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Page 4 of 42
  • Nation : Chinese
  • Local Price : £4995
Click and use the code >25749 to search for this item on the dealer website Wonderful Samurai Sword Wakazashi Circa 1600 Mounted with a Fully Matching Original Edo Suite of Kiri 桐, The Japanese Empress Tree Design Mounts of Very High Quality, In Exceptional Overall Condition
  • Nation : Japanese
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >24340 to search for this item on the dealer website Most Handsome Shinto O-Tanto, Around 300 years Old Circa 1720 With a Most Impressive and Beautiful Large Blade Used As A Powerful Close-Combat Small Sword and Suitable as a Post Combat ´Head Cutter´
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4,950.00
Royal Victorian General Officers Sword – Prince Arthur. Royal Victorian General Officers Sword belonging to Prince Arthur. Arthur William Patrick Albert was Queen Victoria favourite son and became Duke of Connaught and Strathearn in 1874. He entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in 1866 and did well in the army, becoming full general in 1893 and field marshal in 1902. He served in Egypt in 1882, commanding the 1st Guards Brigade at Tel el Kebir. The Sword Levee pattern with flat solid blade, etching includes monogram AWP below the coronet for a younger son and brother of a blood royal – Fairbains Crests – to the reverse is the royal garter with same crown above plus VR in a shield. By Wilkinson Sword London number 19350 and complete with matching brass scabbard.
  • Nation : Japanese
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >22873 to search for this item on the dealer website A, Fabulous Samurai Sword, A Most Fine Shinto Wakizashi By Omni Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro Circa 1660.
  • Nation : Japanese
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >25647 to search for this item on the dealer website Fabulous, Museum Grade Signed, Antique, Samurai O-Tanto, Shinto Period. All Original Edo Fittings, Goto School. Absolutely Impeccable Blade Showing Fine Original Edo Polish & Displaying It&#acute;s Excellent Gunome Hamon. Overall An Incredibly Handsome Sw
  • Nation : Japanese
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >24380 to search for this item on the dealer website Simply Stunning Edo Period Mighty Samurai Armour and Helmet Piercer Tanto, Around 250 Years Old. An Absolute Beautiful Example of Samurai Sword Artistry & Skill
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >21852 to search for this item on the dealer website Superb & Very Rare Original Grouping, 5th to 7th Century Roman & Goth Period ´Ceremonially Folded´ Sword, From a Pagan Ritual, A Warrior or Legionary´s Spartha Sword, and War Shield Mounts
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >23559 to search for this item on the dealer website Personalised & Named Naval Sword of an 1804 Naval Hero Commodore of a British East Indiaman Fleet & His Original Framed Portrait
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >25721 to search for this item on the dealer website Beauty! Scottish Regt. Issue ´Tower Of London´ GR Crown ´Brown Bess´ Musket of the Napoleonic Wars, Peninsular War & Waterloo With Bayonet. Scottish Regimental Markings for Renfrewshire Regt. Then Transferred To The 42nd Foot the
  • Nation : Japanese
  • Local Price : £4950
Click and use the code >23481 to search for this item on the dealer website Most Beautiful Original Edo Period Shinto Samurai Wakizashi by Echizen ju Kozuke no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada, A Sword Maker Deemed SaijÅ
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4,750.00
Fine Cup Hilt Rapier. Ref X3378. A Fine Cup Hilt Rapier. 51&157; overall, 41&157; slender flattened diamond section blade with deeply struck bladesmith´s mark of The Lion of St. Mark in a square on the ricasso. Steel hilt comprising deep cup guard, the outer face pierced & chiselled with a symmetrical arrangement of tight scrolls of foliage, boldly flanged brim pierced with a running pattern of foliage & mythical beast heads, a pair of tapering scroll chiselled straight steel quillons with fluted moulded terminals,&194;&160; knuckle-guard en suit, solid pommel of flattered oval form deeply chiselled with a hunting scene or cavalry battle. The grip bound with plaited wire between Turks heads. Circa 1600-20&194;&160; Very fine Spanish rapier in good condition.&194;&160; See Wallace Collection Nos A589 & A619 for similar pommel and A647, A651& A653 for similar pierced bowl.&194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)
