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Nation : Austro-Hungarian
Local Price : £115.00

1915 Austro-Hungarian Bayonet. 1915 Austro-Hungarian M1891 bayonet captured from the Russian that fitted the Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles, they also received large numbers taken by the

Nation : -
Local Price : $1,495.00

French Napoleonic AN XI Cavalry Trooper’s Saber.

Nation : Indian
Local Price : £1495.00

A Beautiful Mughul High Ranking Warrior's Sword Talwar 17th-18th Century, Likely Wootz or Damascus Kilij Form Blade. With fine chiselled steel hilt decorated with leaf design and blind fretwork, and a chiselled disc pommel. It has a superb, sharp, likely wootz or Damascus steel blade, with numerous chisel engraved fullers with a return 10 inch false edge at the tip. The talwar belongs to the same family of curved swords as the Persian shamshir, the Turkish kilij, Arabian saif and the Afghan pulwar, all such swords being originally derived from earlier curved swords developed in Turkic Central Asia. The average talwar typically does not usually have as radical a curve as the shamshir and only a very small minority have the expanded, stepped, yelman typical of the kilij, somewhat as this sword has. The talwar has a distinctive, all-metal, Indo-Muslim hilt was developed in Medieval western India. The increasing influence in India of Turco-Afghan, and later Turco-Mongol, dynasties (employing Persian and Central Asian arms) in the Late Medieval and subsequent eras led to ever greater use of sabre-like, curved swords. By Mughal times, the talwar had become the most popular form of sword in the Subcontinent. The talwar was the product of the marriage of the curved blade derived from Turco-Mongol and Persian swords and the native all-metal Indo-Muslim hilt. The Mughal empire was created and sustained by military warfare but also established new administrative practices and incorporated diverse ruling elites to produce an efficient, centralised, standardised rule. Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, instituted agricultural taxes which served as the base of the empire's collective wealth. These taxes, amounting to well over half of a peasant cultivator's output, had to be paid in money, and this impelled peasants and artisans to enter market networks so as to obtain it. Battles during Mughal Rule 1st Battle of Panipat 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi establishing the Mughal Empire in India. Battle of Khanwa 1527 Babur defeated Rana Sunga of Mewar and his allies. Battle of Ghaghra 1529 Babur defeated the joint forces of the Afghans and Sultan of Bengal Battle of Chausa 1539 Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun 2nd Battle of Panipat 1556 Akbar defeated Hindu king Hemu Battle of Thanesar 1567 Akbar defeated two rival groups of Sanyasis Battle of Tukaroi 1575 Akbar defeated Sultanatte of Bangala and Bihar Battle of Haldighati 1576 Undecisive battle between Raja Man Singh of the Mughal army and Rana Pratap of Mewar Battle of Samugarh 1658 Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh defeated Dara Shikoh Battle of Khajwa 1659 Aurangzeb defeated his brother Shah Shuja Battle of Saraighat 1671 Lachit Borpukhan of Ahom kingdom defeated the Mughal army led by Ram Singh. Battle of Karnal 1739 Nadir Shah defeated Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah and looted the Mughal treasury including Peacock throne and the Kohinoor diamond Burgeoning European presence in the Indian Ocean, and its increasing demand for Indian raw and finished products, created still greater wealth in the Mughal courts. There was more conspicuous consumption among the Mughal elite, resulting in greater patronage of painting, literary forms, textiles, and architecture, especially during the reign of Shah Jahan. Among the Mughal UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Asia are Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Lahore Fort, and the Taj Mahal, which is described as the "jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage

Nation : Turkish
Local Price : £1495.00

A Most Fine 18th to Early 19th Century Ottoman Empire Jannisaries Yatağan Sword, Carved Horn 'Eared' Hilt & Original Hide Covered Wooden Combat Scabbard. Overall in superb condition, the patina on both the hilt and leather scabbard is exceptional. The carved horn eared hilt is composed of two carved horn grip plates attached by three iron rivets, and is very fine indeed. It has a naturally patinated brass, fully encompassing, reinforcing strap that forms into the ricasso and shaped blade plate. The yataghan form blade, in the traditional form, is beautifully geometrically engraved upon the back edge. The polished hide covered wooden scabbard has an iron belt loop fixing. The Yatağan sword is a Turkish sword that is believed to have originated sometime in the late middle ages, around the 14th century. The first authentic findings that there are for the Yatağan are from the 15th century belonging to Suleiman the Magnificent. That sword has an inscription written on it dating it to 1526. The formation of the Janissaries has been dated to the reign of Murad I (r. 1362–1389), the third ruler of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans instituted a tax of one-fifth on all slaves taken in war, and from this pool of manpower the sultans first constructed the Janissary corps as a personal army loyal only to the sultan. They were subjected to strict discipline, but were paid salaries and pensions upon retirement and formed their own distinctive social class. As such, they became one of the ruling classes of the Ottoman Empire, rivalling the Turkish aristocracy. The brightest of the Janissaries were sent to the palace institution, Enderun. Through a system of meritocracy, the Janissaries held enormous power, stopping all efforts to reform the military Yatağan was widely used in the Ottoman period from the 16th century to the 19th century; is a famous and effective sword. It is also known as the Turkish Sword among foreigners and Kulakli among the people. Yatagan was a weapon of janissaries and other infantry troops. The centre of gravity of the sword, the angle known as the Turkish curve in making swords, and the ideal strokes are difficult to use because they differ from other swords. The reason for this difference in form is to swing the enemy’s sword strokes more easily. But the destruction and chiselling power of a good user is much higher than that of contemporary swords. Although the motives and writings in Yatağan are sometimes a poem and sometimes a concise word, mostly the verses, the name of the owner of the sword, the prayers and the seal of the master making the sword are seen. The Yatagan was mostly used by soldiers known as the Janissaries. These soldiers often had to walk long distances to defend the empire or expand its borders. That is why the scabbard was mostly made out of leather so that it would be light. It was usually carried on the side or the back of the belt. The scabbard of the Yatagan is curved just like the blade and made wider than needed so the broadened tip can easily fit inside. It was made out of wood, leather, and even silver. It was also usually heavily decorated, especially if it was owned by a nobleman. The Yatagan is truly a one-of-a-kind sword. There simply doesn’t seem to be a sword that can compare to it during the time period it was used. The inwardly curved blade, the lack of a crossguard, and the “ears” all contribute to the item’s one-of-a-kind appearance. It is possible that the Greek Kopis and, in particular, the Iberian Falcata or Sica had some sort of influence on the Yatagan. However, these swords hadn’t been used for almost a thousand years by the time the Yatagan began to see use in the 14th to 19th centuries. This sword was used throughout many regions of the Ottoman Empire that it has several different legends connected to its origins. One of the legends is about Yatagan Baba. This was a Seljuk blacksmith as well as a military commander. He conquered a village in modern-day Denizli, Turkey, and made his new home there. Being a master blacksmith, Yatagan Baba developed the Yatagan sword, which was named after him and the village he conquered. Another legend is that at one point during the Ottoman Period, the sultan had forbidden the use of long swords by the Janissaries in peacetime because of their insubordination. They were then forced to improvise, and ordered weapons made that didn’t technically constitute a long sword. Last photo in the gallery of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wearing the traditional Janissary uniform Turkish yatagan swords that were the signature weapon of the Janissaries, almost a symbol of the corps.

