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Nation : -
Local Price : $2,495.00

European Silver Boat Hilt Smallsword, 3rd Quarter 18th C. Featuring earlier 32 7/8″ (83.5 cm) blade of flattened diamond section incised “IN SOLINGEN” in the short central fullers and with an “S” stamp at the end of the fuller on either side. Shallow bowl guard of “boat hilt” style, engraved with scrolling foliage and a castle facing a casque; recurved quillons with mythical beast head terminals. Foliate decorated quillon block and D-shaped knuckle guard; ovoid pommel decorated with a small manor house in a landscape on either side; foliate engraved silver grip. Partial silver marks on the knuckle guard. Very good condition, the blade with a few small patches of light to moderate pitting. Overall length 39″ (99 cm).

Nation : Swiss
Local Price : $2,495.00

Swiss Lion Head Saber, Late 17th/Early 18th C. This example, of much better quality than usually found, featuring multi-piece brass hilt formed of round-section bars and plates, comprising knuckle bow with double central knob, with bars extending to each side and joining the asymmetrical side rings; additional side bar with double central know extending from the obverse side and screwed to the lion-head pommel. Side rings each with integrally cast brass plates depicting rampant lions holding a crown on the larger, and a prancing lion amid scrolling foliage on the smaller (small casting flaw); thumb ring on the reverse. Grip wrapped with thick twisted brass wire (some tarnished). The highly detailed lion-head pommel with open mouth and hollowed out throat, showing bared teeth and revealing the blade tang inside its mouth. Detailed downcurved lion-head reverse quillon. Gently curved 29″ (73.7 cm) single-edged blade, the last 4″ double-edged, with inscribed arm holding a scimitar on one side (worn). This symbol was commonly found on Hungarian swords and other countries which faced Ottoman incursions. The blade cleaned, with sharp edge and showing patches of light pitting. Overall length 35 3/8″ (90 cm).

Nation : British
Local Price : £2475.00

A Stunning Officers Sabre Used in The War of 1812 Blue & Gilt American Dragoon/Artillery Sabre, Pattern of 1796. Traditional brass p hilt, pattern carved bone grip, all brass combat scabbard and fine blue and gilt blade. Almost identical to two early 19th century swords, numbers 56 and 57 [illustrated on page 41] that appear photographed in "American Swords and Makers Marks" by Cleg Donald Furr. This federal period sword is as good as any of the best of its type we have seen before, in either private or museum collections. It has the form shape, style and blued blade near identical to sword number 57, and the blued blade and carved bone grip also near identcal to sword 56. With brass combat scabbard, brass hilt, carved bone grip with fan and ribbed lines, traditional American style late 18th century light dragoon form blade, and used in the War of 1812. With wide swollen tip. The blue and gilt is very good with some wear and fading due to to use. Overall in super condition for age. Officers both regular and volunteers carried fighting swords very similar in form to those of the trooper version, though officer's swords show much of higher levels of finish and workmanship with the option of expensive and stunning blued blades such as this one. The mounted swordsmanship training emphasised the cut, at the face for maiming or killing, or at the arms to disable. This left masses of mutilated or disabled troops; the French, in contrast, favoured the thrust, which gave cleaner kills. A cut with the LC sabre was, however, perfectly capable of killing outright, as was recorded by George Farmer of the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons, [all the British light dragoons carried the same form of blade as this sword] who was involved in a skirmish on the Guadiana River in 1811, during the Peninsular War against the French: "Just then a French officer stooping over the body of one of his countrymen, who dropped the instant on his horse's neck, delivered a thrust at poor Harry Wilson's body; and delivered it effectually. I firmly believe that Wilson died on the instant yet, though he felt the sword in its progress, he, with characteristic self-command, kept his eye on the enemy in his front; and, raising himself in his stirrups, let fall upon the Frenchman's head such a blow, that brass and skull parted before it, and the man's head was cloven asunder to the chin. It was the most tremendous blow I ever beheld struck; and both he who gave, and his opponent who received it, dropped dead together. The brass helmet was afterwards examined by order of a French officer, who, as well as myself, was astonished at the exploit; and the cut was found to be as clean as if the sword had gone through a turnip, not so much as a dint being left on either side of it" The light dragoon blade is remembered today as one of the best of its time and has been described as the finest cutting sword ever manufactured in quantity. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and Great Britain and its colonies, Upper and Lower Canada and Nova Scotia, from 1812 to 1815 on land and sea. The Americans declared war on Britain on June 18, 1812, for a combination of reasons? outrage at the impressment (seizure) of thousands of American sailors, frustration at British restraints on neutral trade while Britain warred with France, and anger at British support for native attacks along the frontier which conflicted with American expansion and settlement into the Old Northwest. The war started poorly for the Americans as their attempts to invade Canada were repeatedly repulsed; later in the war, American land forces proved more effective. The Royal Navy lost some early single-ship battles but eventually their numbers told and the naval blockade of the eastern seaboard ruined American commerce, and led to extreme dissatisfaction in New England. Following the American raid and burning of York (now Toronto), the British raided the Chesapeake Bay area and burned parts of Washington D.C. but were repulsed at Baltimore and withdrew. The Americans gained naval control of Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, preventing the planned British invasion of New York. The Americans destroyed the power of the native people of the Northwest and Southeast. With the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, and the stalemate on the battlefields, both nations agreed to a peace that left the prewar boundaries intact.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,450.00

C1820’s Brace Of English, Claborough Lincoln 32 Bore Flintlock Overcoat Pistols With Turn Off Octagonal Barrels & Concealed Triggers. Sn 21019 -. 21019 Peter Claborough was an English gunsmith with premises at The High Street Lincoln between 1821 and 1828. Jane Claborough is recorded as operating at the same premises C1840. Peter's Brother Joseph Claborough operated as a gunsmith at various addresses in Birmingham between 1868 & 1902. This is an excellent pair of flintlock overcoat pistols by Claborough made at his premises in Lincoln. The pistols are each 7 ½” overall length with 2 ½” screw off octagonal barrels. The barrel’s smooth bores have just light staining consistent with age. The steel actions are both engraved by the maker 'Clabrough Lincoln' and have Martial banners and arms and foliate devices. They have ‘dog tooth’ engraved box lock actions with side mounted ‘v’ shaped rain proof pans, roller bearing frizzen springs, sliding safeties and folding concealed triggers. The actions work crisply. The pistols have English proof /inspection marks on the underside of the frames and barrels. The bag shaped wood grips with chequered panels, inlaid void diamond shaped white metal escutcheons and white metal Lion’s head butt caps are excellent & undamaged. The price includes UK delivery. NB As antique flintlock pistols no licence is required to own them in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn 21019 (drawers office)

