Antique Arms & Militaria

A Rare Pair of 14th- 15th Century Medeavil Bronze Winged Polygonal 'Raven's Head' Mace Heads Likely Twin Headed Flail Mace, Mongol Invasion Period to Vlad 'The Impaler' Dracul’s Knight’s Order of The Dragon Period

Cast bronze and each mace head had four ravens heads that can be viewed from both above and upside down, below, creating eight ravens per mace. The remaining surfaces are decorated in the circular ‘all seeing eye’, or ‘evil eye’ pattern, that has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks as a feature to ward off evil spirits. When used by the Knight hussars they were called a kisten, and the double headed flail mace were adopted by the hussar knights from those used by Mongols, Turks and Tartars in their invasions into Eastern Europe in the 14th century.

The eyes design creates a zoomorphic design of several back to back ravens heads. We have read of the notorious 'Raven's Head' maces for many years, and more often they appear today in fantasy role play games, but this may be the very first, original, 14th century examples we have ever had the privelege to see and own.

Together, the wolf and raven embody the Mongol or Turkic warrior as he saw himself: a ferocious, predatory being who hunts his enemies, raiding is inherently a predatory action, after all. In addition, the connection of these animals to warfare in the Mongol mindset is also reinforced since both the wolf and raven appear in the aftermath of battle to feed on the dead.

Vlad Dracul of Transylvania inspired the tales of the vampire of legend, named "Dracula". That evolution of Dracul, recalls only the character from the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker, dramatically and memorably realised by Bella Lugosi, in the eponymous 1931 Hollywood horror film, and then followed by all too numerous actors since, including one of the very best, Gary Oldman. However, behind the popular myth lies the genuine historic ruler Vlad III Dracula "the Impaler" (1431-76), Prince of Wallachia in what is now Romania, a vassal of the Hungarian kings. Voivode is the medieval Romanian term for a regional commander, which position Vlad held intermittently in addition to his princedom (1448, 1456-62 and 1476), and the name "Dracula" is a diminutive derived from the Imperial Order of the Dragon, the order of knights to which Vlad and his father, Vlad II (1390-1447) commanded. He ruled his military kingdom of Wallachia southern Romania with a heavy and blood-soaked fist. To not only the Turks but also to many of his own countrymen he was Vlad The Impaler, Vlad Die Tepes (pronounced Tee-pish). Determined not to be overtaken by the intrigue of an intriguing political underhandedness, in a world in which princes fell daily to smiling, hypocritical "allies," paranoia among the aristocracy was, and probably needed to be, utmost in a sovereign's disposition. Dracula built a defence around him that dared not open kindness nor trust to anyone. During his tenure, he killed by the droves, impaling on a forest of spikes around his castle thousands of subjects who he saw as either traitors, would-be traitors or enemies to the security of Romania and the Roman Catholic Church. Sometimes, he slew merely to show other possible insurgents and criminals just what their fate would be if they became troublesome.

A flail mace avails the user extra reach used on horseback. Unlike a sword or haft mounted mace, it doesn't transfer vibrations from the impact to the wielder. This is a great advantage to a horseman, who can use his horse's speed to add momentum to and underarmed swing of the ball, but runs less of a risk of being unbalanced from his saddle.
It is difficult to block with a shield or parry with a weapon because it can curve over and round impediments and still strike the target. It also provides defense whilst in motion. However the rigid haft does have the advantage as the flail needs space to swing and can easily endanger the wielder's comrades.

Controlling the flail is much more difficult than rigid weapons. On a Flail it had the name of a Scorpion in England or France, or sometimes a Battle-Whip. It was also wryly known as a 'Holy Water Sprinkler'.
King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon, as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat. Although blind he was a valiant and the bravest of the Warrior Kings, who perished at the Battle of Crecy against the English in 1346. On the day he was slain he instructed his Knights, both friends and companions, to lead him to the very centre of battle, so he may strike at least one blow against his enemies. His Knights tied their horses to his, so the King would not be separated from them in the press, and they rode together into the thick of battle, where King John managed to strike not one but at least four noble blows. The following day of the battle, the horses and the fallen knights were found all about the body of their most noble King, all still tied to his steed.

During the Middle Ages metal armour such as mail protected against the blows of edged weapons. Solid metal maces and war hammers proved able to inflict damage on well armoured knights, as the force of a blow from a mace is great enough to cause damage without penetrating the armour. Though iron became increasingly common, copper and bronze were also used. Pictures in the gallery, some medieval, showing them used in combat. The mace heads are approximately the size of a walnut.


Detail from Battle of Orsha painting, 1520–1534 photo 6 in the gallery. With Lithuanian hussar in yellow tunic with 'kisten' the flail mace in his belt.