Nation : German
Local Price : £110.00

Siamese Type 46 Bayonet. Single-edged, fullered knife blade, steel hilt with muzzle ring, wood scale grips secured by two rivets, steel pommel. Blued steel scabbard with frog hook. The ricasso is stamped with Thai script ‘ร,ศ,๑๒๑’, which translates to ‘R,S,121’. This means Year 121 of the Rattanakosin Sok, the era proclaimed by King Rama V in 1889 to have begun in 1781, the year in which his great-great-grandfather Rama I acceded to the throne and Rattanakosin (now called Bangkok) became the nation’s capital. RS121 is therefore 1903 in the Gregorian calendar, the bayonets were produced until 1908 but all were stamped with the date of the model’s adoption. These bayonets were produced in Japan for the Siamese military and fit the Siamese Type 46 rifle. Seeking to modernize its military at the turn of the 20 th century to stave off colonial powers, Siam managed to buy a license to build Mauser's Gewehr 98 rifle. Since it lacked the manufacturing capability, the actual production was contracted out to Japan's Koishikawa arsenal, which resulted in the Type 46, a rifle along the lines of the Gewehr 98 but with additional features from the Japanese Type 35 produced by the same plant. The components were assembled in Bangkok with technical assistance from the Japanese, and this may have been true of the bayonets as well, which are modified versions of the German 84/98 bayonet.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1450.00

A Very Fine & Rare Original Napoleonic Wars ANXI Light Cavalry Trooper's Sabre. Used by Napoleon's Most Famed Lancers, Hussars, Chasseurs. The Sabre Troupe de Cavalerie Légère Modèle AN XI. Very rare combat sabre for the troop, perfectly homogeneous and authentic to discover in superb state of conservation considering all the battles it experienced during the Napoleonic wars it deserves to find a fine place in a thematic collection. During a parade the sight of the hussars would the women’s hearts made wildly pounding. In combat they rode yelling most unearthly, cursing and brandishing their weapons. They had their own code - that of reckless courage that bordered on a death wish. The hussars were the eyes, ears and … egos of the army. With their look suitably piratical their hair plaited and queued they were one heck of mean buggers. Some regiments were composed of fellows who had a natural longing for a fight (or trouble !) The mutually supporting camaraderie of the hussars was important factor of their esprit de corps. Tactically they were used as scouts and screen for other troops and due to their combativeness were also used in pitched battles. It was not a rare sight to see a hussar in a forefront of a hack-and-slash melee, gripping his reins with his teeth, a pistol in one hand and saber in the other. Three bar guard the pommel back strap piece has a slight tilt forward complete the hilt's elegant form. One unique elements of this sabre is the leather bound, ribbed grip with its brass olive shaped stud. The arsenal markings are on the back of the slightly fulled 34 3/4 inch blade. Hilt stamped stamped by Joseph Innocent Krantz, Chef de Batt'on, the Napoleonic Imperial period sword inspector from 1812, and Jean George Bick's mark of 1812 a controller 1st class. Blade marked, Klingenthal Man Imperial Janvier 1813 {only Janvier 1813 is still easily visible} Joseph Innocent Krantz, Chef de Batt'on, stamp is also on the blade face Referenced in the works of Michel Pétard "Des sabres et des épées - Troupes à cheval de l'Empire à nos jours - Tome Second", pages 137 and 138; long-tailed cap; calf-covered wooden handle with brass olive mount. One of the rare sabres specifically made to re-arm the French cavalry after the catastrophic losses in 1812 in Russia. The disaster of 1812 in Russia It is estimated that 175.000 excellent horses of cavalry and artillery were lost in 1812 in Russia ! The remnants were mounted on Russian and Lithuanian peasant ponies. The rebuilding of the cavalry in 1813 was more difficult than infantry and artillery. Shortages of trained cavalrymen, officers, NCOs and war horses were critical. Promotions were rapidly handed out and temporary squadrons were formed. In the beginning of April 1813 general Bourcier gathered 10.000 battle-hardened veterans from 60 regiments spread across the countryside. The cavalry centres were in the cities of Magdeburg and Metz. Horses were coming from northern Germany. During Armistice was more time to train the young troops and many regiments showed improvements in their maneuvers. But they never reached the level of pre-1812. French Cavalry Under Napoleon. "When I speak of excellent French cavalry, I refer to its impetous bravery, and not to its perfection" - General Jomini Napoleon's Cavalry and Its Leaders "Cavalry is useful before, during and after the battle," wrote Napoleon, and he stressed the need for audacity in its employment and careful training to achieve true discipline. He was also insistent that careful categorization according to role was of great importance... It was some time before the French cavalry reached its full potential, as it had suffered the loss of many officers during the Revolutionary period, but by 1807 it was reaching its prime. The great charges led by Murat at Eylau and Grouchy at Friedland played vital parts in the outcome of these battles." (Chandler - "Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars" pp 85-86) "Under Napoleon, the French cavalry were, in contrast to the infantry, far more renowned for their action in masses than for their duty as light troops. They were deemed irresistible, and even Napier admits their superiority over the English cavalry of that day. Wellington, to a certain degree, did the same. And strange to say, this irresistible cavalry consisted of such inferior horsemen ... no soldiers are so careless of their horses as the French." ("The Armies of Europe" in Putnam's Monthly, No. XXXII, published in 1855). Used in such battles as; In the Battle of Lützen (German: Schlacht von Großgörschen, 2 May 1813), Napoleon I of France defeated an allied army of the Sixth Coalition. The Russian commander, Prince Peter Wittgenstein, attempting to forestall Napoleon's capture of Leipzig, attacked the French right wing near Lützen, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, surprising Napoleon. Recovering quickly, Napoleon ordered a double envelopment of the allies. After a day of heavy fighting, the imminent encirclement of his army prompted Wittgenstein to retreat. Due to a shortage of cavalry, the French did not pursue. The two armies would clash again in the Battle of Bautzen three weeks later. The Battle of Vitoria in North-Eastern Spain, to the South of Bilbao and near the French border. Wellington’s army comprised 52,000 British and 28,000 Portuguese troops. An army of 25,000 Spanish troops co-operated in the campaign. Wellington’s army had 90 guns. The French army, drawn from the Army of the South, the Army of the Centre and the Army of Portugal, comprised 50,000 troops (including 7,000 cavalry), with 150 guns. It was Wellington’s decisive defeat of Joseph Bonaparte’s French army on 21st June 1813 in North-Eastern Spain in the Peninsular War The Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations, was fought from 16 to 19 October 1813 at Leipzig, Saxony. The Coalition armies of Austria, Prussia, Sweden, and Russia, led by Tsar Alexander I and Karl von Schwarzenberg, decisively defeated the Grande Armée of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon's army also contained Polish and Italian troops, as well as Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine (mainly Saxony and Württemberg). The battle was the culmination of the German Campaign of 1813 and involved 560,000 soldiers, 2,200 artillery pieces, the expenditure of 400,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, and 133,000 casualties, making it the largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars, and the largest battle in Europe prior to World War I. The War of One Hundred Days, culminating in Quatre Bras and Waterloo. This fabulous sabre was almost certainly a trophy of war from Waterloo, and any or all of the the previously listed battles it would likely have seen service within. After the fighting at Quatre Bras (16 June 1815) the two opposing commanders Marshal Ney and the Duke of Wellington initially held their ground while they obtained information about what had happened at the larger Battle of Ligny. They received intelligence that the Prussian army under the command of Prince Blücher had been defeated by the French Army of the North under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte. Upon receiving this news Wellington organised the retreat of the Anglo-allied army to a place he had identified a year before as the best place in Belgium for him to be able to employ his reverse slope tactics when fighting a major battle: the escarpment close to the village of Waterloo. On the 17th, aided by thunderstorms and torrential rain and before the arrival of Napoleon, Wellington's army successfully extricated itself from Quatre Bras and passed through the defile of Genappe. The infantry marched ahead and were screened by a large cavalry rearguard. The French harried Wellington's army, but were unable to inflict any substantial casualties before night fell and Wellington's men were ensconced in bivouacs on the plain of Mont-Saint-Jean. As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity Without scabbard

Nation : East India Company
Local Price : £105.00

East India Company 1845 Pattern F Type Socket Bayonet. Socket bayonet with triangular blade, the broad face of the blade unfullered while the two narrower faces are fullered, the socket with distinctive enlarged socket rim with a crescent shaped hole. Brown leather scabbard with brass throat and chape pieces, the throat piece with teardrop shaped frog stud, the chape piece secured with steel rivets and with a drainage hole at the tip. Blade 17 inches in length, socket 3 inches, muzzle ring diameter 24mm, scabbard 15 7/8 inches in length The broad face of the blade is stamped at the forte with ‘E.B’, while the top of the socket is engraved with numerals including ‘5’ – these marks are faint and there are numerous small dents which may have been applied to cancel the markings. The chape piece of the scabbard is stamped with ‘C^15’ where ^ is a broad arrow War Department mark. I believe this is an Indian mark, I have seen similar markings on Indian 1907 Pattern scabbard fittings. The blade and socket have some areas of light patination, some spots of light pitting and forging imperfections to the blade. The leather of the scabbard has some surface-level cracking, one chunk taken out of the front face next to the throat piece, some warping and abrasion to the seam on the reverse side, with an uneven line of stitching added as a repair. Some dents and spots of patination to the brass fittings. The chape piece is attached to the leather on only one side – take care to support it once the blade has been withdrawn.

