Antique Arms & Militaria

A Good Early Naval Merchantman Ship's Cannon Priming Flask

18th to 19th century naval gunner's priming powder flask, of polished cow horn body, with traditional wooden base with brass spout plug and on of two carrying rings. In the firing naval cannon huge amounts of gunpowder were required to fire them, and the cannon were ignited with very fine quality, fine ground priming powder poured into the touch hole. Young boys, often known as ?powder monkeys?, would haul gunpowder to the gun decks within barrels. Cow horns flasks, were used to contain the fine grain priming powder, which was poured into the pan of the touch hole of each cannon before firing. 9" long overall  read more

Code: 22987

Antique Persian Carved Bone Hilted Kindjal Short Sword

18th to Early 19th Century. The blade has traces of a complex etched design, possibly including some Islamic script. Carved bone hilt with single silver leaf d?cor and a nail mounting stud. Old cracking to hilt and overall russetting to the old blade. Overall 201/4 inches long  read more

Code: 23135

A Fine Bladed Indonesian Keris, Nickel Iron Meteoric Blade

19th Century Keris Dagger/Sword, but the blade may be far older. This Indonesian ceremonial dagger or Keris is believed to date from the 1800's based on the style, materials and condition of the steel. The handle made of wood indigenous to Java, appears to be from the 19th century. As the keris is handed down from generation to generation (sometimes over centuries), the wooden handle and scabbard are often replaced with the blade remaining original. Used in cultural ceremonies and traditionally worn as a symbol of status, the Keris is an important cultural item in Indonesian and Malaysian cultures. This particular example is done in the dapur bener (straight blade) style, and was hand forged with alternating laminations of so-called iron and meteoric nickel-rich iron. As a historic item that the blade can bu up to 300 years old or more, there is some rust and pitting in parts on the blade. However, the unique patterns of nickel in the steel are very visible on the blade and the edges are still quite sharp.

Painting in the Royal Collection by Frans Francken the Younger in the gallery, photo 10, painted in 1617, titled 'Cabinet of a Collector', clearly shows, top left, a 16th century Kris dagger, Even as early as the 16th century, awareness and collectability of the Indonesian kris had reached far into Europe.

The kris or keris is a distinctive, asymmetrical dagger from Indonesia. Both weapon and spiritual object, the kris is considered to possess magical powers. The earliest known kris go back to the tenth century and most probably spread from the island of Java throughout South-East Asia.

Kris blades are usually narrow with a wide, asymmetrical base. The sheath is often made from wood, though examples from ivory, even gold, abound. A kris’ aesthetic value covers the dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with some 40 variants), the pamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with approximately 120 variants), and tangguh referring to the age and origin of a kris. A bladesmith, or empu, makes the blade in layers of different iron ores and meteorite nickel. In high quality kris blades, the metal is folded dozens or hundreds of times and handled with the utmost precision. Empus are highly respected craftsmen with additional knowledge in literature, history and occult sciences.

Kris were worn everyday and at special ceremonies, and heirloom blades are handed down through successive generations. Both men and women wear them. A rich spirituality and mythology developed around this dagger. Kris are used for display, as talismans with magical powers, weapons, sanctified heirlooms, auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, accessories for ceremonial dress, an indicator of social status, a symbol of heroism, etc

No scabbard  read more

Code: 24678

African Bushman’s Tribal Poison Arrows and Tree Branch Leather Capped Quiver & Poison Stick

Acquired with and displayed with the poison stick, {picture 4 in the gallery} but the deadly poison stick we cannot sell with the bushman’s arrows and quiver. 5 arrows with iron heads with long hafts, two fire sticks and one poison stick***

Like the notorious and more well known South American Curare paralytic poison, { extracted from the plant Strychnos toxifera} the African poisons are similarly extremely effective in their task.

Along the Acokanthera sp. the most popular three types for the extraction of arrow poison were, A. oblongiflora, B. oppositifolia, and C. schimperi in general known as Bushman's poison, poison bush, poison tree or winter-sweet.

