Antique Arms & Militaria

Aitchison of London, Late Antique 'Three Draw' Military Sniper Spotter's Telescope. In Great Untouched Condition & Superb Optics. With Boer War Pattern, Regulation, Rifle Brigade Black Leather Protection Covering, With Fore & Aft Covers

An Aitchison military or marine officers telescope, an antique, vintage brass telescope manufactured by the British optical firm Aitchison & Co.

A beautifully crafted instrument hand made with the highest skill and quality, from the days when British instruments were the acme standard by which all others were judged. In fact it is safe to say just about everything marked ‘Made in Britain’ was considered the world over as the apex of quality and manufacturing, from railways to motor cars, from shotguns to gentleman’s suits. If a bridge between two mountains was made of Sheffield Steel, everyone was confident that the mountains would collapse long before the bridge did.

The draw actions are beautifully tight and snug, with absolutely no wear and element of looseness, which can often be the case.

Excellent vision with incredible clarity and magnificent magnification. Also perfect for service at sea, to spot an impending submarine waiting to pounce upon a British warship, or as was this beauty, upon the plains of South Africa such as at the Defence of Ladysmith, as this was used, and later in the trenches of Western Europe, such as at Ypres or The Somme, by a British sniper’s ‘spotter’.

The earliest true British snipers originated during the Second Boer War (1899–1902) with the Lovat Scouts, a specialized Scottish Highland regiment. Recognizing the Boers' deadly marksmanship, the British formed this unit of expert deerstalkers. They were the first military unit to utilize the ghillie suit for camouflage.

While individual sharpshooters existed in the British Army as early as the Napoleonic Wars (such as Rifleman Thomas Plunket in 1809), organized sniping as a formal military doctrine was developed much later.The First Scouts (1900): Formed by Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat, the Lovat Scouts utilized their civilian stalking skills, high-powered telescopes, such as this one, and advanced fieldcraft to neutralize enemy positions.
The Lovat Scouts formally became the British Army’s first official sniper detachments.The School of Sniping (1916): British Expeditionary Force (BEF) trenches initially lacked proper counters to German snipers. Major Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard revolutionized British tactics by founding the Scouting, Observation, and Sniping (SOS) schools in France and Belgium. He trained soldiers in counter-sniping and the use of telescopic sights

Today, it would be perfect to espy a magnificent eagle in the Highlands of Scotland. Whatever one’s need’s this may be just perfect, in fact ‘spot-on’, just as it has been for well over 100 years.

Founded in London in 1889, the company merged with Dollond in 1927 to form Dollond & Aitchison.

An extract from
The Sniper-observer Scout
Sniping in France by Major H. Hesketh-Prichard
., K.C.M.G., etc.

"In the early days of 1915, in command of the 2nd Division, I well remember the ever-increasing activity of the German sniper and the annoyance of our officers and men in the trenches. I can recall the acquisition by the Guards' Brigade, then in the Brickfields of Cuinchy with Lord Cavan as Brigadier, of two rifles fitted with telescopic sights and the good use made of them. It was the experience of 1915 that impressed upon us the necessity of fighting for superiority in all branches of trench warfare, amongst .which sniping held an important position. It was therefore a great satisfaction to me upon my arrival from the battlefields of the Somme in the autumn of 1916 to find Major Hesketh-Prichard's School firmly established in the First Army area, thanks in a great measure to the support and encouragement of Lieut.-General Sir Richard Haking, the Commander of the Eleventh Corps.

I may be permitted to add my testimony that in each phase of the war, not only in the trenches, but in the field, we found the value of the trained sniper, observer and scout.
It is simply an account of some memories of sniping, observation and scouting in France and Flanders, and its purpose is to preserve, as far as may be, in some form the work and training of a class of officers and men whose duties became ever more important as the war progressed. It is in the hope that the true value of sniping and scouting will continue to be recognized in the future training of our armies, as it certainly was recognized in the later years of the war, that this book is written.

The idea of organized sniping was not a new one to me when I went out to France in May, 1915. I had been there before, in the previous March, and had seen the immense advantages which had accrued to the Germans through their superiority in trench warfare sniping.