  • Nation : Chinese
  • Local Price : £4750
Click and use the code >24840 to search for this item on the dealer website Rare, Archaic Chinese Warrior´s Bronze Jian Sword, Engraved with Seal Script, Around 2,300 to 2,800 Years Old, From the Zhou Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, Including the Period of the Great Military Doctrine ´The Art of War´ by General Sun-
  • Nation : Japanese
  • Local Price : £4750
Click and use the code >24556 to search for this item on the dealer website Wonderful 500 Year Old Koto Period Samurai ´Dragon´ Wakizashi Samurai Short Sword, Another Absolute Beauty From Our latest collection
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4750
Click and use the code >21865 to search for this item on the dealer website Stunning, Historical, Napoleonic War&#acute;s Period, 1796 Pattern Officer´s Combat Sword of William A. Cuninghame, of the 95th
  • Nation : Italian
  • Local Price : £4,650.00
Venetian Broadsword Schiavona c 1720. Venetian Broadsword Schiavona c 1720 super quality with Austrian broadsword blade engraved with crown double headed eagle and script, large central fuller extending to the point. The iron basket-guard of characteristic type incorporating thumb-ring and forward-swept rear quillon, brass shield-shaped pommel decorated on both sides and the grip with wire binding. Overall length 111cm the blade 95cm
  • Nation : ?
  • Local Price : £4,650.00
Continental 17th Century Horse Whip Flintlock Pistol. Continental 17th Century Horse Whip Flintlock Pistol with two stage barrel leading to a decorative enlarged muzzle to which the leather plaited whip is attached, please note this is a later replacement. The exposed flintlock action is in working order and is engraved with the word TONTAINE. The grip is brass with floral and line decoration which reduces in diameter towards the flintlock action, overall length 21.75 inch For reference please see Firearms Curiosa by Lewis Winant.
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4650
Scottish Basket Hilted Sword of “Irish” type dating to the second quarter of the 17th century.   The original scabbard mouthpiece has a moulded brim at the top and a fretted base. The chape is decorated with lines and scallops at the edge. The scabbard is stitched along the middle of the inner side and retains its two scalloped iron suspension mounts on the outer side which are of early form. The scabbard tip has been reinforced at its join with the chape. The scabbard retains remnants of its original lined decoration.     The double-edged blade is of lenticular section and gently tapers to its tip. It has a double fuller which extends for 8 inches (20 cm) from the hilt each containing the armourers’ marks of ANDRIA FARARA separated and flanked by crosses now deep in the patination and unclear. An incised running wolf mark is present just beyond the fuller terminals on each side. The shoulders of the blade slot into a shallow aperture purposely cut to secure the blade underneath the cross hilt. The hilt resembles the basket guards of a number of Scottish swords illustrated in Cyril Mazansky's “British Basket-Hilted Swords” (Boydell Press 2005), and in particular references D9, D10, D10a and D10b on pages 80 to 82. These swords have similar hilt structures and engraved line patterns to the frontal guard panels and side guards. These swords are housed in various important collections including Blair Castle in Perthshire, the Marischall Museum in Aberdeen, and The Royal Armouries. Two further similar swords housed in the National Museums of Scotland, are illustrated in John Wallace, Scottish Swords & Dirks, 1970, Arms and Armour Press, figs 23 and 25. For a further in depth examination of this sword type see: Stuart C Mowbray, “British Military Swords”, Mowbray Publishers, 2013,  section 10 entitled “The So-Called Irish Hilt Sword, pages 110 to 126, for examples similar to our sword, particularly that shown on pages 114 and 115. The blade is just over 33.5 inches (85 cm) long and the overall length of the sword is 39.25 inches (99.5 cm).
