| 15th C. Rondel Dagger of the Era of Agincourt, Jean d'Arc & the Inquisition A super small dagger from the time of The Battle Of Agincourt, through to The Siege of Orleans, and to the beginning of The Spanish Inquisition. With Mail Piercing blade of triangular section with two cutting edges. The hilt is of root wood with disc pommel, gilt bands and a golden coin under at the blade base. The history that this dagger has seen is only to be amazed at, possibly the greatest and significent times of Medeivil history. The Battle of Agincourt, one of the most incredible conflicts in Anglo French warfare, the time of the Maid of Orleans, Saint Joan, certainly one of the most famous events in all history, and into the Spanish Inquisition, one of the so called darkest times for the interrogation of heretics. | | 1796 'Blue and Gilt' Sabre Light Dragoon Officers. 'Blue and Gilt' bladed Officers Light Cavalry Sabre. All steel combat mounts.By Horstmann & Sons Solingen, a maker who made for the British and the Americans in this era and he then emigrated to America in around 1812. Very Good Condition for Age. | | 1796 Light Dragoon Sabre Waterloo era With all steel mounts and combat scabbard. Ornance crown stamp to blade.Over all light pitting. | | 17th Century Style Cast Bronze Desk Cannon A fine and substantial Executive or Gentleman's Desk ornament. A large wheeled Field Cannon popular from the Renaissance era to the 19th century. Heavy bronze casting probably late 19th to early 20th century.Approx. 12 inches by 7 inches 6 inches. | | 1861-1896 Royal Engineers Haynes Medal For Field Fortifications in Bronze Bust right facing of Captain Haynes, to edge of field the Legend Captain A.F.Haynes, R.E. 1861-96. Rev:Wooded background to field with two engineers looking at tressle bridge over a ravine legend to the edge of field:Engraved italic capitals naming; 342290 Sapper W. Hatton 355 party
Bronze Haynes Medal was awarded the best sapper in each party of recruits going through the field works course at the School of Military Engineers. In original case, mint condition [Medal 57mm]. Captain Haynes was a 19th Century British Hero, an officer of the Royal Engineers who was killed on campaign in Mashonaland in 1896. This medal was dedicated in honour to his memory. | | 1888 Pattern Lee Metford Boer War Bayonet MkI, Type 2 Type 2With scarce non regulation scabbard.2 Rivet hilt. With scabbard. Good condition for age all usual British acceptance marks | | 18th Century Indo Persian Tulwar All steel hilt and blade | | 18th Century Moghal Sword, of the Battle of Plassey 1757 Apparently, through family legend, captured at the Battle of Plassey by a British Officer, and bought back as a war souvenir. The Battle of Plassey was an East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in India and British rule over much of South Asia for the next 190 years. The battle took place on 23 June 1757 at Palashi, West Bengal, on the riverbanks of the Bhagirathi River, about 150 km north of Calcutta, near Murshidabad, then the capital of the Nawab of Bengal. The opponents were Siraj Ud Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, and the British East India Company. The battle was waged during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) and in a mirror of their European rivalry the French East India Company sent a small contingent to fight against the British East India Company. Overall russet finish with feint traces of gold decoration on the slightly loose hilt. Small picture in the gallery shows Robert Clive after the victory at Plassey. [Picture for historical information and context only, not included]. | | 19th century German Cavalry Sabre by Schnitler and Kirshbaum Modelled on the British 1788 pattern, a good example of these early Prussian Cavalry Sabres. Marked S&K at the Forte. Langets missing, with steel combat scabbard. Napoleonic War Era | | 19th Century Indian Tulwar A good sword of the Raj, a souvenir of the Indian Mutiny of the 1850's.All steel blade brass hilt. | | A '3 Band' Enfield 1853 Pattern Musket Made and used in Empire in the British Raj. Possibly used by a Seapoy in the Indian Mutiny era. Smoothbore. Good walnut stock with two section forend. Brass furniture, steel lock and barrel. Possibly made with some Enfield parts. Superior Empire made long gun, but not quite to the Tower London made quality. Damascus twist barrel. Lock and hammer stamped with undecipherable markings. | | A 'Historismus' Morian Helmet 16th Century Elizabethan Style A typical 'Morian' helmet of the Spanish Armada Era style. Iron, curved, boat shape with wide brim and high crescent comb. A very good 19th century museum replica. Good antique patina.Traditionally hand made in heavy grade iron/steel | | A 12th to 15th Century Medieval Bearded Side Axe An iron long bearded axe with an off set blade. A good axe suitable for combat and craft. Since the days of the Roman Legionaries, soldiers were both warriors and builders. The Romans trained their soldiers not only for combat, but for engineering and fort building, for the times of combat may be few, but the times of construction were many. Forts, roads, defenses, siege engines and drain construction were all part of a Legionary's skills, and although the armies of ancient Rome died centuries before, the lessons for future warriors lived on. A medieval foot soldier would be simply armed, with a weapon that may have had many functions, and the axe was the most effective of them all. This side axe would have been incredibly effective in the hands of a trained exponant of the battle axe, but, it would have been just as effective for aiding the construction of forts, battlements, boats or engines of war. Affixed to a later haft. 13cm blade 13cm wide. | | A 13th Century Battle Axe with Viking Style Crescentric Broad Blade A large Medieval two handed broad axe adapted from the earlier Viking Briedox [ broad axe], as used by the Anglo-Danish Huscarls at the Battle of Hastings, whose blades were up to 12 inches across, or even bigger. This is a superb example, on a later hardwood haft. This fine axe is from the time of King Henry III and The Battle of Lewes, which was one of two main battles of the conflict known as the Second Barons' War. It took place at Lewes in Sussex, on May 14, 1264. It marked the high point of the career of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and made him for a while the "uncrowned King of England", until his defeat and death, at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, at the hands of Edward Longshanks, King Henry's son, who became King Edward I. As a point of local interest the famous battle took place only around 10 miles from The Lanes Armoury, and our farm [ Sifelle, which was once part of King Harold's personal estate in Sussex] is just three miles north east of the battle site. Three pictures in the gallery show a broad axe being used in the Bayeaux Tapestry [depicting King Harold's and King William's Battle of Hastings], a foot soldier leaning on his broad axe, and a map of the Battle of Lewes [these are for information and interest only and not included]. A very similar axe to this one appears in the London Museum catalogue of 1940. Full length 59 1/2 inches, blade 11 3/4 inches across [front to back] | | A 13th Century Edward Ist period Prick-Spur of The Crusudes Era From the period of King Edward Ist of England [Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine], known as Longshanks or Hammer of The Scots [Edwardus Primus Scottorum Malleus]. This Knightly Iron Spur was used during an incredibly interesting part of English, Scotttish and Crusades history, during the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire and the defeat of William Wallace's invasion of England. | | A 13th Century Iron Head Battle Mace Pineapple shaped head with large mounting hole. The type as were also used as a Flail Mace, with the centre mount being filled with lead and a chain mounted hook, when it was not mounted on a haft, as this mace is. Flattened pyramidical protuberances, possibly English. Made for a mounted Knight to use as an Armour and Helmet Crusher in mortal combat. It would have been used up to the 15th to 16th century. On a Flail it had the name of a Scorpion in England or France, or sometimes a Battle-Whip. It was also wryly known as a 'Holy Water Sprinkler'. King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon, as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat. Although blind he was a valiant and the bravest of the Warrior Kings, who perished at the Battle of Crecy against the English in 1346. On the day he was slain he instructed his Knights [both friends and companions] to lead him to the very centre of battle, so he may strike at least one blow against his enemies. His Knights tied their horses to his, so the King would not be separated from them in the press, and they rode together into the thick of battle, where King John managed to strike not one but at least four noble blows. The following day of the battle, the horses and the fallen knights were found all about the body of their most noble King, all still tied to his steed. Fitted on a late wooden haft, approx. 2.5 inch head. | | A 15th Century German Dagger With single edge and armour piercing reinforced tip. A rare piece from the period of the Battle of Agincourt. In battlefield recovery condition. | | A 1796 British Infantry Flank Officer's Sabre With copper gilt hilt triple wire bound wooden grip and all steel combat scabbard. Used in the era of the Peninsular War and Waterloo.The scabbard has overall surface pitting and the blade has had field service repair to blade mid section | | A 1796 Light Dragoon Sabre Of the Peninsular War and Battle of Waterloo With good blade in very sound and exceptional near mint order. Traditional steel hilt with russet surface, original triple wire bound leather grip. Overall surface pitting to hilt. A fabulous combat sword that has certainly seen much combat. From the greatest and most significant period of European warfare, against the mighty French General & Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte | | A 17C. Civil War Ballock Dagger Circa 1600 From the time of the English Civil War, this fine European dagger is a typical weapon that was favoured by Knights and Lords for over 400 years. The tombs of the Crusaders are often resplendent with full engraved brasses, which depict the interred, dressed in full Knightly Armour adorned with a Ballock Dagger worn at his side. The Ballock Dagger, with it's distinctive kidney form, evolved into the famous Highland Dirk during the late 17th to early 18th century. Some middle hilt restoration. | | A 17th to 18th Century Cannon Ball Sea bed battle recovery thus the ball is extremely distorted. Around 5 inches across. Weight around 8 kilos. | | A 17th to 18th Century Katar Armour Piercing 'Punch' Dagger Ribbed spine blade for strengthened penetratative powers. Replacement formed scabbard. An interesting weapon, in reasonable condition for age, extremely distinctive in it's uniquely Indian shape. Popular with Seikh but especially the Mahratta warriors. The Katar [Devanagari] is a type of short punching weapon that is native to the Indian subcontinent and popular elsewhere for swift and quick attacks. It is notable for its horizontal hand grip, which results in the blade of the sword sitting above the user's knuckles.The katar is unique because to stab an opponent one has to simply punch instead of thrust, unlike when using a regular knife or dagger. It is more like an extension of the fist than a dagger, and it seems more natural to attack and defend with a katar. Sometimes, a katar is also used as a main-gauche in dual blade fencing.The history of the states and dynasties comprising the Maratha Empire constitutes a major portion of the history of late medieval India. It is noteworthy that the rise of the Marathas represented the revival of the political power of the Hindus in north India after many centuries of Muslim rule, it prevented the spread of the Mughal Empire and associated Islamic culture to south India and was the primary cause of the decline of the Mughal Empire. One support has an old repair. | | A 19th Century 'Crimean War' Military Officer's Trunk, Probably Russian A wooden and steel strap banded military trunk from the Crimean war. Painted in faded pale Russian blue-grey. Said, from family history, to have been used by an officer of the 17th Lancers who acquired it from various kit captured from a Russian baggage train. The British officer then used it for his gun case and military kit during this campaign, and later by his sons.The last picture shows the bottom rear strap loops for mounting the trunk on the rear of a horse drawn baggage coach. 13 inches deep x 21.5 inches wide x 11.5 inches high. | | A 19th Century French Armour Back-Plate Part of a Heavy Cavalry Cuirass, a great display piece of an original, antique, French Cavalry armour | | A 19th Century French Cavalry Armour Back-Plate A great display piece of original French Heavy Cavalry Armour. Superb for a display of Stand-of-Arms | | A 19th Century French Chassepot Bayonet Typical bayonet of the French Army of the Franco Prussian War | | A 19th Century French Gladius Short Sword Short powerful double edged blade, brass hilt with leather and brass mounted scabbard. Used from the first quarter of the 19th century till the Crimean War, then many were sold to the US for the Civil War. | | A 19th Century Indonesian Kris Dagger With traditional meteoric steel blade with serpentine form. Very long elongated boat shaped hilt. Very nice example of a Keris in good sound condition. Nickle covered scabbard. 20 inches long overall 11 inch blade. | | A 19th Century Iron Cannon Ball In good sound order. A super conversational item, or an emininently effective and unusual door stop. Around 10 inch circumference. | | A 19th Century Medievil Style Knightly Sword 13th-14th Century style, but made in the Victorian era, most probably as a faithful representation and display piece for a country estate. In the early 19th century Sir Walter Scott's novels created a great resurgence in the interest in romantic Knightly tales of derring do and chivalry, and this was strongly followed in architecture at the time. To reflect the interest, numerous great castles and gothic mansions were built, and many were furnished with Knightly Armour and Weaponry such as this. | | A 19th Century North African Koummya Dagger A beautifully decorated piece with all metal scabbard, wooden hilt with metal mounts.The mounts are nickle.
The overall length is 420mm. The blade length is 202mm. | | A 19th Century Percussion Long Musket Walnut stock, steel barrel, percussion action. Made Circa 1830 and used in the British Empire, most probably in Indian Raj. A good sound musket, recently repaired a little at the wrist. Great patina, good tight action. A very simple but charming item. It would make a super, decorative and original wall piece. | | A 19th Century Royal Naval Sword From the era when the Royal Navy still used sailing ships and the amazing Man o'War battleship. Gilt hilt with traditional crowned fouled anchor design, with lion head pommel. Very good condition overall. | | A Battle Combat Damaged Early Napoleonic French Cuirassier Sword. Now complete with it's once feared lost [but only just discovered this very day] early pattern scabbard. The sword does have, part battle damage to the guard on the hilt, but despite this, it is in a very sound and good condition indeed. Blade stamped with the mark of the Fasces for the 'Petit Garantie' 1798 to 1809, plus AP for L'Atelier [Precision] Paris [Paris Workshop] and the hilt has the Versailles approval stamp. Versailles was the premier hilt manufactury and assembly workshop for the Republic and Empire, and only the very finest would pass acceptance. All of the Elite Imperial Guard sword hilts were supplied from here. The Versailles Director was Boutet, probably the greatest & most respected Arms maker that ever lived, his pistols and guns, made for the King and Napoleon, are some of the most beautiful objects ever created by man. The French Elite Cuirassier Sword is surely one of the most impressive Heavy Cavalry swords ever made, being of incredible size quality and stature. Used in the great campaigns of Napoleon by the Elite Grande Armee Cavalry. All the Cuirassier were front line regiments, none ever utilized as Militia. This sword has a multi fullered blade, brass 2 bar hilt [2 have been lost in combat] with it's original bound leather grip. The blade is exactly as it should be in that it is undated, as only the Cuirassier swords manufactured after 1809 should ever bear a manufacture date. A true Napoleonic battle scared gem, made around 1806, and a battle souvenir of Napolen's 'Grande Armee', elite Cuirassiers that would have seen service throughout the whole Napoleonic Wars and the greatest Napoleonic Battles, from Austerlitz, Wagram and Moscow to the Peninsular War and Waterloo. All of Napoleon's Heavy Cavalry Regiments fought at Waterloo, there were no reserve regiments. Renown throughout the world of historic sword collectors as probably the biggest and most impressive cavalry sword's ever designed. The Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Regiments used the largest men in France, recruited to serve in the greatest and noblest cavalry France has ever had. They fought with incredible distinction at their last great conflict at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and most of the Cuirassiers swords in England very likely came from that field of conflict, after the battle, as trophies of war. This sword now has it's original scabbard, it's hilt has had two small branches broken away in combat and it's tip broken off [now reformed, as is the scabbard to match the blade length]. One can imagine, the noble, fallen, French Cuirassier, who had carried this sword into his last vainglorious combat, would still likely have had it's scabbard strapped to his horses kit, possibly even lying under his fallen loyal steed. His fine, battle damaged sword, may have been lying freely, or maybe even still gripped within his hand, on the field of conflict, waiting for a victorious soldier to claim his well deserved trophy of battle. Every warrior that has ever entered service for his country sought trophies. The Mycenae from the fallen Trojan, the Roman from the fallen Gaul, the GI from the fallen Japanese, and the tradition stretches back as far as combat itself, and will continue to do so as long as man serves his country as soldier and warrior in battle. In the 1st century AD the Roman Poet Juvenal [Decimus Junius Juvenalis] wrote; "Man thirsts more for glory than virtue. The armour of an enemy, his broken helmet, the flag ripped from a conquered trireme, are treasures valued beyond all human riches. It is to obtain these tokens of glory that Generals, be they Roman, Greek or barbarian, brave a thousand perils and endure a thousand exertions". All of Napoleon's elite heavy Cavalry [Cuirassier] Regiments fought at Waterloo, there were no reserve regiments. Some of the battles this sword would have been used at were;
1806: Jena and the Capture of Lubeck.
1807: Hoff and Eylau.
1809: Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling, Wagram, Hollabrunn, and Znaim.
1812: Borodino and Moscow, Ostrowno, and Winkowo 1813: Reichenbach and Dresden, Leipzig and Hanau
1814: La Rothiere, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Athies, La Fere-Champenoise and Paris
1815: Quatre-Bras and Waterloo. Two pictures in the gallery are of a Cuirassier charge and a period picture of a 9th Cuirassier. [For information and historical context only not included]. 32.25 inch blade 38.75 inches overall. | | A Beautiful 16th Century Halberd of the Elizabeth Ist era With immensely elongated spike and crescent axe blade decorated with traditional pierced bullet design. On original haft with metal reinforcing side straps and a material covered top section with tassels [now very age worn indeed]. The halberd was very versatile in battle principally from the 14th century but originally comprised of just a long blade on a long haft, such as the Lochaber axe. As the halberd was eventually refined, its point was more fully developed to allow it to better deal with spears and pikes (also able to push back approaching horsemen), as was the hook opposite the axe head, which could be used to pull horsemen to the ground.
Additionally, halberds were reinforced with metal rims over the shaft, thus making effective weapons for blocking other weapons like swords. This capability increased its effectiveness in battle, and expert halberdiers were as deadly as any other weapon masters were. It was a halberd, in the hands of a Swiss peasant, which killed the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, decisively ending the Burgundian Wars -- literally with one stroke. The halberd has been used as a court bodyguard weapon for centuries, and is still the ceremonial weapon of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican. Good early Halberds are now quite difficult to find and this example with it's haft and decoration still intact is a fine museum piece now only usually seen in the Tower of London collection, Windsor Castle or the few remaining great Ducal Castle collections in Germany, such as Nuremberg Castle. Overall length 108 inches [9 feet] the Steel head, 52.75 inches long. To be transported overseas via air mail the haft will need to be cut and re-affixed at destination. This can be achieved under the cloth binding. | | A Beautiful 17th-18th Century, Moghul, Islamic Tulwar Sword With a very good steel blade with a fine armourer's seal mark. All steel hilt with single bar guard. Emperor Aurangzeb [or Muhiuddin Mohammed] was the last significant Mughal emperor. His reign lasted from 1658 to 1707. During this phase, the empire had reached its largest geographical expansion. Nevertheless it was during this time period that the first sign of decline of the great Moghul Empire was noticed. The reasons were many. The bureaucracy became corrupted and the army implemented outdated tactics and obsolete weaponry. The Moghul Empire was descended from Turko-Mongol, Rajput and Persian origins. It reigned a significant part of the subcontinent of Asia from the initial part of the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century. When it was at the peak of its power, around the 18th century, it controlled a major part of the Asian subcontinent and portions of the current Afghanistan. To understand it's wealth and influence, in 1600 the Emperor Akbar had revenues from his empire of £17.5 million pounds, and 200 years later, in 1800, the exchequer of the entire British Empire had revenues of just £16 million pounds. Photo in the gallery and thumbnail of Emperor Auranzeb with his Tulwar [information only, not included] | | A Beautiful 1822 Pattern British Infantry Officer's 'Gothic Hilt' Sword Superb brass Gothic hilt with traditional pierced VR cypher fishskin wire bound grip, folding side guard, with it's rarely seen original leather inner guard liner. Superb blade with full deluxe etching. Excellent overall condition. Used in the Crimean War, Indian Mutiny and Zulu War. This is the very kind of sword used by Lt. Bromhead [as played by Michael Caine in "Zulu"] at Rorkes Drift in 1879. Photo in the gallery from the film "Zulu" and Michael Caine as Bromhead with his sword [for information only not included] no scabbard | | A Beautiful American 'Kentucky' Rifle Late 18th century to early 19th century with a fine traditional pierced brass patch box, percussion convert action, brass crescent butt and fancy trigger guard. Heavy steel rifled barrel. The 'Kentucky Rifle' is probably the most famous, and certainly the most beautiful Rifle ever made in America's long history of fine arms making. It was used to incredible effect by the backwoods and mountain men in the American Revolutionary War, and by Congressman and Tennessee hero Davy Crockett and his riflemen in the Creek Indian War in 1813 and at The Alamo, in the battle with the Mexican forces of the despot Santa Anna in 1836. Fine striped wood effect on the stock. | | A Beautiful Ancient Han Dynasty Chinese Jian [Sword] Around 2000 and 2400 years old this stunning sword was made by the Dian Peoples in South West China Yunnan Province. The Bronze hilt has amazing form and the blade is most certainly not the original fitted [although well corroded] Hilts were frequently remounted as like the Samurai Culture in Japanese blades and fittings were frequently changed and altered many times. Han Dynasty bronzes are practically indistinguishable from earlier Warring States bronzes so it could indeed be older than estimated. | | A Beautiful and Highly Rare Continental Four Barrel Tap Action Pistol A fine and rare late 18th century pistol of good quality and much desirablity. Superbly carved butt with a carved fishscale and acanthus leaf design, octagonal lozenge form butt cap. Four, side-by-side and over-and-under barrels, boxlock action with double flintlock hammers and double triggers. From the era of Napoleon, and no doubt carried by an officer of noble of great importance and standing, who must have had access to considerable resources in order to pay for such an expensive arm.Top sliding safety catch. Some old corrosion to left side barrels.Fine overall engraving includin a lion to the lock plate. | | A Beautiful and Very Fine Koto Katana of Some 600 Years Old Signed Bishu Osafune Morimitsu and the date 1408. A fine signed Tachimei blade. Gold inlaid pierced iron tsuba with Fukurin rim. Stunning blade with superb curvature typical of the 14th and 15th century. Full length deep hi, light and elegant hamon. Nanako ground fushi kashira and dragon gold and shakudo minuki. Red and gold dimpled lacquer saya.This is a most beautiful sword of singular elegance, made around the time that King Richard IInd [Richard of York] was defeated by the Lancastrian King, King Henry IVth at the culmination of The Wars of The Roses. Geoffrey Chaucer had just died after he finished his classic, The Canterbury Tales, and at time of King Henry fighting the French in one of the greatest victories in English history, at Agincourt. It is extraordinary that a sword of this age is in a condition that appears almost as new. There is probably not a single English sword still in existence, from that era, that comes anywhere as near as good condition as this one. If we were fortunate enough to have an English equivalent sword, of that age and condition, it's price would likely be in excess of £100,000. It is simply for the reason that the Japanese consider that a Samurai sword is the greatest possession one can own, and for it's whole life [while in Japan of course] it was likely treated as the most precious object, that each and every Samurai who owned or carried it had. This sword is also featured in our Japanese Gallery. | | A Beautiful Antique 19th Century 'Dolphin' Music Stool. Carved gilt wood decorated Dolphin support, on a black lacquer trefoil base, with a black lacquered rotating 'oyster shell' formed carved wooden seat. Designed after the Regency Music Stools made for H.R.H.The Prince Regent's Palace, The Royal Pavilion in Brighton. | | A Beautiful Antique Bowie Knife of Fine Maker Lindgard and Peacroft. Mint. Desirable fine quality Sheffield Bowie knife made for the Southern trade circa 1850-1865 This dagger has an overall length of 12 inches with a double edged blade. The blade is etched “Never Draw Me Without Reason Nor Sheath Me Without Honour”. Blade length 6 inches. With original nickle mounted leather scabbard and traditional cutlery handle. The overall condition is quite simply superb. This is a charming example of the much sought after American market Bowie knives, made for the Civil War and early frontier period. Lindgard and Peacroft made some of the most desirable of Bowies for the Confederate south, and a few examples of these are in the some of the finest Bowie knife collections in the States. Probably the best condition example we have ever seen. | | A Beautiful Antique Helmet of the Elite, 3rd Prince Of Wales Dragoons. A fine, original, 1871 Pattern Helmet from Queen Victoria's elite heavy cavalry. All brass wreathed skull with black and red horsehair plume and regimental badge of the 3rd Dragoon Guards. With liner and chinscales. Used in the Boer War in South Africa and in WW1. A regiment with an impressively long record of loyalty, bravery and tenacity that one expects to see, from one of the regiments of the finest cavalry division, in the finest army in the world. Regimental Honours.
1701 - 1705 Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet during the war of Spanish Succession.
1756 - 1763, Warburg during the Seven years war
1793 - 1802, Beaumont and Willems during the French revolutionary wars.
1808 - 1802 Talavera, Albuhera, Vittoria, peninsula during the Peninsula War
1867 - 1868 The Abyssinian war
1899 - 1902, The South African war
1914 - 1914, Ypres 1914, and 1915, Loos, Arrass 1917, Scarpe 1917, St Quentin, Avre, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Mons, in France and Flanders | | A Beautiful Antique Islamic Jambiya with Belt A superb Jambiya probably Yemeni with original belt [rebuckled and strapped] with hinged pouch and scroll container. Beautiful intricate silver bullion decoration, typically with crude elements | | A Beautiful Antique Keris, A World Famous & Legendary Weapon. A long straight bladed type known as the Executioner's Kris. Used by the Indonesian high born warrior. Wonderful Indonesian hardwood hilt and scabbard of Javanese Pelet. With a singularly stunning blade showing incredible grain. With traditional Meteorite iron blade with hammered nickle for the contrasting pattern. | | A Beautiful Brass Hilted Early 18th Century Small Sword Circa 1730 with cast brass double shell guard. Cast decoration throughout of mulitiple Stands-of-Arms. D shaped sigle bar knuckle bow and cast pommel. Double edged blade. A fine sword used in the American Revolutionary War and the Indian-French Wars in America in the 1750's and 60's by Officers of both sides. | | A Beautiful French Blunderbuss of Very Fine Quality 18th century with all brass cannon barrel finest walnut [Juglans Regia] stock with superb patina and beautifully carved with a small relief rose at the wrist, and inlaid with intricate silver scrollwork. Fancy engraved mounts of nice quality, steel rammer and a very nice, tight swan neck cock flintlock. The high quality workmanship and styling that this posseses involved the inlaying of silver scrolls within the stock and was was hugely popular with the nobility throughout Europe. Some of the finest of the worlds gunsmiths, from England, France, Austria and Russia, used this style of work from the 1720s to the 1780's | | A Beautiful Hussars Officer's Sabre from The Crimean War Era Made by in 1850 by Lambert Brown and Co of London and Dublin, this is a stunning mamaluke sword, in excellent condition for It's age, and used by an Hussars or Lancer Officer in the Crimean War era. A simply stunning and beautifully etched blade with rolls of scrolling acanthus leaves and fine Stands-of-Arms, depicting Lances Cannon Drums Swords and Trumpets. Ivory hilt with fine facetted iron rivets. Steel cross quillons and steel combat scabbard. The other ranks in the Crimean War used the 1853 or '21 o/r pattern sword, the officers, the Marmaluke or a '21 Officer Pattern | | A Beautiful King George IIIrd British Brown Bess Musket Lock maker marked by T. Potts of The Minories London. Fine and beautiful Walnut stock of the highest grade, good brass mounts. The stock has a small old contemporary repair on one side of the forestock, but this is very well done, and very difficult to see. Thomas Potts [formerly of the partnership Brander and Potts] was apprenticed to Martin Brander in 1792, he was Free of the Gunmakers Co. in 1801, Master Gunsmith and Contractor to the Ordnance and The East India Co. He was also maker and supplier to the Queen of Spain and The Shah of Persia. His widow Mary Anne continued making guns after his demise. The stock has a Military Regt. Mark WYC2. This may relate to the West RidingYorkshire Militia. This is a most handsome piece worthy of any collector of fine gunmaker's military arms. Barrel stamped with Ordnance crown by the Breech Tang. With a replacement rammer [not shown in photos] | | A Beautiful Pair of Antique Native American 'Cowboy' Style Riding Gauntlets Circa 1840 from the early 'Wild West Frontier' period these stunning [probably Cree Tribe] and rare Riding Gauntlets are beautifully embroidered with flowers, florid partterns and a western Monogramme. In yellow hide [probably buckskin] with long fringing.Excellent condition, small split in base of finger.The style of Gauntlets worn by 'Kit Carson' and his contemporaries.Superb, charming and highly collectable pieces from the old, American, Wild West Frontier. | | A Beautiful Quality, Georgian, British Large Pocket or Table Compass Used most likely from the Napoleonic Wars to the Crimean War. A good large sized brass compass of great beauty with finest engraving to silver dial. With a detachable sighting vane that is housed in the domed lid. Excellent patina 8.5cm. This is the kind of compass that any British officer of the Royal Engineers or Infantry may carry, it was an absolutely essential piece of equipment during the 18th and 19th century. A super Period desk piece that is also eminently functional. | | A Beautiful Replica Great Sword of King Edward IIIrd. A Sword of State Gold plated cruciform hilt and mounts, enamel heraldic arm placques of King Edward IIIrd circa 1340, King of England and France. 20th Century Replica | | A Beautiful Silver Hilted Small Rapier An 18th century Silver Hilted Short Rapier, from the era of the American War of Independence.Traditional Colichmarde blade finely engraved. General George Washington had an almost identical sword. The hilt is cast silver decorated with Stands of Arms and Putti. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver, swords were excempt from the English hallmark act. | | A Beautiful War of 1812 Rare American Officer's 'Blue and Gilt' Sabre Fine gilt hilt with eagle head pommel and carved ribbed bone grip. P hilt guard, fully engraved combat weight blade with around 85% original deluxe 'Blue & Gilt' remaining. Early American crest and motto, the Eagle with the Stars and Stripes shield plus a scroll with 'E Pluribus Unum' within. The War of 1812 is one of the almost forgotten wars of the United States. The war lasted for over two years, and while it ended much like it started; in stalemate; it was in fact a war that once and for all confirmed American Independence. The offensive actions of the United States failed in every attempt to capture Canada. On the other hand, the British army was successfully stopped when it attempted to capture Baltimore and New Orleans. There were a number of American naval victories in which American vessels proved themselves superior to similarly sized British vessels. These victories coming after victories in the Quasi War (an even more forgotten war) launched American naval traditions. No scabbard | | A Beautiful, Silver [Plate], Victorian Royal Artillery Volunteers Sword With fully silver plated hilt and scabbard, fully wire bound fish skin grip with a superb blade fully etched with the devices of the Volunteer Artillery and the traditional cypher of Queen Victoria. Hilt and blade in excellent plus condition, crease to scabbard in the mid section. Completely conservator repolished, retaining all the original patina | | A British 1796 Dragoon Sabre. Waterloo and The Peninsular War Era. A traditional sabre of the British Cavalry used in the Peninsular War and Waterloo. All steel combat scabbard. An amazingly effective sword of good stout quality. British Light dragoons were first raised in the 18th century. Initially they formed part of a cavalry regiment (scouting, reconnaissance etc), but due to their successes in this role, (and also in charging and harassing the enemy), they soon acquired a reputation for courage and skill. Whole regiments dedicated to this role were soon raised; the 15th Light Dragoons 1759 were the first, followed by the 18th Light Dragoons and the 19th Light Dragoons.