Another variety of multi headed flail mace is the Iberian flail or mangual. See picture 7 in the gallery. This can be seen below at the feet of the figure on the frontispiece of the Handbook of the True Skill of Arms in Thirty-Eight Assertions by Miguel Perez de Mendoza y Quixada, published in 1675. This weapon was a specialized armament meant primarily to oppose rapiers and perhaps two handed swords like montante in combat, the figure standing amongst an armoury of weapons including a zweihander great sword, a maine gauche, numerous swept hilt and cup hilt rapiers, and at his feet, a multi chained mace battle-whip or mangual. Picture in the gallery is another a capture taken from a Renaissance painting  read more

Code: 24822

A Good, Antique, 18th century, King George IIIrd Flintlock Officer’s Pistol by Wheeler, Used in the Peninsular War and Waterloo

Named to its owner, John Vine of Staining Lane. Walnut stock with fabulous age patina, with slab-sided grips, all brass furniture and trigger guard with acorn finial. Made by Wheeler of London. Two stage octagonal to round steel barrel with silver X foresight. A very nice officer's and gentleman's flintlock pistol from the 1790's used in the Napoleonic Wars period, the Peninsular War of Quatre Bras, & Waterloo. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly owing to the application of modern mass conscription. French power rose quickly as Napoleon's armies conquered much of Europe but collapsed rapidly after France's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. The alliance led by Britain and one of it's finest General's, the Duke of Wellington, brought about Napoleon's empire ultimately suffering a complete and total military defeat resulting in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France and the creation of the Concert of Europe.

The last photo in the gallery shows a photograph of one section of the collection in the museum of Waterloo, taken in around 1900, showing all the weapons of Waterloo en situ, including all the protagonists {British, French, Prussian and Belgian muskets, swords, pistols, armour uniforms, etc}. The museum was founded and owned by a veteran of the 7th Hussars that fought at Waterloo

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading experience behind us  read more

Code: 21443

A Truly Exceptional, Original, Highest Grade Napoleonic Wars Period Antique Museum Piece Miquelet, A Magnificent Example Likely Made For Ali Pasha. An All Silver Mounted Miquelet Long Gun, Another Was Presented to President Thomas Jefferson in 1805

We were astounded when we were offered this fabulous presentation piece, also from the peak of the Ottoman Empire, that was almost certainly made as the near pair, for Ali Pasha, the famous Great Pasha and ruler in the Ottoman Empire, to another, near identical Miquelet example, that we sold just a few months ago. It is also a near pair to one presented to President Thomas Jefferson {now in the Smithsonian}

Intriguingly, it is more than possible this fabulous silver mounted long gun was likely presented to Ali Pasha in order to counteract its previous presentation pair. When this Miquelet was hand made, it may have been so commissioned, for either, Wellington or Napoleon, as they were both currying favour with the Great Pasha, in order for him to change allegiances, which he did, from Napoleon to Wellington.
Fabulous arms were the great pieces of choice in order to be presented from Kings, Emperors and Generals, to their foreign counterparts {other Kings, Emperors, and Generals} in order to sway their decisions of state, for alliances and influence, essential in times of great war.

This very type of magnificent silver inlaid long gun were renown as the presentation pieces of choice for Emperors, Kings, Pashas and Presidents. President Thomas Jefferson was presented another near identical example just like ours, in November 1805, by the Bey of Tunis, it is now part of the Smithsonian Collection of great arms, in America.

We show in the gallery {photos 1 & 2} of our magnificent musket, prior to its full museum grade conservation, and also in most of the other photos, its effective 'pair' that we owned and sold previously a couple of months ago, so one is able to see just how magnificent they both are. Once completed we will photograph this one it further. Photo 10 though is Ali Pasha’s other identical example, now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Clearly these magnificent silver long guns were the personal favourites of the great Pasha, likely one kept in each of his royal palaces, in his empire.

Ali Pasha of Tepelena had several residences and strongholds, with his primary palace located in Ioannina (modern-day Greece), where he ruled as the Ottoman governor. Additionally, he maintained significant fortresses/residences at Porto Palermo and in his hometown of Tepelenë (both in modern Albania).
Ioannina Palace: His main administrative centre and audience chamber were in Ioannina, which became a cosmopolitan hub under his rule.
Porto Palermo Castle: A well-known coastal fortress on a small peninsula near Himara, often associated with a romantic legend.
Tepelena Castle: A large, 4-hectare castle in Tepelenë served as a vital residence and stronghold.
Butrint Castle: He used a small, fortified, formerly Venetian, structure on an islet at the mouth of the Vivari Channel

Another singularly spectacular ‘statement piece’ for any collection of rare and fine arms or antiques. From the Napoleonic Wars era, made for the famous Ottoman ruler Ali Pasha.
**See photo 10 in the gallery for reference, and link below, to another almost identical example and another of Ali Pasha's miquelets now in the Metropolitan in New York

The great ruler of the Ottoman's, Ali Pasha was, at first, an admirer of Napoleon and formed a brief alliance with him during the Napoleonic wars, but, with changing winds he went against his previous ally to support the British. Napoleon thus sanctioned a planned rebellion against Ali, but the British arrived, as funds were being collected and rebels were being recruited.
Ali's rival, Ibrahim Pasha of Berat, turned to the French and gathered a coalition of Ali's enemies, including Mustafa Pasha of Delvinë, Pronio Aga of Paramythia, Hasan Çapari of Margariti, the Beys of Himara, the Aga of Konispoli and the Souliotes. This coalition began attacking Ali's realm with support from French artillery, and Ali responded by bribing Ibrahim's supporters with British support. Ali besieged Ibrahim Pasha in Berat with an 8,000-man army commanded by the Albanian captain Omer Bey Vrioni, and with the aid of British rockets, Berat finally fell after a year of skirmishing. Ibrahim retired to Vlorë, and Ali told the Porte that he had taken Berat in response to the revolts in upper Albania that were the result of Ibrahim's inability to rule