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,450.00

**RARE**NAPOLEONIC WARS**1760 Dated Georgian British Edge Enfield Tower Pattern 1756 / 81 Land Service .650 Carbine Calibre Flintlock Heavy Dragoon Pistol Regiment Marked To The Kings Dragoon Guards With Stock Refurbished To Mint By The Royal Armouries. -. 23484:57 This is an original rare to find British Enfield Tower Pattern 1756 / 81 Land Service .650 Carbine Calibre Flintlock Heavy Dragoon Pistol. A previous owner commissioned the Royal Armouries at Leeds to refurbish the Walnut stock of this pistol and as would be expected the stock of this pistol is now in near mint condition (see page 134 of British Cavalry Carbines & Pistols Of The Napoleonic Era by Chisnall & Davies). The pistol has regulation brass fittings, including trigger guard with extended tang, ram rod flutes, stock plate & cudgel butt. It has a heavy military cock fitted with flint & wood ram rod with brass end cap. The pistol measures 19” overall with a 11 ¾” round steel barrel. The barrel has Georgian proofs. The smooth bore has staining and residue consistent with age and use,. The action works crisply. The lock plate is signed by the maker ‘Edge’ (Most Likely Richard of Wednesbury Staffordshire, a gunmaker recorded as working in 1757, see page 95 of English Gunmakers by Bailey & Nie) above ‘1760’ date. The lock plate also has Kings Crown GR (George Rex) together with ordnance inspection mark. The top of the barrel is inscribed ‘K.D Guards’ to the King’s Dragoon Guards Regiment (The King’s Dragoon Guards Regiment was formed in 1685 as The Queen’s Regiment of Horse, named in honour of Queen Mary, consort of King James II. It was renamed The King’s Own Regiment of Horse in 1714 in honour of George I. The regiment attained the title 1st The King’s Dragoon Guards in 1751. The Dragoon Guards served as shock troops during the battle of Waterloo 1815). The price for this excellent rare to find Napoleonic wars era flintlock to a Regiment that fought at the battle of Waterloo and worthy of further research regarding the maker includes UK delivery. NB As an antique flintlock pistol no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn Sn 23484:57

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,450.00

Georgian Light Cavalry Officers Presentation.... Georgian light cavalry officers presentation sword of the Birmingham Light Horse Volunteers. Etched steel blade showing stand of arms and various floral

Nation : Polish
Local Price : £2,450.00

US Model 1850 Foot Officers Sword by Ames. £ 2,450.00 US Model 1850 Foot Officers Sword by Ames deluxe quality with early block US etching which generally dates to the 1850s The sword is in excellent condition with bright gilt finish to the hilt note small wear area to pommel cap. The grip again in very good condition secured with twisted wire. The blade clean and in polish with super etching couple of small areas of discolour towards the tip, maker marks Ames MFG Co Chicopee Mass US which is repeated on the top scabbard mount. The early form black leather scabbard with matching gilt mounts and still retains traces of red leather to the throat, overall length 36.5 inch the blade30.75 inches – Ames produced high-grade swords and sabres for private purchase and to fill certain government contracts. The finely crafted workmanship exhibited on all its blades, especially its officers blades, was more than equal to those of the best European sword makers of the time.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2450.00

A Wonderful, Napoleonic Wars Period Museum Piece, A Highest Ranking British Officer's Sword Bespoke Commisioned For The Highest Ranking Officers of Both The Navy or Army, A 1790's Admiral of the Fleet or Field Marshal's Sword In Fabulous Condition. A near identical sword was carried by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Parker (1721 – 21 December 1811), and The Iron Duke, The Duke of Wellington. Mercurial gilt fluted pattern hilt, with Adam urn pommel and solid silver triple wire binding, oval fluted hilt guard. Triple edged blade, with superb and elaborate engraving and traces of blue and gilt. The sword used by the most senior of officers of the army and navy of Britain, field marshals and admirals of the fleet, and kings and princes of the royal family, since the 1780's until the 1820's. Pictures in the gallery of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Parker, and Field Marshal Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. This Anglo-Irish soldier, the Duke of Wellington, and statesman fought as Field Marshal of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. With the help from Prussian Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo on June 18, 1815 and became a hero in England. The office of marshal was already well established in England by the 12th century, but the modern military title of field marshal was introduced into the British army in 1736 by King George II, who imported it from Germany. In Britain the rank came to be bestowed only upon a few senior army officers, From the 1790's to the 1820's here are the Field Marshals of Britain Henry Seymour Conway (1793) HRH Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1793) Sir George Howard (1793) HRH The Prince Frederick Augustus, 1st Duke of York and Albany (1795) John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll (1796) Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst of Montreal (1796) John Griffin Griffin, 4th Baron Howard de Walden (1796) Studholme Hodgson (1796) George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend (1796) Lord Frederick Cavendish (1796) Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox (1796) HRH The Prince Edward Augustus, 1st Duke of Kent and Strathearn (1805) Arthur Wellesley, 1st Marquis of Wellington (1813) HRH The Prince Ernest Augustus, 1st Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1813) HRH The Prince Adolphus Frederick, 1st Duke of Cambridge (1813) HRH Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1816) HRH Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1816) Charles Moore, 1st Marquess of Drogheda (1821) The ranks of Admiral of the Fleet and Admiral of the Red were formally separated from 1805, with an announcement in the London Gazette that "His Majesty has been pleased to order the Rank of Admirals of the Red to be restored" in His Majesty's Navy..." as a separate role. The same Gazette promoted 22 men to that rank. From the nineteenth century onward there were also occasional variations to the previous requirement that only one Admiral of Fleet could serve at one time. In 1821 George IV appointed Sir John Jervis as a second admiral of the fleet, to balance the Duke of Wellington's promotion as a second Field Marshal in the British Army. Admirals of the Fleet 12 March 1796 The Earl Howe 16 September 1799 Sir Peter Parker, Bt. 24 December 1811 King William IV at that time as The Duke of Clarence and St Andrews 19 July 1821 The Earl of St Vincent Excellent condition overall , no scabbard.

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £2,450.00

A Flintlock Duelling Pistol by Wogdon. A Good Flintlock Duelling Pistol by Wogdon. With browned sighted octagonal barrel, signed ‘WOGDON LONDON’ in script along the top-flat, decorated with a band at the breech, blued foliate engraved tang fitted with a standing rear-sight, signed, stepped bevelled lock with sliding safety catch, full-stocked in walnut (small crack at tail of lock) with characteristic flat-sided butt, blued steel mounts comprising butt cap decorated with foliage, trigger guard with a flower head on the bow and acorn finial, turned ramrod pipes and steel tipped ramrod. WOGDON/WOGDEN Robert Apprentice to Edward Newton, gunmaker, Grantham, Lincs, 1748. Gunmaker at Mr Maw haberdasher, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, 1764; Haymarket, 1774-1802. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. Famous for duelling pistols. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began, ‘Hail Wogden, Patron of that Leaden death’. WOGDON & BARTON Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. USA. Dimensions: Bore: 25 Bore Barrel Length: 9.5 Inches (24.10 cm) Overall Length: 15 Inches (38.10 cm)

Nation : British
Local Price : £2450.00

Grande Armee Issue, From the Consular To Ist Empire Period. French Napoleonic Year 13 Cuirassier Sword, Manufactured at Versailles in the Early Imperial Period, Circa 1804-1806. Inspected by Nicholas Cherrer, Chef De Battalion. 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. This would have seen service in the Elite Cuirassiers of Napoleon's great heavy cavalry regiments of the Grande Armee such as in 1807 at Friedland. And in the French invasion of Russia ( Campagne de Russie) that began on 24 June 1812 when Napoleon's Grande Armee crossed the Neman River in an attempt to engage and defeat the Russian army. 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 Loius XVIIIth both before Napoleon's 100 days, and after his crushing defeat by Wellington at Waterloo. In fact one can see it has been issued, re-issued and even re-inspected by Capt. Louis Balaran, at least twice times with numerous serial numbers and inspection stamps stamped and struck out in its working life from 1806. 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 its 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 its 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 blade is double fullered and absolutely as crisp as one could hope for. Made in the early Napoleonic Wars period. Just a basic few of the battles this would have been used at such as Friedland in 1807, in 1812 and beyond 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. The blade has fabulous steel bright colour, and hilt has fabulous patina. Overall 45.75 inches long in its scabbard, the spear pointed blade is 37.5 inches long. Just old staining to the scabbard steel. 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, from Austria through the Russian Campaign, into the Peninsular War and finally the The Battle of Waterloo. All the Cuirassier were front line regiments, none ever utilized as Militia. With steel combat scabbard, multi fullered blade, brass 4 bar hilt with wire bound leather grip. Circa 1806. The blade is exactly as it should be, and bearing the matching Atelier Paris and Versailles stamp of 1806. Leather grip re-covered some time long past. Excellent condition hilt, and blade, later scabbard

