Antique Arms & Militaria

A Stupendous, Original Officer's Quality Baker Rifle, of the Napoleonic Wars. Without Doubt The Most Famous Rifle Of The Georgian Period & For The Next 50 Years

Numbered on the butt tang, number 1. Coincidentally, around 25 years ago we had the privilege to own Henry Nock's No. 1 Baker as well. Both of these rifles may have been the gunsmiths examples to gain the contract from the Board of Ordnance, that eventually went to Mr Baker. When both Nock and Studenmayer failed to gain the contract, the rifles were then likely sold to British Rifle regiment officer's. However due to the exurgencies of war, Baker couldn't hope to fulfill the contract, neither could the Tower armoury, so the contracts were put out to such approved makers as Nock, Wallis and Studenmayer anyway.

It has a fine 30 inch Damascus barrel, .650, with Tower proofs, regulation seven groove rifling, and with an underside bayonet lug to affix its sword, maker inscribed name and address, of one of England's finest gunmaker's, who was gunmaker to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, Samuel Studenmayer of London {former apprentice to the great Manton} and he made this rifle at 35 Jermyn Street, some short while just after 1799. It is three-quarter stocked, with original steel ram/cleaning rod held within brass ramrod pipes, the tapered stepped steel lock with rain proof pan and roller frizzen. This gun appears in Howard Blackmore's British Military Firearms 1650 to 1850. It takes a very rare straight bladed socket sword {bayonet} with a 1796 pattern Light Cavalry P Hilt. {See a copy of the picture of the rifle and its sword, in a photo from Howard’s book copy that he gave us, in the gallery} It has the traditional but optional military inset patchbox in the fine walnut stock, with typical Baker cheekpiece on the opposing side, and the barrel is affixed with key slides as opposed to musket pins.

This rifle is in pretty much in the same order of condition that of all the racked Baker's showed to us by Howard Blackmore during our tour of the Tower in the 1970's, with our late gunsmith Dennis Ottrey.

Howard also showed us the original Studenmeyer Baker combat service rifle sword {bayonet} with its 1796 cavalry variant hilt with socket ring, that would have been used with our Baker rifle. We do believe that may have been the last time we saw one of these incredibly rare and collectable swords, so rare in fact, we know of no known example being available on the open market for sale these past 40 years. If one did appear, it could likely be more highly priced than the rifle itself.

The Baker rifle (officially known as the Pattern 1800 Infantry Rifle) was a flintlock rifle used by the rifle regiments of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the first standard-issue, British-made rifle accepted by the British armed forces.

The Baker rifle was first produced in 1800 by Ezekiel Baker, a master gunsmith from Whitechapel. The British Army was still issuing the infantry rifle in the 1830s.

The British Army had learnt the value of rifles from their experience in the American Revolutionary War. However, existing rifle designs were considered too cumbersome, slow-firing, fragile or expensive to be put to use on any scale beyond irregular companies. Rifles had been issued on a limited basis and consisted of parts made to no precise pattern, often brought in from Prussia. The war against Revolutionary France resulted in the employment of new tactics, and the British Army responded, albeit with some delay. Prior to the formation of an Experimental Rifle Corps in 1800, a trial was held at Woolwich by the British Board of Ordnance on 22 February 1800 in order to select a standard rifle pattern; the rifle designed by Ezekiel Baker was chosen. During the trial, of the twelve shots fired, eleven were placed in a 6-foot (1.8 m) circular target at a distance of 300 yards (270 m).

Colonel Coote Manningham, responsible for establishing the Rifle Corps, influenced the initial designs of the Baker. The first model resembled the British infantry musket ("Brown Bess"), but was rejected as too heavy. Baker was provided with a German Jäger rifle as an example of what was needed. The second model he made had a .75 caliber bore, the same caliber as the infantry musket. It had a 32-inch barrel, with eight rectangular rifling grooves; this model was accepted as the Infantry Rifle, but more changes were made until it was finally placed into production. The third and final model had the barrel shortened from 32 to 30 inches, and the caliber reduced to .653, which allowed the rifle to fire a .625 calibre carbine bullet, with a greased patch to grip the now-seven rectangular grooves in the barrel.