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4500
English Silver Hilted Officer’s Sabre by John Carman (II) of London with hallmarks for 1754 / 1755.. This fine officer’s sabre was once part of the Lattimer Collection and is published in Daniel D Hartzler “Silver Mounted Swords – The Lattimer Family Collection”, 2000, Josten's Printing Company, fig 130, page 68. An old collection reference number is painted in white on the blade near the hilt. See also the same sabre illustrated in Daniel D Hartzler, American Silver-Hilted and Early Federal Swords According to Their Geographical Areas of Mounting, Volume II, 2015, in the section on “Imported Swords”, fig 625, page 690. The hilt and curved fullered blade are of British mid-18th century individual proto-military / regulation type. The hilt is formed from a base made as a convex  heart shaped dish with a strengthened brim from which the knuckle bow rises to a swollen hook terminal which fixes into the pommel front. The knucklebow is supported by a single scrolling secondary guard bar which protects the outside of the right hand of the user. The globose pommel has an integral button on top and a pronounced neck beneath. The baluster shaped grip is covered with a decorous binding consisting of different thicknesses of straight and roped silver wire. The grip has a cone-shaped ferrule at its base. The dish guard has a wristguard with a swollen downward facing terminal. The knucklebow is clearly stamped with London hallmarks and the stamp of John Carman. The curved blade has a short ricasso and a broad central fuller extending for most of the blade length with a narrower fuller underneath the spine of the blade for almost the same length. The John Carman that made this hilt was the second cutler and silversmith of that name working in London in the first half of the 18th century. His father was the first who died in 1741. John Carman (II) was born in 1721 / 2 and was indentured to his father for seven years from 1736. He was sworn free by servitude of the Cutlers’ Company in 1743 and registered his first maker’s mark at Goldsmith’s Hall in London in 1748. John Carman (II) was a successful businessman and sword maker. He rose through the ranks of the Cutlers’ Company to become Master for 1761-2. He died in 1764. The length of the blade is 31.25 inches (79.5 cm). The overall length is: 37.25 inches (94.5 cm). The hilt of this sabre is somewhat similar in structure to a more complex and decorous silver spadroon hilt by the same maker hallmarked for 1755 / 1756 which sold at Bruneau Auctions in their sale of April 9th, 2022 lot, 82 (hammer price $10,000).
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4500
Scottish Basket Hilted Sword dating to circa 1730-1740. A fine Scottish basket hilted sword dating to the second quarter of the 18th century. The sword is a nicely contoured example of this distinctive sword type. The hilt is forged from thick structural rounded bars and plates. The single edged blade is a finely forged example with a double fuller most likely of Solingen manufacture The basket guard is finely forged into its elegant profile. The two main frontal guard panels are decorated in traditional style, with vertical and horizontal  border lines incised into the exterior surfaces towards the panel edges to form squares. Inside these squares a circle is pierced into the centre. The panels are then further decorated with four flanged heart shapes which surround the centre circles. Further circles are pierced into each corner of the squares. The smaller, secondary guard plates to the sides, and the knucklebow plate to the front, are finished in similar style. The cone-shaped pommel has a waisted button on top and is decorated with four pairs of incised double lines, equally spaced apart, 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 to secure the structure. The blade shoulders are secured in a chiselled groove in the cross guard bar underneath the hilt which retains its scrolled wrist guard. The spirally grooved wooden baluster shaped grip is covered with shagreen and bound with wire. The hilt also has a full leather liner covered with red cloth on the outside and stitched with a blue silken hem. The tapering single edged blade is of fine quality. It has a  ricasso which extends 1.5 inches (4.0 cm) from the hilt. A short bold fuller extends for the length of the ricasso just inside the blunt edge of the cutting side of the blade. A further bold fuller runs underneath the spine from the hilt and terminates  25.5 inches (65 cm) along after which the blade is double edged to the the tip. A second fuller commences a short distance from the hilt runs underneath the first. The blade is just under 32 inches (81.25 cm) long. 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, particularly that shown on page 137, figs 11 and 12, which is a robust hilt of similar profile lacking fretted edges to the guard panels. See also Cyril Mazansky, “British Basket-Hilted Swords”, The Boydell Press, 2005, page 106, fig F12, for a sword in a private American collection and pages 115, fig F15h, and page 116, fig F16, for swords in the Marischal College in Aberdeen, all of which have plain unfretted edges to the guard panels. The overall length of the sword is 37.5 inches (95 cm) long.