It is difficult now to give the exact figures of our losses. Suffice it to say that in early 1915 we lost eighteen men in a single battalion in a single day to enemy snipers. Now if each battalion in the line killed by sniping a single German in the day, the numbers would mount up. If any one cares to do a mathematical sum, and to work out the number of battalions we had in the line, they will be surprised at the figures, and when they multiply these figures by thirty and look at the month's losses, they will find that in a war of attrition the sniper on this count alone justifies his existence and wipes out large numbers of the enemy.

But it is not only by the casualties that one can judge the value of sniping. If your trench is dominated by enemy snipers, life in it is really a very hard thing, and moral must inevitably suffer. In many parts of the line all through France and Belgium the enemy, who were organized at a much earlier period than we, certainly did dominate us. Each regiment and most soldiers who have been to France will remember some particular spot where they will say the German sniping was more deadly than elsewhere, but the truth of the matter is that in the middle of 1915 we were undergoing almost everywhere a severe gruelling, to say the least of it.

When I went out in May, 1915, I took with me several telescopic-sighted rifles, which were either my own property or borrowed from friends. I was at the time attached to the Intelligence Department as an officer in charge of war-correspondents, and my work gave me ample opportunity to visit all parts of the line. Whenever I went to the line I took with me, if it was possible, a telescopic-sighted rifle, and I found that both brigades and battalions were soon applying to me to lend these rifles. In this way opportunities arose of visiting the line and studying the sniping problem on the spot."

Photo 8 in the gallery is of how it could and would be mounted in the trenches etc. upon a separate, detachable, spotters tripod stand. {Photo not of this scope, but another similar from WW1}  read more

Code: 26228

A Fantastic, Rare & Original 900 Year Old Templar Crusader Knights era ‘Sword of War’. A Broadsword With Brazil Nut Pommel. From the Period Immediately Following the Norman Conquest & As Used By the Templar Knights To Reclaim The Holy Land.

This wonderful antiquity would make a spectacular centrepiece to any new or long established fine collection, or indeed a magnificent solitary work of historical art, for any type of decor both traditional or contemporary and a fabulous original ‘statement piece’ for any home. In the world of collecting there is so little remaining in the world from this highly significant era in European and British history.

A few years ago we acquired and sold another, of the rarest of the rare, a Templar knights sword, stamped and forged and with still visible triple stamped markings of a Templar armourer. This sword bears, as is more usual, no such extremely rare, surviving and still visible Templar markings. It is an extraordinary, historical, and rare artifact of the era, and an absolute iconic example of the arguably most famous era in all knightly history.

A fine example piece, from the ancient Templar knightly age, from almost a thousand years past. Although this sword is now in an obvious ancient, and historical, russetted condition, with some elements lacking, 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. In fact, the fact they survive at all is both extraordinary and remarkable. Furthermore, all the more remarkable that any survived the crusade in order to return, as by far the majority of Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller etc., that journeyed to the Holy Land on pilgrimage, failed to return.

Around 900 Years Old. A hand-forged iron knightly sword, the very same as used by the templar Knights of Jerusalem, comprising a narrow two-edged blade with shallow fuller to both faces, short ricasso, slender square-section cross guard tapering slightly, flat tang, brazil-nut pommel. 12th-early 13th century, used in the early Crusades Period by Knights, such as the Knights of Jerusalem the Knights Templar, Knights of St John, made from time of King Stephen, and used into the times of King Henry the IInd, and King Richard the Ist.
Although made for a Knight around the time of the reign of the Norman king, King Stephen, it was May likely also used by succeeding knights for the next few hundred years or so, as such swords were of immense value at the time and it was likely passed down from father to son or knight to knight, and thus used as a ‘sword of war’ right into the era of the battles of Crecy, Poitiers, and King Henry V’s age defining victory, at Agincourt. *See further reference to this below This assumption is realistically made due to swords at that time being incredibly valuable and most highly prized, and the style and form of swords during that period had only changed cosmetically, and thus ancestral swords, as this would have been in King Henry’s day, still functioned perfectly well, despite being used for the past centuries. There are records of swords recovered from Agincourt of being knightly ‘ancestral swords’, made and used originally in the Crusades, especially the swords from the hundreds of slain French knights of Agincourt that were descended from crusader knights from the nobility of France.