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,450.00

18th Hussars Officer’s Mameluke. £ 2,450.00 Victorian period regimental mameluke by Hawkes and Co to the 18th hussars, pattern hilt with XVIII and motto to center of gilt cross guard. The curved blade is engraved with VR Crown to one side and motto plus XVIII to reverse with two battle honors, Peninsula and Waterloo surrounded by floral decoration. Complete with correct decorative scabbard with age wear but no damage and full dress knot, note one grip stud cover missing

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,450.00

15th Hussars Officer’s Mameluke. £ 2,450.00 15th Hussars Officer’s Mameluke very nice condition regimental hilt and bone grip. The slightly curved blade with faint etching but William 4th cypher and I V visible Hilt and blade tight and complete with steel scabbard with gilt brass mounts. Reference: Swords of The British Army by Robson plate 84 – 85 Blade Length: 32.25 inch Overall Length: 38.0 Inch

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,425.00

RESERVED RESERVED **MINT BORE**C1830 William IV British Board Of Ordnance Short Sea Service.577 Regulation Calibre Flintlock Pistol With Cudgel Butt Captive Ram Rod & Belt Bar. Sn 19372:2 -. Sn 19372:2 This is an excellent original Short Sea Service flintlock pistol. It is 15 ½” overall length with a 9” barrel which is .577 Regulation Calibre. The Walnut stock has regulation brass furniture & has just the bumps & bruises to be expected with age and service use. The wood is impressed with inspection marks and ‘BO with Broad Arrow’ Board Of Ordnance mark. It has its original captive steel ram rod & belt bar. The belt bar has a crown ordnance mark. The barrel has proof marks. The barrel’s smooth bore is near mint clean and bright. The lock plate is marked Crown WR (William IV Rex 1830-1837) and inspection mark. The action functions crisply. The barrel and action have been re-blued to a high standard at some point in its life. 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 19372:2.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,400

An English Silver Hilted Small Sword by William Kinman of London Hallmarked for 1768 / 1769. An exceptional pierced dish hilted smallsword by the renowned 18th century London silversmith and cutler William Kinman, date-stamped for 1768 / 1769. The hallmarks are of small type stamped into the Pas D’Ane rings and consist of the maker’s mark of “W K” in raised relief inside a depressed irregular panel with a pellet between the letters, the lion passant mark, crowned leopard’s head assay mark and date stamp. 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, pommel and ricasso are pierced and engraved with exquisitely detailed foliate scrolls formed within diagonally spaced panels, the sides of which emulate waving tendrils. The delicacy of the interior of the dish guard is supported by a strengthening of the rim which is decorated with floral designs front and back with gadrooned engraving to the sides, which is repeated on the knuckle bow and quillons. The baluster shaped wooden grip is of rounded rectangular section diagonally bound with silver strip interspaced with a double length of plain wire with thinner twists on each side, mounted with silver cap terminals top and bottom engraved with floral designs. 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 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 triangular section, stiff, robust, hollow ground bright blade retains its engraved decoration on both sides at the forte including panels of foliage and strapwork on each side, with stands of arms inside ovals between, indicating that the sword originally belonged to a military officer. The sword is in fine condition overall. There are no losses or repairs to the hilt which has maintained its original pleasing outline. The blade is 32 inches (just over 81 cm) long and overall the sword is 38.5 inches (98 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 silver hilted swords under his own name and was admitted to livery in 1757. Kinman entered his first mark at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1759 (Grimwade 1990 reference 3210) which is his mark on this sword. 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 : British
Local Price : £2,350

A Late 17th Century English Plug Bayonet for an Officer with Fire Gilt Mounts. A fine English Plug Bayonet for an Army Officer dating to circa 1690 to 1700. Plug bayonets were used by the British military after the middle years of the 17th century until they were replaced with the socket bayonet in the early 18th century. The figured hardwood grip is of circular section tapering towards the pommel and has the characteristic swelling at the base turned with sets of decorative grooves around the circumference above, midway and below. A brass ferrule at the base separates the wooden grip from the cross guard. This is also decorated with a pattern of horizontal circular grooves. The cross has a thick oval shaped block with faceted edge and horizontal quillons. The tapering brass pommel sleeve is also decorated with horizontal grooves. Each quillon terminal and the pommel top consists of a helmeted warrior’s head. The mounts retain most of their original gilding. The particular feature of helmeted heads forming pommel caps and / or quillon tips was noted by Harold Peterson as an “English pattern that seems to have been very popular during the very late 17th century, and possibly the opening years of the next century” which “boasted pommels and quillon terminals in the form of helmeted heads”. A survey of plug bayonets by R.D.C Evans devotes a section to English plug bayonets and notes that those with helmeted heads are English and illustrates several bayonets of this type. The slightly curved single edged blade is of robust manufacture. It has a pronounced fuller which extends underneath the spine to the tip. Near the hilt the blade maker’s mark “ANDRIA FARARA” is present on both sides indicating that the blade is of German, probably Solingen, manufacture. It has been adapted from an obsolete heavy sabre blade. The blade is double edged for two fifths of its length towards the tip. The ricasso consists of a blunt edge on the cutting side near the hilt which has a short fuller running along side after which the sharp working edge commences. The blade length is just over 13.75 inches (35 cm) and overall the bayonet is 20.25 inches long (51.5 cm). Army officers wore plug bayonets. A portrait of Captain Francis Hawley of the 1st Foot Guards in 1685 shows the Captain wearing a plug bayonet which has a plain wooden hardwood hilt mounted with brass. Acknowledgements: Peter Finer Ltd, 2003 Catalogue, item 30 “A Fine English Plug Bayonet for an Army Officer circa 1690”. The bayonet is in fine condition overall. The hardwood grip exhibits a rich dark patina. The blade has mottled blackened patches in places. --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,350

An English Dish Hilted Rapier dating to the Second Quarter of the 17th century. An English Rapier dating to circa 1625 to 1650. This is a long bladed weapon most likely made for dueling rather than generalist or military use. The hilt is intricately chiselled with floral and circular features. The prominent dish guard is forged in one piece from thinly beaten iron with an upturned rim. It is finely chiselled and bossed with eight overlapping grooved circles enhanced with floral sprays on the insides which are accentuated with rows of pierced dots. The rim has the appearance of eight crescents which are the tops of the circle designs. The centre of the dish is chiselled as a multi-petaled rosette pierced in the middle with the tang aperture. The rectangular section quillon block is decorated in the same manner as the dish. Front and back quillons emanate from the block and bifurcate into two branches on each side, each branch turning outwards and backwards. Thus the quillon assembly forms a four part cradle which supports and strengthens the dish guard from the inside. The quillons are decorated with striated lines and terminate in broad flattened knops chiselled with leafy patterns similar to those on the dish guard. From the front a slender knuckle bow emanates from between the bifurcated quillon arms and rises upwards in a “D” shape to terminate at an angle which is pierced and secured to the pommel by a screw. The bow is decorated with striations similar to those on the quillons and is markedly swollen half way along with a double knop same as those mounted on the quillon terminals. The solid globular pommel has an integral waisted neck beneath and raised button on top. It is decorated with chiselled overlapping circles and foliate designs same as those on the dish guard. The grip is of baluster shaped rounded square cross section with a vertical groove on each side. It is spirally bound with alternating steel and brass twisted wire, two ropes of steel for each one of brass. Woven steel rope “Turks’ Heads” are mounted top and bottom of the grip. The stiff blade is of tapering slightly flattened diamond section and just over 40 inches (just over 101 cm) long. It a short ricasso from which a deep fuller is cut extending for 9.5 inches (24 cm) along each side. The fuller on one side is stamped in capital letters with: SINAL ES EL CAVISCO DE BOOY and on the reverse: CLEMENTE BONIM EN ALAMANIA, the words on both sides interspaced with patterns of dots. The phrases seem to be in Latin and are not yet precisely translated, but such inscriptions tend to follow a standard pattern. The first phrase would state something like “I was made by”, whilst the second would say who did make the blade, in this case Clemente Bonim, who made the blade in Germany (en Alamania). Clearly the blade is a German import into England. Blademaking in England was a small industry and not well established at this time. Most blades were imported from German blade making centres of which Solingen was the most important. The rapier retains an even blackened dense russet patination all over. The hilt retains its pleasing original profile. The overall length of the rapier is just over 47 inches (119 cm). English rapiers of this date exhibit a common form and style, however, there are many variations under this umbrella. Many are seemingly unique like our example discussed here. For different styles of English rapiers see Stuart C Mowbray, “British Military Swords”, 2013, Andrew Mowbray Publishers, Volume One, 1600 to 1660, pages 254 to 281. --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,350

