For Sale

The following items are listed by for sale by users of the site and dealers. They are in no way endorsed or guaranteed by www.oldswords.com

Add a Classified Item

Type:

Nation:

Keyword(s):

Budget: to

Clicking on the sword will take you through to the relevant classified item or dealer site.

Don't miss out! - Do you want to be kept informed weekly of new aditions? Just join our weekly update list.

You can also receive regular email notifcations when items match your keywords. To recieve them just register or logon at the top right of this page.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £7450

Click and use the code >23673 to search for this item on the dealer website Ancient Koto Period Samurai Sword, Almost 600 Years old, From The Sengoku Jidai. A Handachi Mounted Katana, With Beautiful Deep Red Ishime Urushi Lacquer Saya, & Hammered Silver Onlaid Mounts

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £7450

Click and use the code >25351 to search for this item on the dealer website Very Beautiful & Incredibly Elegant Koto Katana Art Sword Circa 1500, With Very Fine All Original Edo Koshirae, of Finely Decorated Shakudo, Combined With Exceptional Urushi Lacquer Work. Kashira Decorated with &#acute;The Monkey Reaching for the Moon&#ac

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £7450

Click and use the code >24472 to search for this item on the dealer website Superb 15th Century, Ancient, Signed Samurai Sword, From the Famous Sukesada Line of Early Samurai Sword Smiths

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £7450

Click and use the code >24723 to search for this item on the dealer website Beautiful Ancient Samurai Long Sword, A Koto Period Katana Around 500 Years Old Sengoku Period With All Original Edo Period Mounts & Fittings

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : £7350

Click and use the code >24093 to search for this item on the dealer website Beautiful, Inscribed, Elizabethan Tudor & Renaissance Nobleman&#acute;s Rapier 16th Century, Circa 1570

Nation : Dutch
Local Price : £7250

Click and use the code >19598 to search for this item on the dealer website Amazing Samurai Sword Katana. Signed, Hizen kuni Dewa no kami Yukihiro Circa 1670 Made For the Nabeshima Clan

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £7250

Click and use the code >25539 to search for this item on the dealer website Magnificent and Large Horse Mounted Samurai´s Battle Sword Katana, With A Simply Stunning Shinto Blade In Near Mint Condition for Age. The Mounts Are All Completely Original Edo Period.

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : £6995

Click and use the code >25277 to search for this item on the dealer website Incredibly Rare French Naval, Sabre D´Officier De Marine Model Prairelle An XII 1804. Officer´s Sword, Most Likely Surrendered or Captured At Trafalgar in 1805. Possibly Even From the Redoutable or Bucentaure

Nation : -
Local Price : £6,950.00

Pair of flintlock Pistols by Winckhler – Munich c 1700. Three stage barrels octagonal then round with muzzle rings blued and rifled cal 13mm. Brass outlined master&#acute;s mark appears above each powder chamber in the form of a standing lion below W between the signature Hanns Winchhler. Curved locks the floral engraved domed lock plates with masks. Adjustable back triggers one spring tired lightly carved walnut stocks with dark horn fore-end caps plus open iron work decoration on the side plates complete with ramrods with horn tips overall length of each pistol 53.5cm. Hans Winckhler is known in Munich between 1680 and 1710. Early pair of pistols in beautiful condition.

Nation : Tibetan
Local Price : €8500

Fine Tibetan shortsword - Very good example with repousse silver scabbard plate..