A Single-Handed, Knights sword, made in the 12th century {circa 1120's} and constantly used in the early Crusades period, by a Knight and hand forged by an armourer, during the time of England's King Henry Ist, and used into the reigns of King Henry the IInd, and King Richard Ist, the Lionheart, and potentially, for the following century or even longer. The tip section was likely lost in its last combat, and two small open separations in the blades fuller region, caused by its prolonged immersion in the earth, as the fuller is the thinnest part of the blade. Thus one may deduct and conclude this precious sword survived its earliest years in the arid deserts of the Holy Land, and thus it may have been used by a Templar that perished in combat in the era that the knights had returned to Europe only to be betrayed by their former Catholic masters in Rome, persecuted, and in greater part eradicated, in order to plunder the great suspected treasures the Templars returned with from the crusades, and to eliminate the great loans made by the knightly order to the King of France.

The eradication of the Knights Templar was a swift, politically-driven destruction orchestrated by King Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V in the early 14th century. While the order lost its military purpose after the Crusades, its massive wealth and independence made it a target for a debt-ridden monarch.

King Philip IV was deeply in debt to the Templars, who acted as his primary bankers; destroying them erased his financial obligations.

The King aimed to confiscate the order’s vast holdings, including estates and gold, to fund his wars against England and Flanders.
After the 1291 fall of Acre, the Templars lost their last foothold in the Holy Land, making them appear redundant to the public.
The Templars functioned as a "state within a state," exempt from taxes and answerable only to the Pope, which threatened Philip’s goal of centralising power in France.

The Knights Templar were an elite fighting force of their day, highly trained, well-equipped, and highly motivated; one of the tenets of their religious order was that they were forbidden from retreating in battle, unless outnumbered three to one, and even then only by order of their commander, or if the Templar flag went down. Not all Knights Templar were warriors. The mission of most of the members was one of support – to acquire resources which could be used to fund and equip the small percentage of members who were fighting on the front lines. There were actually three classes within the orders. The highest class was the knight. When a candidate was sworn into the order, they made the knight a monk. They wore white robes. The knights could hold no property and receive no private letters. They could not be married or betrothed and could not have any vow in any other Order. They could not have debt more than they could pay, and no infirmities. The Templar priest class was similar to the modern day military chaplain. Wearing green robes, they conducted religious services, led prayers, and were assigned record keeping and letter writing. They always wore gloves, unless they were giving Holy Communion. The mounted men-at-arms represented the most common class, and they were called "brothers". They were usually assigned two horses each and held many positions, including guard, steward, squire or other support vocations. As the main support staff, they wore black or brown robes and were partially garbed in chain mail or plate mail. The armour was not as complete as the knights. Because of this infrastructure, the warriors were well-trained and very well armed. Even their horses were trained to fight in combat, fully armoured. The combination of soldier and monk was also a powerful one, as to the Templar knights, martyrdom in battle was one of the most glorious ways to die.

The Templars were also shrewd tacticians, following the dream of Saint Bernard who had declared that a small force, under the right conditions, could defeat a much larger enemy. One of the key battles in which this was demonstrated was in 1177, at the Battle of Montgisard. The famous Muslim military leader Saladin was attempting to push toward Jerusalem from the south, with a force of 26,000 soldiers. He had pinned the forces of Jerusalem's King Baldwin IV, about 500 knights and their supporters, near the coast, at Ascalon. Eighty Templar knights and their own entourage attempted to reinforce. They met Saladin's troops at Gaza, but were considered too small a force to be worth fighting, so Saladin turned his back on them and headed with his army towards Jerusalem.

Once Saladin and his army had moved on, the Templars were able to join King Baldwin's forces, and together they proceeded north along the coast. Saladin had made a key mistake at that point – instead of keeping his forces together, he permitted his army to temporarily spread out and pillage various villages on their way to Jerusalem. The Templars took advantage of this low state of readiness to launch a surprise ambush directly against Saladin and his bodyguard, at Montgisard near Ramla. Saladin's army was spread too thin to adequately defend themselves, and he and his forces were forced to fight a losing battle as they retreated back to the south, ending up with only a tenth of their original number. The battle was not the final one with Saladin, but it bought a year of peace for the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the victory became a heroic legend.

Another key tactic of the Templars was that of the "squadron charge". A small group of knights and their heavily armed warhorses would gather into a tight unit which would gallop full speed at the enemy lines, with a determination and force of will that made it clear that they would rather commit suicide than fall back. This terrifying onslaught would frequently have the desired result of breaking a hole in the enemy lines, thereby giving the other Crusader forces an advantage.

