Antique Arms & Militaria

A Most Rare Silver Presentation British Raj Imperial Police Officer's Sword. The Very Same Type of Rare Officer's Sword Carried by George Orwell, Author of Animal Farm, 1984, When He Was Assistant District Superintendent of Imperial Police of Burma

Reserved
Presentation swords from the former British Empire are most rare today and extremely collectable and this is an exceptional example and one the rarest one would ever find.

A Wilkinson deluxe quality silver plated presention sword, presented on the 4th January 1912 to the recipient, A.H.Marshall by E.B.L, for the celebration of King George Vth's Delhi Durbar of December 1911. The Indian Imperial Police, referred to variously as the Indian (Imperial) Police or simply the Indian Police or, by 1905, Imperial Police (IP), was part of the Indian Police Services (IPS), the uniform system of police administration in British India, as established by India Act 5 of 1861.

In 1948, a year after India's independence from Britain, the Imperial Police Service (IPS) was replaced by the Indian Police Service, which had been constituted as part of the All-India Services by the Constitution.

It comprised two branches, the Superior Police Services, from which the Indian (Imperial) Police would later be formed, and the Subordinate Police Service. Until 1893, appointments to the senior grades (i.e., Assistant District Superintendent and above) were made locally in India, mainly from European officers of the Indian Army.
Hierarchically, the upper echelon, headed by an Inspector General for each province, was made up of District Superintendents and Assistant District Superintendents (ADS), most of whom were appointed, from 1893, by examination for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) exams in the UK. The Subordinate Police Service consisted of Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, Head Constables (or Sergeant in the City forces and cantonments) and Constables, mainly consisting of Indians except for the higher ranks.
By the 1930s, the Indian Police "unprecedented degree of authority within the colonial administration".
The Indian Imperial Police was also the primary law enforcement in Burma, governed as a province of India. George Orwell, under his real name of Eric Blair, served in the Indian Imperial Police, in Burma, from October 1920 to December 1927, eventually resigning while on leave in England, having attained the rank of Assistant District Superintendent at District Headquarters, first in Insein, and later at Moulmein.  read more

Code: 21763

An Early Crusades Period 10th Century, Byzantine, Ceramic Greek Fire 'Grenade' Around 1,100 Years Pounds

Of semi ovoid form. A rare collectable ancient artefact and a wonderful conversation piece. Circa 10th century AD. A grey ceramic globular vessel with conical bottom and narrow neck with a graduated rim; a carved roundel band below. With an incised pattern band at the top midsection.Bottom section with chipping. History of the grenade;
Although grenades rose to prominence as weapons during the 20th century, grenades have a very long history.

They are first thought to have been used by the Byzantine Empire from around the seventh century AD. Clay vessels were filled with flammable liquid known as Greek fire and flung at the enemy.
They were often piled into catapults to increase the range and devastation they caused.
They were popular weapons in naval battles as the fire could easily spread on ships and cause devastation. In its earliest form, Greek fire was hurled onto enemy forces by firing a burning cloth-wrapped ball, perhaps containing a flask, using a form of light catapult, most probably a seaborne variant of the Roman light catapult or onager. These were capable of hurling light loads, around 6 to 9 kg (13 to 20 lb), a distance of 350?450 m (380?490 yd). Greek fire, was invented in ca. 672, and is ascribed by the chronicler Theophanes to Kallinikos, an architect from Heliopolis in the former province of Phoenice, by then overrun by the Muslim conquests. The historicity and exact chronology of this account is open to question: Theophanes reports the use of fire-carrying and siphon-equipped ships by the Byzantines a couple of years before the supposed arrival of Kallinikos at Constantinople. If this is not due to chronological confusion of the events of the siege, it may suggest that Kallinikos merely introduced an improved version of an established weapon. The historian James Partington further thinks it likely that Greek fire was not in fact the discovery of any single person, but "invented by chemists in Constantinople who had inherited the discoveries of the Alexandrian chemical school".Indeed, the 11th-century chronicler George Kedrenos records that Kallinikos came from Heliopolis in Egypt, but most scholars reject this as an error. Kedrenos also records the story, considered rather implausible, that Kallinikos' descendants, a family called "Lampros" ("Brilliant"), kept the secret of the fire's manufacture, and continued doing so to his day.