Nation : German
Local Price : £100.00

German M1864 Faschinenmesser, Dated 1866. Curved single edged unfullered blade with spear point. Brass S-shaped hilt with forward and reverse quillons. Brass grip with mock ferrule, one side of the grip cast with diagonal grooves, the other smooth. Integral beaked pommel. No scabbard. Blade 16 7/8 inches (49.2cm) in length, the messer 21 7/8 inches (55.6cm) overall. The hilt is stamped on one side with ‘A B 73 3 69’, possibly a unit mark and on the other side with a crown over ‘FW’ over ‘66’ indicating that it was made in 1866, as well as with a crown over U, and the numbers ‘3.’ and ‘100.’. The flat spine of the grip is stamped with ‘O.R. 91.12C.126.’, which is probably another unit mark. The blade has been previously quite heavily cleaned with patches of patination and cleaned pitting remaining and polishing marks overall. Wear to the tip that has reduced its length, probably by about 1/8 of an inch. The edge is sharp with a number of nicks and three notches at the midsection. Some movement to the hilt. The brass grip has numerous tiny dents and what appears to be some black paint to the top of the hilt.

Nation : Austro-Hungarian
Local Price : £100.00

Czech M1924 Bayonet (VZ 24), Dated 1950 (Communist Period). Single fullered spear pointed knife blade with reversed cutting edge (on the same side as the muzzle ring), steel hilt with muzzle ring and protruding rivets, wood scale grips attached by two screws, steel beaked pommel with locking button. Steel scabbard with frog hook and ball finial. The blade is stamped on its exposed tang with a three-part stamp ‘E95’, followed by a crossed swords emblem, followed by ‘50’, indicating the year of manufacture was 1950. The pommel end is stamped with ‘112’ and ‘tgf’. The letter code ‘tgf’ was used to indicate Československá Zbrojovka, the state arms factory in Brno, during the Communist period. The scabbard frog hook is stamped with a similar three-part date stamp of ‘E3’ followed by a lion emblem followed by ‘48’ for 1948, and next to this with another ‘tgf’. The M1924, or VZ 24, was the first bayonet adopted by Czechoslovakia after its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. It fits the vz. 24 rifle, which was a derivative of the M1898 Mauser rifle that could be chambered in multiple calibres depending on customer demand. These rifles and their bayonets were widely exported, notably to South American countries: Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil, Peru, Nicaragua and Ecuador were all users, and it was found on both sides of South American conflicts of the 1920s and ‘30s such as the Chaco War and Ecuadorian–Peruvian War. During the Spanish Civil War Catalan Republican forces were supplied with vz. 24s purchased by the Soviets. Chinese Nationalist forces purchased 195,000 over the course of a decade (1927-1937), used during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. Iran placed multiple orders and also produced a version under license. Large numbers were captured from Czech arsenals after the fall of the Czech Republic in 1939 and reissued to German forces under the designation Gewehr 24(t) - the Czech factories continued to produce these rifles under occupation, with modifications to match German standards. Nearly 500,000 vz. 24s were also ordered by Romania during the occupation. Production of true Czech VZ 24 bayonets resumed in 1946, through the Communist takeover of 1948, until it was finally halted in 1950 ahead of the introduction of the vz. 52 rifle. This bayonet would have been one of the last VZ 24s ever produced, in this final batch. This bayonet is in excellent condition, probably unissued given its intact finishes and traces of storage grease in its recesses and in the scabbard. The blade, hilt, tang and pommel have an excellent intact phosphated finish, while the scabbard is deeply blued. The scabbard is free of dents with a few small areas of wear to the bluing near the chape on one side and some light scratches to the upper section. The wood grips have one or two tiny spots of staining on one side.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1255.00

Superb Crimean War 1853 Issue British Cavalry Sabre, Exactly as Used by The Charge of the Light Brigade, and, The {Less Well Known, Yet Ironically More Successful} Charge of the Heavy Brigade. In Its Stunning Steel Scabbard, With White Buff Hide Knot. A stunning 1853 pattern sabre that superseded the earlier issue 1821 pattern. A beautiful three bar bright steel hilt, with regulation chequered leather grip, held with 5 rivets. A Regulation steel blade with ordnance stamps and ordnance contract maker stamp, Mole. In its regulation pattern, rolled sheet steel, mirror bright plated scabbard. Many Mole blades were used extensively by the British Army, including during the Crimean War (in the Charge of the Light Brigade) this sword has every indication to have been one of them, such as in the 13th Light dragoons This original 1853 pattern trooper's sabre was the replacement of the previous 1821 pattern. This particular sabre was issued, just in time, to a few of the hussar and lancer regiments that departed for service in the Crimean War, but it took around another 10 years or so to be supplied to all the other cavalry regiments in the army, especially if they were in service at the time within the far flung reaches of the empire. We have also acquired, a similarly fabulous, 1821 issue example, from the same collection. However, all our other, fabulous condition British cavalry sabres, that we recently acquired from the Crimean War collection, have now been sold over the past few weeks. Both cavalry charges against the Russian lines happened on the same day in the Crimean War, at Balaklava, on the 25th October 1854, and barely two hours apart. The first charge was at 9.30 am and was the 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade', and it was followed at 11.10 am by the famed 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. This sabre would very likely have been used in either charge as the 1853 pattern was designated for use by both light and heavy cavalry. It bears the same ordnance maker's mark, as an identical pattern issue sword, from the Charge of the Light Brigade, used by a trooper the 13th Light Dragoon's in the charge, that is now in the 13th-18th Royal Hussars and Light Dragoons Regimental Museum {see a photo of that sword in the gallery}. Our sword also bears the line regt. issue ordnance inspectors marks. Following the Battle of the Alma in September 1854, British, French and Ottoman forces had begun to besiege the Russian naval base of Sevastopol. The siege lines, running back to their base at Balaklava harbour, went through two valleys and a ridge, and were vulnerable. Seeking to take advantage of this, the Russians planned to break the British lines and then capture the base. 'The Thin Red Line' The Russian cavalry charged on Balaklava, but their route was blocked by the 93rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. Traditionally, infantry facing a charge would form a square, four lines deep. But the Highlanders took an unconventional approach, making two lines instead. In the face of the oncoming Russian horses, the Highlanders' commander, Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, told his troops: ‘There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand.’ They fired two disciplined volleys at the advancing enemy, which turned the Russians back. 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade' The Heavy Brigade, moving up to support the Highlanders, then intercepted the retreating Russian cavalry. The 800 British horsemen were hugely outnumbered by the 3,000-strong Russian cavalry. But seeing their enemy halted and vulnerable to attack, they charged uphill all the same. Their advance was little faster than a trot and only lasted 10 minutes, but it sent the Russian horsemen into disorder. 'Charge of the Light Brigade' ‘Cavalry to advance rapidly to the front’ To prevent the Russians moving the guns they had captured earlier, Lord Raglan issued an order to the Light Brigade to go and retrieve them. He was still waiting on reinforcements from Sevastopol to arrive, so the light horsemen were the only troops available to him. But the cavalry commanders, who lacked Raglan’s view of the battlefield, were uncertain as to which guns his order referred to. What’s more, all they could see was a Russian artillery battery at the end of a heavily defended valley. In response to their orders, the Light Brigade began their charge, but at the wrong gun batteries. They galloped through Russian artillery fire from three sides and on into the ‘Valley of Death’ suffering heavy losses in the process. Some of the horsemen succeeded in reaching the Russian guns at the end of the valley, and even drove the men operating them into retreat before charging the Russian cavalry beyond. After intense fighting, the remnants of the Light Brigade were forced to retreat from the guns. They made their way back through the ‘Valley of Death’ before reaching safety. Fortunately, their return was ensured by the French cavalry, who cleared the Russians from the north side of the valley. Although the reinforcements from Sevastopol had now deployed and were ready to begin an assault on the heights, no further action was taken. The battle ended in strategic stalemate, with the Russians controlling the heights and the road, but Balaklava still in Allied hands. Unfortunately, Russian possession of the road made supplying the forces besieging Sevastopol during a terrible winter much harder. The loss of the Light Brigade was one of Britain’s most spectacular military disasters. It is remembered because of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s popular poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, written a few weeks after the battle. Years later, Tennyson also wrote ‘The Charge of the Heavy Brigade’ to raise money for Crimean veterans, many of whom were living in poverty. For similar reasons Rudyard Kipling wrote ‘The Last of the Light Brigade’ in 1890 to raise awareness of the hardships faced by veterans. The blade is grey stained. Over two decades ago we were delighted to buy Captain Nolan's undress sabretache that was used to carry the order in the Charge of the Light Brigade, and was recovered from beneath his, and his horses bodies after the battle. It spent most of its life after the charge in two museums, one at the rebuilt and re-sited Crystal Palace in London. We were privileged to buy direct it from the original family owners with the personal assistance of the late Gordon Gardner, Militaria Expert of Sotheby's from 1979. "Robert Mole & Sons" was a prominent British sword manufacturer and contractor active during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Established in Birmingham, England, in 1835 by a descendant of German craftsman Hermann Mohll (later Anglicized to Mole). Government Contractor: The firm was a significant supplier to the British War Office, the Admiralty, and the Government of India, particularly from 1852 to 1919. Produced swords, sword bayonets, lances, and matchets (machetes). They were known for high-quality production, often considered second only to Wilkinson Sword during the Victorian era. Mole blades were used extensively by the British Army and Navy, including during the Crimean War (Charge of the Light Brigade), the Boer War, and World War I. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Robert Mole & Sons produced swords, including cavalry sabers and naval cutlasses, that were imported by the Confederacy. Blades are typically marked "RobT Mole & Sons, Makers, Birmingham" or simply "Mole" on the spine or ricasso. Records of their production were discovered in 1988, detailing contracts from 1852-1920. The company eventually became part of Wilkinson Sword.