The Templars, though relatively small in number, routinely joined other armies in key battles. They would be the force that would ram through the enemy's front lines at the beginning of a battle, or the fighters that would protect the army from the rear. They fought alongside King Louis VII of France, and King Richard I of England.

In addition to battles in Palestine, members of the Order also fought in the Spanish and Portuguese Reconquista. It could also be enhanced by affixing to a rectangular bespoke display panel.We will include for the new owner a complimentary wooden display stand, but this amazing ancient artefact of antiquity would also look spectacular mounted within a bespoke case frame, or, on a fine cabinet maker constructed display panel.  read more

Code: 23241

A Most Scarce and Superb US Civil War, Savage North, Navy .36cal Revolver With Hand Carved “Trophy Cuts’. Most Likely Created By the Original Combatant, Issued to Either the Wisconsin, Missouri or Kansas Cavalry Regiments

A rare revolver that we are lucky to find only one or two a year, and this one is a particularly nice example.

During the Civil War the savage revolvers were acquired by 'Witcher’s Nighthawks', & 'White’s Rebels', two Confederate cavalry regiments in Virginia, the 11th Texas Cavalry under Col. George Reeves, and the Union’s US Navy’s warships.

The Savage was probably The most unusual and distinctive revolver ever made, and certainly the most distinctive revolver used during the American Civil War in the 1860s. Nothing was ever made before quite like it frankly since it has very modern features which were revolutionary at the time and utilised by just a few revolvers many decades. With four distinctive down stroke cuts and two cross cuts to the butt stock. This by tradition is recognised as trophy marks. One cut for each successful gunfight outcome. Produced in the 1860's. Standard three line address and patent markings on top of the frame above the cylinder. Henry North patent action, with a ring trigger for revolving the cylinder and cocking the hammer, and a second conventional trigger for firing, and a shared heart-shaped trigger guard. Very good fully operational action. Two-section cylinder, with the front section unfluted and the rear section fitted to the frame with cut-outs along the sides. Smooth grips with a distinctive blackstrap profile.

One of the very scarce revolvers of the US Civil War. With good clear maker and patent markings. A very collectable pistol that were made in far fewer numbers than their sister guns, the Colt and the Remington. A very expensive gun in it's day, it had a complex twin trigger mechanism, and a revolving cylinder with a spring operated gas seal. One of our very favourite guns of the 19th century, that epitomises the extraordinary and revolutionary designs and forms of arms that were being invented at that time, and for it's sheer extravagance of complexity, combined with it's unique and highly distinctive profile.

The Savage Navy Model, a six shot .36 calibre revolver, was made only from 1861 until 1862 with a total production of only 20,000 guns. This unique military revolver was one of the few handguns that was produced only for Civil War use. Its design was based on the antebellum Savage-North "figure eight" revolver, the Savage Navy had a unique way of cocking the hammer. The shooter used his middle finger to draw back the "figure 8" lever and then pushed it forward to cock the hammer and rotate the cylinder. The Union purchased just under 12,000 of these initially at $19.00 apiece for use by its cavalry units. Savage Navy revolvers were issued to the 1st and 2nd Wisconsin U.S. Volunteer Cavalry regiments, and 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry while the State of Missouri issued 292 Savage revolvers to its Missouri Enrolled Militia units. The remaining revolvers were purchased by private means and shipped to the Confederacy for use with the 34th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Nighthawks), the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry (White's Rebels), 11th Texas Cavalry, 7th Virginia Cavalry (Ashby's Cavalry), and 7th Missouri Cavalry. The United States Navy also made a small purchase of 800 Savages during 1861 for use on its ships. One of our very favourite guns of the 19th century, that epitomises the extraordinary and revolutionary Heath Robinsonseque designs and forms of arms, that were being invented at that time, and for it's sheer extravagance of complexity, combined with it's unique and highly distinctive profile.

We show in the gallery three different original photos of Civil War soldiers, each one proudly carries his Savage revolver for information only, not included. In May 2018 a similar Savage Navy Revolver sold in auction in America for $48,875, naturally it was a very nice example.

