Antique Arms & Militaria

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  read more

Code: 25444

A Stunning King George IIIrd 1756 Pattern Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol, 19th & 25th Light Dragoons, Part of The East India Company Cavalry Contingent Combating the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ Tipu Sultan

With finest walnut stock with amazing natural age patina, and traditional brass furniture and two British EIC traditional ‘heart’ marks, one on the stock the other on the barrel. From the historical 'Siege of Seringapatam' used by the British 19th & 25th Light Dragoons, serving with the East India Company. The 19th played a major role in the Anglo-Mysore Wars and Anglo-Maratha Wars. Their first campaign was against Tipu Sultan of Mysore from 1790 to 1792. After defeating Tipu, the 19th were on garrison duty until 1799 when war broke out with Tipu again. This time, the Sultan was killed during the Battle of Seringapatam.

Tipu Sultan was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in Southern India. An enemy of many of his neighbours as much as he was of the British East India Company.

Tipu remained an implacable enemy of the British East India Company, sparking conflict with his attack on British-allied Travancore in 1789. In the Third Anglo-Mysore War, he was forced into the Treaty of Seringapatam, losing a number of previously conquered territories, including Malabar and Mangalore. He sent emissaries to foreign states, including the Ottoman Empire, Afghanistan, and France, in an attempt to rally opposition to the British.

In 1800, the 19th fought Dhoondia Wao's rebel army and in 1803, led by Major-General Arthur Wellesley (who later became the Duke of Wellington), they participated in the Battle of Assaye. In this battle, the outnumbered British troops defeated a Maratha army and the regiment was subsequently awarded the battle honour of "Assaye" and presented with an honorary colour.
They were stationed at Cheyloor in 1802, at Arcot in 1803, in Bombay in 1804, and at Arcot again from 1805 to 1806. The regiment was summoned to Vellore on the night of 10 July 1806 to rescue the 69th Regiment of Foot who had been the victims of a revolt by Indian sepoys. The 25th Dragoons (raised for service in India by F E Gwyn on 9 March 1794) was renumbered 22nd (Light) Dragoons in that year. This 22nd (Light) Dragoons regiment served throughout the Napoleonic Wars, which began in 1805, and was disbanded in 1820.
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore, offered much resistance to the British forces. Having sided with the French during the Revolutionary war, the rulers of Mysore continued their struggle against the Company with the four Anglo-Mysore Wars. Mysore finally fell to the Company forces in 1799, with the death of Tipu Sultan.

Napoleon and Tipu Sultan

In 1794, with the support of French Republican officers, Tipu allegedly helped found the Jacobin Club of Mysore for 'framing laws comfortable with the laws of the Republic'. He planted a Liberty Tree and declared himself Citizen Tipoo. In a 2005 paper, historian Jean Boutier argued [likely wrongly] that the club's existence, and Tipu's involvement in it, was fabricated by the East India Company in order to justify British military intervention against Tipu.

One of the motivations of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt was to establish a junction with India against the British. Bonaparte wished to establish a French presence in the Middle East, with the ultimate dream of linking with Tippoo Sahib. Napoleon assured the French Directory that "as soon as he had conquered Egypt, he will establish relations with the Indian princes and, together with them, attack the English in their possessions." According to a 13 February 1798 report by Talleyrand: "Having occupied and fortified Egypt, we shall send a force of 15,000 men from Suez to India, to join the forces of Tipu-Sahib and drive away the English." Napoleon was unsuccessful in this strategy, losing the Siege of Acre in 1799 and at the Battle of Abukir in 1801. It was, as with all Napoleon’s ‘alliances’ simply a way to remove Britain’s ability to oppose his own Empire ambitions. His term ‘establish relations’ has been used for centuries since by controlling despots as a benign appearing phrase that is actually in reality an umbrella term for ‘control and dominate’.

It has been said in numerous quarters, especially by denigrators of the former British Empire, that the magnificent sub continent of India suffered much under British rule, however let’s not forget prior to the British arrival, and even during, despite their best efforts, India had been ruled with an iron fist for millennia by dozens of kings, nawabs, maharajahs, and princes who had stripped so much wealth from India that many became the richest men on earth, some worth 10 or 100 times the worth of the billionaires of today. So much wealth it is almost inconceivable to understand and comprehend today. There were of course a few benign and caring rulers, but as a rule they were deposed, murdered or imprisoned, often by sons with a somewhat less ‘sympathetic nature’ to their subjects.

