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Nation : British
Local Price : £1700

English Silver Hilted Small Sword made between 1720 and 1726 by George Willcocks of London. For information regarding George Willcocks’s life as a ‘gifted silver-hilt maker and sword cutler' and for a further example of his work see Leslie Southwick's “London Silver-hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001, page 279, plate 29. This sword by George Willcocks is in the Royal Armouries Collection, Ref IX.2241. It is more comprehensively marked with a date stamp for 1720 / 1721 and stamped with the maker’s initials in the same place on the Knucklebow and pommel button. Willcocks died young at the age of 33. As evidenced by the date of the earliest possible date for his Sterling mark and the date of his death this sword clearly dates to the period between 1720 and 1726. The blade length is 31.75 inches (80.25 cm) and the overall length of the sword is just over 38.25 inches (97 cm).

Nation : British
Local Price : £1700

Exquisitely Chiselled Silver Hilted Small Sword by William Kinman of London Hallmarked for 1775/1776. An exceptional silver hilted smallsword by the renowned 18th century London silversmith and cutler, William Kinman, date-stamped for 1775/1776. The hilt is in excellent condition and an admirable example of the London silver hilt makers’ art at this time. The flat oval guard is of exceptional quality, chiselled and pierced with a sunburst design enhanced with beaded brilliants around the pierced perimeter. The pommel, knuckle bow, and quillon block are worked in a similar manner. The knucklebow is swollen and pierced at the middle. The baluster shaped wooden grip is of rounded rectangular section diagonally bound with contra twisted ropes of silver wire of different thicknesses separated by crimped silver ribbon. It is mounted with silver cap terminals top and bottom engraved with clam shells. The stiff, slender, triangular section, hollow ground, colichemarde blade is deceptively robust. 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 panel with a pellet between the letters, the lion passant mark, crowned leopard's head assay mark and date stamp. The underside of the is also stamped with the lion passant and the maker’s mark. The lion passant also appears on the collar at the top of the grip. 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. 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 has some shallow “salt and pepper” pitting which is more than offset by the outstanding quality of the hilt. The blade 31.75 inches (80.75 cm) long and overall the sword is 38 inches (96.5 cm) long. For a near identical sword by William Kinman see Leslie Southwick, “London Silver-Hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001, page 291, Plates 75, 76 & 77, for a sword in The Royal Armouries, Collection Reference: IX.3782. And for further information on Kinman's life of see pages 159 and 160.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £1,695.00

WW2 Japanese Officer’s Type 98 Shin Gunto Katana Sword With Gendaito Hand Forged Blade Smith Signed Tang ‘ISHIDO TERU HIDE SAKU’, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. ED 3016 -. An original WW2 Japanese Officer’s Type 98 Sword with smith signed tang 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 “A Type 98 army shin gunto officer’s sword, blade signed ‘ISHIDO TERU HIDE SAKU’. There were 3 men using this art name (go) all made gendaito hand forged traditional blades. 2 were brothers from Saitama prefecture North of Tokyo. This man claimed descent from Musashi Daijo Kore Kazu, made many swords for high ranking officers. Listed as having an exclusive seat in 1943 Smiths ranking by Nihon Token Tanren Jo & Ni Hon Token Shin Bun Shi. A blade by him recently got hozen papers by NBTHK. A true Gendaito., see notes by Chris Bowen & AOI Arts for info, also Markus Sesko books pages 196-197, John Slough page 171 and Fuller & Gregory list No. 193 / 291. Needs a polish to bring out forging details. Saya gunto parade steel, brown pait lots of knocks and marks with use. No gilt left on mounts. Tsuba die stamped brass gunto pattern stamped Number 3 as are seppa, no finish left. Tsuka good quality gunto pattern with rare Monkey hand sarute loop. Locking catch missing and missing fish skin in places. Binding intact but dirty. Lots of information on this man. Worthy of restoration”. In his illustrations Bill translates the tang signature. He measures the cutting edge as just over 66 cms, total length 88 cms and describes other blade and tang measurements & characteristics which can be seen in image 2. The price includes UK delivery. ED 3016

Nation : British
Local Price : £1,695.00

1798 Pattern Sergeants Sword to 42nd Foot Black Watch. Ref 9286. A Rare 1798 Pattern Sergeants Sword to 42nd Foot ´Black Watch´. 37&157; overall, 31 1/2&157; double edged blade with narrow central fuller on each face at the forte, brass highland basket&194;&160;hilt of slender rounded bars framing plain panels, slender fore guards, flat wrist guard, bun shaped pommel, spirally grooved fish skin covered grip. Circa 1800 &194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160; Hilt in good condition with no breaks, lacks grip wire, blade darkly patinated. No scabbard See Brian Robson ´Swords of the British Army´ 1996, pp. 189-90, no. 183 Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £1,675.00