The invention of Greek fire came at a critical moment in the Byzantine Empire's history: weakened by its long wars with Sassanid Persia, the Byzantines had been unable to effectively resist the onslaught of the Muslim conquests. Within a generation, Syria, Palestine and Egypt had fallen to the Arabs, who in ca. 672 set out to conquer the imperial capital of Constantinople. The Greek fire was utilized to great effect against the Muslim fleets, helping to repel the Muslims at the first and second Arab sieges of the city. Records of its use in later naval battles against the Saracens are more sporadic, but it did secure a number of victories, especially in the phase of Byzantine expansion in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. Utilisation of the substance was prominent in Byzantine civil wars, chiefly the revolt of the thematic fleets in 727 and the large-scale rebellion led by Thomas the Slav in 821?823. In both cases, the rebel fleets were defeated by the Constantinopolitan Imperial Fleet through the use of Greek fire The Byzantines also used the weapon to devastating effect against the various Rus' raids to the Bosporus, especially those of 941 and 1043, as well as during the Bulgarian war of 970?971, when the fire-carrying Byzantine ships blockaded the Danube.

The importance placed on Greek fire during the Empire's struggle against the Arabs would lead to its discovery being ascribed to divine intervention. The Emperor Constantine Porphyrogennetos (r. 945?959), in his book De Administrando Imperio, admonishes his son and heir, Romanos II (r. 959?963), to never reveal the secrets of its construction, as it was "shown and revealed by an angel to the great and holy first Christian emperor Constantine" and that the angel bound him "not to prepare this fire but for Christians, and only in the imperial city". As a warning, he adds that one official, who was bribed into handing some of it over to the Empire's enemies, was struck down by a "flame from heaven" as he was about to enter a church. As the latter incident demonstrates, the Byzantines could not avoid capture of their precious secret weapon: the Arabs captured at least one fireship intact in 827, and the Bulgars captured several siphons and much of the substance itself in 812/814. This, however, was apparently not enough to allow their enemies to copy it . The Arabs for instance employed a variety of incendiary substances similar to the Byzantine weapon, but they were never able to copy the Byzantine method of deployment by siphon, and used catapults and grenades instead. In its earliest form, Greek fire was hurled onto enemy forces by firing a burning cloth-wrapped ball, perhaps containing a flask, using a form of light catapult, most probably a seaborne variant of the Roman light catapult or onager. These were capable of hurling light loads?around 6 to 9 kg (13 to 20 lb)?a distance of 350?450 m (383?492 yd). Later technological improvements in machining technology enabled the devising of a pump mechanism discharging a stream of burning fluid (flame thrower) at close ranges, devastating wooden ships in naval warfare. Such weapons were also very effective on land when used against besieging forces.

Greek fire continued to be mentioned during the 12th century, and Anna Komnene gives a vivid description of its use in a ? possibly fictional ? naval battle against the Pisans in 1099. However, although the use of hastily improvised fireships is mentioned during the 1203 siege of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, no report confirms the use of the actual Greek fire, which had apparently fallen out of use, either because its secrets were forgotten, or because the Byzantines had lost access to the areas ? the Caucasus and the eastern coast of the Black Sea ? where the primary ingredients were to be found. Approx 5 inches across  read more

Code: 22421

A Original Spontoon of The Guard Of The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VIth Circa 1700's

Engraved with the twin headed eagle and the crest of Emperor Charles VIth. On the reverse side engraved with a seated figures flags and cannon. Charles VI (1 October 1685 - 20 October 1740; German: Karl VI., Latin: Carolus VI) succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia (as Charles II), King of Hungary and Croatia, Serbia and Archduke of Austria (as Charles III) in 1711. He unsuccessfully claimed the throne of Spain following the death of his relative, Charles II, in 1700. He married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenb?ttel, by whom he had his two children: Maria Theresa, the last Habsburg sovereign, and Maria Anna, Governess of the Austrian Netherlands.