As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables. Very good and tight action. A horn tipped ramrod. As with all our antique guns they must be considered as inoperable with no license required and they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22429

1830 Damascus Barrel Irish Overcoat Pistol, With Percussion Back-Action Lock, by Green of Mallow

County Cork, Ireland. Chequered rounded grip all steel mounts. Large bore. A sound and effective personal manstopper protection pistol that was highly popular during the late Georgian to early Victorian era. London, like many cities around the world at that time, could be a most treacherous place at night, and every gentleman, or indeed lady, would carry a pocket or overcoat pistol for close quarter personal protection or deterrence. Replaced ramrod.As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 23072

A Fabulous, 18th Century Sea Captain's Brass Cannon Barrel Pocket Blunderbuss Pistol. A Near Pair to the Pistol Presented To America’s Most Famous Revolutionary War Naval Commander John Paul Jones

This has to quite simply be one of the most beautiful and outstandingly attractive 18th century pocket pistol you will ever see.
A rare and and most fine original 18th Century Sea Captain's cannon barrel pocket Pistol, that is almost a pair to the John Paul Jones Sea Captain’s pistol presented to him by the 18th century American Congress
Brass cannon barrel flintlock pocket pistol, the barrel is three stage cannon barrel type, with a good working flintlock action, with sliding safety catch, maker marked by a fine maker, from a world renown English naval port and harbour, Bristol.
We show in the gallery a photograph of an almost identical brass cannon barrelled ships captain's pocket pistol in the Massachusetts Historical Society Museum Collection, a near pair to our pistol, that was said to have been presented by US Congress to John Paul Jones (1747-1792), a newly appointed captain in the Continental Navy, on October 10, 1776.

In many respects such a pistol was considered a symbol of rank and status in both the British and American navies, as it is said only the Captain would be permitted to carry such an arm on board, hence its presentation by Congress to Jones as a symbol of his command of a ship of the line in the US Navy.

As early as 1420, vessels from the English port Bristol were regularly travelling to Iceland and it is speculated that sailors from Bristol had made landfall in the Americas before Christopher Columbus or John Cabot. After Cabot arrived in Bristol, he proposed a scheme to the king, Henry VII, in which he proposed to reach Asia by sailing west across the north Atlantic. He estimated that this would be shorter and quicker than Columbus' southerly route. The merchants of Bristol, operating under the name of the Society of Merchant Venturers, agreed to support his scheme. They had sponsored probes into the north Atlantic from the early 1480s, looking for possible trading opportunities. In 1552 Edward VI granted a Royal Charter to the Merchant Venturers to manage the port.

By 1670, the city had 6,000 tons of shipping, of which half was used for importing tobacco. By the late 17th century and early 18th century, this shipping was also playing a significant role in British world trade.

John Paul was born near Kirkbean in Scotland to John Paul, Sr. and Jean McDuff. He first went to sea as an apprentice at the age of 13 and continued to work on merchant and slave ships as a young man. On a voyage aboard the brig John in 1768, both the captain and a ranking mate of his vessel died suddenly of yellow fever, and John Paul navigated the ship safely back to port. As a reward, the Scottish owners promoted him to master of the ship and its crew. Eventually he fled Scotland for North America to avoid charges of murder, due to his killing of a so-called mutineer in Tobago, and changed his name to John Paul Jones. He was assigned as a 1st Lieutenant in the newly-founded Continental Navy on 7 December 1775 and went on to become the first well-known naval commander in the Revolutionary War. He is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the American Navy". After a long career, including a stint in the Imperial Russian Navy, he died in Paris in 1792. During the American Revolution Capt John Paul Jones urged that “open and hostile operations” be utilised on any of “the Towns of Great Britain or the West Indies.” These targets, included the important ports of “London, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh,” He suggested a brilliant US naval war strategy, in that he acknowledged that the US Continental Navy couldn't possibly defend the American ports and harbours against attack by the most superior Royal Navy. However, if the US Navy attacked the poorly defended enemy harbours and towns the Royal Navy would be forced to divert ships to defend all vulnerable British ports and thus keep those vessels away from the American harbours and coastal towns. In the gallery we show period paintings and engravings of Capt.Jones utilising his small box lock pistols in his numerous naval close combat assaults.
One interesting reveal as to Capt Jones character.