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £1250.00

A Stunning 1845 Pattern '1st Battalion Welch Regiment' Senior Officer's Sword. with The Field Service Brass Scabbard For Senior Officer's, Majors and Above. Made by Robert Mole. Traditional VR Cypher Gothic hilt with wire binding over the sharkskin grip. Excellent plus blade with numerous stamps and ordnance quality inspection marks.Overall in excellent plus condition, but, the scabbad does have some combat denting. Regimentally marked to the 1st Battalion The Welch Regiment, for an officer {a major and above} that served under Colonel Kitchener, in combat in the Mahdist War (1888): The 1st Battalion was dispatched to Egypt in 1886, playing a key role in the Mahdist War at the Battle of Gemaizah (Suakin) in December 1888, where they were highly praised for their efficiency by their commander, Col.Kitchener. Colonel Herbert Kitchener, {later to become known as the great Field Marshal Lord Kitchener} who wrote in his dispatches: ‘The half-Battalion of The Welsh Regiment are seasoned soldiers and whatever I asked of them to do they did well. They’re marksmen at Gemaizah Fort and the remainder of the half-Battalion on the left fired section volleys driving the Dervishes from their right position and inflicting severe punishment upon them when in the open. Significantly the Battalion did not lose a man” Later, the 1st Battalion was dispatched to South Africa in November 1899 for the Second Boer War: it was engaged in Battle of Paardeberg in February 1900, where they suffered heavy losses, and again at the Battle of Driefontein in March 1900 The Welsh Regiment (1st Battalion) served with distinction in the Second Boer War (1899–1902), notably in Kelly-Kenny's division at Paardeberg, Driefontein, and Poplar Grove, where they used the bayonet to break Boer positions. They also served as mounted infantry and in blockhouse duties to end the war, with significant losses to enteric fever. The Welsh Regiment (1st Bn): Engaged heavily at Paardeberg (Feb 1900), where they suffered notable casualties (15 men killed, 57 wounded), Driefontein, and Poplar Grove. Actions: Lord Roberts mentioned the 1st Battalion's gallantry in dispatches, particularly in bringing the fight to the enemy at the point of the bayonet, notes Anglo Boer War - Home. A maxim gun detachment and a company of mounted infantry served with Columns (Alderson's and De Lisle's). Based on records related to the Welch Regiment (41st/69th Foot) and its service in the Sudan, here are some officers of major rank or who attained it, who served or were attached during the Mahdist War era (1881–1899) and associated Sudan campaigns: Major William Dowdeswell: Served in the Welch Regiment and later became a Lieutenant Colonel, holding significant command during the late 19th-century operations. Major A Derry: Recorded as serving with the Welch Regiment/Staff during this general period. Major C P Graham: Recorded as serving with the Welch Regiment/Staff. Major G D Melville: Listed as a Captain/Temporary Major with the Welch Regiment/Staff. Major H C Rees: Listed as a Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel/Temporary Brigadier General with the Welch Regiment.

Nation : British
Local Price : £130.00

Argentine Type A Knife Bayonet for the FN FAL with Leather Frog, Falklands War, Early Export Model. Spear-pointed knife blade with partial false edge. Steel hilt with muzzle ring and integral flash-hider prongs, wood grip scales held by two screws, exposed tang, steel pommel. Steel scabbard with frog hook and ball finial, green-painted leather frog with retaining strap. Blade 7.8 inches (19.8cm) in length, the bayonet 12.5 inches (31.8cm) overall. The bayonet is stamped on the pommel with the serial number ’16465’. The scabbard is stamped beside the mouth with ‘07152’. The FN FAL infantry rifle and its bayonet were adopted by Argentina in the late 1950s, initially purchased from FN in Belgium but later made domestically by Argentine manufacturers. Several types of bayonet and webbing attachments were used by the Argentinean Army and Marines during the Falklands conflict: the knife model with distinctive flash-hider ‘prongs’ on its muzzle ring was the ‘Type A’ bayonet, which fitted to the early FALs. Its blade was based upon the US M4. This was used side by side with the tubular ‘Type C’ model, which was introduced when a 22mm muzzle device was added to the FAL in 1962. The scabbards are not interchangeable between Types, the blades being of different shapes. This example is the early Belgian export model, shown by the smooth wood grip scales – the domestic Argentine type used ribbed plastic. The style of its stamped serial number indicates its Argentine service. Belt frogs for these bayonets are made of either leather or nylon fabric: the ‘Correaje Argentino de Cuero’ (Argentine Leather Belting) load-bearing system made of green-dyed leather was introduced around 1970, but incorporated some preexisting elements including leather frogs and pistol holsters, which were then painted green to match. The nylon ‘Correaje Tempex’ (Tempex Belting) was introduced in the early 1980s to replace it which included a new frog. Both forms of load-bearing system were still in use by 1982 so both were carried in the Falklands. Either frog will fit either Type of bayonet. In design terms the leather frogs are a Mauser design, but as can be seen on this example the seam on the left side is tucked under before being stitched, giving it an asymmetrical shape. This creates room for the ‘prongs’ of the bayonet’s flash hider to slide over the leather on the right side, a modification made on later examples specifically for the FAL bayonet. After Argentine forces surrendered to the British on June 14 1982 their small arms were piled up by the thousand in the Islands’ capital Port Stanley, where most Argentine forces had been deployed or driven back to. A large quantity of arms had also been captured earlier at Goose Green, which was a key ammunition dump for the Argentine forces, and still more were gathered later from unengaged Argentine garrisons on the island of West Falkland. The FAL rifles became British government property and were either brought to the UK or dumped at sea, while bayonets and the short machete-like officer’s sidearms frequently became personal trophies or souvenirs for British soldiers as they would not be illegal to own in civilian life. This example is most likely one such ‘bring-back’. The blade is bright with frosting and light patination in places, its edge unsharpened with no damage, the tip rounded. The grips have light handling wear and a few small dents, one small chip next to a screw on one side. The hilt, pommel and scabbard have small spots of light patination. The frog remains flexible with only small spots of rubbing to the green paint, its stitching is wholly intact. Some surface level cracking to the retaining strap but this too remains flexible and will readily fasten.