A 1798 Pattern Scottish Highland Infantry Officers’ Sword with Gilt Copper Hilt. An 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. This sword has most of its gilt covering to the bronze hilt still in place. The hilts of these swords were most usually made of gilt copper, bronze or brass. The hilt of this sword is of gilt bronze. The basket guard is made of rounded bars and flattened plates in the usual manner with forward loop guards and a swollen solid 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 with a large separate waisted and domed pommel button on top from which four sets of decorative grooves flanked by narrower lines radiate to the pommel edge. The double-edged gently tapering blade is 32.75 inches (83 cm) long. Typically it is of lenticular section with a short ricasso. A central fuller commences a short distance from the hilt on each side and is 8 inches (20 cm) long. The blade is unmarked and probably a German import which was the norm for this sword type and most probably of Solingen manufacture. The grip is of spirally grooved wood covered with shagreen held in place with thin ropes of twisted copper wire flanked with plainer thinner wire now coloured with age. It is mounted with gilt bronze ferrules top and bottom which are incised with decorative lines. The materials used for 1798 pattern hilts were less robust than iron and as a result were more susceptible to damage. Many surviving and published examples have bars missing, are out of shape and are often with repairs. This sword is a fine example without any such problems. The blade has a few small patches of blackened age-related staining in places and the hilt has kept its shape without damage or repairs as can be seen in the photos. For other examples of the 1798 type see: Harvey J S Withers, “The Scottish Sword 1600-1945”, Paladin Press, 2009, pages 13 to 151 and Cyril Mazansky, “British Basket-Hilted Swords”, Boydell Press, 2005, pages 131 to 133. --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,350

An English Silver Hilted Small Sword with Boat Shell Guard by George Fayle of London Hallmarked for 1760 / 1761. A fine English silver hilted smallsword by the London silversmith George Fayle mounted with a boat shell guard dating to the middle of 18th century. The boat shell was one of the most robust guard designs adopted by the London small sword makers. This example is of solid form with boldly and finely executed gadrooning to the pommel, shell brim, knuckle bow, quillon terminals and ricasso. George Fayle was a prominent silver hilt maker and sword cutler in London born in 1734 in Lancashire and recorded in the City of London from 1747 until his death in 1786. The full suite of hallmark stamps are on the pas d’ane rings comprised of the leopard’s head assay mark and the incomplete Royal lion passant mark of purity to the sterling standard for which only the rear end of the lion is visible. The maker’s mark is comprised of the letters “G F” with a star between in raised relief inside a depressed rectangle. The date mark is the stylised letter “E” for 1760 / 1761. The maker’s mark is repeated underneath the hilt where it is stamped near the back edge of the blade and at the other side the lion passant partly obscured by the blade shoulder. The baluster shaped wooden grip is of rounded rectangular section diagonally bound with silver strip interspaced with a twisted roped wire flanked by thinner roped wires on each side. The grip is mounted with silver cap terminals top and bottom engraved with gadrooning. The sword 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. The hollow ground triangular section blade is sharply tapering and in fine condition with minor blemishes and crisp engraving of a stand of arms in an oval, plus foliage and strapwork in panels at the forte. The blade is 31.5 inches long or 80 cm. The overall length is 37.75 inches or 96 cm. 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 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. For further reading on George Fayle see Leslie Southwick, “London Silver-Hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001, pages 105 and 106. For an example of his work see Plate 68. --> --> Gallery

Nation : -
Local Price : £2295.00

Williamite Walloon Hilted Officers Sword, very fine. Ref 9114. A Very Fine Williamite Walloon Hilted Officer’s Sword. 43” overall, 36” earlier flattened diamond section hollow ground blade, characteristic gilt bronze hilt, the solid cast oval side guards decorated with scrolls & classical figures of warriors to the underside & inside, upturned quillon, D shaped knuckle guard decorated with a Roman bust at the mid point, two short supporting side bars, spherical pommel decorated to match, gilt brass wire bound grip with Turk’s heads. Sword 1685-1710, blade circa 1620. Very fine Anglo-Dutch sword in good condition, very fine hollow ground blade probably German fitted to later hilt.

Nation : Confederate
Local Price : $2,295.00

Rare Confederate Froelich Artillery Short Sword. All Confederate-made swords are relatively rare, but perhaps one of the rarest is the foot artillery short sword made by Louis Froelich of Wilmington, NC and later Kenansville, NC. It would appear that the artillery sword was one of his earliest pieces, as the State of North Carolina contracted for 200 foot artillery swords in 1861 and it is known that the ordnance office in Raleigh paid $12 each for 151 of these between December 1861 and March, 1862. In Wilmington the company was known as the Wilmington Sword Factory or the Confederate Arms Factory, but in September, 1862 Froelich bought a 2.5 acre tract in Kenansville, NC and the new factory became known as the Confederate States Armory, where most of their wartime production occurred. They produced a wide array of products from buttons, knapsacks, and accouterments, to all types of edged weapons, including swords and surgical instruments. They are perhaps best known for their cavalry sabers, of which they provided over 11,000 to the Confederacy. The quality of their products was generally better than other Confederate-made items. The example offered here is of simple form with cast one-piece brass hilt comprising guard, scaled grip, and pommel. Double-edged 18 1/4″ blade of gladius form with unstopped fuller on each side. It is completely unmarked and identified mostly from its distinctive cross guard. Like almost all foot artillery short swords of the period it was fashioned after the French model which was a modern recreation of the ancient Roman gladius. When adopted by the French, these were originally intended to kill or maim charging cavalry horses, but such use during the Civil War was rarely practical so these stout weapons were largely used to clear brush and help with setting up the artillery batteries. As such, the blade of this example shows much use with numerous deep edge nicks and the tip is worn. The piece is uncleaned and the high copper content brass hilt show a dark patina with some lighter patches. Blade with dark rust patina. Most Confederate swords show considerable wear and use, as is the case with this very rare example. No scabbard. Overall length 23 1/2″.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2295.00