In 1809, Lord Byron together with John Cam Hobhouse visited Ali's court in Tepelena and Ioannina in 1809.
Byron recorded the encounter in his work Childe Harold. They traveled to Albania to see the country that was, until then, mostly unknown in Britain. Byron presented Albanians as a free people who lived in their state under their leader, Ali Pasha, described by Byron as a
"a man of first abilities, who governs the whole of Albania"

A near identical long gun of Ali Pasha, {the third of its kind} is in the Metropolitan museum, exhibited as the Miquelet Rifle of Ali Pasha. Being cognisant of the manipulations of great rulers of history, it is logical to assume the envoys of both King George for Wellington, and Napoleon were informed exactly how to impress the great Pasha, by presenting him with his favourite silver mounted miquelets, hand made by the rulers gunsmith in his empire. Thus with such magnificent pieces Ali Pasha would be swayed to agree to military alliances and mutual defensive pacts. It clearly worked, but likely both Wellington and Napoleon were unawhere just how ‘flexible’ he was in his allegiances.

His rule by Ali's definition, included central and southern Albania, and parts of mainland Greece; in particular, most of the district of Epirus and the western parts of Thessaly and Macedonia. He managed to stretch his control over the sanjaks of Yanina, Delvina, Vlora and Berat, Elbasan, Ohrid and Monastir, Görice, and Tirhala. Ali was granted the Sanjak of Tirhala in 1787, and he delegated its government in 1788 to his second-born Veli Pasha, who also became Pasha of the Morea Eyalet in 1807.
Ali's eldest son, Muhtar Pasha, was granted the Sanjak of Karli-Eli and the Sanjak of Eğriboz in 1792, stretching for the first time Ali's control down to Livadia and the Gulf of Corinth, except Attica. Muhtar Pasha also became governor of the Sanjak of Ohrid in 1796–7 and of the Sanjak of Vlora and Berat in 1810.

Similar finest examples may be viewed in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul and the Hermitage in Russia. A most similar gun was presented to President Thomas Jefferson by the Bey of Tunis.

A simply superbly beautiful antique presentation long gun from the Early 19th century. A miquelet gun with a very high quality miquelet toe lock decorated with numerous chiseled and fretted silver panels and inlaid foliate arabesques.

The gun is richly inlaid with silver throughout and fitted with a chisseled bronze-brass butt plate, with matching silver barrel bands, and its original silver mounted ramrod. Figured hardwood three-quarter stock profusely inlaid over its full length with numerous silver plaques.

A most similar gun was a gift of the Russian Romanov Tsar to Augustus II King of Poland and Elector of Saxony on his coronation in Krakow.
That gun is published in the book Prunkwaffen: Waffen und Rustungen aus dem Historischen Museum Dresden by Johannes Schobel (Leipzig, 1973) p.249, pl. 178.

Guns of this style with miquelet actions, were popular throughout the whole of Central, Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and The Ottoman Empire. However this magnificent piece is a much, much higher quality example, made solely for presentation to potentates, rulers and the like, than is more often seen, and certainly sets it well apart from the usual plain miquelet musket of its type.

After the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror at 1453, construction of the Topkapi Palace was started at the year 1460 and completed at 1478 .The Palace was built upon an Eastern Roman Acropolis located at the Istanbul Peninsula between Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Topkapi Palace, was the administrative, educational and art center of the Empire for nearly four hundred years since Mehmed the Conqueror until Sultan Abdulmecid who is the thirty-first Sultan. Although Palace was abandoned by the Ottoman Dynasty by moving to the Dolmabahce Palace at middle 19th century, the Topkapi Palace latterly became a world class museum containing some of the worlds finest antique arms and armour.

The year of Catherine II’s acquisition of the Gotzkowsky collection is the Hermitage museum’s birth date. In 1764 Empress Catherine II acquired the collection formed by Johann Gotzkowski for King Frederick II of Prussia. A rich Berlin merchant and founder of silk and porcelain factories in Berlin, Johann Gotzkowski was one of Frederick's agents, in charge of the purchase of works of art for the royal collection. Frederick II (the Great), owner of a wonderful collection of contemporary French paintings, ordered Gotzkowski to purchase paintings by old masters. The merchant was a zealous agent and it took him only a few years to put together a large collection, but by this time Frederick had lost large sums of money in the Seven Years War and he refused to make the purchase.

The enterprising merchant was forced to look around for alternative buyers and he offered the collection to Russia. Catherine II was pleased to take the opportunity of hurting Frederick's self-esteem and of proving that the Russian State Treasury, despite losses which were no less than those of Prussia, could still afford to make such an expensive acquisition. From this purchase onwards the Hermitage has become one of the foremost museums in the world, alongside the British Museum, The Metropolitan, The Louvre and The Prado.

This miquelet is 71 inches long, {our previous near pair example was 55.5 inches long overall}. This gun was likely made purposely longer in order to greately impress the Pasha that its presenter had greater respect for the Great Pasha. This of course, is, reasonable supposition, we have no way of knowing if it is correct.