Before he fled England to avoid a murder charge he lived for some time in the sea port town of Whitehaven, where, apparently, the locals treated him well, and with the usual friendliness and courtesy as to expected. However some few years later, at 11 p.m. on April 22, 1778, Commander John Paul Jones led a small detachment of two boats from his ship, the USS Ranger, to raid the shallow port at Whitehaven, England, where, by his own account, 400 British merchant ships are anchored. Jones was hoping to reach the port at midnight, when ebb tide would leave the shops, that he intended to plunder, at their most vulnerable.

Jones and his 30 volunteers had greater difficulty than anticipated rowing to the port, which was protected by two forts. They did not arrive until dawn. Jones’ boat successfully took the southern fort, disabling its cannon, but the other boat returned without attempting an attack on the northern fort, after the sailors claimed to have been frightened away by a ‘noise’. To compensate, Jones set fire to the southern fort, which subsequently engulfed the town, and burnt much to the ground, rendering many of the townsfolk homeless and thus destitute. Some might say it is a most interesting way of repaying his historical debt of courtesy to the decent people of Whitehaven. However, it must be pointed out that legend has it that Capt. Jones was of a most chivalric character, and had many fine points, none the least of which was his much respected skill in his new tactics of attacking his former home in order to cause terror and fear to the people of England.

Benjamin Franklin fully agreed with Captain Jones new tactic of terror and fear warfare, but he considered he could not condone it officially, as he believed it would be most counter productive to appear that a new sovereign nation could be engaging in what we we would call today, terrorism. Political sensitivities were as much a part of life then as they are today, and were indeed over, say, two thousand years ago, or in fact, likely since the dawn of mankind, and whenever it was that for the very first time a stone age man began to consider what others would think of him or her, and how he or she was regarded by their neighbours.

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  read more

Code: 22281

Historismus Chinese Bronze Helmet, Ancient C.400bc Warring States Era Style

A fabulous statement piece, ideal for a interior decor centrepiece. Probably mid 19th century. With good green aged patination, and as tradition dictates, cast in one piece. In the past 30 years or so we have had only a very few of this style of helmet, and just two have been original and the correct age that they should. This is a Historismus period example. It is a most beautiful work of art, extremely pleasing, decorative, and it would compliment any historical or classical display of arms or antiques. We don't normally acquire or sell non period items but historismus pieces have always been desireable and most collectable in their own right. Historicism or also historism and historismus comprises artistic styles that draw their inspiration from recreating historic styles or imitating the work of historic artisans. This is especially prevalent in architecture, such as revival architecture. Through a combination of different styles or implementation of new elements, historicism can create completely different aesthetics than former styles. Thus it offers a great variety of possible designs.

In the history of art, after Neoclassicism which in the Romantic era could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by an interpretation not only of Greek and Roman classicism, but also of succeeding stylistic eras, which were increasingly considered equivalent. In particular in architecture and in the genre of history painting, in which historical subjects were treated of with great attention to accurate period detail, the global influence of historicism was especially strong from the 1850s onwards. The change is often related to the rise of the bourgeoisie during and after the Industrial Revolution. The history and evolution of armour in Chinese warfare is difficult to ascertain with certainty, given its often perishable nature, but text descriptions and appearances in art, such as in wall paintings and on pottery figurines, along with surviving metal parts can help reconstruct major developments. Just who wore armour and when is another point of discussion. Military treatises of the Warring States period (c. 481-221 BCE) suggest that all officers of any level wore armour. The same sources contain references to commanders keeping armour in storage bags and distributing it to troops, but at least some of the ordinary conscripted infantry probably had to provide their own. This obviously depended on their means, and being farmers it is unlikely to have been a realistic possibility for most. 31 cm high, weight 3 kilos.  read more

Code: 22225

Most Interesting & Incredibly Rare 19th Century Cornish Tin Miner’s Leather 'Tull' Helmet