18th Century 1770's Hallmarked Silver Hilted American Revolutionary War Period Officer's Sword Used By Both American and British Officers. Made by William Kinman of London. A fabulously intricate pattern of hilt with a complex geometric piercing with arabesque scrolling and cut stone patterning. It is sometimes referred to as the Boulton pattern, named after Matthew Boulton a renown London silversmith of the 18th century. The grip has silver banding interspersed with a herringbone pattern twisted silver wire. William Kinman was a leading member of the Founders Company of London was born in 1728 and is recorded as a prominent silver hilt maker. He is recorded at 8 Snow Hill for the last time circa 1781, is recorded circa 1728-1808, [see L. Southwick 2001, pp. 159-160.]. The small sword or smallsword is a light one-handed sword designed for thrusting which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier of the late Renaissance. The height of the small sword's popularity was between mid 17th and late 18th century. It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. The small sword was the immediate predecessor of the French duelling sword (from which the épée developed) and its method of use—as typified in the works of such authors as Sieur de Liancour, Domenico Angelo, Monsieur J. Olivier, and Monsieur L'Abbat—developed into the techniques of the French classical school of fencing. Small swords were also used as status symbols and fashion accessories; for most of the 18th century anyone, civilian or military, and with gentlemanly status would have worn a small sword on a daily basis. The small sword could be a highly effective duelling weapon, and some systems for the use of the bayonet were developed using the method of the smallsword as their foundation, (including perhaps most notably, that of Alfred Hutton). Militarily, small swords continued to be used as a standard sidearm for infantry officers. In some branches with strong traditions, this practice continues to the modern day, albeit for ceremonial and formal dress only. The carrying of swords by officers in combat conditions was frequent in World War I and still saw some practice in World War II. The 1913 U.S. Army Manual of Bayonet Drill includes instructions for how to fight a man on foot with a small sword. Small swords are still featured on parade uniforms of some corps. As a rule, the blade of a small sword is comparatively short at around 0.6 to 0.85 metres (24 to 33 in), though some reach over 0.9 metres (35 in). It usually tapers to a sharp point but may lack a cutting edge. It is typically triangular in cross-section. This sword's blade is approx 33 inches long. I its working life the pierced oval guard has been damaged, re-affixed and repaired A sword by this maker with a very similar hilt is preserved in the Royal Armouries Leeds, IX.3782. See Southwick 2001, p. 290-1 pls. 75-7

Nation : British
Local Price : $2,295.00

English Silver Hilt Smallsword, Mid 18th C. Featuring cast and chased silver hilt with symmetrical double shell guard, pas d’ane, single reverse quillon with scroll finial, and knuckle bow with London hallmarks and maker’s initals “np”(?) joining the spherical pommel. The decoration depicts human profile busts on the pommel, quillon block, and center of the shell guard; the latter also depicting mythical beasts, including one with female head and breasts with the lower body that of a lion. Grip with twisted silver wire wrap (shallow dents) and silver ferrules top and bottom. Hollow-ground 30 1/2” blade of triangular-section with full length central fuller; inlaid brass mark on the forte (lightly pitted). Overall length 36 3/4”

Nation : German
Local Price : $2,295.00

Fine German Transitional Rapier/Smallsword, Late 17th/early 18th C. Brass hilt featuring symmetrical bilobate shell guard, decorative pas d’ane, and squared knucklebow. Oblong pommel with flattened sides, featuring grotesque masks and human figures in relief. Fine spiral grip wrap of twisted iron and brass wire with braided turks heads top and bottom. Hexagonal-section 28 1/4″ blade with ricasso marked with gilded Prussian Eagle and “BERLIN” on both sides, probably of the 18th C. The style of the knucklebow, pommel, and grip are typical of late 17th C transitional swords, but the shorter blade with gilt markings likely from the 18th C. Very attractive and fine quality sword with a beautiful rich patina to the brass. Overall length 35″.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2250.00

Superb Antique Indian Tulwar 17th to 18th Century Silver Decor Hilted Sword With Hybrid Wootz Damascus Shamshir Blade. It Has Just Returned From Expert Museum Grade Conservation, Polishing & Etching of The Blade To Reveal Its Stunning Pattern. A superb period sword, with a very good superb hybrid wootz Damascus shamshir steel blade. Hybrid Damascus wootz has a more open wood type running grain with larger patterns than plain wootz that has often small tight curls. Silver decorated iron Lahore hilt decorated with stunning design with matching lined cap pommel. Strong and powerful blade of substance. There are clear indications that this particular hilt is of Punjab manufacture: the fat vase shape of the grip section, the slightly forward angle of the quillons and the beautiful silver koftgari. For those familiar with fine Japanese blades, we notice just how incredibly similar hybrid Wootz can appear by comparison to the hamon and hada of some early Japanese tamahagane steel blades. In fact, the similarity is quite remarkable. A sword as popular within the Sikh Empire as the Mughal Empire. The hilt also known as tulwar comprises langets with lotus-head outlines, domed quillons, and a centrally swollen grip. A knuckle guard with a terminal that recurves toward the disc-pommel which has been attached with a pointed sunburst plaque, a decorative feature further fitted at its centre with a dome and lotus bud finial. Persian: شمشیر (type, which refers to a Persian or Iranian sword with a radical curve. The name is derived from the shamshīr, which means “lion’s claw or lions tale” in the Persian language – pointing towards the curve of the blade. These types of blades are normally used for slashing unarmored opponents either on foot or mounted; while the tip could be used for thrusting. In India, the term ‘Goliya’ (meaning circle) was used to describe these types of blades; referring to their curve. The Tulwar had historically been the quintessential combat sword used by Sikhs as their sacred kirpan due to its superior handling while mounted on horseback. With a curved blade optimized for cutting and slashing with sweeping cuts delivered from the shoulder by a horseman the curved blade of the tulwar could strike repeated blows without the danger of the blade getting stuck in bone or armour. It allowed for fierce slashing on all sides cutting through enemy formations while mounted on horseback. Emperor Aurangzeb was the last significant Mughal emperor of India. 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, Rajputorigins. 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 per annum, and 200 years later, in 1800, the exchequer of the entire British Empire had revenues of just £16 million pounds. It has been asked, that, although he had the income per annum of around 500 billion pounds a year in today's value,but was he actually happy? Apparently,...yes, he was ecstatic. 31 inch blade measured across the curve. No scabbard

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : £2,250.00

A Slender Flintlock Pistol by Bennett of London.. A Slender Flintlock Pistol by Bennett of London. With silver inlaid Spanish barrel, struck with London proofs and inlaid with barrel smith golden poincons, profusely engraved steel tang fitted with rear sight, border engraved stepped, bevelled lock, signed ‘BENNETT’ and fitted with sliding safety catch, engraved with foliage throughout, cock decorated en suite, full-stocked in walnut with engraved steel mounts comprising, foliate engraved butt cap, trigger guard engraved with stands of arms on the bow and pineapple finial, turned ramrod pipes and original horn tipped ramrod. BENNETT John Apprenticed to father, John Bennett, Cit. & Cutler, 1758; free of Cutlers Co., 1765. Elected Master, 1779, 1793. Gazetted bankrupt, 1797. John Bennett the Elder was a sword cutler and silver-hilt maker, who registered his mark as a small-worker with Goldsmiths Co., 1761. The same mark appears on silver-mounted guns apparently made by son. John 2 appears to have worked first with father at 67 Thredneedle St., then as Bennett & Rolph, Sword Cutler. Goldsmiths & Jewellers, at the same address, 1778-81; finally on his own as Sword Cutler & Gunmaker, 1781-1803. Full address on cards was ‘At the Cross Daggers, No.67 Threadneedle Street opposite the North Gate of ye Royal Exchange’ but guns were often marked simply ‘Royal Exchange’. Succeeded by Elizabeth Bennett. Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. USA. Dimensions: Bore: 32 Bore Barrel Length: 8.25 Inches (21 cm) Overall Length: 13.5 Inches (34.30 cm)