The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons 1715. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 had been converted to the light role. External mounts pitted, blade very good. | | A British 1796 Light Dragoon Sabre From the Peninsular War and Waterloo Era A fabulous combat sword that has certainly seen much combat. From the greatest and most significant period of European warfare, against the mighty French General & Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. With a signed blade by Gill. The blade is, in small areas at the end, fairly deeply pitted [ with some applied compound to aid long term preservation] but it is priced accordingly. Probably the best value original historical sword available today. | | A British 1885 Cavalry Troopers Sabre Sheet steel half basket hilt with pierced Maltese Cross decoration. 5 stud crosshatched leather grip. All steel combat scabbard. Well greased blade that has protected it's integrity well. Fully ordnance marked. Used by British Cavalry Hussars and Lancers in the Boer War and on the North West Frontier. A 'sleeper' probably untouched for around 100 years. Would very nicely improve with some surface polishing. | | A British Crimean War Medal. Un-named with Sebastopol Bar. Slight bruising to edge.Name removed.The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units (land and naval) which fought in the Crimean War of 1854-56 against Russia. The medal is notable for its extremely ornate clasps, being in the form of an oak leaf with an acorn at each extremity, a style never again used on a British medal. The suspension is an ornate floriated swivelling suspender, again unique to the Crimea Medal. | | A British Naval Officers Sword 1805 Complete with scabbard. Engraved blade with Naval Anchor and devices [worn]. Doves Head pommel, fishskin grip with original triple wire binding. Fouled Anchor langets. A typical light sword of a Lieutenant serving in Nelson's Navy in the era of The Battle of Trafalgar. This is a charming sword from the era of all the great Naval engagements with the French, Spanish and American Ships of the Line in the late 18th and early 19th century. Signs of use and wear but a super and evocative piece. | | A British, Victorian, Regimental Drummer's or Bugler's Sword Brass cruciform hilt short double edged blade. Made for the days when the British military band marched alongside the men, in formation into battle. Whereupon, if the bandsman or bugler came under attack in close quarter action he had adequate means of defence. No scabbard. | | A Bronze Age Spear Circa 800 bc A good leaf shaped bronze spear, with prominent central rib, wrapped with copper wire around a square section haft. Most certainly and old replaced oak haft. The spear blade looks as if at some time in it's life it has had a central repair. A strong and weighty piece of most fascinating interest. Bronze head 15.5 inches. Overall length 88.5 inches. | | A Cased Pair of Very Fine, & Beautiful French Duelling and Saloon Pistols Made by one of France's foremost Gunsmiths, Gastinne Renette of Paris, maker to Napoleon. Finest micro chequered walnut stocks, with relief carved lion's head forends, superbly fancy engraved steel mounts and gold inlaid Damascus swirl barrels. Fine percussion locks with Set Triggers. in their original, fitted, burr walnut veneered case, with wooden barrel mallet, a pair af rammer and cleaning rods with jag. As is usual with French Duelling Pistols, they are far more extravagent than their English or Irish counterparts. The French taste displaying considerably more extravagence, and a more outward display of expense and quality, the English prefence being for reserved simplicity. The original case woodwork is magnificent in it's burr grain pattern, and in excellent condition. The price reflects that some small accessories are missing, but these can be easily replaced with a little time and effort. | | A Celtic, Iron, Votive Axe Circa 50 b.c. to 50 a.d. Around 2000 years old. A good and rare ancient Celtic museum piece. Used as a small Axe, set within a wooden haft, and carried as a token of good luck, then, it would be cast into a sacred lake or river as a offering to the Gods. In a well preserved condition. 65mm x 76mm. | | A Charming 19th Century Scottish Basket Hilted 'Claymore' Boys Sword Made for use by a boy, this is a miniature sword but certainly made for use, with full a length blade. Into the 19th century regiments still had boy soldiers, but this being a miniature officer's sword it may well have been for the son of a clan chief.One small bar to the multibar guard is missing. | | A Charming 19th Century Sporting Gun Half stocked in walnut with nicely engraved furniture in tutaneg. Oval engraved escutcheon, engraved G Willis, New Buildings, Price St. Birmingham. Lions head pistol grip pommel. Percussion lock. | | A Charming Silver Topped WalkIng Cane Hallmarked silver top and ebonised shaft. Small bruising to the silver top.Overall length 32.75 inches. Silver top 2.75 inches. | | A Chinese Boxer Fighting Axe, Brought Back From the Boxer Rebellion Ching Dynasty. Part of a small colonial collection of antique arms that have just arrived. A super fighting axe that can be used in conjunction with the Chinese Dao fighting sword.The Boxer Rebellion, more properly called the Boxer Uprising, or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement was a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement called the "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" in China, but known as the "Boxers" in English. The main 'Boxer' era occured between 1898 and 1901. This fascinating era was fairly well described in the Hollywood movie classic ' 55 Days in Peking' Starring Charlton Heston and David Niven. The film gives a little background of Ching Dynasty's humiliating military defeats suffered during the Opium Wars, Sino-French War and Sino-Japanese war or the effect of the Taiping Rebellion in weakening the Ching [Qing] Dynasty.Pictures in the gallery of a watercolour of the Boxers [1900] and the combat in the siege. A photo in the gallery shows a contemporary group of Boxers in Peking during the seige of the legations. For information only not included | | A Chinese Ching Dynasty Dao [Sword] A big battle sword, probably brought back to this country as a souvenir of the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. Large curved blade with single groove. Large disc guard, wood grip and flattened iron bun pommel. | | A Ching Dynasty Chinese Silver Mounted Trousse A multi funtioning Trousse of eating instruments. Mounted in Silver over fine polished rayskin. Ivory & silver mounted chopsticks, cutting knife and Ivory ear pick.The Ching Dynasty [ spelt Qing] also known as the Manchu Dynasty, was the last ruling dynasty of China from 1644 to 1911.
This piece was from around the late 18th to mid 19th century.
It is a thoroughly charming piece of super quality, and a fine example
For both general and travelling use. As travelling, was at that time of course, incalculably slower than is now taken for granted. The simplest of distances, say 10 miles, could take days, and of course the higher ranks, [i.e. Mandarins etc] had no restrictions for travel that the peasantry had. Some were not permitted to travel more than 1/2 mile from their birth for all their lives without an official pass from their master.
All fitted together in it's case it is 18 cm long. The knife is 16.5 cm. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | A Fabulous and Rare 18th Century French Grenadier Cheval Sabre Used during the French Revolution period, and into the Napoleonic Wars. This is a fine and rare French sword. With a good half basket guard and a large relief cast and pierced grenade [symbol of the Cheval Grenadiers]. Brass mounted leather scabbard. A very similar sword, but composite [the hilt was identical but it had a stated replaced blade] was in a special auction, in Monaco, almost 20 years ago in April 1990, and it was described as a sword used by the Mounted Royal Bodyguard of King Louis XVI. This is a stunning sword and are very rare these days. Most of these swords were captured and destroyed during the great days of Napoleon's Elite Grand Armee, especially in the retreat from Moscow, and very few now survive. Swords such as this are only normally to be seen today in the great museum collections, such as in the Tower of London collection, and at Les Invalides in Paris. Original grip and triple wire binding. The blade has some old edge losses [initially caused by combat 'sword to sword' edge cuts], but it's beauty and rarity easily more than make up for it's small, cutting edge, battle damage and corruption.The last picture in the gallery is of the Grenadier Cheval charge at the Battle of Eylau | | A Fairly Plain Victorian Powder Flask 19th Century, copper 'bag' body, brass measure pourer. Good condition for age. In our Military Antiques and Regimentals items list | | A Fascinating Georgian Naval Bosun's Club With Retracting Blade A wooden shafted British Naval club, with a leaden end covered in naval knotted twine, that was used by the Ship's Bosun when on 'press gang' duty or boarding raids. This example is very unusual in that it has a retracting blade that comes through the club head, that can be affixed in place immediately before hand to hand combat on board ship. It creates a formidable weapon though small enough to be highly practical and worn through the Bosun's wide leather belt.Club 10 inches long when blade retracted, 15.5 inches long when blade affixed. | | A Fine 17th Century Italian Stilletto With all steel hilt and triangular triple edged slender blade. Hounds head quillon baluster grip. A truly elegant piece of great style. | | A Fine and Rare Long Barrel Miniature Percussion Muff Pistol A rare third size pocket pistol with carved ivory butt [with hairline crack], and boxlock percussion action, but with a very rare, exceptionaly long, damascus twist barrel. | | A Fine Antique Kris A beautiful antique Keris [Kris] With a very beautiful blade. The traditional Indonesian weapon allegedly endowed with religious and mystical powers. Good Indonesian hardwood hilt and scabbard, with a stunning serpentine blade showing incredible grain somewhat reminiscent of a flowing river. With traditional Meteorite laminated iron blade with hammered nickle for the contrasting pattern. | | A Fine French Cavalry Pistol of The Crimean War. An 1822 Model Cavalry Pistol, made at the armoury of St Ettiene, with the 1842 pattern percussion conversion. 17.6mm [also known as .69 calibre]. Traditional brass furniture, walnut stock and with numerous French regulation stamps and markings. With a cup ramrod [the cup section was for removing the correct amount of powder from a standard, same calibre, French musket paper cartridge, in order for it to be used in the pistol]. The British and French, allied with Turkey, fought the Russians in a war in the Crimea, and it was one of the most famous wars of the 19th century. This fine pistol was made for the Crimea conflict, and a despatch of the 19 October 1855, reports of a Cavalry Victory of Allies near Eupatoria, Crimea, where this pistol may well have been used [amongst other battles].
Marshal Pelissier reports, on the 1st inst., that a brilliant contest of cavalry was fought on the 29th ult., at Koughil, five leagues N. E. of Eupatoria, in which the Russian Cavalry, commanded by Gen. Korf, were defeated by the French cavalry, under General Allonville. Six guns, twelve ammunition wagons, and a campaign forge, with all the appurtenances, and 160 prisoners, of whom two were officers, were captured, besides 250 horses of the Russian Hussars. Fifty of the Russians were killed; among them was Col. Androwsky. Of the French six were killed, and twenty-seven wounded. | | A Fine Jade Archers Ring A Chinese Jade Archers ring of typical large size and pale green hue. Very good condition. Worn on the thumb. from Ming to Qing Dynasty | | A Fine Old Large Ship Model of a British Naval 100 Gunner Ship of the Line A Beautiful George IIIrd model of an unrigged 100 Gunner 'Ship of the Line' such as HMS Victory. In a large glazed case. Most likely mid Victorian. Collection from store only, delivery not available. 36 inches x 17 inches x 23inches [case size] | | A Finest Blue and Gilt 1796 Infantry Officer's Sword. In Superb Condition. This is truly an exceptional quality British sword from the earliest era of the Napoleonic Wars including the Peninsular War and Waterloo, and possibly the best example available in the Europe today. Some of the great battles against Napoleon's forces that this sword may have seen would include, Talavera, Valencia, Bailén, Saragossa, Albuera, Salamanca, Vittoria, in the Peninsular War, Quatre Bras and the Battle of Waterloo. In between these conflicts against Napoleon it may also have seen service in America in the War of 1812. 99% of the original mercurial fire gilt is remaining to all the sword hilt and the scabbard fittings. Silver wire bound grip. 85% original Blue and Gilt remaining to the blade. Made by one of London's finest swordmakers, R Johnston, Late Bland and Foster, Sword Cutler and Belt Maker to His Majesty [King George IIIrd], 60 St James's St, London. A super, deluxe example, in wonderful order. The blade has a slight combat bend around 3 inches from the hilt. | | A Finest Double Barrel Overcoat Pistol, By Maker to The King, Samuel Nock of London. Circa 1835. A superb pair of Damascus twist barrels with inlaid gold lines, captive rammer, engraved dolphin hammers, plain silver escutcheon and finest Juglans Regia walnut stock, with micro chequering. It has an engraved steel butt with a concealed lidded case for spare balls. Back action locks with sliding safeties and removable breech plugs. All the steel parts are minutely and superlatively engraved to the very highest 'deluxe' grade. Some original blue remains. He was without doubt one of the finest English gunsmiths to have lived. He was an extraordinarily fine master smith, and one of the very few that was appointed maker to four British Monarchs, [ to King George IIIrd, King George IVth, King William IVth and Queen Victoria]. It bears a receipt that permits it's removal from the Tower of London Armoury, signed by the Master of the Armouries [Dated 1964].A sound and effective personal protection pistol that was highly popular during the late Georgian to early Victorian era. London, like many cities around the world at that time, could be a most treacherous place at night, and every gentleman, or indeed lady, would carry a pocket or overcoat pistol for close quarter personal protection or deterrence. The early London Police force recruits 'Bobbies' or 'Peelers' [name after Sir Robert Peel their founder] were initially poorly selected. Of the first 2,800 new policemen, only 600 kept their jobs, and the first policeman, given the number 1, was sacked after only four hours service! Eventually, however, the impact upon crime, particularly organized crime led to an acceptance, and approval, of the Bobbies. Meanwhile, as they were so initially unpopular, and as the public of London had little or no confidence in them, armed personal protection was considered essential. It will very soon be returned by our master conservator. No restoration work was required at all, but the action, lock and steel required very detailed expert cleaning, servicing and attention. Very rarely is such ruinously expensive work worthwhile, but in this case, for such a fine piece, it was worth every effort and penny expended. A finest hand made gun today, by one of the few remaining bespoke gunsmiths, such as Messrs Purdey, or Holland and Holland, of London, would command a cost in excess of £50,000. It is naturally fair to say that this bears no realistic relation to this gun's price today, but it is a very fair example of how much it would indeed cost to replicate, by one of England's very few remaining bespoke gunmakers. Overall 22cms. | | A Finest, English, King George IIIrd Duelling Pistol By Bond of Cornhill, London. Set trigger action with percussion conversion, safety catch. Octagonal barrel with hook breech for rapid removal for cleaning. Finest Juglens Regia walnut stock with hand micro chequering and oval escutcheon barrel slides. Original rammer with worm screw end. All steel deluxe engraved mounts. Pineapple finial trigger guard.Dueling practices and rituals were codified in the Code Duello of 1777 which set forth rules describing all aspects of an "affair of honour," from the time of day during which challenges could be received to the number of shots or wounds required for satisfaction of honour. For gentlemen the law "offered no redress for insults" he might be subject to from rivals and enemies. Shooting a fellow officer in a duel "gave a sharp edge to one's reputation, earned congratulations in the regimental mess, and brought admiring glances from the ladies.... higher military authorities...regarded dueling as a proof test of courage..." Although theoretically banned by British Army regulations, refusing a challenge was likely to result in an officer having to leave his regiment, for the same rules that banned dueling forbade an officer from submitting to "opprobrious expressions" or "any conduct from another that should degrade him, or, in the smallest way impeach his courage." To decline a challenge was often equated to defeat by forfeiture, and was sometimes even regarded as dishonorable. Prominent and famous individuals ran an especial risk of being challenged for duels.
Among the most famous duels are the American Burr-Hamilton duel, in which notable Federalist Alexander Hamilton was fatally wounded, and the duel between Duke of Wellington and the 10th Earl of Winchilsea, wherein each participant intentionally missed the other. | | A Flintlock Percussion Conversion Musket Early 19th century long gun musket, walnut stock. | | A French Shako Plate 1830 Original Shako Helmet Plate with the Gallic Cock in good condition circa 1830. A well favoured symbol since the French Revolution, it fell out of favour with Napoleon Bonaparte as he thought it an inappropriate symbol of French power. However, It returned as the premier symbol in 1830, and later on, even though it was not liked by Napoleon IIIrd in his reign, it remained in use alongside the Napoleonic Eagle. | | A George IIIrd Man-Trap Gun An interesting piece of early gun curiosa. A man-trap in the form of a flintlock gun, bed into a mount of wood, and set with an iron swivel. Historically man-traps were mechanical devices for catching poachers and trespassers. The devices have taken many forms, the most usual being like a large bear trap, the steel springs being armed with teeth which met in the victim's leg. In 1827, their use was made illegal in England, except in houses between sunset and sunrise, as a defence against burglars and ne'er do wells. Quite recently firearm Mantraps have become very sought after indeed, and their values have increased considerably. The lock is now seized. | | A Georgian 'Sleeper' Small Sword In blackened cut steel, single knuckle bow with chisseling, and an ovoid pommel with diamond cut pattern. Multi strand plaited wire binding, oval guard with small pas dans. Hollow trefoil blade with central fuller. Original blackened finish that is worn, red rust surface in parts. Untouched for likely 150 odd years, this fine old sword would jolly well much improve with prudent cleaning. | | A Georgian Horn Officer's Beaker A typical George IIIrd Horn Officers beaker drinking vessel, used in the Napoleonic Wars as an officers travelling 'campaign cup'.Transparent horn base. | | A Georgian Naval Day and Night Telescope by Dolland Of London By one of London's most important and premier optical instrument makers. A King George IIIrd to George IVth era Naval Telescope with mahogany centre and a single, long, draw in brass. The brass cover slide is missing as is the end cover. Engraved Dolland, London, Night and Day. Used from the era of the Royal Navy's 100 Gunner Men O' War Sailing Ships and into the early Iron Clad Sail and Steam Battle Ships. A beautifully crafted instrument that still works perfectly with a fine and sharp image. | | A German P hilted Sabre with Slotted hilt for mounting of the Original Knot Mid 19th century. Complete in it's original scabbard, with mirror bright blade in original polish. Very good steel to scabbard and hilt, fishskin wirebound grip. With Knot. Dark patina. This sword could, if one wished, polish to bright steel very well, the age discolouration that it has is very light. | | A Good 'Wild West' Colt .41 Cal.Derringer Nickle plated barrel, walnut grips. A nice example of these highly collected pistols of the American Wild West.It took the now obselete large calibre .41 rimfire bullet.Wear to the plating | | A Good 1796 'Waterloo' Light Dragoon Sabre. A Super Battle Sword. A mighty swash buckling sabre from the era of the great Napoleonic Wars, The Peninsular War and Waterloo. With good steel combat scabbard, good traditional form blade, steel P hilt with ribbed grip. A traditional sabre of the British Cavalry Light Dragoons. An amazingly effective sword of good stout quality. British Light dragoons were first raised in the 18th century. Initially they formed part of a cavalry regiment (scouting, reconnaissance etc), but due to their successes in this role, (and also in charging and harassing the enemy), they soon acquired a reputation for courage and skill. Whole regiments dedicated to this role were soon raised; the 15th Light Dragoons 1759 were the first, followed by the 18th Light Dragoons and the 19th Light Dragoons.
The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons 1715. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 had been converted to the light role. In 1796 a new form of sabre was designed by a brave and serving officer, Le Marchant. Le Marchant commanded the cavalry squadron during the Flanders campaign against the French (1793-94). Taking notice of comments made to him by an Austrian Officer describing British Troopers swordplay as "reminiscent of a farmer chopping wood", he designed a new light cavalry sword to improve the British cavalryman's success. It was adopted by the Army in 1797 and was used for 20 years. Le Marchant was highly praised by many for his superb design and he further developed special training and exercise regimes. King George IIIrd was especially impressed and learnt them all by heart and encouraged their use throughout the cavalry corps. For a reward Le Marchant was promoted to Lt Colonel and given command of the 7th Light Dragoons. He soon realized that the course for educating the officers in his own regiment would spread no further in the Army without suitably trained instructors. His vision was to educate officers at a central military college and train them in the art of warfare. Despite many objections and prejudices by existing powerful members of the establishment, he gained the support of the Duke of York in establishing the Royal Military College, later to become the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and the Army Staff College. In 1804 Le Marchant received the personal thanks of King George who said "The country is greatly indebted to you." In 1811, when nearing completion of this task, he was removed from his post as Lieutenant Governor of the College by Lord Wellington to command the heavy cavalry in the Peninsula. Appointed as Major General, he arrived in Lisbon fifteen days after leaving Portsmouth. On 22nd July 1812, Lord Wellington and the Allied Army of 48,500 men and 60 cannon were situated at Salamanca, Spain, against the French Commander Marshal Marmont. Wellington had ordered his baggage trains westwards to provide a covering force in the event of a full scale retreat, however Marmont mistakenly took the movement to be the retreat of the Army itself and ordered eight divisions of Infantry and a cavalry division westwards in an attempt to outflank the retreat. Wellington on seeing the enemy's army now spread out over four miles and therefore losing it's positional advantage, ordered the full attack. Le Marchant, at the head of one thousand British cavalry rode at a gallop towards the surprised French infantrymen, who had no time to form squares, and reduced their numbers greatly. The Heavy Brigade had received thorough training under Le Marchant and on reforming their lines charged repeatedly, until five battalions of the French left wing had been destroyed. After twenty minutes, in the final charge, Le Marchant fell from his horse having received a fatal musket shot and General Packenham who watched the attack later remarked " the fellow died sabre in hand...giving the most princely example".
Two days later, he was buried, in his military cloak, near an olive grove where he had fallen. Aged forty-six John Le Marchant was buried on the field of battle, however, a monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral, London. The survival today of this sword is a testament to the now little known British hero, who, in many ways transformed the way that cavalry sword combat, and many military tactics were conducted for many decades after his valorous death. His fearsome sabre was, it is said, so feared by the French that protests were submitted to the British government stating that it was simply too gruesome for use in civilized warfare. The sabre is in good overall and sound condition, a little rattle in the scabbard [as usual]. Makers shield label engraved Wooley and Deakin. Photo in the gallery of a Peninsular period 7th Light Dragoon [later known as Hussars] wearing his 'Le Marchant' designed Sabre identical to this example. | | A Good 17th Century Basket Hilted Broad Sword Typical sword used by a Highlander at the first Jacobite Rebellion and the second rebellion at Culloden, although the pommel is maybe in more of the English style than normal Scottish.The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in the kingdoms of England, Scotland (later the Kingdom of Great Britain), and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by Parliament during the Glorious Revolution. The series of conflicts takes its name from Jacobus, the Latin form of James. The major Jacobite Risings were called the Jacobite Rebellions by the ruling governments. The "First Jacobite Rebellion" and "Second Jacobite Rebellion" were known respectively as "The Fifteen" and "The Forty-Five", after the years in which they occurred (1715 and 1745). Wide broadsword blade with multi fullered top section, and single fuller mid to bottom section. Grip wrap now missing. | | A Good 1822 British Infantry Officers Sword Made by John Jones of 6 Regent St. London. Fully etched blade. Blade address polished so difficult to read. A typical officer's sword as used in the Zulu War. Lt Bromhead carried the very same pattern of sword and it can be seen in Michael Caine's classic 'ZULU'. No scabbard | | A Good 1845 pattern Victorian, British, Royal Engineers Officer's Sword With fine pierced gothic hilt depicting the royal cypher of Queen Victoria. Fully deluxe etched blade with royal devices and badge of the Royal Engineers made by Hamburger and Rogers of London. The reverse of the blade has an etched pictorial arrow detailing the blade's point of percussion. This is to show to the sword's owner the optimum postion for the blade to come into contact with an adversary or another sword when in sword combat. One of the most famous Royal Engineer's Officers was Lt. Chard who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his command and outstanding bravery at Rorkes Drift in the Zulu War of 1879. For his services at Rorke's Drift, Lieutenant Chard was promoted to Captain and Brevet Major. He was also awarded the Victoria Cross. The award citation covered both Chard and Bromhead: 'For gallant conduct at the Defence of Rorke's Drift, 22nd and 23rd January 1879. The Lieutenant-General reports that had it not been for the example and excellent behaviour of Lieutenants Chard, Royal Engineers, and Bromhead, 24th Regiment, the defence of Rorke's Drift would not have been conducted with the intelligence and tenacity which so eminently characterised it. The Lieutenant-General adds, that the success must in a great measure be attributable to the two young officers who exercised the chief command on the occasion in question.' One picture in the gallery is of Chard VC standing, and another seated picture of the very same type of sword across the lap of the officer. For information only and not included. | | A Good 18th Century Spanish Miquelet Belt Pistol From the Napoleonic Wars Likely used by an officer in the Iberian Penisular War. All steel mounts with fine overall engraving, walnut stock. Skull crusher butt, and a belt hook. The Peninsular War was a contest between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French armies invaded Portugal in 1807 and Spain in 1808 and lasted until the Sixth Coalition defeated Napoleon in 1814.Spain's liberation struggle marked one of the first national wars and the emergence of large-scale guerrillas, from which the English language borrowed the word. The failure of Napoleon's large armies to pacify the people of Spain allowed British and Portuguese armies to secure Portugal and engage French forces on the frontiers while Spanish guerrilleros bled the occupiers. Acting in concert, these regular and irregular allied forces prevented Napoleon's marshals from subduing the rebellious Spanish provinces. Years of fighting in Spain gradually wore down Napoleon's famous Grande Armée. While the French armies were often victorious in battle, their communications and supplies were severely tested and their units frequently cut off, harassed, or overwhelmed by partisans. The Spanish army, though beaten and driven to the peripheries, could not be stamped out and continued to hound the French remorselessly. In the final years of war, with France gravely weakened following Napoleon's invasion of Russia, a combined allied army under Arthur Wellesley pushed across Spain from Portugal and liberated Madrid. Eventually, the French forces were driven across Spain by the armies of Arthur Wellesley who pursued them across the Pyrenees back into France.Good working action. Very good patina to the stock and all the steel. Small fore stock repairs being undertaken. 8 inches long overall | | A Good 19th Century Presentation 'Horses Head' Dagger, Likely American Made by Woodcocks, Universally Approved, Celebrated Cutlers. Double edged blade with excellent makers mark and 75% original bright finish. Silver throat mounted leather, tooled, scabbard. Hilt in carved ivory and silver ferrule, blued steel, pyramidical ended quillons.The horses head pommel has been repaired across the neck. Presentation inscription reads Presented to Edward Roberts. The horses head dagger or bowie hilt motif is much collected by American antique knife collectors and is to be seen predominantly on only the best knives and daggers from the mid 19th century. 10.5 nches long overall 6 inch blade. This knife is in need of some restorative attention, but with a little care it would turn out to be a superb collectors piece, that would grace any of the finest antique knife and dagger collections.Part of an extensive dagger collection, that was accumulated over many years, that we have just acquired, and is being expertly cleaned by our conservator to remove decades of dust and grime. Although with a straight blade it is part of the 19th century Bowie knife family | | A Good and Interesting Georgian Swordstick Circa 1800 With a trefoil triple edged rapier blade, with engraved sides. Mallacca cane with roccoco handle and twist locking mechanism. 33.25 inches long overall | | a Good Antique Austrian Yataghan Blade Bayonet for the Steyr Rifle Crossguard marked RR557. Reverse of blade marked Steyr 1896.Custom non standard horn grips. Super condition for age. | | A Good Bronze Age Dagger Around 3000 Years Old In one piece daggers of this form the hilts were flanged so that they could take inlaid scales of wood, bone, or metal. Made within the Persian Empire this dagger would have been a prized possession of a Warrior from the time of the legendary 'Seige of Troy'. A beautiful antiquity with good patina and charming form. Circa 800 B.C. 14 I/2 inches long | | A Good Edo Era Japanese Antique Sodegarami The Edo era ran from 1599 till 1867. A Super Japanese, Edo Era, Pole Arm, Also known as a Shishigashira, it is a Yoriki Pole arm of great interest which name translates to 'The Lions Head' [or Mane]. When one sees the fearsome profile of this amazing piece it is very obvious why it has such a descriptive name. When up against a foe the head is thrust into the victim's Kimono, rotated quickly and it's barbarous prongs ensnare and tangle the cloth. The victim is then pushed to the ground with relative ease, and the haft's spikes prevent the victim grabbing it in order to resist. It can also be known as another name a Torigami [Grasping Hand]. See an almost identical example illustrated on page 188 of 'The Samurai Sourcebook' by Stephen Turnbull. In Medieval Europe there was a similar pole arm called a 'Morning Star', of almost identical proportions, with vicious and most similar spikes, but, more usually the spikes were straight. The European version was used more for inflicting dreadful injury than for disabling. In essence the Japanese used theirs more intelligently, in order to disable a victim, and make him powerless, before a hand to hand conflict even starts, the Europeans used theirs far more brutally, and simply for grievous intent in battle. Around 5 foot long. | | A Good Indonesian Silver Mounted Kris. With traditional Meteorite iron blade. Carved Garouda hilt and embossed silver covered scabbard.Blade 18th to 19th century. A beautiful example of these much prized and collected short swords. Good condition Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | A Good King George IIIrd Officer's Flintlock Pistol Large bore. Walnut stock all steel fittings. Octagonal barrel. Signed Dutton. Fine engraving overall incuding a pineapple finial to the trigger guard. Used by an officer in the Napoleonic Wars and Waterloo. | | A Good King George IIIrd Period Infantry Hanger . Stirrup form iron hilt, ribbed fishskin grip. Very similar in pattern to the 1788 Dragoon Sabre. During the 18th century the infantrymen of most armies [British, French, Prussian, Russian , American etc.] would be armed with a short sword or 'hanger'. But this rule was generally discontinued by most countries, in the early 19th century, except in the case of the French, Russian, American and Prussian artillerymen, who continued carrying a short sword until well into the 1870's. | | A Good King George IIIrd Ships Cutlass With a good naval cutlass blade, bearing a cypher of King George IIIrd. A ribbed iron grip and a reduced half bowl guard. From the era of the Napoleonic Wars, | | A Good Medieval Knight's Battle Mace of Bronze Circa 13th to 14th Century, made of Bronze Copper Alloy. Four stout pyramidal knobs on a cubic body. Probably of eastern European origin. A weapon made at the time at great cost, and only for the most affluent. A battle mace for the crushing and smashing of armour. Old, replaced, wood haft. Not a large mace head but quite effective. Excellent patina highly evocative signs of use. The mace head is approx. the size of a pool or billiard ball. A similar Mace is preserved in the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest | | A Good Moghul Tulwah with Silver Hilt 17th to 18th Century The Hilt is over laid wth thick sheet silver and beautifully embossed with with a floral scroll pattern. Excellent condition. Good steel blade. | | A Good Napleonic Wars British Infantry Brown Bess Musket Made at the Tower Of London complete with bayonet. The mainstay of British Infantry used in the famous 'Squares' at Waterloo and all the famous battles of the Napoleonic Wars. Front line regiment issue. Good overall condition. A fine and highly collectable piece. Complete with good original bayonetThe nickname Brown Bess started in the 1740's. Early uses of the term include the newspaper, the Connecticut Courant in April 1771, which said "...but if you are afraid of the sea, take Brown Bess on your shoulder and march." This familiar use must indicate widespread use of the term by that time. The 1785 Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue, a contemporary work which defined vernacular and slang terms, contained this entry: "Brown Bess: A soldier's firelock. To hug Brown Bess; to carry a fire-lock, or serve as a private soldier.". Rudyard Kipling, wrote in 1911 "In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes, and brocade
Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise -
An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade,
With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes -
At Blenheim and Ramillies, fops would confess