A most rare artefact of early English mining. this amazingly historical piece of the earliest British mining industry would make an incredible display for a former miner or miner's family.
These days they are only ever to be seen in museums or recreated for historical dramas such as 'Poldark'. A style of helmet that was copied by the British army to create the WW1 Brodie helmet. This helmet was formed from a single piece of boiled leather, some economy versions were made of shaped felt soaked in pine resin. Under the tull, miners would wear a strip of cloth; helping the tull to fit. Candles were attached to the tull using lumps of clay. While working the tull was usually removed and the candle stuck to a nearby ledge. 4 small holes to brim. GC  read more

Code: 20945

An Original and Beautiful Elizabethan Period Helmet of the Spanish Armada Period Circa 1570

An armour 'pear stalk' cabasset helmet from the era of the unsuccessful Spanish 'Armada', the attempted invasion of England, during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Ist. Used continually through the English Civil War and into the reign of King James. A fine one piece high peak cabasset helmet made in the mid to late 16th century. Wonderfully hand forged with hammer marks and with patches of delamination. This super helmet is nicely constructed with good edgework and lovely quality throughout, and it is a fine period piece in excellent condition for age. This form of helmet that survive today in England were often captured from the Spanish Armada armouries, and some even recovered from the sea bed alongside Spanish cannon, beneath the stricken Spanish ships, and subsequently issued to the London Trayned Bands. There is a picture in the gallery of the same form of helmet [heavily rusted] recovered from Jamestown, the early American colony fort. The History of the Cittie of London Trayned Bandes

(1572-1647)



In the absence of a regular army, the trained bands, founded in 1572 as part of Elizabeth I's efforts to modernise the militia, were the only permanent military units in England. While the county bands were often poorly organised, ineptly officered and infrequently trained, the London bands were not, although enthusiasm did wax and wane considerably over the years of their existence (1572 - 1647).



The Regiments

Before the Civil War there were four London regiments - the North, South, East and West - comprising a total of 6,000 men in 20 companies. In 1642, as relations between king & parliament worsened, the bands were re-organised into 40 companies of 8,000 men in six regiments named the Red, Blue, Green, White, Orange and Yellow after the colour of their regimental flags, or "trophies", as they were known to London militiamen. The following year, after the King's unsuccessful attempt to seize The Capital, three more trained band and five "auxiliary" regiments were raised bringing the whole force to around 20,000 men. This large army, controlled by the mayor and the city aldermen, held London for parliament throughout the first Civil War (1642 - 1646) and contributed brigades of foot to parliament's field armies. The establishment and subsequent rise of the New Model Army after 1645 greatly reduced the significance of the bands and they gradually melted away. Today, only the Honourable Artillery Company, a ceremonial unit of ex-soldiers, remains as a legacy of the glory days of London citizen?s solders. Weapons & Equipment

Weapons and equipment conformed to statute laid down by the Privy Council. The following description is from the 1638 issue of "Directions for Musters".



The Pikeman

"Must be armed with a pike seventeen feet long, head and all; the diameter of the staff to be one inch 3/4, the head to be well steeled, 8 inches long, broad, strong and sword-pointed; the cheeks 2 foot long, well riveted; the butt end bound with a ring of iron, a gorget, back, breast, tassets and head piece, a good sword of 3 foot long, cutting and stiff pointed with girdle and hangers".
The Musketeer
"Must be armed with a good musket, the barrel four foot long, the bore of 12 bullets in the pound rowling in, a rest, bandolier, head-piece, a good sword, girdle and hangers".
One other picture is a period engraving of an Elizabethan soldier with his pear stalk cabasset, another picture of The Battle of Gravelines, August 8, 1588, which is of the defeat of the Spanish Armada by Sir Francis Drake, Queen Elizabeth's Admiral. Pictures shown for information only. Some text is quoted from an article by Mr Steve Rabbitts on London trayned bands  read more

Code: 20248

A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Royal Naval Captain's Pistol, c 1760, By Isaac Bissell a Renown Scottish Maker Of Leith & Birmingham, Who Also Traded in London

Made by isaac Bissell a maker from 1740 to 1780 who was a renown naval captain's pistol maker, supplier to the crown, and also similarly renown as a top maker of finest Scottish Highland officer's pistols, in the all metal Scottish fashion, with rams head butts. One of his surviving original, Scottish pistols is marked "RHR" on the barrel, standing for the Royal Highland Regiment (becoming the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment "Black Watch"), and many of the pistols carried by the men of the 42nd during the French and Indian War were actually made by Isaac Bissell.