WW2 Japanese Officer’s Shin-Gunto Seki Arsenal Katana Sword With Smith Signed Tang ‘Seki Ju Kane Matsu Kazu Nori Saku’, Showa Arsenal Blossom Stamp, Officer’s Rank Tassel Scabbard With Leather Field Combat Cover & Expert Assessment. S. An original WW2 Japanese Officer’s Sword. The tang is signed on one side with crisp Smith’s name in Japanese script characters. The signature has been translated and the sword assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His hand written notes accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “A Shin Gunto Army Officer’s sword with good condition leather cover on scabbard. In un-touched condition / original with a blade just under 27” cutting edge. Blade has Nakerishimei signature by a seki arsenal signature specialist inscribed ‘Seki Ju Kane Matsu Kazu Nori Saku’ with a showa blossom arsenal stamp (made after 1938). The Hamon is typical mino / seki in gunome midare with nioi crystals. Low temperature forging quenched in oil. See John Slough Swordsmiths of Japan page 80 for reference and oshigata. Made Medium to high grade Showa To. See Markus Sesko swordsmiths of japan 1st Vol A to K page 350 for reference. 2 men listed. I think this is second listing Kazu Nori Showa showa period 1926-1945. Real name Kane Matsu Kazu Ichi. He signed using combination of his personal name & his art name. He was born 1894 & died 9th December 1944”. The notes contain a photocopy image of a rubbing of the blade with translation of the signature. The dark binding over the shagreen handle is complete and intact and all the fittings are original, correct and present (illustrated). The sarute loop is fitted with Officers rank tassel cord. The hilt’s scabbard retaining catch functions as it should. The field combat cover of the scabbard is clean and undamaged. Overall length of the sword is 37 ½”. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23255

Nation : British
Local Price : £1,650.00

Victorian 73rd Regiment and The Blackwatch Basket Hilt Sword. Victorian 73rd Regiment and The Blackwatch Basket Hilt Sword. Regulation Basket hilt with liner and fish skin grip. The broad sword blade with super engraving one side with regimental devises the reverse with V R crown and owners crest and initials Major Charles Albert Bushman. Complete with matching steel scabbard with two loose rings.

Nation : German
Local Price : $2295.00

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 : Turkish
Local Price : 2,250.00 USD

OTTOMAN TURKISH FLINTLOCK BLUNDERBUSS, C.1800. 21 ½” length. Mediterranean walnut full stock with dropped comb and circular section wrist terminating in a scroll. Stock inlaid throughout in scrolling brass inlay, complete. Iron butt plate, trigger guard, lock and side plate. The barrel is of particularly exaggerated form, 2 3/4” diameter at the muzzle, with lapped seam to the underside. Breech boldly chiseled in stylized foliage. The center and muzzle in silver calligraphy, probably Thuluth (some wear). Good uniform character. A type now rarely seen on the market.

Nation : ?
Local Price : 2,250.00

. New item, description to follow.

Nation : French
Local Price : £1,595.00

French Napoleonic AN XI Light Cavalry Troopers Sword. Ref X3416. A French Napoleonic AN XI&194;&160;&194;&160;Light Cavalry Troopers Sword. 40&157; overall, 34 1/2&157; curved fullered blade with inspector´s poincon of ´J. Krantz´, back edge engraved ´M-F´ture Imp du Klingenthal Septembre 1812´. Three bar brass hilt, brass pommel with V stamp, original leather grip with large brass rivet, stamped ´Versailles´ with other unidentified stamps. In its original heavy steel scabbard with two suspension rings. Dated 1812.&194;&160; Sword in good condition, some old worm holes in grip.&194;&160; Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)

Nation : British
Local Price : £1595

Click and use the code >25449 to search for this item on the dealer website Very Fine & Rare, Signally Beautiful, Anglo-American War of 1812, ´Eagle Head´ & Scroll Fretted Hilt, American Officer´s Sabre. In Great Condition.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1595

Click and use the code >25299 to search for this item on the dealer website Very Fine & Rare, Signally Beautiful, Anglo-American War of 1812, ´Eagle Head´ & Scroll Fretted Hilt, American Officer´s Sabre. In Great Condition.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1,595.00

