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Nation : British
Local Price : £2,850.00

British 1796 Variant Cavalry Sword. £ 2,850.00 British 1796 Variant Cavalry Sword larger than normal in all proportions. The hilt regulation with langets, sword knot slot near pommel with leather bound grip secured by wire. The blade curved flat sided with a cut back point and 1.5 inch in width at the hilt increasing to 2.25 inch near the point. It is complete with match scabbard with two loose ring overall length 33.5 inch the blade 28 inch a very interesting one-off sword we assume.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,800

A Fine English Silver Hilted Small Sword by John Radborn of the City of London Hallmarked for 1764 / 1765. A very fine English silver hilted small sword by John Radborn of London with hallmarks for 1764 / 1765. The hilt is mounted with a dish guard which is exquisitely pierced and chased with rococo foliate scrolls and multi pointed florets. This design theme is common to the other major silver components of the hilt which attests to the originality and homogeneity of the parts. The scabbard is mounted with silver fittings. The hollow ground colichemarde blade is of typical triangular section. The sword is well-balanced in hand and in excellent condition without damage or repair. The sword is an example of the high standards of design and execution required of the 18th century London silversmith as well as an example of one of the most effective weapons of the 17th and 18th centuries. Silver hilted small swords evolved from earlier rapiers and were fashionable attire for gentlemen. Mostly worn for effect, someone wearing one was also announcing to the world that he was able to use it. Despite the stylish and often delicate appearance of these swords they were formidable dueling weapons. The sword hilt is in excellent crisp condition without losses or repairs and has maintained its original pleasing profile. The shallow dish guard has a strengthened rim shaped as four crescents on the outside which supports the exquisitely pierced and chased delicate and intricate foliate designs within. The perimeter is raised with a continuous chain of diamond shaped links further strengthened in the middle front and back where the rim is thickened and engraved with foliate sprays. The ricasso, pas d’ ane rings, knuckle bow and pommel are pierced and chased in the same decorative style as the dish guard. The stamped maker’s mark of “I R” is present on one side of the knucklebow near the pommel in raised relief inside a depressed rectangle, accompanied by the crowned leopard’s head assay mark, the royal lion passant and date marks. The baluster shaped grip is covered with spirally wrapped bevelled silver strip, separated by wrapped silver twisted wire, flanked by thinner ropes on either side. Silver cap terminals are present top and bottom of the grip engraved with floral designs. The tapering, hollow ground, stiff, triangular section blade retains its original engraved foliate panels near the hilt. It is in fine condition with a shallow mottled grey patina and some age staining and light pitting. The scabbard has a wooden core bound with brown vellum. John Radborn worked in the New Street precinct of the City of London for all of his professional life. He is first recorded when he was indentured to the cutler Nathaniel Young in 1737. On the death of Young in 1742 he was turned over to John Smith for the remainder of his term and was sworn free of the Cutlers’ Company by servitude in 1745 when he probably entered his first mark at Goldsmiths Hall which is now lost. His first surviving mark was entered in 1762. On moving address in 1769 Radborn entered another mark which was very similar to the last to confirm the move. He was admitted as a pensioner of the Cutlers’ Company in 1776 and died in 1780. John Radborn was one of the most gifted silver hilt makers and sword cutlers of his time. For further information see “London Silver-Hilted Swords”, their makers, suppliers and allied traders, with directory, by Leslie Southwick, 2001, Royal Armouries, and particularly page 202 for the biography of John Radborn and examples of his work in plates 46, 66, 72-3, 74 and colour plate 3. The blade is 31.25 inches (just over 79.5 cm) long and the overall length of the sword is 38 inches (96.5 cm). --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,775

A Fine English Silver Hilted Small Sword by Joseph Clare (II) of London hallmarked for 1765 / 1766 retailed by Bennett.. A fine English silver hilted small sword by Joseph Clare of London with hallmarks for 1765 / 1766. The hilt is mounted with a dish guard which is exquisitely pierced and chased with rococo foliate scrolls and sprays between curling tendrils of filigree delicacy. The design is the common theme on the other silver components of the hilt and scabbard. The sword is well-balanced in hand and in excellent condition, having maintained its shape without damage or repair. The sword is mounted with a tapering hollow ground triangular section colichemarde blade. The scabbard is missing its lower portion but retains its original upper silver mounts with the name of the retailer stippled into the back of the mouthpiece. The sword hilt is in fine condition without losses or repairs and has maintained its original pleasing profile. The oval shaped shallow dish guard has a strengthened rim on the outside which supports the chased foliate designs within centred on the repeated theme of an eight petaled floret. The ricasso, pas d’ ane rings, knuckle bow, quillon and pommel are pierced and chased in the same decorative style. The stamped maker’s mark of CLARE is impressed on one side of the knucklebow near the pommel in raised relief inside a depressed panel accompanied by the crowned leopard’s head assay mark, the royal lion passant purity and date marks. The baluster shaped rounded rectangular section grip is covered with spirally wrapped bevelled silver strip, separated by contra-twisted pairs of silver ropes, flanked by thinner ropes on either side. Silver cap terminals are present top and bottom of the grip engraved with scallops on each side. The stiff, tapering, hollow ground, blade is in fine condition and retains its original engraved foliate panels near the hilt. The hilt is an example of the high standards of design and execution required of the 18th century London silver hilt maker, as well as an example of one of the most effective weapons of the 17th and 18th centuries, which at this time was at the pinnacle of its evolution. Silver hilted small swords were fashionable attire for gentlemen. Mostly worn for effect, someone wearing one was also announcing to the world that he was able to use it. Despite the stylish and often delicate appearance of these swords they were formidable dueling weapons. Joseph Clare, the hiltmaker, is recorded from 1732-1771 as a silversmith and silver hilted sword hilt maker. His mark on this sword is “CLARE” which is one of a few marks produced by Clare and is represented in Grimwade mark number 358. His earlier marks were similar. He died in 1771. The firm of Bennett was formed by John Bennett (I) who was initially a silver hilted sword maker who was made free of the Cutlers’ Company in 1731 and registered his first silversmith’s mark in 1732. In 1746 Bennett was recorded at an address in Threadneedle Street in the City of London opposite the north gate of “Ye Royal Exchange”. Bennet diversified into jewellery, goldsmithing and gunmaking. Key to understanding this sword is that Bennett was also a cutler and retailer. In this respect as a cutler he would assemble parts of silver hilted swords, made both by himself and bought in from other silversmiths like Clare, into finished swords, and would also buy in completed swords to retail. As a result the hilt of this sword is stamped by Clare as the sword maker, and, the scabbard mouthpiece is engraved with: “Bennett & Son Royall Exchange” as the cutler / retailer. Bennett died in 1774 after which the business was taken over by his son John Bennett (II). For further information on Joseph Clare see Leslie Southwick “London Silver-Hilted Swords”, their makers, suppliers and allied traders, with directory, 2001, Royal Armouries, page 72 for the biography and examples of his work in black and white plates 53 and 61 plus colour plate 5. For further information on John Bennett see page 45. The blade is 31.75 inches (just under 81 cm) long and the overall length of the sword is just under 39 inches (just 98.5 cm). --> --> Gallery

