Antique Arms & Militaria

A Very Good Pair of Early Victorian Crimean War, British Dragoon Tunic Shoulder Scales

Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. Epaulettes bear some resemblance to the shoulder pteruges of ancient Roman military costumes. However their direct origin lies in the bunches of ribbons worn on the shoulders of military coats at the end of the 17th century, which were partially decorative and partially intended to prevent shoulder belts from slipping. These ribbons were tied into a knot which left the fringed end free. This established the basic design of the epaulette as it evolved through the 18th and 19th centuries.

From the 18th century on, epaulettes were used in the French, British and other armies to indicate rank. The rank of an officer could be determined by whether an epaulette was worn on the left shoulder, the right shoulder or on both. Later a "counter-epaulette" (with no fringe) was worn on the opposite shoulder of those who wore only a single epaulette. Epaulettes were made in silver or gold for officers, and in cloth of various colours for the enlisted men of various arms. By the early eighteenth century, epaulettes became the distinguishing feature of an officer, leading to officers of military units without epaulettes to petition their government for the right to wear epaulettes, to ensure that they would be recognized as officers. Certain cavalry specialties wore flexible metal epaulettes referred to as shoulder scales such as these. During the Napoleonic Wars and subsequently through the 19th century, grenadiers, light infantry, voltigeurs and other specialist categories of infantry in many European armies wore cloth epaulettes with wool fringes in various colours to distinguish them from ordinary line infantry. "Flying artillery" wore "wings", similar to an epaulette but with only a bit of fringe on the outside, which matched the shoulder seam. Heavy artillery wore small balls representing ammunition on their shoulders.  read more

Code: 18972

A Scarce Pattern, Edwardian Army Service Corps Helmet Plate

This is not the standard type used from 1902 as they are gilt and have an upright capitalised type font. The Canadian version is very similar but with the word Canada below within asmall scroll, and again, gilt, whereas this example is white metal. Two lugs remaining. The officers and men of the ASC ? sometimes referred to in a joking way as Ally Sloper?s Cavalry ? were the unsung heroes of the British Army in the Great War. Soldiers can not fight without food, equipment and ammunition. They can not move without horses or vehicles. It was the ASC?s job to provide them. In the Great War, the vast majority of the supply, maintaining a vast army on many fronts, was supplied from Britain. Using horsed and motor vehicles, railways and waterways, the ASC performed prodigious feats of logistics and were one of the great strengths of organisation by which the war was won. The largest element of the ASC was the Horse Transport section.

Most Horse Transport Companies were under orders of Divisions, with four normally being grouped into a Divisional Train. Others were part of the Lines of Communication where they were variously known by subtitles as Auxiliary Supply Companies or Reserve Parks.

Soldiers who served in the Horse Transport usually had the letter T as a prefix to their number. The British Army was already the most mechanised in the world when the Great War began, in terms of use of mechanical transport. It maintained that leadership, and by 1918 this was a strategically important factor in being able to maintain supply as the armies made considerable advances over difficult ground.

All Mechanical Transport Companies were part of the Lines of Communication and were not under orders of a Division, although some (unusually known as Divisional Supply Columns and Divisional Ammunition Parks) were in effect attached to a given Division and worked closely with it. Those in the Lines of Communication operated in wide variety of roles, such as being attached to the heavy artillery as Ammunition Columns or Parks, being Omnibus Companies, Motor Ambulance Convoys, or Bridging and Pontoon units.

Soldiers who served in the Mechanical Transport usually had the letter M as a prefix to their number.  read more

Code: 20295

An Original Edwardian English Lord Lieutenant's Tunic Circa 1902

Superb silver bullion eppaulettes, collar, and cuffs. Gilt crown buttons red melton wool cloth, with gold bullion sash. To have a current Lord Lieutenant's tunic bespoke mde today by a Saville Row tailor would cost around £4,600 with an additional £750 for the sash. In England and Wales and in Ireland, the lord lieutenant was the principal officer of his county. The office's creation dates from the Tudors. The cloth has various small moth and liner incomplete

Lieutenants were first appointed to a number of English historic counties by Henry VIII in the 1540s, when the military functions of the sheriff were handed over to him. He raised and was responsible for the efficiency of the local militia units of the county, and afterwards of the yeomanry, and volunteers. He was commander of these forces, whose officers he appointed. These commissions were originally of temporary duration, and only when the situation required the local militia to be specially supervised and well prepared often where invasion by Scotland or France might be expected. Tunic in average condition for age, but tiny moth holes and very little inner liner remaining. Ideal for collection or display  read more

