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 : German
Local Price : $3,995.00

Spanish Swept Hilt Rapier, Early 17th C. Featuring hilt of flattened oval bars, comprising large pas d’ane with upturned side-ring extending from its base on the obverse, recurved quillons each widening toward the end, knuckle-guard with bird’s head terminal, faceted fig-shaped pommel with tang button, and octagonal-section grip bound with twisted iron wire and finished with Turk’s heads top and bottom. Slender, 41 1/2″ (105.4 cm) blade of diamond section, with 9″ central fuller stamped “*JOhannes ALIch(?)**” on one side, and “*SOLInGen****” on the other; deeply stamped crown over circle over “T” on the obverse ricasso. These markings are rather confusing, as the ricasso mark is one used by Toledo smiths, not those of Solingen. While there are many German smiths with the first name Johannes (Latin form), none are recorded with last name “ALIch”, or similar. Also, the mixture of uppercase and lower case letters is very unusual, as most blades of the era were stamped with all upper case letters. Since it was common for blade signatures to be faked at the time, it would not be unusual to use several different well-recognized marks to represent quality. Overall length 47 3/4″ (121.3 cm). Metal parts with scattered pitting and even gunmetal gray patina.

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £3,950.00

An Incredibly Scarce Flintlock Grenade Launcher.. An Incredibly Scarce Flintlock Blunderbuss Grenade Launcher. With round three-stage cannon barrel, stamped ‘LONDON’ and decorated with foliage at the breech end, interestingly stamped with London proofs and also stamped with later Birmingham proofs (I have not seen this before) plain steel tang (signs of an old repair) stepped bevelled lock, signed ’Stanton’ in script, full-stocked in walnut (old repair to the wrist and above the lock – see pictures) with ‘Elephant and Castle’ escutcheon, foliate engraved butt plate, border engraved trigger guard, turned ramrod pipes, horn tipped ramrod with worm. Stanton Jonathan Apprentice to William Turvey, 1739; free of Gunmakers Co., 1747. Proof piece and mark 1754. Elected Assistant, 1761; Master 1765. Gunmaker, Nephew & Successor to William Turvey, next Furnival Inn, Holborn, from 1748. Died 1766. Dimensions: Bore: N/A Barrel Length: 14 Inches ( Overall Length: 30 inches (

Nation : French
Local Price : £3950.00

A Rare, Absolutely Stunning 1st Empire, Combat, 'Blue. & Gilt' Officer's Sabre of the Legere, Hussards, & Mounted Chasseurs. The Year IX, Circa 1810, Sabre Used by Officers of the Mounted Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard. The second example of an incredibly rare pair we acquired, but of course swords such as this were never made for combat use in pairs, so we are selling them separately. The first example we offered for sale, a few weeks ago, we immediately sold to a collector from abroad. A fabulous Ist Empire deluxe quality Light Cavalry officer's 'blue and gilt' sabre with three bar guard hilt called "Hunter-style". Maker marked blade, within the gilt under one langet, S & K for Schnitzler and Kirschbaum, a well regarded maker of swords for 1st Empire officers from December 1808. Many officers swords marked S & K are in Les Invalides Musee de l’Armee in Paris. See ref below; Light cavalry Hussars. These fast, light cavalrymen were the eyes, ears, and egos of the Napoleonic armies. They regarded themselves as the best horsemen and swordsmen (beau sabreurs) in the entire Grande Armée. This opinion was not entirely unjustified and their flamboyant uniforms reflected their panache. Tactically, they were used for reconnaissance, skirmishing, and screening for the army to keep their commanders informed of enemy movements while denying the enemy the same information and to pursue fleeing enemy troops. Armed only with curved sabres and pistols, they had reputations for reckless bravery to the point of being almost suicidal. It was said by their most famous commander General Antoine Lasalle that a hussar who lived to be 30 was truly an old guard and very fortunate. Lasalle was killed at the Battle of Wagram at age 34. There were 10 regiments in 1804, with an 11th added in 1810 and two more in 1813. Chasseurs à Cheval (Mounted Hunters) These were light cavalry identical to hussars in arms and role. But, unlike the chasseurs of the Imperial Guard and their infantry counterparts, they were considered less elite. Their uniforms were less colourful as well, consisting of infantry-style shakos (in contrast to the fur busby worn by some French hussars), green coats, green breeches, and short boots. They were, however, the most numerous of the light cavalry, with 31 regiments in 1811, 6 of which comprised Flemish, Swiss, Italians and Germans. was a cavalry composed of chasseurs but on the horse, they could ride into melee or shoot as light infantry The Mounted Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard would use this form of sword, and officers of wealth and status could afford, if they so chose, to have Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale engraved onto the sword blades back strap etc. But many chose not to. Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale constituted a light cavalry regiment in the Consular, then Imperial Guard during the French Consulate and First French Empire respectively. They were the second senior "Old Guard" cavalry regiment of the Imperial Guard, after the Grenadiers à Cheval. The regiment had its origins in the Guides raised by General Bonaparte during his Italian Campaign of 1796. It was the Chasseurs that usually provided personal escort to Napoleon, and he often wore the uniform of the regiment in recognition of this service. The regiment was not only known for its lavish uniform, but its combat history as well. On 1 August 1811, the regiment was increased to five squadrons and the vélites were done away with. During the year, squadrons were sent successively to serve with the divisions of the Garde in Spain. Guyot was promoted général de division, but still retained the command. To replace Corbineau and Daumesnil as majors, the regiment received Colonel François d'Haugéranville (6 August) and General Baron Exelmans (24 December). On 6 May 1812, General Lefebvre-Desnouettes, who had escaped by breaking his parole, returned from his captivity in England and resumed command of the regiment. The chasseurs, five squadrons and the company of Mamluks, went through the Russian campaign, but though they lost 500 men, they only had 10 officers hit. At Borodino, they had no officer casualties at all. But on 25 October, the day after the Battle of Maloyaroslavets, two squadrons, escorting the Emperor on a reconnaissance, were sharply engaged and had 4 officers wounded. A body of Cossacks appeared suddenly from a wood and charged straight at Napoleon. General Rapp and the escort managed to beat them off, but not before one had fought his way to within twenty yards of the Emperor. From this day forth, haunted by the fear of captivity, he always carried a bag of poison on a string about his neck. The regiment's losses in this campaign must on the whole be attributed not so much to the fighting as to the Russian climate. In 1813, the regiment was expanded from five to nine squadrons. The first five of these remained under the Old Guard while the newly raised 6th through 9th squadrons formed part of the Young Guard and in 1815 were redesigned as the 2e régiment de chasseurs de la Garde impériale. While Napoleon is best known as a master strategist and charismatic presence on the battlefield, he was also a tactical innovator. He combined classic formations and tactics that had been used for thousands of years with more recent ones, such as Frederick the Great's "Oblique Order" (best illustrated at the Battle of Leuthen) and the "mob tactics" of the early Levée en masse armies of the Revolution. Napoleonic tactics and formations were highly fluid and flexible. In contrast, many of the Grande Armée's opponents were still wedded to a rigid system of "Linear" (or Line) tactics and formations, in which masses of infantry would simply line up and exchange vollies of fire, in an attempt to either blow the enemy from the field or outflank them. Due to the vulnerabilities of the line formations to flanking attacks, it was considered the highest form of military manoeuvre to outflank one's adversary. Armies would often retreat or even surrender if this was accomplished. Consequently, commanders who adhered to this system would place a great emphasis on flank security, often at the expense of a strong centre or reserve. Napoleon would frequently take full advantage of this linear mentality by feigning flank attacks or offering the enemy his own flank as "bait" (best illustrated at the Battle of Austerlitz and also later at Lützen), then throw his main effort against their centre, split their lines, and roll up their flanks. He always kept a strong reserve as well, mainly in the form of his Imperial Guard, which could deliver a "knockout blow" if the battle was going well or turn the tide if it was not. The swords came to us from one of the world's foremost experts on the finest antique European weapons, and a famous collector and author on antique fine and rare swords. Original grip wire over original leather binding, only very light bruising to the scabbard, no combat damage. the blade has much mirror bright blue remaining {around 50%} with areas of blue wear, fine engraving within the blue with all the gilt remaining in the engraving, traditional three branch guard with no combat damage. Ref; 'German Knife and Sword Makers' ( Complete Edition A to Z Hardcover – published 2015 ) by Anthony Carter (Author), John Walter (Author), Henning Ritter (Author). John Walter has been a most welcome visitor to us for decades, and a very dear friend and colleague of our late colleague of over 30 years, Christopher Fox. Every single item from The Lanes Armoury 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, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £3,950