Nation : British
Local Price : £130.00

Argentine Type A Knife Bayonet for the FN FAL with Tempex Frog, Falklands War, Early Export Model. Spear-pointed knife blade with partial false edge. Steel hilt with muzzle ring and integral flash-hider prongs, wood grip scales held by two screws, exposed tang, steel pommel. Steel scabbard with oval frog stud and ball finial, green nylon frog with retaining strap, plastic belt grip and wire hooks. Blade 7.75 inches (19.7cm) in length, the bayonet 12.44 inches (31.6cm) overall. The bayonet is stamped on the pommel with the serial number ’07167’. The scabbard body is stamped with ‘10023’. The FN FAL infantry rifle and its bayonet were adopted by Argentina in the late 1950s, initially purchased from FN in Belgium but later made domestically by Argentine manufacturers. Several types of bayonet and webbing attachments were used by the Argentinean Army and Marines during the Falklands conflict: the knife model with distinctive flash-hider ‘prongs’ on its muzzle ring was the ‘Type A’ bayonet, which fitted to the early FALs. Its blade was based upon the US M4. This was used side by side with the tubular ‘Type C’ model, which was introduced when a 22mm muzzle device was added to the FAL in 1962. The scabbards are not interchangeable between Types, the blades being of different shapes. This example is the early Belgian export model, shown by the smooth wood grip scales – the domestic Argentine type used ribbed plastic. The style of its stamped serial number indicates its Argentine service. Belt frogs for these bayonets are made of either leather or nylon fabric: the ‘Correaje Argentino de Cuero’ (Argentine Leather Belting) load-bearing system made of green-dyed leather was introduced around 1970, but incorporated some preexisting elements including leather frogs and pistol holsters, which were then painted green to match. The nylon ‘Correaje Tempex’ (Tempex Belting) was introduced in the early 1980s to replace it which included a new frog. Both forms of load-bearing system were still in use by 1982 so both were carried in the Falklands. Either frog will fit either Type of bayonet. After Argentine forces surrendered to the British on June 14 1982 their small arms were piled up by the thousand in the Islands’ capital Port Stanley, where most Argentine forces had been deployed or driven back to. A large quantity of arms had also been captured earlier at Goose Green, which was a key ammunition dump for the Argentine forces, and still more were gathered later from unengaged Argentine garrisons on the island of West Falkland. The FAL rifles became British government property and were either brought to the UK or dumped at sea, while bayonets and the short machete-like officer’s sidearms frequently became personal trophies or souvenirs for British soldiers as they would not be illegal to own in civilian life. This example is most likely one such ‘bring-back’. The blade is bright with small spots of light patination & light scratching, its edge unsharpened, the tip rounded. The grips have moderate handling wear, one deep chip to one of the slabs spanning between the rear screw and pommel. The hilt, pommel and exposed tang have light patination. The scabbard has been painted black, with scattered spots of chipping to the paint on the body where it is not protected by the frog, and the usual raised areas like the frog stud and edges, exposing lightly patinated steel. One very small dent near the chape. The frog is particularly good with only a couple of spots of light staining to the canvas on the front side.

Nation : Austro-Hungarian
Local Price : £1225.00

A Superb 1821 Pattern, Victorian British Officer's Light Cavalry Sabre, For Light Dragoon's, Lancer's or Hussars. Used in the Crimean War, Such As the Famous and Renown 'Charge of the Light Brigade'.. In superb naturally bright and patinated condition. Excellent fishkin grip, copper wire bound. In its original bright steel combat scabbard. As usual we are offering this fabulous officer's sword that we believe to be a 5 star example, and that would be very difficult to find a better example available today. A most impressive sabre, and very good indeed. The very type of regulation Hussar's, Lancer's and Horse Artillery officer's sabre, as used by British Cavalry in the ill fated 'Charge of the Light Brigade' in the Crimean War against Russia. All steel three bar steel hilt, combat blade with fine-fishskin ribbed grip with original copper triple wire binding. Absolutely used at the time, and as used, by all the serving officer's of the light cavalry in the famous 'Charge'. In the Crimean War (1854-56), the Light Dragoons, Hussars and Lancers were in the forefront of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalised by Tennyson's poem of that name ("Into the valley of death rode the six hundred"). The regiments adopted the title hussars at this time, and the uniform became very stylish, aping the hussars of the Austro-Hungarian army. But soon the blues and yellows and golds gave way to khaki as the British army found itself in skirmishes throughout the far-flung Empire, in India and South Africa especially. For example in 1854 the 13th Hussars regiment received its orders from the War Office to prepare for service overseas. Five transport ships - Harbinger, Negotiator, Calliope, Cullodon, and the Mary Anne ? embarking between the 8 May and 12 May, carried 20 officers, 292 other ranks and 298 horses. After a troubled voyage, the regiment arrived at Varna, Bulgaria on the 2 June. On the 28 August the entire Light Brigade (consisting of the 4th Light Dragoons and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers, the 8th Hussars and 11th Hussars, under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan) were inspected by Lord Lucan; five men of the 13th had already succumbed to cholera. On the 1 September the regiment embarked for the Crimea - a further three men dying en-route. On the 20 September the regiment, as part the Light Brigade, took part in the first major engagement of the Crimean War, the Battle of the Alma. The Light Brigade covered the left flank, although the regiment?s role in the battle was minimal. With the Russians in full retreat by late afternoon, Lord Lucan ordered the Light Brigade to pursue the fleeing enemy. However, the brigade was recalled by Lord Raglan as the Russians had kept some 3,000 uncommitted cavalry in reserve. During the 25 October the regiments, the Light Brigade, took part in the Battle of Balaclava and the famous Charge of the Light Brigade. The 13th Light Dragoons formed the right of the front line. The 13th and 17th moved forward; after 100 yards the 11th Hussars, in the second line, also moved off followed by the 4th and 8th. It was not long before the brigade came under heavy Russian fire. Lord Cardigan, at the front of his men, charged into the Russian guns receiving a slight wound. He was soon followed by the 13th and 17th. The two squadrons of the 13th and the right squadron of the 17th were soon cutting down the artillerymen that had remained at their posts. Once the Russian guns had been passed, they engaged in a hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy that was endeavoring to surround them by closing in on either flank. However, the Light Brigade having insufficient forces and suffering heavy casualties, were soon forced to retire. Capt. Louis Edward Nolan (January 4 1818-October 25 1854), who was a British Army officer of the Victorian era, an authority on cavalry tactics, and best known for his controversial role in launching the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava. He was the first casualty of that engagement. Great all round steel condition, and excellent grip patina. Every single item from The Lanes Armoury, Britain's famous, favourite, and oldest original Armoury Antique store, is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, and thus, it is a lifetime guarantee.

Nation : British
Local Price : £90.00

Victorian Sheffield Bushman’s knife. Victorian Sheffield made Bushman's knife. The blade stamped with "WARRANTED, Cast Steel, Sheffield" with Royal initials "VR" and crown to the centre.

Nation : Russian
Local Price : £90.00 GBP

Imperial Russian M1891 Bayonet. Socket bayonet for use with the 7.62 mm. M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle. The M1891 was the Russian mainstay during the First World War and the Revolution of 1917.Â Although the M1891/30 had superseded the M1891 by the time Russia entered the Second World War, the M1891 was widely used during the Second World War as well. From"

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £1200.00

A Rare & Incredible Gilbert Islands Shark’s Tooth Kiribati Warriors Sword. In the Native Culture of The Islands It Is Called a Tebute. A Simply Amazing Original Conversation Piece.. A rarely seen {we have only had two in 15 years}, late 19th to early 20th century shark tooth sword, known as a tebute, and it is unique to the Gilbert Islands of Micronesia, the islands today are known as the nation of Kiribati. The sword is made from seasoned wood of the coconut palm with cutting edges made from sharks teeth, attached with fine fibrous cords. Most of these swords were destroyed by the maritime visitors to the islands. Kiribati has a history of contrived and ritualized duels. The armour was made of thickly woven sennit, a kind of coconut fibre. The duellists wore helmets made of blowfish remains. The helmets were resilient and, due to the structure of blowfish, covered with many points, which had the ability of damaging weapons. The weapons resembled broadswords with a serrated edge created with many shark teeth. The duels were performed mostly for the purpose of settling disputes and maintaining honour. The practicality of the duels is debatable. Due to the difficulty of moving in this armour, falling over and becoming unable to get back up was common enough that duel assistants were required. Kiribati has been known for its traditional martial arts which were kept within the secrets of several families for generations. The Kiribati arts of fighting as opposed to Asian martial arts are not often mentioned or even advertised to be known by the general public. Though, there may be some noticeable parallels in principle to that of Asian martial arts, they are merely really different. For instance, generally, there is no kicking as in Karate kicks or Kung Fu kicks, and speed is more important than power. A list of some of these traditional martial arts is as follows: Nabakai, Nakara, Ruabou, Tabiang, Taborara, Tebania, Temata-aua, Te Rawarawanimon, and Terotauea. The essence of Kiribati traditional martial arts is the magical power of the spirits of the ancestral warriors. All these martial arts skills share one thing in common. That is, they came from an ancestral spirit. "Nabakai" is a martial art from the island of Abaiang originated from the person named Nabakai. Nabakai was a member of the crab clan called "Tabukaokao". The three ancestral female spirits of this clan "Nei Tenaotarai", "Nei Temwanai" and "Nei Tereiatabuki" which usually believed to manifest themselves with a female crab came to him and taught him the fighting art. Overall 61 cm long.

