, and again at the Battle of Driefontein in March 1900

Also, cannon balls from the English Civil War seige. One ball was recovered {in living memory} almost five feet beneath the surface mud. And an incredibly very rare and historical.

Also, see our latest incredible 'Royal' daggers from the 17th century Pattal-hatara (Four Workshops) of the King of Sri Lanka.

Occasionally, as we are Great Britain’s leading gallery of our kind, we have had had such knives, over the past 30 years, before, but nothing as fine as these museum grade examples, from the small collection we were thrilled to have acquired.

We have just also just added to the web store; a German colonels sword surrendered at the formal surrender of the German armed forces in May 1945 to Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, and a beautiful and magnificent samurai swords from the 1600's Tokugawa Shogunate period, one of the most fabulous samurai swords you might ever see. Plus, an Ancient Greek short sword or long dagger From The Greco-Persian Wars era, From the time of the Spartans at Thermopylae, to Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia & Egypt {now sold}

We Are Not Just A Webstore, We Are Always Welcoming Thousands Personal Visitors To View or Buy our Museum Pieces in Our Gallery In Brighton, Every Day* {but Sunday}

Thousands of original, historic, ancient, antique and vintage collectables. For example; from Ancient Rome, China and Greece, to Medieval Japan, and Viking Europe. Covering British, European, and in fact, all worldwide eras of historical events from the past 4000 years, with antiquities, weaponry, armour, object d’art, militaria and fabulous books, from the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the iron age, and right up to WW2.

Where else in the world could you find, under one roof, original artifacts, such as,; a mace and archer’s ring recovered from the site of Battle of Crecy, a sword of a British Admiral or notorious pirate fleet captain of the Golden Age of piracy of 17th century England, a battle mace, possibly once used by of one the personal guards in the service of the most famous Pharoah, Rameses the Great of Egypt, or, a museum quality 500 year old sword of a samurai clan Daimyo lord, and a pair of gold and enamel Art Deco 1920’s Magic Circle medals awarded to a friend of Harry Houdini. And all of the above, with many, many other Museum pieces, have been just been offered upon the site within the past couple of weeks.

Personalised and unique ‘Certificates of Authenticity’ can be supplied for every, single, purchase.

Our family have been personally serving the public in Brighton for several generations, in fact, for over 105 years.

* Opening hours Monday to Saturday 11.00am till 4.00pm, closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.


See in the gallery Will Young wearing one of our fabulous Victorian tunics, plus, James Marshall ‘Jimi’ Hendrix

And Tom pops in again to pick up a few trinkets the other day, and Liz and Richard pop down to visit us in October 1970  read more

Code: 24055

A Grenadier Guards Officer's Sword From The Lanes Armoury Sold, and Raised £2,465 For The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, Photographed With H.M. King Charles formerly HRH P.O.W

Swords, over the eons, have been part of the journey of civilised mankind since the days of pre-history, before 1200 bc. And over 3200 years later, even ‘retired’ historic swords can be put to a fine use that they were certainly not entirely designed to perform.
We were absolutely delighted that a sword, from us, once sold at their special charity ball auction. The auction raised in total, £56,000, a most handsome sum.
Mike Hammond, the Chief Executive, wrote to us to say;
"We’ve already had hundreds more of people staying at the house since we opened our doors to military patients and their families, and the sword has helped in funding another 99 days of accommodation for the families".

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham is home to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, which treats UK military patients injured or wounded anywhere around the world.
The hospital charity built Fisher House, a home away from home for military patients and their families to stay whilst they are having medical treatment.

You can see more about Fisher House at their website www.fisherhouseuk.org All donations will be most gratefully received.

A photo in the gallery is of HM King Charles when as HRH Prince Charles, opening Fisher House.  read more

Code: 17336

A Fine Renaissance Heraldic ‘Grand Tour’ Antique Armour. Armour Breastplate Stunningly Etched With Heraldic Beasts, The Form of Armour Worn by Renaissance Noblemen From The Era Of the Borgias. Such as Cesare Borgia.

A beautiful piece of chest parade armour, with an etched crest of nobility comprising three winged Griffins and a central Lion rampant within a shield. The Griffin (or Gryphon) is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Combining the attributes of the "King of the Beasts" and the "King of the Air", it was thought to be especially powerful and majestic.

A fabulous object d’art from the early ‘Grand Tour’ era, when young members of the nobility travelled around Europe and acquired classical art, original antiquities and all form of stunning ‘Grand Tour’ pieces. The were representations ‘after’ the original classical antiques, from Ancient Rome, Greece and the Italian Renaissance.

In the right location this stunning breastplate armour will look magnificent. One could create a 'stand of arms' with a pair of crossed swords mounted behind the armour

It was in this era that great Continental tourists and travelers such as Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, his wife, Mary, and John William Polidori, travelled Europe and took up residence in palatial villas on the Swiss and Italian lakes. It was during such a tour, by those just mentioned, who were in their ‘Grand Tour’ years, while in their villa on Lake Geneva, in the Year Without Summer’ in 1816, wrote, one stormy night, The Vampyre {by Polidori} and Frankenstein, The Modern Prometheus, {by Mary Shelley}. Bearing in mind this was merely by means of a distraction from the poor weather. Can you imagine, the stratospheric talent of such like, that two of the greatest origin stories of horror, ever written, and still as read and performed in the performing arts, as much today as they were 200 years ago, were created in the same house, by two English travellers, at the very same time, and as a mere ‘distraction’ due to boredom.


A light armour breastplate, 16th century style in the manner of the 1550's, with old restoration, 19th century and earlier.

Parade armour became an elaborate and ornate Renaissance art form intended to both glorify war, and flatter the military prowess of the royal subject. Surviving examples include decorated shields, helmets, and full suits of armour. Delaune was an important contributor to the form, and Henry II of France commissioned a number of similar works, including a panel for his horse, and some bucklers (shields) now in the Louvre, both by Delaune. In addition surviving works for Henry include a full suit at the Museum of Ethnology,

In the ‘Grand Tour’ era of 19th century France such pieces of fine art were created for the highly classical ‘after the antique’ market. Such as gilt bronze miniature copies of ‘Napoleons’ column in Place Vendome, and small yellow simulated marble versions of Ancient Greek and Roman columns and arches, and architectural features, and sometimes whole structures, such as Cleopatra’s Needle. Bronzes and marbles ‘after the antique’ of busts of Roman Emperor’s, and elegant statuary. Companies such as Granger of Paris, that worked in the 1840's, created wonderful miniature suits of armour, mounted on horse armour or free standing, and they are of incredibly detailed quality. Such pieces by Granger are in such incredible demand, by collectors or interior decorators, that can they achieve values in the tens of thousands of pounds, even approaching six figures today, and for most that are no more than two feet or around 50 cms high complete. Wondrous full size armour was also created, such as extravagant armour helmets from the Renaissance, the designs made fore the kings of France in the 16th century. Also shields, gauntlets, and gorgets exactly as this fabulous piece. That were ideal for classical art displays and interior décor of the finest Georgian country estates, and the glorious Palladian terraced mansion houses in the cities, such as London, Edinburgh, Bath and Brighton.


Last picture in the gallery is a painting by
Madeleine Boulogne (French, 1648–1710)
Titled;
Pieces of parade armour, a plumed helmet, a pistol in a case, a gilt ewer, a silver perfume burner, a jewellery box, a trumpet and a flag on a partly-draped cassone. 18.5 inches x 14.5 inches  read more

Code: 21569