Nation : -
Local Price : £2,750

A fine Saxon Military Flintlock Holster Pistol dating to the reign of Augustus III (1733-1763). A very fine, scarce and well made Saxon cavalry flintlock pistol dating to the middle of the 18th century. It dates to the reign of Augustus III who was King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Elector of Saxony (1733 – 1763). Augustus was supportive of Austria against Prussia in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740 – 1748) and in the Seven Years War (1756 – 1763) which resulted in Saxony being defeated and occupied by Prussia. Augustus died from a stroke at the end of this period. The pistol dates to these wars. The pistol is an imposing piece of higher quality than the more usual military arms of the time most likely made for one Augustus’s Guards Regiments. The barrel has a sighted tang and sighting flat along the top and brass front sight. It is struck with a Saxon proof mark at the breech, “AR” conjoined, underneath a crown for “Augustus Rex”. The mark is repeated on the stock near the tang as a mark of quality and acceptance similar to proofing. The same mark is found on Royal Meissen porcelain of the period. Meissen is in Saxony. The flat bevelled lock has a dog catch which engages with the back of the cock in the half cock position as an extra level of security. The pan is unbridled. The working parts are firm and crisp. The full walnut stock is well figured and moulded around the tang, sides and fore end. The brass mounts are well formed and consist of a scroll side-plate with engraved foliate eagle-head and pierced foliate tail, a cast and chased crowned vacant escutcheon between crossed palm branches, a faceted spurred pommel with iron suspension loop, a protective finial to the fore end, ribbed and faceted ramrod-pipes and a tapering ramrod with a brass cap. Until recently the pistol was part of the collection of Robert Booker in the USA (collection inventory number 559) who is a respected authority and accomplished author on early European pistols. The above description is based upon his collection catalogue entry. The pistol is a fine example with negligible wear. The barrel is 14.5 inches (36.5 cm) long and overall the pistol is 22 inches (56 cm) long. --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,750.00

Scottish Victorian 93rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Dirk. £ 2,750.00 Scottish 93rd Regimental Dirk to General Alexander MacIintosh. Made by James Ferguson Inverness with stag horn grips finished with silver caps all engraved with family crest. The blade with faint engraving and maker marked, notched along the back and with false double edge at the point. The black leather scabbard with silver matching mounts, the top one engraved with the initials A M, Thistle and X C I I I REG please note age wear to bottom mount. Overall length 42cm the blade 29..5cm – No hallmarks but fittings test as silver

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,750.00

Scottish Horsemans Basket Hilted Broadsword. £ 2,750.00 Scottish Horsemans Basket Hilted Broadsword c 1740 fitted with a later replacement blade c 1780. The basket with cone pommel and pierced with hearts and circles in the traditional form. The basket does show some age repairs please see images wooden ribbed grip. The blade double edged with central small fuller overall length 39 inch the blade 32.75 inch

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,750.00

British Victorian Royal Horse Guards Post-1832 Officer’s Sword with ‘Continental’ Hilt of Cornet George William Plukenett Woodroffe, Dated 1862 by Wilkinson. Straight blade with single fuller and hatchet point. Brass hilt with three side bars, the whole cast inside and out with motifs of spiralling foliage, feathers placed on the branching section of the hilt bars, and the St Edward’s Crown, correct for the reign of Queen Victoria. Spiral ribbed grip of wood covered with black shagreen bound with wire, ribbed brass ferrule and ornate brass pommel cap. Leather washer Blancoed to be white. Steel scabbard with two large smooth oval brass bands with hanging rings, steel shoe at the chape. Blade 36 inches in length, 1¼ inches wide at the shoulder, the sword 42½ inches overall. The blade is etched at the forte on one side with the maker’s mark ‘HENRY WILKINSON PALL MALL LONDON’ and foliate motifs. At the ricasso on the other side should be a circular brass proof slug set within an etched six-pointed star – the proof slug itself has been lost leaving an empty depression. Around and above this are etched further folate motifs. The spine of the blade is stamped with the serial number ‘11767’. Wilkinson company records indicate that sword 11767 was a 'Regulation Blues Sword' (Blues being a reference to the Royal Horse Guards, nicknamed as such from their earliest days because of their blue uniforms) sold to ‘Woodroffe Esq.’ (Esquire, a courtesy title for members of the gentry) on the 18 th February 1862. George William Plukenett Woodroffe was born in July 1842. His father Skynner George Woodroffe served as a Lieutenant with the Queen's Own Worcestershire Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry from 1841 until his death in February 1843, aged 33. George's mother Emily remarried to Walker Skirrow Jr in 1853. George purchased a commission as a Cornet in the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards on 7th January 1862. This matches up well with the sword’s sale date and there are no other candidates with that surname in the RHG at that time. George’s military career appears to have been short – he sold his commission and retired from the service on the 26th May 1865, totaling three years and four months. The RHG undertook no deployments during this time, only their usual guard and ceremonial duties, punctuated by the demolition and reconstruction of their barracks at Windsor in 1864 on the instruction of Queen Victoria (who had discovered them to be unhygienic) and early experimentation with what became the game of polo. While uneventful, the brevity of George’s career may have helped preserve his sword in its current good condition. In May 1866 George married Alice Maud Townshend, and in 1868 he partnered with stockbroker Henry Evans Gordon to form Gordon, Woodroffe and Co, East Indian and Colonial Merchants, which he remained involved with for the rest of his life. He is listed at various times residing at Winkfield Manor in Berkshire, Eastcott House in Surrey, and Cambridge Park House in Twickenham. In 1918 he contributed £105 towards the King Edward's Hospital Fund – a charity to support London’s voluntary hospitals, the only healthcare option for the poor at the time. George died in December 1919, aged 77, while living in Queen Anne's Mansions, the tallest block of flats in London. For a man who was only briefly a soldier George seems to have founded a thoroughly military family: his first daughter Clara married Major Edward Barrington Crake of the Rifle Brigade, and his second daughter Maud married Captain James Lionel Dugdale of the Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry. George’s only son was Brigadier-General Charles Richard Woodroffe CMG CVO CBE, of the Royal Artillery, who during WW1 served on the Western Front as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General at General Headquarters from 1914-1915, then as Deputy Adjutant & Quartermaster General with the British Mission to the French Grand Quartier General from 1917-1918. His service liasing with the French was rewarded with the Croix d’Officier in 1916 and the Croix de Guerre in 1918. Charles accompanied the Prince of Wales as military secretary during his visit to Japan in 1922, for which he was awarded CVO (Commander rank of the Royal Victorian Order). George’s grandson by Charles was Lt-Col. John William Richard Woodroffe, Royal Artillery, who was the first husband of Jean Woodroffe (nee Francis) CVO, second lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II. His grandson by Maud was Thomas Lionel Dugdale, who was MP for Richmond (Yorkshire) from 1929 to 1959, served with the Scots Greys in WW1 and in Egypt with the Yorkshire Hussars in WW2, became Minister for Agriculture and later Chairman of the Conservative Party, and was made 1st Baron Crathorne in the House of Lords. Since their inception the regiments of Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards which collectively made up the Household Cavalry carried different swords than the regiments of the regular cavalry. This stemmed from their unique status as bodyguards to the sovereign, which placed them beyond the effective control of the Army bureaucracy for most of their existence. Until 1882 they designed, ordered and carried swords on their own initiative, not necessarily producing better weapons but enhancing their prestige and social status. Swords like this one were carried by officers of the Royal Horse Guards, also known as The Blues, when in Dress order and probably in the Undress order as well (Undress wear of it was confirmed in 1846). Its distinctive chunky and ornate brass hilt is very European in style, influenced primarily by French heavy cavalry swords of the First Empire and Restoration periods, collectors have thus referred to it as the ‘Continental hilt’. This model is thought to have been carried from at least 1832 and was noted in the 1834 Dress Regulations with the very vague specification: “Sword – gilt guard, pommel and shell; black fish-skin gripe twisted with yellow wire; straight cut and thrust blade, full one inch wide at shoulder, and thirty-nine long. Scabbard – steel.” Actual examples frequently differ from this spec – for instance the guards do not appear to have been gilded and blades are consistently wider than 1 inch. Overall the 1834 Regulations seem to be very confused and unreliable with regards to the swords of the Royal Horse Guards. See The British Cavalry Sword by Dellar, p210-211 for more discussion of the Regulations and this type in general. A similar sword was carried by the officers of the 2 nd Life Guards but these can be distinguished by the decoration on the hilt and pommel cap: the 2 nd Life Guards sword put a grenade badge in these spots while the Royal Horse Guards used a crown for the hilt and a Tudor rose on the pommel cap. Over time it appears the officers of the RHG moved away from the Continental hilt towards their own version of the ’12-stud’ hilt swords carried by the 1 st Life Guards: one known example is dated 1854 (Dellar p211). As usual this was totally informal. Both types probably coexisted for a period but the changeover was formalized in the 1874 Dress Regulations, in which the 12-stud sword became standard carry for all Household Cavalry, with minor variations for regimental insignia. This was referred to as the 1874 Pattern or ‘State sword’. This sword’s blade is 3 inches shorter than the above regulation. Its tip has the correct hatchet profile, the scabbard is sized to match and fits well, and this is not the only example I have seen at this length, so it was probably deliberately made that size. Perhaps to aid in wearing it when dismounted? Yet more contradiction of the Dress Regulations. The sword is firmly peened with no movement to any parts. The blade has a near-mirror polish, with a few polishing marks and a few tiny spots of light patination and frosting. The edge is unsharpened with no edge damage or tip wear. All the sword’s brass parts have an even midtone patina, darker in recesses, with good retention of detail suggesting little in the way of repolishing. The flared segment of the grip near the pommel has lost its shagreen covering, and there is also one small area of loss in the next segment beside the grip’s seam. In both areas this exposes the wood core. Some small cracks to the shagreen elsewhere, scattered spots of scale loss and light handling wear overall. Despite these minor damages the grip remains solid overall with no lifting or movement and the wire binding of the grip is all present and tight. The scabbard’s steel body section has moderate cleaned pitting peppered overall, one dent at the chape on one side which does not interfere with sheathing and drawing. Its brass parts are consistent with those of the hilt or a fraction brighter, with no dents. The screws at the throat are all present.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2750.00