Nation : British
Local Price : 125.00 USD

BRITISH 1876 MODEL SOCKET BAYONET. Standard pattern with triangular blade barked with arsenal and inspection marks and date 6/88 (1888). Crisp with blued finish overall. The socket with a strong blue finish. The blade with blue faded to brown.

Nation : German
Local Price : £85.00

East German AK47 Bayonet. Unsharpened single-fullered blade, black plastic grips, steel scabbard, integral grey canvas frog with buttoned retaining strap. Hilt marked in electropencil with 'P6194'.

Nation : US
Local Price : £85.00

US M1855 Socket Bayonet. Socket bayonet with fullered triangular blade and steel scabbard. Scabbard with drainage hole and frog hanging hook. Blade 18 inches in length, the bayonet 20¾ inches overall. The blade is stamped at the ricasso with ‘US’. Both bayonet and scabbard have been blued and retain a great deal of this original finish, especially the blade. The scabbard has some wear to the bluing on prominent surfaces and one very small dent towards the point.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1125.00

Superb, 1908 Pattern, Historical, British Cavalry Trooper's Sword by Mole & Wilkinson Sword Co. Issue of 1909. British Front Line Cavalry Issue, & 1918 Australian Light Horse Issue, Original 1918 Australian Light Horse Service Issue Buff Hide Sword Knot. Just returned from the workshop after 40 hours of expert hand polishing and conservation in order to return it, as close as possible, to its original issue bright polish finish. It revealed after all that expert effort it has just natural age wear and surface patination, and with no damage signs at all. It is now transformed back into its excellent condition for its age. We pride ourselves for the use of our expert conservation and restoration artisans, that are some of the very best available in the country, some expertly trained for over 40 years. Many types of conservation skills are now sadly lost, but some are still maintained, with no expense spared attitude in order to preserve historical artefacts for generations to come. With many original ordnance inspection stamps still present, an the earliest is {'09} 1909, with several others, {'14} 1914, {'17} 1917, {'24} 1924, {'36}1936. It still has its original WW1 Australian issue buff hide sword knot still attached, by Hepburn, Gale & Ross Ltd. The knot also shows over 100 years of completely natural aging and darkening, yet still retains its great condition. The Australian service pattern issue knot differed somewhat from the standard British service issue leather knot. Early British army regimental markings on the inner bowl, for the British front line regiments to which it was issued in 1909, and thus used at the outbreak of the war and through to the end of 1917, but its early war regimental markings were later struck out for its later war re-issue to the Australian Light Horse in 1918. No Australian Light Horse issue swords ever bore any Australian issue markings {certainly none that been found so far}. Likely as they were issued straight to the regiments direct at the front line in Turkey, and never went to the Australian ordnance until after the war. One of the earliest issued examples of the 1908 trooper's sword, issued and used by British front rank cavalry, lancers and hussars from 1914, right through 1914,15,16,17, until it was re-issued and sent to Australian forces in 1918, as a WW1 Australian service, Australian Light Horse 1908 trooper's sword. All the Australian issued swords came in 1918 to units in the Middle East and came from most British and Canadian cavalry units who were eventually dismounted in the trenches and had no further need for swords. The Australian regiment mostly used the 1908's in 1918 for routing entrenched Turkish forces positions. Before the availability of the swords the cavalry famously used their 1907 pattern hook quillon bayonets. In its earliest service, it would have seen service with, for example, such as the 6th Dragoon Guards. In August 1914, the 6th D.G, deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. It served throughout the First World War (1914-18) on the Western Front, fighting in many engagements in both a mounted and infantry role. These included Mons (1914), the Marne (1914), the first two battles of Ypres (1914 and 1915), the Somme (1916), Arras (1917), Cambrai (1917) and Amiens (1918). 6 DG remained as mounted cavalry throughout the war, but there were occasions, notably during March/April 1918, when they did duty in the trenches or helped stem an attack. For these occasions they were dismounted temporarily. An original sword as can be seen used to incredible effect in the magnificent epic, by Steven Spielberg, 'Warhorse'. An antique original issue trooper's sword with full ordnance markings, used in the frontline British cavalry regiments during WW1. A current Cavalry pattern still used today by all forms of the current British Cavalry. Considered to be the best designed cavalry sword ever made. In exceptionally good condition, a superb collector's item from the finest cavalry in the world. Steel bowl with inner part still with original darkening present. Its steel scabbard is superb, as is its traditional service issue hardened rubber grip with crosshatching. Early in WW1, cavalry skirmishes occurred on several fronts, and horse-mounted troops were widely used for reconnaissance. Britain's cavalry were trained to fight both on foot and mounted, but most other European cavalry still relied on the shock tactic of mounted charges. There were isolated instances of successful shock combat on the Western Front, where cavalry divisions also provided important mobile fire-power. Beginning in 1917, cavalry was deployed alongside tanks and aircraft, notably at the Battle of Cambrai, where cavalry was expected to exploit breakthroughs in the lines that the slower tanks could not. At Cambrai, troops from Great Britain, Canada, India and Germany participated in mounted actions. Cavalry was still deployed late in the war, with Allied cavalry troops harassing retreating German forces in 1918 during the Hundred Days Offensive, when horses and tanks continued to be used in the same battles. In comparison to their limited usefulness on the Western Front, "cavalry was literally indispensable" on the Eastern front and, in the Middle East, & Turkey.

Nation : Swiss
Local Price : £80.00

Swiss Stgw. 57 Bayonet by Wenger. Double-edged spear-pointed blade, ribbed black plastic grip with concave grooves, steel crossbar hilt with muzzle ring, steel pommel with locking button. Black plastic scabbard with frog loop and leather frog strap, brown leather frog with strap and stud. The hilt is stamped on one side with the mark of Waffenfabrik Bern where the bayonet was assembled, composed of the letters ‘FW’ and a Swiss cross arranged within a circle. It is stamped on the other side with ‘W’ for the maker Wenger and the serial number ‘466664’. The scabbard is stamped at the throat with ‘P’. The Swiss government split the blade production contract for these bayonets 50:50 between the rival firms of Wenger and Victorinox, who had both been producing what they claimed was the bona fide Swiss Army Knife since 1908. The two firms competed until 2005, when a slump in sales due to tighter airport rules on pocket knives allowed Victorinox to acquire Wenger, uniting the brands under one roof. The rear side of the leather frog is stamped with the maker’s mark ‘U. REUSSER RÜFENACHT’. I believe this refers to the firm of Ulrich Reusser, founded in 1947 - this firm still exists today as Reusser Innendekorationen (Interior Decoration) AG, still trading in Rüfenacht, near Bern. Below this is stamped ‘87’, probably an item number. This bayonet fits the Swiss Sturmgewehr 57 (usually abbreviated to Stgw. 57) rifle, which was adopted by the Swiss military in 1957 to replace the M1931 (K31) bolt-action rifle.

Nation : German
Local Price : $995.00

US Eagle Pommel Infantry Officer’s Sword, ca. 1850. Featuring gilt brass hilt, consisting of down-curved asymmetrical shell guard with spread- wing eagle in low relief, small reverse shell-shaped quillon, and chain guard connecting to the Widmann Type IV eagle-head pommel; reeded bone grip. Single-edged 29 1/2″ blade with broad 2/3-length single fuller, the last 13″ double-edged; etched over its upper half with scrolling foliage and stands of arms. Original brass scabbard with two carry rings, with geometric and foliate decoration and frog stud; stamped “HORSTMANN”, with the number “423″ on the reverse. William Widmann (178?-1848), was a German immigrant who came to Philadelphia in 1816. Already trained as a sword cutler, with connections to the Solingen blade market, he set up shop in Philadelphia, where he worked until his death in 1848. After his death, his tooling and patterns were acquired by Philadelphia sword cutler William H. Horstmann (1817-1893). This sword closely follows those produced earlier by Widmann. Horstmann went on to be a major supplier of edged weapons to the Union during the Civil War. Overall length 34 1/4″, not including scabbard. Very good complete and original condition; with gilding remaining in protected areas, the balance with pleasing mustard patina. Bone grip free from chips and cracks; blade with gunmetal gray patina, the etching showing normal wear. Scabbard with a couple small, shallow dents.