As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22325

A 'Superb' Original, Antique, Victorian, Charge of the Light Brigade Era, 1821 Pattern, Hussar's or Lancer's NCO's Sword In Simply Amazing Fully Restored and Conserved Condition. The NCO's Version Of the 1822 Officer's Sabre.

Superb grey bright polished finish on all steel parts.
From the period, and from one of the front line rank British cavalry regiments of 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' period in the Crimean War.

The 1822 officer's version, was a degree lighter in weight, and had a fully etched blade This NCO's type is the combat weight version, with a plain blade, but wire bound fishskin grip to match their officer's swords, the other ranks trooper's version had a leather grip.

Used by an NCO that served in the charge in such as the; 4th Light Dragoons: A light cavalry regiment known for speed.
8th (The King's Royal Irish) Hussars: Light cavalry, also known as the "Cherry Pickers".
11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars: Light cavalry, distinguished by their distinctive uniforms.
13th (Light Dragoons) Regiment of Light Dragoons: A light cavalry regiment.
17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers: Known for their lances, they were positioned on the left flank.

Maker marked by Mole {an ordnance contractor from Birmingham} the blade backstrap at the forte.

Regulation three bar hilt with wire bound fishskin grip, plain NCO's blade, maker marked and steel scabbard, with numerous War Dept inspection stamps throughout. Clearly from the amount of WD inspection stamps it remained in serve for some decades after it first issue in around 1850.

The scabbard is good {with old pitting at the chape area} the multiwire binding is excellent as is the fishskin grip and all the steel, superb.

From our collection of original British regimental swords' acquired to create a collection of the finest or best examples to be found. Each one is an historical beauty and good or better condition example, every one worthy of any of the best museum collections in Europe.
There is no way to know which specific regiment of hussars or lancers that the NCO served in during the Crimean War.

As used in the Crimean War such as the infamous and renown 'Charge of the Light Brigade' by NCO's of several regiments, other regiments used the 1853 pattern sabre. A most impressive sabre, and very good indeed. The very type of ordnance made and issued Hussar's and Lancer's sabre used by British Cavalry NCO's in the ill fated charge in the Crimean War against Russia.

Absolutely used at the time and used by all the serving cavalry still issued with the 1821 pattern sabre, in the famous 'Charge'. In the Crimean War (1854-56), the Light Dragoons were in the forefront of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalized by Tennyson's poem of that name ("Into the valley of death rode the six hundred").
The regiments adopted the title hussars at this time, and the uniform became very stylish, aping the hussars of the Austro-Hungarian army. But soon the blues and yellows and golds gave way to khaki as the British army found itself in skirmishes throughout the far-flung Empire, in India and South Africa especially.
In 1854 the regiment received its orders from the War Office to prepare for service overseas. Five transport ships - Harbinger, Negotiator, Calliope, Cullodon, and the Mary Anne – embarking between the 8 May and 12 May, carried 20 officers, 292 other ranks and 298 horses. After a troubled voyage, the regiment arrived at Varna, Bulgaria on the 2 June. On the 28 August the entire Light Brigade (consisting of the 4th Light Dragoons and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers, the 8th Hussars and 11th Hussars, under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan were inspected by Lord Lucan; five men of the 13th had already succumbed to cholera.
On the 1 September the regiment embarked for the Crimea - a further three men dying en-route.
On the 20 September the regiment, as part the Light Brigade, took part in the first major engagement of the Crimean War, the Battle of the Alma. The Light Brigade covered the left flank, although the regiment’s role in the battle was minimal. With the Russians in full retreat by
late afternoon, Lord Lucan ordered the Light Brigade to pursue the fleeing enemy. However, the brigade was recalled by Lord Raglan as the Russians had kept some 3,000 uncommitted cavalry in reserve.
During the 25 October the regiments, the Light Brigade, took part in the Battle of Balaclava and the famous Charge of the Light Brigade.
The 13th Light Dragoons formed the right of the front line. The 13th and 17th moved forward; after 100 yards the 11th Hussars, in the second line, also moved off followed by the 4th and 8th. It was not long before the brigade came under heavy Russian fire. Lord Cardigan, at the front of his
men, charged into the Russian guns receiving a slight wound. He was soon followed by the 13th and 17th. The two squadrons of the 13th and the right squadron of the 17th were soon cutting down the artillerymen that had remained at their posts. Once the Russian guns had been passed, they engaged in a hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy that was endeavouring to surround them by closing in on either flank.
However, the Light Brigade having insufficient forces and suffering heavy casualties, were soon forced to retire. Capt. Louis Edward Nolan (January 4 1818-October 25 1854), who was a British Army officer of the Victorian era, an authority on cavalry tactics, and best known for his controversial role in launching the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava. He was the first casualty of that engagement.