The rifle is referred to almost exclusively as the "Baker Rifle", but it was produced by a variety of manufacturers and sub-contractors from 1800 to 1837. Most of the rifles produced between 1800 and 1815 were not made by Ezekiel Baker, but under the Tower of London system, and he sub-contracted the manufacture of parts of the rifle to over 20 British gunsmiths.

The rifle as originally manufactured was expected to be capable of firing at a range of up to 200 yards (183 meters) with a high hit rate. The Baker rifle was used by skirmishers facing their opponents in pairs, sniping at the enemy either from positions in front of the main lines or from hidden positions in heights overlooking battlefields.

The accuracy of the rifle in capable hands is most famously demonstrated at the Battle of Cacabelos (during Moore's retreat to Corunna in 1809) by the action of Rifleman Thomas Plunkett (or Plunket) of the 1st Battalion, 95th Rifles, who shot French General Colbert at an unknown but long range (as much as 600 yards (550 m) according to some sources). He then shot Colbert's aide-de-camp, Latour-Maubourg, who went to the aid of his general, suggesting that the success of the first shot was not due to luck.

That rifleman Plunkett and others were able to regularly hit targets at ranges considered to be beyond the rifle's effective range speaks for both their marksmanship and the capabilities of the rifle.

Overall in excellent original condition for age, with good stock patina, reverse side age stock split and just commensurate surface bruising as to be expected for its age and use. A Napoleonic Wars combat service use Stedenmayer officer’s Baker is a very highly prized rifle indeed, and this is an exceptional example as well. It’s patch box contains small useful accessories, including spare flints and cleaning rod attachments.  read more

Code: 24800

A Very Good, Original, 1640’s English Civil War Officer's Mortuary Hilted Back Sword

The traditional sword’s basket hilt bears, within oval panels, the engraved facial portraits, it is said, of King Charles Ist and Queen Henrietta, and several of the Green Man. In the Victorian period these swords thus became known as Mortuary hilted swords, due to the executed king's visage being designed within the hilt pattern. It is not known exactly how this came to be, but there is no known use of the term Mortuary hilted before this time. In the Civil War, the opening of the battle usually involved groups of cavalry, with the officers carrying these very form of swords. The main objective was to make the opposing cavalry run away. When that happened, the victorious cavalry turned on the enemy infantry. Well-disciplined pike men, brave enough to hold their ground, could do tremendous damage to a cavalry charging straight at them. There are several examples of cavalry men having three or four horses killed under them in one battle. At the start of the war the king's nephew, Prince Rupert, was put in charge of the cavalry. Although Rupert was only twenty-three he already had a lot of experience fighting in the Dutch army. Prince Rupert introduced a new cavalry tactic that he had learnt fighting in Sweden. This involved charging full speed at the enemy. The horses were kept close together and just before impact the men fired their pistols, then arming themselves with their swords for the all too fearsome hand to hand combat

During the early stages of the Civil War the parliamentary army was at a great disadvantage. Most of the soldiers had never used a sword or musket before. When faced with Prince Rupert's cavalry charging at full speed, they often turned and ran.

One of the Roundhead officers who saw Prince Rupert's cavalry in action was a man called Oliver Cromwell. Although Cromwell had no military training, his experience as a large landowner gave him a good knowledge of horses. Cromwell became convinced that if he could produce a well-disciplined army he could defeat Prince Rupert and his Cavaliers. He knew that pike men, armed with sixteen-foot-long pikes, who stood their ground during a cavalry attack, could do a tremendous amount of damage.

Oliver Cromwell also noticed that Prince Rupert's cavalry were not very well disciplined. After they charged the enemy they went in pursuit of individual targets. At the first major battle of the civil war at Edge hill, most of Prince Rupert's cavalrymen did not return to the battlefield until over an hour after the initial charge. By this time the horses were so tired they were unable to mount another attack against the Roundheads.