They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess. ” | | A Good Nickle Plated Civil War Era Revolver A fine European Imported Pinfire Revolver with luxury engraving and fancy grips [with a roccoco relief acanthus leaf design] 9mm.beautifull anthus leaf pattern engraving. | | A Good Smith and Wesson 32 Cal Hammerless Safety Pistol From the Wild West era designed in the 1880's patented in 1885. With original Smith and Wesson logo grips. Good blue finish, very clear maker's mark and company address. Excellent condition overall. Deact with certificate. | | A Good Sudanese Kaskara of the Mahdi Era An antique sword from the era of The Mahdi [Mohammed Ahmed 1845-1885] and the cold blooded insurrection against the British Colonialism and seige and massacre of General Gordon at Khartoum. A good Cruciform Hilted sword based on the Knights Crusaders Swords that were captured on their way to the Holy Land in the 13th century, and much admired and copied by the native tribesmen. Cruciform Hilt, leather scabbard, leather wrapped grip, long double edged blade.The last photo in the gallery shows a contemporory engraving of the 'Death of Gordon' in Khartoum [not included] | | A Good Victorian Crimean War Royal Naval Officer's Sword With a super and original photograph of the ship's officer holding this very sword. It is likely it may well have been a 'handed down' sword by a serving, naval officer predecessor. His name was W.S.Rees R.N. and we believe we now know at least some of his naval record. So far we have found W.S. Rees R.N. had a long and distinguished service and the information is from the latter part of his career. He was awarded the thanks and an 'arm de luxe' from the French government for his aid of a French Corvette Seiguelay in April 1991. He was Commander of the HMS St George, served in the Naval Brigade and landed under the command of Rear Admiral Sir F. Bedford, KCB, for the punitive expedition against King Koko of Nimby, River Niger. He served in the Naval Brigade under Rear Admiral Rawson at Mombassa for the punishment of Mburuk, a rebellious Arab Chief, resulting in the capture of his stronghold M'weli in 1795. He was in command of the landing at Cape Coast Castle and for the disembarkation of the Ashanti expeditionary force, in Dec.1895. He received the thanks of the War Office and the Admiralty for this. Also he was present on the occasion of the bombardment and capture of the Sultan of Zanzibar on 17th August 1896, by the squadron of rear admiral H.H. Rawson C.B. He served in the punitive naval expedition, commanded by Rear Admiral Rawson C.B., and landed from the squadron to punish the King of Benin for the massacre of the political expedition in 1897, ending in the capture of Benin City 1897. He was in charge of the carrier column and commissariat; mentioned in dispatches, and promoted to Captain and awarded the medal clasp. He was Capt. of HMS Thetis during the South African War 1899, 1901, and served with the squadron blockading Delagoa Bay, received C.B., Promoted Rear Admiral on feb 1907, retired June 1909. Re appointed and promoted Vice Admiral April 1912, and full Admiral October 1915. This super sword has nearly all the original gilt remains, fully etched blade with Queen Victoria's crest and Royal Naval anchor devices. It was made and used in the Crimean War and then into the time of the great Royal Navy Ironclads. Photo included with sword. The sword has some small denting to the bottom scabbard chape. Maker's name, E & W Seagrove, Portsea, to the blade [they only traded under that name from 1852 until 1859]. Retailer's name S & W Sergeant of Portsea, to the scabbard throat mount. The photograph was by Fyfe's of High St, Merthyr Tydfil. Fyfe's was last recorded there in 1901. A photo in the gallery has the crew of officers of Ironclad HMS Defense and a photo of HMS Black Prince, a magnificent Ironclad Battleship, and the Ironclad battle of Lissa [Those photos not included] | | A Good Victorian Secret Society Cruciform Hilted Sword Clover leaf pommel with ivorine spiral grip and brass crossgaurd. Plain steel blade. Brass mounted red leather scabbard. | | A Good Vintage 'Leg O'Mutton' Leather Guncase Superior grade handmade leather gun case, circa 1890 to 1920. Monogrammed 'M.P' Overall length 30 inches x 7 inches at widest. Barrel length capacity 28.5 inches. I strap AF [easily replaceable]. | | A Good Waterloo Period Heavy Cavalry Officer's Sword The gilt, 'Boat' hilted sword used by officers of the Union Brigade of Heavy Cavalry that fought with great distinction against Napoleon's Elite Cuirassier Regiments during the Peninsular War and Waterloo. Regiments such as The Scots Greys, The Inniskillin Dragoons, and The 1st Royal Regt. A painting in the gallery by Mark Churms of the Union Brigade at Waterloo [For information, education and historical perpective purposes only, not included] 27.25 inch blade. The last photo in the gallery is of Lady Butler's painting, the 'Charge of the Scots Greys' at Waterloo. One of the heavy cavalry regiments whose officers used this form of sword. [For information only not included] | | A Good, British, Napoleonic Wars 'Brown Bess' Musket A super volunteer infantryman's musket. Made by Mann [possibly Charles Mann of London] with superb walnut stock fine brass furniture and traditional 39 inch barrel with Tower of London Armoury proofs. Good swan neck cock flintlock bearing makers name. In very good condition for age. | | A Good, English Use, Spherical Iron Head Battle Mace 600 to 800 years old A fine and original weapon from the 13th to 15th century with a multi spiked head of rounded pyramidical projections. On a replaced old haft. One of the oldest forms of battle weaponry that can trace it's origins back to the stone age, long before the use of daggers and swords.This is a super Medievil example, that most likely inflicted a terrible yet most effective result in hand to hand combat. Used from the time of the early Crusades. | | A Good, French, Napoleonic Wars Musket Made at the St Etienne arsenal. A good Charleville type musket, from the Napoleonic wars. Likely a captured gun as the lock has been replaced by a standard Brown Bess lock. Good stock, good furniture with wood repair around the tang.. | | A Good, Original US Army Springfield Infantry Musket Used in the Civil War A very good American Infantryman's Rifle issued to Union Troops in the American Civil War. Good walnut stock, brass furniture, good action, clearly marked lock with Springfield and American Eagle, Dated 1835, a M16 percussion conversion. One photo in the gallery is of the Battle of Williamsburg that shows very well how the Springfield was used to such great effect [information only not included] | | A Good, Scarce, Original Antique 1862 Colt Police 36 Cal Revolver A Civil War Colt, the 1862 Police model, and made in the first year of production in 1861/2. Ivory grips, matching serial numbers. Scarce 41/2 inch barrel model. It was this unusual barrel length type that the US Government bought 50 of for the Civil War. The Colt 1862 Police was one of the scarcest produced early Colt revolvers, with the Army, Navy, and Pocket model revolvers being made in numbers that were between five and ten times that of the Police model. For interest only, and as an indication as to their potential in the collectors market, a good rare book-cased and engraved Colt 1862 Police revolver can fetch as much as $120,000 in the States today, even in these trying times. Obviously this is not a cased nor engraved version, but it is, non the less, an original Colt Police 1862 with it's original deluxe ivory grips. | | A Highly Rare and Super Scottish Regimental Battle Sword.Made By Prosser. In it's original coppergilt and leather scabbard. A 1796 Infantry Officer's Sword of the 'Royal Scots' the 1st Regiment of Foot. With it's distinctive very wide double edged broadsword blade. The Royal Scots regimental badge to the shell guard with the Egypt Battle Honour of the Sphinx, and the Scottish Staff Badge engraved on the blue and gilt blade. The Staff Badge is the Star of the Order of the Thistle, inscribed with the motto of the Order - "Nemo me impune lacessit'' The Royal Scots, the oldest Infantry Regiment of the Line in the British Army, was formed in 1633. The Regiment has one of the most noble of histories and incredibly, during the time of this swords use, they saw service the Battle of Egmont op Zee in the 1799 Helder campaign, the capture of Egypt (in 1801), the Egyptian campaign at the Battle of Aboukir and the Battle of Alexandria.They then moved to the West Indies (1803-05) They fought at the capture of Saint Lucia, as well as of Demerara and Essequibo in 1803, and the capture of Guadeloupe in 1810. In the American War of 1812 Royal Scots were in Quebec at the outbreak of the war. It fought in the battles of Sackett's Harbor and Buffalo & Black Rock, as well as the capture of Fort Niagara (1813), the battles of Longwoods, Chippawa, and Lundy's Lane, along with the Siege of Fort Erie and the battles of Niagara and Cook's Mills (1814). In February 1812, the regiment was retitled as the 1st Regiment of Foot (Royal Scots), the first official appearance of the popular name. From 1808 to 1809, the 1st were fighting at the Battle of Corunna in 1809, before being withdrawn by sea and sent to the Walcheren Campaign with the 1st Division. It returned to Portugal in 1810 with the 5th Division, fighting at the Battle of Buçaco (1810), the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro (1811), the battles of Badajoz, Salamanca and Burgos (1812), the Battle of Vitoria, capture of San Sebastian, Battle of Nivelle, and the Battle of Nive (1813), before advancing into France in 1814. It was sent to Belgium during the Hundred Days, and fought in Picton's Division (the 5th) at the Battle of Waterloo (1815). This sword has seen incredible action, as detailed above, and it does show it's signs of combat use, with one badge no longer retained on the guard. However, bearing this in mind, it is still in very good order considering, with it's silver wire grip perfectly in place, some blue and gilt to the blade remaining and it scabbard fully intact but with slight leather shrinkage. A fabulous sword, rich and overflowing in some of the greatest battle history of the Scots Warriors fighting for the British Empire. | | A Historismus English Civil War 'Lobster-Pot' Officer's Helmet A finest quality lobster pot cavalry helmet of the English Civil War style. This is an antique, probably 19th century, expertly aged, historismus helmet that was originally acquired by a civil war armour collector, under the impression that it was an original, early 17th century example, which, sadly, we identified as incorrect. However it is a remarkable piece of workmanship that has skillfully created a beautiful piece, that would easily convince many that it was completely original, but despite that, it easily stands on it's own merit as a super piece of early style cavalry officer's armour. Excellent condition, and if original this could easily be, a most superior, £4,000 to £5,000 officers example. Lacking nasal bar, articulated lobster tail. Photo in the gallery of Cromwell at Dunbar, showing cavalry officers adorned with numerous helmets of this grade. [for information only not included] | | A Historismus Medievil Style War Hammer A four pronged Medieval style War Hammer and Armour Piercer with a nailed wooden steel braced haft. Probably 19th century. The War Hammer sometimes referred to as the 'Lucerne Hammer' was a fearsome piece of Medieval Knightly weaponry designed to smash heavy steel helmets and puncture heavy breast Armour. It was remarkably effective. | | A Horn Hilt Jambiya With solid horn hilt double edged blade and leather scabbard.19th century. | | A Horn Powder Flask With screw top mount with brass cap engraved with crude script. Possibly EIC. | | A Khedive Star Medal Five pointed star with a central raised circle bearing an image of the Sphinx with the Pyramids behind, the word ‘EGYPT’ above followed by a year (for the first three issues and undated for the fourth) with the same written in Arabic below. The reverse has the monogram of the Khedive under a crown within a raised circle. The Khedive of Egypt presented a bronze star to all Officers and men of the Navy and Army who were engaged in the suppression of the rebellion of Egypt in 1882. The suspender [lacking] was straight with a crescent and five pointed star in the centre which is attached to the star with a small metal loop passing through a small ring between the two top points of the star. Ist issue dated 1882. Good Very Fine condition. No ribbon,mount.Unnamed as issued. | | A Knights Rowel Spur of the 16th Century With Buckle From the era of the War of The Holy League. An alliance between King Henry VIII, Pope Julius II, Venice and Ferdinand of Spain against the feared force of France and Germany under the brilliant command of the 21 year old Gaston de Foix. The Papal alliance suffered very badly against the young General but they eventually defeated and killed him at the Ronco River during the siege of Ravenna. After his death the French forces were crushed at Novara by the Swiss, the German Landsknechts fled their French army comrades and the English marched into France from Calais, and it was only due to the indecisiveness of the alliance forces that France was eventually saved immediately before the war was over. | | A Large George IIIrd 19th Century Military Campaign Cupboard Large brass carrying handles, brass edge mounts, two door, mahogany cupboard.Campaign furniture is very scarce and much sought after. Used by British Officer's when on campaign to create a highly civilised gentleman's living accomodation even when in the remotest parts of the Empire.Excellent condition. Approx 4'.6'' high x 4' wide x 1' 2'' deep 'Old Georgian Green' painted interior with adjustable, slide shelving. Buyer arranges collection only | | A Late 18th Century Flintlock Holster Pistol In a very English form but most likely not of English make. Superbly elaborate barrel with a silver overlaid geometric design either side of four gold seal stamps. Banana shaped lock which is engraved Turin. A pistol of much charm and in good order, nice, tight action. | | A Late Victorian Model Desk Cannon Cast Bronze Cannon Barrel set on an oak Ship's Deck Carriage. A beautiful and most attractive gentleman's desk ornament. 9 inch barrel 11,5 inches overall. Brass wheels [1 missing]. A simple and small item to replace with the most basic of engineering skills required. | | A Lee Metford 1888 Bayonet Dated 1893 Mk1 2nd type. Boer War period issue. Complete with scabbard and frog. | | A Lee Metford 1888 Pattern Bayonet With scarce non regulation scabbard | | A Long 18th Century Semi Holster Pistol of Slender and Elegant Proportions. All brass mounts with bust motifs deeply scroll engraved lock with name Landi. Two stage barrel with fancy engraved brass panels inlaid in the octagonal breech portion. Rear scrolling trigger . A charming early pistol that has some areas of contemporary field restoration to some of the brass furniture.This is the form of pistol that saw much service in the American Revolutionary War era, used by officer's and gentlemen of all nations. | | A Long Arab Kabyl Musket With a good Snaphaunce lock of 17th century form, fine detailed engraving around the stock, distinctive deep flattened butt, and the stock is inlaid with Ivory and an Ivory butt plate. 8 barrel cappucines. In Europe these most distinctive and elaborate Snaphaunce guns gained great favour in the Elizabethan era and their influence was greatly felt in Arabia, originally along the eastern trade routes, that were travelled and used by early Europeans in order to buy the finest eastern silks, gemstones & spices. They were continually used in the Middle East and the Maghrib long after they had become unfashionable in Europe. | | A Long Ballock Dagger With a long, single edged blade with good ornamental brass geometric inlay. Typical carved wood hilt with brass cap pommel held by a single tang rivet. The ballock dagger is a type of dagger with most distinctively shaped haft, with two oval swellings at the guard resembling the male member. The guard is often in one piece with the wooden grip, and reinforced on top, as is this example, with a shaped metal pommel. The dagger was popular in Flanders, England and Scotland between the 13th and 18th centuries, and in particular the Tudor period. A large number of such weapons were found aboard the wreck of the Mary Rose.The last photo in the gallery shows a brass rubbing from a Crusader's Tomb, on his left side one can see his Knightly sword, and on his right, shown very clearly, is his Ballock Dagger. | | A Long Indian 'Firangi' Horseman's Sword Circa 1680 to 1720 a beautiful long sword called the Firangi [or Foreigner] as the blades were usually European made. A wide flat guard with wide knuckle bow and an elongated pommel spike for holding it two handed for extra cutting power.112cm long overall. | | A Magnificent Silver Inlaid Pistol Made in the 18th century in the Ottoman Empire, for a noble or high born dignatory, or possibly commissioned as a gift to be given to, or by, the Sultan.The silver inlay reflects the styles and is distinctly inspired by the great English gunsmiths who pioneered such fine silver work in the 18th century, such as Richard Wilson of London. This large flintlock pistol is simply covered in fine detailing and decoration in highly elaborate silver work. The barrel is equally inlaid with fine silver work, and the lock is overlaid in silver. The stock is made from the finest hand carved Turkish walnut [even today Turkey is still the source of the finest walnut for bespoke gunstocks]. This is a very impressive Turkish pistol, and of imposing size. The "golden age" of the Ottoman Empire was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th Century. In different fields, this can be seen both in the architecture of Koca Mimar Sinan Aga, and in the domination of the Mediterranean by the Ottoman navy, led by Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha. The Ottoman Empire reached its territorial peak in the 17th century. From a diverse system of Millets, to a multi-ethnic state (Ottomanism), it developed its own distinctive culture, influential both in the European and Islamic worlds.With Istanbul (or Constantinople) as its capital, the Ottoman Empire was in some respects an Islamic successor to earlier Mediterranean empires — the Roman and Byzantine empires. The Empire was the only Islamic power to seriously challenge the rising power of Western Europe between the 15th and 19th centuries. Approximately 21 inches long overall. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | A Massive 18th Century Flintlock Swivel Blunderbuss An amazing looking piece of huge dimensions. Used on board ships, boats, castle turrets and on fort battlements. The Royal Navy and American Navy used many such guns throughout the 18th and early 19th century, and the famous Lewis and Clark expedition of the Great North West of America, in 1804, took several swivel blunderbusses for use throughout their long trek of discovery.It is an amazing piece and almost to be considered as a small cannon, they were certainly used in the same way. 49 inches long overall, 31 inch barrell, 4inch oval bore | | A Medieval Knight's Battle Mace 12th to 13th Century, An unusual, heavy iron [415 grams] knobbed mace, comprised of four large knobs and 8 smaller knobs. Probably English. Similar examples have been excavated in Kent. And an almost identical one, in bronze, was found in the cesspit of Dryslwyn Castle in Wales, and it is believed to date from the 1287 siege of that castle. This is a most impressive and weighty piece capable of crushing the strongest helmet or armour. Rehafted on old wood. Small longitudal crack, probably initiated by battle damage, to one side. | | A Medievil Bearded Battle Axe Circa 13th Century. Derived from the Viking form. It's large haft-socket enables the axe to be given extra stability, that the usual small socketed axes of the era sometimes lacked. Well preserved in very fine condition, on replaced haft. A rare example, and there are no similar examples in the London Museum Catalogue of 1940. This axe form was used in the Crusades, and is depicted in the early illuminated manuscripts of the era, showing them in use, in the great battles and seiges of the Holy Land, by the Crusader Knights. | | A Most Interesting 17th Century Backsword A sword that evolved in the 1640's from the Civil War Mortuary hilted sword, with pierced guard and scrolling knuckle defenses. Long single edged blade. One side of the guard has been adapted and removed, possibly for better use when worn closer to the body. Due to this removal it's value has been reduced somewhat, however, this happens to make this sword a super addition to any collector that appreciates rare 17th century English swords, but is reluctant to pay the more normal price. | | A Most Interesting Antique Chinese -Tibetan Sword An 18th to 19th century short sword of typical Chinese Tibetan form with short stabbing blade and hand grip wrapped with silver wire. Metal rimmed scabbard with wooden centre and a strip of white metal embossed with waves and set with coloured stones.Blade length 40cm | | A Most Interesting Persian, 'Russian' Cossack Brigade Martini Henry Carbine One of the very scarce Belgian made Martini Henry marked Mascate [made for the Middle East Market, Franco-Belgian spelling for Muscat] and with the Imperial Russian Romanov eagle crest on the gun frame, that were acquired for the newly formed [in 1879 and 1880] Russian - Iranian Cossack Brigade of cavalry. Nasir al-Din Shah made a visit to Europe, and subsequent to this a Russian and Austrian mission came to Iran to re-organize the Iranian cavalry. The Russians formed what was known as the Cossack Brigade and Russian officers remained to command this new part of the Iranian Army. The brigade was part funded by Russia in the supply of Russian weapons, which created great influence for Russia in Iran, and the Austrian mission sold to the Iranian Minister of War, Na-ib al-Saltana, Werndle rifles, which were sold by him at great profit to the northern Iranian tribesmen. Many Martinis and Lee Metfords were acquired by 'Martini Khan' [who was said to be Shah] through Bushire from Muscat, and this is almost certainly one of those arms. It is the rare Romanov crest on the frame that shows that it was an arm that very likely went to the Cossack Brigade as opposed those that went to the non Russian commanded irregular units. This gun also has an Islamic inscription [mash'allah] frequently seen on the scarce 'Mascate' Martinis. See reference to the 'Muscate' Martinis in Firearms of the Islamic World in the Tareq Rajab Museum by Robert Elgood. Decorated with leather and studwork. A fascinating gun with an incredibly interesting and circuitous Russian and Islamic history. Action works fine, some time long past the breech has been internally blocked to render inactive. Floridly engraved, now worn, similarly to the Romanov crest. | | A Most Pleasing Franco Spanish Navaja Folding Knife With traditional elongated blade and docoratively paneled swept curved grip. Scroll etched blade with armourers mark 'Bauvoir'. Possibly late 19th century. In Napoleonic Spain the carrying of the Navaja was punishable by Garotting and the gallery shows a pen and ink drawing by Francisco Goya of an excecution of a man, with his Navaja tied around his neck. | | A Napoleonic Wars Infantry Musket. A French Charleville pattern musket made at the arsenal at Liege. 3 steel barrel bands, all steel mounts good walnut stock. Small wood loss to forend. Made and used by the allies of Napoleon of occupied Austria-Netherlands [now Belgium]. Although the forces of Belgium changed sides and fought for the British Allies at Waterloo, some were still secret Bonapartists and their forces were not to be relied upon. Although ostensibly, willing to fight on the allies side strategically they would frequently be straddled by British and Dutch forces on each flank, as, regretfully the Belgians at that time, were notorious for failing and retreating in the face of any French onslaught. Unfortunately this was well known on both sides, so they frequently had attacks concentrated on them, knowing their likelihood of withdrawal. This fact however could be used to both sides advantage as Wellington could put the Belgians in such a position as to invite this predictable attack, knowing full well Napoleon might oblige. Consequently the men, and their guns, used by the Belgian forces saw considerable action. | | A Napoleonic Wars Officer's Pistol All steel mounts, walnut stock. Used during the Napoleonic Wars right through from the beginning. Used in the great campaigns of Napoleon by the Elite Grande Armee from Austria through the Russian Campaign, into the Peninsular War and finally the The Battle of Waterloo. Some of the battles this may have been used at were; 1808-14 The Peninsular Campaign, including, Salamanca , Toulouse, Albuera Talavera, Pyrenees then 1812: Borodino and Moscow, Ostrowno, and Winkowo 1813: Reichenbach and Dresden, Leipzig and Hanau
1814: La Rothiere, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Athies, La Fere-Champenoise and Paris
1815: Quatre-Bras and Waterloo | | A Native American Stone Axe Carved from stone with crystalline inclusions in a uniform rib pattern. It has overall Native beadwork, decorated in a geometric pattern in the 'plains' form. Wooden haft, with small beadwork hanging panel, on cured deerhide. Most likely 20th century, the haft has had a mid section repair. | | A North European Early 17th Century Burgonet Helmet Rounded two piece skull joined medially at the apex with high roped comb with some losses, projecting forward to an acutely pointed peak. Fairly corroded overall, but this is a good, honest early helmet, now quite scarce, and from around the late Queen Elizabeth Ist era. | | A Pair of Attractive 18th Century Long Holster Ottoman Pistols Used from the 18th and into the 19th century, these long and impressive pistols are extravagant in all manners. The steel trigger guards and sideplates are overlaid in highly decorative scrolling silver with much skill, and over engraved in fine detail. The long eared butt caps are probably in Tutaneg, and the early banana shaped locks are engraved with script. The Cannon end barrels are held by embossed for-end capuchins and have numerous armourers marks struck at the breech. Used from the era of the Revolution in France and the Napoleonic Wars. Appearing singly more often, pairs of this form of pistol are now becoming quite scarce indeed.The "golden age" of the Ottoman Empire was during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th Century. In different fields, this can be seen both in the architecture of Koca Mimar Sinan Aga, and in the domination of the Mediterranean by the Ottoman navy, led by Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha. The Ottoman Empire reached its territorial peak in the 17th century. From a diverse system of Millets, to a multi-ethnic state (Ottomanism), it developed its own distinctive culture, influential both in the European and Islamic worlds.With Istanbul (or Constantinople) as its capital, the Ottoman Empire was in some respects an Islamic successor to earlier Mediterranean empires — the Roman and Byzantine empires. The Empire was the only Islamic power to seriously challenge the rising power of Western Europe between the 15th and 19th centuries. The bottom small retaining cap on one butt cap is missing, one ramrod + pipe missing. The steel has been untouched for some 170 odd years and apart from light cleaning of the silver they are in 'sleeper' condition. | | A Pair Of Boxlock Pocket Percussion Pistols Circa 1835 In very good order, with what appears to be very nice original finish. All steel furniture with engraved side plates, barrel tangs and trigger guards, slab sided walnut butts, oval name cartouches to sides, one engraved D.EGG. Durs Egg was one of England finest ever gunsmiths, but at this period his working life was coming to an end, and after his death, his relatives [John and George Frederick[son] ] carried on working in his name. Good turn-ff breech loading barrels with excellent proof markings. Both actions are very crisp indeed, but one pistol is reticent to engage past first cock. | | A Pair of Bronze Model Trafalgar era Style Royal Naval Deck Cannon A pair small of desk Naval Cannon, with bronze barrels and oak carriages approx 6 inches long.Typcal style as seen on Nelson's Flagship HMS Victory. 19th century. | | A Perfectly Charming and Delightful 18th Century Hunting Sword. Ivory hilt set with three silver headed rivets. Silver scroll end quillons. Long wide blade with mystical symbols, and the profile head of the Grand Sultan. A fine German Nobleman's hunting sword, used for personal protection, or for the coup de grace while hunting Boar or Wolf. This is only the second of this rare type of hunting sword we have had, with the beautiful and unique mystical symbols [the last one, near identical, was last year]. We strongly believe it was near certainly made at the same swordmakers workshop and possibly even for the same Nobleman. | | A Pinfire Revolver of 1878 Restoration Project Nickle plated with sporadic wear. Action does not function. To make operable it will need works and possibly parts, but, as an alternative it could be a fun antique display piece, say, as a desk ornament. Cylinder marked 'The Guardian American Model of 1878' No licence required obsolete antique revolver. | | A Queen Anne Hunting Sword as Favoured by Naval Officers In the days of the early Royal Navy, officers carried short swords in the pattern of hunting swords, with both straight or curved blades, fancy brass mounted single knucklebow hilts with principally stag horn or reeded ebony grips. The brass was usually repousse with a floral and figural design. The sword has a front and back view of a reclining nude lady within the design at the forte. Single fullered straight blade with Armorer's struck mark.There are numerous portraits in the National Portrait Gallery and The National Maritime Musuem that show British Admirals [such as Benbow and Clowdesly Shovel] holding such swords. | | A Rare 19th Century British Army Infantry 'Redcoat' Coatee In coarse red cloth with trim. White lacings with black trim. Some repair sections to front. Lined. Replacement old Imperial buttons | | A Rare Brace of 18th Century American Revolutionary Infantry Spontoon Made and used during the American Revolutionary War and into The Napoleonic War Eras. It is very rare to get two matching Infantry Spontoons [half pikes], and they evidently came originally from the same infantry regiment, and they were made in Germany, in around 1770. Good traditional steel blades with elongated 'S' quillons [cross bars] & 3 base rings. A Spontoon is type of European lance that came into being after the long pike, becoming widely used by the middle of the 17th century. Spontoons are first found to have been used by the Italians. Also called the European half pike, this very much resembled a pike that had a much shorter staff, usually no more than 7 feet long. The spontoon was as much a signaling weapon used by the company sergeants to direct battle lines as a combat weapon. During the Napoleonic wars the spontoon was used by sergeants to defend the colors of a battalion or regiment from cavalry. During the Revolutionary War, General Washington [and may others] strongly believed an officer should carry a Spontoon as method of identification, so as not to have his attention distracted from his men by the relatively involved procedure of loading and firing a shoulder arm. The order was thus issued to the Continental regiments. 7ft 4inches long [2240mm]. 13 inch long steel head plus two 16 inch straps that extend down either side of the haft. The straps are bracing bars to prevent the head being cut off by a sword blade and they further support the head. The bottom of each haft has a steel butt cone. For additional reference material see 'Swords and Blades of The American Revolution' by George C.Neumann [publ. by Promontory Press 1973]. Pages 220 & 221 for near identical examples that are illustrated from the great American Revolutionary War Weapons collections. | | A Rare Imperial Russian and Bavarian, Uhlan and Hussars Regimental Sword Named to the elite Kaiser Nicholas II Von Russland Regiment. A rare sword, and from a very desireable Uhlan Hussar regiment of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, in the King of Bavaria's Cavalry. The blade is fully etched with the Czars name and the hilt bears the Royal crest of the Kingdom of Bavaria. The blade does have some plating loss so it's condition is only average, but this is a very rare sword, with superb collectable interest of both the Imperial Russian, and, the Imperial German period just before the Great War and the Russian Revolution. A sword, made around 1900, that crosses numerous historical territories within the greatest period of upheavel in both those Empire's history. Naturally it also has considerble interest to British collectors as both Czar Nicholas and Kaiser Willhelm were cousin's of King George Vth, and the Czar was Britain's ally against Germany. Lacking scabbard.The background of the etching is blackened and now flaking, it makes the section very difficult to photograph. Some restoration or polishing may bring good results in returning the inscription to it's original state. In better order we would estimate it's value to us would be closer to £3000. | | A Rare Ist Pattern Brunswick Rifle Sword With brass sword hilt, double edged wide blade with single central fuller.Marked Enfield VR Crown dated 1840. Small hilt hole. Company number 9 over 10. Used by the British Rifle regiments the 60th and the 95th during the 1840's and 1850's, in the Sikh War and the Indian Mutiny. This was a direct replacement rifle for the famous Baker Rifle. In fact on Dec. 1 1862, Confederate purchasing agent, Caleb Huse purchased 2,020 Brunswicks for the Army of The Confederacy, which is later confirmed in a letter by Confederate Ordnance Chief Colonel Josiah Gorgas on February 3, 1863.; | | A Rare Maori War, New Zealand Medal 1864 66 Awarded to a Shoe Smith In very nice condition indeed. The Maori Wars were amost interesting conflict and one of the less well known of the wars in the days of Empire. Naturally the conflicts are very well known indeed in New Zealand and Australia. This is a very scarce medal issued in relatively small numbers, and beautifully named to a Shoesmith, John Walton. F Battery, Depot, Royal Artillery. No ribbon. With his descendant's WW2 Defense Medal in named box with ribbon. | | A Rare Medeivil Large, Elm, Mazer Bowl Probably 16th century of between 500 to 450 years old. A very similar example was recovered from the sunken Mary Rose, and it would have been made by a professional turner. Although a Mazer bowl is more traditionally quite small piece, held by one hand, the large bowls were made to hold greater quantity, such as the example from King Henry's flagship, The Mary Rose. Some old body repairs. | | A Rare Namibian Ovambo [War Axe] 19th century.Good condition nice carving with iron axe blade. | | A Rare P.58 Enfield Naval Cutlass Bayonet The rare Victorian Naval Cutlass Bayonet type with the official 'removed bowl' hilt.Good condition for age, some surface pitting. Chequered leather grip. | | A Rare Regimentally Marked and Dated Kurassier Trooper's Sword Marked K.No. 9 / 863 / 1815. We believe it is from one of the German Kurassier regiments that fought in the Napoleonic wars, and the date on the hilt may have been represent the date the trooper's final year of service. The sword has the look of a hybrid between the steel hilted British 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, and the French brass hilted Curaissier. The various German Guard Kurrassier swords were somewhat similar but, with side bars, and it may have once had bars that have been removed for regular service. This is a very scarce sword indeed, and highly distinctive, as only the heavy cavalry Kurassiers [of all nations] carried these big, straight swords during this era. No scabbard. Overall blackened finish. | | A Rare, Early Brown Bess Musket. Used from the 1760's Anglo French Wars An Early Land or Marine Pattern Brown Bess [without escutcheon]. A rare and highly desirable piece. This would have seen service in the Wars in the Americas, firstly against the French then in the American War of Independence. It would have continued in service right through the Napoleonic Wars into the Battle of Waterloo.The stock is superb high grade walnut. The barrel has some corrosion, and it has been officially shortened during it's working life, to comply with the government order [issued just before the Napoleonic Wars] to reduce musket barrel length's to the later, regulation 39 inches, from the original 46 inches. The furniture is original early Bess furniture [ with regulation 39 inch India pattern pipes] and it still has its original bayonet. Apparently this gun was found in a farmhouse, that was being restored, some 10 miles from the Battle of Waterloo conflict, in Belgium. It's suggested provenance indicates that this piece was left untouched, in a semi protected condition for some 190 years. The original ram rod [fitting in it's correct position under the barrel ] is fairly deeply corroded in the area that would have been exposed to the air, but it is just fine, with little corrosion, in the area covered by the ram rod tubes. This simple feature shows absolutely correctly that this piece has certainly been stored, and semi exposed, for around two centuries. There is no way we can be certain that this gun was indeed used at Waterloo, but the specific state of it's condition goes a long way towards verifying it. What is more relevant, is that it is a now very rare, early example, and although modified and long stored, it is a highly prized and much sought after British musket of some 270 years vintage. Although the lock is still operational, the top jaw and screw is a facsimile replacement. A good, unadapted, Ist model Bess is now worth between six to ten thousand pounds, and although a long way from pristine, this is a jolly interesting and historical piece, well worth a quarter of it's perfect cousin. The stock we have had cleaned and this gun now looks very attractive indeed. | | A Rare, Early, United States of Brazil Sword From the Old Republic Era. Fully etched blade. Nickle plated hilt with Brazil Crest, date 5th November 1889,ribbed fishskin grip. Nickle plated scabbard. Fully etched deluxe blade. Based on the Victorian British Infantry sword. A very scarce and highly collectable antique sword. Overall good condition | | A Remarkable, Medievil, All Steel, late 15th Century Flanged Battle Mace Four elaborate steel flanges, likely circa 1500. Twisted steel haft, swollen hand grip, once covered in leather.In overall very good condition for it's age. A beautiful piece from the era of Chivalric Knightly combat. One picture in the gallery shows Henry Vth praying before the Battle Of Agincourt, and at his side is his all steel flanged Battle Mace [picture for information, not included]. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM&feature=related | | A Scarce 'Head-Hunting' Dao Sword of The Nagas of Assam An antique Dao Sword of The Nagas of Assam in Nagaland. The furthermost state of North East India. Little is known of the Nagas as most of their history is undocumented, until the British East India Co. took control of the country in 1826. The internecine tribal warfare involved head-hunting, which is the decapitation of captives for their religious ceremonies, but the British and the Christian missionaries did all that was possible to eradicate the head-hunting religious traditions, and converted a portion of the population to Baptist. The sword has a traditional straight rounded hilt [probably bamboo] with a central section tightly bound with most intricate geometric patterned cord that is over lacquered. The blade is flattened with two hand cut grooves and a stamped dot and semi circular decorative pattern design, the blade ends fairly wide. The scabbard is wood and open sided with a most attractive and skillfully executed floral pattern carved in relief at the bottom section. These swords were multi- functional, perfectly adaptable from decapitation to bamboo cutting. | | A Scarce All Steel Boxlock Pistol Overlaid in Silver Circa 1790, the pistol is almost completely overlaid in sheet Silver.Foldaway trigger.A beautiful small pistol of much rarity and quite charming. | | A Scarce Antique Lombok High Born Warriors Kris [or Keris] From the Lombok island of Indonesia. The Dutch first visited Lombok in 1674 and settled the eastern part of the island, leaving the western half to be ruled by a Hindu dynasty from Bali. The Sasaks chafed under Balinese rule, and a revolt in 1891 ended in 1894 with the annexation of the entire island to the Netherlands East Indies. This is a beautiful and scarce Kris with a hair bound grip [typically indicative of Lombok Keris], typical hardwood scabbard and a fantastic Pamor, meteoric iron, and nickle inlaid blade. The design is a rare herringbone pattern executed with, quite simply, breathtaking skill. 24 inches long overall | | A Scarce King George IIIrd Light Infantry Musket Probably of the EIC, a short Bess type musket with a Baker bayonet type barrel bar. Good walnut stock, good mounts barrel and furniture. Feint traces of an EIC mark to the lock. Jaipur Armoury mark to barrel. A very interesting musket in very good order. | | A Scarce Large Antique Lombok High Born Warriors Kris [or Keris] From the Lombok island of Indonesia. The Dutch first visited Lombok in 1674 and settled the eastern part of the island, leaving the western half to be ruled by a Hindu dynasty from Bali. The Sasaks chafed under Balinese rule, and a revolt in 1891 ended in 1894 with the annexation of the entire island to the Netherlands East Indies.This is a beautiful and scarce Kris with a hair bound grip [typically indicative of Lombok Keris], typical hardwood scabbard and a fantastic Pamor, meteoric iron, and nickle inlaid blade. This blade is an amazing form of Mahomets Ladder [Bendo Sedago] pattern more normally seen on rare Islamic Shamshir swords. 25 inches long overall | | A Scarce US Militia Or Secret Society Sword. This is a very unusual sword the like of which we have not come across before. It's of the vintage of circa 1860 to 1870, in the classic Civil War New York Militia style, with a traditional helmet pommel and ribbed bone hilt. The part that confounds us is the diamond motif that contains six letter F. There are no records known to us of any State Militia or Secret Society, from the 1870's, that had a name that comprised of six F's, or even three repeated F's. | | A Scarce, Transitional, British 'Improved Revolver' Circa 1850. The type used by British officer's in the Crimean War, and the earliest form of cylinder percussion revolver used. | | A Simply Super Medieval Knights 'Spiked' Battle Mace A most impressive but fearsome early weapon from the 1200's to 1300's, around 700 to 800 years old, and probably of German origin. An incredibly elaborate iron spiked head that would be extremely effective at the function it was designed for. In fact, in a small area, some of the spike tips have been broken off where it has made crushing contact, probably against a helmet. This is also the form of Mace that was mounted on a short chain with a haft and then used as a Flail Mace for extra reach on horseback. Unlike a sword or haft mounted Mace, it doesn't transfer vibrations from the impact to the wielder. This is a great advantage to a horseman, who can use his horse's speed to add momentum to and underarmed swing of the ball, but runs less of a risk of being unbalanced from his saddle.