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

For reference, the rifle of Ali Pasha
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/28998

See photo 10 in the gallery of the Mets Miquelet Rifle of Ali Pasha
lock and stock, Algerian; barrel, European
lock and stock, dated A.H. 1224/1809–10 CE; barrel, 18th century

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

Photos 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9 are of the near identical Miquelet we sold earlier. More photos of our current one will be added after conservation is completed, likely in early June.

Another magnificent and extremely similar Miquelet, undoubtedly by the same gunsmith of Ali Pasha, was the silver inlaid gun presented to President Thomas Jefferson presented by the Bey of Tunis in 1805 is a 7-foot-long, Miquelet-lock Jezail (musket). It was presented as a gift intended to strengthen diplomatic relations following the end of the Tripolitan War. It now resides by loan in the Smithsonian affiliated museum, the Buffalo Bill Museum of the West in Cody Wyoming

The musket was presented on November 30, 1805, at the Washington Navy Yard by Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, the ambassador of the Bey of Tunis.

Link;

https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/journeying-west-distinctive-firearms-travel-buffalo-bill-center-west  read more

Code: 26221

Antique Sapeurs Pompiers French Firefighter Helmet Brass and Nickel Plated, with Original Liner and Chin Strap In Excellent Condition. Early 20th Century Issue

The history of the French sapeurs-pompiers (firefighters) is a blend of military discipline and specialized emergency response, evolving from chaotic night watches into a highly structured, professional force. The term "pompier" comes from the manual pumps (pompes) used to fight fires, while "sapeur" (sapper) refers to the military engineering role of destroying buildings to prevent fires from spreading. There are 246,900 French personnel handling fire protection, rescue, and a significant portion of emergency medical services 78% voluntary/call firefighters, 22% career firefighters. Compared to the UK, we have 29,770 wholetime (full-time) personnel and roughly 16,499 retained. One can see the French have around 8 times as many firefighters as the British, but only 1.6 x more fires. I would imagine the French government don't have the quality of politicians that we have, as ours have discovered the magical system, whereby, the fewer we have of something { say, fire stations and fire-personnel, for example} the more effective it becomes. Like the Royal Navy, the fewer ships it has, the stronger it will be. This, we might call the, homeopathic protection system, whereby, in theory, once we have reduced the navy to a single row boat, and a solitary oarsman, with that alone, we can aspire to rule the seven seas once more!

This beauty is the French fire services, early 20th century issue, combined service and dress helmet.

The history of the French Fire Service.

In 1254 King Louis IX (Saint Louis) established the guet bourgeois (bourgeois watch) in Paris, a night watch that included fire watch duties.
Six centuries later in the 18th Century, following severe fires, the Corps des gardes-pompes de la ville de Paris was founded in 1793, acting as a civilian firefighting unit.

Within 15 years their was The Napoleonic Turning Point (1810-1811)
The modern, professional service was born, directly, from a tragedy. In 1810 there was the Austrian Embassy Fire:
Following a massive fire at the Austrian Embassy in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte saw the need for a professional, disciplined force. By imperial decree, the Bataillon de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris was created on September 18, 1811. Unlike many other countries, the Paris fire brigade was made a part of the Army (military engineering arm), ensuring rigid organization and training.

Early sapeurs-pompiers wore military uniforms but used the brass helmet that became emblematic of French firefighters. Historically, they carried a rifle and sabre, partly for protection and to prevent theft during the chaos of a fire.

Small denting at the top of the comb, apart from that light service use, it’s condition is superb  read more

Code: 26223

Wonderful, Very, Very Rare, Original European Medieval Crusader Knight’s 'Hauberk', Chain Mail Body Armour Shirt. As Worn, In Combat, By Such As King Edward 1st of England & Louis IX of France, Bohemond VI of Antioch & All The Nobility of Europe

Originally recovered from the Keep of Burleigh Castle, in Perthshire, around 800 to 700 years old, And formerly of the Edred Gwilliam Collection a well reknown collector and specialist of early arms and armour.

The condition is certainly good in areas for its age, but as one can see from the photographs it has separated completely at the front and has sections of losses throughout.

The European earliest mail armour is really rare, highly complex to make and extraordinarily expensive, yet very simple as a full armoured king or knight only wore a helmet and hauberk, and hauberks are only ever seen in such a near complete state in the best museum or castle armoury collections, such as in the Tower of London, Nuremburg Castle or the British Museum.

This mail would be ideal for the connoisseur of medieval European history or the collector of rare armour. It has a near unlimited abundance of the intellectual beauty of ancient history, and as a surviving example of the pageantry from the earliest days of early, European, chivalric knighthood and the crusades is simply wonderful.
This is a medieval Hauberk from the late Crusades era the late 1200's up to the 14th - 15th century, and at one time it was housed in the keep of Burleigh Castle, and found during an excavation of the keep area of the ruin around 200 plus years ago. Although once a large and imposing castle, Burleigh Castle now consists of a ruined 15th-century tower of three storeys and an attic, which had bartizans at three of the corners and a caphouse over the stair at the fourth. This tower is joined by a surviving section of courtyard wall, with a gate, to a corner tower. The corner tower is round at the base, but corbelled out and crowned with a square chamber. The walls are pierced by shot-holes, and one of the skewputts has the date 1582..
The rectangular tower had a corbelled-out parapet and garret storey, but these are gone except for the remains of open rounds.