We pride ourselves, for over the past 100 years, of attempting {and hopefully succeeding} in acquiring every single day, fabulous, and original, historical pieces, that arenot only collectors items, but incredibly decorative for display and wonderfully evocative of great moments in history.

For example, almost three decades ago we were delighted to buy Captain Nolan's actual undress pattern sabretache that was used by him to carry the order to Charge for the Light Brigade, and it was recovered from beneath his, and his horses bodies after the battle. It spent most of its life after the charge in two museums, one at the rebuilt and re-sited Crystal Palace in London. We were privileged to buy direct it from the original family owners with the personal assistance of the late Gordon Gardner, Militaria Expert of Sotheby's from 1979.

Another identical version of this sword appears in 'Crimean Memories. Artifacts of the Crimean War' by Will Hutchison, Michael Vice, and B J Small. Featuring a group of original artifacts used in combat the Crimean War, that presently reside in numerous museums, regimental messes, and notable private collections  read more

Code: 26229

A Stunning, Finest, And Historical Antique Ross Telescope, English, 3 Draw, Terrestrial Refractor, Boer War Period, Named For Major Robert Hope Fitzroy. Royal Artillery. Ross Is One Of The Great Names In The World Of British Optical Instruments.

In exemplary condition, a superb telescope of great Boer War and WW1, military, 'identifiable' provenance.

Major Robert Hope Fitzroy, Royal Artillery.

Major Robert Hope Fitzroy (1881–1952) was a British Army officer who served in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Born on September 10, 1881, he was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel William Fitzroy and Gertrude Mary Wentworth.

He had the following military and personal profile; He began his military career around the time of the Second Boer War (1899–1902). And became a major in WW1 in the RGA, the Royal Garrison Artillery.

The RGA operated the huge heavy artillery at the Western Front.

The RGA grew into a very large component of the British Army, being armed with heavy, large-calibre guns and howitzers that were positioned some way behind the front line and had immense destructive power. With the new long-range small arms available to the infantry in the era before World War I, artillery fighting in the infantry line was increasingly vulnerable to small-arms fire. The solution to this was the principle of standing off and engaging the enemy with indirect fire. Henceforth the artillery would be positioned well behind the infantry battle line, firing at unseen targets, controlled by a forward artillery observer. Later in the war, advances in the science of gunnery enabled guns to be aimed at co-ordinates on a map calculated with geometry and mathematics. As the war developed, the heavy artillery and the techniques of long-range artillery were massively developed. The RGA was often supported by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) who had devised a system where pilots could use wireless telegraphy to give corrections of aim to the guns. The RFC aircraft carried a wireless set and a map and after identifying the position of an enemy target the pilot was able to transmit messages such as A5, B3, etc. in Morse code to an RFC land station attached to a heavy artillery unit, such as Royal Garrison Artillery Siege Batteries.

HM Gun Scene Shifter was a massive 13.5-inch British railway gun that saw active service across two world wars. Today, its incredible legacy lives on through the history of British heavy artillery.
A breakdown of its operational history:

World War I

The original 14-inch barrel was initially built to equip an Imperial Japanese Navy battleship, but the order was canceled.The "Shift": Requisitioned by the British Army, it was mounted onto a railway chassis and given its iconic name.Western Front: Operated by the Royal Garrison Artillery in France, it provided crucial long-range interdiction fire on strategic German infrastructure like railway junctions.

Two pictures in the gallery of HM Gun Scene Shifter and the Second Battle of the Somme. A Battery of 8-inch howitzers (Royal Garrison Artillery) in action on the roadside at St. Leger.  read more

Code: 26226

A French Hussar's Light Cavalry Officer's Heavy Grade Sabre, Sabre de Hussard, Late 18th/Early 19th Century Ist Empire Pattern

From the former P.T.Norheim Collection of Finest French Arms

A strong robust brass hilt (old bruising in places) with ovoidal langets, rear quillon with faceted button terminal, knuckle-guard with medial ridge, pommel and back-piece in one, and wire-bound leather-covered grip, With curved fullered blade double-edged towards the point and with Coulaux Freres Klingenthal manufactory details along the back at the forte, in original brass scabbard (with some old denting, predominantly up from the chape) lined in brown leather and open along each side at the top, steel shoe, and two rings for suspension
33.75 inch. blade.