Original 18th Century Scottish Fencible Regimental Basket Hilted Broadsword. With distinctive two part centrally welded basket, in sheet iron, with scrolls and thistles there over. Interesting original regimental swords of the 18th century, from Scottish regiments are very much sought after throughout the entire world. Scottish Fencible Regiment's swords are now jolly rare indeed, and they are highly distinctive in their most unique form. Fancy carved replacement grip. Some ironwork separation on the basket by the forte of the blade, but overall in good sound condition. Overall natural age surface pitting. Made for the war with Revolutionary France in the 1790's. The total number of British fencible infantry regiments raised during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence was nine, of which six were Scottish, two were English and one was Manx. The regiments were raised during a time of great turbulence in Europe when there was a real fear that the French would either invade Great Britain or Ireland, or that radicals within Britain and Ireland would rebel against the established order. There was little to do in Britain other than garrison duties and some police actions, but in Ireland there was a French supported insurrection in 1798 and British fencible regiments were engaged in some pitched battles. Some regiments served outside Great Britain and Ireland. Several regiments performed garrison duties on the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. A detachment of the Dumbarton Fencibles Regiment escorted prisoners to Prussia, and the Ancient Irish Fencibles were sent to Egypt where they took part in the operations against the French in 1801. When it became clear that the rebellion in Ireland had been defeated and that there would be peace between France and Britain in 1802 (The preliminaries of peace were signed in London on 1 October 1801) the Fencible regiments were disbanded. The British cavalry and light dragoon regiments were raised to serve in any part of Great Britain and consisted of a force of between 14,000 and 15,000 men. Along with the two Irish regiments, those British regiments that volunteered for service in Ireland served there. Each regiment consisted of eighteen commissioned officers and troops of eighty privates per troop. The regiments were always fully manned as their terms of service were considered favourable. At the beginning of 1800 all of the regiments were disbanded

Nation : British
Local Price : £2750.00

A Singularly Beautiful Napoleonic Wars, Elite Cuirassier's 'Year 13' Imperial French Dated Sword, Of The War of The 100 Days, Culminating at the Battle Of Quatre Bras & The Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington's Decisive Victory Over Napoleon. Superb and beautiful hilt, with very fine original leather bound grip, and a very fine double fullered blade with stunning bright patina. Steel combat scabbard without denting. We are very privileged to be the UK’s premier original military antiques gallery and website, and to be able to consistently, continually, and regularly, offer the finest original collectors items in our shop for over 100 years French Napoleonic 'An 13', year 13 swords, were manufactured from 1805 and discontinued in late 1815, whereupon it was superceded in general by the later hilt style of the 1816 model, although some of the surviving models, such as this beauty, continued in service. Renown throughout the world of historic sword collectors as probably the biggest and most impressive cavalry sword ever designed. This would have seen service in the Elite Cuirassiers of Napoleon's great heavy cavalry regiments. Napoleon hoped to compel Tsar Alexander I of Russia to cease trading with British merchants through proxies in an effort to pressure the United Kingdom to sue for peace. The official political aim of the campaign was to liberate Poland from the threat of Russia. Napoleon named the campaign the Second Polish War to curry favour with the Poles and provide a political pretence for his actions. The Grande Armee was a very large force, numbering nearly half a million men from several different nations. Through a series of long marches Napoleon pushed the army rapidly through Western Russia in an attempt to bring the Russian army to battle, winning a number of minor engagements and a major battle at Smolensk in August. Napoleon hoped the battle would mean an end of the march into Russia, but the Russian army slipped away from the engagement and continued to retreat into Russia, while leaving Smolensk to burn. Plans Napoleon had made to quarter at Smolensk were abandoned, and he pressed his army on after the Russians. The battles continued, but once the winter set in Napoleon's army was facing insurmountable odds that left it effectively shattered beyond repair. Napoleon fled, it is said, dressed as a woman, and the army left to it's sad and miserable fate. Only around 27,000 were able to return after a mere six months of the Russian campaign. The campaign was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. The reputation of Napoleon was severely shaken, and French hegemony in Europe was dramatically weakened. The Grande Armee, made up of French and allied invasion forces, was reduced to a fraction of its initial strength. These events triggered a major shift in European politics. France's ally Prussia, soon followed by Austria, broke their alliance with France and switched camps. This triggered the War of the Sixth Coalition. The Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Regiments used the largest men in France, recruited to serve in the greatest and noblest cavalry France has ever had. They fought with distinction at their last great conflict at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and most of the Cuirassiers swords in England very likely came from that field of conflict, after the battle, as trophies of war. However, this sword was one of the few that were allowed to remain in the elite cuirassier corps after Waterloo, serving King Louis XVIIIth both before Napoleon's 100 days, and after his crushing defeat by Wellington at Waterloo. Inspected on the blade by Napoleonic inspectors, Lobstein and Bick, also back strap engraved Manufacture Rle January 1815. Made during the abdication period and used in the War of the 100 days. Less than a year following his abdication (April 6, 1814) and the Bourbon Restoration, Napoleon left his island exile in the Tyrrhenian Sea and landed at Cannes on March 1, leading 1,500 men, and marched at once upon Paris. Louis XVIII fled to Ghent on March 13, and Napoleon entered Paris one week later. To broaden his support, Napoleon made liberal changes to the Imperial Constitution, which led a number of former opponents, most notably Benjamin Constant, to rally to his cause. On March 25 Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia concluded an alliance against Napoleon and forced a series of military engagements leading up to the fatal Battle of Waterloo (June 18). Every warrior that has ever entered service for his country sought trophies. The Mycenae from a fallen Trojan, the Roman from a fallen Gaul, the GI from a fallen Japanese, the tradition stretches back thousands of years, and will continue as long as man serves his country in battle. In the 1st century AD the Roman Poet Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis Juvenal wrote; "Man thirsts more for glory than virtue. The armour of an enemy, his broken helmet, the flag ripped from a conquered trireme, are treasures valued beyond all human riches. It is to obtain these tokens of glory that Generals, be they Roman, Greek or barbarian, brave a thousand perils and endure a thousand exertions". A truly magnificent Napoleonic sword in superb condition for it's age. The largest sword of it's kind that was ever made or used by the world's greatest cavalry regiments. The cuirassiers were the greatest of all France's cavalry, allowing only the strongest men of over 6 feet in height into it's ranks. The French Cuirassiers were at their very peak in 1815, and never again regained the wonder and glory that they truly deserved at that time. To face a regiment of, say, 600 charging steeds bearing down upon you mounted with armoured giants, brandishing the mightiest of swords that could pierce the strongest breast armour, much have been, quite simply, terrifying. The brass basket guard on this sword is first class, the grip is totally original leather and a great colour only shows expected combat wear, the blade is double fullered and absolutely as crisp as one could hope for. Made in the Napoleonic Wars period. Used at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo. Apparently every remaining French elite cuirassier regiment fought at Waterloo for Napoleon, and there were no cuirassier reserve, and there were no cuirassier militia The blade has wonderful steel bright colour, and the hilt has fabulous patina. Overall 45.5 inches long in its scabbard, the spear pointed blade is 37.7 inches long. Old original aged patina and regular usual surface blacking to the scabbard steel.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £2,750.00