A rare English Mortuary Sword, dating to the middle part of the 17th century. A rare English “Mortuary” sword, dating to the middle to third quarter parts of the 17th century and the English Civil War, Commonwealth, Protectorate and Restoration periods. The sword is a rare hybrid type with hilt features common to both contemporary English Mortuary and Walloon swords. The hilt is of typical “Mortuary” form consisting of a broad saucer-shaped guard plate from which three main curved guard bars taper upwards ending with flattened angled terminals screwed into the pommel to secure the structure. The wide back edge of the plate is tightly scrolled downwards to create a wrist guard. The grip sits on top of a flanged plug inside the guard beneath which two short langets extend through the base to secure the blade at the ricasso on either side. Whilst of “Mortuary” type, the hilt differs from the usual form. The guard plate is chiselled on the outside with the outline of two clams, one on either side of the blade, which emulate the side guard plates of English contemporary “Walloon” swords. The insides of these areas are pierced with regular patterns of diamond, circle, and figure of eight shapes, similar to the piercings in the plates of Walloon swords. The oval panel to the front of the guard plate at the base of the knuckle bow is an extension of the plate which is also pierced in the “Walloon” manner. The guard bars are narrower but thicker than the usual flat bars of mortuary hilts. The two secondary guard bars which emit downwards from the knuckle bow either side terminate in pronounced curls which fall short of reaching the side guard bars to which they are usually fixed. Instead, the bars are joined together, and the bottom bar is joined to the plate below. The upper bar is extended to create a crescent which is fixed onto the side guard bar to secure the front and side structures. The middles of the side guard bars are swollen and bisected to create knops and whilst this feature is common, but not exclusive to English Walloon swords, it is not common on mortuary hilts. The curved rear secondary guard bars which extend downwards from the side bars to the plate near the wrist guard terminate in pronounced curls like the secondary bar terminals which emit from the front knuckle bow. The onion shaped pommel is smoothly multifaceted and has an integral button on top and a pronounced flared neck beneath with a collar. It sits on top of a baluster shaped grip with iron ferrules top and bottom bound with wire. The broad, plain, double-edged, tapering blade is imposing and of robust form. It has a short ricasso. The blade was probably made in one of the German blade making centres such as Solingen. Huge numbers of blades were imported into Britain during the Civil War period from Europe to fulfill demand for swords on both Royalist and Parliamentarian sides. Two swords described as mortuary swords, very similar in form to our sword, are illustrated in Cyril Mazansky’s “British Basket Hilted Swords”, Boydell Press 2005, on pages 245 and 246. One is in the Kienbusch Collection, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reference 1977-167-621, and the other sold through Christies London, lot 54, 7 th May 1981. Other Mortuaries with similar secondary guard arrangements are featured on pages 250 and 263. Contemporary English swords of definite Walloon type which display similar features are illustrated in Mazansky on pages 282, 283 and 284, mounted with typical teardrop wrist guards etc. Provenance: John Hardy Collection. Measurements: 34.5 inch blade (87.5 cm), 40.75 inches overall length (103.5 cm). The blade is just over 1.75 inches wide at the hilt 4.75 cm --> --> Gallery

Nation : -
Local Price : £3,900

A Scarce Royal Horse Guards Basket Hilted Back Sword circa 1750 to 1780. A fine example of a British Horseman’s Basket Hilted Back Sword made for an officer in The Royal Horse Guards as is evidenced by the subjects in surviving contemporary portraits of officers in that regiment. Whilst the hilt type is distinctive in terms of its stylistic features, a further aspect which is not conveyed by the photographs featured below, is its large size. The hilt type is one of a group of surviving swords with similar distinctive hilts which was once an Ordnance Pattern at the higher end of the quality range for British military swords. Its issue coincided with the outbreak of the Seven Years War in Europe (1756 to 1763). Simultaneously this conflict also spread to North America where it is referred to as the French and Indian War fought there between Britain and France. The sword type would have seen service in both theatres and most likely in the American Revolutionary War (1775 to 1783). The basket guard is particularly well constructed from thick robust iron bars. The form of hilt decoration is the same style as that developed earlier in the century by the leading Scottish sword makers working in Glasgow such as John Simpson (I) and Thomas Gemmill who were both Kings Armourers. These makers developed the “Glasgow” style of Scottish hilt consisting of bold, flattened, rectangular structural bars, decorated on the outside with long shallow central grooves flanked by narrower incised lines either side. The style of our sword is the same but it was probably made by Harvey in Birmingham having adopted the Glasgow style for this particular pattern of hilt. The fully formed basket retains its pleasing oval shape and is pierced with triangles and circles in the main front and side guard panels which are also finely fretted at the edges with symmetrical chevrons and merlons. One of the main frontal guard plates in traditional basket hilt design has been replaced with a “horseman’s” oval ring. An additional elaboration by Harvey to the hilt design was to apply an extra transverse bar underneath the main guard plate just above the frontal loop guard. 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 pommel is decorated with three sets of lines, similar in form to those present on the main bars of the hilt, formed as crescents. The grip is of wood covered leather bound with brass wire with iron ferrules top and bottom. Unusually this sword retains its full length single edged blade of 39.25 inches (99.5 cm). It has a short ricasso and a deep fuller running underneath the blunt back edge on each side for 22.5 inches (57 cm) after which the blade is double edged. A shallower broader fuller commences an inch or so from the hilt, runs along the middle of the blade, and tapers in proportion with the overall taper of the blade to the tip. The sword is in good condition overall with some blackened patination and age related staining. The parts of the hilt are tight together. See Robert Brooker, “British Military Pistols and Associated Edged Weapons”, Colorcraft Ltd, 2016 page 96, Figure 67 for a very similar example. Also see Richard Bezdek, “Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland”, Paladin Press, 2003, page 285 for another similar sword. --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : $3,895.00

English Silver Hilt Smallsword with Original Scabbard, ca. 1775. Exquisite cast and chased silver hilt, the shell guard pierced and depicting stands of arms amid geometric shapes and scrolling foliage. Small pas d’ane, forward and reverse scroll quillons, quillon block, knuckle bow, and spherical pommel with button decorated ensuite. Grip wrapped with alternating twisted and single-strand silver wire. Bright, hollow ground, triangular-section 34″ colichemarde blade etched with geometric design on the broad section. Original vellum-covered scabbard with matching silver throat with frog hook and chape; reverse of throat inscribed in script “Bock/Cock Spur Street/Charg. Cross” . Mark Bock (1729-82) was a London gilder, goldsmith, and silver hilt maker and sword cutler working at that address from 1774 until his death. Very fine quality and condition. Similar example illustrated and described in “Silver Mounted Swords” , by Daniel Hartzler, Fig. 114, with scabbard throat signed in similar script. Overall length 40 1/2″, not including scabbard. Swords of this type were carried by officers and gentlemen on both sides during the American Revolution, including George Washington.