The mail coat or hauberk formed a flexible metal armour shirt that was often worn over a padded tunic. The traditional image of the knight encased in a full suit of plate armour did not come about until the 1400s. It is relatively complete with some separated areas that could be reconnected with a little patience and skill. The word hauberk is derived from an old German word Halsberge, which originally described a small piece of mail that protects the throat and the neck (the 'Hals'). The Roman author Varro attributes the invention of mail to the Celts. The earliest extant example was found in Ciumesti in modern Romania and is dated to the 4th-5th centuries BC. Roman armies adopted similar technology after encountering it. Mail armour spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin with the expansion of the Romans. It was quickly adopted by virtually every iron-using culture in the world, with the exception of the Chinese. The Chinese used it rarely, despite being heavily exposed to it from other cultures.

The short-hemmed, short-sleeved hauberk may have originated from the medieval Islamic world. The Bayeux Tapestry illustrates Norman soldiers wearing a knee-length version of the hauberk, with three-quarter length sleeves and a split from hem to crotch. Such armour was quite expensive both in materials (iron wire) and time/skill required to manufacture it Only the wealthy, the nobles, could afford to purchase mail shirts, and so a hauberk became a symbol of rank for the warrior class of society. The first step involves the smelting of iron, and after that, one must make the wire. Making the wire requires the use of small, thin sheets of iron and then shearing thin strips off the sides of this sheet in order to form square wires, or using another method, one can repeatedly beat and shape small iron pieces into narrow rods in order to form the raw material needed for wire. Made with alternate rows of rivetted and solid links. see below regarding a study by Professor Smith from similar hauberks in the Met collection.

After making the rods, the armorer must reheat and draw the strips through conical holes in a metal block to form round wire, and if thinner wire is needed, he can repeat this step several times using narrower holes. Once the wire is reduced to the desired diameter, it is then wrapped around a metal rod to create long, spring-like coils. The armorer then cuts along the length of the coil, down one side with shears or hammer or cutting chisel, and this causes the coils to separate into individual rings. Each ring is then flattened with a tool called a die, or something similar, and while flattening, the die also punches holes in each end of the ring. The armorer then overlaps the ends of each ring and rivets them shut. This process of flattening, punching with a die, joining the rings together, and then riveting them might have to be repeated thousands of times in order to make a single shirt of mail.

The hauberk stored in the Prague Cathedral, dating from the 12th century, is one of the earliest surviving examples from Central Europe and was supposedly owned by Saint Wenceslaus. In Europe, use of mail hauberks continued up through the 14th century, when plate armour began to supplant it. The hauberk is typically a type of mail armour which is constructed of interlocking loops of metal woven into a tunic or shirt. The sleeves sometimes only went to the elbow, but often were full arm length, with some covering the hands with a supple glove leather face on the palm of the hand, or even full mail gloves. It was usually thigh or knee length, with a split in the front and back to the crotch so the wearer could ride a horse. It sometimes incorporated a hood, or coif. The iron links of the mail shirt provided a strong layer of protection and flexibility for the wearer. The overlapping rings allowed a slashing or cutting blow from a sword to glance off without penetrating into the skin; though a smashing blow from a club could still shatter or break or crush bones. For this reason to prevent the breakage of bones a knight would wear a layer of padded armour, or an aketon, underneath the mail. So the combined layers of padded tunic and mail gave the knight a suit of armour that was nearly impervious to cutting and slashing and also protective against the heavy, smashing blows often delivered on the medieval battlefield.

This was a property of the Balfours of Burleigh from 1446, who built the castle, and was visited by James IV. It passed by marriage to James Balfour of Pittendreich in the 16th century through the heiress Margaret Balfour. He was involved in the murder of Cardinal David Beaton, and was captured at St Andrews in 1546 to spend the next two years as a galley slave of the French. On his release he sided with Mary, Queen of Scots, but then spied for the Protestant faction and revealed her military plans. He was made Lord President of the Court of Session, and was party in having James Douglas, Earl of Morton, executed for his part in the murder of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley. He died in 1583.

Two Illustrations in the gallery are of the Bayeux tapestry embroidery, that show hauberk's being carried for battle, on long poles, by the squires, and a hauberk, in the second picture section, being taken from a fallen knight's body lower section under Harold Rex {King Harold}. Another picture in the gallery is from an old manuscript showing the tradecraft in the manufacture of mail armour.