**QUALITY HORIMONO CARVED ANTIQUE 1865 DATED BLADE**WW2 Smith Signed Tang ‘Zu Shu Nao Tsugu Saku’ Japanese Army Officer’s Type 98 Gunto Sword, Rank Tassel, Scabbard Bag / Cover & Expert Assessment Sn 23716 -. 23716 This superb sword has been assessed by a UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. His assessment states “A type 98 shin gunto, army officers sword with antique blade circa 1865-1868. This is signed on katana side ‘zu-shu nao tsugu saku’ studied under taikei naotane, lived in matsusaki on the izu peninsula. See markus sesko book on smiths p/no 283 for information. This teacher naotane was well known for horimono (carving). His here done by honjo yoshitani. In old faded polish showing a gunome midare, nioi edged hamon, bright but no grain visible. One small chip to edge otherwise v/g condition. Saya gunto pattern, in good but faded military brown paint, only couple of bits missing, nice patina on fittings. Habaki, copper with incised rain drops. Tsuba. Gunto pattern in cast brass. Some gilt left on body, rim lost its gilt but nicely patinated. No 22 as are its Seppa (washers) tsuka (hilt) gunto pattern, in good but used condition. Skin intact, but dirty. Complete binding (ito), has gilt menuki. Working locking catch (no 22) & saurute knot loop quality monkey hands. A desirable addition to any collection in v/good and un-messed with condition knot loop is high quality monkey hands complete with rank tassel in blue & brown for Lieutenant to Captains rank”. In his notes Bill describes the cutting edge as just under 68cms length and overall length as just under 88 cms. He also translates the blade signature and date and describes other blade characteristics and dimensions. The price for this impressive family blade taken to WW2 with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 23716

Nation : French
Local Price : £2,700.00

French Marines Of Imperial Guard.... A French 1804-15 model, Marines sword of the Imperial Guard. Leather covered, wire bound grip with two piece brass hilt, showing engraved anchor to the

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,695.00

British Officers 1796 Light Cavalry.... British 1796 pattern Light Cavalry officers sword. A superb example retaining most of its original blue & gilt design to the single fullured blade.

Nation : British
Local Price : $2,695.00

British 1757 Pattern Highland Basket Hilted Backsword by Drury, Third Quarter 18th C. After the fall of the Jacobite Rebellion in 1746, the Scottish Highlands were largely cleared of those who took part in the rebellion and severe restrictions were placed on those who remained. It became very difficult for many to earn a living in the harsh climate and rocky soil, so many had little choice but to become soldiers in the very British Army that had defeated them. Recognizing the value of Scottish fighting men and also in an attempt to unite the kingdom, the British Army formed a number of Highland regiments, one of which was the famous 42nd, or “Black Watch” regiment. The straight-bladed basket-hilted broadswords and backswords were a favorite among the Scots, so the British developed a pattern of cheaply-made swords of this style to equip these newly-formed regiments. Thus began the life of what is generally known today as the 1757 Pattern basket-hilted backsword. Blades were made by a number of subcontractors, such as Samuel Harvey of Birmingham. Nathaniel Jeffreys of Westminster and Dru Drury of Lad Lane, Wood Street in London provided finished swords. This example features the signature sheet iron basket guard with conical pommel, lightly stamped with unit markings “I/No II” on the basket front plate; wood grip (split and loose), missing its wrap. Single-edged 32″ (81.2 cm) blade with 3/4-length fuller at the back edge, clearly stamped with a crown over “GR” over “DRURY” on both sides. Hilt with pitting, dark patina, and areas of rust. The blade with patches of pitting, rust patina, and numerous shallow edge nicks; markings sharp and clear. Metal with protective wax coating. Overall length 38 1/4″ (97 cm). Many of these swords saw service in America during the French and Indian War and American Revolution. This example, like most, shows considerable age and wear typical of a long service life.

Nation : German
Local Price : $2,695.00

German Officer’s Broadsword with Scabbard, ca. 1680. Blackened hilt featuring single oblong side ring filled with a pierced plate embossed with acanthus design. Down-turned reverse quillon with lobed finial chiseled with acanthus design. Knuckle bow with central double knob joined to the pommel. Pommel with button and chiseled ensuite with acanthus design. Grip wrapped with three sizes of single strand and twisted brass wire and finished with braided turks heads top and bottom. Double- edged 33 1/4″ blade of hexagonal-section; the long ricasso stamped “JOANNE” on one side and “MARTINEZ” on the other inside an engraved border. Blade shows lamination, pitting, and a number of nicks from blade strikes primarily on the lower half. In its restored leather covered wood scabbard with blackened iron mounts. Overall length 38 ½”, not including scabbard.