Nation : North European
Local Price : £6850

Fine North European Military Sword “Tessak” Dating To Circa 1600. A fine North European military sword dating to circa 1600. The hilt type conforms to the general group also known as “Sinclair Sables”, with which the ill-fated Scottish mercenary expedition to Norway was equipped in 1612. Surviving swords are mounted mainly with curved, and more infrequently with straight blades, as is this piece. This is a good example, in original condition, well balanced and practical whilst aesthetically pleasing to the eye. A sword with an identical hilt is illustrated in “The Price Guide To Antique Edged Weapons”, Leslie Southwick, Antique Collectors Club, 1982, page 139, fig 374. The imposing gently tapering blade is just over 37 inches (94 cm) long and is single edged for half of its length after which it becomes double edged to its tip. The blade is of thick stiff construction capable of being used both for cutting, thrusting through mail and teasing through the joints in plate armour. On one side the worn mark of a cross in raised relief inside a panel is stamped and corresponds with the mark of Wundes Theis a German maker recorded as working in Solingen in the 16th century. The well executed and complex hilt has a broad quillon span of 9.5 inches (24 cm). The quillons are well formed of octagonal section swelling towards the ends and terminating in delicate waisted bands and large globular terminals with the surfaces filed into a complex trellis in raised relief terminating in small knops. The quillons are vertically counter-curved with the front quillon turned upwards and the rear quillon faced downwards to form a wristguard. Guard plates are attached to the quillon block either side. A thumb loop is applied to one side and the knuckle bow turns upwards from the top of the front quillon to form a scrolled terminal at the pommel. The solid pommel is mushroom shaped with a flared waisted neck below. It is skilfully incised with a seven sided floret on top and surrounded with similar raised trellis patterns in raised relief to those seen on the quillon terminals. The wooden grip retains its original shagreen cover now blackened with age. This is an interesting and rare sword which holds a place in the evolution of complex hilt design in the late 16th century. Overall length 43.25 inches (110 cm).

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : 9,100.00 USD

SPANISH CUP HILT RAPIER C.1650. This fine rapier is distinguished by retaining a considerable original gold overlay. It gives us a glimpse of what most fine weapons would have looked like when they were being used. While most rapiers survive in the white, with bare iron surfaces, each had a surface treatment when produced. Many were blued or browned (russet) but a considerable proportion were gold or silver overlaid which served to protect the hilt as well as enhance them aesthetically. This example is of further interest as it represents the cup-hilt rapier in its most highly developed form, with long elegant thrusting blade and robust grip for the gloved fencer's hand. 44" length blade.

Nation : North European
Local Price : £6750

North European Sabre of “Sinclair Sable” Type Circa 1600. An imposing and robust North European sabre dating to circa 1600. The hilt type conforms to the general group known as “Sinclair Sables”, with which the ill-fated Scottish mercenary expedition to Norway was equipped in 1612. This is a well balanced and practical example. The sabre is featured in a paper by Hagen Seehase in DWJ (Deutschland Waffen-Journal), April 2021, pages 84 & 85. The imposing, heavy, stiff, curved blade is single edged, becoming double edged for the last quarter of its length, with a broad shallow fuller running underneath the spine from hilt to tip. Near the hilt on one side a rubbed armourers mark is present inside an oblong panel, now indistinct. The hilt is constructed from a solid block from which two vertically counter curved quillons of rounded oval section extend to terminate in swollen spoon shaped terminals. A knuckle bow extends from the front quillon upper surface, the terminal of which is secured in an aperture in the lower part of the pommel front. The outside of the hilt is formed with a strong scallop shell shaped guard joined to the pommel in a similar manner to the knuckle bow, by a single bar emerging from its top. Cut ridges radiate from the base of the shell guard where it joins the quillon block to accentuate the scallop appearance. An “S” shape bar of rounded section strengthens the structure by joining the shell with the knuckle bow. The inside of the guard is formed with an inner ring guard and thumb loop joined with the knuckle bow by two further scrolling round section bars above. The original leather covered grip swells to its top where it meets with the underside of the pommel and is mounted with a copper ferrule at its base. The oblong shaped pommel radiates filed lines of “scallop” form similar to the clam guard from its truncated pyramid shaped pommel button. The pommel is cut with double decorative lines around its edge. Beneath, the pommel base narrows to accommodate the oval shaped grip top. This is an interesting and rare sword which holds a place in the evolution of complex hilt design in the late 16th century. Blade 30.5 inches (80 cm) long and overall 37 inches (94 cm). Provenance: Sotheby’s New York, 23rd November 1988, lot 501