Nation : Celtic
Local Price : $3850.00

A FINE CELTIC BROADSWORD C.200-100 BC. Forged iron, 36” overall length. The blade of flat unfullered section slighting rounding to the edges. Iron guard and original brass pommel. Excavated with good uniform stable oxidation. Celtic warriors were often buried with their swords which accounts for the fact that many Celtic swords are found in scabbards in various stages of decomposition. This sword was evidently lost in battle.

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £3,850.00

A Good Flintlock Duelling Pistol by H.W. Mortimer.. A Good Flintlock Duelling Pistol by H.W. Mortimer. With swamped sighted octagonal barrel, signed ‘H.W.MORTIMER. LONDON GUNMAKER TO HIS MAJESTY’ decorated with a geometric band at the breech and gold touch-hole, beautifully engraved tang fitted with rear-sight, border engraved lock, signed beneath the pan and fitted with a sliding safety catch, full-stocked in walnut, cut with crisp chequering at the grip and with characteristic Mortimer butt, original horn-tipped rammer. In good clean order overall. MORTIMER Harvey Walklate Son of Samuel Mortimer, born 1753. Apprenticed to father, 1772; free of Farriers Co., 1782; elected Assistant, 1807. Gunmaker, at Mr Greens ironmonger, 6 Kings Street., Lincolns Inn Fields, 1779; 89 Fleet Street., 1782-99. Appointed Gunmaker to George III, 1783. Contractor to East India Co., 1796-1806. Specialised in repeating pistols and gold mounted guns for the Eastern market. Advertised For the Inspection of the Curious, just finished, Three pair of Elegant Pistols, mounted in solid gold value 547 intended as a present to a foreign Prince, 1784 (Morning Herald, 20 August). Registered mark as small worker at Goldsmiths Hall, 1798. Made gold-mounted firearms set with diamonds for the U.S. Government as present for Bey of Tunis, 1801-2. Member of Law Association Volunteers, provided their muskets, 1803. His own musket in Inns of Court Museum, London. Became H. W. Mortimer, Son & T. Mortimer. Retired, 1811. Died 1819. Howard L. Blackmore (1986) Gunmakers Of London, 1350-1850. George Shumway Publisher. Dimensions: Bore: 25 Bore Barrel Length: 10 Inches (25.40 cm) Overall Length: 15 Inches (38.10 cm)

Nation : German
Local Price : $3800.00

EXTREMELY RARE GERMAN TWO HAND SWORD KRIEGMESSER, LATE 15th CENTURY. Used in Northern Italy, Switzerland and Southern Germany. See Boccia, Armi Bianci Italia , #134 for a fine Italian example. This example, discovered recently in Southern Germany, is in fact an evolution of the Gothic short sword, Bauernwehr , with the iconic side lug guard, evolved to a thickened edge hook. It is 35 ½” long with 29 ½” single edged blade and in sound excavated condition. A sword of this type was made by Hans Sumersperger for Emperor Maximillian in 1496. The Triumph of Maximillian, a wood cut series by Hans Burgkmair of about 1515 depicts the Imperial Guard in Vienna armed with these swords.

Nation : -
Local Price : £3795.00

Irish Officers Flintlock Duelling Pistol by McDermott, Fine. Ref X3608. A Fine Irish Officers Flintlock Duelling Pistol by McDermott. 17 ¼” overall, 11 ¾” sighted Damascus musket bore barrel, with gold line at breech, ‘McDermott Dublin’ on top flat, the tang decorated with a stand of arms, gold lined touch hole, border wheat ear engraved, lock signed ‘McDermott’, fully waterproof pan, swan neck cock. Half stocked with border engraved steel mounts, the spur trigger guard decorated with a stand of arms and pineapple final, silver fore-end, vacant silver escutcheon, the chequered wooden butt with silver butt cap engraved with a harp below a rising sun, horn tipped rammer with a worm. Circa 1810 Pistol in good condition, some original finish. Rising Sun above a Irish Harp may be a badge of The United Irishmen. Farrell McDermott St Mary's Abbey 1795 – 1796, 2 Abbey Street 1797 – 1810, 1 Abbey Street 1811 – 1827.

Nation : Indian
Local Price : £3795.00

Indian Army Prize Sword by Wilkinson, Very Fine. Ref X3401. A Very Fine Indian Army Prize Sword. 40” overall with 34 ½” flat etched blade. Etched to one side ‘Won by Troop Sgt Major William Busby Mayes 11th P.A.O. Hussars Delhi Camp 1871/2 . Presented by Col. C.C. Fraser C.B. and V.C. 11th P.A.O. Hussars.’ Initialled CCF and Wilkinson proof mark. To the obverse ‘For the best man-at-arms prize sword in the Bengal Army’ and with initials W.B.M. and Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall London. Blade number 1877 on the spine. Three bar light cavalry hilt with silver back strap engraved with 11th P.A.O. Hussars monogram and ‘W.B.M. from C.C.F.’. In its original steel scabbard. Circa 1872. An uncommonly fine high quality prize sword in very good condition, comes with an extensive file of provenance and research. Ex G. R. Worrell collection

Nation : -
Local Price : £3750.00

Presentation Sword to the Earl of Dudley, very fine. Ref X3403. A Very Fine Presentation Sword to the Earl of Dudley. 40” overall with 34” flat etched blade, etched on one side with foliage, Worcestershire Yeomanry badge, Earl Dudley’s crest & ‘Comme Je Fus’ (As I Was) & ‘Henry Wilkinson Pall Mall London’ on the forte . The reverse with initials under a coronet, foliage & in a tablet ‘From Keith Frazer Inspector of Cavalry To William Earl of Dudley Queens Own Worcestershire Yeomanry May 18 th 1892’. Three bar Light Cavalry hilt with backpiece embossed with Earl of Dudley coronet & initials. Numbered 31114 on back edge of the blade. Three bar light cavalry hilt with backpiece embossed with Earl of Dudley coronet and initials. Fish skin grip with twisted three strand silver wire. In its plated steel scabbard. No 31111 for 1892 A superb sword in very good condition with very extensive research documentation William Humble Ward, 12th Lord Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley & Viscount Ednam, was born 25th May, 1867, the son of William Humble Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley (2nd Creation) and Georgina, Elizabeth Moncrieffe. His first marriage was to Rachel Gurney (daughter of Charles Gurney) in 1891. She died in 1920. Amongst his many endeavours, Dudley joined the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars as a supernumerary lieutenant on 18 April 1885 and was promoted to captain on 2 June 1888 and major on 23 September 1893. he served in the Yeoman Cavalry from 1899 to 1900 and became the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade from 1895 to 1902. He travelled extensively, becoming Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1902 to 1906, and the Govenor General of Australia from 1908 to 1911. He was also active during the First World War (1914-1918) by commanding the 1st Worcestershire Yeomanry in Egypt and Gallipoli in 1915. During his life he had owned around 30,000 acres of land which included mineral deposits in Staffordshire and Worcestershire, as well as iron works and coal mines. He also had commercial interests in Jamaica. His second marriage was to Gertie Millar in 1924. He died in 1932. Lieutenant-General James Keith Fraser CMG (20 September 1832 – 30 July 1895) was a British Army officer .In 1855, he served as military attache at Viennna. He gained the rank of Colonel in the 1st Life Guards and was Inspector-General of Cavalry in Great Britain and Ireland in 1891

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £3,750.00

A Huge Flintlock Swivel Blunderbuss. A Huge Flintlock Deck Blunderbuss or Wall-Piece. With large swelling barrel flared at the muzzle, engraved LONDON stamped with London proofs and barrel smiths mark, with plain tang, plain lock signed J & W SHERWOOD ring-neck cock, figured full-stock, regulation style brass mounts, blackened iron stirrup peg mount with wooden ramrod: mounted on a custom made stand. A fine and impressive gun.