**RARE**ATTRIBUTED RNAS PILOT OFFICER’S**MINT**WW1 Era British Kings Crown Henry Wilkinson Sword With Blued & Etched Panels Blade Presented To Captain (Later RAF) William Hallett-Carpenter, Bullion Cord, Portepee & Matching Maker Scabbard. Sn 22088 -. The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty’s Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army’s Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force (RAF), the world’s first independent air force. This is an excellent WW1 era British Royal Navy Officer’s Sword presented to Captain (Later RAF) William Hallett-Carpenter on being commissioned into the Royal Naval Air Service (Captain William Hallett-Carpenter was commissioned into the RNVR RNAS in 1915 and served as an Armourer and Gunnery Instructor. He transferred to the RAF in April 1918 and was promoted to Captain). The sword in near mint condition has a clean single edged straight blade which is 31¾” in length with central fuller (37 ¾” overall). The blade is crisply etched with Naval fouled anchor & foliate panels on both sides together with King’s crown and heraldic arms. The riccaso is marked on one side by the manufacturer Henry Wilkinson Pall Mall London together with Royal Warrant and the reverse has the ordnance acceptance proof star with inlaid roundel. One side of the blade has a nice presentation panel ‘PRESENTED TO LIEUTENANT W. HALLETT CARPENTER BY THE DIRECTORS OF THE PYRENE Co Ltd UPON HIS JOINING THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE AS A MARK OF THEIR APPRECIATION OF HIS VALUABLE SERVICE’. It has a gilt brass lions head with mane pommel and grip strap & full knuckle guard with the Royal Navy Kings Crown and fouled anchor motif. The spine of the blade is number 50993 (1914/17 Period) and has ‘London Made’ cartouche. The sword’s fish skin grip with bullion wire binding is undamaged. Attached to the guard is its bullion cord and portepee all in excellent condition. The sword is complete with its black leather scabbard which has gilt brass mounts and 2 hanging rings. The throat mount has an embossed shield with matching Henry Wilkinson manufacturer detail. The scabbard has a retaining clip which functions as it should, holding the sword securely in the scabbard. The price for this near mint attributed RNAS Officer’s presentation sword set includes UK delivery. Sn 22088

Nation : British
Local Price : £1575

Scottish Basket Hilted Sword made for a Highland Regiment by Dru Drury of London circa 1775. A representative example of a distinctive type of Scottish munitions grade military basket hilted sword dating to the middle to third quarter of the 18th century. These swords were issued to soldiers serving in Scottish Highland infantry regiments such as the 42nd (Black Watch), and are often associated with their service in the French / Indian and Revolutionary Wars in North America. Some swords bear store or rack numbers marked into the pommels and guards, and occasionally amongst these marks the specific regiment can be identified. Most are unmarked. The swords were funded by regimental colonels from their allowances. Anthony D Darling in his “Weapons of the Highland Regiments 1740 to 80” (Historical Arms Series No 33) devotes a section to the background of this sword type. This hilt type evolved in Scotland towards the mid 18th century as a simplified version of the earlier more usual Scottish basket hilted sword, intended to be cheaper to produce for government troops recruited from the Highlands. The 43rd, later to become the 42nd , the Black Watch, was first formed for this purpose. Around 1757 production of these swords transferred to England as demand grew due to the increasing numbers of Highlanders being recruited into the newly raised Highland regiments. England was industrially better placed to fulfill bigger contracts in a more cost-effective and timely manner. Production fell mainly into the hands of one firm first owned by Nathaniel Jeffreys then taken over by Dru Drury in 1771. Little is known of the exact process of manufacture, but it is thought that the hilts, blades, scabbards, and grips were sourced from Birmingham, Sheffield and London, then the swords were assembled in workshops in London. Drury and Jeffreys commissioned similar single edged blades, usually between circa 29 inches and 32 inches long, as witnessed on surviving swords, with single fullers. Generally they stamped their blades both sides in a similar manner and size with a crown, “G R” beneath, and the business name below. The hilts are made from thin flattened ribbon-like iron bars mainly cut from plate which are forged together. Between these, primary and secondary guard plates are fixed and pierced with circles and triangles. The pommel is a pronounced cone shape with an integral button on top from which three shallow incised lines radiate downwards to the pommel edge. The tops of the three guard arms are secured under a lip which extends around the pommel base. The grip is a cylindrical piece of spirally grooved wood bound with twisted brass rope. The hilt retains pieces of its original leather lining top and bottom of the grip. The Highland Regiments gave up their swords in 1784 when production of this sword type had ceased. The single edged blade has a fuller running underneath the blunt back edge for 80% of its length and is 29.75 inches (75.5 cm) long. The blade is stamped with “GR” beneath a crown on both sides and beneath this “DRURY” on one side of which only the first three letters “DRU” are discernible. The overall length of the sword is 35.75 inches (91 cm). The sword is in russet condition consistently pitted all over. There is a riveted repair to one of the guard arm terminals near the pommel. For a full discussion of this sword type see Anthony D Darling, Swords for the Highland Regiments 1757 – 1784, Mowbray Incorporated, 1988. For other examples see Cyril Mazansky, British Basket-Hilted Swords, Boydell Press / Royal Armouries, 2005, pages 129 to 130. And John Wallace, Scottish Swords and Dirks, Arms and Armour Press, 1970, fig 42, for a sword now in the National Museums of Scotland, collection reference LA 27.