Nation : German
Local Price : £6750

Click and use the code >25226 to search for this item on the dealer website Very Fine Antique Longsword, Likely German, 16th-17th Century Style, With Double Edged Graduating Diamond Shaped Blade, Bearing Armourers Mark, Crossguard With Single Oval Side Ring

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £6750

Click and use the code >24339 to search for this item on the dealer website Most Impressive & Beautiful Antique Shinshinto Edo Era Samurai Horseman´s Katana. This Is A Most Impressive Sword Of Commanding Presence. Likely of a Seieibushi {Elite Ranked Samurai}

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £6750

Click and use the code >23939 to search for this item on the dealer website Simply Stunning 15th Century Sengoku Period Wakizashi Samurai Short Sword Circa 1480 With Shobu Zukuri Form Blade

Nation : Indian
Local Price : £9¸000

Beautiful Antique Silver Indo-Persian Rulers Sword. Beautiful Antique Silver Indo-Persian Rulers Sword\"This is a long curved¸ early antique Mughal Blade and is very rare. It is almost last 17th and early 18th century old sword and belongs to North India (at that time). The Hilt of this sword is called kuftgari hilt and is Silver.

Nation : British
Local Price : 8,900.00 USD

FINE AND RARE ENGLISH BROADSWORD C.1640. Of the so-called mortuary sword type. Iron hilt with semi-bowl guard. The forward edge rolled, with bars connecting to the pommel at the other three-quarter points, further enclosed by pairs of scrolling bars. The guard chiseled with characterful portraits of Charles at the three-quarter points alternating with portraits of Henrietta flanked by angel wings. A further matching portrait on the knuckle bow. The pommel was chiseled in a radial motif over a slightly depressed medial, stopped by a band at the transition and likely fire gilt in the depressions originally. The right side with a chiseled running fox or wolf mark about identical to that illustrated as 9c, European Swords and Daggers in the Tower of London, which is found on a “Claymore, early 17th century." The mark here was originally inlaid in latten which it retains in one of the strokes. Original black leather over wood scabbard in fragile but substantially complete condition. An excellent example of one of the most desirable forms of 17th-century swords.

Nation : British
Local Price : £6450

Scottish Basket Hilted Sword with its Scabbard dating to circa 1730. An attractive Scottish basket hilted sword dating to the period preceding the last Jacobite Rebellion which commenced in 1745 and ended with the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The sword is in fine condition and retains its scabbard. The basket guard is finely forged from rounded structural bars resulting in an elegantly contoured hilt. The two main frontal guard panels are decorated in traditional style, with vertical and horizontal parallel lines incised into the exterior surfaces towards the panel edges to form squares. Inside these squares a circle is pierced into the centre, surrounded by a pattern of four pierced hearts. A further circle is pierced in each corner. The smaller, secondary guard plates to the sides, and the similar sized central front guard plate, are finished in similar style with parallel decorative lines forming an oblong, with two circles pierced in the middle and a heart shape above and below. The dome-shaped pommel has a flat circular button on top and is decorated with three pairs of incised lines, equally spaced apart, the centre line wider than those on its flanks, which radiate from the button. The upper guard arm terminals of the basket fit into a chiselled groove which extends for the full circumference of the pommel just below its middle. The spirally grooved wooden grip retains its original shagreen cover together with its copper wire binding. The remains of a red woollen fringe sits between the grip top and the base of the pommel. The hilt retains its full leather liner covered with red cloth on the outside and stitched with a blue silken hem, much of which remains. The typically broad single-edged tapering German-made blade is of fine quality. It has a short ricasso 1.75 inches (4.5 cm) long with a fuller on the front side which terminates where the cutting edge begins. Three further fullers extend underneath the back edge almost to the tip of the blade which becomes double edged 4 inches (10 cm) from the point where the fuller nearest the back edge terminates before the other two. Various indistinct armourers marks are present in the fullers near the hilt consisting of orb and cross marks, quatrefoils of dots and worn letters which form the name “ANDRIA FERARA” which is now unclear. The marks on one side are clearer than on the reverse. The blade is 31.5 inches (80 cm) long. The scabbard is made from thick leather stitched down the middle on the inside surface. The iron chape and mouthpiece are decorated with horizontal pairs of parallel lines in similar fashion to those incised into the guard panels of the hilt. The leather is in good condition decorated with diamond patterns to the outside surface. The overall length of the sword is 36.75 inches (93.5 cm). The condition overall is good, the hilt with some minor age-related staining to the steel parts. For similar styles of hilt see “Poetry in Steel The Earliest Swords of Walter Allan of Stirling”, by the Baron of Earlshall, London Park Lane Arms Fair, page 129 to 138, Spring 2018, Apollo Publishing. There are strong resemblances between this hilt and those produced in Stirling by both John and Walter Allan during this period. See also “British Basket-Hilted Swords”, Cyril Mazansky, The Boydell Press, 2005, page 115 fig F15h, for a sword in the Marischal Museum at the University of Aberdeen, and, page 106 fig F12 for a sword in a private American collection.