Nation : British
Local Price : £3750.00

A Most Rare & Stunningly Beautiful Imperial Russian Superior Cavalry Officer's Sword, Romanov Era, From the First Quarter to Mid 19th Century. A War Trophy of the Crimean War. Curved, bright polished single edge blade, cut with 2 fullers (one broad, one narrow), very fine brass hilt decorated throughout with laurel and acanthus leaves and foliage in relief, a knuckle bow with two bar guards, and a superb original wire bound polished horn grip, with a typically Russian form of forward slanted pommel, with pommel ball. Original Imperial Russian Romanov period officer's swords of the 19th century appear very rarely indeed, as so few survived the revolution, and when they do, if they are the very fine quality examples, they can achieve extraordinarily high prices. It is certainly possible this sword is a trophy of the Crimean War. This superb sabre would likely have seen its most combative service in the Crimea, such as at The Battle of Balaclava that is remembered in Britain for the actions of two British units. At the start of the battle, a large body of Russian cavalry charged the 93rd Highlanders, who were posted north of the village of Kadikoi. Commanding them was Sir Colin Campbell. Rather than "form square", the traditional method of repelling cavalry, Campbell took the risky decision to have his Highlanders form a single line two men deep. Campbell had seen the effectiveness of the new Minié rifles with which his troops were armed at the Battle of Alma, a month earlier, and he was confident that his men could beat back the Russians. His tactics succeeded. From up on the ridge to the west, Times correspondent William Howard Russell saw the Highlanders as a "thin red streak topped with steel", a phrase which soon became the "Thin Red Line". Soon afterward, a Russian cavalry movement was countered by the Heavy Brigade, which charged and fought hand to hand until the Russians retreated. That caused a more widespread Russian retreat, including a number of their artillery units. After the local commanders had failed to take advantage of the retreat, Lord Raglan sent out orders to move up and to prevent the withdrawal of naval guns from the recently captured redoubts on the heights. Raglan could see those guns because of his position on the hill. In the valley, that view was obstructed, and the wrong guns were in sight to the left. The local commanders ignored the demands, which led to the British aide-de-camp, Captain Louis Nolan, personally delivering the quickly-written and confusing order to attack the artillery. When Lord Lucan questioned to which guns the order referred, the aide-de-camp pointed to the first Russian battery that he could see and allegedly said "There is your enemy, there are your guns", because of his obstructed view, which were wrong. Lucan then passed the order to the Earl of Cardigan, which resulted in the Charge of the Light Brigade. The House of Romanov was the reigning imperial house of Russia from 1613 to 1917. They achieved prominence after Anastasia Romanovna married Ivan the Terrible, the first crowned tsar of all Russia. Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, and his immediate family were executed in 1918, but there are still living descendants of other members of the imperial house. Romanov 19th century history; Paul I was murdered in his palace in Saint Petersburg in 1801. Alexander I, succeeded him on the throne and later died without leaving a son. His brother, crowned Nicholas I, succeeded him on the throne in 1825. The succession was far from smooth, however, as hundreds of troops took the oath of allegiance to Nicholas's elder brother, Constantine Pavlovich who, unbeknownst to them, had renounced his claim to the throne in 1822, following his marriage. The confusion, combined with opposition to Nicholas' accession, led to the Decembrist revolt. Nicholas I fathered four sons, educating them for the prospect of ruling Russia and for military careers, from whom the last branches of the dynasty descended. Alexander II, son of Nicholas I, became the next Russian emperor in 1855, in the midst of the Crimean War. While Alexander considered it his charge to maintain peace in Europe and Russia, he believed only a strong Russian military could keep the peace. By developing the Imperial Russian Army, giving increased autonomy to Finland, and freeing the serfs in 1861 he gained much popular support for his reign. The Crimean War was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between the Russian Empire and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom, and Sardinia-Piedmont. Geopolitical causes of the war included the decline of the Ottoman Empire (the "Eastern Question"), the expansion of Russia in the preceding Russo-Turkish Wars, and the British and French preference to preserve the Ottoman Empire to maintain the balance of power in the Concert of Europe. The flashpoint was a disagreement over the rights of Christian minorities in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, with the French promoting the rights of Roman Catholics, and Russia promoting those of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Crimean War marked a turning point for the Russian Empire. The war weakened the Imperial Russian Army, drained the treasury and undermined Russia's influence in Europe. The empire would take decades to recover. Russia's humiliation forced its educated elites to identify its problems and recognise the need for fundamental reforms. They saw rapid modernisation as the sole way to recover the empire's status as a European power. The war thus became a catalyst for reforms of Russia's social institutions, including the abolition of serfdom and overhauls in the justice system, local self-government, education and military service. In excellent condition overall considering this fabulous and incredibly rare sabre’s cavaly officer has obviously seen hand-to-hand combat, thus there is very light and minuscule overall surface wear to the steel blade, but it is still very fine indeed, very bright and wonderfully polished. On the hilt’s upper section of knuckle-bow, on the inner side, there is a very fine tiny combat-stress hairline {see photo 6}. Likely caused by a combat punch action impact of the hilt against a resistant object, possibly a helmet. Blade overall 38 .75 inches long, blade 31.75 inches long. No scabbard Possibly by Schaaf & Söhne St. Petersburg. We have seen Imperial Russian, of very similar quality and design, officer’s dragoon swords, such as a later pattern St Anne’s dragoon sword for bravery, sell for up to £30,000, so relatively, this sword is most inexpensive by comparison..