Four years before the birth of Maria Theresa, faced with his lack of male heirs, Charles provided for a male-line succession failure with the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713. The Emperor favoured his own daughters over those of his elder brother and predecessor, Joseph I, in the succession, ignoring the decree he had signed during the reign of his father, Leopold I. Charles sought the other European powers' approval. They exacted harsh terms: Britain demanded that Austria abolish its overseas trading company. In total, Great Britain, France, Saxony-Poland, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Venice, States of the Church, Prussia, Russia, Denmark, Savoy-Sardinia, Bavaria, and the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire recognised the sanction. France, Spain, Saxony-Poland, Bavaria and Prussia later reneged. Charles died in 1740, sparking the War of the Austrian Succession, which plagued his successor, Maria Theresa, for eight years. We show for information an engraving of the Guard of The Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg, With the very same spontoon. 7 ft overall , head 22 inches including sidestraps  read more

Code: 21520

A Superb Service Issue 1856-8 Two Band Enfield Yataghan Blade Sword Bayonet. Used In The Opium War with the P1853 Enfields in The Late 1850's China and the American Civil War From 1861

The rifle that this sword bayonet was designed for the P1853 two band Enfield rifle, and was the type used in the late Indian Mutiny at the "Seige and Relief of Lucknow". Chequered leather grip with rivets, and screw affixed retaining spring. Good, long, Yataghan blade in bright polish. Excellent leather. The regiments that used this bayonet sword took part in the Second Opium War, the Indian Mutiny and the Third Anglo-Burmese War, and tens of thousands of service issue rifles and bayonets were sold to America in the Civil war, purchased by both the North, and the South. See photos in the gallery of Union and Confederates with the Enfield rifles and their yataghan bayonets. After the Civil War thousands of Confederate purchased Enfields were sold to Japan's Tokugawa Shogunate, and used in the Boshin war and the Satsuma Rebellion.

A quote from a Confederate officer's diary,
"Every short two-band Enfield which came into possession of any of our men was taken away and given to these men sharpshooters ... But there were not enough and some of them had the common long Enfield."
It would appear that by mid-war in the Confederate Service, while the infantry was provided with the longer rifle-muskets where possible, the shorter rifles (US or Enfield) were preferred for use by the Cavalry:

Gen. Basil Duke noted of Morgan's Cavalry, they did not even like the American shorter carbine length muzzle loaders (musketoons):

"Morgan's Cavalry in the west preferred the British arm they called the "medium Enfield" the two band rifle. The short Enfield carbine they found convenient to carry, but deficient in range and accuracy. The long-Enfield (three band) they found inconvenient to carry, and difficult to use (as was sometimes necessary) on horseback. Regardless, in that command one company had the long Enfield, another the short, and another the medium.

We bought the entire small collection from the widow of a 'Best of British Empire Rifles and Bayonets, Both British and German' collector, who acquired them over the past 40 years, and only ever kept the very best he could afford to keep. Act fast they are selling really fast, three rifles and eight bayonets and a cutlass have sold in two days alone. Top quality and condition,19th and 20th century scarce British and German collectables are always the most desirable of all.

The Confederates imported more Enfields during the course of the war than any other small arm, buying from private contractors and gun runners and smuggling them into Southern ports through blockade running. It has been estimated that over 900,000 P53 Enfields were imported into America and saw service in every major engagement from the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862) and the Siege of Vicksburg (May 1863), to the final battles of 1865. The gun was highly sought after in the Confederate ranks. According to a survey taken by British officials during the early stages of war on the arms of the Western Confederate Forces, nearly 70% were armed with smoothbore arms, such as the Model 1842 Springfield. Later in the war the same survey was taken, they found that more than 75% had acquired a rifle, mainly the Pattern 1853 Enfield.