It is difficult to block with a shield or parry with a weapon because it can curve over and round impediments and still strike the target. It also provides defense whilst in motion. However the rigid haft does have the advantage as the flail needs space to swing and can easily endanger the wielder's comrades.
Controlling the flail is much more difficult than rigid weapons. Mounted on a replaced old haft. One photo in the gallery is from a 13th century Manuscript that shows Knights in combat, and one at the rear is using a stylized and similar Mace [photo for information only and not included with Mace]. The head is around the size of a tennis ball. | | A Singularly Attractive, Fine Quality Nickle Plated & Ivory London Revolver By William Moore of Old Bond St. London. Beautifully hand engraved, finest hand carved ivory grips and much original blueing remaining to the steel parts. One of the best we have seen in many years. Super tight action, of 7mm calibre. Barrel stamped Moore, London, and with Cast Steel on the inside barrel edge. These deluxe hand made pistols were very popular indeed [but very expensive] as they took the all new pinfire cartridge, that revolutionised the way revolvers operated, as compared to the old fashioned percussion action. In fact, while the percussion cap & ball guns were still in production [such as made by Remington, Colt and Starr] and being used in the American Civil War, the much more efficient and faster pinfire guns [that were only made from 1861] were the fourth most popular gun chosen, by those that could afford them, during the war. General Stonewall Jackson was presented with two deluxe pinfire pistols with ivory grips, and many other famous personalities of the war similarly used them. The American makers could not possibly fulfill all the arms contracts that were needed to supply the war machine, especially by the non industrialised Confederate Southern States. So, London made guns were purchased, by contract, by the London Arms Company in great quantities, as the procurement for the war in America was very profitable indeed. They were despatched out in the holds of hundreds of British merchant ships. First of all, the gun and sword laden vessels would attempt to break the blockades, surrounding the Confederate ports, as the South were paying four times or more the going rate for arms, but, if the blockade proved to be too efficient, the ships would then proceed on to the Union ports, [such as in New York] where the price paid was still excellent, but only around double the going rate. This pistol is the pocket or overcoat size, and is the very type that was so popular, as a fast and efficient personal protector, by many of the senior rank officers of both the US and the CSA armies. | | A Singularly Impressive 18th Century Irish Blunderbuss. With the unique and highly distinctive overtly flared 'bell form' cannon barrel, that is unique to the finest Irish blunderbusses of this form. Stamped with Irish census marks of County Tyrone. Made in Dublin by Tomlinson. A large, imposing and beautifully impressive gun with superb origins.Good and original Irish blunderbusses have recently become incredibly sought after, and a 36cm barrel example was sold by a London actioneers, only a few days ago, in excess of £14,000. Barrel length 37cm, 77 cm long overall | | A Small Royal Navy Midshipman's Dirk Circa 1800. Ivory and copper gilt hilt with turned ivory grip. All coppergilt scabbard. Thin double edged diamond section blade. Made and used by Royal Navy Midshipmen in the wars with France during the Battle of Trafalgar period in 1805. Small dents to scabbard and blade tip. 8.5 inches long overall blade 5.25 inches. A similar Dirk is in the National Maritime Museum Collection, circa 1805, once owned by Lt. Noble RN. [1783 till 1843] item no. WPN1144. Although the dirk was the weapon of a midshipman many naval officers wore a dirk as a most useful weapon for close quarter action. | | A So Called 'Executioner's' Keris With Fine Laminated Blade. Also known as Keris Penyalang or the Executioners' keris. A long straight blade, it is said, was used to pierce the heart through the neck. Keris Patani This form originates in the Northern Malay States particularly Patani, now a Southern Thai province. It is characterised by its hilt, the Hulu Pekaka or Kingfisher because of its long beak and bulging eyes. Fine Pamor blade. | | A Stunning 19th Century French, Elite Heavy Cavalry, Carabiniers Helmet. Used from the 1814 to 1830, The Napoleonic Pattern. Initially part of the small, elite Heavy Cavalry, later part of the Imperial Guard. Shows the Royal badge removed, above the peak, possibly for the 100 days, the Napoleonic Restoration era. One chinscale present, part liner present. Good skull and crest condition, replaced horsehair plume. Name stamped [Painting of the Imperial Carabiniers at Borodino in the gallery, for historical information and education only, not included] | | A Stunning 10th Century Viking Sword, Named Inlaid Blade. A magnificent collectors item and rare museum piece, showing all the traditional smithing methods of the age and with an inlaid blade. Runic inscription to one face and the name INGELRI ME FECIT [Ingelri made me]. Petersen type S, 33 inches length overall. A near identical blade by the same maker is in the National Museum of Finland, made around 925 AD. While the pattern of hilt and blade design of this time might readily be called 'The Viking sword' to do so would be to neglect the wide spread popularity it enjoyed. All over continental Europe between 700-1000 AD this design and its small variations could be found. While the sword was the most popular weapon of the Viking age, we cannot forget that the battle axe was the preferred weapon among most Vikings because it was cheaper to buy than swords. Only the wealthier Viking Godi, Yarls, and sometimes freemen wielded swords, while the regular freeman tended to carry axes or spears.Jan Petersen in De Norske Vikingsverd ("The Norwegian Viking Swords", 1919) introduced the most widely-used classification of swords of the Viking Age, discriminating 26 types labelled A – Z. In 1927 R. E. M. Wheeler condensed Petersen's typology into a simplified typology of nine groups, numbered I – IX.
Viking swords average about 37 inches in length overall and will, especially toward the later part of the period, show increasing taper towards the point and a deeper central fuller in the center of each blade face. Pattern welding diminishes during the middle of this epoch to be replaced by iron inlaid names and designs usually formed with twisted rods, such as were used in pattern-welding, hot-forged into the surface of the blade. | | A Stunning 19th Century Swept Hilt Long Saxon Rapier, With Gilt Bronze Hilt A beautiful sword in the manner of a Royal Rapier, after master sword maker Juan Martinez of Toledo, maker to the King of Spain. A similar style sword was made for the Elector of Saxony in 1606 and sold by the Saxon Royal Collection in 1970, and is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The hilt is of chisseled gilded bronze with a long elegant and beautifully crafted blade [95cm long] gilded bronze mounted scabbard over leather. The leather is now quite worn and areas of old repair. The design and form is typically in the stunning 17th century baroque style, in both extravagance and beauty. We believe it was made to be used by such as the world's greatest actors of the 18th or 19th Century, such as David Garrick. His portrayal of the great Shakespearian Kings, such as King Richard IIIrd, were dressed with magnificent extravagance with costumes, sets and weaponry that were recreated with skill, beauty and style with no expense spared. It may also have been made as a presentation piece or gift for a famous [albeit unknown today] individual. Around 90% of all the original gilt remains. Overall length 116cm long. | | A Stunning Large Boxlock Flintlock Pistol By Barber of London A 'Queen Anne' Cannon barrel pistol with finest silver scroll inlay to the butt in the elaborate scrolling chinoiserie style. Forward sliding safety trigger guard.This is one of the large silver inlaid turn-off cannon barrel pistols that were highly popular in the Revolutionary War era, and many similar pistols are in the great American museums and collections that were used, in the American Revolution, by Officers of both sides of the conflict. 13 inches long overall. Good working action. | | A Stunning Long Barreled Ottoman Flintlock Pistol Fine Tutaneg silver alloy mounts decorated with full embossed relief portrait busts, and a fine serpent sideplate. Gold inlaid steel barrel. A truly amazing chisselled steel lock of the finest quality. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked silver. | | A Super 3 band Enfield Pattern 1853/4 MKII Snider Conversion. Rifle Fully cleaned and restored condition with blued finish. Fully ordnance marked, star graded for adaptions. Brass furniture, with 3 steel barrel bands. | | A Super and Beautiful French Napoleonic Naval Officer's Pistol Of traditional form utilized by officer's, throughout the entire Napoleonic period of the late 1790's to around 1815. Known as the distinctive Boutet style [named after Napoleon's personal gunmaker at Versailles] with the flat butt, and all brass furniture, lock plate and barrel that was essential for the officer's in the French Navy. Brass was the predominant metal on superior naval guns due to the inclement and incessant sea spray that causes havoc with steel when at sea. Fine walnut stock, octagonal barrel and overall finely detailed engraving. As used at the Battle of the Nile, Trafalgar and all the great conflicts at sea against the Royal Navy around the seven seas. Photos in the gallery [for information only] are of the kind of vassals in which it would have been used, and the battles it would have seen. Such as Napoleon's flag ship, L'Orient, exploding at the Battle of the Nile, after combating Nelson's fleet. She carried Napoleon to his invasion of Egypt, and was the flagship of the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798. After receiving heavy fire from numerous British ships, she was set aflame. Eventually, the fire reached her powder magazine, and she blew up, with the loss of most of her crew, including her captain, Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca and his young son - giving rise to the memorable poem Casabianca by Felicia Hemans which begins ... "The boy stood on the burning deck". | | A Super Antique Indian Kora This rare type of weapon has a Kukri short sword blade with a Tulwar style hilt. It creates a formidable but short sword, yet with a firmer and protected grip than a standard Kukri. Likely 18th to 19th century. The blade is fully engraved and it has brass inlays of figure adorned with a crown standing within a pagoda, and a sun burst with a central brass inlaid face. 21 inches long approx. | | A Super Antique Islamic Jambiya in All Arab Silver Metal A beautiful quality dagger of typical form of the famous middle eastern Jambiya. This example is all silver, except the blade which is steel. Items of this quality were usually for presentation. Lawrence of Arabia had several very similar ones presented to him, they were his favourite dagger, and he was frequently photographed wearing them. One picture is a portrait of Lawrence with his Jambiya. [Information only not included] Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked silver. | | A Super Boxer Rebellion Dao Short Sword Ching Dynasty A very basically designed but immensely effective and powerful sword whose origins go way back into the Ming Dynasty, and it's similar ancester [but a longer sword] known as the Huya Dao, the 'Tiger Tooth Sword'. A photo in the gallery shows a contemporary group of Boxers in Peking during the seige of the legations, and the Boxer in the fore front is carrying the very same kind of sword, with it's highly distinctive ring handle. The Boxer Rebellion, more properly called the Boxer Uprising, or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement was a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement called the "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" in China, but known as the "Boxers" in English. The main 'Boxer' era occured between 1898 and 1901. This fascinating era was fairly well described in the Hollywood movie classic ' 55 Days in Peking' Starring Charlton Heston and David Niven. The film gives a little background of Ching Dynasty's humiliating military defeats suffered during the Opium Wars, Sino-French War and Sino-Japanese war or the effect of the Taiping Rebellion in weakening the Ching [Qing] Dynasty. However, situations in which the various colonial powers exerted influence over China (a great source of outrage that drove many Chinese to violence) are alluded to in the scene in which Sir Arthur Robinson and Major Lewis visit the Empress after the assassination of the German minister.
* Dowager Empress - "....the Boxer bandits will be dealt with, but the anger of the Chinese people cannot be quieted so easily. The Germans have seized Kiaochow, the Russians have seized Port Arthur, the French have obtained concessions in Yunnan, Kwan See and Kwantang. In all, 13 of the 18 provinces of China are under foreign control. Foreign warships occupy our harbours, foreign armies occupy our forts, foreign merchants administer our banks, foreign gods disturb the spirit of our ancestors. Is it surprising that our people are aroused?"
* Sir Arthur Robinson - "Your Majesty if you permit me to observe, the violence of the Boxers will not redress the grievences of China"
* Dowager Empress - "China is a prostrate cow, the powers are not content milking her, but must also butcher her."
* Sir Arthur Robinson - "If China is a cow your majesty, she is indeed a marvelous animal. She gives meat as well as milk...." Pictures in the gallery of a watercolour of the Boxers [1900] and the combat in the siege. For information only not included. 25.5 inches long overall, blade 17 inches, weight around 2 pounds. | | A Super British Officer's Waterloo Era Dragoon Sabre by Dunderdale & Mabson 1796 officer's sabre with deluxe engraving of, a mounted dragoon officer with sword drawn in a charge, named scrolls, and the Royal cypher and crest of King George IIIrd. Within the scrolls in the engraving is the name of famous gunsmith and military cutler suppliers, Dunderdale and Mabson [Shop in Birmingham 1799 to 1803]. Regimentally engraved with 23LD, A4 in the outside langet. Very bright polish, leather covered ribbed grip, and overall in very good condition for age. At Waterloo there were 6 British Cavalry brigades, under the command of the Earl of Uxbridge, including the 3rd Cavalry Brigade [commanded by Major General Dornberg] which were made up of the
1st Light Dragoons, King’s German Legion
2nd Light Dragoons, King’s German Legion
23rd Light Dragoons (British). Designed by 18th century British cavalry hero Colonel Le Marchant, this is one of the best and most effective Dragoon swords ever made and used by the British Light Dragoon Cavalry. It was so effective in fact, that it is said the French vehemently protested to it's use by the British cavalry, as it's resulting combat wounds that were so often inflicted on the French, were so fearful it was considered by them to be far too gruesome for Cavalry warfare. Lacking scabbard | | A Super British Rifles Regt.General's Sabre Of The Napoleonic Wars Copper gilt hilt with lions head pommel, 1796 type knuckle bow and langets, Ivory hilt which denotes for use by a General Officer. The blade is deluxe engraved with a Rifles Light Infantry Regt. foot officer wearing a Rifles Light Infantry Tarlton helmet brandishing this sword. King George IIIrd cypher and fancy scroll work, all highlighted with gilt.The Light Infantry Rifles Regiments were predominantly the 95th and the 60th and this is a very fine and historical example of a senior officer's sword of the Peninsular and Waterloo. | | A Super Colt .41 Derringer With Nickle plated frame, browned barrel & Mother O' Pearl grips. A super piece from the zenith of the Wild West era. 41 cal rimfire.As with all our antique and vintage arms, no license is required. Nice condition. Henry Derringer produced the first of his small pistols in 1825. It soon became popular with professional gamblers and others who did not want people to know they had a gun. Other companies such as Colt and Remington began manufacturing small pistols. All these pocket guns became known as derringers. John Wilkes Booth used a derringer to kill Abraham Lincoln. | | A Super English Civil War Era Cavalryman's Cuirass From Warwick Castle A fine composite cuirass direct from the Armoury of Britain's [and perhaps Europe's] greatest Medieval Castle. With the Castle's armoury inventory metal tag still affixed. With fine Armourers marks of The London Armourers Company[* see below] of the 'A' mark [for the Commonwealth], and also the helmet mark to the back plate. During the Civil War the Castle was besieged by the Royalists, they failed in their endeavours and they were captured and incarcerated within the castle dungeons. It certainly possible this armour was used in this conflict or later. William the Conqueror ordered the start of the building of Warwick in the 11th century, and by the 14th century the great Towers were completed. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have the opportunity to acquire some wonderful arms and weaponry from a small disposal from the Castle Armoury, in order to benefit the restoration of the Castle. In the year 1264, the castle was seized by the forces of Simon de Montfort, who consequently imprisoned the then current Earl, William Mauduit, and his Countess at Kenilworth (who were supporters of the king and loyals to the barons) until a ransom was paid. After the death of William Mauduit, the title and castle were passed to William de Beauchamp. Following the death of William de Beauchamp, Warwick Castle subsequently passed through seven generations of the Beauchamp family, who over the next 180 years were responsible for the majority of the additions made to Warwick Castle. After the death of the last direct-line Beauchamp, Anne, the title of Earl of Warwick, as well as the castle, passed to Richard Neville ("the Kingmaker"), who married the sister of the last Earl (Warwick was unusual in that the earldom could be inherited through the female line). Warwick Castle then passed from Neville to his son-in-law (and brother of Edward IV of England), George Plantagenet, and shortly before the Duke's death, to his son, Edward. Several Kings owned Warwick including King Henry VIIth, and Henry VIIIth, James Ist, and also Queen Elizabeth.* In 1322, in the reign of King Edward II, the Guild of St George of the Armourers was instituted, by ordinance of the City of London, which laid down regulations for the control of the trade. King Henry VI presented the Armourers with their first Royal Charter in May 1453.One pictire in the gallery shows Warwick Castle today [for information only, not included] | | A Super Medievil Bearded Battle Axe With good armourer's mark struck on blade face. Slightly bent blade. Triangular socket. Rehafted. Heavy stout blade of very good form. A most similar Battle Axe in the Staadtsmuseum in Munich is shown in the gallery. | | A Super Neolithic Polished Stone Axe. A British polished [probably greenstone] axe, most similar to examples from the Mendip in Somerset. A super early Bronze age piece and in great condition. Around 5500 years old. Incredibly an amount of the stone axes used in Britain at this time were imported from Italy. | | A Super Pair of Boutet Style French Officer's Pistols From the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era. Typical Boutet style oval, flat butt caps beautifully engraved with an Revolutionary symbols of a Shield over a crossed Fasces, Arrow, Quiver and Club. All steel mounts and the finest octagonal to round Damascus barrels. | | A Super US Civil War Dated [1864] Springfield Rifle An American Infantry Rifle, lock dated for the Civil War in 1864, with the model 1866, Allin, breech loading trap door, for use in the American Indian Wars of the early 1870's. This was he war that cost Colonel George Armstrong Custer his life at the Little Big Horn. Good Springfield markings and US Eagle. Good working action. | | A Super, Antique Bronze ' Horse Racing' Collectable Ideal for the gentleman or lady with a passion for Horse Racing or simply Horses. In fine bronze, a super desk, mantle or sidetable ornament. With a finely detailed relief design of a Horse Race, showing two race horses side by side with jockeys. With rear finger loop for holding. | | A Super, British, "Tower Of London" Infantry Brown Bess Musket. Excellent action, finest walnut stock, made in the most famous armoury in the world. A fine front line military musket used from the Peninsular Wars The War of 1812 in America and the Battle of Waterloo. This is a super example with fabulous patina. Small contemporary forend stock work around 2ft from end. | | A Super, Civil War, National Arms Co. Rare Teat Fire Cased Revolver A rare Moore's patent .32 cal. Teat Fire revolver, set in a most attractive mahoghany case with 10 row bullet rack. Finely engraved nickle palted frame, birds head butt. Good action. Fine grips. The Teat Fire system, patented by Moore, was a most unusual front loading cartridge action, and his .45 calibre version, of the same action gun, is one of the rarest and most collectable guns of that era. Designed and made in 1864, during the Civil War, this is a very fine pocket sized revolver that saw much good service as a back-up or defensive arm for officers, and was very popular with riverboat and saloon gamblers, such as Doc Holliday and George Devol. There is a picture of an antique 19th century poster advertising Devol's gambling book. For information only not included. | | A Super, English Civil War, Armoured, Elbow Gauntlet for Cavalry. Good, full, lower arm iron sleeve, with articulated iron hand protection and philanges. Leather finger, lining all later re-lined and re-rivetted.This was made for the left arm to protect the bridal hand and extended right up to the elbow. | | A Super, Napoleonic Wars, French Officer's Sword Belt Half Buckle With fabulous detail of the head of a lion. In gilded cast brass. Superb condition. | | A Super, Napoleonic Wars, French Officer's Sword Belt Half Buckle With fabulous detail of the head of Medusa. In cast brass. Superb condition. 54mm across | | A Super, Napoleonic Wars, French Officer's Sword Belt Mount With fabulous detail of the head of A Lion. In cast brass. Superb condition. | | A Superb 'Moghul Style' Dagger.Carved Jade Goats Head Hilt Damascus Blade Indo-Persian Dagger with a beautiful Jade hilt in the form of a carved relief Goat's Head surmounting a giold Koftgari work hilt mount.Damascus steel blade. Fancy silk scabbard with pure gold Koftgati decorated scabbard throat and chape mounts.14 inches long overall | | A Superb 17th Century Cavalry Semi Basket Hilted Sword With a stunning bronze hilt with a mythical beast head pommel, elaborate intertwined and twisted bars [with thumb-ring] and a pomegranate and strawberry shaped guard. In the Renaissance fruit had an important iconography. It can be symbolic of a theological concept such as fall, incarnation, passion, redemption etc…. Pomegranates frequently meant immortality and resurrection as since ancient times it has been associated with the return of spring. Strawberries symbolize Paradise [which is exactly what you shall find at the market near St. Lorenzo if you are fortunate enough to be in Florence when the delicately flavoured fragoline
di bosco (wild strawberries) are in season]. This is a fine and beautiful early sword, and used by an officer of Cuirassier or Cavalry from the era of the Thirty Years War, The English Civil War, and continually in to the 9 years War [the War of the Great Alliance]. This war also encompassed King William's War, the French-Indian War of North America,which was also much fought in Europe against the French Armies of Louis XIV by Britain's King William and his continental Allies. | | A Superb 1851 Pattern US Foot Officer's Sabre With an Ancestral Blade A wonderful sabre from the US Civil War with an earlier blade from the 1800 era. Engraved with Eagle and Shield and motto E Pluribus Unum. Also a scroll panel with 'HONOUR AND MY COUNTRY'. Over the past 40 years or so we are fortunate to get, every year, just a few, what are called 'Ancestral Bladed' swords, from various countries .These are swords that have blades that were from earlier eras of warfare, frequently carried by officers who serve their country using a blade that may have been carried by a father, grandfather, or even great grandfather, that had been rehilted, to conform to the current pattern of sword used at the time of their descendants service. These are very rare to find in the Western nations as the tradition of using an 'ancestors' blade was usually the style of the Middle or Far East. In the ancient countries of Islam, such as Indo Persia and Turkey, the use of a re-hilted sword with an ancestral blade, many centuries old, was a great honour, a sword much revered and highly prized. Similarly all the very best swords of Japan were, as a matter of course, used with blades of earlier eras. However, in the West it was far less common for a family to have members that continually served as officers in the army down through many generations, so the ability for an officer to use a sword blade that his ancestor may have used, in, say, the Napoleonic Wars, or the 7 Years War, or even the English Civil War was just not often there. Some officers though did [and do] have the tradition of service running through their family. But in a few cases, down the generations, some have the knowledge that all their previous generations saw combat service and it is from these very families that ancestral bladed swords originate. This sword is one of those very rare wonders, in the world of Western hand to hand combat, a battle sword that has seen service down the ages in America, first in the earliest years of the newly formed federal America, into the War of 1812 against Canada and Britain, from then into the early frontier days of the war with Mexico, in Texas, and continually on, into probably the most significant war in America's history, the Civil War. Where the soul of modern America, was forged, through valiant and terrible conflict, of, principle against principle, state against state, and, ultimately, brother against brother. No scabbard, likely a rewired grip | | A Superb 19th Century Spanish Percussion Belt Pistol Finest, Spanish, 18th century cannon barrel, held with barrel slide, with gold seal gunmakers armourer's marks of Echeverria. Octagonal breech leading to multi rings, carved acanthus leaf embellishments and a round fore-end with multi ring moulded muzzle. Walnut stock with micro chequering grip, all steel mounts, fully deluxe engraved. Back action lock inscribed 'En Eybar' also fully deluxe engraved with leaf and scroll pattern. Steel tipped wooden rammer, belt hook to side plate. Short eared steel butt similarly fully deluxe engraved with lanyard ring. The hammer is a chisseled, full relief, male lion standing astride a groteque winged beast with a serpent's tail of very fine detail and quality. In the 18th and 19th century, before the 20th century period when the quality of Spanish gunmaking diminished, Spain made some very fine quality weapons indeed, and this is a very fine example of one of their superior grade arms.Good tight action. Overall now in very good order. We have had the action fully inspected and serviced. | | A Superb and Beautiful Antique 'Skull and Crossbones' Ritual Dagger A Victorian dagger with a most attractive full relief Skull and Crossbones hilt. Daggers of this ilk were usually custom made for Secret Society rituals, and this is a very good example indeed of these much sought after, yet scarcely found daggers of this type. Ormolu gold mounts of a relief skull as the pommel and crossed thigh bones as the quillons.with a multi wire bound grip and florid engraved mounts to the scabbard. The scabbard is bound in now faded green cloth, with a silver bullion braid covering the offside seam. Many witchcraft and occult collectors eagerly seek these incredibly distinctive pieces, and good Victorian examples are very highly prized and most difficult to find. This dagger was made and carried by a person that would most likely have been a member of the secret societies [such as the Masons or Knights Templar], but, the Skull and Crossbones was similarly closely associated with organizations such as the Brotherhood of St. Francis of Wycombe, the Order of Knights of West Wycombe and later the Monks of Medmenham. These are all pseudonyms of the Sir Francis Dashwood's infamous 'Hellfire Club' of the 18th century. A dagger of this ilk was likely custom made for member, or indeed leader, of a Secret Society for Satanic rituals, and this is a very good example indeed of these much sought after, yet scarcely found ritualistic daggers. Ormolu mounts of a relief skull as the pommel and acanthus leaf quillons, with a multi wire bound grip and ormolu and leather scabbard. Many witchcraft and occult collectors eagerly seek these incredibly distinctive pieces, and good Victorian examples are very highly prized and most difficult to find. The Skull symbology was associated with organizations such as the Brotherhood of St. Francis of Wycombe, the Order of Knights of West Wycombe and later the Monks of Medmenham. These are all pseudonyms of the Sir Francis Dashwood's infamous 'Hellfire Club' from the 18th century. The 19th century underground resurgence of the Hellfire Club, Satanism and Devil worship, was much speculated upon in certain circles of Victorian society, especially during the time of Jack The Ripper, the first and most notorious serial killer ever to have lived. One of it's most famous leaders was the Victorian Englishman Aleister Crowley. Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Warwickshire in 1875, he was the self-proclaimed “Wickedest Man in the World” and in his later years an avid supporter of Germany's emerging fascism. One of Crowley’s literary contributions was 'The Equinox' (publ'd 1909). Many of the ideas contained in this work became the basis for modern Satanism, and his books frequently expounded the virtues of ritualistic human sacrifice. His wickedest deeds are still the subject of much speculation today. The last photo is of Aleister Crowley adorned in his secret ritual society garb clutching his ritual Skull dagger in his right hand The gilt had to be expertly cleaned by a conservator to remove decades of oxygenation | | A Superb Antique Barong. An Indonesian Warriors Short Sword. Leaf shaped watered blade, showing superb tempered grain and structure. The hilt has a “cockatoo beak” (kakatua) handle. Silver band with mother of pearl decoration. Rattan bound scabbard with mother of pearl bottom mount.During it's life some of the rattan has been lost and the bottom mount reaffixed. | | A Superb Antique Japanese Tanegeshima Matchlock Gun from the Edo Era [1599 to 1868]. Fully signed barrel and stock Kichi bei Muneaki [stock], Eshu no kuni Tomofusa Daiyu Masahide [gun]. The overall gun is in super condition, especially the stock which is one of the best quality we have seen in quite some time. This gun is very typically Shibui [quiet] and quite simple in form and design. Whereas some Tanegeshima are fairly extravagant this one is not, but it is still of the highest quality, and a particularly nice example. Only 17 years after being introduced in Japan, in 1560, firearms were being used highly effectively in great battles. In fact in that very year, a bullet fired from such a gun killed a general wearing full armor, an amazing feat and a sobering realization for all Samurai war lords. In 1567, Lord Takeda Harunobu stated, 'Hereafter, guns will be the most important arms'. He was quite right. Within another 10 years, there were more guns in Japan than any other country on earth. In fact by then some Japanese clan lords had more guns than the whole of the British army. One must consider that it was no doubt of great benefit to the rest of the world that Japan was for many centuries a closed society. For if indeed Japan, and her formidable Samurai warriors, had ventured out into the world, and concentrated it's power, not inwardly against itself, but outwardly against Europe, life today could be a completely different world to the one we know now. It is mostly unknown to Europeans that a few of the great Samurai battles within Japan were some of the largest ever known in the history of warfare, and not equalled around the world until WW1. However, in regards to Tanegashima most of those Samurai guns have now been long destroyed, and lost to posterity these many years past. The Japanese call the gun the Tenegeshima, after the area where it first arrived in Japan in around 1543.One significant place to see other original Samurai Tanegeshima in present day Japan is in Matsumoto Castle, within their armoury. Particular importance in the collection are the Tanageshima, which played an important role during the massive battle for Osaka Castle in 1615. The main articles in the collection are matchlocks manufactured in the period from 1543 (when guns were introduced by the Portuguese through Tanegashima island) through to the late Edo period during the long Tokugawa peace. In total there are 141 guns of different design, caliber and period, and 230 pieces of armor. All of the weapons were made in Japan during a century in which enormous changes took place, both in Japan's social and political organization and modernization prior to the closing of the country and 250 years of relative isolation. Matsumoto Castle was built some 50 years after the introduction by Portuguese traders of firearms into Japan. For this reason the walls of the turrets (Nurigome-zukuri) are thick enough to withstand bullets, and the defenses were built in depth. As firearms were also used to defend the castle, the donjon has 55 square holes called teppozama, from which matchlock muskets (and in some cases the hand cannon) could bring fire to bear on an assaulting force. | | A Superb Antique Katar Decorated with Gold Koftgari 18th Century. An Indian Sikh Push-Dagger Decorated with Gold onlaid Koftgari work. Finest blade with a central fuller with three ribs, the innermost in the form of the kundalini flame of Sushumna, with a simply stunning crows-beak armour piercing tip. Used in many wars it was able to pierce straight through armour. This technique was very good for Medieval warfare. The blade has a small museum collection number stamped at the forte of the blade 19. For a near identical Katar dagger, see the world renown collection of magnificent Mogul arms of Dr Leo S. Figiel, item 2142, [The collection was sold in San Francisco in 1998]. | | A Superb Antique Keris [Kris] With a Singularly Beautiful Blade The traditional Indonesian weapon allegedly endowed with religious and mystical powers. Wonderful Indonesian hardwood hilt and scabbard, with a stunning blade showing incredible grain. With traditional Meteorite laminated iron blade with hammered nickle for the contrasting pattern | | A Superb Bronze Age Sword, around 3000 years old Copper alloy circa 1200 B.C. A beautiful Bronze Age battle sword [as opposed to the heavy and unwieldy form of sword made for burial offerings]. The very same shape, form and length of stabbing sword that was carried and used in combat, during the 1st millennium B.C., by the fearsome warriors of ancient history, such as the noble Hector and the valiant Achilles. Some 22 3/4 inches long. With a conical hat shaped pommel, a double edged blade with two outer fullers and four thinner fullers leading to a central, ribbed, ridgeline. Superb patina with fine natural age encrustations. Most likely made in the area of the upper valleys of the Zagros mountains, that was conquered by the Persian Medes and integrated into the Persian Empire in the second millennium B.C.The area on the western border of Persia (Iran), is the source of many bronzes that have been dated from 1500 to 500 BC and include chariot or harness fittings, rein rings, elaborate horse bits, and various decorative rings, as well as weapons, personal ornaments, different types of cult objects. The area, was in many respects, the centre of bronze manufacturing and casting for the whole region, and their wonderful works were traded throughout the whole eastern region, right down to the Mediterranean, into Greece and Macedon. Due to an influence from the West, around the 14th century B.C, smiths from Luristan began to manufacture blades with hilts that were cast together in one mould. In these examples, the hilts were flanged so that they could take inlaid scales of wood, bone, or metal. Bone inlays were often cut in a way so that the hilt had a winged or “ear-shaped” pommel. Later, these inlaid hilts were exactly copied in bronze with the hilt made separately and, then, cast onto the blade. | | A Superb Indo Persian 17th Century Firangi Sword The name ‘Firangi’ (Foreigner) was given to these swords in the 17th Century, as they were mounted with European (Foreign) blades, which were highly valued. Some blades were locally made in the European style. The blades were mounted on the ‘Khanda’ style hilt and with the long spike extending from the pommel which enabled them to be used as two handed swords. 29 inch blade to hilt, 35 inches overall | | A Superb Medieval 13th Century 'Crusades' Iron 'Flanged' Battle Mace A rare example of mace, and it is known that just a few remaining examples of it's type are in existence. An offensive Battle Mace that would be an amazingly effective piece against Armour or shield. In almost spherical form with multi layered protruding flanges in hollow-cast iron. Affixed to a replacement haft. They were also carried as a symbol of power and rank, as it is so now, the Parliamentary Mace and the Queen's great Mace of State being just two examples. In the Crusades era this was, on occasion, also an ecclesiastic symbol [used by Bishops or even Popes], but more usually by Knights in noble combat. The last photo in the gallery is from a 13th century Manuscript that shows Kinghts in combat and one at the rear is using a stylised mace. The mace head is approximately the size of a tennis ball. | | A Superb Original Head Hunters Sword, an Antique Dayaks Mandau, A rare Mandau of the Dayak people, of Kalimantan, Indonesia. With beautifully traditionally carved antler hilt, complete with red and black hair. Traditional blade with convex obverse and concave reverse. Wooden sheath with upper and lower surfaces carved in relief with matching motif, bound with wonderfully woven bi-colored reed wraps, including the original woven reed hanging cords and bi-knife sleeve (bi-knife not present). The last photo in the gallery is a period photo of an indigenous Head Hunter, holding his 'prize', achieved with his Mandau.[Photo not included] | | A Superb Pair Of Brass Barrelled Ship's Officer's Flintlock Pistols By Williams and Powell of Liverpool. Fine walnut stocks steel trigger guards, engraved steel lock plates with rolling frizzens. 13.5 inches long overall 8 inch barrels. Fine pairs of brass barreled pistols are very highly prized and much sought after by collectors due to their rarity. They were, in their day, principally the domain of ship's officers and naval sea captains, as all naval officers were required to pay for their own hand made arms personally, and brass barreled pistols were much favoured, due to their immunity to corrosion from the most inclement salty conditions to be found at sea. Liverpool is a city world famous for it's maritime naval ports, dockyards, and it's magnificent seafaring history. It was, in the 19th century, one of the most famous maritime docks in the world, that harboured the greatest and largest merchant navy the world had ever seen. One pistol has been sent to have the flint cock and steel repaired, I rammer replaced [main photo shows hammer imposed] The price shown includes the 'no expense spared' cost of the professional restoration. One picture in the gallery shows the Port of Liverpool by Joseph Heard painted during the time these pistols saw service. [Picture for nformation and education only, not included] There is a fine example of a Williams and Powell pistol in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwhich. | | A Superb Scottish Flintlock Pistol by Heriot of Edinburgh Made prior to the American War of Independence this is a fine pistol by a good Scottish Edinburgh maker who died in 1773. Hallmarked silver butt cap decorated with a fine relief scene of winged Fame sounding a trumpet, holding the Palm of Victory before a stand of flags. Fame in this pose is depicted in The Apotheosis of Washington above the floor of the Rotunda in the eye of the Capitol Dome, and Fame and Peace crowning Washington by Antonio Capellano, in marble relief above the doors to the rotunda in the Capitol. This scene of Fame on a pistol butt cap is most scarce, the plain or the grotesque mask type being more usually seen in this era. In 35 years I can only ever recall seeing very few, but almost allways on pistols connected to supporters, or senior officers, of the American Continental Army of George Washington. Fine walnut stock, horn tipped rammer, flat topped round barrel. | | A Superb US Civil War Cavalry Sabre Dated 1864 Identical to Custer's Sabre. Made by the same maker, in the same year, and even inspected by the very same man. This sword is probably one of the nicest examples of an original 1860 US Cavalry Sword we have seen in some time. Made by C.Roby of Chelmsford Mass. The hilt has a leather grip, all steel scabbard and excellent maker marks to the blade forte. Civil War Union Government inspectors initials stamped at blade forte 'A.G.M'. This is the very same form of sword as was used by Col.George Armstrong Custer, made by the same maker, in the very same year, and inspected by the same Government inspector AGM. Custer's sword was late of the Charles A.Custer's family collection, and it's maker, date and inspectors initial stamp are well documented. Custer is shown wearing his sabre in a photo in the gallery [for information only not included with sword]. This sabre was obviously made, and part of, the same small batch of swords that Col. Custer's sword came from. It is logical to assume they may well were all made for Custers regts of the lst Brigade, lst Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac (March 25 - August 6, 1864) and Army of the Shenandoah (August 6 -September 26, 1864); temporarily commanding 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia serving with the Army of the Shenandoah (September 26-30, 1864).Grip wire lacking to grip, good scabbard. We have only ever had one sword before [in 35 years] from this small batch made at the very same time by Custer's maker. Interestingly the scabbard throat area has some small deliberate notches carved into the steel, traditionaly they are recognised as symbols of combat victories. | | A Superb, Long bladed, 18th Century Silver Mounted Early Naval Dirk-Sword An elegant and beautiful long short sword [also known as a cuttoe or hunting sword] and in very good order for it's age indeed and one of the nicest examples we have seen in a long time. Carved ivory hilt [with slight cracking] with a silver lion head pommel, silver cross quillons and hilt ferrule. Steel mounted leather scabbard. Made from the very earliest era when the lion head pommel became the design standard for the edged weapons of Royal Naval midshipmen and officers [from Lieutenants to Admirals]. This type of weapon was prominent from the American Revolutionary War era right through the wars with France such as the Battle of the Nile, Cape St Vincent and Trafalgar. General George Washington carried a silver mounted carved irory hilted cuttoe, though he preferred the ivory stained green [as was the fashion at the time]. Washington carried his sword as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He willed the sword to his nephew, Samuel Washington, a U.S. Army captain, with orders to use it "only in self-defense or in the defense of country and its rights." In 1843 Washington's grandnephew donated the sword to the U.S. government, and in 1922 it was transferred from the State Department to the Smithsonian. Please see H.L.Petersons 'American Silver Mounted Swords' for a few most similar examples, made in both England and America in the 1770's. There are fine and rare similar examples in the Smithsonian, Washington, the Metropolitan, New York, and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England. Overall length 63cm. Blade length 48cm. Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver, Swords were exempt from the English Hallmark Act. | | A Superb, Robert Adams of London, Transitional Revolver Some of the most ground breaking work in the early design and manufacture of revolvers was undertaken in England long before the world famous American revolver makers, such as Colt and Remington, became famous for their fine pistols. This most attractive piece is fully, and most finely engraved, on the frame and grip, with a highly detailed micro chequered walnut butt. Made by one of England's finest 19th century makers and innovators of fine revolver pistols, Robert Adams of London. Circa 1850. A classic example of one of the earliest English cylinder revolvers that was favoured by gentleman wishing to arm themselves with the latest technology and improvement ever designed by English master gunsmiths. They were most popular with officers [that could afford them] in the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny. A picture in the gallery is of Robert Adams himself, loading his patent revolver for HRH Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's Consort. He was also manager for the London Armoury and he made many of the 19,000 pistols that were bought by the Confederate States for the Civil War. The US government also bought Adams revolvers from the London Armoury, at $18 each, which was $4.00 more than it was paying Colt for his, and $6.00 more than Remington.The action on this beautiful gun is perfect, very nice, and tight, but the trigger return spring is weak. In good blue finish with some original 'mirror' blue finish remaining. | | A Tibetan Dagger. Copper Mounts Set with Coloured Stones A very decorative and beautiful Tibetan Dagger with all embossed copper mounts, steel blade, mounts set with coloured stones. | | A Treatise on the British Military Martini Temple & Skennerton
Hard cover, 11 x 8¾ in. dust jacket, 1983. ISBN 0 959610855
The standard reference work on these renowned British Empire and Colonial service .450-in. bore breech- loading rifles and carbines. | | A Truly Exceptional and Beautiful Jade and Gold Hilted Sword, 19th Century. Indo Persian. A fully carved, hilt with lotus flower at the pommel with stunning gold inlaid Koftgari mounts and a singularly beautiful wide T section blade with an inlaid Islamic gold cartouche and a golden tiger. The scabbard is mounted with matching gold Koftgari fittings and green parchment covering [small losses to parchment]. Similar examples of this quality workmanship were to be seen in the distinguished collection of Dr Leo S. Figiel, a renown collector of remarkable Mogul arms and art. | | A Very Attractive Pre WW1 German Regimental Reservists Long Pipe Imperial German pipe with porcelain bowl, all regimentally marked for the 1st Company Infantry Regiment Graf Bose No 31.[1900 1902]. With all the wooden pipe stems with regimental numbers and framed royal crest inset. A super lot and one of the best we have had. All excellent condition overall. | | A Very Attractive Victorian General's Sword of Mamaluke Pattern The Mamaluke pattern British Army General's sword evolved from the swords captured at the Battle of The Nile and were brought back as war trophys by Admiral Lord Nelson. These beautiful ivory hilted swords so impressed The Duke of Wellington, and his senior officers, they were worn and adopted for wear during the Napoleonic Wars. There are several portraits of Wellington and his Generals in full uniform and adorned with such swords. The pattern was formally adopted by the British Crown as The Generals pattern in 1831, although a General could choose to wear the 1822 type, the Gothic Hilted sword. This sword is from the era from the Indian Mutiny, the Crimean War, the Zulu War and The Egypt Campaign. A beautifully etched blade with full General's symbol of crossed Baton and Sabre and Queen Victoria's cypher [Crown VR]. The second to last photograph shows Major General Sir James Kempt [died in 1854] with his General's Mamaluke. [National Army Museum, after Lawrence] | | A Very Fine Crimean War Royal Naval Officer's Battle & Dress Sword With a fine etched pipe back blade, brass hilt with a superb relief 'deluxe quality' lion and mane pommel, and the original wire bound fishskin grip. A magnicent sword of slightly heavier quality than standard for serious combat use. An almost identical sword was made for Admiral Sir James Saumarez. Fully etched blade with Crown and Anchor, made by Widdowson and Veale of Strand London. Blade marked Warranted. Nearly all the original fire gilt remaining. Edge to edge combat nicks on the blade. There are a few identical swords in the National Maritime Museum Collection, previously owned by noted Admirals and Commodores of the early to mid 19th century. No scabbard. | | A Very Fine Victorian Royal Naval Officer's Sword With nearly all the original fire gilt still remaining to the hilt. An elegant lightweight sword, with a fully etched pipe-back blade, from the era of the Crimean War. No scabbard. | | A Very Good 'Wild West' 41 Cal. Double Barrel Remington Derringer Nickle palted finish is superb order. Very good maker and address. Good tight action in perfect condition.Chequered original grips. | | A Very Good 1803 British Infantry Officer's Battle - Dress Sword Used in the Peninsular War, Waterloo & The War of 1812 by a British Officer A beautiful sword,with a considerable amount of original firegilt remaining. It was designed for battle but superbly serviceable for full dress, has a carved slotted hilt with the pierced cypher of King George IIIrd as the design within the knuckle bow and adorned with a wonderfully detailed lion's head pommel. The blade is now faintly engraved [due to polishing] and it has it's original copper gilt and leather scabbard. This is the pattern of British Officers sword carried by gentlemen who relished the idea of combat, but found the 1796 Infantry pattern sword too light for good combat. The light infantry regiments were made up of officers exactly of that mettle. The purpose of the rifles light infantry regiments was to work as skirmishers. The riflemen and officers were trained to work in open order and be able to think for themselves. They were to operate in pairs and make best use of natural cover from which to harass the enemy with accurately aimed shots as opposed to releasing a mass volley, which was the orthodoxy of the day. The riflemen of the 95th were dressed in distinctive dark green uniforms, as opposed to the bright red coats of the British Line Infantry regiments. This tradition lives on today in the regiment’s modern equivalent, The Royal Green Jackets. The regiments fought in all campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars, seeing sea-service at the Battle of Copenhagen, engaging in most major battles during the Peninsular War in Spain, forming the rearguard for the British armies retreat to Corunna, serving as an expeditionary force to America in the War of 1812, and holding their positions against tremendous odds at the Battle of Waterloo. With traditional pierced slotted hilt with pierced relief cypher of King George IIIrd, lion's head pommel and fish skin grip with multi wire binding. Copper gilt and leather mounted scabbard. Deeply curved plain blade with some signs of combat wear etc.The 1803 Sabre has frequently described as one of the most beautiful swords ever carried, and it was used, in combat, in some of the greatest and most formidable battles ever fought by the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe the Peninsular Campaign and Waterloo. This is a very attractive sword indeed and highly desirable, especially for devotees of the earliest era of the British Rifle Regiments, such as the 95th and the 60th. As a footnote, in Bernard Cornwall's books of 'Sharpe of the 95th', this is the Sabre Major Sharpe would have carried if he hadn't used the Heavy Cavalry Pattern Troopers Sword, given to him in the story in the first novel. Overall this battle cum dress sword is in very good order, and named by the maker, Maullin of 7 Charing Cross, London. | | A Very Good 1879 Original Zulu War War Club Typical root ball war club of the 1879 Zulu War with a large head. | | A Very Good 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, Victorian, WW1 Medal Group An Indian General Service Medal with two bars, Tirah 1897-98, & Punjab Frontier 1897-98, also a British Expeditionary Force trio [1914-15 Star, War Medal & Civilization Medal].The 2nd Battalion the Royal Sussex Regiment served in India till 1914 when they were transferred to Europe for service in the the Great War. The Tirah Campaign was a campaign organised in 1897 by Sir William Lockhart against the Afridis and the Orakzais in the Tirah Valley on the North West Indian frontier, part as what was known as 'The Great Game' the conflict between Russia and the British Empire for control of India. As Imperial Russian expansion threatened to collide with the increasing British dominance of the Indian sub-continent, the two great empires played out a subtle game of exploration, espionage and imperialistic diplomacy throughout Central Asia. The conflict always threatened, but never quite developed into direct warfare between the two sides. However, there were great battles and conflicts that were created by 'The Great Game', including the Tirah Campaign and The Punjab Frontier in 1897-98. Rudyard Kipling's clasic novel KIM was made into a Hollywood spectacular starring Errol Flynn, and the entire novel was based around the espionage and conflict derived from this fascinating and significant era of the converging interests of Russia and Britain. There is a bronze monument in Eastbourne, Sussex, to the casualties of the 2nd Battallion serving in Tirah. Photos of the monument in the gallery. | | A Very Good Antique French Sword Paperkinfe With gilt brass four bar guard hilt. Nickle plated scabbard and plated blade. A most charming item that would grace and compliment any gentleman's desk. This is a heavy grade quality piece, very well made. 11.5 inches overall length | | A Very Good British Light Dragoon 'Blue and Gilt' 1796 Officer's Sabre With much original 'Blue and Gilt' remaining to the blade, around an even 50%. With all the expected and traditional engravings, royal cyphers, 'warranted' and devices. All steel hilt and scabbard with silver wire bound grip. | | A Very Good British, Victorian, Regimental Bandsman's Sword A super example of a British, Victorian, Regimental Musician's Sword. Brass cruciform hilt, double edged blade. Brass mounted leather scabbard. Made for the days when the British military band marched alongside the men, in formation, into battle. Whereupon, if the bandsman or bugler came under attack in close quarter action he had an adequate means of defence. Monogrammed blade | | A Very Good Lee Metford Rifle Bayonet Very good condition, matching numbers.All the usaul British inspectors marks. 1888 pattern. Made by Sanderson of Sheffield. 2 rivet grip. | | A Very Good Victorian British Infantry Officer's 'Wilkinson' Sword With leather FS scabbard. The very pattern of sword used by officer's in the Zulu War, in Afghanistan, in the Egypt Campaign, against the Mad Mahdi in the Sudan and the siege of Khartoum, and the Battle of Omdurman. Pierced gothic hilt guard with Queen Victoria's cypher, original multiwire binding over fishskin grip. Wilkinson Sword mark. Fully etched blade [needs polishing] '' Thus ended the Battle of Omdurman---the most signal triumph ever gained by the arms of science over barbarians. Within the space of five hours the strongest and best-armed savage army yet arrayed against a modern European Power had been destroyed and dispersed, with hardly any difficulty, comparatively small risk, and insignificant loss to the victors.'' Quote from Winston S. Churchill, in his personal account and 2 volume book 'The River War'. Published in1899 | | A Very Good Victorian Skean Dhu Silver mounts [not hallmarked] with traditional celtic knot carved black wood hilt, and relief thistle design knife mounts, and matching thistle engraved scabbard mounts.Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | A Very Interesting Infantry Shako of the 5th Regt 1867 An Infantry Shako with original gilt metal Helmet plate of the 5th regt. It has a Latin motto 'Decus et Praesidium' ['An Honour and a Guard'] and the date 1867. Victorian era Shako are very rare and this is a very nice, clean and most pleasing example. Although an original antique piece we have not seen this kind of Shako plate before, but we are resonably certain that it is most probably American. The 175th Infantry [of the USA], was originally designated the 5th [by Act of Assembly in Maryland in 1794] after it's service in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War [Confederate], and WW1. The 5th Regiment was organised in May 1867 [after the Civil War] as sucessor to the Old Maryland Guard, which was formed in 1859 but was dissolved when most of it's men went South, in 1861, to the Confederate Army. Their motto was [and still is] 'Decus et Praesidium'. The helmet is complete with it's chinscales. | | A Very Interesting, Scarce, US Civil War Cavalry Sabre An 1833 pattern US Dragoon Sabre. Tiffany and Company of New York are mostly famous as one of the most celebrated and luxurious jewelry stores in America, but they also used to be suppliers of fine presentation officers swords during the Civil War. They gained contracts to supply cavalry sabres for the war, and in order to fulfill it, which was greater than their production capabilities, they out-sourced part of the contract to PD Luneschloss of Solingen. Tiffany's made two patterns, the 1833 and the 1840, both with steel hilts instead of the usual standard brass. The Tiffany made swords, that have survived the war and been recorded so far, were either marked TC or Tiffany & Co, the imported ones, from PD Luneschloss, were either marked PDL with TC as well, or just PDL. This scarce example of the 1833 US Pattern sword has the plain PDL mark [in their script font, as opposed to their alternative Roman font in an oval], and, the standard brass 3 bar hilt. PDL were very good sword makers, and their swords that were imported for the Civil War were usually of a very high grade in order that their customers [such as the aforesaid Tiffany & Co.] did not have their contracts placed in jeopardy. A contemporary picture in the gallery of a Union Cavalry charge from Harpers Weekly. For information only not included. 34.5 inch blade measured across the curve. Overall length 40 inches. | | A Very Nice 'American' Victorian Bowie Knife Made at the American west suppliers in Sheffield. With large double edged blade, signed by the Sheffield maker Rookes & Crookes with typical Shell Pattern Nickle Cutlery handle, much sought after by the mid 19th century American Frontiersmen etc. Ball end quillon.9.5 inch blade. Approx.15 inches overall. | | A Very Rare Austrian Tube-Lock Horse Pistol [With US Civil War Connections A well recorded import for the American Civil War Cavalry of both The North and South. Using the Augustin system, a rarely seen and highly collectable pistol of the mid 19th century.One of the last examples of this rare pistol was sold by the Visser Collection in 1991. The Henk Visser collection was one of the finest collections in the world, and it was a private collection the rarest European arms. This example of the 1850 Austrian Cavalry Horse Pistol was made in 1853 by Fruwirth [maker mark F.F.], it was a pistol that was in service production for only 4 years, before the Augustin tube-lock system was abandoned for the standard percussion system. The Austrian tube lock arms were placed in storage and then sold to the US for the Civil War, being bought by both the Union and the Confederates, with some being converted to the standard percussion in Belgium before their journey to America. It is unknown exactly how many were bought but it is recorded that [ of the more common 1849 pattern longarm version] some 25,000 were imported and sent to Freeman's forces in Missouri in 1861. The North also acquired a recorded 346 imported horse pistols, but it is unknown how many were bought by the Confederates. A picture in the gallery of a Civil War cavalryman with his horse pistol in it's holster [saddle-bucket] attached to the front of his saddle. | | A Very Rare Bombay Engineers Officer's Sword of The Indian Mutiny A very rare historical Wilkinson sword of the highly sought after era of the East India Company's Bombay Engineers, from the time of the Indian Mutiny. Early Indian Regimental swords are very scare and much sought after by collectors. This is a super example, based on the 1821 British Cavalry officer's sabre pattern, with a fully deluxe etched blade bearing Queen Victoria's cypher and the regimental device of the Bombay Engineers. Their officers were British, and they served their Queen, their country and the East India Company Army with distinction in the Mutiny, with three of the regiments combat fatalities listed below :
Lieutenant William George Douglas Dick - killed in action at Jhansi - 8th April 1858
Aged 22. Son of the late John Campbell Dick, Bengal Civil Service.
2nd Lieutenant Charles Hancock - wounded in explosion at Kotah - 30th March 1858. died of wounds 14th April 1858 Aged 21. Son of Major-General Hancock, Bombay Army.