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,250.00

A 40 Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistol by Wogdon of London.. A 40 Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistol by Wogdon of London. With round sighted barrel, engraved ‘Wogdon’ (in script) and, ‘LONDON’ decorated with a geometric band at the breech, stamped with Wogdons barrel smiths mark and London proofs, profusely engraved steel tang incorporating back-sight, stepped bevelled lock, signed in script and fitted with a sliding safety catch, set-trigger, full-stocked in walnut (old repair to butt) engraved steel mounts, comprising foliate engraved butt cap, trigger guard engraved with flower head on the bow and acorn finials, turned ramrod pipes and original horn tipped ramrod with worm. WOGDON/WOGDEN Robert Apprentice to Edward Newton, gunmaker, Grantham, Lincs, 1748. Gunmaker at Mr Maw haberdasher, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, 1764; Haymarket, 1774-1802. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. Famous for duelling pistols. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began, ‘Hail Wogden, Patron of that Leaden death’. WOGDON & BARTON Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. USA. Dimensions: Bore: 40 Bore Barrel Length: 10.5 Inches (26.67 cm) Overall Length: 15.5 Inches (39.37 cm)

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £2,250.00

A Flintlock Sea Service Pistol. A Flintlock Long Sea Service Pistol. With plain tapering barrel stand with numerous ordnance marks at the breech, plain tang struck with a crowned inspection mark, 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 (old repair to buy – see photograph) and stamped with inspection marks, regulation brass mounts including butt cap, trigger guard and ramrod pipes. Dimensions: Bore: 25 Bore Barrel Length: 12 Inches (30.48 cm) Overall Length: 19 Inches (48.26 cm)

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,250.00

British 1788 Troopers Light Cavalry Sword. £ 2,250.00 1788 British Troopers Light Cavalry Sword in very good condition all steel hilt with wooden ribbed grip bound with leather. The curved blade with fuller running nearly the full length of the blade. The hilt with single straight knuckle bow, German markings which were applied after WW 2 as all swords held in German collections had to be registered. Flat top pommel and bar shaped langets. The scabbard steel with cut out exposing the painted wooden liner and 2 loose rings overall length 39 inches the blade 34 inches for reference please see The British Cavalry Sword 1788 – 1912 by Richard Dellar page 12 – 13

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £2,250.00

**HIGH GRADE SMITH**WW2 Japanese Army Gunzoku (Military Civilian Employee) Officer’s Gendaito Hand Forged Katana Long Sword Smith Signed Tang ‘NOSHU JU MORITA KANE SHIGE KIN SAKU’ Scabbard With Leather Field Combat Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 23059 -. 23059 An original WW2 Japanese Officer's Sword and Scabbard. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “Gunzoku katana (army civilian employee) sword with hand forged (gendaito) blade signed by its maker, shoshin mei genuine signature NOSHU JU MORITA KANE SHIGE KIN SAKU see John Slough book of second war swordsmiths page No. 63 for oshigata and info on this man. Real name Morita Isamu born 1900 student of Mizuta Sei Jiro Kuni Shige. Won highest award in 1939 National exhibition rated 1 Million Yen, man making high grade gendaito. In very good old polish, few scratches. Saya wood with extra reinforcing brass strips under leather field service cover, in good condition for its age. Habaki brass with etched armoury storage number 282-180064 ? Tsuba is gunzoku civilian pattern mokko shape in brass (been gilt) with flower decoration complete with several seppa & o seppa. Tsuka (hilt) is gunzoku pattern (civilian) with later war shortages plastic imitation Same fish skin. Brown military ito wrap with 2 sets of menuki (rare). One standard gunto showa blossoms in gilt brass, other pair a spray of flowers & leaves in shakudo metal ? never seen this before. Finished off with rank tassel tied on hanging ring of scabbard (Lieutenant to Captain rank tassel). There is no hole to be fitted with sarute loop. Fuchi kashira are civilian (flowers) in brass, matching tsuba. A scarce pattern sword in untouched collectors condition”. In his illustrations Bill translates the signature on the tang. He describes the cutting edge as 67.5 cms & total length 88.5 cms. He also describes & measures other blade characteristics which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23059

Nation : Austrian
Local Price : £2,245.00

**MATCHING NUMBERS**Brace Of Substantial Model 1798 Austrian Cavalry Officer’s 15 Bore Flintlock Pistols With Liege Proofs By Gottlieb Bentz & Regulation Brass Furniture. Sn 20616 -. 20616 This is an excellent, large & heavy pair of Model 1798 Austrian Cavalry Officer’s 15 Bore Flintlock Pistols. Both pistols have 9 ¾” round steel barrels (each 17” overall length), original iron ram-rods and original Walnut one piece full stocks with blackened regulation brass furniture including cudgel butt caps with iron lanyard rings and brass muzzle block with cast blade foresight. The barrel’s smooth bores have staining and residue consistent with age and use. The lock plates of each pistol have matching numbers ‘853’. The pistols have other un-matching numbers and possible Regiment marks (all illustrated). Both barrels have Liege ‘ELG’ proofs and are signed by the maker ‘G (Gottlieb). Bentz’ (illustrated). The pistols have heavy military cocks. Their actions are strong. The price for this substantial pair of pistols in excellent condition and worthy of further research regarding their marks includes UK delivery. NB As antique flintlock pistols no licence is required to own them in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn 20616