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £6395

Click and use the code >25544 to search for this item on the dealer website Beautiful Koto to Early Shinto Period Samurai Sword Katana Signed Kanetake. Probably Azuchi Momoyama Era Mino Tradition. With a Flock Of Cranes Openwork Tsuba

Nation : American
Local Price : £6250

Click and use the code >25317 to search for this item on the dealer website Stunning Directoire Period French Blue and Gilt &#acute;Award&#acute; & Imperial Garde Grade Sabre of a General or General Staff Officer, Probably By Boutet Director of Versailles. Napoleon´s Personal Sword Maker

Nation : Austrian
Local Price : $5995.00

Austrian Military Rapier, Late 16th C, likely from Schloss Ambras, Innsbruck. Hilt of oval-section bars of Norman Type 25/26, featuring vertically recurved quillons with heart-shaped finials, the forward one upturned and forming a partial knuckle guard. Two bars on the obverse extending upward from the bottom of the pas d’ane, also with heart-shaped finials. Inner guard of Norman Type 11 with three bars extending from the bottom of the pas d’ane and joining the quillon block. Fishtail pommel with pierced hole of Norman Type 40. Spiral grip with two sizes of fine twisted wire, finished with Turks heads top and bottom. Tapering 36 1/4” double-edged blade of lens section with line-bordered hollow-ground ricasso stamped with a “W” maker’s mark (probably that of Michel Witz, theYounger, of Innsbruck). A number of swords of this hilt and pommel type are in the Armory of Schloss Ambras, Innsbruck, Austria. Considering the blade bears an Innsbruck maker’s mark, this sword was almost certainly made for the Schloss Ambras Armory. Other swords of this type are also exhibited in the Bavarian Army Museum, Ingolstadt. Guard slightly loose, the blade with light pitting and age staining. Overall length 42”.