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £2,650.00

Seaforth Highlander Duke of Sutherland Sword. £ 2,650.00 Seaforth Highlanders 5th Battalion officers sword belonging to 5th Duke of Sutherland who was a captain between 1910 and 1912 becoming Honorary Colonel in 1914. Regulation basket hilted sword in good condition complete with liner and fringe. The blade is super condition and well etched with G R V and crown to one side the reverse with regimental details as follows Seaforth Highlanders 5th The Sutherland and Caithness Highland Battalion plus the single letter S Retailers details Davies and Sons London and complete with matching scabbard which does show age wear between the ring mounts sold with research

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,650.00

A Very Good Blunderbuss by Grice of London.. A Very Good Blunderbuss by Grice of London, Circa 1780. With octagonal to round belled brass barrel, engraved with foliage around the borders of the octagonal section, stamped with Tower private proofs, border engraved steel tang, decorated with foliage, border engraved lock, signed beneath the pan, cock and frizen decorated en suite, full-stocked in walnut with raised apron around the tang, engraved brass mounts comprising stepped side-plate, decorated with foliage, foliate engraved butt plate and trigger guard decorated with a flower head on the bow with acorn finial, horn tipped ramrod. In lovely condition overall. GRICE James Gun Manufacturer, 2 Whistlers Ct., Cannon St., 1793-6. Joseph Grice (1782-97) and William Grice (1766-90), gunmakers, Birmingham, also marked guns ‘London’. John Gunsmith, Ratcliff, 1712-14 Thomas Apprenticed to John Willows in Gunmakers Co., 1704 William Junr. Gunmaker, near Salters Hill, Cannon St., 1803. Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London 1350-1850, George Shumway Publishing, York, Pennsylvania, USA. Dimensions: Bore: N/A Barrel Length: 14 Iches (35.5 cm) Overall Length: 29 Inches (73.50 cm)

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,645.00

**Napoleonic Battle Of Trafalgar Era**Georgian, English Board Of Ordnance Marked Enfield Tower, Long Sea Service .577” Regulation Calibre, Flintlock Pistol With Belt Bar & Regulation Brass Fittings Including Cudgel Butt. Sn 21807 -. 21807 During the 18th century the British Royal Navy began standardising their Naval small arms. One such weapon was the Sea Service flintlock pistol. These weapons were used by the British Royal Navy throughout the Wars with neighbouring France 1750- 1815 and saw service at the famous Naval Battle of Trafalgar 21st October 1805. This original Georgian, Tower, Long Sea Service Pistol is in excellent condition. It is 19 ½” long with a 12” smooth bore barrel which is Regulation .577" calibre. The barrel’s bore has staining & residue consistent with age and use. The barrel is crisply stamped with English black powder proof marks. The all original full wood stock has just light bumps and bruises to be expected with age. The stock has an iron belt bar which has a small ‘Crown’ inspection mark. It has regulation brass furniture including cudgel butt. The pistol has its original wood ram rod with brass end cap. The lock is crisply marked 'Tower' (Enfield) & ‘Crown GR’ (George Rex) together with small ordnance ‘Crown Arrow’ mark. All metal work is excellent and undamaged. The cock is fitted with flint. The lock functions crisply. NB As an antique flintlock pistol no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a display or collection. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21807

Nation : US
Local Price : £2575.00

Most Scarce, Rare & Stunning, Antique Balinese Ceremonial Executioner's Keris Complete With Original Gold Alloy & Cabouchon Decorated Hilt Depicting Bayu Seated On a Rock. The Hindu God of Wind, 17th to 18th Century Blade Likely Made From Meteorite Steel. Not only a rare and beautiful example of an antique Indonesian traditional weapon of high status, it is a stunning work of art, with a spectacular hilt that is a gilt alloy representational figure of Bayu, seated on a rock, the Hindu god of wind, with his right hand holding the flask with life-elixir, the left, a part of his shawl, and his face has the traditional ferocious expression with bulging eyes, and similarly it is studded with extravagant coloured glass cabouchon beads. It is very rare to see such fine object d'art still mounted upon their blades, as they all once were. In the 19th century it was very usual to removed tsuch hilts from their knives and mount them for cabinet display. the very few that still survive are mounted as such, and it is incredibly rare to to find one still complete and in one piece. It has a very nice, very long blade, of the traditionally Balinese ceremonial executioner's form. In many parts of Indonesia, the long straight bladed kris used to be the weapon of choice for ceremonial execution. The executioner's kris had a long, straight, slender blade exactly as this fine piece. The condemned knelt before the executioner, who placed a wad of cotton or similar material on the subject's shoulder or clavicle area. The blade was thrust through the padding, piercing the subclavian artery and the heart. Upon withdrawal, the cotton wiped the blade clean. Death came within seconds. This is stunningly nice piece and a most unusually seen variation of these interesting weapons, called the Kris or Keris. Fine, Indonesian antique, gold coloured metal sword hilts of Bayu, studded with glass beads such as this, are rare and highly collectable, and they occasionally appear, on the collector's market, frequently mounted on a base, without their blades, and sold as Asian Object D'art. In Sale No.2501, lot 601, at Christie's, in their sale of Asian Ceramics and Works of Art, on the 8 May 2001, in Amsterdam, a wooden pedestal mounted gold alloy figure of this very type and kind, also studded with similar glass beads. It sold at auction 24 years ago for $9,390 US Dollars. But, it no longer complete with its original kris knife Every single item from The Lanes Armoury, Britain's famous, favourite, and oldest original Armoury Antique store, is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, and thus, it is a lifetime guarantee

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,575

A Rare Scottish 1798 Pattern Officers’ Basket Hilted sword with Paktong / Nickel Hilt. A rare example of the distinctive basket hilted sword introduced for Scottish Infantry officers in Highland Regiments in 1798. It was replaced by the regulation steel basket hilt 1828 pattern three decades later. The sword type was used throughout the Napoleonic War period. The hilts of these swords were most usually made of gilt copper, bronze or brass. This sword is a rare example in that the hilt is made from a lighter coloured nickel-based alloy. The use of nickel alloy in the production of weapons and tableware was increasing in the early 19 th century as a substitute for silver, variously called Tutenag, Paktong, German Silver etc, but is rare in the production of sword hilts at this time, although some made from imported Chinese Paktong are known (for an example see an English Georgian Slot Hilt Hanger of the late 18 th century mounted with a Paktong hilt sold by C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd, Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK, lot 119, 1 st November, 2017). A further nickel-based hilt of Scottish 1798 pattern that we are aware of is detailed in note 1 below. The basket guard is made of rounded bars and flattened plates in the usual manner with forward loop guards and a swollen wrist guard terminal to the rear quillon. The upper terminals of the guard arms are fixed onto a ring inside which the stem of the mushroom shaped pommel is fitted. The pommel is dome-shaped on top with a protruding integral waisted pommel button. The double-edged gently tapering blade is 32.5 inches (just over 82 cm) long. It is of lenticular section with a short ricasso. A central fuller commences a short distance from the hilt on each side and is 9.5 inches (24 cm) long. The blade is unmarked and probably a German import which is a common occurrence on swords of this type and most usually of Solingen manufacture. The grip is of spirally grooved wood covered with shagreen held in place with thin strands of twisted copper wire now coloured with age. It is mounted with an alloy ferrule at the base of similar colour to the hilt and retains a red woollen fringe at the top plus its leather liner stitched with red cloth on the outside and bound with blue silk ribbon at the hem. The materials used for 1798 pattern hilts were less robust than iron and as a result were susceptible to damage. Many surviving and published examples have bars missing, are out of shape and often with repairs. This sword is a good example. The blade has just small patches of blackened age-related staining in places and the hilt has kept its shape without damage or repairs. Note 1: For other examples of the 1798 type see: Harvey J S Withers, “The Scottish Sword 1600-1945”, Paladin Press, 2009, particularly page 144 for a 1798 Pattern described as: “An unusual piece. The basket appears to be manufactured from a combination of white metal and brass (mixed together)”. The pommel, blade ricasso, grip shape and binding, plus the basal ferrule, liner and fringe, are more than coincidentally similar to our sword, indicating that both may have been made in the same batch by the same maker. --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,550