Nation : ?
Local Price : 1,550.00

. A Brace of Tutaneg Pocket Pistols by Merry. With round turn-off barrels, decorated with bands of foliage at the muzzles, profusely engraved box-lock actions, one signed at the breech, the other signed within a panel to the left, side mounted cocks, both fitted with unusual sliding safety catches, finely chequered recurving butts, with vacant shield shaped escutcheons, and profusely engraved butt caps with hinged traps, fold down triggers. Birmingham proofs. MERRY Dimensions: Bore: Barrel Length: Overall Length:

Nation : British
Local Price : £1550

Georgian Officer’s Silver Hilted Hanger by Charles Freeth of Birmingham with hallmarks for 1801 / 1802. An interesting Officer’s Hanger by Charles Freeth of Birmingham dating to the period at the end of the French Revolutionary Wars and the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars. Freeth was an accomplished silversmith working from the end of the third quarter of the 18th century until the beginning of the 19th. He is best known for the exquisite silver mounts he produced for some of the most high profile English gunmakers in the early part of this period. Swords by Freeth are rare. The hanger has a plain hilt with a “D” shaped knuckle guard with a looped side guard inset with a hollow diamond. The square section cushion ribbed pommel sits on top of a vertically reeded ivory grip. The hilt is mounted with a curved blade decorated with scrolling foliage and a crowned “G R” cypher, highlighted in gilt, on a blued background. The hanger retains its scabbard. The silver hilt parts and the scabbard mounts are profusely marked with Charles Freeth's stamp of “C F” in raised relief inside a panel, plus the date and Birmingham hallmarks. The blade length is just over 27 inches (69 cm). Overall the hanger is in good condition although the blue and gilt application to the blade is somewhat faded. The scabbard has survived generally well but at some time during its working life it has snapped near the chape and been stitched together with a short leather sleeve. The ivory grip has some small areas of flaking.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £1,545.00

1885 Period Into WW1 & WW2 Japanese Officer’s Army Kyu Gunto Parade Sword With Gendaito Hand Forged Blade, Scabbard With Leather Field Combat Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 16923 -. This is an original Japanese Officer’s Army Officer’s Parade sword. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “An 1885 period Kyu Gunto sword with traditional Gendaito hand forged blade. Looks like Hizen school work from tang shape & forging which is Suguha (straight) with Nie crystals on the Ha-Buchi. Blade has a cutting edge of 27”. Hada is very fine wood grain. The tang is un signed. Hilt is missing a family mon badge, can see small hole in fuchi where it would have been. The whole sword is of 19th century manufacture, a sword carried in both world wars”. The hilt has a push button scabbard retaining clip which is complete but does not lock into the throat mount of the scabbard. The Ray skin covered handle has small areas of wear to be expected and its original wire binding is intact. All the fittings are original. The sword is complete with wood scabbard which has a single hanging ring. The scabbard is fitted with a replacement field combat cover. All leather and stitching of the cover are intact. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 16923

Nation : American
Local Price : 2,100.00 USD

AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR HANGER C.1770-80. Provincially made example. Brass hilt comprising stirrup form guard with loop side guard, lighter throughout than commercially produced examples. Raised edge pommel with integral mounded button. Wood grip, perhaps walnut, expanding awkwardly toward the pommel and originally mounted with four brass capped bosses each side. The brass dark with aged patina. The wood dry with age crack and small loss at the guard terminal. 24 ¼” curved blade, very slightly concave each side and blacksmith made.