2nd Lieutenant Hugh R. Meiklejohn - killed in action at Jhansi - 8th April 1858. This sabre may well have been owned by one of those gentlemen or one of their brother officer's. With it's original leather and steel mounted scabbard. Non numbered blade [Numbering started on Wilkinson's blades in 1854]. Good Henry Wilkinson maker mark,address and seal mark. | | A Very Rare British Royal Naval Sea Service Pistol of the Pre 1756 Pattern Crown GR lock made by Willits, dated 1742, [a recorded London maker up to 1789] with the crowned ordnance inspector's/receiving mark, swan necked cock. All brass furniture, sea service butt cap with traditional short ears. Brass side plate with covered brass hole for the contemporarily removed long belt hook screw. In 1756 the Royal Navy was issued with the official Long Sea Service Pistol, which over the next century was changed adapted and remodeled to encompass modern advances in technology. Prior to the 1756 pattern the Navy used pistols that were also based on the Dragoon Pistols, used by the British cavalry regiments, but it took almost two decades to regularize the pattern in 1756. This highly scarce piece is one of those rarely seen pre-regularized pistols that were made in the years before the official pattern was determined. On first viewing it appears almost identical, but on closer inspection, and once it's date is revealed, one can see the subtle differences that set it apart from it's successor. A near identical example in sea recovered condition is in the National Maritime Collection, Their pistol was allegedly recovered from the wreck of the St Mathias in St Mary's Creek Chatham, that was sunk by fire during the assault by the Dutch on Chatham in 1667. This pistol has a further highly interesting feature. In the stock, at the grip, there are two purposefully cut notches. It has long been a tradition of both legend and fact that some warriors [of all persuasions] would 'notch-up' a victory in combat on the hilt or handle his weapon. Some of the most infamous of these were outlaws and gunmen of the American Wild West, but the tradition is said to go back thousands of years. These notches are so deliberate, and without any other easily explained purpose, that it is very reasonable to assume these were executed for one and the same purpose, as a symbol or memory of victory by the matelot, maybe a ship sunk or captured, or an enemy cut down by gunfire in close quarter action, The pistol can be viewed on the national maritime museum website | | A Very Rare Early American Officer's Horse-Mounted Dispatch Case Bearing a name and town addressed plaque of 'Newburgh County', this horseman's dispatch case is from the town and era of the famous event known as 'General Washington's Newburgh Conspiracy' where George Washington cleverly averted a disastrous mutiny amongst the ranks of the officers of the new 'American Army', due to the new government not paying their army officers, leaving them in dire straits and in a woefully bad state of morale. | | A Very Scarce French Chassepot Rifle Artillery Musketoon Modele 1866 The scarce Artillery Musketoon model, St Etienne. Converted to the Gras system in 1874. Renamed the 1866-74. At some time this gun has been used by the French colonial troops, the famous Spahi, and over decorated with flamboyant inlays at the butt, possibly when the gun was retired from military service . 11mm calibre, .20+ inch barrel. no licence required.Its inventor was, Antoine Alphonse Chassepot, and it became the French service weapon in 1866. It was first used at the battlefield at Mentana, November 1867, where it inflicted severe losses on Garibaldi's troops. The event was reported at the French Parliament: "Les Chassepots ont fait merveille!", {The Chassepots did marvelous execution !} In the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) it proved greatly superior to the German Dreyse needle gun, outranging it by 2 to 1. Although it was a smaller caliber but the chassepot ammunition had more gunpowder and thus faster muzzle velocity. The Chassepots were responsible for most of the Prussian and other German casualties during the conflict. Small Gras cartridge adaption bolt head lacking | | A Very Scarce, Victorian, Royal Marines Light Infantry Tunic In traditional red cloth with blue trim. With original Victorian buttons by Player of Birmingham. Players were traced by us as last being in business in Birmingham in 1880. Named feintly to Farrant, we traced the a Farrant who served in the RMLI who was born in 1846, and his service in the 'Red' Marines the Royal Marines Light Infantry, was in the Plymouth Division from 1856 -1872. Untouched condition,some areas need cleaning. Associated belt with standard lion over crown centre. | | A Victorian 1839/42 Pattern Carbine. Full walnut stock, all brass furniture. VR Crown Lock marked Tower. Hanovarian bayonet catch recess in brass forend. 26.5 inch barrel, 43 inches overall. | | A Victorian British Heavy Cavalry Sabre of The Household Cavalry The sword of the elite Royal Horse Guards, the monarch's mounted bodyguard. A sabre of the Boer War vintage, fully ordnance marked and dated.Blackened finish. Overall surface pitting. No scabbard. | | A Victorian British Royal Artillery Officer's Undress Sabretache A Victorian officer's despatch and document case worn with the Artillery officer's uniform, suspended from a belt by straps, until it's use was discontinued in 1901. Bearing it's original, good, Royal Artillery badge with cannon. | | A Victorian Highlander's Small Dirk Made purely for dress purposes without any blades. Nicely engraved silver, traditional stone set pommels, original leather belt mount, maker marked on the scabbard Forsyth of Edinburgh and Glasgow.10 inches long overall Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | A Victorian Royal Company of Archer's Dagger [Sword conversion] The Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland. The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, who are the Sovereign's immediate bodyguard, or "nearest guard," in England, have their counterpart in the Royal Company of Archers, who have the same high duties and privileges in Scotland; and at the Monarch's Coronation their noble commander, called Captain-General—to whom George IV presented a gold stick, thus constituting his company part of the Royal household—takes his place immediately behind the Gold Stick of England, who, as Colonel of the Life Guards, is, on all ceremonial occasions, nearest the Sovereign's own person. This dagger is a conversion from the Royal Company of Archer's field dress sword [which is a roman gladius style short sword] with an ormulu rococo form hilt and a copper gilt and leather scabbard. A most heavy and substantial piece of superb quality. | | A Victorian, Deluxe, Regimental Sword of The Lancashire Rifle Volunteers A good combat weight blade. With a noble crest design within the regimental patterned blade with a delightful frosted finish overall. Pierced steel hilt | | A Wild West Era Shoulder Holster A good leather concealed holster with leather belt for a pocket revolver. | | A Wonderful Antique Drum. With the badge of the Royal Sussex Regiment Fully painted with the regimental badge, of all the regiments Battle Honours of Louisburg, Quebec, 1759 Maida, and Nile 1884-1885 before the Boer War period. One of the great British Regiments that saw fine and noble service by it's officer's and men throughout the British Empire. Originally formed as the Earl of Donegal's Regiment of Foot in 1693 (raised by Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall in Belfast), it was disbanded in 1698 and raised again in 1701. The regiment was also known as the Belfast Regiment and by two other colonel's names before it was given the numerical title of 35th in 1747. It was given the title Prince of Orange's Own Regiment in 1751 and in 1782 became the 35th (The Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot. In 1805 the regiment changed its county allegiance and recruiting ground becoming the 35th (Sussex) Regiment of Foot.
In 1881 during the Childer's Reforms of the British Army the 35th Regiment was united with the 107th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Light Infantry) to form the The Royal Sussex Regiment. Following it's last name change the regiment was sent to Egypt in 1882 as part of General Wolseley's expedition to crush the Urabi Revolt and conquer Egypt in the name of the Khedive. The 2nd Battalion was stationed in Alexandria after its bombardment by the Royal Navy and the 1st Battalion was engaged in several of the decisive land battles in that short-lived conflict. Later, in 1884, the regiment was part of the Nile Expedition--the unsuccessful attempt to save General Gordon and his garrison at Khartoum during the Mahdist War. Twenty men of the regiment, lead by Lt. Lionel Trafford, lead the advanced party towards Khartoum. Being told that the enemy would flee at the sight of the British in their red coats, they traded their khaki for the scarlet of the Camel Guards. Nevertheless, the British relief force was two days too late, as Khartoum had fallen and Gordon was killed. The 2nd Battalion, stationed in India, was part of the Black Mountain Expedition of 1888, as one of many battles fought along the North-West Frontier Province. The Tirah Campaign was a campaign organised in 1897 by Sir William Lockhart against the Afridis and the Orakzais in the Tirah Valley on the North West Indian frontier, part as what was known as 'The Great Game' the conflict between Russia and the British Empire for control of India. As Imperial Russian expansion threatened to collide with the increasing British dominance of the Indian sub-continent, the two great empires played out a subtle game of exploration, espionage and imperialistic diplomacy throughout Central Asia. The conflict always threatened, but never quite developed into direct warfare between the two sides. However, there were great battles and conflicts that were created by 'The Great Game', including the Tirah Campaign and The Punjab Frontier in 1897-98. Rudyard Kipling's clasic novel KIM was made into a Hollywood spectacular starring Errol Flynn, and the entire novel was based around the espionage and conflict derived from this fascinating and significant era of the converging interests of Russia and Britain. There is a bronze monument in Eastbourne, Sussex, to the casualties of the 2nd Battallion serving in Tirah.. In 1900, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Royal Sussex Militia) Battalions of the regiment joined the British Army in the bloody Anglo-Boer War. The 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment served in India till 1914 when they were transferred to Europe for service in the the Great War. | | A Zulu War British Officers Sabre of the 4th Foot [The Kings Own] A sword of very good historical interest specifically towards the 1879 Zulu War. A traditional officers pierced brass gothic hilted sword with Queen Victoria's cypher. With a pipe back blade. It has small regimental numerals on the hilt for the 2nd Battalion 4th Ft. that would likely indicate it was one of the regiment's issue swords, as opposed to a private purchase. One of the decorated regiments that valiantly fought alongside the 24th Foot in the Zulu War. The regiments history in the Zulu War is thus; Jan 1879 Receive news of the disaster at Isandlwana
Jan 1879 6 companies march to Helpmakaar
Jan 1879 6 companies moved from Helpmakaar to Utrecht and Greytown
Jan 1879 3 companies garrisoned previously at Cape Town receive orders to join HQ.
26th Jan 1879 These 3 companies embarked in the “African” a privately owned mail ship, rented by an entrepreneur to the Gov't to quickly get reinforcements to Durban.
29th Jan 1879 These 3 companies arrive at Durban
2nd Feb 1879 These 3 companies reach Maritzburg
Feb 1879 These 3 companies await arrival of 21st Regiment
Feb 1879 These 3 companies continue on viâ Colenso, Ladysmith, and Newcastle to
Utrecht and Greytown, from there they were despatched to Balte’s Spruit, Conference Hill, and Lüneberg. During this march Major Blake and Capt. Moore were surrounded by Zulu impi but were not attacked.
The companies of the battalion were distributed 'in reserve' over a wide area of country, including the Utrecht district, Potgreter’s Farm, Lüneberg, Balte’s Spruit, Conference Hill, etc.
28 Mar 1879 Involved in Battle of Inhlobana Hill
29th Mar 1879 Some 2nd/4th casualties incurred at Kambula.
3rd Jul 1879 Reconnaissance before Ulundi
4th Jul 1879 Battle of Ulundi
Jul 1879 After the battle of Ulundi, the companies were relieved by those of the 24th Regiment of Foot and then proceeded to Lüneberg and Standerton in the Transvaal.
6th Sept 1879 Colonel Bray, with three companies of the regiment, assisted by the Frontier Light Horse and a detachment of Engineers, blew up the caves known as Mbilini’s, in the neighbourhood of the Ntombe River.
Sept 1879 Manyanyoba, the independent chief who had long given great trouble, now surrendered. He had been holed up in the Mbilini's Cave, so commonly referred to as Manyanyoba's Cave.
8th Sept 1879 Some 2nd/4th casualties incurred at LunebergIt.The sword is a little battle weary with visible combat signs on the hilt but for a sword of the Zulu War this is certainly to it's benefit. It clearly shows it is a good honest example of a combat sword, that has been used for the very intention that it was made. With scabbard [worn chape]. Last photo in the gallery of a painting by Charles Edwin Fripp of the Zulu War. [Information only not included] | | All Steel Antique Silver Inlaid Kindjal. A medium size Kindjal typical of these Russian and Caucasian daggers. Silver worn in parts. A nice antique piece.19th century. 40cm o/a length | | American 1830's Kentucky Plains Rifle of Classic Hawken Type Tiger stripe wood stock, traditional brass fittings with various geometric shapes and an American bald eagle with flag shield inlaid. Striped wooden ramrod. Set trigger action. Elongated trigger guard, crescentic butt form.Superb patination. The 'Kentucky Rifle' and the Plains Rifle were probably the most famous, and certainly the most beautiful rifles ever made in America's long history of fine arms making. They was used to incredible effect by the backwoods and mountain men in the American Revolutionary War, and by Congressman and Tennessee hero Davy Crockett and his riflemen, in the Creek Indian War, in 1813, and at The Alamo. The Alamo was the famous siege and battle valiantly fought by the Texican volunteers against Mexican forces, under the despotic General Santa Anna, in 1836. Last picture in the gallery is of the fall of the Alamo and the Kentuckians | | American 19th Century Socket Bayonet Marked from Rock Island Arsenal a good 19th century bayonet with traditional 'US' brass disc within leather scabbard mount. | | Amost Interesting and Attractve Albanian Rat-Tail Pistol Traditional Miquelet Lock with all metal stock with fancy scroll work design.18th century, short barrel.39cm long overall. | | An 11mm Remington Rollingblock Carbine 1871 With walnut stock, 2 slingswivels, breech with Crown stamp and dated 1871. No remaining manufacturers markings.The Remington Rollingblock rifle was one of Remington's most sucessful long guns, that was introduced at the close of the Civil War in 1865, and a highly effective design for it's age. Numerous worldwide contracts for the Rollingblock gained Remington huge advantage in the military long arm market, during the last quarter of the 19th century. | | An 1821 Pat. British Officer's Cavalry Combat Sabre The sword used by officers in the Crimean war during all the major battles, including the infamous 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. In good order, with steel 3 bar hilt with triple wire bound fishskin grip, and steel scabbard with full traces of etching to the blade. A super example of these very highly collectable and sought after swords from the greatest era of the great British Empire cavalry, and used by probably the most famous and noble cavalry regiments that ever saw combat. The Charge of the Light Brigade was a disastrous cavalry charge led by Lord Cardigan during the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854 in the Crimean War. It is best remembered as the subject of a famous poem entitled The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, whose lines "Theirs not to reason why / Theirs but to do and die" have made the charge a symbol of warfare at both its most courageous and its most tragic. A photo in the gallery is of the charge, when the British Hussars fought to capture the Russian cannon. [for information only] | | An 1821 Pat. British Officers Cavalry Sabre The sword used by officers in the Crimean war during all the major battles, including the infamous 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. In very good order, with steel 3 bar hilt with triple wire bound fishskin grip, and steel scabbard withfull nickle plating, around 85% intact. Excellent bright polished plain blade with traditional proof mark. A super example of these very highly collectable and sought after swords from the greatest era of the great British Empire cavalry, and used by probably the most famous and noble cavalry regiments that ever saw combat. The Charge of the Light Brigade was a disastrous cavalry charge led by Lord Cardigan during the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854 in the Crimean War. It is best remembered as the subject of a famous poem entitled The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, whose lines "Theirs not to reason why / Theirs but to do and die" have made the charge a symbol of warfare at both its most courageous and its most tragic. | | An 1857 Tower of London Three Band Enfield Pattern Rifle Walnut stock, lock with good Tower markings. Three steel barrel bands, steel barrel [with old corrosion]. A British, Light Infantry and Infantry Rifle, made at the Tower of London and issued to front line regiments during the Indian Mutiny. Made as a replacement for the pattern '42 musket, this was a superb pattern of rifle that was created just in time for the Crimean War against Russia. First issued to the Light Infantry regiments, such as the Durham Light Infantry [a photo in the gallery of this pattern gun carried by the DLI Riflemen in the Crimea], it was was then distributed to the regular Infantry Divisions. In 1861 many of these guns were supplied to the Americans for the Civil War, as, after the Springfield, the Enfield was the second most used rifle in the US Civil War. This gun has numerous ordnance and War Dept stock markings, full Crown VR lock markings, and full barrel proof marks.Traditional brass butt plate and trigger guard. A great gun of amazing history. Regimental markings to butt tang 2 B. 14. Lacking rammer. | | An 18th Century Flintlock Sporting Gun with Fish-Belly Stock Walnut half-stock, leather padded cheek piece, swan necked cock to lock, steel ramrod, distinctive fish-belly butt form. Medium bore.Good condition fo age, re-polished stock.No visible pitting. | | An 18th Century Indo- Persian Pesh Kabz Dagger. Distinctive recurved blade,'ivory grip', red velvet covered wooden scabbard. Good condition for age | | An 18th Century Infantry Sword From Warwick Castle With Civil War Blade Used during the 7 Years War era. The Seven Years' War 1756-1763, was the European counterpart to the French and Indian War 1754-1763. It began between France and England on May 15, 1756, when the latter made a formal declaration of war. With a blade that bears armourers marks I O H.. H. This is very likely Johan Kindt of Hounsloe, circa 1634. Sword blades of this form were purchased for the Civil War. The London Museum published a work in 1957 , 'Arms and Armour of Tudor and Stuart London', showing Hounsloe blades by Kindt that had been remounted in the 1740's. One was a remounted sword blade that had belonged to Sir Thomas Player, the City Chamberlain under King Charles IInd. from the Armoury of Britain's [and perhaps Europe's] greatest Medieval Castle, Warwick Castle. William the Conqueror ordered the start of the building of Warwick in the 11th century, and by the 14th century the great Towers were completed. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have the opportunity to acquire some wonderful arms and weaponry from a small disposal from the Castle Armoury, in order to benefit the restoration of the Castle. In the year 1264, the castle was seized by the forces of Simon de Montfort, who consequently imprisoned the then current Earl, William Mauduit, and his Countess at Kenilworth (who were supporters of the king and loyals to the barons) until a ransom was paid. After the death of William Mauduit, the title and castle were passed to William de Beauchamp. Following the death of William de Beauchamp, Warwick Castle subsequently passed through seven generations of the Beauchamp family, who over the next 180 years were responsible for the majority of the additions made to Warwick Castle. After the death of the last direct-line Beauchamp, Anne, the title of Earl of Warwick, as well as the castle, passed to Richard Neville ("the Kingmaker"), who married the sister of the last Earl (Warwick was unusual in that the earldom could be inherited through the female line). Warwick Castle then passed from Neville to his son-in-law (and brother of Edward IV of England), George Plantagenet, and shortly before the Duke's death, to his son, Edward. Several Kings owned Warwick including King Henry VIIth, and Henry VIIIth, James Ist, and also Queen Elizabeth. Bears the Warwick Castle Armoury inventory disc, number . Possibly the only opportunity to ever own a fine sword of this type from such a reknown collectionOne photo in the gallery is of Warwick Castle [not included] | | An 18th Century Small Sword Rapier. A Long, Boot or Cloak Sword Cast brass hilt with relief figural decoration, and hawthorn wood grip. Steel rapier blade with engraving and deep fuller. No knuckle bow or guard. No scabbard. Circa 1750. The knuckle bow and guard have been purposefully removed and the hilt re-attached. We had one quite similar, around 20 years ago, which came with an old article from a Connoisseur journal, It described, what was called, a boot or cloak sword. In the days of the threat by highwaymen, when a gentleman may have the need to consistently travel from town to town on horseback, but not by mail coach, a constant traveler might adapt a sword that could be easily slotted into knee high riding boots, or slipped into an especially constructed sleeve inside a riding cloak. For in wet and inclement weather a gentleman's flintlock pistol could not function, so without a sword for protection he was dangerously defenseless. Naturally a standard rapier short sword would be more normal, but on occasion, a gentleman that traveled constantly, or journeyed on perilous pursuits [such as a revenue man] might require a more concealable sword that would be far more easily manageable on both horseback or on foot. It also has the unique advantage of being eminently useable as a short distance spear type weapon, as it's weight balance is now very effective for that alternate purpose. 29.75 inches long overall | | An 18th To 19th Century Indo Persian Sword With an inscribed blade and traditional Tulwar hilt. A battle sword that would have seen service in the era of the British war against Tippoo Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore. Probably brought back to England as a trophy of war. | | An American 19th Century Secret Society Sword With beautiful Globe & Crown Pommel wire bound leather grip. Fancy brass mounts with steel and brass pommel | | An Ancient Chinese Bronze Battle 'Ge' Polearm around 2700 Years Old A rare Pole Arm Halberd of the Zhou or Tang Dynasty. The word 'Ge' means dagger axe. The whole form of this beautiful example is based around a bird of prey, in relief. Beautifully modeled with hieroglyphics, an elongated main blade and a shorter back blade. Around 700 B.C.Socket mount for a wooden haft. Good patina with feint signs of cuprite that forms beneath the encrustation. This item is, in many ways, most interesting as it is so reminiscent of Ancient Egypt. The whole form and design appears, on first inspection, to be based around Horus god of Edfu [ the Hawk, god of the sky, protector of Kingship and son of Osiris and Isis]. A replacement short haft for illustration purposes has been fitted. National Geographic made a superb documentary on the uses of the 'Ge' in warfare with a near identical original example shown. | | An Ancient, Beautiful, Bronze Flanged Dagger of the era of The Trojan Wars In one piece daggers of this form the hilts were flanged so that they could take inlaid scales of wood, bone, or metal. Made in the Persian Empire this dagger would have been a prized possession of a Warrior from the time of the legendary 'Siege of Troy'. A beautiful antiquity with good patina and great form. Circa 800 B.C. very possibly earlier. 151/2 inches long | | An Anglo Saxon Nobles Prick Spur. 10th century A rare piece of pre Norman Conquest 10th Century ironwork. A Noble's Prick Spur complete with it's original fastening buckle. Set on a small display board. | | An Antique British Officers Infantry Sword of the Crimean War Brass hilt with pierced gothic hilt pattern. With the full relief cypher of Queen Victoria. A traditional combat sword in worn order. Twist wooden grip lacking fishskin. No scabbard. | | An Antique Honourable Artillery Company Officer's Sword Typical gilt metal hilt with the HAC grenade. Excellently etched blade including the monogramme and crest of it's noble original owner. The HAC can trace its history as far back as 1296, but it received a Royal Charter from Henry VIII on 25 August 1537, when Letters Patent were received by the Overseers of the Fraternity or Guild of St George authorising them to establish a perpetual corporation for the defence of the realm to be known as the Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Longbows, Crossbows and Handgonnes. This body was known by a variety of names until 1656, when it was first referred to as the Artillery Company. It was first referred to as the Honourable Artillery Company in 1685 and officially received the name from Queen Victoria in 1860.
The regiment has the rare distinction of having fought on the side of both Parliament and the Royalists during the English Civil War 1642 to 1649. | | An Antique Japanese Tanbo. From the Basil Robinson Collection. One of two we were fortunate to acquire, of differing lengths. He was president of the Royal Asiatic Society from 1970 to 1973. He was Keeper Emeritus at the Victoria and Albert from 1972 until his retirement in 1976. He joined the Victoria & Albert Museum in the late 1930's as Assistant Keeper of Metalwork. In WW2 he volunteered to serve in the Royal Sussex Regt. He served as an Intelligence Officer in the Headquarters of 14 Army, which defeated the Japanese in the course of the campaign in Burma whose major actions were the battles of Imphal and Kohima. After the end of the war, Robinson was sent to Singapore to be employed, on the basis of his knowledge of Japanese swords, in evaluating large quantities of swords surrendered by the defeated enemy. He was able to obtain the services of Colonel Yamada Sakae, of the 3rd Air Force, who had been a member of the sword evaluating committee of the Japanese War Office, to assist in his task.
He returned to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1946. In the years following the war, Robinson proved a prolific author, publishing monographs on Persian miniatures and paintings, on Japanese swords and armor, and on the woodblock prints of Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi. His The Arts of the Japanese Sword (1961) was one of a small number of post-WWII publications in European languages which played a crucial role in opening up the study of Nihonto to Western students and collectors.
The use of the short tanbo, a twelve to eighteen inch truncheon, may have come from the tessan, or war fan. Usually when a samurai was inside visiting a home, he might remove his katana, but would still wear his short sword. However, in some situations he might be obliged to remove even this. In these situations he could always carry a fan, the Tessan. It is believed by some that the Tanbo evolved from this. The advantage of the tanbo is that, being shorter than a normal cudgel the use of the weapon is not obvious, and getting the necessary wrist snap requires some training and practice. Therefore, since presumably your opponent is not familiar with the technique, the weapon does not present as great a threat as, for example, a knife, should you be disarmed. 46 cm long In dark hardwood | | An Antique Koummya Jambiya Dagger of North Africa Tradition double edged blade with brass and silver metal coloured mounted scabbard. Dark hardwood hilt rimmed in arab silver with black cord belt.Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | An Antique Koummya Jambiya Dagger of North Africa Tradition double edged blade with brass and arab silver coloured metal mounted scabbard. Dark hardwood hilt rimmed in brass with black cord belt.Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | An Attractive Antique Indonesian Kris The traditional Indonesian weapon allegedly endowed with religious and mystical powers. The hilt on this example is somewhat unusual as it is carved in the form of an Armadillo like creature. Traditional meteoritic laminated iron serpentine blade. Wooden scabbard overlaid with brass that is finely engraved with a horticultural design | | An Early 19th Century English Percussion Long Gun Extra long barrel, percussion action, good walnut stock with chequered grip, 68 inches long [approx] overall. A good stout musket of fine proportions. | | An Early 19th Century Napoleonic, Elite, Heavy Cavalry Armour Cuirass Good steel composite front and back plate, steel mounted leather straps [leather very old replacements]. Fully brass studded, with 26 brass rim studs [2 missing] to the front plate, and around 22 to the back plate [8 missing]. Leather belt. Overall russet surface. A good and highly collectable piece of early 19th century Heavy Cavalry armour. The elite French Heavy Cavalry Mk 1 and Mk 11 pattern front cuirasses, pricipally used from 1802 to 1808, were near identical to this example, with the early peasquod type frontispiece and the brass rim stud arrangement. Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. They were the successors of the medieval armoured knights. The term is derived from cuirass, the breastplate armour which they wore. The first cuirassiers did not appear very different from the medieval knights; they wore (almost) full-body armour, and the only items of equipment which differentiated them from knights were leather riding boots and the use of wheel-lock pistols, in addition to lances and swords.
Cuirassiers wore armour long after it had become of limited value in the face of the ever-increasing use of firearms. However, the extent of the armour worn was gradually decreased so that, by the end of the 18th century, it comprised only a breastplate (the cuirass or plastron), backplate (carapace), and helmet. The Elite Cuirassiers fought against each other in some of the most spectacular battles ever seen, involving the cavalry of Austria, Prussia, Russia, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Britain. From 1805 at Wertingen, Elchingen, Hollabrunn, and battle of Austerlitz
1806 : Battle of Jena
1807 : Heilsberg and battle of Friedland
1809 : Eckmühl, Ratisbonne, Essling, and battle of Wagram
1812 : Mohilev, battle of Borodino, and Winkowo
1813 : Bautzen, Reichenbach, Jauer, Dresde, Wachau, and Leipzig
1814 : La Rothière, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Valjouan, Athies, Reims, Fere-Champenoise, and Paris
1815 : Ligny, and finally, Waterloo. Early Napoleonic Cuirassiers armour is now so truly rare as to be near unavailable. The back plate in it's working life has been field repaired and slightly extended, probably for a larger built cuirassier trooper than first used it. This wonderful piece is in total sleeper condition, and if one chose it could be buffed and polished to near return it to it's once brilliant polish. However, we are loathe to attempt this, as many may prefer to leave it just as is, with all it's natural age and battle scars intact. The decision whether to polish or leave should be made by it's next fortunate owner. | | An Eastern European 18th Century Rat-Tail Pistol All brass metal stock with elongated butt long steel barrel and steel trigger guard.Pierced nail-head butt decoration. Good strong Miquielet action. A popular long holster pistol used throughout Europe and Russia. | | An Edwardian Colonel's Scarlet Cloth Sidecap, of 15th [The Kings] Hussars. Good condition overall. With two Lion and Crown buttons for the rank of Colonel and Brigadier . | | An Indo Nepalese Presentation Kukhri Dagger A most attractive Kukhri of presentation form decorated with gilt bullion and pearl beads. | | An Indo-Persian Tulwar With An Ancient, Possibly Crusades Era, Blade A sword with a really early watered steel blade, that has most likely been rehilted in around the 18th century. The blade has, due to it possibly being lost at an old battle site, begun to reveal it's lamination. This is very unusual, and it creates a rather interesting and attractive perspective of a blade, that one never normally sees. The blade could reasonably be estimated as being 14th to 15th century, from the later Crusades era. It is very rarely seen, but now and again, one comes across an early, rehilted sword blade, that is referred to as an 'ancestral blade'. A blade from a much earlier era, maybe used or even captured in battle by an ancestor, from long past and near forgotton wars, that was re-hilted in later times, so it may be used by the original sword owner's descendant. This sword would be far more valuable if it was in slightly better condition, and certainly if it's specific history was known, but none the less it is a super thing, worthy of much conversation. | | An Indonesian Polearm of Spear blade form Meteoritical blade form in traditional straight bladed Kris style. Hardwood long haft.Embossed brass decorative haft mount. | | An Interesting Boer War & WW1 Medal Group With Paperwork For a Regimental Sergeant Major-Warrant Officer. Queen's South Africa Medal 4 clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal [all clasps now missing] , Kings South Africa Medal , 2 clasps 1901 1902, and WW1 Silver War Medal. To Charles Clarke in the West Yorks Regiment and later in the Middlesex Regt. The paperwork comprises of various parchments, including his discharge certificate and reserve certificate issued after 12 years of service, promotion letter to Warrant Officer, a photograph of him and his regimental notebook. The medals are bruised and imperfect but this is a jolly interesting collection and, we feel, very reasonably priced accordingly. | | An Islamic Dagger. With a highly unusual wide blade, horn hilt and leather scabbard with geometric patterning.Early 19th century. | | An Old Horn Powder Flask Typical cow horn flask with horn stopper. | | An Original & Beautiful Antique Helmet, British, 1st Royal Dragoons The Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1661, and served until 1969, when it was amalgamated with the Royal Horse Guards to form The Blues and Royals.