The word “hussar” identifies the light horsemen and comes from the Hungarian “huszar”. The most famous hussar units were the French regiments of the Napoleonic era. They were employed for scouting and communication purposes, and to screen the movement of the Emperor's corps, like during the advance that allowed the French to flank the Austrian general Mack at Ulm in 1805. The hussars, such as of the 1st Hussars employed at Jena in 1806, are characterized by the ornate Hungarian style uniform, sabretache, sabre and carbine.

The hussars also played a prominent role as cavalry in the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), serving in campaigns in Austria (1804 & 1809), Prussia (1805 -1806), Poland (1806), Spain (1809 - 1813), Germany (1812), France (1814 - 1815), and Belgium (1815) before being disbanded by the Bourbon Restoration.
As light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, they would be used to fight skirmish battles and for scouting. Most of the great European powers raised hussar regiments. The armies of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia had included hussar regiments since the mid-18th century. In the case of Britain, four light dragoon regiments were converted to hussars in 1806–1807.

Hussars gained notoriety in the Grande Armée after the invasion of Egypt. At the Battle of Salalieh in August 1798, brigade commander Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle fought "like a demon" and solidified his reputation as a maverick rider upon returning to France and receiving Weapons of Honour. At the ceremony (in a remark often mistakenly attributed to Napoleon), Lasalle quipped "Any hussar who isn't dead at age 30 is a layabout." The hussars of Napoleon's army created the tradition of sabrage, the opening of a champagne bottle with a sabre. Moustaches were universally worn by Napoleonic period hussars, the British hussars were the only moustachioed troops in the British Army – leading to occasional taunts of "foreigner" from their brothers-in-arms. French hussars also wore cadenettes, braids of hair hanging to either side of the face, until the practice was officially proscribed when shorter hair became universal. This sabre is from a private collection of one of the foremost experts and authors of swords in Scandinavia, and chairman of the the Norwegian Weapons Historical Society
A famous military commander in Bonaparte's army who began his military career as a hussar was Marshal Ney, who after being employed as a clerk in an iron works joined the 5th Hussars in 1787. He rose through the ranks of the hussars in the wars of Belgium and the Rhineland (1794–1798) fighting against the forces of Austria and Prussia before receiving his marshal's baton in 1804 after the Emperor Napoleon's coronation.

On the French Revolution, it was numbered as the 5th Hussar Regiment during the army reorganisation of 1 January 1791, as the fifth oldest cavalry unit in the French army, before being promoted to 4th Hussar Regiment in 1793 after the previous holder of that title. In 1814, just before the fall of the First French Empire, it was renamed the régiment des hussards de Monsieur, though it resumed the title of 4th Hussar Regiment during the Hundred Days before being disbanded on the Bourbon Restoration which followed. After Napoleon returned from exile and invaded Belgium, the 4th Hussar Regiment would enter combat at the final battles of Ligny, and Waterloo, in which Napoleon would be defeated.  read more

Code: 25354

The Lanes Armoury, World Renown As Britain’s Best Antique Museum-Shop and Gallery, Is Closed, As Usual, This Bank Holiday Monday 25th May. We Re-open Tuesday 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 on 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 the Internet, and 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

Victorian Jack the Ripper Period 'Derby' Pattern Best Warranted Wrought Hard Steel Handcuffs

Two metal cuffs attached together by a metal ring on each cuff, linked with a swivel in the centre to join both ends together. One cuff has a metal key inserted in lock. Key locks, unlocks and unscrews nicely.

Hiatt & Company began manufacturing handcuffs and slave-chains in the 1780s and was the largest supplier of handcuffs to the British police.

The Whitechapel murders were committed in or near the largely impoverished Whitechapel district in the East End of London between 3 April 1888 and 13 February 1891. At various points some or all of these eleven unsolved murders of women have been ascribed to the notorious unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.