After we examined it in detail, it is indeed made as described by Professor Smith in his report of links of 16 14th century armour
ie; Alternate rows of rivetted and solid links, after examining 16 links from their various armours at the Met. Cyril Stanley Smith
Technology and Culture
Johns Hopkins University Press
Volume 1, Number 1, Winter 1959  read more

Code: 21436

A Stunning 1796 Scottish Flank Officer's Combat Sword, Napoleonic Wars, Peninsular & Waterloo Period. For Coldstream Guards, With One Of The Most Beautiful, Finest Quality & Unique Blade Engravings We Have Ever Seen. By Hunter of Edinburgh

Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, flank company officer's sword for use in the Coldstreamers grenadier 'flank company' of the regiment. Almost certainly used by a Coldstream flank company officer in the Peninsular War and Waterloo, and even at Hougemont itself, for that, for us, there is little doubt. Each battalion of the British army included a light infantry company and a grenadier company; they were known as "flank companies" and were made up of the best soldiers in the battalion. During field operations they normally were pooled to form special corps of light infantry and grenadiers. This wondrous sword has a fully deluxe engraved blade, engraved and etched with royal crown, royal crest and cypher, a seated Brittania and an Angel blowing the trumpet of Victory, stands of arms, thistles and roses, with fine contra blueing, and fully intact to one blade face. Although fully engraved and etched on both sides, the obverse side is more worn, and has the blueing to that side worn away entirely. Possibly due to it being on display, hanging against a wall of a stately home or castle, for a century and a half or more. Custom made for its owner by Hunter of Edinburgh, and it was Hunter that was the dominant and near exclusive supplier of swords to all Coldstream guards regimental officers from before, and during, the Napoleonic wars. Also, the finest quality deluxe and extravagant nature of this blade is a typical example of the elaborate display of an elite Guards officer's status. The sword maker/retailer's name, Hunter, and his location, Edinburgh, is etched upon the obverse side of the blade, but very worn see photo 8 . In at least two seminal works of sword makers both Sword for Sea Service, and Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland it is clearly recorded that 'Hunter of Edinburgh' specifically supplied the officers of the Coldstream Guards from 1780 to at least 1810. The elite Coldstream Regiment saw extensive service in the wars against the French Revolution and in the Napoleonic Wars. Under the command of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, it defeated French troops in Egypt. In 1807, it took part in the investment of Copenhagen. In January 1809, it sailed to Portugal to join the forces under Sir Arthur Wellesley. In 1814, it took part in the Battle of Bayonne, in France, where a cemetery keeps their memory. The 2nd Battalion joined the Walcheren Expedition. Later, it served as part of the 2nd Guards Brigade in the chateau of Hougoumont on the outskirts of the Battle of Waterloo. This defence is considered one of the greatest achievements of the regiment, and an annual ceremony of "Hanging the Brick" is performed each year in the Sergeants' Mess to commemorate the efforts of Cpl James Graham and Lt-Col James MacDonnell, who shut the North Gate after a French attack. The Duke of Wellington himself declared after the battle that "the success of the battle turned upon closing the gates at Hougoumont". The night before the battle of Waterloo, Wellington sent MacDonnell with the guards to occupy the Chateau de Hougoumont. MacDonnell held this key position against overwhelming French attacks during the early part of the battle. When French troops were forcing their way into the courtyard, MacDonnell, aided by a sergeant, closed and held the gates by sheer physical strength. Chosen by Wellington for the award of £1,000 as the ‘bravest man in the British Army,’ MacDonnell insisted upon sharing the sum with his sergeant.
A painting by Dighton of the Coldstream Guards coming to the aid of the defenders. They fought their way into the chateau. Lieut-Col Daniel Mackinnon of the Grenadier Company has his back to us on the right. He was wounded in the knee but carried on until he became weak through loss of blood. He survived the battle and became commanding officer of the regiment in 1830.
Map of Hougoumont
From Wellington's viewpoint the three main buildings that formed landmarks on the battlefield were La Haye Sainte in the middle, Papelotte on the left, and Hougoumont on the right. The chateau of Hougoumont was a manor house and farm with ornamental garden, orchard and woods. The 1st Guards were posted on the ridge behind the chateau and some of them had been involved in a skirmish around Hougoumont on the evening of the 17th. But the defence of the buildings was given, initially, to the Light Companies of the Coldstream and Scots Guards under the command of Coldstreamer, Lieut-Col James Macdonnell, the personal choice of Wellington. They spent the morning barricading all the gateways into the enclosure of buildings, except for the north gate which had to remain accessible to supplies and reinforcements.
The first attack came from troops in Reille's Corps under the command of Jerome, who was ordered by his brother Napoleon, to take Hougoumont at all costs. He took the order literally and many Frenchmen died in the attempt, by the end of the day the number was 8,000. The first attack was repulsed by firing from within the chateau and outside. More attacks came, but thankfully without artillery which could have destroyed the walls of the enclosure. Those guardsmen who were still outside managed to withdraw into the chateau and the north gate was shut, but before it could be barricaded it was rushed by a party of 12 brave Frenchmen led by Lieutenant Legros, a large man with an axe. They barged in but all died fighting. Only a young French drummer was allowed to live. The closing and barricading of the gates was accomplished by Macdonnell and nine others.
Fighting Outside Hougoumont
Sir John Byng ordered three companies of the Coldstream Guards under Lt-Col Dan Mackinnon to go down and support the beleaguered garrison. They drove the French from the west wall and entered the enclosure. Napoleon himself became involved and ordered howitzer fire to be used. Incendiary shells were fired at the buildings and they caught fire, killing many of the wounded who were inside. Colonel Alexander Woodford entered the struggle with the remainder of the Coldstream Guards, leaving two companies on the ridge to guard the Colours. They fought their way into Hougoumont to reinforce the defenders. Woodford outranked Macdonnell but at first declined to take command away from him.
The End of the Battle
The situation became critical at one stage so that the King's German Legion were sent forward to counter-attack on the outside of the building. This effectively proved the last straw for the French who gave up their attempts to take Hougoumont. Woodford was commanding the garrison at the end of the battle when Wellington ordered a general advance to pursue the French. The force inside the enclosure ranged from 500 to 2000, but they managed to keep a whole French Corps occupied all day. The casualty figures for the Coldstream Guards on the 18th June was one officer and 54 other ranks killed, 7 officers and 249 other ranks wounded. Four men were unaccounted for. No scabbard  read more

Code: 22157

A Very Fine & Historical, Original, 1870's Zulu Warrior's Southern African Stabbing Spear, An Iklwa With Telegraph Wire Binding. A Typical Officer's Souvenir of the Zulu War.