Nation : Japanese
Local Price : £3750.00

An Absolutely Beautiful 17th to 18th Century, Sino-Tibetan Noble's Sword Inlaid with Coral and Torqoise Cabochons, Silver Mounts, Rayskin and Traditional Batwing Engraving Throughout. 'Maiden's Hair' Steel Blade. Continually Used Into the19th Century. Likely the sword of a Chinese or Tibetan noble or high ranking warrior. A functional combat sword yet with elements of extravagant decor, that clearly shows to high status of its owner, during the early Qing also called Ching dynasty, that followed the late Ming dynasty. Only the third such sword we have acquired of this style and quality in the past twenty years Steel hilt with silver wire bound grip, stylised traditional Chinese batwing engraved pommel and steel edged mounting bands of the scabbard, the scabbard is panelled in giant rayskin, and a bottom chape panel in repousse silver metal, with decor of swirling winds, mounted with cabouchons of torqoise and coral to one side. The scabbard also has some silver wire re-enforced binding. This a most rare, beautiful and original antique Sino-Tibetan sword. The work was primarily created in its capital, also known as Derge, now located in Sichuan, China Old original Chinese antique arms very rarely survive, and now are generally only to be seen in the biggest and best museums in China. The fittings are very much in the form popular in the south to eastern region of the old Chinese empire in the Xizang province, and Eastern Tibet. This sword is a textbook representative example of the familiar Chinese form, well made and of good quality. The blade has traces still visible of the prominent ‘hairpin’ lamination pattern, the hallmark of traditional blades of the region, consisting of seven dark lines alternating with six light lines, caused by the different types of iron that were combined during the forging process. This was formed by combining harder and softer iron, referred to as "male iron" and "female iron" in traditional ancient texts from the region, which was folded, nested together, and forged into one piece in a blade-making technique called pattern welding. The hilts are often made of engraved silver set with coral or turquoise, or in some rare instances are intricately chiseled and pierced in iron that is damascened in gold and silver. The different styles of swords that were once found in greater China can be distinguished by several basic features, which include the type of blade, the form of hilt, the type of scabbard, and how the sword was designed to be worn. Traditional texts divide swords into five principal types, each of which has a main subtype, for a total of ten basic types. These are in turn subdivided into dozens of further subtypes, many of which may, however, reflect legends and literary conventions rather than actual sword forms. A few excellent examples of arms and armour from the region can be found in museum collections today. Other types were preserved for ceremonial occasions, the most important of which was the Great Prayer Festival, a month-long event held annually in the local capitol. Historical armour and weapons were also very fortunately preserved due to the long-standing tradition of placing votive arms in monasteries and temples, where they are kept in special chapels, known as gonkhang (mgon khang), and dedicated to the service of guardian deities. Although there are representatives of the Manchus in Tibet, the region is largely left to function independently and does so for the next 200 years. Currently in one of the worlds greatest museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, there is an exhibition of Chinese & Tibetan arms and armour. Item 36.25.1464., within the exhibition, is a near identical sword, dated as 17th century, used until the 19th century, but theirs is lacking its scabbard. The Qing dynasty, officially the Great Qing pronounced Ching, was the last imperial dynasty of China and Mongolia. It was established in 1636, and ruled China proper from 1644 to 1912. The Qing multi-cultural empire lasted for almost three centuries and formed the territorial base for modern China. It was the fifth largest empire in world history. The dynasty was founded by the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan in Manchuria. In the late sixteenth century, Nurhaci, originally a Ming Jianzhou Guard vassal, began organizing "Banners", military-social units that included Manchu, Han, and Mongol elements. Nurhaci formed the Manchu clans into a unified entity. By 1636, his son Hong Taiji began driving Ming forces out of the Liaodong Peninsula and declared a new dynasty, the Qing. In an unrelated development, peasant rebels led by Li Zicheng conquered the Ming capital, Beijing, in 1644. Rather than serve them, Ming general Wu Sangui made an alliance with the Manchus and opened the Shanhai Pass to the Banner Armies led by the regent Prince Dorgon. He defeated the rebels and seized the capital. Resistance from the Southern Ming and the Revolt of the Three Feudatories led by Wu Sangui delayed the Qing conquest of China proper by nearly four decades. The conquest was only completed in 1683 under the Kangxi Emperor reign (1661-1722). The Ten Great Campaigns of the Qianlong Emperor from the 1750s to the 1790s extended Qing control into Inner Asia. During the Qianlong Emperor reign (1735-1796) the dynasty reached its apogee, but then began its initial decline in prosperity and imperial control. The population rose to some 400 millions, but taxes and government revenues were fixed at a low rate, virtually guaranteeing eventual fiscal crisis. Corruption set in, rebels tested government legitimacy, and ruling elites failed to change their mindsets in the face of changes in the world system. Following the Opium Wars, European powers imposed "unequal treaties", free trade, extraterritoriality and treaty ports under foreign control. The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) and the Dungan Revolt (1862-1877) in Central Asia led to the deaths of some 20 million people, most of them due to famines caused by war. In spite of these disasters, in the Tongzhi Restoration of the 1860s, Han Chinese elites rallied to the defense of the Confucian order and the Qing rulers. The initial gains in the Self-Strengthening Movement were destroyed in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1895, in which the Qing lost its influence over Korea and the possession of Taiwan. New Armies were organised, but the ambitious Hundred Days' Reform of 1898 was turned back in a coup by the conservative Empress Dowager Cixi. When the Scramble for Concessions by foreign powers triggered the violently anti-foreign "Boxers", the foreign powers invaded China, Cixi declared war on them, leading to defeat and the flight of the Imperial Court to Xi'an. Overall 23 3/4 inches long. A most similar example is within the Metropolitan Museum collection Object Number: 36.25.1466a, b Original surviving antique swords from China and Tibet are extremely scarce due to the Cultural Revolution in the mid 20th century in China, when 99.99% of all existing antique swords were destroyed or ordered melted down for their metal content. Of course the manufacture and sale of reproduction Chinese swords in China is a thriving market, many are intimated and sold to be old and original, but very sadly, none are.

Nation : French
Local Price : $3650.00

FINE SILVER HILTED FRENCH SMALLSWORD C.1750-60. The hilt with scalloped double shell guard, Swelled medial knuckle bow and spherical pommel. Finely decorated throughout in high relief throughout. The guard shells, in and out, knuckle bow swell quillon block and pommel, each with splays of military weapons and accouterments opposite splays of musical instruments. The knuckle bow struck with the Paris hallmark and the left shell edge with a maker’s mark. Silver wire wrapped grip. The juxtaposition of military and musical (and sometimes artistic) themes is an expression of the development of the character of the owner. Officers were chosen from the noble class and educated in the arts as well as military science. 31 ¼” hollow-faced triangular blade with its rich engraved, blued and gilt decoration bright and virtually complete with minor distress only at the forte from scabbard locket condensation. This sword dates to one of the most historic periods of French history, the Seven Years’ War which manifested itself in North America as the French and Indian War. It likely owes its survival to service in the American Revolution in which France joined 1778. Combination of quality, and condition rarely encountered.

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : £3,550

A Spanish Cup Hilted Rapier of the late 17th century. An attractive Spanish Cup Hilted Rapier dating to the late 17th century. This is an imposing weapon retaining its full length blade of 48.75 inches (124 cm). This distinctive Spanish style of hilt consists of two convex circular shell guards which protect the inner and outer hand of the user attached at the sides with conjoined radial loops of iron which complete the cup structure. The clam guards are joined with further subsidiary bars at the upper rims to the long slender quillons. The shells are chiselled on the outsides with geometric scrolls with a roundel at the middle. Three late 17th century rapiers of comparable construction mounted with similarly slender blades of stiff section can be seen in Leslie Southwick, The Price Guide to Antique Edged Weapons, Antique Collectors’ Club, 1982, page 57, figs 120, 121 & 122. The hilt type conforms to AVB Norman’s type 83 (see “The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1460-1820”, Arms and Armour Press, 1980, page 156). Norman believed that the hilt type flourished from circa 1625 to circa 1700. It appears in a portrait known as Prince d’Angri, a member of the Neapolitan branch of the Doria family, painted by Van Dyck around 1627. Norman comments further on other portraits featuring the hilt and examples in various collections. The hilt has noticeably slender quillons with swollen ribbed terminals and a long span of 12.25 inches (31 cm). The knuckle bow extends from the cross guard front to terminate with a ribbed swelling a short distance from the pommel middle. Of flattened globular section, with integral ribbed button on top and flared neck beneath, the pommel sits on top of a slightly baluster shaped oval section grip which is attractively wrapped with roped copper wire and mounted with woven copper “Turks’ Heads” top and bottom. The copper wrapping to the grip is reinforced with four iron staves. The fine quality tapering diamond section blade is of stiff construction made primarily for thrusting. It has a deep central fuller which extends for 8 inches (20 cm) from the hilt. Inside the fuller an inscription on one side reads: MI SINAL SON LES ARMAS DEL REY and on the other side: PEDRO COELLER EN SOLINGEN which loosely translates to Pedro Coeller of Solingen (presumably the blade maker) announcing that he is a maker of arms for the king. The blade passes into the grip through a rectangular aperture at the join of the shell guards, where the forte changes to a rectangular section ricasso, the top of which is secured between pointed triangular langets which face downwards from the quillon block. The rapier sits comfortably in hand and is well balanced. The surface condition is clean and good across the main iron and steel parts. The rapier retains its pleasing contours. One subsidiary guard bar which attaches the guard rim to a quillon is cracked. Otherwise the rapier is undamaged. The overall length is 56 inches (142 cm). --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £3,545.00