The regiment was first raised as a single troop of veterans of the Parliamentary Army in 1661, shortly thereafter expanded to four troops as the Tangier Horse, taking the name from their service in Tangier. They were ranked as the 1st Dragoons, the oldest cavalry regiment of the line, in 1674; on their return to England in 1683 the three troops were joined with three newly-raised troops and titled The King's Own Royal Regiment of Dragoons, named for Charles II. In 1690 they were renamed as simply The Royal Regiment of Dragoons, and formally titled in 1751 as the 1st (Royal) Regiment of Dragoons. The title was simplified in 1877 to the 1st (Royal) Dragoons The 1RD fought throughout the Peninsular War and had the singular honour of forming the English contingent of the Union Brigade at Waterloo. They rode to immortal glory that day in the finest company of the Scots Greys and The Inniskilling Dragoons. Together they shattered d'Erlons Corp and took several prized Eagles. At the Battle of Waterloo where the regiment captured the French 105th Infantry Regiment's Colours. The eagle that topped the Colour, with the number 105, formed part of the Regiment's crest uniforms. The latter half of the nineteenth century saw them in action in the Crimea. In the Crimea they formed part of the Heavy Brigade under General Scarlett, joining in the charge at Balaklava, and attacking in flank the hostile squadron that threatened to envelop the first line. For this the Royals are authorised to wear the words "Balaklava" and "Sebastopol" on their standards, which in 1858 were no longer carried by each squadron, one being given the entire regiment. They served in the Boer War (by then called 1st (Royal) Dragoons) and in India before deploying to Flanders in 1914. The regiment fought at Ypres, Loos, Hohenzollern and against the Hindenburg line in 1917. The inter war years saw 1st The Royal Dragoons stationed in Egypt, India and Palestine before the regiment was deployed to the Western Desert in 1941 seeing distinguished service at El Alamein, followed by service in Sicily and Italy. Operation Overlord in 1944 saw the regiment in Normandy from where they went onto liberate Copenhagen in 1945. The regiment survived the immediate post-war reduction in forces, and was retitled as The Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) in 1961, but this name was short-lived; it was amalgamated with the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues), to form The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) in 1969. This good original helmet looks absolutely glorious, however, there are some old age imperfections where the skull, at some time in it's service, has been dented and some old restoration has been achieved. Fortunately they are mostly behind the plume area and thus near invisible. | | An Original and Rare Edo Jidai 'Ninja' Armour A Very Rare, Edo Era [1599-1863] Japanese 'Ninja' Armour. Originally we believed this to be a Samurai Ashigaru [foot soldiers] armour, but after extensive research and information given to us by a learned Samurai scholar we now know it is a very rare, original, antique Ninja's armour. An innocuous shirt of anonymous simplicity that actually contains concealed chain mail armour hidden within it's interior. Ninja, as a group, it is said, first began to be written about in 15th century feudal Japan as martial organizations predominately in the regions of Iga and Koga of central Japan [unconfirmed], though the practice of guerrilla warfare and undercover espionage operations goes back much further. At this time, the conflicts between the clans of Daimyo that controlled small regions of land had established guerrilla warfare and assassination as a valuable alternative to frontal assault.Since Bushido, the samurai code, forbade such tactics as dishonorable, a daimyo could not expect his own Samurai troops to perform the tasks required; thus, he had to buy or broker the assistance of ninja to perform selective strikes, espionage, assassination, and infiltration of enemy strongholds. There is a lot of mythology surrounding the Ninja, and due to much of this folklore, over the decades, straight Ninja swords have been requested of us by new collectors, but, in fact, Ninja swords never actually existed. By very neccessity a Ninja had to be anonymous with little to identify him from a normal low rank Samurai, so he would use standard Samurai sword [Wakazashi or Katana] of plain simplicity. The armour coat is in dark blue, a linen coat inner lined with chain mail and small, horn octagonal armour plates throughout. Black trim with laced cord sides. This is a rare piece, we have only seen one similar, many, many years ago. It is a plain coat that if not recognized for what it is, would probably discarded when found, and most likely nearly all that were ever made were treated in this fashion and sadly destroyed. We have photographed the coat with some pictures showing, through careful, invasive camera technique, the chain mail and horn plate construction within the two layers of cloth. | | An Original Victorian Cavalry Helmet of the Loyal Suffolk Hussars. A super county yeomanry helmert with it's original plume and in untouched condition. The Duke of Yorks Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars were formed in 1794, when King George III was on the throne, William Pitt the Younger was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and across the English Channel, Britain was faced by a French nation that had recently guillotined its King and possessed a revolutionary army numbering half a million men. The Prime Minister proposed that the English Counties form a force of Volunteer Yeoman Cavalry that could be called on by the King to defend the country against invasion or by the Lord Lieutenant to subdue any civil disorder within the country.The Suffolk Yeomanry was raised in as the Loyal Suffolk Hussars, they fought in the Boer war as part of the Imperial Yeomanry. In the First World War they fought at Gallipoli, Palestine and the Western front. During the Second World War they fought in North Africa, Italy and France.This wonderful helmat has fortunately not been restored and is in it's original state, with superb colour patina and complete with it's original plume and brass chinscales. Some skull dent bruising and It's liner is mostly lacking. | | AN Unusually Large Chinese Ching Dynasty Trousse With steel mounts this is a most impressive Trousse [container of eating and utility implements] used by an Officer when on campaign in the service of the Emperor. Mandarins examples are small and beautifully intricate and made of luxurious materials such as Jade , Gold, Ray Skin and Silver. This is a far more substantial [twice the normal size] and robust but still has the typical fine quality features in the key pattern mounts and the small picks concealed in it's sheath. | | Ancient Bronze Age Spear, 4000 Years Old An Amlash spear made around 2000 B.C. Good socket mount with excellent natural age encrustation patina. | | Antique Arquebus Battlement Gun From The Armoury of Maharajah of Jaipur This huge gun would make a fantastic display piece. It is one of a collection we acquired from the Armoury of The Maharajah of Jaipur and stored since the time of Tippoo Sultan in the late 18th century. Walnut Stock, long steel barrel, matchlock mechanism, stamped with with Jaipur Arsenal Mark. Due to their size we cannot ship these guns outside of the UK. . Amazingly impressive arm at very little cost and great value. Generic representative photos, all the guns are very slightly different. Approx 8ft long various degrees of natural age wear and some age damage. Stock will need a little work. Generic photos, please contact for further delivery details. UK Delivery only | | Antique Arquebus Battlement Gun From The Armoury of Maharajah of Jaipur This huge gun would make a fantastic display piece. It is one of a collection we acquired from the Armoury of The Maharajah of Jaipur and stored since the time of Tippoo Sultan in the late 18th century. Walnut Stock, long steel barrel, matchlock mechanism, stamped with with Jaipur Arsenal Mark. Due to their size we cannot ship these guns outside of the UK. . Amazingly impressive arm at very little cost and great value. Generic representative photos, all the guns are very slightly different. Approx 8ft long various degrees of natural age wear and some age damage. Stock will need a little work. Generic photos, please contact for further delivery details. UK Delivery only | | Antique Arquebus Battlement Gun From The Armoury of Maharajah of Jaipur This huge gun would make a fantastic display piece. It is one of a collection we acquired from the Armoury of The Maharajah of Jaipur and stored since the time of Tippoo Sultan in the late 18th century. Walnut Stock, long steel barrel, matchlock mechanism, stamped with with Jaipur Arsenal Mark. Due to their size we cannot ship these guns outside of the UK. . Amazingly impressive arm at very little cost and great value. Generic representative photos, all the guns are very slightly different. Approx 8ft long various degrees of natural age wear and some age damage. Stock will need a little work. Generic photos, please contact for further delivery details. UK Delivery only | | Antique Arquebus Battlement Gun From The Armoury of Maharajah of Jaipur This huge gun would make a fantastic display piece. It is one of a collection we acquired from the Armoury of The Maharajah of Jaipur and stored since the time of Tippoo Sultan in the late 18th century. Walnut Stock, long steel barrel, matchlock mechanism, stamped with with Jaipur Arsenal Mark. Due to their size we cannot ship these guns outside of the UK. . Amazingly impressive arm at very little cost and great value. Generic representative photos, all the guns are very slightly different. Approx 8ft long various degrees of natural age wear and some age damage. Stock will need a little work. Generic photos, please contact for further delivery details. UK Delivery only | | Antique Arquebus Battlement Gun From The Armoury of Maharajah of Jaipur This huge gun would make a fantastic display piece. It is one of a collection we acquired from the Armoury of The Maharajah of Jaipur and stored since the time of Tippoo Sultan in the late 18th century. Walnut Stock, long steel barrel, matchlock mechanism, stamped with with Jaipur Arsenal Mark. Due to their size we cannot ship these guns outside of the UK. . Amazingly impressive arm at very little cost and great value. Generic representative photos, all the guns are very slightly different. Approx 8ft long various degrees of natural age wear and some age damage. Stock will need a little work. Generic photos, please contact for further delivery details. UK Delivery only | | Antique Arquebus Battlement Gun From The Armoury of Maharajah of Jaipur This huge gun would make a fantastic display piece. It is one of a collection we acquired from the Armoury of The Maharajah of Jaipur and stored since the time of Tippoo Sultan in the late 18th century. Walnut Stock, long steel barrel, matchlock mechanism, stamped with with Jaipur Arsenal Mark. Due to their size we cannot ship these guns outside of the UK. Amazingly impressive arm at very little cost and great value. Generic representative photos, all the guns are very slightly different. Approx 8ft long various degrees of natural age wear and some age damage. Stock will need a little work. Generic photos, please contact for further delivery details. UK Delivery only | | Antique Ching Dynasty 'Rose Medallion' Canton Export Porcelain Lamp A superb and beautiful lamp, circa 1830, with the body of a Cantonese Vase [in Rose Medallion pattern] with lacquered highly decorative pierced brass bottom mount and an oil lamp top, converted to electricity.25 inches high [not including light fitting] 33 inches high with shade | | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Glengarry Badge 1882 to 1900 Pattern In pressed nickle with good clear definition and in good condition, 2 lugs. | | Arriving Soon! A Magnificent 'Trafalgar 1805' British Sea Service Pistol Probably the best example of a Royal Navy Sea Service pistol [dated 1805] that we have ever seen. The King George IIIrd issue British Royal Naval Sea Service pistol has always been the most desireable and valuable pistol sought by collectors, but this example is truly exceptional. Exactly as issued to the Ship's-of-the-Line, for the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, such as HMS Victory, HMS Temeraire, HMS Dreadnought, HMS Revenge, HMS Agamemnon, HMS Collosus, HMS Leviathan & HMS Achilles. Some of the most magnificent ships, manned by the finest crews, that have ever sailed the seven seas. All the pictures in the gallery are of representations of the Battle of Trafalgar [for historical context and information only] Photos of the pistol will be posted on this site in a few days. | | Arriving Soon! A Magnificent Pair of German Holster Pistols From Dessau Finest engraved all steel mounts, grotesque mask long eared buttcaps, serpent sideplates and. Circa 1740. Finest walnut stocks. In the 18th century the cities and states that is now known as Germany produced some of the finest quality arms ever made. The demand at that time for arms of the finest quality was very strong indeed. Nobles and officers of all the European nations were constantly involved in either one war or another, or sometimes even several. Despite England having the reputation of having some of the world's finest gunsmiths at that time German made pistols were still very popular here due to their similar fine quality. They were of course highly prized by all of the most powerful and influencial nobles, Princes, and Kings throughout the whole of Europe, and all of the world finest arms collections of the time, and indeed today, always have within them the finest German guns. They were also very much used by the senior officers of both combatants in the American War of Independence, and a few fine examples most similar to these can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum and the Smithsonian in the USA. For example, around the time these fine pistols were made the Seven Years war was imminent, and it involved all of the major European powers. The war pitted Prussia and Britain and a coalition of smaller German states against an alliance consisting of Austria, France, Russia, Sweden, and Saxony. Russia temporarily changed sides in the later stages of the war.
Portugal (on the side of Great Britain) and Spain (on the side of France) were drawn into the conflict later, and a force from the neutral Netherlands was attacked in India. Because of its global nature, it has been described as the "first World War" and significant changes in the balance of power and territories of several of the participants.
The war began with Frederick the Great of Prussia's invasion of Saxony. Fighting between Britain, France and their respective allies in North America had broken out in 1754, two years before the general conflict, as part of an Imperial rivalry. The fighting in America is sometimes considered a separate war, the French and Indian War. This War of the 1760's has been superbly represented in numerous Hollywood classics starring the likes of Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable, and most lately in the modern and magnificent film classic 'Last of the Mohicans' by James Fenimore Cooper, directed by Michael Mann. Pistols of this identical form are shown in all of those films. Photos of them will be posted on site in the next few days. | | Austro Hungarian, Crown Jubilee Cross Medal of 1908 On the 2nd of December 1908 Kaiser Franz Joseph I celebrated his 60th Crown Jubilee. In a similar fashion to the celebrations held ten years previously, special commemorative decorations were instituted and awarded to honor all manner of service to the Kaiser and the country. The decoration itself was designed by the famous medal designer Kammermedailleur Professor Rudolf Marschall (1873-1967) and was based on a so-called Tatzenkreuz (a cross similar to that used by the German Iron Cross), of about 37 mm diameter, with a wreath of laurel leaves between the arms. On the obverse the cross bore a round centerfield, about 20 mm in diameter, depicting a portrait of the Emperor's head and on the viewer's left side the small inscription "FRANC.IOS.I." and - only in some cases - on the right side the very small designers mark "R.Marschall". On the plain rear side the two years "1848 - 1908" on two lines.This cross was presented to all officers, military officials and soldiers who had a minimum of 3 years of service on a professional status during the period between the 2nd of December 1898 and the 2nd of December 1908, also to all personnel who had taken part in a minimum of one engagement during the 1848/49 | | Beautiful Pair of Irish, Cased Duelling Pistols The Epitome of Fine Pistols By Tomlinson of Dublin, a reknown maker of 'Fyne Dueling Pistoles'. In an original case with full tools, a fine pair of good Irish Duelers, used by Officers and Gentlemen in the King George IIIrd era of the Napoleonic Wars. Irish guns of this era are much sought after by collectors, and pairs of pistols, fully cased, are especially highly prized and very rare indeed. Finest walnut full-stocks and Damascus steel hooked barrels, lined with gold at the breech. Excellent engraved steel furniture fully engraved throughout with pineapple finials to the trigger guards. Original horn tipped ramrods. Dueling practices and rituals were codified in the Code Duello of 1777 which set forth rules describing all aspects of an "affair of honour," from the time of day during which challenges could be received to the number of shots or wounds required for satisfaction of honour. For gentlemen the law "offered no redress for insults" he might be subject to from rivals and enemies. Shooting a fellow officer in a duel "gave a sharp edge to one's reputation, earned congratulations in the regimental mess, and brought admiring glances from the ladies.... higher military authorities...regarded dueling as a proof test of courage..." Although theoretically banned by British Army regulations, refusing a challenge was likely to result in an officer having to leave his regiment, for the same rules that banned dueling forbade an officer from submitting to "opprobrious expressions" or "any conduct from another that should degrade him, or, in the smallest way impeach his courage." To decline a challenge was often equated to defeat by forfeiture, and was sometimes even regarded as dishonorable. Prominent and famous individuals ran an especial risk of being challenged for duels.
Among the most famous duels are the American Burr-Hamilton duel, in which notable Federalist Alexander Hamilton was fatally wounded, and the duel between Duke of Wellington and the 10th Earl of Winchilsea, wherein each participant intentionally missed the other. | | British Military Firearms, 1650-1850 (Hardcover) By Howard L Blackmore. Printed 1969. Excellent copy of this difinitive work on British Military Firearms. Highly prized and most collectable book. An absolute essential reference work for arms collectors | | Buy With Confidence From Britain's Last Remaining Armoury Shop that are specialists in original Fine Arms, Armour, Books and Militaria from 4000 to 40 years old. Serving the world's collectors over four generations. We are one of the county's oldest established businesses, and the last of our kind in the country. Every item we sell comes with a Certificate of Authenticity & all our swords & guns etc. are real, authentic antiques, or collectors items, that require no license and are not restricted to buy and own [providing one is over 18 years of age]. New items added to our site every hour, with at least 12 updates every day | | Colonel Colt London. The History of Colts London Firearms from 1851-1857 By Joseph G. Rosa. A super Colt reference book of the London arm of Colts revolver production. | | Commemorative Medal for the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 Circular gilt bronze medal with ribbed loop for ribbon suspension; the face with an Iron Cross (cross pattée) with rays between the arms, inscribed ‘1870 1871’ within a wreath of laurel; the reverse with the crowned monogram of King Wilhelm above the inscription ‘Dem siegreichen Heere’ (the victorious army), circumscribed ‘Gott war mit uns Ihm sei die Ehre’ (God was with us To Him the Glory); the edge inscribed ‘AUS EROBERTEM GESCHUETZ’ (from captured cannon); The medal was instituted on 20 May 1871 for those active in the War with France. It was in bronze for combatants and steel for non-combatants. The conflict between France and Prussia that signalled the rise of German military power and imperialism was provoked by the Prussian (later German) Chancellor Otto von Bismarck as part of his plan to create a unified German Empire. The French armies were overcome at Sedan by the efficient Prussian forces, battle-hardened from their conflicts with Denmark and Austria. In Paris, a bloodless revolution led to the overthrow of Napoleon III. The city was besieged by the Prussians from 19 September and held out, suffering severe privation, until 28 January. France was forced to cede Alsace and Lorraine to the Germany which had been proclaimed an empire under Wilhelm I on 18 January 1871 in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, sowing the seeds of future 20th Century conflicts. A very good example. | | Commemorative Medal for the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 Circular gilt bronze medal with ribbed loop for ribbon suspension; the face with an Iron Cross (cross pattée) with rays between the arms, inscribed ‘1870 1871’ within a wreath of laurel; the reverse with the crowned monogram of King Wilhelm above the inscription ‘Dem siegreichen Heere’ (the victorious army), circumscribed ‘Gott war mit uns Ihm sei die Ehre’ (God was with us To Him the Glory); the edge inscribed ‘AUS EROBERTEM GESCHUETZ’ (from captured cannon); The medal was instituted on 20 May 1871 for those active in the War with France. It was in bronze for combatants and steel for non-combatants. The conflict between France and Prussia that signalled the rise of German military power and imperialism was provoked by the Prussian (later German) Chancellor Otto von Bismarck as part of his plan to create a unified German Empire. The French armies were overcome at Sedan by the efficient Prussian forces, battle-hardened from their conflicts with Denmark and Austria. In Paris, a bloodless revolution led to the overthrow of Napoleon III. The city was besieged by the Prussians from 19 September and held out, suffering severe privation, until 28 January. France was forced to cede Alsace and Lorraine to the Germany which had been proclaimed an empire under Wilhelm I on 18 January 1871 in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, sowing the seeds of future 20th Century conflicts. A very good example. | | Dumbartonshire Volunteer's Badge Cast white metal with one lug missing 82mm x 62mm | | Early 18th Century British Dragoon Pistol by Barbar of London Brass 'butt set with a face cartouche. Elongated barrel typical of the early to mid 18th century with Queen Anne proof marks to the top of the barrel. Banana shaped lock signed Barber. At some time the walnut stock was fully restored. | | Early 19th Century Officer's Eppaulettes of Prince of Wales Dragoon Guards Crescentric form with articulated scales and fancy script regimental silver initials PWDG. Made by W & T Buckmaster.The 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards was one of the elite heavy cavalry regiments in the Imperial, British Army. A regiment with an impressively long record of loyalty, bravery and tenacity that one expects to see, from one of the regiments of the finest cavalry division, in the finest army in the world. Regimental Honours.
1701 - 1705 Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet during the war of Spanish Succession.
1756 - 1763, Warburg during the Seven years war
1793 - 1802, Beaumont and Willems during the French revolutionary wars.
1808 - 1802 Talavera, Albuhera, Vittoria, peninsula during the Peninsula War
1867 - 1868 The Abyssinian war
1899 - 1902, The South African war
1914 - 1914, Ypres 1914, and 1915, Loos, Arrass 1917, Scarpe 1917, St Quentin, Avre, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Mons, in France and Flanders | | Early Mahratta Khanda Hilt Firangi Sword All steel hilt and blade, straight single edged blade, double fullered, typical Khanda Hilt with flattened guard, 17th 18th century.This is the form of sword used against the British in the Mahratta Wars. One hilt section seperated. | | Early Mahratta Khanda Hilt Firangi Sword All steel hilt and blade, straight single edged blade typical Khanda Hilt with flattened guard 17th 18th century.This is the form of sword used against the British in the Mahratta Wars. | | Early to Mid 19th Century Officers Dress Sword-Belt In beautiful red morrocco leather and gold bullion, a dress belt for an officers sword to be worn under the coatee. All straps and buckles intact. | | Fine Early, English Brass Barrelled Flintlock Military & Naval Blunderbuss= Fine English walnut stock with brass furniture. Overall this gun has a fabulous aged patina that is truly exceptional. Good early barrel in two stages in brass with early proofs. A Fine large sized ordnance Blunderbuss of great quality and presence. Distinctive and traditional flared shaped muzzle, with 1690 proof stamps, at the barrel breech, and this flintlock blunderbuss was upgraded with the lock, in around 1800, by Blair and Sutherland one of London's best lock and gunsmiths. Over all, this gun is in very good condition indeed. Although this weapon was designed for dramatic function and effect this example has a beautifully elegant feel to it, and it is a delightful example, deserving of much praise, and would make a finecompliment to any collection of fine old English weaponry. It's 1690 proof mark is of King William IIIrd. He was the British King who was victorious at the Battle of The Boyne in Ireland, the most famous battle between King William and the previous British King, King James, his uncle. William's army of English and Dutch were against the French and Irish forces supporting the deposed King James IInd. King James was not actually present at the engagement, as opposed to King William who led his men personally into battle, despite being a man of slight build and a severe asthmatic. King William the IIIrd was the grandson of Executed King Charles the Ist and married to King James IInd's daughter Mary, James was his uncle and third son of Charles Ist. Ironically William [a Protestant King] fought James [a Catholic King] with the support of the Pope, as they were both part of the Grand Alliance [The league of Augsburg] which was determined to defend the Palatinate from France [James's ally]. The barrel also bears the personal proof of Joseph Buckmaster a supplier to the ordnance and a famous master smith of the early 18th century. Over the decades we have had his mark on several fine pistols and blunderbusses, including arms of the Jacobite Rebellion, and he was once prosecuted and fined for being in possession of arms bearing the King's mark. The furniture is of the earliest military and navy Land Pattern type used from the 1720's. The history that this gun has seen can only be marveled at, and it is likely at least for a good portion of it's working life it was used at sea in the Navy as it bears a rack number '29'. 16.5 inch barrel 33 inches long overall. | | Finest Crimean Officer's Sword of Colonel Charles Dennison Pedder 39th Foot As a Captain in the Dorsetshire Regiment, he served in the Crimean War at the seige of Sebastepol and the Assault on the Redan on the 18th of June, and awarded the medal with clasp. He was later to serve as a Colonel and was still on the Army list as at 1881.The sword blade bears his crest [two lion's heads back to back] and his motto 'Je dis la verite' [I speak truth] The central theme running through the Crimean War was the appalling siege of Sevastopol, a foretaste of the trench fighting of the American Civil War, ten years later, and finally the First World War. Daily, hundreds of cannon battered down fortifications that had to be redug before the next day’s bombardment. Soldiers manned the trenches night after night through two harsh winters, in the first with almost no winter equipment. Sorties led to hand to hand fighting along the entrenchments. The Russians developed the art of sniping from the “rifle pits” dug in no man’s land. Sword in very good condition indeed with nickle plated scabbard. One photo in the gallery is an original copy of officers of the 39th at the Crimea, in their encampment. It would be interesting to assume that one of those officers may be Capt. Pedder himself. [for information only not included] | | For Original Japanese Samurai Weapons See the Japanese Dept. For Samurai Katana, Samurai Wakazashi, Tanto, Tachi, Daisho, Kai Gunto, Shin Gunto, Kyo Gunto, all types of Military Japanese Swords, NCO's Swords, Tsuba, Fushi Kashira, Han Dachi, Jinja Tachi, Naga Nata, Yari, Jitte, Kodsuka, Kogai & Minuki, please see our extensive selection in our Japanese Department. Here you may view and purchase original items, some of which are up to 600 years old and as seen in this photograph. It is an original, Edo era portrait photo, and shows a group of seated and standing Samurai. | | French 1830'S Shako Helmet Plate Brass plate of Cockerel and stamp of 'Return to Liberty' July 1830 | | French 1830's Shako Helmet Plate. Copper plate of a Cockerel over French symbols. | | French 1886M Lebel Bayonet. For the Lebel Rifle All brass hilt, cruciform blade, quillon officially removed. Original scabbard with matching numbers. Good condition | | French 19th Century Lebel Bayonet Nickle hilt with with steel cross section blade.Steel scabbard | | French Foreign Legion 'Lebel M1886' Bayonet For the Lebel Rifle White metal hilt with original hook quillon. All original scabbard. Cruciform blade. Good condition for age.Good military marks | | French Gras Bayonet Brass and wooden hilt, long T Section blade, curved quillon. No scabbard. | | French Marquetry 19th century Bureau-Plat, Floral and Scroll Marquetry Top A stunning French antique writing desk or display centrepiece with four large pembroke style legs, walnut top with large central panel of a large Adam style urn with American Indian head profiles and scroll floral marquetry. Four side serpentine form. | | French Republic Shako Helmet Plate Mid 19th Century Shako Plate with large Cockeral over flags and fasces with a banner embossed Republique Francais | | French Shako Helmet Plate Mid 19th Century Laurel wreathed Cockeral Crest with regimental number '2' 136mm x 111mm | | George IIIrd Marmaluke Sabre Fancy cast brass marmaluke Hilt. Good steel curved blade Used by Bandsmen in The Napoleonic Wars,. Based on the Marmaluke Swords captured at the Nile by Nelson. | | GIFT VOUCHER The perfect Birthday Gift. Valid without time limit, for any item or items. Please add the name of the recipient with your order.We can customise your gift voucher for any amount required please e.mail us for details. | | GIFT VOUCHER Valid without time limit for any item[s] in any gallery at any time. Please specify name of recipient in the Comment box in the Basket section. You can also customize your voucher for any particular value, please specify this in the Comments section. | | GIFT VOUCHER Valid without time limit for any item[s] in any gallery at any time. Please specify name of recipient in the Comment box in the Basket section. You can also customize your voucher for any particular value, please specify this in the Comments section. | | GIFT VOUCHER Valid without time limit for any item[s] in any gallery at any time. Please specify name of recipient in the Comment box in the Basket section. You can also customize your voucher for any particular value, please specify this in the Comments section. | | GIFT VOUCHER Valid without time limit for any item[s] in any gallery at any time. Please specify name of recipient in the Comment box in the Basket section. You can also customize your voucher for any particular value, please specify this in the Comments section. | | GIFT VOUCHER Valid without time limit for any item[s] in any gallery at any time. Please specify name of recipient in the Comment box in the Basket section. You can also customize your voucher for any particular value, please specify this in the Comments section. | | GIFT VOUCHER Valid without time limit for any item[s] in any gallery at any time. Please specify name of recipient in the Comment box in the Basket section. You can also customize your voucher for any particular value, please specify this in the Comments section. | | Gift Voucher The perfect Birthday Gift. Valid without time limit, for any item or items. Please add the name of the recipient with your order.We can customise your gift voucher for any amount required please e.mail us for details. | | Gift Voucher. An Ideal Birthday or Anniversary Solution Valid without time limit, for any item[s] in any Department. Please add the recipients name in the Comments section of the Basket when purchasing. Any Gift Voucher can be customised to suit any value required. | | Historical Medal For the Marriage of the Duke of York & Princess Mary 1893 Married At Chapel Royal St James's Palace 6 July 1893. Reverse with Duke and Duchess standing before Brittania Made by Spink and Sons London. Silvered on metal. 51mm. | | Indo Persian Moghul Tulwar All steel hilt and blade. Long straight blade. With knucklebow. 18th to 19th century. | | Iron Bound Strong Box Centre panels of canvas on wood, iron strap bound, typical old strongbox for military transportation of valuables, currency etc. | | Islamic Antique Snaphaunce Long Gun Snaphaunce Long Gun, with snaphaunce lock, brass barrel bands, elongated steel barrel. Walnut stock plain design. Early 19th century. | | Italian Vitterli Bayonet Model of 1871 With officially shortened 10 inch blade. Leather scabbard with brass fittings. Quillon marked LN57-7-6. Wooden left hand grip section split. | | King George IIIrd English Butterfly Pembroke Table Two drawer, moulded legs, four side serpentine edges with thumbnail moulding.. | | King George IIIrd Regency Centre Collumn Sabre Leg Pembroke Table In beautiful flame mahogany, central collumn sabre leg with brass paw feet, two folding flaps,one drawer one dummy drawer. Top in need of very minor polish. | | Kurdish Jambiya Dagger Northern Iraq 19th century. Horn hilt with pewter studs, double edged blade with central rib. Brown embossed leather scabbard. [Ref.: "Islamic Weapons. Maghrib to Moghul" by A. C. Tirri, page. 95]. | | Kurdish Jambiya Dagger Northern Iraq 19th century. Horn hilt, double edged blade with central rib.Black embossed leather scabbard.[Ref.: "Islamic Weapons. Maghrib to Moghul" by A. C. Tirri, page. 95]. | | Large Calibre American Civil War Period Pinfire Revolver Lefrauchaux type revolver likely 11mm cal. Overall grey finish with some action difficulties. It would make an ideal restoration project, or, left alone as a historical military curiosity. The imported Lefrauchaux revolver was the fourth most popular handgun of the Civil War, and General 'Stonewall' Jackson owned at least two examples. One photo in the gallery is an original ambrotype of a Confederate 'Rebel' soldier with his pinfire tucked in his belt [for information only not included] | | Large French/Continental Cavalry Percussion Pistol The form of Cavalry Pistol used in the Crimean War by the French, and then, many were exported to America for use in the Civil War.This Pistol came from America about 25 years ago. Percussion Action with traditional brass mounts and brass tipped steel ramrod.Good tight action.Model 1822. Circa 1830.Proved barrel. | | Late 17th Century North European Cavalry Sabre Of The Battle of The Boyne era. This super historical sword is the type used by the Dutch, Huguenot and Danish cavalry [and mounted infantry officer's] at the Battle of the Boyne under the command of King William IIIrd [King Billy]. With fantastical dog or lion like beast pommel, brass hilt with three bar, half 'open' basket, double ovoid guard [engraved with deer] and thumbring. Excellent multi wire binding. Good blade, with single fuller and small, combat 'sword to sword' edge nicks. The Battle of the Boyne [ Cath na Bóinne] was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thrones - the Catholic King James and the Protestant King William, who had deposed James in 1688. The battle, won by William, was a turning point in James' unsuccessful attempt to regain the crown and ultimately helped ensure the continuation of Protestant supremacy in Ireland.