The P53 Enfields capabilities were largely lost by the lack of marksmanship training by both the Union and Confederacy. Most soldiers were not trained to estimate ranges or to properly adjust their sights to account for the "rainbow-like" trajectory of the large calibre conical projectile. Unlike their British counterparts who attended extensive musketry training, new Civil War soldiers seldom fired a single cartridge until their first engagement. After the end of the war, hundreds of formerly Confederate Enfield 1853 muskets were sold from the American arms market to the Tokugawa shogunate, as well as some prominent Japanese domains including Aizu and Satsuma. These units were later used in the Boshin War, and some remaining in Satsuma were also used by rebelling former samurai in the Satsuma Rebellion about a decade later.  read more

Code: 25154

A Beautiful Antique Fijian 'Snake Club' Gata Waka, A Fijian Warrior's Battle Club With Skull Splitter End, Also Known as a Gunstock Club

18th to 19th century. Early 19th century Fiji battle club. Excellent condition with fabulous natural patina. So called because of their resemblance to the butt of a gun, they are actually have no relation to rifles or muskets, and predate their appearance. It could be described as a dueling club as it could be used to parry, and then bring the bladed end down on its victim. Another trick the Fijians would use is to pin them down by the neck with the crook of the club and then snap. Probably nokonoko wood. These clubs are made from the buttress roots of an uprooted sapling that has been planted and deliberately and carefully trained to produce the desired shape. The heavy two handed war club in all its various forms is regarded as being the favourite arm of the Fijian warrior. To slay an enemy with a club brought the warrior more prestige than to kill with any other weapon. Sometimes in order to gain 'Koroi, [killer status], a detained prisoner would be speared and then administered a killing blow by a warrior to the head with a club. The fact that the club shattered that part of the body held most sacred by Fijians; the head, accounted in some degree for the special psychological aura surrounding it and distinguishing it from every other weapon in the Fijian warrior's armoury.
A tally of kills made with a club was often kept by a means of nicks or notches on the head or handle, by boring small holes in the shaft. A 19th century Fijian Gata Waka [snake club] of dark brown patina, the heavy gunstock head the main section with raised medial ``skull splitter`` ridge, the tapering oval section haft with swelling butt. The role of the craftsman in Fijian culture was a much-valued skill and the woodcraftsmen in Fiji formed a distinct group in the community, with their own chiefs and specialists in making various items. Clubs were lovingly crafted and some clubs required years to make. Club carvers 'matai ni malumu' were highly skilled in selecting the correct type of wood for making the club and experienced enough to experiment with design as the variation in design and ornamentation on Fijian clubs attest to.
According to Rod Ewins, "This type of club is notable for the cheeks that were pounded with rocks while the tree was growing. The ridges running across the cheeks are typical." (Traditional Fijian Artefacts, Just Pacific, 2014, p. 89, fig. 6.34(i)) A small rounded ridge is located at the base of the spur at the head of the club. It is called the Tere Tere after the frill of an iguana. Small defensive wood cut in the haft midsection. This Gatawaka or gunstock club is around 37.5 inches long and an absolute beauty.  read more

Code: 20893

A Very Special Offer Sword of W.C. Cuninghame, Distinguished Hero of the 79th Foot in the Crimean War & Subsequently Elevated, Due to His Gallantry, to a Position WIthin the Queen’s Bodyguard of H.M Queen Victoria

We acquired three swords direct from the Cuninghame family, and they are all to be sold separately.