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4,450.00
General Officers Sword Blue & Gilt 1803, very fine. SN 9055. A Very Fine 1803 Blue & Gilt General Officer´s Sword. 38&157; overall, 32&157; curved fullered blue & gilt blade with etched panels for its full length, on the right hand side from the tip: blue & gilt foliage with etched partitions, etched oval with foliage incorporating roses, shamrocks & thistles, below that deeply etched and engraved post 1801 Royal Coat of Arms above elaborate trophy of arms. The obverse with elaborate trophy of arms above an engraved tablet with Crown GR above an engraved standing figure of Britannia. The gilt brass hilt with Crown over ´GR´ on the knucklebow, leaf shaped stool, the lions head pommel with long haired mane, finely chequered ivory grip.&194;&160; In its gilt brass mounted black leather scabbard, with elaborate engraved fitting with pierced scrolling foliate edges, top mount engraved with lictor´s rods, a trophy of arms and laurel victor´s wreath, engraved frog stud, the middle mount with a band of lictor´s rods, the chape engraved with scrolling foliage and cornucopia surrounding a classical trophy of arms, the reverse with scrolling tendrils of bell flowers. &194;&160;Circa 1810&194;&160; A sword of the highest quality, unusually not signed by the maker or cutler. In fine condition, blueing faded a little on both sides, scabbard in very good condition.&194;&160;&194;&160; (This item is registered for the ´less than 10% by volume´ exemption to the Ivory Act 2018 and therefore we are legally allowed to sell it 2ESNK7L9&194;&160;) UK sale only - NOT FOR EXPORT.&194;&160; Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)
  • Nation : Japanese
  • Local Price : £4450
Click and use the code >24184 to search for this item on the dealer website Beautiful Antique Edo Period Wakizashi Samurai Short Sword, With a Fabulous Quality Botanical Shakudo Gold and Silver Takebori Mounts & Tsuba
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4,250.00
Naval Flintlock Flare Gun by North, Rare. SN X3061. A Rare Naval Flintlock Flare Gun by North. 23&157; overall, 7 1/2&157; round brass 1 &194;&188;&157; bore barrel, engraved ´Royal Exchange London´ with London Proofs & Foreigners mark. Brass rounded 1755 pattern lock plate with Crown GR & inspector´s mark, ´E. North 1763´ on tail, stamped internally with Crown over ´2´ &194;&160;inspector´s mark and ´VII´ on lock edge, main spring & sear. Swan neck cock & brass pan. Walnut full stock with hand rail butt, with ordnance pattern brass mounts comprising brass trigger guard, butt plate & wrist escutcheon. Brass tipped ramrod. Dated 1763&194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; &194;&160; Very rare, never seen another, Ordnance Pattern brass locks are extremely rare. Edward North II apprenticed to his father 1754, & free of Gunmakers Co 1761,Lt in HAC, maker to Hudson Bay Company. Images courtesy of West Street Antiques (https://antiquearmsandarmour.com/)
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4250
Mid 18th Century British Dragoon Basket Hilted Sword with a “G R” Cypher on the blade by HARVEY. An impressive example of a horseman's basket hilted back sword made for an Officer, or Trooper, of a North British / Scottish Regiment of Dragoons towards the middle and third quarter of the 18th century. These swords were issued by the Board of Ordnance and were manufactured in the Scottish manner. The type was first issued in the second quarter of the 18th century and used during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, Britain's wars in Europe and the French Indian War in North America and the American Revolutionary War. The blade is of fine quality stamped “HARVEY” and incised with the royal Cypher of King George II or III. The sword is a rare survivor, well preserved and in undamaged condition, as is visible in the photographs. The fully formed basket is pierced with hearts and circles in the main front and side panel guards which are also finely fretted at the edges with chevrons and merlons. One of the more usual frontal guard plates has been replaced in the hilt design with an oval ring in the “horseman” fashion. The arms of the guard are forged onto a circle of iron into which the base of the bun shaped pommel sits. The pronounced button is integral with the pommel and not of separate manufacture. The original spirally fluted grip is of hardwood with a shagreen cover, and retains its twisted brass wire binding. The hilt retains its leather buff coloured liner. The imposing fine quality tapering blade is just under 36 inches long (just over 91 cm) and made by HARVEY of Birmingham, a noted contractor to the British Board of Ordnance at the time, and typical of this heavy blade type. The blade is intended mainly for striking downwards at opposing infantry soldiers and cavalry with great force and reach. The blade has a thick spine and is double edged for the last 13 inches (33 cm) towards the point after the fuller terminates and the back edge has been sharpened to the tip. It has a short ricasso from which three conjoined broad fullers extend along the blade for an inch from the hilt (2.5 cm). A broad fuller commences 5 inches (13 cm) from the blade and tapers to the tip.  From the same place a narrower deeper fuller runs underneath the spine on both sides until the blade becomes double edged. The space between the two sets of fullers is engraved on both sides with the “G R” Cypher with crown above, and “HARVEY” beneath. Although many swords of this type survive with blades of shorter length, the majority of these have been shortened during their working lives. This blade retains its original length. Overall the sword is in fine condition. For a further example of this sword type see Cyril Mazansky, British Basket-Hilted Swords, Boydell Press / Royal Armouries, 2005, plate F1e page 97, for a sword in the National Museums of Scotland, collection reference LA33.