Cromwell trained his cavalry to keep together after a charge. In this way his men could repeatedly charge the Cavaliers. Cromwell's new cavalry took part in its first major battle at Marston Moor in Yorkshire in July 1644. The king's soldiers were heavily defeated in the battle. Cromwell's soldiers became known as the Ironsides' because of the way they cut through the Cavaliers on the battlefield. The Mortuary hilted swords actually gained their unusual name some considerable time after the Civil War. For, as they bore representational portraits of King Charles Ist, it was believed in Victorian times that they were to symbolize the death of the King, however, as these swords were actually made from 1640, long before he was executed, it was an obviously erroneous naming, that curiously remains to this day. This example is a beautiful, fine and singularly handsome piece and would certainly be a fine addition to any collection of rare English swords. There are a few examples near identical to this sword in the Royal Collection and the Tower of London Collection.

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

In good condition for age with natural age wear and tear, single side bars. 35.25 inch long blade, overall 41 inches overall  read more

Code: 23161

Victorian Police 'Jack the Ripper' Era Type Handcuffs or 'Derby's' & Original Oval Flat Key

Good flattened head key type, with board of ordnance broad arrow stamp and serial number.

The type as was made and first used in the early Victorian era from the very beginnings of the British Police service, and on well into the next century. Excellent working order early flat key type. A good and fine condition pair of original 'Derby' cuffs used by the 'Bobbies' or 'Peelers', with the traditional rotating spiral key action.
They are also the very type that were used, and as can be seen, in all the old films of the Whitechapel Murders, and Sherlock Holmes' adventures in the gloomy London Fog.

Originally handcuffs were made of a large wooden toggle with a loop of cord, which was slipped over a prisoner’s wrists and twisted. Manufacturers Hiatt and Company, founded in Birmingham in 1780, developed a new patent for restraints, which became standard issue when the Metropolitan Police was created in 1829.

In 1818 Thomas Griffin Hiatt appears in the Wrightson Directory for the first time as a manufacturer of felon's irons and gate locks, located on Moor St. in Birmingham. Some time in the next few years Hiatt moved around the corner to 26 Masshouse Lane, where he is located in the next edition of the Wrightson's Birmingham directory as a manufacturer of felon's irons, gate lock, handcuffs, horse and dog collars. The Hiatt Company remained at the 26 Masshouse Lane address until the premises were destroyed by the World War II German bombing in 1941.

The Whitechapel murders were committed in or near the largely impoverished Whitechapel district in the East End of London between 3 April 1888 and 13 February 1891. At various points some or all of these eleven unsolved murders of women have been ascribed to the notorious unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.

The murderer or murderers were never identified and the cases remain unsolved. Sensational reportage and the mystery surrounding the identity of the killer or killers fed the development of the character "Jack the Ripper", who was blamed for all or most of the murders. Hundreds of books and articles discuss the Whitechapel murders, and they feature in novels, short stories, comic books, television shows, and films of multiple genres.

The poor of the East End had long been ignored by affluent society, but the nature of the Whitechapel murders and of the victims' impoverished lifestyles drew national attention to their living conditions. The murders galvanised public opinion against the overcrowded, unsanitary slums of the East End, and led to demands for reform. On 24 September 1888, George Bernard Shaw commented sarcastically on the media's sudden concern with social justice in a letter to The Star newspaper:  read more

Code: 25079

A Superb Roman 1900 Year Old 'Status' Seal Ring, Intaglio, Stylized Engraved, with a Mythological Scene of The Pheonix In Flight

A superb Henig type Xb ring. Wide oval bezel affixed to flattened shoulders engraved copper bronze alloy with gilt highlights. Almost identical shape and form to one found in the UK near Hadrian's Wall. and another similar ring, with the very same style of workmanship and engraving from the era, was discovered 50 years ago, and believed to be once the ring of the infamous Pontius Pilate, the Governor of Judea for Rome

The Greek myth of the Pheonix in a nest of flames was set down in Ancient Rome by the great poet Ovid,