This was the service sword of William Cuninghame Cuninghame, Capt. Of the 79th Cameron Highlanders, son of William Alexander Cuninghame late of the 95th landed with his regiment in the Crimea. He served in the battle of Alma, Balaklava and Sebastepol awarded the Crimean medal with three clasps, and the Turkish medal not included. After his distinguished service in the Crimean War he became a member of the Corps of Gentleman at Arms, Queen Victoria's personal bodyguard. This was a highly esteemed position to obtain, and only a very few, of the very best, most distinguished, and respected British army officers were ever chosen to serve in such an exalted position. This is his basket hilted broadsword was commissioned from Wilkinson sword, completed on the 15th May, and delivered or colllected later in May, 1854 serial numbered 5174. The basket is complete with it's stag hide liner lined with traditional red uniform cloth with silk tassle. The broadsword blade is etched with Wilkinsons mark and the steel mounted leather scabbard once bore full engraving of his name crest and regiment. The Cuninghame name is one of Scotland’s oldest clan names, based on a regional name, and can trace their Scottish ancestry back to Cunninghame which is the northern part of Ayrshire.Traditionally, in 1059, King Malcolm rewarded Malcolm, son of Friskin with the Thanedom of Cunninghame. The name is therefore of territorial origin and it likely derives from cuinneag which means milk pail and the Saxon ham which means village. There is a story that states that Malcolm who was the son of Friskin, obtained the lands from Malcolm III of Scotland after he had sheltered him under hay in a barn The Cunninghams were certainly well settled in the parish of Kilmaurs by the end of the thirteenth century. The son of the Laird of Kilmaurs was Hervy de Cunningham who fought for Alexander III of Scotland at the Battle of Largs in 1263 against the Norse invaders. During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Cunninghams were supporters of the Bruces in their fight for Scottish independence. A detail of the 79th Cameron Highlanders at Alma goes as follows; About half-past one o?clock 20th Sept 1854 the action commenced by the Russians opening fire from the redoubt on the left upon the French, who were attempting to assail their position in that direction. The British forces then formed in line, and proceeded to cross the river about the village of Burliuk. The light and second divisions led the way preceded by the skirmishers of the Rifle Brigade, who advanced through the vineyards beyond the village, and spreading themselves along the margin of the river, engaged the Russian riflemen on the opposite bank.

The first division, which formed the left of the allied army, advancing in support, traversed the vineyard and crossed the river, protected by its overhanging banks. On reaching the slope of the hill, the three Highland regiments formed line in ?ch?lon, and, "with the precision of a field-day advanced to the attack, the 42nd Royal Highlanders on the right, and the 79th Cameron Highlanders on the left, the extreme left of the allied army." "The magnificent mile of line," says Captain Jameson, "displayed by the Guards and Highlanders, the prominent bear-skin, the undulating waves of the clan-tartans, the stalwart frames, steady and confident bearing of these young and eager soldiers advancing under fire, can never be forgotten by those who witnessed it, whilst it contributed materially to the discouragement of the enemy, whose columns perceptibly wavered as they approached. His masses of four - and - twenty deep, absolutely reeled and staggered to and fro under the murderous fire of the Scottish line, which was delivered with great effect at a distance of 200 yards."
We show in the gallery a painting of the 79th Highlanders charging at Alma, a photo of Capt. W.C.Cuninghame's Crimean War & Queen's Bodyguard Diamond Jubilee medal that were sold some years ago, and a photo of Capt. Cuninghame as part of Queen Victoria's personal bodyguard at the Jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral 1897 . The basket has a small bar lacking on one side due to hand to hand combat contact damage. As the scabbard is steel mounted, not brass as are his ancestors swords, the family name crest and regiment engraving on the scabbard has all but disappeared due to very light old surface pitting but traces of it can be identified in the right light. It would likely need modern infra red light technology to reveal it fully. 32.25 inch blade. Capt. Cuninghame's Medals and photos in the gallery not included.  read more

Code: 20427

An Exceptional 1888 The Sherwood Foresters {Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire} Regimental Lee Metford Mk1 Pattern 2 Bayonet With Excellent Scabbard

In superb condition, a real beauty!. Regimentally marked for the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire regiment, 'DY', The Sherwood Foresters, formed in 1881, {who later served at Gallipoli}. Scabbard stamped EFD for Enfield.