An original Zulu Iklwa spear with a long steel tapering blade. The collar of the blade haft is bound tightly with traditional telegraph wire of both forms brass and steel. Hardwood haft with the usual slightly swollen end. The Zulus would frequently cut down the British military telegraph wires, strip them, and create wirework decorative patterns on their spear and knopkerrie hafts. That is a most desirable and specifically historical feature of quality, when bound upon the spears and clubs, of the Zulu War period Zulu warriors. Very unusual to be beautifully bound of both types of telegraph wire.

The wirework is still beautifully intact and the native hardwood has a impeccable natural age patina.

As weapons, the Zulu warrior carried the iklwa stabbing spear (losing one could result in execution) and a club or cudgel fashioned from dense hardwood known in Zulu as the iwisa, usually called the knobkerrie in English, for beating an enemy in the manner of a mace. The Zulu King provided his warriors with shield's but the impi were required to supply their own weapons, following a general design principle but this was a relatively fluid principle.

Zulu officers often carried the Zulu Axe, but this weapon was more of a symbol to show their rank. The iklwa – so named because of the sucking sound it made when withdrawn from a human body – with its long and broad 10. inch blade it was an invention of King Shaka that superseded the older thrown ipapa (so named because of the "pa-pa" sound it made as it flew through the air). It could theoretically be used both in melee and as a thrown weapon, but warriors were forbidden in Shaka's day from throwing it, which would disarm them and give their opponents something to throw back. Moreover, Shaka felt it discouraged warriors from closing into hand to hand combat. Shaka's brother, and successor, Dingane reintroduced greater use of the throwing spear, perhaps as a counter to Boer firearms.

In 1875 the 1st Battalion of the 24th arrived in Southern Africa and subsequently saw service, along with the 2nd Battalion, in the 9th Xhosa War in 1878. In 1879 both battalions took part in the Zulu War, begun after a British invasion of Zululand, ruled by Cetshwayo. The 24th Foot took part in the crossing of the Buffalo River on 11 January, entering Zululand. The first engagement (and the most disastrous for the British) came at Isandhlwana. The British had pitched camp at Isandhlwana and not established any fortifications due to the sheer size of the force, the hard ground and a shortage of entrenching tools. The 24th Foot provided most of the British force and when the overall commander, Lord Chelmsford, split his forces on 22 January to search for the Zulus, the 1st Battalion (5 companies) and a company of the 2nd Battalion were left behind to guard the camp, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine (CO of the 1/24th Foot).

The Zulus, 22,000 strong, attacked the camp and their sheer numbers overwhelmed the British. As the officers paced their men far too far apart to face the coming onslaught. During the battle Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine ordered Lieutenants Coghill and Melvill to save the Queen's Colour—the Regimental Colour was located at Helpmakaar with G Company. The two Lieutenants attempted to escape by crossing the Buffalo River where the Colour fell and was lost downstream, later being recovered. Both officers were killed.

15 1/4 inch blade {including socket haft}. 50 inches long overall  read more

Code: 26214

A Most Beautiful, Original, Victorian, Merryweather British Fire Service Helmet, In Brass With Gilt Dragon Comb & Chinscales In Fabulous Condition. Used When British Firefighters Were The Bravest In The Land.

An original British Victorian fire service helmet, with signs of service use, but certainly not abuse, it is part of its character, to demonstrate this is a piece that saw service but was used as it should, yet cared for, and beautifully preserved for posterity.
The traditional two-piece skull has the embossed raised dragon comb, rose bosses, crossed axe and hoses helmet plate, and complete original leather liner. Overall in every way in fine condition for age.

The desirable standard pattern of Fire Service helmet used by all British county and city Fire Services in the Victorian era and just past WW1.

The earliest fire brigade was Roman and that is the first fire brigade of which we have any substantial history was created by Marcus Licinius Crassus. Marcus Licinius Crassus was born into a wealthy Roman family around the year 115 BC, and acquired an enormous fortune through (in the words of Plutarch) "fire and rapine." One of his most lucrative schemes took advantage of the fact that Rome had no fire department. Crassus filled this void by creating his own brigade ‘500 men strong’ which rushed to burning buildings at the first cry of alarm. Upon arriving at the scene, however, the fire fighters did nothing while their employer bargained over the price of their services with the distressed property owner. If Crassus could not negotiate a satisfactory price, his men simply let the structure burn to the ground, after which he offered to purchase it for a fraction of its value. Emperor Nero took the basic idea from Crassus and then built on it to form the Vigiles in AD 60 to combat fires using bucket brigades and pumps, as well as poles, hooks and even ballistae to tear down buildings in advance of the flames. The Vigiles patrolled the streets of Rome to watch for fires and served as a police force. The later brigades consisted of hundreds of men, all ready for action. When there was a fire, the men would line up to the nearest water source and pass buckets hand in hand to the fire.