Code: 17833

A Rare, Victorian, British Royal Engineer's Sword, Prussian Designed, British Army Issue, Experimental Sword of The Royal Engineers, The Driver's Sword, Model of 1850

Used in the Crimean War, and for sale as a very, very inexpensive rare Royal Engineers sword, due to its pitted surface. This sword was originally a Prussian experimental cavalry sword that was once issued for testing, to a limited number of Prussian Hussar regiments, in 1850. It was in fact not actually finally approved by the Prussians, but it's form was continued and developed until it's successor sword eventually evolved to become the Prussian Model of 1852 Cavalry Hussar Sabre. Those experimental 1850 swords were withdrawn from service by the Prussian Cavalry, and they were placed in storage in Liege in Belgium for disposal.
There was an article published in the "Deutsches Waffen Journal" about this sword. On the sword they had, it had on the guard, the regimental marking of the 4th squadron, Prussian Garde-Husaren regiment and on the spine of blade a crowned FW 50 and German D mark. This confirms it was the Prussian Hussar experimental issue of 1850. On the ricasso was an S&K marking with Crowned L 8 and two British Ordnance broad arrows to show that this pattern of sword was thus purchased and re-issued to the British army. So, these very rarely seen swords are recorded as the Royal Engineers 1850 Driver's pattern swords, but they were originally known as the Prussian experimental Hussar sword, that after disapproval were then removed to Liege and later sold to the British Ordnance through the Liege armourers. It came from the descendant family of a Crimean War Royal Engineer. Our example is certainly age worn, in fact none of it's original markings are now still visible unfortunately. However, it is a most rare and fascinating piece. To collectors of British [and Prussian] swords this would make a most fascinating addition, especially, that if particularly searched for, it may take many years to find another, if at all. The condition is certainly not good, but its rarity and significance is considerable. All over russetted, no scabbard, damaged grip. There used to be an example identical to this one in the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield. Pattern Room  read more

Code: 14569

Very Special Offer!! Many Have Been Reserved Just 5 Remaining As Not Yet Reserved A Fabulous, Original Set of Antique MK II Zulu War &1880's Vintage Martini Henry Rifles

Special one off offer items. We are sending them individually to be conserved and stock restored but as requested and as required. The stocks and all steel parts are very good but some stock cracking needs attention etc. our artisan can attend to that near invisibly. All the rifles are with original Victorian era leather slings.
These the very types of MK IIs as were used by the 24th Foot at Ishandwhana and Rorkes Drift. All of them are original ordnance contract examples, made either by Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms or London Small Arms, all with VR Crown mark, all originally line regiment issue. All sold on an individual basis . As they are incredibly collectible it is most unlikely they will remain available for long.

These rifles are truly exceptional examples, maker marked, and in very good operational order indeed with an excellent action, and clearly combat used. All their cleaning rods are present but usually no longer removable.
The Martini Henry, .450 577 rifle was most famous British Infantry breech loading rifle of the 19th century. All of these rifles are just as were used in the film ZULU, and the exact type as was used during the 1879 Zulu War, all very nice examples.
The Martini-Henry was a breech-loading lever-actuated rifle adopted by the British, combining an action worked on by Friedrich von Martini (based on the Peabody rifle developed by Henry Peabody), with the rifled barrel designed by Scotsman, Alexander Henry. It first entered service in 1871 replacing the Snider-Enfield, and variants were used throughout the British Empire for 30 years. It was the first British service rifle that was a true breech-loading rifle using metallic cartridges.
During the Martini-Henry period in service, the British army were involved in a large number of colonial wars, most notably the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. The Martini Henry, 450-577, Short Lever, [MK I converted] MK II or the regular MK II rifle was the type used by the company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot present at Rorke's Drift during the eponymous battle. The MK I originally had a small design fault in that the actions hinge pin was initially made of brass, which was too soft for continual use. The rare and early MKI's were thus converted by removing this pin, replacing it with a steel pin, and then redesignated the MKII. The later dated 1880's examples we have were used throughout the British empire. This fabulous set, will now be sold individually, and were used for lecture purposes for almost 15 years at various military bases around the country