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : $895.00

Spanish (Andalusia) Plug Bayonet, Late 18th/Early 19th C. Distinctive design exclusive to the Andalusian region of Spain. Featuring broad tapering 8 3/4″ asymmetrical single-edged blade with short triple fullers near the back edge, the last 3 3/4″ double-edged. Back edge with file work notches. Ricasso covered on both sides with a brass plate secured by steel rivets filed flush and decorated with scalloped edge and incised with diagonal lines and wrigglework. Iron cross-guard with turned finials and quillon block with file work decoration. Tapering turned horn grip (shows wear and chips from age and use); cylindrical brass pommel and base ferrule with concentric rings. Very similar examples pictured and described in R.D.C. Evans’ “The Plug Bayonet, An Identification Guide for Collectors” , pp. 174,175. Overall length 14″. Very nice example.

Nation : -
Local Price : $795.00

American Revolutionary Period French M1767 Grenadier Saber.

Nation : -
Local Price : $795.00

Early American Infantry Officer’s Saber, ca. 1800.

Nation : Italian
Local Price : £750.00

An Antique Ethiopian Shotel - Gorode Officer's Sword Of Emperor Menelik IInd's Reign, & Then Into Emperor Halie Selassie's Reign, the Last Ethiopian Emperor. Curved blade fully etched in its tooled red leather scabbard. These very unusual swords with very curved blades come from the "Horn of Africa," which includes Abyssinia, which we now know as Ethiopia. Made famous just before WWII by the Italian Invasion of that Country, and the appeal by it's Emperor Haile Selassie to the League of Nations, which the Western Powers basically ignored. It's Capital is Addis Ababa, a city dating back some 2,000 years and more. A country much in the news but also a land largely still in the middle ages in some respects. The sword, oft described as a shotel but actually it is a gorade, with its very characteristic curved blade. The swords dates back to the reign of Amda Seyon the 1st, known as "the Pillar of Zion" who was Emperor from 1314 - 1344. Called shotel, while technically the proper term locally for sabre was 'gorade'. Shotel which is not an Amharic word, Amharic for sword is gorade .The blade is etched with the profile of Emperor Menelik II, and also the symbol of the emperor, the Lion of Judah. The rest of the blade is etched with fancy scrolls. Menelik II baptised as Sahle Maryam (17 August 1844 – 12 December 1913) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death in 1913 and King of Shewa from 1866 to 1889. At the height of his internal power and external prestige, the process of territorial expansion and creation of the modern empire-state was completed by 1898. He is widely honoured by many Ethiopians and commemorated during the celebration of the Battle of Adwa, which is celebrated on March 1 or 2 across Ethiopia and in the diaspora. Many Pan-Africans regard him as an advocate for African independence against European powers during the Scramble for Africa. Selassie Haile Selassie was one of the most famous leaders in Ethiopian history. As the emperor, he was exiled during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia due to the status he held. Selassie would go onto return to Ethiopia and help in taking back control of the country from Italy. On April 2, 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen became Emperor Haile Selassie. Selassie was the last reigning monarch of Ethiopia’s Solomonic Dynasty. The Solomonic Dynasty traces its ancient ancestry to King Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Sheba, biblical figures who may have lived during the 10th century BCE. Ethiopia is often acknowledged as the only nation in Africa never to have been colonized, and Selassie emerged as a powerful international figure as other African countries sought independence in the 20th century. His long reign and enduring policies (such as support for African unity and the abolition of slavery in Ethiopia) earned him a privileged position at international summits. For instance, Selassie was one of the highest-ranking diplomats at the funeral of U.S. President John Kennedy. Selassie’s greatest impact may have been on the island of Jamaica. Jamaican religious leaders adopted a version of his birth name, Tafari (Ras was an official title) and Rastafarians regard Selassie as a god. (Selassie himself remained a Christian throughout his life.). Photo in the gallery of Emperor Hallie Selassie in full dress uniform. 37.5 inches long overall in scabbard, blade 30 inch blade

Nation : French
Local Price : £750.00

A Fine and Beautiful Carved Horn Hilted 18th Century Royal Naval Officer's Hanger Sword, Cutlass or Cuttoe. American Anglo French wars period, made Circa 1750's, called during it's era of service use a ‘cuttoe’, a variation on the word cutlass, but a variation used specifically by naval officer's. Oval guard deer hoofed quillon form, carved horn handle with carved pommel and twin gilt capped mounting rivets. Single edged blade with a small return false edge and double fuller. Finely geometric scroll engraved blade with a leaping stag slightly obscured through time within the fuller on both sides. Although also used on land, the cutlass is best known as the maritime weapon of choice. A naval side-arm, its popularity was likely because it was not only robust enough to hack through heavy ropes, canvas, and wood, but short enough to use in relatively close quarters, such as during boarding actions, in the rigging, or below decks. Another advantage to the cutlass was its simplicity of use. Employing it effectively required less technical skill than that required to master a rapier or light small sword, and it was more effective as a close-combat weapon than a full-sized sword would be on a cramped ship. Cutlasses are famous for being used by pirates, although there is no reason to believe that Caribbean buccaneers invented them, as has occasionally been claimed. However, the subsequent use of cutlasses by pirates is well documented in contemporary sources, notably by the pirate crews of William Fly, William Kidd, and Stede Bonnet. French historian Alexandre Exquemelin reports the buccaneer François l'Ollonais using a cutlass/cuttoe as early as 1667. Pirates used these weapons for intimidation as much as for combat, often needing no more than to grip their hilts to induce a crew to surrender, or beating captives with the flat of the blade to force their compliance or responsiveness to interrogation. Owing to its versatility, the cutlass was as often an agricultural implement and tool as it was as a weapon (cf. machete, to which the same comment applies) that was used commonly in rain forest and sugarcane areas, such as the Caribbean and Central America. In their most simplified form they are held to have become the machete of the Caribbean.

Nation : American
Local Price : $695.00

US Model 1862 Remington Zouave Sword Bayonet. This bayonet was designed specifically for the Model 1862 Remington Rifled Musket, generally referred to as the Remington Zouave. There does not appear to be an official model year for these and we have seen them listed as both M1862 and M1863, the latter probably because production did not begin until 1863. The maker of these bayonets is not known, to our knowledge, but they are very similar to others made by Collins & Co. of Hartford, CT. It features a 20″ (50.8 cm) sligtly recurved single-edged blade with broad unstopped 3/4-length fuller; stamped with a small “S” on the ricasso. The one-piece cast brass hilt is stamped with “B.H.” inspector’s initials (Benjamin Hannie, the only known inspector of these) on the back of the grip, just below the muzzle ring; steel barrel latch screwed to one side. There is also a “C” on one side of the guard and an “L” on the other side and underside of the guard. Black leather scabbard with brass drag and throat with frog button. George Moller’s “American Military Shoulder Arms” , states that “10,001 rifles with bayonets were accepted at the Watervliet Arsenal between April 1863 and January 1864 from E. Remington & Sons. None of these rifles were issued during the Civil War. All 10,000 were still in storage at the Watervliet Arsenal as late as May 15, 1866. The rifles and bayonets were sold to Francis Bannerman on August 8, 1907.” Some speculate that the “C” stamp on the guard is indicative of Collins as the maker, however, that letter was also often used to indicate “condemned”, but meaning more commonly that it was no longer intended for military service and could therefore be sold. This mark would then indicate that it was not stolen military property. Very good condition; the blade bright, with remains of a protective coating (easily removed). Hilt bright, the end of the pommel with some dents and also remnants of a protective coating. Leather scabbard is sound, with bend in the middle and some crazing. Overall length 24 13/16″ (63 cm), not including scabbard.

Nation : French
Local Price : $695.00

US M1840 Cavalry Saber. This model was the standard issue cavalry trooper = s sword until the lighter M1860 was introduced, but continued in use throughout the Civil War by both sides. Affectionately known as A Old Wristbreaker @ by the troops due to its size and weight, it was basically a US version of the French M1822 light cavalry saber. During most of the 19 th C the French set the styles for swords, which were copied by most of Europe and the United States. The US M1840 was made by many firms and many were imported or used imported blades, primarily from Germany. This example features curved single-edged 34 3/4″ (88 cm) blade with broad 3/4-length fuller and a shorter narrow fuller at the back edge; the ricasso stamped with the maker = s mark “K & C @ for C.R. Kirschbaum and Company of Solingen Germany, one of the world’s oldest blade making families . The opposite side stamped with “IRON PROOF”. Standard one-piece brass guard with knuckle bow and conjoined two-branch side bars joining the brass Phrygian helmet style pommel. Original leather-wrapped wood grip with twisted brass wire (leather worn and about 40% absent, wire complete but loose). Original brown iron scabbard with twin carry rings. The blade primarily smooth, with scattered staining. Brass with dark patina. Overall length 40 3/8”, (102.5 cm) not including scabbard.