This fine example was used by a British Naval Captain since the Anglo French wars in America, the American Revolution and right through the Napoleonic Wars. A good length pistol, with a typical, swamped, barrel, the octagonal breech having view and proof marks, with the barrel gently changing to round, and a very finely strawberry-leaf engraved brass rounded lock, signed by Isaac Bissell with unbridled frizzen and swan neck cock.

Superb ‘Jutland Regia’ walnut fullstock with bulbous butt; brass mounts and a tutaneg grotesque mask butt cap, rococco tutaneg escutcheon, a rococco, Romaneque pierced sideplate, and trigger guard with acorn finial; with horn tipped wooden ramrod. Very good condition brass cannon barrel .

These kind of all brass pistols were the weapon of choice for naval officers and ship's captains in the 18th century for use at sea. This is a superb example. The muzzle (and often the bore) was flared with the intent not only to increase the spread of the shot, but also to funnel powder and shot into the weapon, making it easier to reload in haste. The flared swamped muzzle is one of the defining features of this fabulous pistol. Ship's Captain's found such impressive guns so desirable as they had two prime functions to clear the decks with one shot, and the knowledge to an assailant that the pistol had the capability to achieve such a result. In the 18th and 19th century mutiny was a common fear for all commanders, and not a rare as one might imagine. The Capt. Could keep about his person or locked in his gun cabinet in his quarters a gun just as this. The barrel could be loaded with single ball or swan shot, ball twice as large as normal shot, that when discharged at close quarter could be devastating, and terrifyingly effective. Potentially taken out four or five assailants at once. The muzzle was swamped like a cannon for two reasons, the first for ease of rapid loading, the second for intimidation. There is a very persuasive psychological point to the size of this gun's muzzle, as any person or persons facing it could not fail to fear the consequences of it's discharge, and the act of surrender or retreat in the face of an well armed pistol such as this could be a happy and desirable result for all parties concerned.

Tutaneg was an exotic imported metal and popular in the 18th to the cusp of the 19th century. It was referred as such in 'Voyages and Descriptions by the great Capt. William Dampier. 1652-1715'. And in Daniel Defoe's book of 'The Adventures of Robert Drury'. It resembled silver but stronger like nickel, and was a metal used in England for small items of interest where silver was not practical. It's use died out in the 19th century. William Dampier was the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. He has also been described as Australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important British explorers of the period between Sir Walter Raleigh and James Cook. Traces of a small old contemporary fore-end wood repair
**Special Conservation Item

As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 24671

A Wondrous Quality 18th Century Gilt Bronze Hilted Royal Naval Officers Sword of Hunting Hanger Form

Due to its superlative quality it was likely formerly the the property of a duke, prince, or an aristocrat of the highest status. It is also very similar to the the Walpole-Suckling Hunting Hanger Sword believed Carried by Capt. Horatio Nelson, sold by Sotheby's special treasures sale in 2003, see photo 10 in the gallery.

Originally intended for use in the boar or stag hunt, but most usually used in the early part of the 18th century by British senior officers in the Royal Navy. There are many portraits of Queen Anne period Naval admirals and the like carrying their hunting swords while in service aboard ship, as it was the perfect size for close combat use, aboard a well and profusely rigged man o’ war.
In the gallery is a portrait of Admiral Benbow holding his very similar hunting sword, another of Admiral George Churchill with his same sword, and once again with his same hunting sword Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell.