As with all our original antique arms, no licence is required to own, purchase or to collect anything of that description we sell. They, and all of these rifles, are entirely unrestricted to own, collect, and display just as they are, however, we only permitted to sell to those who are over 18 of age [with suitable I.d.]  read more

Code: 24259

A Miniature Waterloo Period 'Brown Bess' Musket Bayonet

Original hand engineered miniature, made post war by renown miniaturist engineer Ronald Platt. Photographed alongside the original bayonet to show perspective. the Third or India Pattern became the standard British musket in use throughout the remainder of French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and was used in almost every theatre in which the British were present. It was the musket that the British soldier carried during the Peninsular War and the Hundred Days campaign including both the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. It was also used in the War of 1812 in North America.  read more

Code: 21596

An Early Fine Miniature Single Shot Bolt Action Rifle

Showing all the minute detail of the original bolt action rifle. European armies continued to develop bolt-action rifles through the latter half of the nineteenth century, first adopting tubular magazines as on the Kropatschek rifle and the Lebel rifle, a magazine system pioneered by the Winchester rifle of 1866. The first bolt-action repeating rifle was the Vetterli rifle of 1867 and the first bolt-action repeating rifle to use centerfire cartridges was the weapon designed by the Viennese gunsmith Ferdinand Fruwirth in 1871. Ultimately, the military turned to bolt-action rifles using a box magazine; the first of its kind was the M1885 Remington Lee, but the first to be generally adopted was the British 1888 Lee-Metford. World War I marked the height of the bolt-action rifle's use, with all of the nations in that war fielding troops armed with various bolt-action designs. Probably a Colt or Remington pattern. 6 inches long Non working original hand engineered miniature, made post war by renown miniaturist engineer Ronald Platt.  read more

Code: 21285

A Georgian 18th century Carved Horn Primer or Pistol Flask

made in the 18th and used into the early 19th century. With powder measure screw on cap. Cow horn with wooden base plate.
Firearms became more and more sophisticated during the 16th-century but still required a number of accessories to load and operate them. The main charge, placed in the barrel with the shot, was carried in the powder flask. Smaller priming flasks contained fine-grain powder for priming the pans of wheel-lock firearms. Flasks were attached to a bandolier, a type of sling worn over the shoulder or around the waist, from which hung the various accessories required for a weapon including spanners for the mechanism, measured charges, powder flasks and priming flasks.  read more

Code: 21666

A Victorian Durham Light Infantry Helmet Plate Ist Volunteer Battalion

In white metal with black centre. The 1st Durham Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed at Stockton-on-Tees in 1860, and in 1880 was amalgamated with other Durham corps, from Darlington, Castle Eden and Middlesbrough, to form a battalion of eight companies.

The 1st Durhams later became the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry and as such gained the battle honour `South Africa 1900-02' for the services of its members during the Boer War.  read more

Code: 16734

Many Wonderous Pieces Added Every Day. There is Probably Nowhere Else In The World You Can View Such Fabulous & Historical Wonders,.. & Where Everything Is For Sale

All under one roof, intriguing and collectable artefacts, and specialist 1st edition rare books, plus militaria such as, an original, huge, and very rare 88mm WW2 Shell from a German 'King Tiger' tank, ranging to an original Imperial Roman Legionary’s gladius sword, a museum quality samurai sword by one of the great sword makers of early 14th century Japan. Or, a most rare, and absolutely stunning museum grade Christian samurai’s sword from circa 1630.
These past few weeks we have added, and are still adding, original, ancient artefacts, from Rome, France, Carthage, Persia, Greece, and Britain, many from fine English collections, originally acquired in the early 19th century, and then re-acquired from the descendants of those original collectors, in the 1990’s or even before by other collectors who subsequently sold them to us.
We have thousands of pieces, that you can can view [and buy] from our website. View and buy such treasures as a 2000 year old roman soldier's gladius sword, from the time of Julius Caesar, Augustus and Nero. A museum grade 1000+ year old sword of a Viking chieftain, king or earl [in Viking times called a jarl] that is inlaid with traces of knotwork silver inlay. A bronze and iron Archemeanid sword from the time of the Greco-Persian wars of Xerxes the Great against the Spartans at Thermopylae, or a Circa 2,500 Scythian infantry warrior’s bronze helmet. Plus, Imperial Roman 1st and 2nd century rings, the type such as worn by a Roman freed gladiator, or, the owner of slave gladiators, the Imperial Pretorian Guard, legionary officer's or nobles, often with the traditional symbols and figures, from the time of the Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. A superb 3rd to 4th century BC Falcata sword similar to the Greek Kopis, the sword used by Hannibal’s army in the 2nd Punic War and his invasion of Rome across the Alps, and a 3rd Century Imperial Roman Sword, from the time of Emperor Constantine and the Battle of Cibalae. Plus a remarkable 900 to 1066 period Original Viking- Norman Iron Four Plate Helmet, as seen depicted in the world famous so-called Bayeux Tapestry, plus, early and rare books, such as, an original very early printing of a 5th century Roman treatise on Roman warfare, and an 18th Century biography on 18th century Warfare, or a very rare 15th century incunabula by Bartolomeus Platina personally commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV.