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4250
English Civil War Period Mortuary Sword Circa 1640-1660. An attractive English “Mortuary” sword with a pierced and chased hilt dating to the middle part of the 17th century and the English Civil War and Protectorate periods. The hilt is of typical form consisting of a broad boat-shaped guard plate from which three curved primary guard bars, the knuckle bow and two side guard bars, extend upwards ending in flattened angled terminals screwed through eyelets into the pommel with loop headed screws. Two downward facing secondary guard bars emanate from each side of the knuckle bow near its middle and join the base of each side guard bar to strengthen the structure. The guard plate is covered with chiselled decoration to the outside consisting of a roundel surrounding the tang aperture engraved with foliage. The roundel is surrounded by a band pierced and chiselled inside with wigged heads at each quarter separated by pierced designs of foliage and the heads of beasts. This is surrounded by a plain band. The upturned prow of the guard plate is chiselled with scales. The secondary guard bars to the front are chiselled with simple linear features to the middles. The pommel is globular in shape and has an integral button on top and a  pronounced flared neck beneath. It is also chiselled with four wigged heads separated by foliate panels. The spirally grooved wooden grip is wrapped with different thicknesses of twisted steel wire and has steel woven “Turks’ Heads mounted top and bottom. The grip base sits on an iron flanged plug mounted onto the inside of the guard plate from which two langets extend through the tang aperture to flank the blade either side for a short distance from the hilt. The single-edged blade has a pronounced ricasso extending for 1.5 inches (4 cm)  from the hilt. At the front a deep narrow fuller runs from the hilt underneath the blunt edge of the ricasso on the cutting side of the blade. At the back a fuller runs from the hilt underneath the spine of the blade to a distance of 7 inches (18 cm) from the tip after which the blade is double edged. A further broad shallow fuller runs from the end of the ricasso along the middle of the blade to its tip. A Blade Maker's stamp of a crown over a crest is applied to one side of the blade in the ricasso. A short distance from the ricasso two counter facing orb and cross marks are applied inside the shallow middle fuller. Between these stamped at the diagonal in capital letters is “CLEMENS” with “SOLIGEN” beneath and “MEFECIT” with “SOLIGEN” beneath enhanced by scrolled engraving.  Clearly the blade was made in Solingen by a bladesmith called Clemens. Solingen in Germany was an important manufacturer of blades for use in the English Civil War and huge numbers were imported into Britain during this period for use by both Royalist and Parliamentarian sides. The blade is 32.75 inches long (83 cm) and overall the sword is 39 inches (99 cm) long. For further examples of Mortuary swords see Stuart C Mowbray's “British Military Swords”, Mowbray Publishing, 2013, in the section dedicated to Mortuary Swords, pages 178 to 225. And see Cyril Mazansky, British Basket Hilted Swords, Boydell Press 2005, Chapter 11, pages 233 to 280. The sword is in good original condition overall with some light “salt and pepper” pitting to the blade. The hilt is firm and in good shape with a couple of small minor cracks and slight damage to one of the pommel screws and one of the eyelets.