Nation : Italian
Local Price : 2,100.00 USD

ITALIAN TRANSITIONAL RAPIER C.1700-1720. Gilt hilt with asymmetrical thickened edge shell guards and large supporting rings. Decorated throughout in relief with classical busts and baroque drapes. Copper wire wrapped grip with inset bars. 33” diamond section blade with slightly concave faces. The gold strong and bright with slight rubbing as expected. The blade with light surface texture and scattered oxidation from scabbard storage. Period of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) and probably the sword of an Italian military officer.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1500

Silver Hilted Hunting Hanger made by William Knight of London circa 1685 to 1697. A scarce late 17th century Silver Hilted Hunting Hanger mounted with a roe buck antler grip and slender curved single edged blade. The cross hilt is formed with an oval quillon block from which two horizontal quillons emerge with vertically counter curved terminals shaped as busts of dogs. A ferrule is mounted at the base of the grip with a bossed circular ridge towards the base beneath which a further ring of dots is present. The pommel cap rim is decorated in the same manner on the sides. On top the pommel cap features two cherub heads between busts of Roman emperors against a finely punched background surrounding an integral raised pommel button in the middle. The tapering blade is single edged until it becomes double edged 5 inches from the tip. It has a short ricasso and a queens’ head armourers stamp on both sides a quarter of the way along from the hilt. This is probably the mark of a Solingen smith. The forte on both sides has a panel of foliage with remnants of gilt inlay. The ferrule at the base of the grip and the pommel cap have the maker’s stamp “WK” conjoined within a shield. This is the mark of the London based silversmith and silver hilt maker William Knight. He was born in circa 1664 and is recorded as active in his trade from 1685 to circa 1713. He was an apprentice of Hugh Humphries with the Weavers’ Company of London. Knight was dead by 1720. “WK” are the initials of Knight’s first and surnames. In 1697 the marks required of London silversmiths changed to the Britannia Standard which required the two letters of a maker’s stamp to be of the smith’s surname which in Knight’s case was “KN” which is not the case here. Hence we can date the hilt to before 1697. Using the initials of both names reemerged in 1720 with the arrival of the Sterling Standard which for a time was in operation alongside the Britannia Standard but Knight was no longer active by then. The pommel cap shows some compression damage around the rim. The blade shows wear and light rust patination along both sides and a chip to the cutting edge towards the tip. The blade is 17.5 inches long (44.5 cm) and overall the hanger is 21.75 inches (just over 55 cm) long.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1,500.00