Plus, as usual, many, many thousands of pieces of historical interest, from one of the oldest and still thriving [if not the oldest surviving] traditional, purveyors of original ancient, antique and vintage historical militaria, companies in Europe, family based through generations in the city of Brighton, and for over 100 combined years located in the Brighton Lanes.

Our family partners Mark and David have dedicated between them, a combined 90 plus years together, serving the world's collectors. Some are the simplest of collectors, some with most eclectic tastes, covering all fields of interest spanning millennia, others, highly specific, if not profound. Very recently we found for a specialist book collector a most rare ‘Subscriber’s Edition’ 1926 Seven Pillars of Wisdom, by T.E. Lawrence, a book that the collector had been searching for for 20 years, and we had joined in that search for him around 10 years ago. He had seen two volumes of that edition around 10 years ago, but discounted both of them, as not quite the perfect volume he was looking for. The dedication of a collector who could spend 20 years to find a single book, that specifically suited his needs, is simply remarkable, although strangely, not that unusual in our line of country. Despite the fact that the book we found for him was approaching six figures, he actually had spent over twice that sum during his 20 year worldwide search to find just the perfect one he was looking for. When asked by us which specific book he was seeking of that printing, he replied that he didn’t actually want or need a perfect condition example at all, just the one that was perfect for him “ I am not entirely sure which one I seek, but I’ll know it when I hold it”

The best part of our field is that, in the most part, of all of what we regularly offer can be remarkably affordable compared to almost every other form of fine and rare collectable. For example, the best available fine art paintings etc. can run into millions, even hundreds of millions of pounds, the finest pieces of furniture can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions, the best silver, coins or stamps can also be worth millions, and even 20th century motor cars can reach tens of millions of pounds. So although some of our pieces might appear expensive, by comparison to almost every other field in the world of collecting, they can be amazingly affordable to all and every rank of collector.

We suppose that is our raison d’etre, every year we buy many thousands of pieces, and pass them on to similarly thousands of collectors, from postmen to presidents, from Chelsea pensioners to field marshals, from law clerks to Lord Chancellors. I [Mark] remember one such interesting and jolly conversation, I and my wife Judith had over lunch, with the soon to become Lord Chancellor Quentin Hogg, in Jermyn St., during our London honeymoon in 1978. Judith had, on occasion before our marriage, worked with Sir Michael Havers, [Quentin’s successor as Lord Chancellor in 1987] so they had mutual acquaintance. The general chit chat got around to the efficacy of hanging, the effectiveness of the hangman’s knot, against the much earlier system of the executioner’s axe that was only afforded only to those of high status!. Quentin remarked at the conclusion [tongue in cheek] “ I have a little list of likely candidates, just in case it is re-introduced”

By way of coincidence, a few years later we sold a 16th century executioner’s axe to a ‘Beefeater’ Yeoman Warder of the Tower of London, Geoffrey Abbot, near identical to one that executed Lady Jane Grey, who was proclaimed Queen of England in 1553, reigned for just 9 days and subsequently executed within the grounds of the Tower, aged just 16 or 17, and our former axe appears amongst other places, illustrated in his books on the execution at Tower of London. He was even consulted some years later for the execution of Saddam Hussein.

Many of our collectors have become lifelong and dear friends, with conversations on every subject imaginable, covering every conceivable avenue of interest, and it has been a privilege to know every single one, friendships valued beyond pearls.  read more

Code: 23775