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4250
Click and use the code >25355 to search for this item on the dealer website Wonderful, Museum Piece. A Rare, Ancient Bronze and Iron Incredibly Long, High Status, Combat Cavalry Sword. 36 Inches Long. A Finely Engraved ´Eared´ Bronze Hilt With a Long Iron Back Sword Blade. Around 3200 Years Old
  • Nation : Austrian
  • Local Price : £4250
Click and use the code >25313 to search for this item on the dealer website Fine French Consular Period Sabre of A Cavalry Officer, With ´Marengo´ Hilt. A Sabre D´Officier De Cavalrie Legere, By Repute, Said To Be The Privilege of Officer´s To Wear That Served At the Battle Of Marengo, Personally, With Nap
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £4000
Late 17th century Silver Mounted Hanger by Thomas Vicaridge of London with slave trade associations. An important hanger by the accomplished cutler and silversmith Thomas Vicaridge of London. The hanger is distinctive because of its blackamoor head pommel which means the hanger probably has slave trade associations. The hanger is featured in Howard L Blackmore, “The blackamoor swords”, Royal Armouries Yearbook, Volume 3, 1998, pages 74 and 75, Figs 14a and b. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries when swords were a popular weapon for gentlemen, hangers were a robust secondary side arm used for self-defence when hunting and travelling. They were also used in parts of the British Army and Navy. Hangers appear in some military portraits of the time. The high quality hanger described here was a gentleman's weapon. The knuckle bow is stamped with Thomas Vicaridge's first pre-Britannia maker's mark of “T V” in raised relief inside a shield, with a three point crown above and a pellet below, which dates the hanger to 1682 to 1697. Vicaridge lived in exciting times as London was remodelled in the decades after the turbulence of the Civil War period, the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666. The city was more outward looking, international trade was growing, military success was being achieved abroad and more interest and investment was being expressed in art and culture. Vicaridge was one of the leading craftsmen of his day and the quality of his work represents the styles and fashions of late 17th and early 18th century Baroque London. The hilt is comprised of a bold faceted quillon block with a downward facing flattened circular rear quillon pierced and chased with a cherub's head on top of a double scroll. The knuckle bow is of flattened oval section and swollen in the middle where it is pierced with a foliate panel inside a cartouche on each side. The pommel cap is scalloped around its folded edge which envelopes the natural stag antler grip with its pronounced “V” shaped groove on top. The pronounced blackamoor head sits prominently in this groove protected by its sides. The terminal of the knuckle bow is fixed into the pommel rim with the tip placed into the mouth of the blackamoor to emulate the playing of a musical instrument. The grip has a silver ferrule at its base with a scalloped edge. Thomas Vicaridge completed his apprenticeship with Joseph Jones, a London Cutler, on 25th April 1682 when he was sworn “Free” upon completion of his term of servitude at a well-attended meeting at Cutler's Hall. Until 1697, along with other silversmiths, Vicaridge used his own mark as described above and stamped it onto this sword. Two examples of this mark are struck onto a copper plate still preserved at Goldsmith's Hall in London. In 1697, with the advent of the Higher, or “Britannia”, Standard for silver, smiths were required to record a new punch mark bearing the first two initials of their surnames. As a result, Vicaridge recorded the mark “VI” with a crown above and pellet below inside a shield. This mark was used from 1697 onwards until his death in 1715. Only a few surviving edged weapons by this maker are known and all are of high quality. The slightly curved single edged blade is 20 inches long (51 cm) and is forged with a short ricasso and a wide shallow central fuller which extends from the hilt almost to the pointed tip on both sides. A narrower, deeper fuller runs from the hilt underneath the blunt back edge for four fifths of the blade length after which it is double edged for the remainder of its length to the tip. The sword is in good condition and has survived the centuries well. The hilt has retained its attractive shape and contours. There is some wear to the blade which has a consistent layer of light pitting. There are two stamps both on one side of the knuckle bow. One is located underneath the central cartouche and is discernible whilst the remains of the other located above the cartouche is just realisable but only in light of examination of the first. Swords and other valuable ornaments were produced featuring blackamoor heads as exotic adornments for European nobility