In the seminal works, 'Swords for Sea Service' by May and Annis, shown in photographed plates 80 and 81, are two other 18th century hunting swords used by noted naval officer's, one by Galfridus Walpole, said to have been used by Nelson and the other sword of Admiral Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen, that was surrendered to Commodore Nelson at the Battle of St Vincent in 1797

Finest gilt bronze hilt engraved and cast throughout of scenes of hunts. With sharkskin grip, cast repousse decorated shell guard, knuckle bow and pommel, decorated with full relief very finely engraved blade with hunting scenes of wild boar. The wild boar is the ancestral species of the domestic pig. It is native across much of Central Europe
Unlike the Romans for whom hunting boar was considered a simple pastime, the hunting of boars in Medieval Europe was mostly done by nobles for the purpose of honing martial skill. It was traditional for the noble to dismount his horse once the boar was cornered and to finish it with a dagger. To increase the challenge, some hunters would commence their sport at the boars mating season, when the animals were more aggressive. Records show that wild boar were abundant in medieval Europe. A charging boar is considered exceptionally dangerous quarry, due to its thick hide and dense bones, making anything less than a kill shot a potentially deadly mistake. Hunting dogs have been used to hunt boar since ancient times. Boar hunting dogs are loosely divided into two categories, bay dogs, and catch dogs.
Bay dogs harass and harry the boar, keeping it cornered in one place and barking loudly. This behaviour is known as "baying" or keeping the boar "at bay". The bay dogs' barking alerts the hunters to the bay, so that the hunter may catch up and kill the boar.the clergy demanding tribute from commoners in the form of boar carcasses or body parts. In 1015 for example, the doge Ottone Orseolo demanded for himself and his successors the head and feet of every boar killed in his area of influence.

In this period, because of the lack of efficient weapons such as guns, the hunting of boars required a high amount of courage, and even the French king Philip IV died from falling off his horse when charged by a boar.

The sword is in fine condition for its age. It lacks the small quillon end  read more

Code: 21041

A Fabulous Solid Silver Mounted 'Naval' Captain or Admirals Sword, Near Matching Admiral Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen's Sword, That Was Surrendered to Commodore Nelson at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797

Superb French hunting hanger with carved hilt with fancy solid silver crossguard and mounts bearing French hallmark with pair of carved grip plates held with fancy flower head silver rivets and engraved silver rim edging. With superbly engraved blade bearing stunning mystical talismanic and cabbalistic engravings including the portrait bust of an Ottoman Grand Sultan. It was written centuries past that a fine blade might be engraved with; "a talisman to make one beloved, to defeat the ill wishes of all enemies". They could be a number or combination with a cabbalistic meaning known only to the owner and the magician who sold him the spell. The number might be, for example, 1441, thought to be a combination of the number 7, a specifically lucky number,

From a collection of very fine surrendered swords from senior officer's of French and Spanish warships that fought against Nelson's fleets.


An incredibly similar sword surrendered to Commodore Nelson at the battle of St Vincent 1797 that of Rear-Admiral Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen the Spanish admiral who died aboard the San José that sword is now in Norfolk museum collection. See photo 9 in the gallery that shows the extremely similar French silver hilt mount close-up of the Spanish Admiral’s sword in the Norfolk Museum unpolished that shows it may have been made by the same French maker.
We also show the sword surrendered to Nelson at the battle of St Vincent, and standing next to Nelson painted by Sir William Beechy
Sir William Beechey (1753 - 1839)
Location:Norwich Castle.

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent (14 February 1797) was one of the opening battles of the Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808), as part of the French Revolutionary Wars, where a British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated a greatly superior Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal.

After a rendezvous with Jervis in the Atlantic off Cape St. Vincent on the previous day, Nelson on February 14, 1797, found himself sailing in mist through a Spanish fleet of 27 ships. The Spaniards were sailing in two divisions and Jervis planned to cut between the two and destroy one before the other could come to its assistance. But he had miscalculated, and it became clear that the British ships would not be able to turn quickly enough to get into action before the Spanish squadrons closed up. Without orders from Jervis, Nelson hauled out of line and attacked the head of the second Spanish division. While the rest of Jervis’ fleet slowly turned and came up in support, Nelson held the two Spanish squadrons apart, at one time fighting seven enemy ships. The efficiency of British gunnery was decisive, and he not only boarded and captured one enemy man-of-war but, from her deck, boarded and took a second.

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent won for Jervis the earldom of St. Vincent and for Nelson a knighthood, which coincided with his promotion by seniority to rear admiral. His first action in command of a major independent force, however, was disastrous. In the course of an assault on Tenerife, a grapeshot shattered his right elbow, and back in his flagship the arm was amputated.

Overall nice condition with some age pitting to blade.
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  read more

Code: 24593