All parts of the plant can be used. Stems, roots, or even leaves, but wood chips are preferred, they are put in a large container, filled with water and boiled for up to 12 hours. Additional water is added in case the water evaporates before this time period is attained. Once all the water has evaporated, a thick sticky black substance is left in the container.

The plant parts are discarded. This substance is then cut into pieces, put into containers or wrapped and stored away from people where it can later be mixed with water or tree gum to form a thick paste which can be applied to the arrows. The poison paste type gum can them be applied to a poison stick and carried in the quiver and added to the arrow head when required. This poison stick has two such gum like deposits. One black the other paler brown. This would be for the bushman to know which poison was which, for different purposes and strengths for example. This poisons are extremely poisonous and can kill a 50 kg animal with ease in less than 20 minutes.

Although the Strophantus kombe (Zambezi tail flower or Poison Rope) was the most used of the species, Strophantus amboensis (Omuhundure), Strophanthus hispidus and Strophantus speciosus (Common Poison rope) was also used. The poison derived from S. hispidus was known as inee or onaye and was used mostly at the west coast of Africa (Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Gabon), S. gratus in equatorial Africa, S. kombe was used mostly in central and east Africa as far south as the Zambezi, S. amboensis southern Angola and northern Namibia and S. speciosus in South Africa.

The seeds are collected, crushed and mix with saliva or other additives to form a paste, the paste was then left in strong sunlight for several hours before use. This poison can literally kill an average man in 5 to 10 minutes, a big animal in 20 minutes.

The Bushman would despatch his arrows with a basic stick bow which would effectively be disposable and easy to replace if lost or broken. Unlike the arrows, that require forged iron heads, and thus black-smithing.

An article from the New York Times, published March 15th 1964, un-edited;
If the victims can tell about it at all, they say that for a split second they heard a high, faint whistling, then felt a sharp, searing blow, as though struck by a hot blade. This is how a deadly arrow sounds and feels, and if the arrowhead is poisoned, the last moments can bring excruciating pain and sometimes madness.

In the past few weeks, the poisoned arrow had claimed a number of victims, including an American woman missionary, in the terrorized Kwilu Province of the Congo. Guerrilla rebels there killed the Congolese Army Chief of Staff himself with a poisoned arrow that sped out of the undergrowth and felled him as he led a column of reinforcements along a jungle road.

The reason weapons so primitive as bows and arrows survive in an age of light, efficient, rapid‐fire small arms is that they are ideally suited to the stealth of guerrilla warfare. (Some special United States troops are being taught jungle archery.) Both the bow and arrow and a sister weapon, the dart‐hurling blowpipe, are nearly silent and thus not only can take their victims by surprise but do not reveal their firing positions, as with shots discharged by explosives. Aimed by experts, poisoned arrows and darts can be as deadly as bullets and, depending on the poison, considerably less merciful.

POISONED arrows have been used principally by African and South American tribes, and poisoned darts by tribes of the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. Poisoned arrows were not unknown to the North American Indian, however. The Osage tribesmen of what is now Missouri and Arkansas made poison by enticing a rattlesnake to bite a piece of liver which was then diced and pressed into clamshells for preservation. In wartime the shells were entrusted to the squaws, who carried them to the battlefield and helped the braves dip their arrows.
Compare this businesslike approach with the traditional rituals of African tribes preparing poison for war. Death was presumed wingless until a medicine man had reeled off incantations over simmering pots, though it may be noted that the men were careful to let the women have a major share of the work right from the start. It was said that the casualties among the women were more numerous than among the warriors on the battlefield.

THE kind of poison varied from tribe to tribe and from region to region. In less inhibited southern Africa, tribes made a fanciful poison of scor pions and spiders ground with lethal plant juice and snake venom, whereas in the more cultivated regions of the north, a vegetal poison was considered amply fatal. In between were other concoctions. Pygmies endorsed poisons derived from powdered red ants. The bushmen of Bechuanaland still favor a poison made by crushing the pupae of beetles found among the roots of infested marula trees.