for centuries before our hanger was made by Vicaridge. In his paper published in 1998 Howard L Blackmore explored the subject of “The blackamoor swords”. In the last part of this study he describes four English silver hilted hangers of the late 17th century with blackamoor heads which he thought at the time was the entire known population. He describes these as the “last of their kind” at a time when the blackamoor had lost much of its mystical appeal and after which it did not appear again in the same manner as it did in the past. By the end of the 17th century black Africans were reduced to being perceived more as slaves and trade cargo. In his conclusion he suggests in explanation for the swords that they may have been made for members of a secret society or bizarre club in London that used the blackamoor head as its emblem. This is unlikely. Figure 15 illustrated by Blackmore shows a sword by Thomas Vicaridge which he dates to around 1700. Significantly the middle of the knuckle guard has a royal bust with a crown above which undoubtedly represents an English monarch. This is not a one-off. A similar bust appears on another sword by Thomas Vicaridge with a blackamoor head pommel recently sold through our business. There were probably many more made which have not survived. The link between the royal bust and the blackamoor head should be explored further. The ruling monarchs of England held a monopoly on the British slave trade through the Royal African Company that lasted from 1660 to 1698. Vicaridge's mark on the sword we recently sold dates to 1682 to 1697. Blackmore dates his Figure 15 to “about 1700” indicating that the date is uncertain.  The hanger is described as in a private collection and is not available for examination. It is probable that both hangers were worn as symbols by employees and others to affirm their association with the Company, engaged because of the Crown's involvement in the slave trade, either before or after the monopoly was opened up, and English merchants were allowed access to this business. The bust together with the blackamoor pommel seems sufficient to establish a connection between both these hangers and royal patronage of the slave trade. Subsequently is follows that hilts mounted with the blackamoor heads and not stamped with the royal busts have the same association. The sword featured here is illustrated in Figure 14a and b by Blackmore. However, there are errors in his description. Blackmore dates the sword by its hallmarks to 1702 yet none are present and he does not acknowledge the presence of Vicaridge's pre-Britannia stamp on the knucklebow. Of the four “blackamoor” hangers in Blackmore's paper three are complete and one is a detached grip. So five hilts of this type are now known. Blackmore assumed that the swords may not have all been made by Vicaridge. However, of the population of five, three are known to be by Vicaridge. The marks on the other two are probably too worn to identify a maker or have not been examined well enough. However, the workmanship involved in these two hilts is so similar to the other three blackamoor swords by Vicaridge, and other surviving swords by Vicaridge with more usual pommels, that we can reasonably assume he made all of the blackamoor pommel silver hilted hangers. Some of these other surviving hangers with more usual pommels are discussed in a paper by Leslie Southwick published in the Royal Armouries Yearbook (Volume 5 in 2000) alongside other swords by Vicaridge. The styles of grip, ferrules, guards and quillon terminals are notably similar to the blackamoor pommel group. Taking into account all of the above, production of these blackamoor pommel hangers can be tied to a short time period at the very end of the 17th century and it would seem that Vicaridge alone was specifically commissioned to make these hangers for reasons and by people now unknown who were associated with the slave trade.
  • Nation : German
  • Local Price : $3995.00
Fine Quality German Rapier, ca. 1640. Featuring quality chiseled steel hilt consisting of large down-turned reverse quillon, smaller forward scroll quillon, a shell-shaped downward-angled plate (slightly damaged) extending from the quillon block, large asymmetrical side ring joining the knuckle bow, which is screwed to the ovoid pommel; chiseled ensuite with acanthus on the reverse quillon, side ring, shell plate, knuckle bow, and pommel. Thumb ring on reverse. High quality grip wrapped with several sizes of twisted iron wire and finished with Turks heads top and bottom. Straight, double-edged 35 ½” blade of diamond section, with 6″ double fullers bearing a partially obscured inscription which appears to show the maker's name of Caspar Meiershofer on one side. Meiershofer is recorded as working in Passau. The metal partially cleaned and mostly smooth with minor pin-prick pitting and age staining. Tight and well- balanced. Overall length 41 1/2″.