Scottish Officers “Pinch of Snuff”.... A rare example of a Scottish officer's "Pinch of Snuff" basket hilted sword. Double fullered, tapering steel blade that measures approximately 83.5cm in

Nation : British
Local Price : £3,500.00

English Civil War Period Mortuary.... A superb English Civil War period “Mortuary” sword. Broad double-edged blade that shows the maker's mark 'Andrea Ferrara' running along the central

Nation : British
Local Price : 3495.00 USD

Very Fine & Very Elegant Queen Anne British Silver Hilted Small Sword!. Here is a rare example of an early 18th century British silver hilted small sword from the Queen Anne Period and bearing the Queen’s Royal Initials on the blade! (a great rarity) This very fine example is one of the most detailed and beautifully designed examples that you will ever see. A true museum piece! This sword would have belonged to a staunch supporter of the Crown, either a high ranking military officer, a wealthy aristocrat or possibly a relation of the Royal Family. It is in exceptional original condition with only a few inconsequential dings and light wear as might be expected from a 300 year old sword. See photos. It has never been dismantled or re-peened and retains its original twisted silver and copper grip wraps along with its original Turk’s Head ferrules. It has 2 sets of silversmith’s touch marks: one on the counter-guards and one on the knuckle-bow (some wear) that indicate it was made 1709 – 1710 (letter date O), along with the Britannia figure, a lion’s head erased and the silversmith’s mark “WI” inside a heart which may be the mark of Charles Williams registered in 1697. (at that time it was common for silversmiths to use the first 2 initials of their sir-name) Its blade is in nearly new condition and still retains much of its original sheen. It is deeply stamped, in “olde” English style, “AR” for Anna Regina ("Anne the Queen" in Latin). The sword must have spent at least a few hundred years in its scabbard (now lost) to have survived in such fine condition. The stout, very strong blade retains its original length and never has been altered or shortened. It is about 26.5” long. The hilt is magnificent. Starting from the top down: Round pommel, with octagonal faceting, with a central belt. It sits on a double stepped neck and is topped off by a 3 tier mantle with tang button; all integrally designed. The knuckle bow nicely designed with an elongated inset diamond design, both sides and topped off by a graceful flirt. The grip beautifully wound with double strands of twisted silver wire and copper wire creating a chevron effect. All wire completely intact. Both original silver braided Turk’s head ferrules completely intact. The quillon block is exceptional. It gently flares from round to hexagonal and sits above a multi beaded base. The base plate is multi faceted in a flaring octagram design! A similar design is found on the underside of the counterguards. The elegantly detailed quillon even has a "nightcap" and terminates with a nipple! The graceful pas d'ane both branch out into 2 sections, flaring out above and below the kidney shaped counter-guards. The counter-guards both employ the same inset diamond shapes, atop and below, as does the knuckle-bow. A small graceful loop design joins the counter-guards on each end. The guard even retains its original leather washer! (sheath pad) The stout, “hollow ground” tri-foil blade measures about 1” at ricasso and is deeply stamped with Queen Anne’s Royal Initials. (very rare) Overall this sword is an exceptional example of the Queen Anne Period silversmith’s art! Through the years we have seen a few other examples of this silversmith’s small swords and they are nowhere near the exceptional design and quality of our sword. Although they were beautiful, they were of the common simpler design usually employed on swords of this period. Our sword has to be the finest example of a silver-hilted sword that this silversmith produced! Obviously made for someone very special. A similar sword, but not as nice, is illustrated in Aylward's book The Small sword in England #35. Another similar, but again not as nice, is pictured in The Rapier and Small-Sword by Norman, plate 114 and is in the Victoria and Albert Museum and still another similar example (again not as nice as ours) is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York. If you want to own the epitome of a Queen Anne silver hilted sword this is it! Price is firm. Thanks for looking!

Nation : German
Local Price : 3495.00 USD

Massive 16th Century Germanic Cutlass / Short Sword!. Here is a super rare circa 1575 - 1600 battle sword. Probably custom made for a landsknecht warrior. Made for a very large person with a giant shell guard and a very wide (just over 2 ¼”) blade. This type of shell guard hilt often used on cutlasses and Sinclair type sabers of the late 16th - early 17th centuries. However this type blade is sometimes found with a blunt tip on katzbaldgers of the 1520 – 1550 period. Entire sword is in as found, lightly cleaned condition and its massive blade is an amazing display of early hand forged metal, Damascus type lamination throughout! The original wood grip is still intact but with some losses and decay (no restorations). Wonderful cross and orb brass inlay on blade! Blade is about 24 3/4" long. About the same length as an early katzbaldger! Extreme rarity! You will never see another like this! Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Be sure to check out our other listings for more rare and important swords! Our direct email address is: fineartlimited@yahoo.com

Nation : British
Local Price : 3495.00 USD

Ex Rare 18th Century British Dragoon Basket Hilt Sword!. Here is a very rare C 1740 British heavy cavalry sword of exceptional weight! It is actually a full basket version of the so called “Irish Hilt” ¾ hilt dragoon saber. According to Cyrill Mazansky this full basket pattern does not exist. See “British Basket Hilted Swords” page 229. BUT, according to George Neumann “Swords and Blades of the American Revolution” page 150, it does! Sword is in fantastic “untouched condition” with original fish skin ferrules and braided wire Turk’s head ferrules. The basket is beautifully forged and the lap forging can be prominently seen on the inside of the basket, see photos. Both basket and blade have a wonderful gentle age patina with no pitting. Blade is about 36 1/4" long. Basket is very hefty and heavy. NO KNOWN PUBLISHED EXAMPLES! RARE!!! Price is firm. Thanks for looking. Be sure to check out our other listings for more great swords, arms and armor! Our direct email address is: fineartlimited@yahoo.com

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : £3495.00

Fine Spanish Cup Hilt Rapier. Ref 9359. A Fine Spanish Cup Hilt Rapier. 50” overall, 43” slender flattened diamond section blade with full length narrow fuller. Steel hilt comprising deep cup guard, the outer face pierced & chiselled with a symmetrical arrangement of tight scrolls of foliage, four masks with inlayed rose gold and silver inlayed scrolls with rolled brim and a running pattern of foliage & mythical beast heads, guardapolvo with pierced scrolls, a pair of twisted scroll straight steel quillons with button terminals, knuckle-guard en suit, solid pommel. The grip bound with plaited wire between Turks heads. Circa 1630 Very fine Spanish rapier in good condition.