Sherwood Foresters saw action in Egypt during the Anglo-Egyptian War, and was stationed at Malta from September 1898. Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in October 1899, the battalion was sent to South Africa where they arrived in December. They were stationed in the Orange Free State and took part in fighting under General Sir William Gatacre. From April 1900 they were part of the 21st Infantry brigade under General Bruce Hamilton.3 The battalion stayed in South Africa until the end of the war, then transferred on the SS Wakool to a new posting at Hong Kong in September 1902.4

The 2nd Battalion served in India from 1882 to 1898, and saw action in the Sikkim Expedition 1888 and the North West Frontier campaign 1897–1898, after which they transferred to Aden. They were stationed at Malta from February 1900 until returning home in May 1902

The Lee-Metford rifle (a.k.a. Magazine Lee-Metford, abbreviated MLM) was a bolt action British army service rifle, combining James Paris Lee's rear-locking bolt system and ten-round magazine with a seven groove rifled barrel designed by William Ellis Metford. It replaced the Martini-Henry rifle in 1888, following nine years of development and trials, but remained in service for only a short time until replaced by the similar Lee-Enfield.

We bought the entire small collection from the widow of a 'Best of British Empire Rifles and Bayonets, Both British and German' collector, who acquired them over the past 40 years, and only ever kept the very best he could afford to keep. Act fast they are selling really fast, three rifles and eight bayonets and a cutlass have sold in two days alone.. Top quality and condition,19th and 20th century scarce British and German collectables are always the most desirable of all. Also for use with the earliest form of Long Lee Rifle, the Boer War and early WW1 Enfield Rifle Fitting the early Long Lee Rifle until 1903/4 when the Long Lee had a new narrower bayonet bar fitted and the cleaning rod channel removed, the later 1903 Metford bayonet thus altered to fit, but retaining the same blade until the 1907 long bladed SMLE bayonet was devised. The Lee Metford and Long Lee rifle and bayonet were used in the Chinese Legations during the Boxer Rebellion in Peking in June 1900.

The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire regt. in 1914 they became part of the First New Army (K1) and then moved to Grantham to join the 33rd Brigade of the 11th Division.The 11th (Northern) Division, was an infantry division of the British Army during the First World War, raised from men who had volunteered for Lord Kitchener's New Armies. The division fought in the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front. The division's insignia was an ankh or ankhus.

April 1915 Moved to the Frensham area.
July 1915 Embarked for Mudros from Liverpool.
20-31.07.1915 At Helles and engaged in various actions against the Turkish Army including;
07.08.1915 Landed at Suvla Bay;
The Battle of Sari Bair in the Gallipoli campaign
Dec 1915 Deployed to Imbros.
Feb 1916 Deployed to Egypt and took over a section of the Suez Canal defences.
July 1916 Deployed to France and engaged in various action on the Western Front including;
The capture of the Wundt-Werk, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Thiepval, the Battle of Delville wood on the 7th August 1916 as machinegunners alongside the Staffs
1917
Operations on the Ancre, The Battle of Messines, The Battle of the Langemarck, The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Battle of Poelcapelle.
1918
The Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of the Drocourt-Quant Line, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Sambre.
11.11.1918 Ended the war south of Mons, Belgium.  read more