In Ovid's, Metamorphoses 15. 385 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"These creatures other races of birds all derive their first beginnings from others of their kind. But one alone, a bird, renews and re-begets itself--the Phoenix of Assyria, which feeds not upon seeds or verdure but the oils of balsam and the tears of frankincense. This bird, when five long centuries of life have passed, with claws and beak unsullied, builds a nest high on a lofty swaying palm; and lines the nest with cassia and spikenard and golden myrrh and shreds of cinnamon, and settled there at ease and, so embowered in spicy perfumes, ends his life's long span. Then from his father's body is reborn a little Phoenix, so they say, to live the same long years. When time has built his strength with power to raise the weight, he lifts the nest--the nest his cradle and his father's tomb--as love and duty prompt, from that tall palm and carries it across the sky to reach the Sun's great city i.e. Heliopolis in Egypt, and before the doors of the Sun's holy temple lays it down."

Publius Ovidius Naso, 21 March 43 BC – AD 17/18), known in English as Ovid was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a younger contemporary of Virgil and Horace, with whom he is often ranked as one of the three canonical poets of Latin literature. The Imperial scholar Quintilian considered him the last of the Latin love elegists. Although Ovid enjoyed enormous popularity during his lifetime, the emperor Augustus exiled him to Tomis, the capital of the newly-organised province of Moesia, on the Black Sea, where he remained for the last nine or ten years of his life. Ovid himself attributed his banishment to a "poem and a mistake", but his reluctance to disclose specifics has resulted in much speculation among scholars.

Today, Ovid is most famous for the Metamorphoses, a continuous mythological narrative in fifteen books written in dactylic hexameters.

A ring discovered 50 years ago is now believed to possibly be the ring of Pontius Pilate himself, and it was the same copper-bronze form ring as is this one. See its image in the gallery, with a detailed drawing of the traditional stylized engraving, in order to show the intaglio more clearly.

Being around 2000 years old, it has a heavily encrusted, natural, well aged patina

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  read more

Code: 25077

An Exceptional and Scarce Antique Maasai Warriors War Club, A Rungu,19th Century, Made Of Incredibly Dense Hardwood

An absolute beauty, and stunning quality craftsmanship. Rarely seen example of an original antique close combat weapon of the renown, most fearless Maasai ‘Lion Hunter’ warriors, of Kenya.
This is not a commonly found modern tourist piece, but a rare, original, antique warrior’s rungu, of stunning beauty and quality.

In Maasai culture, the rungu is a highly important emblem of warrior status for young males. A special one is held by the designated speaker at important tribal gatherings. It is especially associated with Maasai morans (male warriors) who have traditionally used it in warfare and for hunting, it was used by the warrior for close combat or as a lethal and highly effective throwing club.  read more

Code: 20989

We Have New Fascinating Items Added To The Site Every Single Day.

Wonderful and intriguing pieces, such as a Renaissance period helmet and fusetto stiletto dagger, as used by a chief Cannoneer of the Papal Army in the 16th century, up to 500 years ago, commanded by Cesare Borgia, son of the Borgia Pope, and later in the 16th century, By Matteo Barbarini, brother to Pope Urban VIIIth.

Also, many military souvenirs of all kinds from WW1 and WW2, to, say, a Spanish Conquistador's helmet of the 16th century, to Ian Fleming’s James Bond, 1960's Ist Edition books, a Baker Rifle sword-bayonet, to original samurai swords hundreds of years old.

All are original, beautiful, historical and truly intriguing pieces.

This week we will be adding some superb and inexpensive Roman and Greek antiquities, plus medieval antiquities too. We are also sending our deliveries to our clients in the UK, Australia, America, & Canada, every working day, containing the rarest and finest pieces, from books, to helmets, swords and antiquities.  read more

Code: 21779

A, Good, Rare, Heavy Plate, Original Italian Vatican Infantry Army Helmet of Pope Urban VIIIth’s Armoury, a Cabasset Helmet 1500’s. As Used By The Cannoneers of the Papal Artillery. Originally Sourced From The Papal Armoury, in The Vatican

It’s companion Cabasset helmets are now in the Vatican Historical Museum in the Lateran Palace, Rome
The defensive helmet as used by the cannoneers of Pope Urban’s Papal Army artillery, and just as would be used by the chief cannoneer in battle, in the army commanded by Mateo Barbarini, Pope Urban’s brother. A helmet worn, while also armed with the chief Cannoneers fusetto