Nation : British
Local Price : £2,200.00

Scottish WW1 Field Officer's Broadsword of Brig. Gen. Norman Richard Crockatt, Royal Scots, First Director of MI9, CBE, DSO, MC, MID, Legion of Merit, Legion d’Honneur, Croix de Gu. Straight spear-pointed blade with double fullers 32 5/8 inches in length, 1.1 inches wide at the forte, the sword 39 inches overall. Pierced nickel-plated steel guard with foliate ‘honeysuckle’ decoration also incorporating thistles, and the emblem of the Royal Scots: a figure of St Andrew, holding a crux decussata (a.k.a. the saltire, or St Andrew’s cross, also seen on the Scottish flag). Patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew was said in medieval tradition to have requested to be crucified on such a cross, as he felt unworthy to be executed in the same manner as Jesus. Wire-bound shagreen grip, chequered backstrap with integral chequered oval pommel, secured by screw with eyelet. No leather washer. Fabric hilt liner with red exterior and white interior. Steel parade scabbard with two hanging rings. The blade is etched at the ricasso on one side with the royal coat of arms above the maker’s mark ‘Henry Wilkinson Pall Mall London’. At the ricasso on the other side is a hexagonal brass proof slug set within an etched six-pointed star - the hexagonal proof slug was used from 1905 onwards to denote Wilkinson’s best quality blades. The spine of the blade at the ricasso is stamped with the serial number ‘44310’, indicating production in 1913. Wilkinson Sword records confirm that sword 44310, described as a ‘Claymore’, was finished on the 9 th October 1913 and sold to ‘R Crockatt, Rl Scots’. The blade is further etched with thistle motifs, the crown and cypher of King George V, ‘Royal Scots’ enclosing a thistle and beneath another crown, and the family crest of the Crockatts: a Dog Sleeping Sable, Spotted Argent (in this instance with a variation of a five-pointed star placed on the dog) above the family motto ‘TAK TENT’ – a Scots phrase meaning ‘take heed’, ‘keep watch’, or ‘beware’. Norman Richard Crockatt was born in 1894. Educated at Rugby School, he went on to attend the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and joined the Royal Scots as a 2 nd Lieutenant in 1913. He disembarked in France with the 2 nd Battalion in August 1914 as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was severely wounded during the Retreat from Mons in the same month. He was promoted to temporary Lieutenant in September 1914, and to Lieutenant in November 1914. He was appointed an Adjutant serving with the Yorkshire Regiment in May 1915 which came with the Territorial rank of temporary Captain – I believe the Adjutant position may have allowed him to first use the field officer’s hilt on his sword. He was mentioned in Dispatches in June 1916. His Adjutant appointment ended in July 1916 when he was assigned a Grade 3 General Staff Officer, still at temporary Captain. He was promoted full Captain in August 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross in the 1917 New Year Honours. He was made a temporary Major in February 1918. He was awarded the Order of the Nile, 4 th Class by the Egyptians for service in Palestine in the latter part of the war. He was again mentioned in Dispatches in both January and June 1919 and awarded the Distinguished Service Order in December 1919. In 1920 he was appointed Adjutant of the 4 th Battalion Royal Scots. Crockatt retired abruptly in 1927 – by one account, walking out in the middle of a staff training course – to become a stockbroker, but was recalled to the Army immediately on the outbreak of WW2 and assigned to the Directorate of Military Intelligence at the rank of Brigadier. He was specifically requested, in fact, by John C F Holland, head of the War Office’s irregular warfare branch ‘MI R’, who had known Crockatt since their schooldays together at Rugby. “ In an age of drab clothes and battledress he [Crockatt] wore at every opportunity the colourful gear of his regiment, the Royal Scots. Moreover, as a former front-line combatant who had also served on the other side of the divide, he could understand and appreciate the antagonism that combatants were likely to feel for the staff, could make allowances for it, and could do his best to reduce it. He was also clear-headed, quick-witted, a good organiser, a good judge of men, and no respecter of red tape: excellent qualities for his early struggles in the War Office. ” [MI9 by Foot and Langley, 1979] In December 1939 Holland recommended Crockatt to be the first director of the newly formed MI9. This secret unit was tasked with assisting in the escape and repatriation of Allied troops that had been captured or were stranded behind enemy lines – or rather would be captured, once fighting began in earnest. In doing so Holland deliberately went against suggestions to appoint an officer with experience escaping captivity, deciding they would be prejudiced by personal experiences. While never an escapee, Crockatt was by no means short of ideas. He later explained his objectives for MI9 as follows: To facilitate escapes of British prisoners of war, thereby getting back service personnel and containing additional enemy manpower on guard duties. To facilitate the return to the United Kingdom of those who succeeded in evading capture in enemy occupied territory. To collect and distribute information. To assist in the denial of information to the enemy. To maintain morale of British prisoners of war in enemy prison camps. Crockatt believed that the new war required a new philosophy throughout all the armed forces: while British troops had mostly remained quietly in prisoner of war camps during WW1, based on an honour-driven understanding of surrender which had been largely reciprocated by their enemies, ‘escape-mindedness’ now needed to be trained into British soldiers of all ranks in all services, with programs instituted to that effect. He insisted that ‘A fighting man remains a fighting man, whether in enemy hands or not, and his duty to continue fighting overrides everything else’. To understand potential escape methods Crockatt brought in experienced British escapees of WW1 to give lectures to MI9, and sourced fifty books from the British Museum with accounts of such escapes. The books he sent to his old school, Rugby, where sixth-formers wrote synopses of the material which MI9 then synthesised into training manuals. The resulting training courses, conducted by MI9’s ‘IS9’ division, were focused most heavily on the Royal Air Force, whose pilots were proportionately rarer and more valuable assets. A course at RAF Highgate distilled Crockatt’s new mindset thus: “ Only as a last resort should you be in a position of being captured. Your job is to fight – and only through wounds, lack of ammunition or food should you ever allow yourself to be captured. Should you be captured, it must be your firm and constant determination to escape at the earliest opportunity – to bring back information to our people. ” [Specimen Lecture for Army Units on Conduct if Cut Off from Unit or Captured, WO 208/3242] For escape-mindedness to succeed in practice troops would need new escape technology: to this end Crockatt recruited technical experts Charles Fraser-Smith and Clayton Hutton into the new ‘Q’ unit, to design devices to assist stranded British soldiers in their escape and evasion. Hutton described his new boss as ‘suave, well groomed and shrewd’. When Hutton asked how he should set about producing escape tools, Crockatt replied simply: ‘It’s entirely up to you. There are no previous plans to work from and no official records… Put on your thinking cap, do as you like.’ This unit and its ‘Q-devices’ directly inspired Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, the character of Q being an amalgam of Crockatt’s two technicians. There were at that time still no POWs needing help, but this changed rapidly from May 1940 with the German invasions of Belgium and France and MI9’s resources were increased. Crockatt oversaw the development of numerous ‘escape lines’ which ferried thousands of escapees and downed airmen back to Britain. Many of these had emerged organically out of local resistance but needed logistical support, extra personnel and improved security. MI9 was initially headquartered in rooms at the Metropole and Great Central Hotels in London, but the Metropole was hit by urban bombing in September 1940 and Crockatt opted to move the unit into the countryside, requisitioning Wilton Park House in Buckinghamshire in October, which was close to his own home in Ashley Green but not too far from London. To keep the escape lines running up to date information on the state of enemy territory was essential and MI9’s purview expanded to interrogation of enemy prisoners (as well as civilians seeking to enter Britain) and debriefing of successful escapees, this work gradually increasing the unit’s value as a source of intelligence in its own right. This was reflected in Crockatt’s promotion to Colonel in 1941, taking the new position of Deputy Director of Military Intelligence (Prisoners of War). The interrogations unit for enemy soldiers, ‘MI9a’ was spun off in December 1941 into an independent but associated agency, MI19. The work of MI9 in Europe occupied most of its attention and resources given its proximity, but it should be emphasised that it oversaw escape operations in most other theatres of the war despite the even greater difficulties of operating outside Europe. Crockatt was only able to oversee these at arm’s length, but wherever British forces were captured MI9 played a role, including the Middle East, North Africa, Russia, Burma and occupied areas of China. Major General Carl Spaatz of the United States Army Air Force first met with Crockatt in 1942, which began the development of the American equivalent to MI9, MIS-X. Spaatz and his appointees, including the academic W. Stull Holt and businessman Edward Johnston, formed a highly productive relationship with Crockatt. Holt in particular was impressed with Crockatt’s leadership and organisation, leading him to make the bold decision that MIS-X would use and support the British escape lines, rather than trying to establish their own competing system. Likewise American training programs were heavily based on the British model. The end result was that British and American captives were able to collaborate on escape efforts and make it home by the same routes. “ Crockatt’s own impressive personality counted for much in this. Not only did he stimulate Holt; he made a tremendous hit in Washington (and, in passing, in New York) when they both visited America from 28 January to 15 March 1943. His bonnet and tartan trews and the panache with which he wore them enhanced the originality, almost the eccentricity, of his approach to war; people felt in him the practical daring of a young Lochinvar. ” [Foot and Langley, 1979] Crockatt repaid the compliment a year later when Holt was nearly ousted from his position in a Pentagon turf war, intervening with American leaders on his behalf to save a productive partnership. After Lt Airey Neave made his famous escape from Colditz Castle in 1942, he was recruited immediately into MI9. Brigadier Crockatt met with him at the famous Rules restaurant in London, dressed in his full Royal Scots dress uniform and medals. It was apparently a habit of Crockatt’s to hold any conversation that might get awkward in Rules, a public place with good food naturally cooling the temper. Neave wrote in his memoirs that Crockatt ‘was a real soldier and I liked him immediately.’ Crockatt tasked Neave to MI9’s new Room 900 section which would train new agents to establish fresh escape routes, telling him frankly ‘You will look after secret communications with occupied Europe and training of agents. It won’t be a bed of roses.’ True to form, Crockatt left Neave to his work free of operational interference. Crockatt visited the Asian theatre for the first time in late 1944, where he took the opportunity to visit his son Dick, who was serving with the Royal Scots in Burma. Personal feelings from this meeting overflowed into a personal letter from Crockatt to his American counterpart in MIS-X Ed Johnston, complaining about the lack of co-ordination he’d found between the two agencies’ Asian branches: ‘I wish to God people would forget about themselves and their nationalities and get on with this bloody war, so that you and I could get our boys back.’ Crockatt was considered a highly effective leader at MI9, combining traditional military efficiency with forward thinking and a light touch to command & control of the various specialists and mavericks he recruited. He constructed an entirely new branch of the intelligence service with a unique overlap of logistics and spycraft, with limited manpower and resources and despite friction with more established units, particularly MI6. J. M. Langley, who ran IS9, wrote that Crockatt ‘attracted an immediate loyalty and devotion of all who served under him’ and noted that he argued in favour of perilous operations like the rescue of escape line organiser Lt Ian Garrow on a matter of principle, believing ‘that Ian’s magnificent work and self-sacrifice should be recognized by some effort to save him from almost certain death in a concentration camp’. 26,190 British and Commonwealth troops escaped from Europe alone thanks to the intervention of MI9, and it is estimated that 90% of troops that evaded initial capture in Europe were successfully rescued by them. Some authors have considered Crockatt lacking in the ruthless attitude of other intelligence officials, however, focusing on prisoner welfare even when more aggressive operations might have secured more escapes. He refused, for instance, to hide any escape materials in Red Cross shipments in case the enemy responded by banning the organisation’s crucial deliveries. Fake charities were used instead even at the risk of increased scrutiny. He had at all times to balance furthering MI9’s mission with the fear that reprisals or outright massacres might be carried out against prisoners of war if the enemy leadership was sufficiently provoked. More controversial were his orders to British prisoners held in Italy in 1943 to ‘stay put’ in prison camps even if their guards began to abandon their posts, a stark contrast to his own stated philosophy. There were good explanations for this policy: it would make it easier for Allied forces to find the prisoners and prevent the known problem of chaos and hardship when hordes of servicemen were left to wander the countryside without supplies. It was believed that the 80,000 prisoners in Italy might be in poor physical condition and the Allied advance through Italy was expected to be relatively swift. Reprisals were still a possibility and the senior intelligence community was by that time aware of the existence of extermination camps that could have killed soldiers en masse. True to form, Crockatt was more concerned with keeping men safe than speeding their return. What was less explicable was that he neglected to inform the War Cabinet of this order. After good initial progress, when the Allied advance stalled at the Gustav Line about 50,000 prisoners still remained in their camps even while German troops arrived to replace the fled Italians, resulting in some prisoners being resecured or transported away to other camps when they might have escaped. Churchill was dismayed at this outcome and ordered an SAS operation to find and rescue those who had left the camps, which largely failed. Crockatt retired from heading MI9 in June 1945, succeeded by Brig. Sam Derry. MI9 continued its work repatriating freed soldiers and gathering intelligence from them, particularly focusing on evidence of war crimes to be prosecuted at the upcoming tribunals, as well as locating, rewarding and honouring the various civilian ‘helpers’ who assisted in the escape lines at great personal risk. Some MI9 personnel went on to form the Joint Reserve Reconnaissance Unit, an intelligence unit specialising in battlefield surveillance and nuclear targeting. This later became 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve), which during the Cold War was planned to man hidden stay-behind observation posts if Soviet forces overran Western Germany. 23 SAS still exists today under the umbrella of UK Special Forces. Being head of a secret organisation Crockatt received little public fanfare, but a number of honours did come his way. He was recommended for a CBE in the 1945 Birthday Honours by the Director of Military Intelligence Sir John Sinclair, his recommendation declaring that Crockatt ‘built up from zero the most effective inter-service Intelligence organisation which exists’. As well as ‘spontaneous and unstinted testimonials from the other Services and certain Government departments’ Sinclair noted ‘the marked appreciation of several US General Officers’ for Crockatt’s work. For their part the Americans bestowed Crockatt with the US Legion of Merit (Officer degree) and for his service to the French people he received both the Legion d’Honneur (Chevalier class) and the Croix de Guerre (with palm). In later life he became director of the Attock Oil Company, and was appointed a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland. Brigadier General Crockatt died in October 1956, aged 62. As Brigadier Dudley Clarke, the head of MI9’s Middle Eastern operations, wrote in 1941: “ In war it is given to few soldiers to be able to serve simultaneously the causes of humanity and country. All who work for MI9 have this special privilege, and few calls can have more appeal than that to rescue those whom the Fortunes of war have abandoned to the enemy. ” The traditionally-styled Scottish broadsword was carried only by Highland infantry regiments until 1881, when the Lowland regiments also adopted Scottish dress and the broadsword along with it (with the exception of the Cameronians). The use of an interchangeable hilt may date back to the 1860s, but is first officially mentioned in the Dress Regulations of 1883, which authorized the Highland Light Infantry to use the basket hilt for full-dress occasions and the cross-bar hilt for all other occasions. Field Officers and other mounted officers were entitled to use a third hilt, the form of which varied by regiment: this design, a symmetrical basket hilt with thistle designs and the regimental badge, was used by the Royal Scots, Royal Scots Fusiliers, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Gordon Highlanders and Highland Light infantry. See plate 178 on page 186 of Swords of the British Army by Robson for another example of the Royal Scots model. The hilt could be changed by unscrewing the pommel nut, removing the pommel, grip and guard, then replacing each with the other version. The blade is bright with a high reflective polish, no edge damage and no significant patination, some light scratching towards the tip, none affecting the etching which is crisp and retains the contrast between the matt acid-etched background and the reflective polished designs within it – the custom family crest panel has an interesting darker grey background applied in the etching that makes it stand out even more. The regimental hilt is undamaged and retains almost all of its bright nickel plating, with wear only at spots along its edges exposing patinated steel. The shagreen of the grip is all present with light handling wear and no scale losses, the grip wires are all present and tight. The interchangeable hilt is securely screwed in place. The scabbard has a few small spots of patination towards the chape end and some very light scratches from carry. The fabric of the hilt liner retains bright colours, particularly the red showing through the pierced guard, with some rubbing to the inner edge and surface-level cracking on the inner surface where it curls at the pommel end.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £2,200.00