British 1827 Pattern Naval Flag Officer&#acute;s Sword with &#acute;Andrea Ferrara&#acute; Broadsword Blade. Description Triple-fullered broadsword blade 29 inches in length, 35 inches overall. Gilt brass half-basket hilt cast with a crown and fouled anchor within a cartouche, hinged inner guard, brass backstrap with lion head pommel cap, white shagreen grip, brass ferrule with sword knot ring. Black leather scabbard with gilt brass fittings at the throat, chape and middle, the throat with two opposed hanging rings and the middle piece with one hanging ring. The blade is engraved on both sides with &#acute;ANDREA FARARA&#acute; [sic], and also features the royal crown and coat of arms with motto &#acute;HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE&#acute;, a quatrefoil design, a sunburst at the ricasso and feathers (possibly the three feathers heraldrically associated with the Prince of Wales). The top piece of the scabbard is engraved with the maker&#acute;s mark &#acute;PROSSER Maker to the King and Royal Family LONDON&#acute;. The level of decoration of the scabbard signifies that this was the sword of a flag officer “ that is, an officer with a rank higher than Captain. It conforms to regulations laid down in 1832 for flag officer&#acute;s scabbards, with one modification “ a third hanging ring was added later on the opposite side of the chape piece to the original. This was a change introduced in 1847, showing that this sword was still being carried by that date. Higher-ranking naval officers could get away with significant variations in their uniform swords “ some are even recorded as having carried foreign swords or British models that had been declared obsolete. This scabbard may have been produced at a later date than the sword, either after the 1832 regulations or upon the officer&#acute;s promotion to flag rank, since the ring fixed to the ferrule typically indicates an early example of the 1827 Pattern sword hilt. The use of a broadsword blade in a British naval sword is not unheard of: the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich holds seven examples of such blades. However, these all date from 1870-1882 and result from the use of standard-pattern broadsword blades, which were produced for Scottish infantry regiments from 1866. With such blades readily available some officers may simply have chosen them for looks or personal preference. This sword is an example of an earlier practice, one more often seen in the Army, of officers reusing broadsword blades of the 17th or early 18th century, fitting them into the regulation pattern hilt and accoutrements to make them fit for service in a new era “ or fit enough not to stand out too much on parade, at least. It is quite likely that these were inherited &#acute;family&#acute; blades, since it was a common practice (particularly in Scotland) to rehilt swords and keep them in use over generations. I have found no reference to this being done to produce a naval sword before, this example may be rare or unique in that respect. For an excellent pair of examples, see The British Cavalry Sword (Companion Volume) by Richard Dellar, page 25, depicting the 1796 Pattern dress and undress swords of Lieutenant-Colonel David Home of the 2nd Dragoons. Both of Home&#acute;s swords have &#acute;Ferara&#acute; [sic] marked broadsword blades, fitted by the London cutler Johnston into regulation hilts at some point between 1798 and 1802, with custom scabbards to match. Andrea Ferrara is a name that appears quite often (with a number of spelling variations) on English and Scottish blades of the 17th century, leading to much speculation as to who this celebrated swordsmith was. Giovan Cigogna, describing Venetian swordsmiths in his book Trattato Militare (1583) writes that &156;in the town of Bellune are the ingenious master Giouan Donato and master Andrea dei Ferari, both brothers.&157; The town is today called Belluno, and a contract exists in the State Archives of Belluno from December 1578 in which these same brothers agree to supply 600 swords &#acute;of the kind used in England&#acute; per month for ten years to a London-based importer, a huge quantity which suggests that their operation was at a significant scale for its time, although whether the contract was filled entirely or cancelled at some point is unknown. There is no evidence that either brother ever visited Britain and despite the quantity mentioned in the contract no more than a fraction of the blades found today can possibly have been made in Belluno, especially as many are clearly more recent. Rather it would seem that the imported blades were of such impressive quality that the Ferrara mark was counterfeited by others and/or used as a general mark for a blade of superior quality rather than specific manufacture. The fact that &#acute;Andrew Ferrara&#acute; or simply &#acute;Ferrara&#acute; became a slang term for the Scottish broadsword and sometimes for swords in general supports this interpretation, and it is unlikely that many people at the time believed their blade was forged by the man himself. John Prosser was a prominent London sword cutler who took over the business of his employer Thomas Cullum in 1795 and traded on Charing Cross Road until 1860, specializing in high-quality blades including custom officer&#acute;s swords and presentation swords. He was creative with his commissions and invented the &#acute;quill-point&#acute; blade in 1818. In his early years of business he developed a close relationship with the Prince of Wales, whose infatuation with military pomp led him to commission several swords from Prosser, including a set awarded to the officers of the 10th Hussars, his pet cavalry regiment, in 1808. This connection was rewarded with titles: Prosser was appointed Sword Cutler and Beltmaker to King George III and in 1820 was made Sword Cutler in ordinary to King George IV (the former Prince). Prosser&#acute;s firm proudly displayed these royal connections on every sword sold, in this case a custom version of the naval officer&#acute;s hilt and scabbard to accommodate a pre-existing blade. It is possible that Prosser did not do the rehilting, since Prosser-made naval swords typically do not feature a folding guard, but this cannot be proven either way without a maker&#acute;s mark on the sword itself. The blade has some areas of pitting and what look like repairs in places to fill in old damage. This has sadly obscured some of the engraving, which is unusually extensive for a Ferrara blade and might have been added to over time. The scabbard leather has shrunk and hardened with age, which has burst its stitching along the seam. Its fittings are all sound and retain a good deal of gilding, while the sword&#acute;s hilt retains almost all of its gilding even in areas that would be handled more. The hinged flap of the hilt works well and fits onto a pin at the scabbard&#acute;s throat to lock the sword into the scabbard. The shagreen grip was almost certainly originally bound with wire, but this has been lost. The white shagreen itself is in good condition, with no damage and little handling wear.