The battle took place on July 1, 1690 just outside the town of Drogheda on Ireland's east coast. The armies stood on opposing sides of the River Boyne. William's forces easily defeated those of James who led an army of mostly raw recruits. The symbolic importance of this battle has made it one of the best-known battles in British and Irish history. It is a key part in Ulster Protestant folklore and is still commemorated today, principally by the Orange Institution. 2 Paintings in the gallery are period examples of the battle, for information and education only, not included. | | Late Koto early Shinto Samurai Katana, Around 400 Years Old A Samurai sword from the era of the greatest battle in Samurai history. The Battle of Sekigahara, which transformed Japan for the next 280 years. On October 21, 1600 [or October 15 depending on which calendar one uses] 75,000 soldiers in Ieyasu's eastern army and 79,000 soldiers in Mitsunari's western army clashed at Sekigahara. Though the battle was the biggest and most decisive in feudal Japanese history, it lasted only six hours. The western forces initially had the advantage, but under a plot Ieyasu hatched before the battle, Kobayakawa Hideaki, a powerful western Japanese daimyo, defected to the eastern army and tipped the scales in favor of its victory. Ieyasu subsequently consolidated his position as the ruler of Japan and became shogun in 1603. He set up his government in Edo, now Tokyo, and inaugurated the Edo period, an era dominated by the Tokugawa line of shoguns lasting two and a half centuries. Mokko form Tsuba, dark red stone ground lacquer saya.Late Koto early Shinto Katana blade with Sugaha Hamon. Buffalo horn Kashira, Shibuishi relief bird and floral design Fushi Silver Dragon Minuki good signs of much activity in the hada. Late polish blade. For those that are unused to the extraordinarily fine quality of Samurai sword blades, you will see from the photos of this blade, in our gallery, the amazing condition and tempering of this sword. Without doubt the ancient Japanese master swordsmiths produced steel of a quality that was unequaled by the rest of the world for almost a thousand years. the most amazing Blade length, Tsuba to tip, 26.75 inches | | Magnificent Rifle, Ancell of Perth Lock [ Maker to HRH Prince Albert]. A finest handmade bespoke antique rifle with superb, top grade walnut which is superbly carved. The handmade gun of a Prince or Duke etc with amazing quality engraving, as would be expected with a gun of this class, but the difference, from all the other guns of it's type, is the rifled barrel, which has to be seen to be believed. Carbine length, but around a 21 mm bore, absolutely huge! | | Medieval Bearded Battle Axe of William Wallaces' ' Battle of Falkirk' Era Circa 1298 in the 13th century. Large socket mount for extra strength. Based on the Viking style with a flat bearded bottom. A good and most efficient battle axe that shows relative thinness at the blade, around twice the thickness of a Knightly sword of the same era. This was a feature of purely battle-axes that were designed to be at their most effective due to their relative lightness and thus the resulting ease of their use in close combat. The crescent edge has a hardened steel section that one can easily see in the second photograph. Used at the time of the first War of Scottish Independence under Sir William Wallace against King Edward Ist, also known as Edward Longshanks, and during the Crusades era. One photo in the gallery shows a section of the Bayeaux Tapestry where a Battle Axe is being used [photo for information only not included with axe] Replaced old long haft. 54 inches Axe's total length. 46 inch haft. Blade back to edge 8 inches, blade socket 8 Inches. A great and rare piece of some 700 years old. | | Middle Eastern Silver Traditional Jambiya Silver two ring mounts to scabbard with silver and leather decoration. Horn hilt silver mounted. Circa 1850 Silver coloured metal, not hallmarked English silver. | | Napoleonic Wars French Officer's Medusa Head Officers Half Buckle With original finish, a superb example. Part of a small collection that just came in. | | Naval Swords by P.G.Annis A most useful reference book for British antique sword collectors. Removed label mark and address stamp. Loose plastic protective cover. | | Northwest Mounted Police Winchester Model 1876 Saddle Ring Carbine. One of the best antique '76 Winchesters a collector can own. The model made and used by the 'Mounties' The North West Mounted Police. Excellent condition for age, fully 45.75 WCF Calibre maker marked and clear patent dates and an NWMP stamp to butt in crescent arc. Standard grade carbine with 22" rnd bbl, square base barleycorn front sight with 1,100 yard musket style ladder rear sight. It has a stud & carbine ring in left side of receiver. Mounted with straight grain American walnut with full length forearm & straight stock with carbine buttplate. Founded in May 1873 The Mounties, in remarkably small numbers, successfully brought law and order to the Canadian part of the Continent of North America. Using traditional, fair and diplomatic methods they were highly respected and trusted by the settlers, miners, and native tribesmen alike. In the summer of 1876, Sitting Bull and thousands of Sioux after the Little Big Horn were fleeing the US Military to southern Saskatchewan, and James Morrow Walsh of the NWMP was charged with maintaining control in the large Sioux settlement at Wood Mountain. Walsh and Sitting Bull became good friends, and the peace at Wood Mountain was maintained. The NWMP achieved a glowing record of assistance and protection to the tens of thousands who entered the Yukon in search of gold. The Yukon refused to surrender her riches easily and the entrepreneurs continually battled the realities of their harsh environment. Only a few found gold; injury and death rewarded many who dared venture. Not many found their Eldorado and most left the inhospitable climate as quickly as they had come. The 1876 Winchester was a large bore arm made in much fewer numbers than it's predecessors and successors and it's scarcity due to that alone makes it a fine collectors item. Obsolete centre fire cartridge calibre 45-75, not deactivated, no licence required. | | Original 13th Century Knight's Prick Spur. From the era of the Crusades a nice example of collectable and very early equestrian pieces. Mounted on a display stand. | | Original Tudor Swept Hilt Rapier Excavated Condition Typical Tudor Swept Hilt Rapier used into the Civil War Era. In excavated relic condition, reduced length blade. Some pas dans re-attached.A rare piece, not in good condition, but priced accordingly. | | Original, Antique, Indo Persian Engraved 'Double-Headed' Battle-Axe with some remaining gold Koftgari Inlay; Measuring 30-1/4 inches long, and 11.25 inches across. Intricately carved with an exotic bird and flora decoration within the crescentric blades, that is further inlaid with a typical Persian gilt pattern motif within the carved design. The hilt is a wooden shaft over-wrapped with a steel outerlayer that is finely pattern damascened. Axes of this type were carried as symbols of high office in the Ottoman Empire from Turkey to India. Most similar to the Double-Headed Fighting Axe shown in the Book: "ISLAMIC WEAPONS - MAGHRIB TO MOGHUL" by Anthony C. Tirri, page 222. The steel covered haft has a small gap in the steel wrap at around six inches up from the base. We have had this piece expertly cleaned, to remove years of neglect, but after fifteen skillfull hours or so it has revealed some most attractive quality and features. | | Pair of Antique Moorish Iron Stirrups Typical large heavy Iron form with decorative piercings. | | Pair of Native American Hide and Coloured Embroidered Boots. Small size, very fancy Woodland Tribe embroidery, nicely detailed, 20th Century. | | Queen Anne Cannon Barrel Pistol By John Harman of London Maker to Frederick, Prince of Wales he one of London's foremost gunsmiths of his day. Based at the Cross Guns against Norfolk St., Strand, London. Amongst the great notables that he made guns for, was, Frederick William the 1st of Prussia. He had his own proof stamp [on the barrel] and he was apprenticed, originally, to Henry Athonison of London. | | Rare 1805 Pattern Royal Naval Captain's or Admiral's Sword. An original King George IIIrd British Naval Sword and the very type of sword carried by Nelson and his Captains at The Battle of Trafalgar. Although officially known as the 1805 Pattern, Royal Navy Senior Officer's Sword, they were actually used from the end of the 18th century [from around the 1790's]. Lion's head pommel, ivory grip [ivory being the symbol of high rank] with original twisted wire grip and fouled anchor langet. All copper gilt mounts, with copper gilt and leather scabbard. Much original gilt is remaining to the hilt, the ivory has a superb patina and a little blueing and some gilt remains on the blade, small sword to sword edge contact nick near tip. There are a few similar surviving examples of this very sword, in the Royal Collection, in the collection at the Tower of London, and in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. In the National Maritime Museum there is a most similar example, that was the sword of Admiral Earl St Vincent. Although a beautiful sword, suitable for the very finest of formal dress occasions, Admirals [usually aboard Flag Ships] and Captains were well used to combat circumstances, such as the Admirals Earl St Vincent, Nelson, & Collingwood, and these swords were carried, and frequently used, in full combat circumstances. Last pictures in gallery show a group portrait of Admiral Nelson carrying his sword, and a portrait of Naval Hero, Admiral Earl St. Vincent, painted in 1805 by Domenico Pellegrini clearly holding his very same sword.[pictures not included with sword] In 1797, Admiral Earl St Vincent won a crushing and much needed victory over the Spanish off Cape St Vincent [hence his title]. In 1799, he commanded the Channel fleet in a close blockade of the French fleet at Brest. His period as first Lord of the Admiralty made him many enemies as he fearlessly denounced corruption in high places and in low. In 1806, he took the Channel fleet to sea for the last time, carrying this very type of sword. However, it was now a fleet whose authority on the sea could not be challenged, largely due to years of untiring effort by its commander. | | Rare Ist Edition, 3 Volumes of Hyde's 'Rebellion and Civil War' Publ'd 1702 The True Historical Narrative of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England. By Edward Hyde, Earl Of Clarendon. Lord High Chancellor of England, [Under His Majesty King Charles Iind] Lord Chancellor of Oxford University, and Grandfather of both Queen Mary and Queen Anne of England. Printed at The Theater, Oxford in 1702. Sir Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, 1609-74. Elected to Parliament in 1640 he was the MP to Wooten Basset, and although at first he was an opponent to the King he soon became interested in influencing the King's relationship with Parliament. In 1641, Edward Hyde became an adviser to King Charles Ist. He drafted most of the declarations issued in the King's name and attempted, where possible, to moderate his policies. Always acutely aware of legal and constitutional considerations, Hyde despaired at the King's attempt to arrest the 'Five Members' in January 1642, but joined him at York in May, after which he was expelled from Parliament and denounced as one of the King's "evil councillors". Hyde attended the King on campaign during the opening stages of the civil war. He was present at Edgehill, where his role was to look after the Princes Charles and James.
In February 1643, Hyde was knighted and appointed to the Privy Council; the following month he was made Chancellor of the Exchequer. During the autumn of 1643, he was appointed to the secret committee or "junto" which discussed all important matters with the King before they were put before the Privy Council. Hyde was anxious to reach a political settlement with Parliament rather than rely upon a military victory, and to this end he made efforts to win over key individuals to the King's cause. He advised the King to summon the alternative Oxford Parliament in December 1643, hoping to deprive the Long Parliament of its authority, but its success was limited and even Hyde had to recognise Westminster as the true Parliament in 1644.
In January 1645, Hyde supported peace negotiations with Parliamentarian and Scottish commissioners at the Uxbridge Treaty. The failure of these talks further reduced his influence, and in March 1645, he was removed from the King's immediate circle and appointed to the Council of the Prince of Wales at Bristol. After the defeat of the Royalist cause at Naseby, Hyde and his fellow councillors accompanied Prince Charles into Cornwall, then to the Scilly Isles and finally to Jersey where they arrived in April 1646. Hyde advised against the Prince's moving to Paris to join Queen Henrietta Maria, but could not prevent him from going. He remained living quietly on Jersey for two years, during which time he began writing his great history of the civil wars. In 1651 young Charles instigated the 3rd Civil War and was Crowned King at Scone in Scotland, but after his defeat by Cromwell, Charles escaped from England [after the battle of Worcester in 1651] and Hyde rejoined him in Paris and remained with him throughout the rest of the exile as the King's most trusted adviser. Hyde's aim was always to keep Charles from making any move that would alienate English Protestants or damage the Anglican church. This brought him into conflict with the "Louvre" faction that revolved around Henrietta Maria, and many attempts were made to turn Charles against him. Hyde also discouraged wild plots for the reconquest of England, fearing that they would only reunite the republican and radical factions against Charles. After Cromwell's death in 1658, Hyde was appointed Lord Chancellor and entered into negotiations with English Presbyterians and others who supported the return of the Monarchy. He was instrumental in drawing up Charles' manifesto the Declaration of Breda in 1660.
Shortly after the Restoration, a scandal broke when Hyde's daughter Anne (1637-71) was discovered to be pregnant. She claimed that James, Duke of York (later King James II), was the father and that they had been secretly married. Although James initially denied his marriage to a commoner, Anne was recognised as Duchess of York early in 1661. Hyde was offered a dukedom but, aware of his vulnerability to charges of deliberately insinuating himself into the royal family, he preferred to accept the lesser title of 1st Earl of Clarendon. Although Anne died before James became King, she was the mother of the future Queens Mary and Anne. Clarendon continued to hold the office of Lord Chancellor and was a strong influence during the early years of Charles II's reign. He favoured the Anglican church and opposed moves towards religious toleration. However, his caution and conservatism made him enemies in Parliament while his criticism of the loose morals of the Restoration Court irritated the King and his ladies. He was finally manoeuvred out of favour by his enemy Lord Arlington in 1667. Threatened with impeachment, Clarendon went into exile in France, where he completed his history of the wars. The work was published posthumously under the direction of his son between 1702 and 1704 under the title: The True Historical Narrative of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England. These fine volumes are very rare First Editions, published in Oxford in 1702. 3 Vols 15.5 x 9.5 x 2.25 inches . Rebound in the 19th century | | Rare King William IVth British Regimental Sea Service Pistol With the Crimean War period percussion conversion. Fine walnut stock, traditional brass butt cap and furniture, captive ramrod, 9inch barrel. Lock marked with WR Crown marking. Based around the New Land pattern light dragoon service pistols. A super piece and a very scarce collectors item. Used in the era when the Royal Navy still used the magnificent 100 gunner 'Man O' War' galleons, and the from before the start of when the great 'Iron Clads' were being produced for the new form of naval warfare. It was from this era that the world was to see the end of the great sailing ships that coursed the seven seas for the greatest navy the world has ever known. Barrel bears the Victorian Crimean War period VR service proof mark.One picture in the gallery is a British Man O' War HMS Marlborough, and another the Bombardment, by the Royal Navy ship, HMS Bulldog, of Bomarsund, during the Crimean War. [For information only not included] | | Saharan Tuareg 'Takouba' Broad Sword with Tooled Leather Scabbard It is a style of sword traditionally associated with the Tuareg, a nomadic people predominantly of Berber origin. The Tuareg long dominated the central and west-central areas of the Sahara desert, including portions of what is now Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco, and had a reputation as effective warriors and as highwaymen. Broad fullered blade with crescent armourer's marks. Tooled leather covered scabbard, elaborate belt mounts, and hilt. The sword has a conical pyramid form pommel, straight crossguard with plain cylindrical grip and the whole form is based around the Crusader's swords that were captured in the region in the 12th to 14th centuries. An early 20th century sword in overall good condition for age. 30.5 inch blade, 2 inch wide blade at the ricasso. | | Silver Koftgari Work Hilted Moghul Tulwah Armouror's marked blade of a Crescent and Stars.Excellent silver fancy Koftgari decorated hilt.Blade probably 17th century, 18th to 19th century hilt. | | Stunning Pair of Victorian, Cold Painted Celtic Warrior Sculptures Two of the great Warrior Kings of history. One is most likely King of the Gauls, Vercingetorix, one of the greatest Celtic Warrior Kings, and the other, probably, High King Brian Beru of Ireland, likely Ireland's most famous King from the pre Medieval times. A superb hand painted pair of Victorian sculptures in cast spelter metal. Small paint chips, overall very good condition. 40cm high | | Super British Napoleonic War Officers' Sword of Sir John Buchan of the 95th Lt Colonel of the 95th Regt.Copper gilt hilt of the 'P' hilt style mixed with the General Officer's Boat Shaped Guard. The blade bears a superb etched panel with his name, John Buchan, in it's all steel combat scabbard. He was an officer whose record shows he was a soldier of remarkable ability He was appointed an ensign in July 1795, a Lt in Oct 1795, Capt March 1802, Major in June, 1804 and Lt Col in march 1809, full Colonel in august 1819 and then appointed Major General in July 1830. He was apponted Full Colonel of the 95th Regiment of Foot in Nov 1838. His distinguished career included service as a Lt. Col in the West Indian Foot Regt., with him recieving the West Indies Medal with clasp, for Guadaloupe, the extraordinary amphibous invasion of the French held Island, he was alsom awarded the Peninsular Gold Cross with bars for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, and Nive. He was later awarded a knighthood, KCB [Knight Commander of the British Empire]. | | Super Zulu War Interest Set of Napier's 'Peninsular War' of Lord Chelmsford Original Set of 6 Volumes of Napier's "A History of the War in the Peninsular" from the personal library of Lord [General] Chelmsford, probably the most significant and famous [and some may say 'infamous' ] name of the 1879 Zulu War. He was the first appointed army commander of the Zulu War of 1879, but was relieved of his command, due to the disaster and massacre of the Battle of Isandlwana. However, it is recognised in some respects that he exonerated his reputation at the Battle of Ulundi. There is no historic record, book or film that does not focus on Chelmsford's actions of the Zulu War, it is arguable, that without him, or his actions, the Zulu War may not have the historical significance that it has today. Just as in many ways the famous 'Charge of the Light Brigade' has it's very existance due to the notorious actions of Lord Cardigan. These books are signed personally by Chelmsford, when he acquired them as a Lt. In the Grenadier Guards in 1848, with his own personal labels. His given name was Frederick Augustus Thesiger and he was given a commission in the Rifle Brigade in 1844. In 1845, he served with the Rifles in Halifax, Nova Scotia before purchasing an exchange into the Grenadiers as Ensign and Lieutenant in November of that year. He was promoted Lieutenant and Captain in 1850, and became aide-de-camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Eglinton, in 1852, and then to the Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, Sir Edward Blakeney, from 1853 to 1854.In May 1855, he left for the Crimean War, in which he served firstly with his battalion, then from July 1855 as aide-de-camp to the commander of the 2nd Division, Lieutenant-General Markham, and finally from November 1855 as deputy assistant quartermaster general on the staff at Headquarters, being promoted brevet Major. He was mentioned in despatches and received the fifth class of the Turkish Order of the Medjidie and the British, Turkish and Sardinian Crimean medals.In 1857, he was promoted Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, and transferred, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, to the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment in 1858, serving with that regiment at the end of the Indian Mutiny, for which he was again mentioned in despatches. From 1861 to 1862 he served as deputy adjutant general to the forces in Bombay, and was promoted brevet Colonel in 1863. He served, again as deputy adjutant general, in the Magdala campaign, for which he was awarded the CB and made an aide-de-camp to the Queen in 1868. He was adjutant general in the East Indies from 1869 to 1874.He returned to England in 1874 as colonel on the staff, commanding the forces at Shorncliffe, and was appointed to command a brigade at Aldershot, with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General, in 1877. He was promoted Major-General in March 1877. In February 1878 he was appointed to command the forces in South Africa, with the local rank of Lieutenant-General, and in October succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Chelmsford. He brought the Ninth Cape Frontier War to an end in July 1878, and was made a KCB in November.
In January 1879 he invaded Zululand (see Anglo-Zulu War), but the centre column of his forces was defeated at the Battle of Isandlwana. Because an invasion of Natal seemed likely as a result, Chelmsford was relieved of his command. However he defeated the Zulus at the Battle of Ulundi just before the arrival of his replacement, Sir Garnet Wolseley, which effectively ended the campaign. He left for England in July 1879, but Wolseley ensured in his despatches that Chelmsford receive all the credit for Ulundi, and he was awarded the GCB in August. NAPIER, W.F. A History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, from the Year 1807 to the Year 1814. To which is prefixed: A Reply to Lord Strangford’s Observations; also, A Reply to various Opponents; together with Observations illustrating Sir J. Moore’s Campaigns. London: Thomas & William Boone, 3rd Edition. Published 1835
6 volumes. brown calf with raised bands, red title labels and extra gilt to spines; marbled boards, end papers. and edges. Corners bumped and worn, extremities rubbed, the leather will need attention ideally. But for historical purposes, due to their significant ownership, it may well be best to leave them original and as they are. Napier's are a very highly regarded set of volumes, and a must for all military strategists and historical Peninsular War collectors, but the added benefit of once being the property of General Chelmsford of the Zulu War make them a unique and highly significant set. There is a picture in the gallery of Lord Chelmsford and a picture of a South African 100 year commemorative issue first day cover, issued in 1979, showing Chelmsford and the Zulu King. For information only not included. | | Superb, 18th Century Royal Naval Iron Swivel Gun From the Anglo French Wars [in the Americas], the American Revolutionary Wars, to the Battle of Trafalgar period. Made in the traditional form of a British, Royal Navy 'Man o' War' cannon, but smaller, the swivel gun was the smallest form of cannon used on board a Royal Naval Man o'War. Swivel guns are among the smallest types of cannon, typically measuring less than 1 m (3 ft) in length and with a bore diameter of up to 3.5 cm (1¼ in). They can fire a variety of ammunition but were generally used to fire grapeshot and similar types of small-diameter shot, though they could also fire small caliber round shot. They were aimed through the use of a wooden handle, somewhat similar in shape to a baseball bat, attached to the breech of the weapon. Swivel guns served as short-range anti-personnel ordnance. They were not ship-sinking weapons, due to their small calibre and short range, but could do considerable damage to anyone caught in their line of fire.Also due to their relatively small size, swivel guns were highly portable and could be moved around the deck of a ship quite easily (and certainly much more easily than other types of cannon). They could be mounted on the deck railings of a ship, which provided the gunner with a reasonably steady platform from which to fire. Their portability enabled them to be installed wherever they were most needed; whereas larger cannon were useless if they were on the wrong side of the ship, swivel guns could be carried across the deck to face the enemy. This fine piece is 57 cm long, 13cm wide at the breech, 16 cm wide at the trunnions, 9cm wide at the muzzle. 3.5cm.bore to fire a .5 pound or .75 pound ball, Approx 56 lb weight. Our conservator has had to spend over 48 hours cleaning out the bore and the exterior of this cannon but with superb results. Being such a compact size, this wonderful cannon is eminently suitable for interior display, and would make a superb feature for any gentleman's study or office, or in fact any suitable area within any kind of residence, however limited for space. British Man o'War sailing ships like HMS Endeavour, HMS Bounty, and similar, commonly had upward of six such cannon mounted around their gunwale. They were used to signal landing parties etc., also as a defence against pirates or similar 'hostiles', and by flagships to signal other vessels in a fleet. Weighing-in at around 1/2 to 1-cwt, a couple of seamen could ship, or unship, these cannon as & when required.The last photo in the gallery is from a near identical cannon still with it's wrought iron swivel intact, recovered from the 1764 wreck of the Industry, the Royal Navy ship lost off the harbour of St. Augustine, Florida, America, just after the Spanish ceded La Florida to England at the end of the 'seven years' war in America and Europe. | | The Colt Heritage by R.L Wilson The Official History of Colt Firearms from 1836 to the Present. A beautiful book by one of the great researchers of Colt arms. 11.25 x 8.75 inches x 1.5 inches. Hundreds of superb photographs. | | The Lanes Armoury is not just a webshop, we are are based around one of the oldest established stores in the county, one of the oldest family businesses, and we are filled to the very rooftops with fascinating Arms, Armour and Books. We are also officially listed as one of the top 50 places essential to see when visiting Brighton & Hove City. Our shop [and the partners, in their role as appraisers and consultants] regularly appear on BBC TV and numerous other Terrestrial and Satellite TV Stations. When in town why not come and see us, all are heartily welcome. | | THE LANES ARMOURY IS NOW BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE ARMOURY-[ OUR SHOP - MUSEUM ] Averaging up to 2000 visitors a day, where you can see amazing things, and take them home. You can also choose from 1000's upon 1000's of books with stock changing every day. | | THE LANES ARMOURY IS NOW BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE ARMOURY-[THE SHOP-MUSEUM] Averaging up to 2000 visitors a day, where you can see amazing things, and take them home. Choose from 1000's upon 1000's of books, Arms, Swords, and Militaria with stock changing every day. | | U.S. Government Civil War Contract, Spencer-Burnside Cavalry Carbine A scarce and highly prized .50 cal. 'Civil War' Spencer-Burnside Repeating Carbine. Known as 'Spencer and the 7 Devils' as it carried 7 shells, so it could be loaded on Monday and fired once a day for week without reloading. A fascinating piece of historical Civil War Cavalry weaponry. Good condition for age. Walnut stock, all steel mounts, saddle ring and bar, good action, with civil war leather belt strap. From the Civil War Government, Burnside Rifle Co. contract, with Burnside contract Spencer patent dates etc.to top of receiver. The most advanced infantry weapon in the world of its times, it was patented in 1860 by Christian Spencer, a machinist who worked in Hartford. Conn. for Sharps and developed the Spencer on his own time. It was the world's first practical repeater and fired a .52 caliber metallic rimfire cartridge (patented by Smith & Wesson in 1854 and perfected by Henry in the late 1850's), which completely prevented gas leakage from the back because the brass casing expanded on ignition to seal the chamber. It had a "rolling block" (actually a rotating block) activated by lowering the trigger guard. This movement opened the breech and extracted the spent cartridge. Raising the lever caused a new cartridge, pushed into position by a spring in the 7-round magazine, to be locked into the firing chamber.The 7-round magazine was located in the stock. The Spencer was easy to manufacture (given the requisite industrial infrastructure), had relatively few parts, many of which were in common with the Sharps rifles, and was cheaper than other repeaters on the market such as the Henry. It also turned out to be extremely reliable under battlefield conditions. Its great advantage over the muzzle loading rifles such as the Enfields and Springfields lay not only in the rapidity of fire, but also in the ability of the shooter to aim each shot. In a normal battle situation, the muzzle loaders were fired in an aimed manner only the first few shots, thereafter it was usually a case of hurried fire after frantic loading. A trained soldier could get off two or three shots a minute with them until the barrel fouled with lead deposit. With the Spencer the soldier could fire 20 to 30 times a minute when necessary, taking advantage of the cartridge box which held 10 preloaded magazines. Introduced in Jan. 1862, it found its first major use by Col. John Wilder's Indiana "Lightning Brigade" of mounted infantry at Hoover's Gap during the Tullahoma Campaign (22 June - 3 July 1863). The firepower and speed of this unit overwhelmed Wheeler's cavalry guarding the southern end of this pass and allowed George H. Thomas's 14th infantry corps to place itself on the flank of the Confederate General Hardee. This sudden development misled Hardee into thinking he had been outflanked by the entire Union Army of the Cumberland, and he retreated without orders back to Tullahoma, 15 miles in his rear. Wilder then spearheaded the turning movement to the east of Tullahoma, and this in turn undermined Bragg's entire defensive line, and he had to pull back into Chattanooga. At the price of about 500 casualties the Union Army advanced 100 miles and made military history. Later, at the battle of Chickamauga (19-20 Sept. 1863), his troops used them with decisive effect on the first day, keeping Bragg's troops from cutting the road to Chattanooga, and slowing Longstreet's attack on the second day. 2 photos in the gallery show a Civil War Cavalryman with his Spencer-Burndside, and period cavalry equipment and saddle in the Smithsonian. Pictures not included, for education and information purposes only. The gun has been through our workshop with the action serviced, the stock sympathetically cleaned and polished, and the blueing tended. Although very time consuming, labour intensive and thus costly, this has been highly rewarding, and it has absolutely transformed it's previously very neglected and most sad appearance. | | Unusual Bayonet For the Italian 1891 Cacarno Rifle Straight crossguard marked Terni Arsenal, heavily blued blade, original fluted all steel scabbard. Wooden grips, very good condition overall. | | Very Rare Company Of Watermen, River Thames, 'Tudor' Barge Fork Circa 1530 Large 'Y' shaped head and old oak haft. It bears two large letters stamped in the iron ' T & M'. These may be the Armourer's initials, or, for the man for whom it was made. It was recovered from the Thames by a London Mudlark from the mud dredged and removed from under London Bridge. In the 16th Century the Company of Watermen were the equivalent to today’s cabbies. Created by an Act of Parliament in 1556 and their trade was carefully licensed. They would ply for hire from designated locations along the Thames, with the cry of “Oars! Oars!”
When the watermen were not transporting people they would turn their hand to salvage and found a brisk trade in finding bodies, either suicides or those who’d accidentally drowned or been murdered. By a curious quirk of history, the origins of which are now lost, bodies were almost always landed on the south side of the river because the authorities would pay a shilling for a body landed in Southwark but only sixpence for one landed on the north bank. Clearly waterborne cabbies were not averse to “going south of the river” in those days.
One on the best trips for the Watermen was from the City to as far up river as Hampton Court.The trade was not without its dangers; if you wanted to travel downstream below London Bridge you risked life and limb. A major feature of London Bridge was the effect it had on the Thames. The location of the bridge’s 19 timber pier supports (called starlings) was determined by riverbed conditions and this meant that they were varied in spacing across the river. Consequently, the arch spans varied in size too and boats navigating the arches encountered different currents and river conditions at each one. Some were more dangerous than others. Over the years, boatmen christened the arches with various names, such as Gut, Lock and Long Entry. Navigating through these arches in a boat could be very dangerous because the closeness and number of starlings backed up the river water, creating rapids. In some places the drop in water height from one side of the bridge to the other was more than the height of a man. Many people lost their lives “shooting” the bridge and “Drowned at the bridge” became a common entry in the registers at nearby graveyards, but most Londoners took Cardinal Wolsey's example. On his frequent visits to Greenwich to see Henry VIII, he would have his barge stopped above the bridge and get out and travel to Billingsgate by mule, where he would rejoin his barge, providing it had successfully negotiated the rapids. The barge fork was used to push a barge away from an obstruction, or for pushing off from the river bank or jetty. The last picture is of a statue of the Martyr John Roche a Thames Waterman, Martyred at Tyburn in 1588, who is mounted St Etheldreda’s Church in Ely Place, London, along the North and South walls, alongside his fellow 7 Martyrs. Fork head 13 inches long by 6 inches across. Total length. | | Victorian Lee Metford Bayonet Regimentally marked to the Essex Regiment. Made by Wilkinson. VR Crown stamp to blade. Unusual nickle plated variant. | | War Shield, Probably of the Tulama People Southwest Ethiopia A 'Gatshena', a highly convex shield used by the Christen Tulama that encompassed the area that is now known as Addis Ababa. This antique shiled is of very thick hide, possibly hippopotamus, geometric circle patterning with a rolled and everted rim. Worn as a symbol of rank. | | We Always Welcome Personal Visitors To Our Store In Brighton To view our history during the past 100 years click the photo to see more photos of our store, and 3 original photos of our store around 1920, one of our 1920's horse drawn pantechnichon [still in use till 1969] and one of our 'more modern' trucks in the 1970's. At any one time [in the long past days, when the family business was based around general antiques] we had up to 20 horse-drawn vehicles in service at any one time, and our dearest and oldest horse, who was our last in service, was Dolly, one of the very last horses living [until she past away] trained for the black-out during the Blitz [she knew her way around the town of Brighton in pitch black darkness]. | | We Always Welcome Personal Visitors To Our Store In Brighton Sadly we are likely the last true 'Armoury' shop left in the whole of Britain. We are described as one of the top visitors attractions of the City, and hundreds of thousands of tourists [and regular visitors] come to see us every year. We evolved from one of the oldest established family businesses in Sussex, with a client base that includes Heads of State, Presidents, Princes and Kings. But whether you are a movie star, a professor, a postmen or a student all are treated with the same courtesy. Every sale is important to us, beit a badge for £5 or a first edition for £5,000. Every day we are told that, to some, this is their favourite shop in the world, so we believe we have a great responsibility, to our customers, our reputation, and to the amazing city of Brighton. To view our history during the past century click the photo to the left to see more photos of our store today, and also 3 original vintage photos from our archive. One from around 1920, one of our 1920's vintage horse drawn pantechnichon [still in use till 1969] and one of our 'more modern' trucks in the 1970's. An article, written on us, at City News Live is copied below [ link; http://citynewslive.com/travel/fullstory-newsID-20592.html ] *********and this is the article, below, as published;***********
With so many different histories to offer, you can feel freer in Brighton than in most British cities to select trips which coincide with your interests – and of course, you're much more likely to find in Brighton things to do which bring the history you love to life. For the lover of militaria, a visit to The Lanes Armoury is a must with a difference. The Armoury's housed in a three-storey 16th century building and is a real treasure trove – it's a museum which is not a museum as everything is for sale. It has been nominated and then short-listed for the British Antique & Collectors Awards as the best Antique Shop in Great Britain and is the latest incarnation of a much older business – Hawkins Antiques Ltd – which was one of the earliest and largest dealers in Antiques and Collectibles within Europe. It's their specialisation in Arms, Armour, Militaria, and Books which really marks them out and creates such a fascinating and fantastic place to visit. From bronze-age swords, suits of armour, guns, revolvers, duelling pistols, American Civil war swords through to medals and World War II weapons, it's all there to be viewed and drooled over. It's not a museum but when you leave, you've had the same experience! | | We Urgently Wish To Purchase All Similar Items As Can Be Seen On Our Site For example; American Civil War and Wild West Revolvers, Swords, Repeating Arms [such as Winchesters Spencers & Sharps], Long Guns
Napoleonic and Waterloo era Swords, Pistols, Helmets
Brown Bess Muskets & Baker Rifles, Antique Swords, Guns and Armour of all Nations. British Antique Flintlock and Percussion Pistols, Cased Duelling Pistols, Cased Guns either Singular, Pairs or Triples. Blunderbuss both Military and Naval. Antiquities such as Bronze Age Swords, Daggers & Axes. Medieval Armour, Swords, Daggers, Flails, Maces, Battle Axes, Pole Arms, Lances & Helmets. Civil War Weaponry, Wheel locks, Matchlocks, Harquebus & Halberds. Shields, Ethnic Weaponry, Asian Weaponry Chinese Weapons and Armour of All Ancient and Antique Eras, Mogul Arms, Daggers, Swords, Long Guns, Victorian Helmets and Head Dress, Victorian Military Arms such as Martini Henry, Enfields & Sporting Muskets, Zulu Weapons Shields and Clubs. Military Bronze Statuary, Busts From Ancient Greece to the WW2 Era etc etc. | | WHY NOT VISIT OUR JAPANESE DEPARTMENT ? In the Japanese Department we invite you to view a most pleasing selection of genuine, antique, Samurai edged weapons from 60 to over 700 years old, to suit all budgets. We also have a good selection of WW2 Japanese swords. |
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