An English Silver Hilted Small Sword with London Hallmarks for 1726 / 1727 likely by Thomas Bass and made for the American market. A fine early 18th century English silver hilted small sword mounted with a double shell guard. The hilt is of the early plain form that arrived in the late 17th century and is the precursor to the period when the quality of small sword design and decorative appearance blossomed and reached its hiatus in London from the 1730’s onwards. An interesting feature of the hilt is the two outwardly concave bars which link the pas d’ane rings to the knuckle bow and rear quillon presumably to strengthen the structure in an attractive manner. The ring terminals also protrude upwards. These features are unusual on English silver hilted small swords but appear on one of the swords featured in Leslie Southwick’s “London Silver-hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001, page 279, plate 29. This sword is in the Royal Armouries Collection, Ref IX.2241. It is by the maker George Willcocks and hallmarked for 1720 / 1721. The hilt is almost identical to our sword even down to the minor details such as the shape of the pommel button and the grip ferrules. The maker’s mark is also shown in the same place on the pommel button. Whilst the subtle features described above are unusual in English made swords they are not unusual in 18th century American small swords. Daniel D Hartzler in “American Silver-Hilted, Revolutionary and Early Federal Swords”, 2015, Volume 1, illustrates a number of swords with these features made by 18th century American silversmiths such as Edward Winslow (pages 222, 223), William Little (pages 249 to 251) of Massachusetts and working in the early 18th century contemporary with the maker of our sword. Hartzler describes the hilt features highlighted above as the “American manner of construction” (page 222). Our sword was presumably therefore made in the American manner most likely for an American gentleman by one of a number of London silversmiths that catered for this demand. Most American silver hilted small swords at this time, like our sword, are rather plain double shell guard types as can also be seen in Hartzler. The hilt of our sword is almost certainly by Thomas Bass. Three hallmarks marks are present on the knuckle bow and two on the pommel button. The knucklebow marks are the lion passant and the crowned leopard’s head assay mark plus the date stamp for 1726 / 1727. The pommel button has a worn lion passant on one side and the maker’s mark on the other which is also worn and indistinctly stamped onto this awkward surface. Thomas Bass’s Sterling mark was registered in 1720 (Grimwade 2685) and consisted of his initials “T B” in raised relief inside a shield with a pellet between, and below, and a crown above. The mark on the sword pommel clearly shows the “T” plus the pellet to its right and the spine of the letter “B” to its right. Due to the tight curve of the small button most of the right hand part of the stamp is missing. A feature of the lives of London silver hilted sword makers of the 18 th century was that talent in working with silver was not necessarily a guarantee of commercial success. To succeed they also needed business acumen. Some silversmiths were very successful and became wealthy men. However, the records show that many talented silversmiths, evidenced by the quality of their surviving works, lived a sparse existence and sometimes ended their lives in penury. Thomas Bass seems to have been one such unfortunate case. Thomas is recorded from 1701 to 1760 as a silver hilt maker and sword cutler. He was indentured to the profession by the cutler Joseph Reason for seven years and sworn “free” of the Cutlers’ Company on 15 th April 1708, after which he is recorded as working in Fetter Lane in the City of London where he remained for the next 50 years and registered his first mark. He indentured his one known apprentice, Isaac Stewart, in 1712, and registered his second (Sterling) mark in 1720. On 5 th October 1721 the Court of Assistants of the Cutlers’ Company excused Thomas from taking livery due to his “mean” circumstances. A year later he was excused again: “Thomas Bass being sumon’d did not appear but several Members knowing him to be poor the Court doth think fit to excuse him till he is in better Circumstances”. It seems that Thomas struggled with poverty all his life and spent his last years in a workhouse to be buried at St Andrew’s Church, Holborn, on 22 nd February 1760. The above reference work borrows from Leslie Southwick 2001. The hollow ground, triangular section blade displays a pronounced taper at the forte and is in fine condition with a grey uncleaned patina. Engraved scroll designs have been applied near to the hilt in panels on both sides. The widest shows a hatted figure surrounded by foliage. Minor speckles and patches of age staining are present in places. The blade length is 30.5 inches (77.5 cm) and the overall length of the sword is just over 37 inches (just over 94 cm). --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,550

An English Boat Shell Silver Hilted Small Sword with its Scabbard mounted with a French Trophy Blade by William Kinman London Hallmarked for 1767 / 1768. An attractive English silver hilted smallsword mounted with a Boat Shell guard by the renowned 18th century London silversmith and cutler William Kinman, date stamped for 1767 / 1768. The sword is mounted with a French trophy blade embellished with blue and gilt designs and retains its silver mounted scabbard. The Seven Years’ War, known as the French and Indian War in North America, was fought between Britain and its allies against a French coalition and ended with the defeat of France in 1763 which changed the European order. It is likely that the blade was a trophy taken from the War by a British officer and mounted in London with a silver hilt a few years after the war ended. Kinman’s work, together with a few of his contemporaries, represents the highest standard of English silver craftsmanship of the time as is to be seen in the hilt of this sword. The dish guard with its thickened brim, pommel, knuckle bow and quillons are boldly formed with gadrooned designs and moulded borders. The baluster shaped wooden grip is of rounded rectangular section bound with twisted silver wire and mounted with silver cap terminals top and bottom engraved with gadrooning. The hilt is as much an example of the high standards of design and execution required of the 18th century London silversmith as it is as an effective weapon maker. Silver hilted small swords were fashionable attire for 18th century gentlemen. Mostly worn for effect as a show of wealth and taste, someone wearing such a sword at the time was also announcing to the world that he could use it, and was at risk of being invited to do so. Despite the stylish and delicate appearance of these swords they were formidable dueling weapons. The fine quality, triangular section, stiff, hollow ground, slender blade is delicately etched and engraved along its three sides almost to the tip with floral scrolls, sprays and panels enhanced by blue and gilt highlights for the first quarter of its length. A gilt stand of arms inside a panel is present on the three sides at the forte, probably indicating a military connection with the original owner. A gilt strip along the wider blade section near the hilt is inlaid with: L. HONNEUR ME FAIT SERVIR which translates to HONOR CAUSES ME TO SERVE which further indicates that the original owner was probably a French officer. The scabbard has a wooden core wrapped with vellum and retains its silver mounts. The maker’s mark is present on the underside of the guard near the blade. On the opposite side the assay mark is worn away. The knuckle bow shows the usual range of Sterling Silver hallmarks including the date letter stamp, leopard and lion as well as the maker’s mark now worn. The scabbard mounts consist of a linear engraved silver locket, chape and suspension mount, and two rings for suspension. The locket and chape are stamped with Britannia silver standard marks. The blade is just over 31 inches (79 cm) long and overall the sword is 37 inches (94 cm) long. William Kinman was one of the most influential and preeminent makers of silver hilted swords working in London in the third quarter of the 18th century. He made swords for the London social and military elites. He was a leading member of the Founders’ Company of London and served in all the major offices of the guild including Master. Kinman was born in 1728 and was sworn free of the Founders’ Company in 1750, when presumably he started to make swords in his own name and was admitted to livery in 1757. Kinman entered his first mark (W.K in raised relief inside a depressed panel) at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1759 (Grimwade 1990 reference 3210). William Kinman was at his most prominent in the earlier part of his career, when this sword was made, later becoming bankrupt due to the failure of a founding business he was involved in. For contemporary silver hilted swords by William Kinman and other notable London makers see Leslie Southwick, “London Silver-Hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001. And for further information on Kinman’s life of see pages 159 and 160. --> --> Gallery