Nation : Chinese
Local Price : £1495

Click and use the code >26100 to search for this item on the dealer website Most Scarce Antique Ching Dynasty Chinese ShuÄ

Nation : British
Local Price : $1495.00

English Plug Bayonet by John Hathaway, ca. 1690. Featuring tapering 11 ½” single-edged wedge-section blade, double-edged for the last 5 1/4″. The forte is deeply stamped on one side with the Blazing Star mark assigned to John Hathaway by the Worshipful Company of Cutlers of London on September 26, 1689 and also an unidentified King's Head mark (KH18 in R.D.C. Evans' “The Plug Bayonet”). While the King's Head was a mark used by Solingen makers Weyersberg and Wundes, this mark is clearly different, as all the German Kings Head marks are left facing profiles, whereas this one is right facing. The brass hilt is of the type known as the Winged Figure Series in Evans' book and the slightly upturned quillons and pommel both feature this three-dimensional figure. The grip is of turned walnut with a brass ferrule at the base and tapering crimped pommel cap with integral winged figure finial. Overall length 17 5/8″. Blade with light pitting, hilt and grip near excellent. A very fine example of a classic English plug bayonet of the period of James II and the ascension of William of Orange. Another example by this maker, formerly in the 2003 catalog of Peter Finer, Ltd. is currently being offered by a UK dealer for 2825 British Pounds (nearly $4000 USD).

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £1,495.00

**ANCIENT 1500-1580 MUROMACHI AGE OF WAR PERIOD**Japanese Samurai Uchi Gatana Single Hand Sword Blade Smith Signed ‘KANE NAGA’ In Protective Honoki Wood Shira Saya Resting Mounts, Later Cloth Cover Carry Bag & Expert Assessment. Sn 22591 -. This is an ancient Japanese Katana blade which has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written assessment notes accompany this blade. Extracts from the assessment and notes include “Uchi Gatana Single Hand Sword Blade in Shia saya resting mounts. Ancient blade. This is LATER PERIOD Muromachi blade, ran from 1392-1573 Age of War. There were several smiths using this two kanji during 1500 to 1580. Because its only a short inscription hard to determine which one. In good Hadori polish showing an uneven midareba hamon getting thin in parts dure to lots of repolishing and re-sharpening (no Ha-Machi left). Lost couple of millimetres of edge with several small grain kizu openings. Reasonable condition for its great age. See Malcolm Cox book of mino den swordsmiths page 82 lists a Kane Naga working in sueseki style Tensho era 1573. Signed with small Kanji like this blade (possible man?). rated chusaka medium / average swords. Mounted in late 19th into 20th century Honoki wood shira saya. Good quality silver habaki with raindrop decoration in very good condition. A Genuine Samurai sword”. In his illustrations of the blade he adds “cutting edge is 58 cms, total length is 73 cms. He also translates the describes other blade and tang characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price for this ancient blade with original expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 22591

Nation : Chinese
Local Price : £1495

Click and use the code >24876 to search for this item on the dealer website Archaic Chinese Warrior´s Bronze Sword, Around 2500 Years Old, From the Zhou Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, Including the Period of the Great Military Doctrine ´The Art of War´ by General Sun-Tzu

Nation : Iberian
Local Price : £1495

Click and use the code >25041 to search for this item on the dealer website Most Fine 18th to Early 19th Century Ottoman Empire Jannisaries YataÄ&159;an Sword, Carved Horn ´Eared´ Hilt & Original Hide Covered Wooden Combat Scabbard

Nation : Turkish
Local Price : £1495

Click and use the code >24262 to search for this item on the dealer website Beautiful Mughul High Ranking Warrior´s Sword Talwar 17th-18th Century, Likely Wootz or Damascus Kilij Form Blade

Nation : British
Local Price : £1495

Click and use the code >25457 to search for this item on the dealer website Fabulous Knight&#acute;s Seal Ring, From Agincourt to the Wars of the Roses Period. A 15th Century Ring with an Intaglio Stylized Engraving of An Armoured Knight on Horseback Holding Aloft His Knightly Sword, a Fabulous and Beautiful Piece.

Nation : French
Local Price : £1,495.00

French Small Sword, Very Fine. SN 9123. A Very Fine French Small Sword with Chiselled Iron Hilt with Gold Inlay. 37 1/2&157; overall, 31&157; hollow ground colichermarde blade with etched panel blade. Russet iron hilt chiselled in low relief against a finely matted gilt ground, including shell guard decorated with differing pastoral scenes, quillon block with a hunter on one face and a warrior on the other, knuckle guard and ovoid pommel en suite with the guard, and the grip bound with plaited wire and ribband between Turks heads. Circa 1740&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160; Very attractive sword in good condition.&194;&160; Ex the David Jeffcoat Collection (1945-2020) Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)