Reference *Special Conservation* Item, see info page.

*** Despite being brought to the UK quite unknowingly several generations ago, the poison stick cannot be sold by us, and thus included with the arrows, for obvious health and safety reasons, as it is restricted for sale by the 'Poisons Act of 1972'  read more

Code: 24674

A Most Scarce Victorian Boer War Cap Badge of Her Majesty's Reserve Regiment of Dragoons

Used for only two years in service from 1900. Brass with intertwined initials, 'HMRR', above a scroll bearing the title, 'Dragoons'. Two lugs on reverse. The regiments were all disbanded in 1902 at the end of the Boer War.

A whole series of reserve regiments were raised during the Boer War (1899-1902). They were formed as a result of Army Orders issued in 1900 and consisted of men on the Reserve who could sign up. They were used for Garrison duties in Great Britain and were not liable for service overseas. These units were separate from the Volunteers, and Imperial Yeomanry which had also been raised at the same time.

The regiments were organised to follow elements of the regimental system. They included the Reserve Regiment of Dragoons, Lancers, Hussars, Royal Rifles Reserve Regiment and regional regiments such as the Royal Southern Reserve Regiment. There was also a Royal Guards Reserve Regiment, but this used the cap badges of the parent regiments, rather than bespoke badges which were introduced for the other regiments.  read more

Code: 24670

An Original Ancient 13th Century, Crusader Knight's Iron Battle Mace & Scorpion Head

Pineapple shaped head with large mounting hole. The type as were also used as a Flail Mace, with the centre mount being filled with lead and a chain mounted hook, when it was not mounted on a haft, as this mace is. Flattened pyramidical protuberances, possibly English or East European. Made for a mounted Knight in the era of the Crusades, to use as an Armour and Helmet Crusher in mortal combat. Although made in the 1200's it would have been continually used up to the 15th to 16th century. 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 that his 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.  read more

Code: 17235

A Beautiful & Very Fine Quality Gilt Early Belgian Order of the Crown, Gold Medal, For The Liberation of Belgium From the Nazi Occupation

In gilt bronze and excellent condition. The Order may also be bestowed to foreign nationals and is frequently awarded to military and diplomatic personnel of other countries stationed in (or providing support to) Belgium. During the Second World War, the Order of the Crown was extensively authorized for award to Allied military personnel who had helped to liberate Belgium from the occupation forces of Nazi Germany.

The Order of the Crown is awarded by royal decree.
The Order was established on October 15, 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved for service in the Congo Free State. In 1908, the Order of the Crown was made a national honour of Belgium, junior to the Order of Leopold.
 read more

Code: 16570

A Victorian 1881 Inniskilling Fusiliers Busby Helmet Grenade

In October 1899 war broke out between the United Kingdom and the Boer Republics. The 1st Battalion landed at Durban, where they became part of the 5th (Irish) Brigade. The battalion was involved in a series of military reverses at the hands of the Boers that became known as the "Black Week", culminating in defeat at the Battle of Colenso. The unit subsequently took part in the Tugela Campaign before helping relieve Ladysmith in early 1900. The regiment lent its name to "Inniskilling Hill", which was taken by the 5th brigade on 24/25 February 1900. In 1914 the Great War broke out and the 2nd Battalion was first to see action in the Battle of Le Cateau. The 1st Battalion participated in the Landing at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsula in April 1915 with the 29th Division. There were also nine New Army battalions raised seeing service with the 10th (Irish) Division, the 16th (Irish) Division and the 36th (Ulster) Division on the Western Front and at Gallipoli, the Macedonian Campaign and Palestine.  read more