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £2,500.00

A Superb Flintlock Long Sea Service Pistol.. A Superb Flintlock Long Sea Service Pistol. With plain tapering barrel stand with numerous ordnance marks at the breech, plain tang struck with a crown, border engraved flat lock with ‘GR’ crowned and ‘TOWER’ across the tail, struck with ordnance mark underneath the pan, border engraved ring-neck cock, full-stocked in walnut with apron around the barrel tang and stamped with inspection marks, regulation brass mounts including butt cap, trigger guard and ramrod pipes. Notes: This pistol appears to be in unissued condition, possibly retaining its original varnish to the wood, lacquer on the brass parts and blacking to all steel parts. In superb condition overall. Some scuffs to woodwork (see pictures) Dimensions: Bore: Barrel Length: Overall Length:

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,500.00

An Unusual Pair of Rifled Flintlock Pistols. A Pair of Rifled Flintlock Pistols, circa 1750, with round slightly swamped 11in. barrels of probable Italian manufacture, blind moulded and carved sighting ribs signed ‘TWIGG’ (probably spurious), small boat-shaped fore-sights, the breech of barrels engraved with foliage and relief carved with the mask of a horned man, engraved and moulded solid top-tangs with shallow rear-sights, yellow metal lined touch-holes, flat lockplates with carved bevel edges, engraved offset stepped and pointed tails, lozenge-shaped semi rainproof pans, carved moulded and engraved swan-necked cocks, carved frizzen springs, later Twigg signature below the pans, walnut half-stocks in the English style with curved chequered bag-shaped grips (fractured and repaired), originally fitted with sockets for a shoulder-stock, now filled with wood, spurred English style trigger guards and horn-tipped mahogany ramrods

Nation : Dutch
Local Price : 2495.00 USD

Rare Dutch East India Company, Voc, Cutlass!. A very nice are very desirable Dutch East India Company cutlass dated 1790 with Rotterdam town mark on both sides of blade. Untouched, as found, condition. The large shell guard has a crack and the hilt is loose. Some minor chips and cracks to wood grip. A very desirable early sword with tons and tons of character! Curved blade is about 25” long. Price is firm. Thanks for looking!

Nation : French
Local Price : 2495.00 USD

Magnificent 16th Century Knightly Italian Riding Sword!. CIRCA 1575 BEAUTIFULLY CHISELED STEEL HILT IN THE CRUCIFORM STYLE. LARGE DETAILED POMMEL AND GUARD CHISELED IN THE GEOMETRIC FASHION HIGHLIGHTED WITH CHISELED FLOWERS! Wire grip wrap and Turk’s head ferrules completely intact! A large ROBUST sword with a magnificent large hilt. Overall 45”. The double fuller French blade is a circa 1800 replacement. The fullers being hand cut and irregular. Testifying to its great age. The sword’s owner must have wanted a lighter weight blade, (more stylish for the times) making the sword easier to wield. A truly magnificent weapon! Price is firm. Thanks for looking!

Nation : British
Local Price : £2495.00

A Rare & Beautiful, French, Napoleonic Wars Era, Consular Guard, Then, Imperial Guard, Silver Mounted Sword. A 'Sabre d'Officier Superieur a Monture a L'Orientale', With French Napoleonic Nationale Maker Inscription, Coulaux et Cie, Circa 1801. A sword of the French Napoleonic era, pre imperial period, but later in use, after Napoleon's coronation as Emperor, for the Imperial Garde, likely for general or colonel of the regiment. A 'Sabre d'Officier Superieur a Monture a L'Orientale'. A delightful Napoleonic wars sword, from the early 19th century, with most rare, stunning, all silver mounts, beautifully engraved throughout, inspired from nimcha swords and workmanship on captured swords from the Mamelukes, that fought against, and then latterly for, Napoleon, at the Battle of The Nile in the late 1790’s. When Napoleon returned from his Egypt campaign the Ancient Egyptian style became all the rage in Paris, and indeed London. Influencing everything from furniture, to object d’art. And the Mameluke’s style of weaponry made a major influence of sword design for both England and France. So much so, the British General Officer’s Mameluke style sabre is still the current service use sword for generals today, modelled on the swords brought back to London by Nelson after his Egypt campaign. This sword and it distinctive hilt is a French version of Nimcha North African sword style. A style of sword that the Revolutionary French adopted for the official sword of a Representative of the People, from the Le Directoire Period, just before Napoleon's Coup of 18 Brumaire {in November 1799.} after his return from the Battle of The Nile in 1798. The blade is inscribed Manufacture Nationale, Coulax, this date marking for Coulax was from 1801 to around 1806. It is curved, but straighter, somewhat akin to an officer's sword of the French elite heavy cavalry, rather than an officer using more usual more curved light cavalry sabre. Twin parallel fullered blade, with one very narrow, the other wide. After Napoleon's Egypt Campaign, that ended in 1801, many Napoleonic officer's adopted the so-called oriental mounted swords captured from the Egyptian Marmalukes that eventually became part of Napoleon's Imperial Garde. These swords, in their turn, were captured by the British and similarly adopted as a form of highly favoured officers sword. In fact the mamaluke sabre became the British General's pattern sword that is still in use today. Several of these specific swords were part of a Sotheby's Napoleonic Wars auction in Monaco in 1990, titled "Belles Armes Anciennes Casques et Objects Militaires". In 1803, the Mamluks were organized into a company attached to the Chasseurs a Cheval of the Imperial Guard. Mamluks fought well at Battle of Austerlitz on December 2, 1805 and the regiment was granted a standard. With the First Restoration, the company of the Mamluks of the Imperial Guard was incorporated into the Corps Royal des Chasseurs de France. The Mamluks of the Young Guard were incorporated in the 7th Chasseurs a Cheval. The Napoleonic period was an extremely complicated time. Moral right and wrong are hard to distinguish: Napoleon was a dictator, but not a particularly evil one. He encouraged many developments we today consider quite positive. The Napoleonic Wars were instigated by France, but each nation fought to protect and expand its own national interest. The wars were punctuated by constantly shifting alliances. Sometimes Prussia fought France, and sometimes it was neutral. Austria, led by the crafty Metternich, tried to improve relations with France towards the end the Napoleonic era. Russia initially opposed Napoleon, then sided with him, and then turned against him again. The only constant through the fifteen years of Napoleon's rule was the continued enmity between England and France. Napoleon was intensely jealous of our successful trade with all Europe and thus instigated a complete scheme to deny trade with Britain throughout Europe. Ironically the two most famous and successful dictators of modern Europe, both Napoleon and Hitler, are famously known to have met with the dramatic reversal of their fortunes entirely through invading Russia, not because of inferior military tactics of both the invaders, but simply because Russia is so large, and the winters so severe, that logistical issues become unsolvable, and thus, resulting in both their ultimate downfall Yet, in both cases, the wealth, resources and stubborn determination of the British played a major role in their eventual downfall. Despite Britain's comparatively small population and territorial base, it alone among European countries was able to fight Napoleon nonstop {except for the short Peace of Amiens from 1802-1803,} Britain was at war with France from 1793-1815, while other states alternated between war, peace, and various alliances with France. As it was with Britain and its Commonwealth, being alone at war with Hitler for the war period of 1939 to 1941. With America and Russia only joining the fight years later, but only once Hitler foolishly declared war on them first. The sword overall has the usual signs of period age wear and contemporary close combat use, the blade is stunningly bright polished in good condition for age, with small areas of old pitting, mostly at the tip. Quillon finial lacking to one side.