The murderer or murderers were never identified and the cases remain unsolved. Sensational reportage and the mystery surrounding the identity of the killer or killers fed the development of the character "Jack the Ripper", who was blamed for all or most of the murders. Hundreds of books and articles discuss the Whitechapel murders, and they feature in novels, short stories, comic books, television shows, and films of multiple genres.

The poor of the East End had long been ignored by affluent society, but the nature of the Whitechapel murders and of the victims' impoverished lifestyles drew national attention to their living conditions. The murders galvanised public opinion against the overcrowded, unsanitary slums of the East End, and led to demands for reform. On 24 September 1888, George Bernard Shaw commented sarcastically on the media's sudden concern with social justice in a letter to The Star newspaper:  read more

Code: 24294

Spectaular Looking, Rare, Super Example of a 17th -18th Century Matchlock Musket See the Catalogue of Ottoman Firearms at the Askeri Military Museum Harbiye Istanbul. " Askeri Muze Osmanli Ve Cumhuriyet Donemi ATESLI SILAHLAR Katalogu". Ayse Cotelioglu

A rare, antique 17th century Turkish Ottoman Empire matchlock musket. The musket has an octagonal Damascus steel barrel struck with the makers mark, and a figured Circassian walnut stock extensively banded in brass. Only a few Ottoman matchlock muskets of this type survive in Turkey, most can be seen outside of Turkey at museums in Poland and Ukraine as the muskets were taken from the Turks as booty by the Poles and the Cossacks during the 17th century wars with the Ottoman Empire.

Similar guns are published in the Turkish catalogue of Ottoman Firearms at the Askeri Military Museum Harbiye Istanbul. " Askeri Muze Osmanli Ve Cumhuriyet Donemi ATESLI SILAHLAR katalogu"by Aysel Cotelioglu.

These types of Turkish guns were very popular and widely used by Zaporozhian and Don Cossacks during the 17th century. The Zaporozhian Cossacks, Zaporozhian Cossack Army, Zaporozhian Host were Cossacks who lived beyond the rapids of the Dnieper River, the land also known under the historical term Wild Fields in today's Central Ukraine. Today much of its territory is flooded by the waters of Kakhovka Reservoir.

The Zaporozhian Sich grew rapidly in the 15th century from serfs fleeing the more controlled parts of the Polish?Lithuanian Commonwealth. It became established as a well-respected political entity with a parliamentary system of government. During the course of the 16th, 17th and well into the 18th century, the Zaporozhian Cossacks became a strong political and military force that challenged the authority of the Polish?Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Tsardom of Russia, and the Crimean Khanate.

The Host went through a series of conflicts and alliances involving the three powers, including supporting an uprising in the 18th century. Their leader signed a treaty with the Russians. This group was forcibly disbanded in the late 18th century by the Russian Empire, with most of the population relocated to the Kuban region in the South edge of the Russian Empire. The Cossacks served a valuable role of conquering the Caucasian tribes and in return enjoyed considerable freedom granted by the Tsars. As with all our antique guns, no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22112

A Scarce US Civil War Service 1817 Model US Army Rifle, Dated 1826, Percussion Conversion For American The Civil War

Made in Middleton Connecticut by either Simeon North or Robert Johnson. The breech is marked in three lines with US / AH / (circle) P. The P proof mark is in a depressed rosette. The inspector initials AH are those of Asabel Hubbard who was a Springfield Armory armourer and contract arms inspector.

The M1817 nicknamed the 'common rifle' in order to distinguish it from the Hall rifle was a flintlock muzzle-loaded weapon issued due to the US Dept. of Ordnance's order of 1814, produced by Henry Deringer and used from 1820s to 1840s at the American frontier, and after conversion to percussion, in the American Civil War in the 1860's.

This type of rifle-musket was used in the Civil War with service in the 2nd Mississippi Infantry, CS. A seldom seen, good looking longarm to fit any military collection, with shortened fore-stock wood, smooth bored.

Under contract with the government, Henry Deringer converted some 13,000 such flintlocks to percussion, muzzleloader rifles with the ‘drum’ or ‘French’ style system.

Unlike the half-octagon barreled Model 1814 Rifle that preceded it, it had a barrel that was round for most of its length. The barrel was rifled for .54 calibre bullets. For rifling it had seven grooves. Like the Model 1814, it had a distinctive large iron oval patchbox in the buttstock.  read more

Code: 26036