Nation : British
Local Price : £1480

English Silver Hilted Small Sword by Joseph Clare (II) Hallmarked for 1769 / 1770. An English silver hilted small sword by Joseph Clare (II) of London with hallmarks for 1769 / 1770. The hilt is mounted with an oval shaped dish guard which is exquisitely pierced and engraved with bold star shaped florets surrounded by scrolls and sprays which form the main design theme. This design pattern is common to the pommel, ricasso and knucklebow, which attests to the originality and homogeneity of the parts. The sword is well-balanced and mounted with a hollow ground triangular section blade which retains its original decorative engraving on its three sides near the hilt. The baluster shaped grip is covered with spirally wrapped silver crimped strip, the strip separated by triple length twisted wire. Silver cap terminals are present top and bottom of the grip engraved with scallops. The cross guard is mounted with forward and rear drooping tear drop shaped quillons and shallow pas d’ane rings. Joseph Clare was a talented silversmith and silver-hilted sword maker. From 1732 he was apprenticed to Jeremiah Marlow of the Goldsmiths’ Company. After being made free he practiced at a few addresses within the City of London and died in 1771. Clare registered at least four marks with Goldsmiths’ Hall, most being simple representations of his initials in panels which was most usual for silversmiths at the time. The mark on this sword is distinctive in its complexity in that it contains the four letters of his name “C L A R E” inside a panel (see Grimwade Number 358), the first two letters above and the following three below. This mark was registered on 1st October 1767 and replaced an earlier simpler mark, but was in turn replaced by his last registered mark 16th September 1768. This distinctive mark, therefore, was used for less than a year and is a rare survivor. For examples of Clare’s work see “London Silver-Hilted Swords”, their makers, suppliers and allied traders, with directory, by Leslie Southwick, 2001, Royal Armouries, plates 5, 53 and 61 (the latter two are in the Royal Armouries collection references: ix.798 and ix.1861) respectively, and for Clare’s biography page 72 The hilt 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. The hilt retains its original pleasing contours and the blade is in fine clean condition. The engraved designs on the dish guard are clear and exhibit delicate working life repairs in two small areas on each side of the hilt either side of the blade. It appears that an opponent’s blade may have punctured the delicate guard in these places which has led to the repair. The grip maintains its pleasing profile but the wire wrapping is distressed. The blade is discoloured with age related blemishes but is in fair condition. For a further reference see Arthur G Grimwade, 1990, “London Goldsmiths 1697 – 1837 Their Marks and Lives” for a precis of the known records for Clare, and a summary of his marks. The blade is just over 32 inches (81.5 cm) long and the overall the sword is 38.5 inches (97.75 cm) long.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £1,475.00

WWII Japanese Army Officer’s Type 98 Shin Gunto Seki Arsenal Sword with Smith Signature ‘NOSHU SEKI JU HATTORI MASA HIRO SAKU’, Scabbard with Leather War Service Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 20599. -. This sword has been assessed by a UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. In exerts from the assessment he states “A Type 98 Shin Gunto . This is a medium grade showa-To oil tempered blade made Seki arsenal using Yaki Ire process to produce its temperline (Hamon) not visible with rust. It is signed Kazu Uchi Mei, I think this means another man actually signed the Nakago, probably his job to sign for a lot of other arsenal smiths ‘‘NOSHU (province) SEKI (city) JU (living in) HATTORI (family name) MASA HIRO (art name) SAKU (made this)’. He is rated as making either low to medium grade Showa-To (nontraditional forged) or medium grade Gendaito (hand forged). This is a good example of his work but needs a polish to see what is in it. Saya is Honoki wood, leather covered for war service, used condition with a period reinforcing brass collar put on mouth of Saya. Tsuba good quality Gunto pattern with lots of gilt on it, also good quality Gunto mounts, some gilt and colour remaining. Ito wrap & fish skin good but skin shrunk revealing small gaps. Needing a sarute (knot loop) to complete it”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as 66 cms. Total length 86 cms. He also translates the tang signature & describes other blade characteristics and dimensions (illustrated). The price for this sword with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 20599

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : $2,800.00 CAD

SPANISH CAVALRY SWORD: Circa 1770-1780.. SPANISH CAVALRY SWORD: Circa 1770-1780. 36” plain blade, 1 1/2” wide of classic Spanish style for military swords. Dark patina overall. Traditional style hilt and copper wire grip. The crossguard bears the maker’s stamp of a Crown over “Z” and a Crown over an “E”. This is probably Eusebio de Zuloggo of Madrid. An example virtually identical is illustrated on Plate 150 of “Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821”. A very fine example. $2,800.00