Nation : British
Local Price : £5,995.00

Fine Quality Pair of Flintlock Silver Mounted Holster Pistols. SN 9106. A &194;&160;Fine Quality Pair of Flintlock Silver Mounted Holster Pistols by Hutchinson of Dublin. 10 &194;&188;&157; overall, 6&157; octagonal 25 bore barrels, floral engraved tangs, Birmingham proof mark to l/h side, top engraved ´Hutchinson Dublin´. Underside stamped ´STUBBS´, bead fore sight, bead engraved band at breech, flat stepped border moulded lockplate, floral engraved on tail, signed ´Hutchinson´ below semi water proof pan, roller within tip of frizzen spring. Floral engraved swan necked cock, stamped on inside of lock ´W.H´ makers stamp. Walnut full stock, hallmarked [C.F] for Charles Freeth silver mounts comprising oval butt caps, escutcheon with crest over ´CJ´ , engraved side nail washers, trigger guard with acorn finial, ramrod & tail pipes, original Ivory tipped ramrods one with worm. Birmingham Hallmarked [P] & [O] for 1787-89&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; William Hutchinson 1770-1 Dame Street, 1771-74 with Francis Lord, his father-in-law, 1774-1784 40 Dame Street. 1785-1811 8 Dame Street Charles Freeth of Birmingham was an accomplished silversmith working from the end of the third quarter of the 18th&194;&160;century until the beginning of the 19th. He is best known for the exquisite silver mounts he produced for the most high profile London and Birmingham gunmakers in the early part of this period. See Directory of Early Irish Gunmakers by David Stroud page 182 A Directory of the Early Irish Gunmakers by David J.W. Stroud (New Title) | Ramrod Antiques This item is registered (ref Q6D235GV) for the ´less than 10% by volume´ exemption to the Ivory Act 2018 and therefore we are legally allowed to sell it. &194;&160;UK sale only - NOT FOR EXPORT.&194;&160; Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)

Nation : British
Local Price : £5,995.00

Rifled Flintlock Artillery Officers Pistols by Thomas Styan of Manchester, very fine pair. SN X3025. A Very Fine Pair of Rifled Flintlock Artillery Officers Pistols by Thomas Styan of Manchester. 12&194;&190;&157; overall, 6&157; carbine .650 bore octagonal barrels with seven deeply rifled lands, bead foresight, top flat engraved in script ´Styan Manchester´, underside stamped with ´TED´ barrelsmith´s mark, no proofs. Two gold lines at breech engraved with wheat ears and chevrons, &194;&160;platinum touch hole. Engraved trophy of arms and canon at the breech, Flat stepped bolted locks engraved with military trophies, canon and piled canon balls, and signed ´Styan´, French cocks fitted with sliding safeties, waterproof V pans lined in gold, rollers on the frizzen springs. Trigger guard engraved with trophy of arms, canon, blasting canon muzzle at butt end and pineapple finials. Highly figured semi saw handle inclined butts, with chequered &194;&160;butt and fore end, flat butts with engraved plates, original brass end ramrods both with worms. Circa 1810-15.&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; Pistols of very high quality by a little known maker, in good condition, though no original finish remains, one cock retaining screw late replacement.&194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; Thomas Styan of Manchester Broome Street 1803-1811, 6 Market Street 1811-1814 4 Hanging Ditich 1815-38 then his widow Mrs Martha Styan until 1840. See ’Der Neue Stöckel’, vol. II, page 1236.&194;&160; Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)

Nation : British
Local Price : £5995

Click and use the code >23162 to search for this item on the dealer website Wonderful Museum Grade, Rare 18th Century French Small-Sword of Parcel Gilt, Silver & Steel. As Fine As Anything Comparable in the Royal Collection, or Les Invalides Army Museum in Paris.