Used in artillery combat in Papal armies, such as were once commanded by the infamous Cesare Borgia, who was an Italian cardinal and condottiero, an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI and member of the Spanish-Aragonese House of Borgia.
His fight for power was a major inspiration for ‘The Prince’ by Niccolò Machiavelli. The Prince, one of Machiavelli's greatest works, as Machiavelli admired Borgia's undimmed ruthlessness, but mainly, because Borgia, for Machiavelli, exhibited a unity and coherence of purpose and intents that was good for the polity. {see Casare’s portrait in the gallery}


This is a Papal Army helmet from the collection of armour in the armoury of the Papal Army in Rome.
Good Heavy Italian Infantry Helmet Cabasset , hammered steel raised from a single plate, medial ridge with pear stalk finial stepped flared brim with turned over edge and in very good condition.

Provenance: From the Papal Armoury; and later acquired by London dealers Fenton & Sons Ltd. Fenton and Sons, Antique Arms and Armour, around 100 years ago. They traded in London from 1894-1927. and supplied, amongst others, the British Museum. An interesting point aside, we used to supply Fentons back in the 1920's ourselves. This and a few others were acquired by Fentons in 1919 and were listed in their catalogue. They were all from the Papal Armoury in Rome made for the Barberini family.

The Barberinis supplied the armour and cabassets for the papal army in the 16th century, a period fraught with anarchy and bandits and direct attacks on papal territories by Parma. The close association led to Maffeo Barberini becoming Pope Urban VIII. His brother Taddeo was made Supreme Commander of the Papal Army. The helmets, including this one, were from the papal armoury and served through the papal wars. It is estimated that about 4500 men served the papal army and most would have worn cabassets, making the original number of the group well over 4000. Others from the group are now in the Musio Storico Vaticano the Old Papal armoury now in the Vatican Historical Museum in the Lateran Palace, Rome.
The Papal Army was the loosely-construed army of volunteers and mercenaries in the service of the Italian Papal States, active from the 8th century until the capture of Rome by Italy in 1870. The Papal States maintained a sizeable military during the Middle Ages, using it to fight against the Holy Roman Empire and its Ghibelline allies. During the 1300s, the Papal States began to employ the services of condottieri, mercenaries who sold their services to the extremely wealthy Catholic Church. These forces would be instrumental to the defence of the Pope during the Italian Wars of the 15th and 16th centuries, with Cesare Borgia leading the Papal Army on a campaign of conquest that added several new city-states and regions to the Papal States' territories. Painting in the gallery of the Massacre of San Bartolome in the Catholic-Protestant Religious Wars, where the French crown aided by Queen Catherine de Medici, mother of the French King, with the Pope's blessing, fought ten of thousands of Huguenots what is considered the second deadliest religious war in European history (surpassed only by the Thirty Years' War, which took eight million European lives) The pope was so delighted with the battle he ordered a Te Deum to be sung as a special thanksgiving (a practice continued for many years after) and had a medal struck with the motto Ugonottorum strages,  read more

Code: 23616

A Wonderful 16th Century Renaissance Era Italian 'Fusetto' Gunner's Dagger Used on Land By Venetian Artillery Chief Cannoneers, or At Sea by The Venetian and Papal States Navy Cannoneers

A supremely effective stiletto from the Italian Renaissance, for defending the guns and cannoneers during close combat, and measuring the bore of cannon to ensure the right size cannon ball was used, measuring powder charges, and lastly, for ‘spiking the guns’ during the imminent threat of capture.

Used in artillery combat in Papal armies such as were commanded by Cesare Borgia, who was an Italian cardinal and condottiero, an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI and member of the Spanish-Aragonese House of Borgia. His fight for power was a major inspiration for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli see his portrait in the gallery. The Prince, one of Machiavelli's greatest works, as Machiavelli admired Borgia's undimmed ruthlessness, but mainly, because Borgia, for Machiavelli, exhibited a unity and coherence of purpose and intents that was good for the polity. {see Casare’s portrait in the gallery}

Used during the same time as the great and legendary masters, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo were creating their masterpieces for the great families of Renaissance Italy, such as the Borgias or for Pope Sixtus IVth’s Vatican Palace Sistine Chapel.