Nation : British
Local Price : $3,495.00

Nazi Kriegsmarine Dagger of U-Boat Commander Hans-Joachim Schwarz. Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Schwarz, (1919-2013) began his naval career in 1939 in administration, but became a line officer in January, 1943. His first and only command came in June, 1944 when he was given command of the newly built U-1105, a Type VIIC U-boat commissioned on 3 June, 1944. However, the submarine did not go on patrol until it left Kiel on 2 April, 1945, only a few weeks before Germany’s surrender. U-1105 was one of only four U-boats that went on patrol with the experimental Alberich tiles, which inspired her nickname “Black Panther”. These were synthetic rubber tiles with a pattern of holes applied to the hull which would absorb and disperse sound waves, making sonar detection up to 60% less likely. They would appear to have been successful, because the U-1105 evaded detection by an Allied destroyer patrol while patrolling the convoy routes off the Irish coast in April, 1945. Three days later the U-boat detected three British destroyers and sank the Frigate HMS Redmill with two torpedoes. For the next 31 hours British patrols searched unsuccessfully for the submarine, which evaded detection until the end of the war. By the end of the war the survival rate of U-boats and their crews was very low, with a total of 765 boats lost during the war out of 1154 boats commissioned- a staggering rate of over 66% lost. Crews fared even worse, with about 28,000 killed of the 40,900 recruited, a loss rate of over 68%. After the U-1105’s surrender to the British on May 10, 1945 she was designated as the N-16 by the Royal Navy before being turned over to the United States for testing. She was sunk and re-floated several times during the testing before being sunk for the last time by a depth charge off Piney Point, Maryland in about 90 feet of water. She was re-discovered in 1985 by a team of sport divers and eventually designated as Maryland’s first historic shipwreck preserve. The dagger offered here features a near mint 10” double-edged blade with twin fullers etched with foliage, anchors, and Poseidon’s trident, and bears the Eickhorn squirrel maker’s mark on the ricasso. Hilt of standard form with gilt cast brass guard depicting anchors on the quillon block; pommel with eagle on a wreath bearing the swastika; white celluloid grip with twisted brass wire wrap. Gilt brass scabbard with twin carry rings, hand engraved “H.-J. Schwarz” at the throat. Very good plus condition, with traces of gilding in protected areas and several shallow dents on the lower part of the scabbard. Blade etching is like new. Most of the U-boat officer’s daggers are resting on the bottom of the ocean, so surviving ID’d examples are scarce.

Nation : American
Local Price : $3,495.00

High Quality ID’d US Eagle Pommel Infantry Officer’s Saber, ca. 1810. Featuring gilt brass hilt, comprising reverse scroll quillon, pierced counterguard depicting a spread-wing eagle and shield surrounded by stars, and stirrup-shaped knuckle bow connected to the “floating” eagle-head pommel. Ribbed bone grip. Deeply curved 30″ single-edged blade with single fuller; the upper half etched, blued, and gold and silver gilt with scrolling foliage, stands of arms, and Federal Shield. Original black leather scabbard with decorated brass mounts, including long drag, middle band with carry ring, and throat with carry ring and frog stud; the reverse of the throat period engraved “Nathaniel Cook/his sword” in script. The sword in very good plus condition for its age, retaining approximately 90% of its original bright bluing and gilding (bluing with some spotting); the guard slightly loose and retaining approximately 30% of its original gilding, primarily in protected areas; grip smooth and defect free. Scabbard leather is dry and flaking, with electrical tape repairs and the drag separated; mounts very good. Overall length 35 1/2″, not including scabbard. Though unmarked, this sword is almost certainly the work of Birmingham maker Solomon Jackson (active 1803-1815). This sword clearly shows the close economic ties between Great Britain and the fledgling United States on the eve of the War of 1812. Sword with identical counterguard illustrated in “The American Eagle Pommel Sword, The Early Years 1794-1830″ by E. Andrew Mowbray, p. 109, fig. 13.B Nathaniel Cook was born in Orange County, Virginia around 1776. His family later moved to Kentucky, and in 1802 he married Honour Madden in Ste Genevieve District, New France, which became part of the Missouri Territory after the Louisiana Purchase. He served in the War of 1812 as a Major in the Missouri Rangers under Henry Moses Dodge. Cook was appointed as Colonel around 1816 and commanded the 6th Regiment. In 1820 he was a member of the Missouri Constitutional Convention. He made out his will on 26 August, 1852 in Washington County, Missouri and is thought to have died shortly thereafter. Positively identified early American swords are quite scarce, especially with rare Missouri Territory history. Well worth having the leather restored on the scabbard.

Nation : -
Local Price : £3495.00

Wilkinson General Post Office Packet Boat Flintlock Pistol, Very Rare. Ref 9302. A Very Rare Wilkinson General Post Office Packet Boat Flintlock Pistol. 15 ½” overall, 9" 16 bore round brass barrel with London proof marks, flat border engraved military style lock plate stamped ‘Wilkinson’ & a crown over 2 inspectors mark, ring necked flat cock, regulation style brass mounts. With original ramrod. A Light dragoon style pistol in good condition, belt hook removed (whilst in service). Circa 1805 The General Post Office ran a small fleet of 16 armed cutters or Packet boats delivering mail to British outposts, Henry Nock and then Wilkinson had the contract to provide them with pistols. See ‘British Ordnance Single Shot Pistols’ by Davies, Chisnall and Brooks, this pistol illustrated Chapter 7 page 33. ‘Those Entrusted with Arms’ by Frederick Wilkinson, 2002. Appendix 4, pages 254-258 plus pages 125-126 for details of Nock contract. ‘The Falmouth Packets 1689-1851’ by Tony Pawlyn, 2003. ‘The Falmouth Packets’ by David Mudd, 1978. When Henry Nock died in 1804, his contract to supply these Packet Ship pistols appears to have been taken over by his successor James Wilkinson with a few ‘WILKINSON’ marked examples surviving of near identical pattern to Nock. Only a handful of these extremely rare packet ship pistols have survived. Considerably rarer than the mail pistols made by Mortimer and Harding for land use. Appendix 4 in the book ‘Those Entrusted with Arms’ by Frederick Wilkinson, lists just two of Nock packet ship pistols and none by Wilkinson (page 256) compared to 66 recorded surviving Mail Coach pistols. This is hardly surprising as there were approximately 120-140 Mail Coaches but just 16 packet ships (1808 list) operating out of Falmouth with many wartime losses of packet ships and crews. Research reveals just 5 surviving packet ship pistols by Henry Nock - the three recorded in the above books one of which in museum condition was sold by West Street Antiques in 2011, plus one excellent condition example with a belt hook in a private collection in the USA, one (without a belt hook) owned by the Postal Museum and on loan to the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

Nation : -
Local Price : $3,495.00

Unusual European Dagger, Late 17th/Early 18th C. Uniquely designed steel hilt with twin sets of vertically recurved quillons arranged in opposite directions, each with an antler-shaped finial. Single side ring with matching pierced design. Pommel decorated ensuite; the grip with its original copper wire-wrapped grip arranged in a chevron shape and finished with Turks heads top and bottom. Tapering 13 1/4″ blade of hollow-ground triangular section, engraved on both sides with foliage, geometric designs, a spread-winged eagle, and sun faces. Very good original condition; the metal generally smooth, with some very light pitting and age staining. Wear to engravings. No scabbard. Overall length 19 1/4″. A rapier with similar antler motif recently sold at auction in Germany for 15,000 euro.

Nation : British
Local Price : $3400.00

ENGLISH SILVER HILTED SMALLSWORD C.1757-58. Attributed to Joseph Bell, London with IB mark along with London hallmarks and date mark on the knuckle bow. Nicely dished near symmetrical shell guards and spherical pommel. The entire hilt nicely decorated in scrolling foliage in various arrangements. Silver wire wrapped grip. 30 3/4" colichemarde blade, the forte decorated in foliate panels. Original heavy leather blade seat. Excellent for the period.