  • Nation : Italian
  • Local Price : $3995.00
Italian 6-ring Rapier, ca. 1620. In the first quarter of the 17th Century, Italian swordsmiths made a number of rapiers with multi-ringed hilts. The number of rings generally was between four and seven, with seven being the most common. The iron bars that made up the rings were generally of round, rectangular, or oval section and also comprised the knuckle guard and quillons. This example features a 6-ring hilt of rectangular-section bars, with the main guard composed of six concentric rings expanding upward and outward from the bottom of the large pas d’ane. The opening encompassed by the smallest ring is fitted with an iron clamshell plate incised with lines and pierced with rectangular openings (minor damage). Vertically recurved quillons, expanding slightly toward the terminals. The uppermost ring has bars extending outward to join the reverse quillon on one side and the knuckle guard on the other on both the obverse and reverse sides. Spherical pommel with button; grip wrapped with fine twisted iron wire, finished with Turks heads top and bottom. Slender 47 1/4” (120 cm) blade of flattened hexagonal section with short central fuller, showing remains of an inscription and an incised running wolf mark on one side. Metal with dark brown rust patina, the blade moderately pitted, with several edge nicks. Overall length 52 1/4” (133 cm).
  • Nation : -
  • Local Price : $3995.00
Cased Pair of Percussion Pistols, ca. 1850. Featuring unmarked browned rifled 7 1/2” octagonal Damascus twist barrels of approximately .69 caliber. Locks with tear-drop shaped lock plates and hammer finely engraved with acanthus decoration. Walnut half stocks with checkered wrists and nickel silver mounts comprising trigger guard, barrel pin and escutcheon, ramrod thimble, and butt caps with hinged percussion cap storage. Original green baize-lined mahogany case with vacant brass round escutcheon, and brass lock with key. Original accessories include copper and brass powder flask, single-cavity bullet mold, combinationcleaning rod and bullet worm, nipple wrench, and screw driver. Very good quality and condition, showing very little use; the case with a few scratches. Overall length of pistols 13 1/4” (33.7 cm); case dimensions 15 3/8” (39 cm) long, by 9 3/4” (24.8 cm) wide, by 2 1/4” high (5.7 cm). Case, pistols, and accessories have no markings, but one tin of percussion caps is German and the set was recently obtained in Germany.
  • Nation : British
  • Local Price : £3,995.00
Rare 17th Century Flintlock Blunderbuss by Blanckle. Ref 9267. A Fine Rare 17th Century Flintlock Blunderbuss by Blanckle. 15&157; overall, 7 3/8&157; two stage copper alloy barrel engraved with acanthus at the flared muzzle & in front of the turned girdle, border engraved octagonal breech becoming polygonal, signed in capitals &194;&160;´I. Blanckle´ along the top flat & decorated with strawberry foliage, a line of wrigglework at the rear, & struck with London proof marks & barrelsmith´s mark, probably of John Blanckle, foliate engraved tang , border engraved rounded lock signed in capitals & decorated with strawberry foliage issuing from the mouth of a male profile head, engraved cock. Walnut moulded figured full stock with drop shaped apron around the barrel tang, copper alloy mounts comprising pierced foliate scroll side plate engraved with beadwork, escutcheon engraved with a male portrait bust wearing a cap against a finely dotted ground, rounded pommel cap engraved with a flower head centred on the retaining screw & with a border of repeated foliage, trigger guard with pointed finial & engraved with scrolling foliage issuing from the mouth of a monster head, baluster ramrod pipe, later capped wooden ramrod. Late 17th century.&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; Blunderbuss of this age are very rare, this example restocked with a later side plate & replaced mainspring, John Blanckle (also Blanckley, Blanckly and Blankley) was apprenticed to Thomas Towle and turned over to Thomas Cox in 1699. He was free of the London Gunmakers´ Company in 1677. He was Contractor to Ordnance between 1682 and 1700, the year of his death.&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&194;&160;&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; Provenance Professor David Weaver Collection.&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 : German
  • Local Price : $3995.00
Late 16th C Landsknecht Dagger and Scabbard, Probably German. Iron hilt with down-turned lobed guard incised with foliage (brazed copper repair). Ribbed wire-wrapped wood grip broadening toward the pommel and capped with a lobed disc with button; undisturbed peen. Double-edged 11 1/2” diamond-section blade with stamped cross and orb mark on the ricasso. Extremely rare original scabbard made of wood and covered with green textile and decorative pierced sheet iron cover with belt loop; the tip with large ovoid disc and button. Scabbard fitted for side knife, now absent. Blade with scattered pitting and rust marking. Overall length 16”, not including scabbard.
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