Nation : French
Local Price : $2,495.00

Silver and Parcel Gilt Smallsword, Probably French, 2nd Half 18th C. Featuring 32 1/8” (81.6 cm) two-stage lens-section blade, the forte with engraved foliage and stands of arms (worn); red leather blade washer. Silver hilt cast, chased and pierced with intricate decoration featuring stands of arms, foliage, and sunbursts; with gilding in the recesses. Spherical pommel decorated with cavalry battle scene in relief; small button finial. The blade with light pitting and wear; the tip slightly blunted. Hilt a real work of art and near excellent. Overall length 37 3/4” (96 cm).

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : $2,495.00

Signed and Dated Japanese WWII Naval Officer’s Kai Gunto Katana. Featuring forged 25 1/16″ blade (measured kissaki to mune machi, or 26″ to the guard), with visible hada (grain) and wavy hamon (temper line). The nakago (tang) is signed YOSHI SHIGE. This smith’s real name was Komiyama Ryozo, and the name appears in the Seki Tanrensho Booklet printed in 1939. Yoshishige was active during the Showa Period and worked at Seki arsenal in Gifu, Mino Province, and appears to have made both arsenal forged and traditional blades. The other side of the nakago bears the date SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu-Kyu Nen (19th year of reign, or 1944). Traditional naval mounts, featuring silver habaki (blade collar), plain oval non-ferrous tsuba (guard), two o-seppa (large spacers), and four seppa (spacers). Tsuka (handle) with black same (rayskin) and brown ito (silk braid), with two gilt oval cherry blossom menuki (grip ornaments). Black lacquered wood saya (scabbard) with twin carry rings. Overall length 36″, not including scabbard. Blade is smooth and sharp, with no nicks and some staining. Saya with some lacquer loss. Japanese naval swords are far more scarce than their army counterparts, as fewer were made and most are at the bottom of the Pacific.

Nation : British
Local Price : $2,495.00

Scarce British Heavy Cavalry Sword, Mid-18th C. Featuring earlier (ca. 1660) unmarked 29 1/2″ (75 cm) flamboyant blade of flattened diamond section. Brass one quarter basket hilt formed with side bar and knuckle guard joined to the sherical pommel with button finial; two scrolling bars on each side of the knuckle guard join the assymetrical shell guard, with the bar on the obverse also joining the side bar. Wood grip wrapped with alternating single-strand and twisted brass wire and finished with brass ferrules top and bottom. Blade pitted with dark age patina; the brass with pleasing patina on the outside and some gray-green oxidation on the inside. Overall length 36 1/2″ (92.7 cm).

Nation : American
Local Price : $2,495.00

Pre-Civil War US M1852 Naval Officer’s Sword by Ames. The US Navy adopted a new pattern of officer’s sword in early 1852 to replace the M1841 Naval officer’s sword. The 1852 Navy Regulations described this new model, stating “For All Officers- shall be cut-and-thrust blade, not less than twenty-six inches, nor more than twenty-nine inches long, half basket hilt, grip white: Scabbards of black leather. Mountings of yellow gilt; and all as per pattern”. Though naval officers were required to purchase their own swords, Ames Manufacturing ordered 500 of the new Model 1852 in April of 1852. This example is apparently one of those 500. It is similar in style to the US Model 1850 Foot Officer’s Sword. It features a gilt brass hilt, with pommel cap showing an American Eagle surrounded by 13 stars, knuckle bow cast in the form of a dolphin head where it joins the pommel, and reverse scroll quillon depicting a sea monster. The guard is integrally cast and pierced, depicting “USN” in a ribbon, surrounded by oak leaves and acorns. Grip wrapped in fish-skin with brass twisted wire. Slightly curved 29″ blade etched with floral motif, a fouled anchor, Federal shield, “USN”, and stands of arms; ricasso with very faint Ames maker markings. Black leather scabbard with brass mounts, consisting of throat with carry ring and stamped “AMES MFG. CO./CHICOPEE/MASS.” on the reverse, middle carry band and ring, and drag with a sea serpent; the carry bands with raised knotted ropes. This pattern sword is still in use by Naval Officers, though the blade has become narrower over time. This pre-Civil War example with blade 1 1/8″ wide at the ricasso. Very good condition, the guard with mellow patina. Blade is smooth, with a few shallow edge nicks; etching worn, but visible. Leather scabbard complete and intact, with minor flaking. Overall length 34 ½”. Oddly, these early Ames examples have multi-piece hilts with seams on the knuckle bow and quillon, and the pommel cast integrally with the upper portion of the knuckle bow. Most examples by other makers have the guard, knuckle bow, and quillon cast in one piece and the pommel separate. These early Naval Officer’s Swords are far more scarce than their Army counterparts. Records show that all 500 Ames swords were delivered between June, 1852 and January, 1853, with all going to naval yards in Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, and Boston.

Nation : -
Local Price : £2495.00

Officers Small Sword, Georgian, very fine. Ref 9216. A Very Fine Georgian Officers Small Sword. 39 ½" overall, 33" colichemarde blade with etched panels and engraved ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’. Double shell guard with gadrooned edge, quillon bloc en suite, gadrooned knucklebow with indistinct London Hall Mark and a clear IR and pellet between, maker’s mark for John Radborn. Gadrooned round pommel and quillon terminal. Grip of double twisted silver wire and silver ribbons. Circa 1765-75 A very pretty sword in good condition. Lacks scabbard Honi soit qui mal y pense "Shame be to him who thinks ill of it" The motto of the Order of the Garter and used by Horse Guards, The Life Guards, Grenadier Guards and Coldstream Guards. John Radborn indentured to the cutler Nathaniel Young in 1737, and John Smith from 1742 until Free in 1745, worked in New Street from 1737 till his death in 1780 .One London’s finest sword cutlers. Examples of his work in the Royal Armouries and the Metropolitan in New York.

Nation : French
Local Price : $2,495.00

Fine French First Empire Senior Officer’s Saber. Styled after the Mameluke sabers which gained popularity during the Napoleonic era, this fine saber features gilt hilt with recurved quillons, pointed double langets, and long curved pommel; checkered one-piece black composite grip (tight 1” crack on reverse). Deeply curved 30 3/4” (78 cm) single-edged blade with broad single fuller extending to within 3” of the point; the upper third blued and gilt with engraved floral decoration and stands of arms and the initials “SH” on the ricasso. Original wood scabbard with black leather covering and beautiful gilt brass mounts decorated with classical shell motif, including twin carry rings. Beautiful sword in very good condition, the guard slightly loose; leather on scabbard flaking and missing small pieces. Overall length 36 1/4” (92 cm), not including scabbard.