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : $695.00

Spanish (Catalonia or Valencia) Plug Bayonet, ca. 1800. The plug bayonet originated in the Pyrenees region of Northern Spain and it is Spain which used the plug bayonet after it had been abandoned by other countries. This example with distinctive straight brass half-round guard, generally only found in Catalonia and Valencia. The grip is of horn, which is more common in Spain than other countries. Unmarked slightly hollow-ground 12″ blade of wedge section with short ricasso. The bayonets of this region are rarely maker-marked, though Barcelona had an extensive cutlery industry, with 80 blade marks registered with the cutlers’ guild in 1834. The blade fairly clean on one side and with patches of light pitting on the other. Overall length 17″. Very similar example illustrated in “The Plug Bayonet” , by R.D.C. Evans, from the author’s collection, fig. 329. Though probably originating around 1550, the plug bayonet had a relatively short span of use from around 1650-1720 (except in Spain where they were used into the 19th C). Their rise in popularity largely paralleled the development of standing armies in Europe, which were realizing the importance of the musketeer, while at the same time not wanting to wholly abandon the pike. In this sense the plug bayonet can be considered a transitional weapon. However, despite its use as a dagger on its own, it was soon found to be impractical since it’s use prevented the musket from being fired. Countless soldiers also found great difficulties in removing a stuck plug bayonet from the muzzle, rendering the musket useless as a firearm. Many were damaged while being removed and as a result relatively few survive. For these reasons it was soon superseded by the socket bayonet, which did not affect the musket’s ability to fire and could much more easily be removed.

Nation : British
Local Price : £650.00

Cambridge University Rifles 1827 Pattern Rifle Officer’s Sword, c1866 by Thurkle, of Sir Lucas Eustratios Ralli, 1st Baronet. Slightly curved spear-pointed blade with fuller. Pierced steel hilt of ‘Gothic’ style with inset crown & strung bugle badge of the light infantry. Steel ferrule, partly chequered backstrap and stepped oval pommel cap. Wire-bound black shagreen grip. Buff leather washer. Steel parade scabbard with two hanging rings. Blade 32¼ inches in length, the sword 37¾ inches overall. The blade has a brass proof slug at the forte on one side stamped with a six-pointed star and ‘PROVED’, with an rayed star etched around the proof slug. It is further etched on that side with the owner’s initials ‘LER’ within an ornate cartouche, a strung bugle badge of the Rifle Corps, the coat of arms of Cambridge University beneath a crown, and foliate motifs. On the other side the blade is etched at the forte with the maker’s mark ‘E THURKLE SWORD MANUFACTURER 104 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON’, and further up the blade with the crown and cypher of Queen Victoria, victor’s laurels and foliate motifs. Lucas Eustratios Ralli was born in London in 1846, son of Eustratios Stephanos Ralli. The Ralli family were merchants from the Greek island of Chios, one of many branches supposedly descended from a Norman aristocrat named Raoul who defected to the Byzantine Empire. They were already wealthy when in 1815 the patriarch, Stephanos Ralli, sought to take advantage of the fall of Napoleon and subsequent changes to European trade routes. He moved their trading business off the island to offices in Marseille and London, dispatching his five sons to establish an east-west network trading British textiles for grain from Odessa and Constantinople, with Eustratios positioned in Manchester overseeing the textile exports. This arrangement was not only profitable but also saved all of their lives, as the Ottoman Empire conquered Chios in 1822 during the Greek War of Independence, massacred its population and took most of the survivors into slavery. Predicting wars and successfully trading from their consequences seem to have been one of the family’s talents and the trading company went from strength to strength, establishing offices across the Mediterranean, in the United States and a large operation in India from 1851, the latter timed perfectly to sell Indian jute as a substitute for Russian hemp no longer available due to the Crimean War. The Ralli family were the wealthiest and most successful Greek expatriates in Victorian Britain, and Lucas would have been born in considerable luxury but with high expectations. During his childhood his uncle Pandia Ralli, one of the five original sons, had taken the company to new heights and became an eminent figure in their community. Pandia generously assisted fellow Greeks in Britain but also used his family’s commercial might to enforce his personal high standards for fair dealing - earning him the nickname among them of ‘Zeus’. He was appointed the first Greek Consul in London in 1835, helped build a Greek Orthodox church at London Wall and was responsible for the Greek stand at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Lucas attended Harrow school then Trinity College, Cambridge. An albumen print photograph of him in 1861, aged around 15, is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG Ax52231) and is viewable online here . He joined the Cambridge University Rifles as an Ensign in 1866. The Cambridge University Rifles claimed its founding in 1803 from a corps of undergraduate volunteers formed in response to the threat of French invasion. It was formally raised in 1860, however, as the 3rd Cambridgeshire (Cambridge University) Rifle Volunteer Corps, with the Prince of Wales as honorary Colonel. It was very popular among the student body and as might be expected, it had a rivalry with the 1st Oxfordshire (Oxford University) Rifle Volunteer Corps, particularly in shooting competitions. Lucas would have purchased his own sword as part of his new Rifles uniform and one can see the pride taken in his membership: this is a particularly fine example of a Rifles sword with detailed working on the hilt and custom etching including the badge of the university that he would have had to commission from a sword manufacturer like Thurkle, not merely buy off the shelf from a military outfitters. Lucas’s military career appears to have gone no further than his college days, and what he did in general for some years after graduation is unclear. After Pandia Ralli died in 1865 Lucas’s brother John and cousin Stephen, both of them Pandia’s proteges in different arms of the business, reorganised the family firm into a new Ralli Brothers Ltd. John, who was 11 years Lucas’s senior, died in 1879 and Lucas joined the partnership afterward to take his older brother’s place. He retired in 1892 but returned to the firm again in 1902 when Stephen died, passing control of Ralli Brothers entirely to Lucas. Lucas ran the company well through difficult times, axing their struggling American cotton business and securing the entire British government contract for jute sandbags on the outbreak of WW1. He was created a baronet in 1912, the family’s generations of business success finally securing a place among British nobility. The stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent Great Depression forced him to close down operations in India. He married Eugenia 'Janie’ Argenti, a daughter of another prominent Chiot merchant family in London, with whom he had five children. Lucas’s younger son Leonidas died of an illness in Monaco in 1917 while on service with the Royal Army Service Corps, at the rank of Captain. His elder son Eustratius ‘Strati’ Ralli served with the Middlesex Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War, and with the Royal Field Artillery in WW1, reaching the rank of Captain. He earned the Military Cross in 1918 for gallantry: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of a party delivering ammunition. One man was killed and five wounded, and but for his efficient control the casualties would have been greater. When, two men were reported missing he remained behind for six hours searching for them, eventually tracing them to a dressing station. Lucas died in 1931 in a Swiss nursing home, leaving an estate valued at £2,290,447, which would be more than £135 million today. He is buried at the Greek Orthodox Cemetery at West Norwood, London, which his uncle Pandia had helped establish in 1842. His son Strati took over operation of Ralli Brothers and inherited the baronetcy. His direct descendant Sir David Charles Ralli is the current 4 th Baronet. The blade is bright with a mirror polish, its etching is crisp and bright with mild contrast between the reflective designs and matt background, most notable in the initialled cartouche. A few spots of patination mainly along the edges but a few slightly impacting the etching, as well as two small areas of cleaned pitting which impact the maker’s mark on one side and some foliage on the other. Its edge is unsharpened and tip undamaged. The backstrap, pommel, quillon, one side of the ferrule and top side of the guard are patinated while much of the bars and knucklebow are bright with spots of patination. The shagreen of the grip is all intact with light handling wear, the wire binding is all present and tight with fractional movement to one loop nearest the ferrule. The steel scabbard is likewise highly polished, it is free of dents although there is a fair amount of frosting and speckled light patination, a few very small spots of cleaned pitting.