While the greatest artists the world has ever seen, we’re creating their glorious works in Rome, Florence or Venice, the cannoneers were mastering their guns in the great battles against enemy Italian States, or foreign invaders, such as the Ottoman army and navy of the Grand Turk.

A superb and most rare museum piece, only normally to be seen today in the world great armoury collections, such as in the Doge’s Palace Armoury in Venice, or the Royal Armoury of Turin,

This stunning beauty of this piece is the elegance and simplicity of its form, and, it is in fantastic condition for its age, which is around, an amazing, 500 years. A wonderful example of an original ‘fusetto’, the chief gunner's dagger, carried by an Italian chief cannoneer during the Renaissance period.

The exact type as used at the Battle of Pavia, by the artillery, and the Battle of Lepanto by the Papal States and the Venetian Navy. The blade is of rare rounded section, as, more commonly, they were square section. For the specific use of the Chief Cannoner of artillery, for several important purposes, including, the clearing the vent touch hole from burnt powder build up, and, as it has an engraved blade with a number scale cuts, in order to measure across the bore of a cannon at the muzzle, in order to gauge the calibre of the cannon, thus to ensure the right size ball was used, and also, for the correct measure of powder, plus, if all hope of defence of the gun is lost, for 'spiking' a cannon's vent touchhole if the cannon are overrun by the enemy. Finally, and often just as importantly, for use in close combat by the chief cannoneer, for, if the guns are over run the chief gunner or cannoneer needs a vitally important weapon for personal defence.

The side notches in the blade were cut showing graduation of muzzle widths and called the Scala di Cattaneo. The rare round form blade, being long and graduated, in addition to enhancing the elegance of the blade, has a function of mechanical compliance, for, as mentioned before, if during a battle the cannon were about to be taken by the enemy, the bombers and of course the other troops beat the retreat. At this point the 'fuse' the bottom tip of the 'fusetto' blade was used to render the cannon ineffective, the blade's tip was stuck with force into a cannon’s vent (the small upper touch hole opening, into which the touch powder flowed into to the breech ) and then with a violent blow the ‘fuse’ or tip of the blade was snapped off into the hole. This rendered the cannon unusable, at least for the time of retreat. Italian early artillery, particularly field artillery, became an indispensable part of any first-rate army during the Italian Wars.

The naval Battle of Lepanto, is shown in the gallery, painted by unknown artist, in the late 16th century. Another painting In the gallery is of the siege of Constantinople painted by The great master Tintoretto.
A new chapter for Venice and the Venetian navy opened in 1453, with the Fall of Constantinople and the beginning in earnest of the Ottoman–Venetian wars, a centuries long confrontation with the Ottoman Empire.

Faced with a constant threat to its maritime possessions, Venice had little choice but to maintain a standing fleet of dozens of galleys on a war footing in peacetime, bolstered in times of actual war by over a hundred galleys held in reserve. To oversee the efficient supply and administration of such a force required an extensive organisational effort, leading to the creation of the office of the Magistrato alla milizia da mar "commissioner of naval forces" responsible for the construction and maintenance of ships and cannon, provision of hardtack and other ship's stores, weapons and gunpowder, recruitment of crews and the management of finances.

With the maturation of firearms technology, the previous Greek fire projectors were replaced with cannon positioned in the bow as chasers. This era saw the development of further ship types. During his invasion of Italy, Charles VIII employed the first truly mobile siege train: culverins and bombards mounted on wheeled carriages, which could be deployed against an enemy stronghold immediately after arrival. The French siege arsenal brought with it multiple technological innovations. Charles' army pulled cannons with horses rather than the oxen typically used at the time. Additionally, French cannons, created methods used to cast bronze church bells, and achieved a lightness and mobility previously unheard of. Perhaps the most important improvement the French made to cannons, however, was the creation of the iron cannonball. Before the Italian Wars, artillery fired stone balls that often shattered on impact. The invention of the water mill allowed furnaces to generate enough heat to melt iron to be smelted into cannonballs. With this technology, Charles’ army could level, in a matter of hours, Italian castles that had formerly resisted sieges for months and years.