Nation : British
Local Price : $3400.00

ENGLISH SILVER HILTED SMALLSWORD C.1767. Of large fighting proportions, this sword reiterates its purpose in the particularly high relief pierced decoration of military drums, flag splays and a cannon. The oval guard incorporates a shell splay front and back, in the increasingly popular rococo style. The guard arms are struck with London hallmarks and the maker's mark of George Fayle (entered 1767). The date letter is indecipherable. The colichemarde blade is decorated with foliage and fruit at the forte.

Nation : British
Local Price : £3300.00

A French Hussar's Light Cavalry Officer's Heavy Grade Sabre, Sabre de Hussard, Late 18th/Early 19th Century Ist Empire Pattern. From the former P.T.Norheim Collection of Finest French Arms A strong robust brass hilt (old bruising in places) with ovoidal langets, rear quillon with faceted button terminal, knuckle-guard with medial ridge, pommel and back-piece in one, and wire-bound leather-covered grip, With curved fullered blade double-edged towards the point and with Coulaux Freres Klingenthal manufactory details along the back at the forte, in original brass scabbard (with some old denting, predominantly up from the chape) lined in brown leather and open along each side at the top, steel shoe, and two rings for suspension 33.75 inch. blade. The word “hussar” identifies the light horsemen and comes from the Hungarian “huszar”. The most famous hussar units were the French regiments of the Napoleonic era. They were employed for scouting and communication purposes, and to screen the movement of the Emperor's corps, like during the advance that allowed the French to flank the Austrian general Mack at Ulm in 1805. The hussars, such as of the 1st Hussars employed at Jena in 1806, are characterized by the ornate Hungarian style uniform, sabretache, sabre and carbine. The hussars also played a prominent role as cavalry in the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), serving in campaigns in Austria (1804 & 1809), Prussia (1805 -1806), Poland (1806), Spain (1809 - 1813), Germany (1812), France (1814 - 1815), and Belgium (1815) before being disbanded by the Bourbon Restoration. As light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, they would be used to fight skirmish battles and for scouting. Most of the great European powers raised hussar regiments. The armies of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia had included hussar regiments since the mid-18th century. In the case of Britain, four light dragoon regiments were converted to hussars in 1806–1807. Hussars gained notoriety in the Grande Armée after the invasion of Egypt. At the Battle of Salalieh in August 1798, brigade commander Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle fought "like a demon" and solidified his reputation as a maverick rider upon returning to France and receiving Weapons of Honour. At the ceremony (in a remark often mistakenly attributed to Napoleon), Lasalle quipped "Any hussar who isn't dead at age 30 is a layabout." The hussars of Napoleon's army created the tradition of sabrage, the opening of a champagne bottle with a sabre. Moustaches were universally worn by Napoleonic period hussars, the British hussars were the only moustachioed troops in the British Army – leading to occasional taunts of "foreigner" from their brothers-in-arms. French hussars also wore cadenettes, braids of hair hanging to either side of the face, until the practice was officially proscribed when shorter hair became universal. This sabre is from a private collection of one of the foremost experts and authors of swords in Scandinavia, and chairman of the the Norwegian Weapons Historical Society A famous military commander in Bonaparte's army who began his military career as a hussar was Marshal Ney, who after being employed as a clerk in an iron works joined the 5th Hussars in 1787. He rose through the ranks of the hussars in the wars of Belgium and the Rhineland (1794–1798) fighting against the forces of Austria and Prussia before receiving his marshal's baton in 1804 after the Emperor Napoleon's coronation. On the French Revolution, it was numbered as the 5th Hussar Regiment during the army reorganisation of 1 January 1791, as the fifth oldest cavalry unit in the French army, before being promoted to 4th Hussar Regiment in 1793 after the previous holder of that title. In 1814, just before the fall of the First French Empire, it was renamed the régiment des hussards de Monsieur, though it resumed the title of 4th Hussar Regiment during the Hundred Days before being disbanded on the Bourbon Restoration which followed. After Napoleon returned from exile and invaded Belgium, the 4th Hussar Regiment would enter combat at the final battles of Ligny, and Waterloo, in which Napoleon would be defeated.

Nation : British
Local Price : £3,250

A Fine 1798 Pattern Scottish Highland Infantry Officers’ Sword with Original Scabbard. A fine example of the distinctive basket hilted sword introduced for Scottish Infantry officers in Highland Regiments in 1798. It was replaced by the regulation steel basket hilt 1828 pattern three decades later. The sword type was used throughout the Napoleonic War period. This sword is in fine original uncleaned condition and retains its scabbard. The bronze hilt and scabbard mounts were once covered with a gilt finish much of which has now worn away or is hidden under the patina. An inscription on the knucklebow reads “UNION LODGE NO 555 Carlisle”. It would seem that at some time the sword was gifted to the Masonic Lodge in Carlisle. Carlisle is an English town near the Scottish border. The hilts of these swords were most usually made of gilt copper, bronze or brass. The hilt of this sword is of gilt bronze and made of rounded bars and flattened plates in the usual manner with forward loop guards and a swollen solid wrist guard terminal extending from the rear quillon. The upper terminals of the guard arms are fixed onto a ring inside which the stem of the mushroom shaped pommel is fitted. The pommel is dome-shaped with a large separate waisted pommel button on top from which four sets of decorative grooves flanked by narrower lines radiate to the pommel edge. The double-edged gently tapering blade is 32.75 inches (83 cm) long and in fine condition. Typically it is of lenticular section with a short ricasso. A central fuller commences a short distance from the hilt on each side and is 9 inches (23 cm) long. The blade is unmarked and probably a German import which was the norm for this sword type and most probably of Solingen manufacture. The grip is of spirally grooved wood covered with shagreen held in place with thin ropes of twisted copper wire flanked with plainer thinner wire now coloured with age. It is mounted with gilt bronze ferrules top and bottom which are incised with decorative lines. The scabbard is in fine condition made with a wooden core covered with granulated leather stitched along the middle on one side. The mouthpiece and middle band retain their ring carrying mounts. The chape has a knopped terminal. For other examples of the 1798 type see: Harvey J S Withers, “The Scottish Sword 1600-1945”, Paladin Press, 2009, pages 13 to 151 and Cyril Mazansky, “British Basket-Hilted Swords”, Boydell Press, 2005, pages 131 to 133. --> --> Gallery

Nation : British
Local Price : £3,250

A Mid-18th Century British Dragoon Basket Hilted Sword. 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 to British regiments and were manufactured in the Scottish manner. They were first issued in the second quarter of the 18th century and were used during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, Britain’s wars in Europe and the American Revolutionary War. The sword is a rare example of one that retains its remarkable full length blade of 38 inches (just over 96 cm) designed mainly for striking downwards at opposing infantry soldiers with greater reach than the more usual blade lengths of the time could afford. Although many swords of this type are mounted with blades of shorter length, the majority of those that were originally made with this longest type were cut down during the working lives of the swords. This is a rare survivor with its metal parts in extremely well preserved and undamaged condition as visible in the photographs. The fully formed basket is pierced with flanged 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 and has its shagreen cover but retains its wire binding. The robust single-edged blade has a thick spine and is double edged for the last 17.5 inches (44.25 cm) towards the point. It has a short ricasso and two fullers which commence 4.25 inches from the hilt. One wide broad fuller runs down the middle of the blade to the point and a second narrower fuller runs just underneath the spine to where the blade becomes double edged. Overall the sword is in fine and original 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. --> --> Gallery