*MINT FULL POLISH BLADE*Early WW2 C1940 Japanese Army Officer’s Shin Gunto Katana Gendaito Traditionally Hand Forged Sword Smith Signed By ‘MUSASHI KUNI AKI YUKI TSUKURU KORE’, Scabbard Cover/ Bag & Expert Assessment. Sn 23717 -. 23717 This superb sword has been assessed by a UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. The assessment states ““A type 98 shin gunto, army officers sword with a superbly made gendaito blade. Signed musashi (province) kuni (living in) aki yuki (art name) tsukuru kore (respectfully made). For such a well made sword could not find much on him in my books? Only got one line in Hanley's revised centinary edition pg no 3. Only 2 smiths using this name in wartime period. One Better known used standard kanji for his yuki, kurihara family both eight points, possible same man using different kanji for his name. Needs more Research? Practically mint polish. Kosherae standard gunto pattern With quality alloy, wood lined scabbard in olive green paint (g/con) with brown Patinated brass fittings, one ashi. Brass gunto pattern tsuba (handguard) In g/con, but gilt worn tsuba & seppa No. 70, fish skin intact with good rebound Brown military ito, some gilding left on kabuto gane (top mount) & sarute Knot loop. A good quality blade, a good addition to any collection. Made circa 1940”. In his notes Bill describes the cutting edge as just under 65 cm length and overall length as just under 86.5 cm. He also translates the blade signature and describes other blade characteristics and dimensions (illustrated). A good quality cloth bag / cover with draw string also accompany this sword. The price for this Gendaito sword, with near mint full polish blade with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 23717