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

Overall 14 3/4 inches long, blade length 10 inches  read more

Code: 22445

Two Early Post Medieval 1/2 Penny and Penny Trade or Barter Tokens, Anchor and Petals Design, 17th to 18th Century

Lead tokens had a wide variety of uses and were made locally, they are therefore hard to date precisely. They could be used as steelyard weights, gaming counters or sometimes even used as unofficial money as in the English Civil War. Then most local parish money was commandeered by the Royalists in Worcester, and lead for musket balls. They are generally considered to be crude agricultural tokens though this may be too simplistic and a number of them could easily have been tavern pieces or barter money, (an early form of truck money). Nearby on the road from Worcester to Great Witley there was a licensed house at Rock Cottage, run by John Ockey in the late 1700s. It would be common practice for local small holders to exchange these tokens for produce at the Public House and for Ockey to sell it on to passersby.

c.1630 to 1800. Lead Tokens date back to Roman times when they were called tesserae. Later Anglo-Saxons also made Lead Tokens. In medieval times they were called “Pilgrim’s Pieces”. Some were very elaborate and were handed out by monks at monasteries to pilgrims as a memento. During the English Civil War copper coinage was scarce so local people turned to making their own unofficial money. They were usually made of Lead and small to about 20 mm in diameter and about 2-3 mm thick so that soldiers would not seize them to melt down to make musket balls. The monetary value for the small kind, around 16mm, was equivalent to a farthing or 1/960th of a pound. The larger tokens, as these are, was double that to a halfpenny, and double again, to a penny

After 1663 penny tokens start to appear. These often bear their value but range widely in size from 14 to 25 mm in diameter. This denomination was prolifically issued in London for use within the new Coffee Houses. There are only a very few rare issues of two penny tokens produced and these were limited to issuers living in London and Southwark. While the majority of tokens are circular in shape after 1668 a few issues were also struck on octagonal, heart-shaped and square/diamond-shaped flans. Considering the circular shaped tokens, which comprises the bulk of the series, their denominations can be closely correlated to their size but not their weight due to a wide variation in their flan thickness.
Halfpenny 20mm, Penny 26mm. Very rare types have been known to fetch over £1,000 today  read more

Code: 24266

A Superb, Original, Late Queen Elizabeth Ist to King James Ist Period Miniature Pistol. Late 1500's, To The Turn of The 17th Century, Functioning Miniature Pistol

A tiny pistol, made in bronze, many hundreds of years ago, to fire off, likely for the entertainment of the nobility and their children. Dark blue-black bronze age patination

An extraordinary little piece of rarely known history, from the earliest age of the black powder pistol. These intriguing miniature functioning pistols were called petronel, named after the original early name of matchlock and wheellock pistols, and very much of the period, from the Elizabethan to the Carolean age.

A petronel is a 16th and 17th century black powder muzzle-loading firearm, defined by Robert Barret (Theorike and Practike of Modern Warres, 1598) as a horsemans peece. It was the muzzle-loading firearm which developed on the one hand into the pistol and on the other into the carbine. The name (French petrinel or poitrinal) was given to the weapon either because it was fired with the butt resting against the chest (French poitrine, Latin pectus) or it was carried slung from a belt across the chest. Petronels are found with either matchlock or wheellock mechanisms.

The sclopus was the prototype of the petronel. The petronel is a compromise between the harquebus and the pistol. Early petronels date back to the end of the 14th century, with a crude buttstock. Generally the touch hole is on the right side, and fired by a separate slow match. Sometimes they had small hinged plate covers to protect the priming from moisture. By extension, the term petronel was also used to describe the type of light cavalry who employed the firearm. The petronel (cavalryman) was used to support the heavy cavalry such as demi-lancers and cuirassiers. The petronel was succeeded by a similarly armed cavalryman called the harquebusier.

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  read more

Code: 25074