Code: 25159

Ancient Imperial Roman Discus Form Oil Lamp with Embossed Design Circa 100 AD

Lamps were used throughout antiquity for the principal purpose of lighting in domestic, civic and also religious contexts (funerary or votive) where permanent light was required. The origin of the lamp is not known for certain, but it had become commonplace in Greece by the 4th century BCE, where its use replaced that of the torch known from earlier times. Since the large scale production of olive oil which (amongst other things) was used as lamp fuel and constituted part of a major industry in Ancient Greece it is not surprising that the mass-production of lamps occurred as they were in constant demand. This demand continued well into the Roman period and the subsequent CE era. As the industry continued to grow, so did the varied styles of lamps, that illustrated incredible diversity in their shapes, decorations and materials. Shapes ranged from simple single nozzled ones to others that had 12 or more spouts. Others demonstrated zoomorphic (animal) or anthropomorphic (human) forms, while others had varied decorations confined to the top of the lamp with vegetable or abstract motifs, but also figural scenes (mythological, legendary, gladiatorial, domestic life, erotica etc). Further, while terracotta was the most common material used for the production of these devices, they were also made in stone or metal such as gold or silver, but they were most commonly produced in bronze.  read more

Code: 25119

A Superb Regimental 1856-8 Enfield Sword Bayonet

The rifle that this sword bayonet was designed for was the type used in the Indian Mutiny at the "Seige and Relief of Lucknow" The rifle we are selling seperately now sold. Excellent original patina to all the steel fittings and hilt. Chequered leather grip with rivets, and screw affixed retaining spring. Excellent Yataghan blade in stunning polish. Excellent leather. The regiments that used this bayonet sword took part in the Second Opium War, the Indian Mutiny and the Third Anglo-Burmese War.

We bought the entire small collection from the widow of a 'Best of British Empire Rifles and Bayonets, Both British and German' collector, who acquired them over the past 40 years, and only ever kept the very best he could afford to keep. Act fast they are selling really fast, three rifles and eight bayonets and a cutlass have sold in two days alone.Top quality and condition,19th and 20th century scarce British and German collectables are always the most desirable of all.

No scabbard  read more

Code: 25150

Very Rare Antique 1850's 'Lancaster Patent' Two-Band Oval Bore Rifle-Musket 50 Bore Lancaster’s Patent Royal Engineers Rifle!

An antique extremely rare and highly desirable Two-Band Rifle-Musket by Charles Lancaster, manufactured in London, England circa 1850's. In simply fabulous condition for its age. Charles William Lancaster (1820-1878) was devoted to his craft and was among the best England had to offer in the field of firearms making and invention. It was around the year 1850, when he conceived the idea of the oval bore. Indeed, it is very slightly oval, almost imperceptibly and the rifling is very subtle and this rifle could easily be mistaken for a smooth bore. The rifling is also “gain twist”, meaning that the twist gets faster as the projectile approaches the muzzle. He believed that the oval bore was the future form all rifles and cannons should take due to the design’s inherent ability to mitigate the fowling that came from using black powder, as well as their accuracy. He would put his idea to the test when he entered the government trials for what would become the Pattern 1853. He would spend much of 1852 and 1853 in doing so. His oval bore proved more accurate and less prone to foul than the competition, though the very subtle rifling was prone to wear out sooner with much use than conventional rifling. His system was not ultimately adopted for the Pattern 1853 infantry rifle-musket, but it was adopted in smaller numbers for sapper muskets.

This example is a 2-band rifle, the type which could have been made and sold for the Royal Engineers, Sappers and Miners, and volunteer units during this period, but this is a particularly rare chequered stock officer’s version, with a name engraved silver cartouche.

The Volunteer Movement was a response to the Crimean War as well as heightened tensions between England and France and the outbreak of war between France & Austria. England had a lot of territory to cover between the British Isles and its colonies, and there was imminent risk of being pulled into another conflict. This was a popular movement to create home defence. These had a great deal of autonomy initially, though many were eventually folded into the regular British Army. The rifle has fantastic sights stamped with Enfield inspector stamp.

We bought the entire small collection from the widow of a 'Best of British Empire Rifles and Bayonets, Both British and German' collector, who acquired them over the past 40 years, and only ever kept the very best he could afford to keep. Act fast they are selling really fast, three rifles and four bayonets and a cutlass have sold today alone. Top quality and condition,19th and 20th century scarce British and German collectables are always the most desirable of all.  read more

Code: 25145