Nation : British
Local Price : £5,995.00

Pair of Flintlock Officers Pistols by Prosser. Ref 9168. A Pair of Flintlock Officer’s Pistols by Prosser, Charing Cross, London. 15 1/2&157; overall, 9&157; sighted 16 bore barrels each engraved ’CHARING CROSS, LONDON’ along the sighting flat & engraved with a band of chevron ornament at the breech, London Proofs.&194;&160; Border engraved tangs each incorporating a back sight & decorated with a Britannia shield & foliage, border engraved flat bevelled locks signed ´Prosser´ each decorated with a starburst behind the pan & with safety catch, roller & engraved cock. Figured full stocks each with flattened butt cut with characteristic chequering with a cross in the centre of each diamond, border engraved steel mounts comprising butt caps & D-shaped trigger guards each with pineapple finial & decorated with a martial trophy & foliage on the bow, stirrup ramrods. With W. K. Neil collection tags no. p315/6. No. 183, Early 19th Century&194;&160;&194;&160; Very high quality pistols in good condition, rebrowned barrels.&194;&160; Provenance: The Earls of Lonsdale, Lowther Castle, Cumberland (probably in the house sale conducted by Maple & Co. and Thomas Wyatt, V.A., 16 April 1947)W. Keith Neal Collection, P315 and 316. In the barrel there is W.K.Neil´s card saying purchased at the Lowther Castle sale.Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection 10 November 2005, lot 94John Prosser is recorded at 9 Charing Cross, London, between 1796 and 1853. He was appointed Sword Cutler and Beltmaker to King George III in 1795 and to King George IV in 1827. See Leslie Southwick,&194;&160;´London Silver-hilted Swords´, 2001, pp. 199-201 The Earl of Lonsdale 1757 "e; 1844&194;&160; William Lowther was born the son of the Reverend Sir William Lowther, Bart, of Swillington in Yorkshire. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1777 on the death of his father and, on the death of his cousin became Viscount Lonsdale in 1802. He was elected MP, successively, for Carlisle (1780-82), Cumberland (1784-90) and Rutland (1796-1802). In 1802 he became Lord Lieutenant of both Cumberland and Westmorland, holding these posts until his death in 1844. In 1807 he was created Earl of Lonsdale (the title being revived for him) and made a Knight of the Garter. &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; Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)

Nation : British
Local Price : £5995

Click and use the code >23138 to search for this item on the dealer website Wonderful 18th Century French Small-Sword of Parcel Gilt and Blued Steel A Simply Stunning Museum Grade Piece

Nation : Hungarian
Local Price : 7995.00 USD

Ex Rare Mid 18th Century Hungarian Horseman’s Saber With Pistol Grip!. Here is a great rarity in outstanding condition. This great, great massive Hungarian saber dates to circa 1750. It retains its original wood covered with leather scabbard add its pistol grip shaped iron grip with original fish skin covering! MASSIVE BUTCHER CLEAVER BLADE WITH LARGE RELIGIOUS ENGRAVINGS! See photos. Blade is just over 2” wide x 30” long. Blade retains much of its original luster with only some very small areas of pitting and darkening. Grip retains all original fish skin covering and iron mounted scabbard retains all original leather covering! MUSEUM QUALITY! (old description tag and hanging rope included) We bought this rare saber from a Belgium collection over 20 years ago and paid 12k for it at that time! Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Check out our other listings for more great antique blades! Our direct email address is: fineartlimited@yahoo.com

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £5950

Click and use the code >25637 to search for this item on the dealer website Simply Wonderful Edo Period Samurai Tanto Museum Quality Art-Sword Decorated To The Highest Artistic Standard With Insects, in Carving, Iroe, Taka-zÅ

Nation : British
Local Price : £5900

Click and use the code >25207 to search for this item on the dealer website Sublime Napoleonic Ist Empire French Superior Officer&#acute;s Blue & Gilt Officer&#acute;s Sword in the Mameluke Style, With Finest Deluxe Grade Chiselled Decor. We Always Try Our Utmost To Offer The Finest or Most Intriguing Pieces We Can From History

Nation : Italian
Local Price : 7,800.00 USD

FINE ITALIAN BROADSWORD C.1650. This sword draws upon two closely related groups for form. Its finely embossed and chiseled guard with its central medallion of a classical figure is a variation of the sail form guards used on Maine gauches, Italian rapiers and broad swords. Those swords, are generally from a larger group of crab claw hilted swords which includes examples with and without the sail form guard. The form of its quillons places this sword in that group. The vast majority in the group are plain or modestly embellished for use by foot or mounted troops. This example, distinguished by the quality, and theme of its decoration, was made for an officer or member of an elite guard group. It is closely related to an example in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, #XV-178. 32 1/4" length blade.