Code: 19916

A South American Sorocabana Knife 'Faca De Ponta’ of the South American Cowboys

"Sorocabana knife". It was the knife used by the bandeirantes of Sao Paulo and by the tropeiros who traveled between the south and southeast regions. Made from an imported blade from Gebruder Weyersberg Solingen. Gilt decorated makers panel. Carved ebony hilt In the southern region of Brazil , "tropeiro" was the conductor of mules troops from the city of Viamao, Rio Grande do Sul, to Sorocaba, Sao Paulo. These troops supplied the gold cycle in Minas Gerais in the eighteenth century. This activity was responsible for the founding of countless cities in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana. Before the railways, and long before the trucks, merchandise trade was done by drovers in regions where there were no alternatives for sea or river navigation for distribution.
The interior regions, far from the coast, depended for a long time on this mode of transportation by mules . Since the end of the seventeenth century, mining works, for example, required the formation of groups of merchants in the domestic trade. Initially called men of the way, traffickers or passers-by, the tropeiros became fundamental in the trade of slaves , food and tools of the miners.
Far from being specialized merchants, the tropeiros bought and sold of everything a little: slaves, tools, clothes, etc. The existence of Tropeirismo was intimately related to the coming and going of roads and highways, especially the Estrada Real - road through which Minas Gerais gold arrived at the port of Rio de Janeiro and followed to Portugal .  read more

Code: 20803

A Most Rare Antique 17th Century Sinhalese Kastane Sword, Used as A Naval Officer's Hangar Acquired by the Early 17th Century Maritime Traders to Ceylon

A most interesting and fine kastane, with the carved wood “Simha” lion head pommel a recurved knuckleguard and two quillon also with a water beast, known as a Makara, head pommel and counter quillon with additional Makara

The hilt is delicately inlaid with brass inlays as is the blade. A typical 17th century sword from ancient Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) which was in ancient times known as the Kingdom of Lions (Sinhaladwipa) often termed Sinhala. The term Sinha is lion in Hindu. These lion-heads in grotesque form are of course representing this heritage. The makara represents the Hindu water beast (fish/crocodile) ridden by Varuna. Pommel with small jaw section lacking.The kastane is the national sword of Sri Lanka. It typically has a short curved single-edged blade, double-edged at the point. The hilt comprises a knuckle-guard and down-turned quillons, each terminating in a dragon's head. The swords were intended to serve as badges of rank; the quality of ornamentation depending on the status of the wearer.

The establishment of European trading contacts with South Asia by the late 16th and early 17th century led to these swords becoming fashionable dress accessories among European gentlemen and naval officer's of all hues, Be they Royal Naval, East India Co. Naval, or Privateers.

A kastane can be seen in an equestrian portrait of Colonel Alexander Popham at Littlecote House in the care of the Royal Armouries Collection (I.315). They were chosen by Naval officer's and indeed pirates, as their shape form and size was absolutely ideal for maritime close combat service.

Although also used on land, the cutlass is best known as the maritime weapon of choice. A naval side-arm, its popularity was likely because it was not only robust enough to hack through heavy ropes, canvas, and wood, but short enough to use in relatively close quarters, such as during boarding actions, in the rigging, or below decks. Another advantage to the cutlass was its simplicity of use. Employing it effectively required less technical skill than that required to master a rapier or light small sword, and it was more effective as a close-combat weapon than a full-sized sword would be on a cramped ship.

Cutlasses are famous for being used by pirates, and privateers although there is no reason to believe that Caribbean buccaneers invented them, as has occasionally been claimed. However, the subsequent use of cutlasses by pirates is well documented in contemporary sources, notably by the pirate crews of William Fly, William Kidd, and Stede Bonnet. French historian Alexandre Exquemelin reports the buccaneer François l'Ollonais using a cutlass/cuttoe as early as 1667. Pirates used these weapons for intimidation as much as for combat, often needing no more than to grip their hilts to induce a crew to surrender, or beating captives with the flat of the blade to force their compliance or responsiveness to interrogation.

Owing to its versatility, the cutlass was as often an agricultural implement and tool as it was as a weapon (cf. machete, to which the same comment applies) that was used commonly in rain forest and sugarcane areas, such as the Caribbean and Central America. In their most simplified form they are held to have become the machete of the Caribbean  read more

Code: 21976