Rome suffered a number of serious fires, most notably the fire on 19 July AD 64 and eventually destroyed two thirds of Rome.
In the UK, the Great Fire of London in 1666 set in motion changes which laid the foundations for organised firefighting in the future. In the wake of the Great Fire, the City Council established the first fire insurance company, "The Fire Office", in 1667, which employed small teams of Thames watermen as firefighters and provided them with uniforms and arm badges showing the company to which they belonged.
However, the first organised municipal fire brigade in the world was established in Edinburgh, Scotland, when the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment was formed in 1824, led by James Braidwood. London followed in 1832 with the London Fire Engine Establishment.

Our historically legendary fire service personnel had, in the past, a reputation for magnificent feats of bravery, only to be expanded beyond measure during the Blitz in WW2. See the gallery paintings of firemen fulfilling their duty, to show just two examples of their well deserved reputation. See picture 9 in the gallery, a depiction of a fireman exiting a burning building rescuing a young girl. This represents actual and genuine real events, repeatedly happening, every day, and every night, up to a thousand times a day, in just London alone, during the blitz. Please note, no fireproof clothing, and no respirator, with only his brass helmet for protection. In order to put his life on the line, time and time again, every single day, in order save others. Not for honours, not for money {many were volunteers} and not for just King & Country, but because they were good, decent and brave beyond measure.

However, 85 years later, under the umbrella of the 21st century Risk Assessed’ UK Fire Service, a woman in the UK was rescued from her car by firefighters in December 2025 after becoming stranded in about 1 foot of water, a situation that gained viral attention and sparked debate, according to reports from Metro and various social media sources.
The Incident: The incident occurred during Storm Bram in the West Midlands. The driver, in a Mercedes, was stranded and necessitated a rescue by emergency services.
The Rescue: Firefighters used a throw bag (a rope rescue technique) to guide the woman out of her car. While the water was described as around "knee deep" (approx. 1 foot) in some reports, it was treated as a potential danger, and she was brought to safety.
Safety Protocols: Emergency services must follow strict safety protocols regarding flooding, which include conducting a risk assessment before attempting any rescue, particularly when dealing with potentially swift water, as per standard procedures.
Controversy and Commentary: The incident was widely shared on social media, with some users questioning the necessity of the rescue and suggesting it was an overreaction for a "puddle". However, emergency services advise that “all flood calls are handled as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.”
Therefore, for the sake of fair balance, this water incident might have become an dangerous issue {it didn’t} and it might have been a raging torrent {it wasn’t} the water was relatively still, like a pond for example, it was on a road service, not mud, and in daylight, see incident photo 10 in the gallery.

‘Brave lady rescues herself so as not to put the firefighters lives at risk.” See firefighter far right, very sensibly wearing a life jacket as a precaution the lady might splash water upon him/her during her flight from raging torrent! apologies, typo, should read.. puddle

In 2012, a man who fell into a lake drowned after firefighters called to the scene said they could not enter the water if it was higher than ankle deep for health and safety reasons, an inquest has been told.

Simon Burgess, a 41-year-old charity shop worker died at Walpole Park, in Gosport, Hampshire, on 10 March. He is believed to have had an epileptic seizure either before or after falling into the water while feeding swans.

Witnesses raised the alarm, but the hearing was told on Tuesday that members of a fire crew refused to get to him because the water was more than ankle deep. Instead, they waited for a specialist water rescue team and Burgess was only taken out of the lake 28 minutes after the alarm was raised.

Gillian Hughes, 53, told the inquest, at Portsmouth coroners court, that she had phoned emergency services and urged them to rescue Burgess when they arrived. She said: "The firemen arrived with the police, and I said: 'He's only been there five or 10 minutes, so if you hurry you might save him.'

"He just said: 'We're not allowed', and I said: 'But that's your job.'

Hughes added: "I said to one of the firemen: Why don't you go in?' and he said they couldn't if the water was higher than ankle deep. I said: 'You're having a laugh'. He said: 'No, that's health and safety' – but I thought that was their job."

She said that another fire crew arrived and started walking around the lake, putting in a pole and measuring the depth but, by this time, Burgess had drifted from one side of the lake to the other.

Police, ambulance and coastguard { YES, THE COASTGUARD} were also sent as standard for a water rescue," she added. "The specialist teams are there to deal with water which is over half a boot in depth. At 12.20pm, the fire crew confirmed attendance and at 12.25 they told us a male was floating face down."

"The water support unit arrived at 12.31pm. At 12.46, we received a message requesting our press officer attend the scene. At 12.52, an update came in saying a male had been recovered, and at 12.58 he was taken to hospital."

He drowned in a public park lake, not in the middle of the North Sea, but a lake, so they sent for the coastguard, as it was procedure.

Burgess was pronounced dead at 1.42pm after he was taken to hospital.

We must make it quite clear, any firefighter, however highly commended for their past bravery, that ignores risk assessment procedures, could face instant dismissal.  read more

Code: 26222