Nation : British
Local Price : £5650

Late 19th century Scottish Dirk for an Officer in the Gordon Highlanders by R&HB Kirkwood of Edinburgh. An exceptional Scottish Military Dirk made for an officer in the Gordon Highlanders in the late 19th century by the goldsmiths R&HB Kirkwood based at 65 & 66 Thistle Street in Edinburgh. The dirk retains its bi-knife and fork which together are housed in the original case with the partner sgian dubh. The mounts are of unhallmarked silver. The grips of the dirk, bi-knife, fork and sgian dubh are fashioned from blackened hardwood carved with a pattern of basketweave with studs mounted at the intersections of the weave. The raised ornate pommels are each mounted with a finely cut Citrine with consistent orange coloured backing inside decorative ferrules featuring bands of thistles and foliage. The pommels are suspended above the grips in typical dirk style for the Gordon Highlanders with an arrangement of silver posts separated by oak leaves. The dirk grip base mount is decorated with thistles and foliage. The cone shaped grip bases of the bi-knife and fork are plain and mounted with blued sprung clips on either side to secure the grips to the scabbard pocket tops. The leaf shaped dirk blade is 11.75 inches (30 cm) long and has a scalloped back edge under which a deep fuller extends from the grip base towards the tip and terminates just before the scallop line ends, after which the blade becomes double edged to the tip. A wider fuller extends from the hilt along the middle of the blade for the same length. The base to the dirk grip fits snugly over the scabbard mouthpiece. The bi-knife blade is also single-edged and has a scalloped blunt back edge of smaller dimensions compared to the dirk blade. The dirk is housed in a wooden scabbard covered with black leather and with silver mounts. The throat mount to the front is decorated with a Cross of St Andrew onto which at the base is a platform of thistles. A semi-circular arch above is applied with the name of the regiment and beneath this a figure of the Sphynx with “EGYPT” beneath, and below, a Tiger with “INDIA” beneath. The back of the throat mount has a carrying strap bar with the name of the maker in raised relief inside a rectangular shield beneath. Further along the scabbard the pocket throat mounts for the by-knife and by-fork, plus the chape, are decorated to the front with a thistle motif and at the back each mount is stamped individually with a thistle stamp. The overall length is 17.25 inches (just under 44 cm) overall. The double-hinged black leather covered wooden storage box is in fine condition. The lid opens and closes effectively to be secured with hinged clips. The box is fitted with a padded blue silken liner fixed into the into the base of the compartment and into the lid which also has the embossed name of the maker. The sgian dubh is similarly stamped with the maker’s details at the back of the throat mount. The Gordon Highlanders was one of the most famous regiments in the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as the county regiment of Aberdeen, Banffshire and Shetland. In the 1880s the regiment fought in the Anglo-Egyptian War then in India in the 1890s. In 1899 the regiment was sent to fight in the Boer War. Thereafter the regiment fought with distinction in all major conflicts where the British Army was involved. The dirk was first presented to the open market by the descendants of the officer that owned the dirk. This was Stewart Gregor Murray. His military biography is detailed on a old note written in black ink stored inside the case (see the last photo below). He joined the Second Battalion in 1884 and thereafter was posted to Malta (3 years), Ceylon (3 years) and India (4 years). In India Murray was involved in the storming of the Malakand Pass and in the Relief of Chitral. He returned to the UK in 1895 and was appointed to the role of Adjutant for the 2nd Volunteer Battalion. He was promoted to Captain in 1895 then Major in 1903. Murray resigned his commission in 1904 after 20 years service. Condition: The condition of the dirk is very fine with minor wear as can in be seen in the photos. The pommel stones are in excellent original condition with no cracks, chips or interference to the mount housings. One stud is missing from the front of the main dirk haunch base and two from the upper part of the grip of the fork. The sgian dubh is in fine condition with some mottling to the blade. The storage box is in a fine state of preservation. The steel dirk blade retains its polished finished with minor light stains in a few places.