WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century
A Superb and Iconic WW2 German Luftwaffe Officer's 'Black Face' Watch By Titus, Geneva, {Switzerland} Incabloc. A Superb Original Artefact of WW2 German Aeronautical Warfare History
A fine survivor of WW2 a very good original Luftwaffe aircrew 'black face' wristwatch, with Luftwaffe blue strap, working order.
Case stamped D = Dienstuhr Luftwaffe - Air forces with serial number.
Titus (Solvil et Titus) was a Swiss watchmaker founded in 1887 by Paul Ditisheim, with production shifting to Geneva in 1930 under owner Paul-Bernard Vogel. During WWII, the brand produced robust, high-quality Swiss mechanical watches, including civilian and military-style pieces, with some models famously used by Luftwaffe aircrew. WWII-era Titus watches, featuring a 'D' prefix (e.g., D801202) on the case back, were issued to German Luftwaffe aircrew.
These watches often featured stainless steel cases, black faces with luminous numbers/hands, and small second dials. Known for high-quality Swiss mechanical movements.
Paul-Bernard Vogel took over in 1930 and steered the brand towards moderately priced, anti-magnetic, and robust watches during the 1930s and 1940s.
Post-War: The brand continued producing Chronobloc and chronograph models (e.g., with Landeron 48 movements) throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
These third Reich issue watches from the 1930s-1940s are highly sought after by collectors for their historical significance and durable design.
TITUS Watches
Paul Ditisheim: the founder
Paul Ditisheim, son of the famous Ditisheim family, was born into the small social circle of industrialist families that led the Swiss watch industry of the time.He studied at the Horological School of in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the historic birthplace of watch-making industry,4 and received his diploma at the age of 13. He was then trained in several of the major watch makers and worked at his family's Vulcain manufacture until 1892 when he founded his own brands: Solvil (whose items were often signed Paul Ditisheim) and Titus (whose items were generally marked separately).
Through its manufacture, Ditisheim was instrumental in developing the new generation of chronometers, improving them grandly through his studies on the impact of atmospheric pressure and magnetic fields. He invented the affix balance. Thanks to his inventions, he was able to make the most precise chronometers ever made. By 1903, his watches were awarded by the Kew and Neuchâtel Observatories contests. In 1912, he won the world's chronometric record of the Royal Kew Observatory. He also worked closely with Physics Nobel prize winner Charles-Edouard Guillaume and has been considered the father of the modern chronometers. According to Professor M. Andrade of the Besançon Astronomical Observatory, Solvil et Titus Ditisheim's devices "constitute the most important progress of modern chronometry"
In 1940, Germany heavily procured Swiss watches for its military, specifically for the Luftwaffe (air force) and army, due to a need for high-quality, reliable, and legible timepieces. Key Swiss brands involved included IWC, Longines, Helvetia, Titus and Tavannes, supplying watches often marked with "DH" (Dienstuhr Heer) for the army or "D" for the Luftwaffe.
Luftwaffe Watches (B-Uhren): The German air force utilized Beobachtungsuhren (Observation Watches) or B-Uhren. While German firms like Laco and Stowa were key, IWC produced specialized, high-grade navigational watches for the Luftwaffe starting around 1940.
Army/General Military Watches: The Dienstuhr Heer (DH) watches were widely procured from Switzerland. Helvetia was a major supplier, with watches featuring black dials, luminous numerals, and shock-protected movements.
Manufacturers supplying the German military included Alpina, Breitling, BWC, Doxa, Eterna, Glycine, Longines, Mimo, Minerva, Omega, Record, Revue, Roamer, Titus and others.
Significance: These watches, featuring 15-jewel movements and rugged cases, were essential for navigation and synchronizing maneuvers, particularly as the war progressed and industrial needs intensified.
Switzerland, while maintaining neutrality, provided a crucial source for these precision instruments throughout the war.
Photos in the gallery {for information only} of a few Luftwaffe aces, knights cross winner fighter pilots, each one can be seen wearing their 'black face' Luftwaffe issue Swiss wrist watch.
In many ways this is a very inexpensive Luftwaffe aeronautical artifact of WW2, as the more technical chrongraph version, when they appear on the market, can now achieve £20,000 to £30,000
Although in working order there is no function warranty implied. read more
995.00 GBP
A Superb & Rare Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service Issue Cockpit Watch. RFC Stamped. Luminous Dial Elongated Winding Stem For Gloved Pilots Winding A Superb Original Artefact & Mechanical Instrument of WW1 Aeronautical Warfare History
Omega RFC Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service Cockpit watch, Mk.V, Luminous, c.1916. Nickel-plated steel case with a self-starting keyless 30-hour movement
Swiss manufacturers of Mark V watches applied their assigned (digraphic) letter code to the dial, { BB for Omega} followed by the item’s serial number {5390}. Company branding was allowed to appear on Mark V watches only to interior surfaces, eg the movement, cuvette, inner case back, etc.
These movements were selected for accuracy despite the vibration to which they were submitted. Black dial with white luminous Arabic numerals and seconds additional dial. Although normally referred to as a watch, these were actually fitted to the aircraft cockpit instrument panel via a special holder and used like a clock. Note the elongated stem allowed easier winding with a gloved hand. The elongated stem was a critical feature, enabling the pilot to wind the watch without removing it from its holder.
The case is in good overall condition and has clear markings with War Department broad arrow and 'A' indicating aviation issue.
Nomenclature applied to the dial (specifying, amongst other things, the contracted supplier of the watch)
luminous and non-luminous versions (although luminous versions were restricted to RNAS issue until late in WWI)
Military issue indicated by markings to the dial and/or to the case
Case in excellent condition, free from dents or other damage. The dial in good overall condition. Luminous hands. Luminous numbers. Glass clean, and free from adverse scratches. Movement clean and fresh-looking. The watch in running condition.
No warranty implied.
Note: RFC pilots 'signed for' cockpit watches prior to a given mission; they were also responsible for safe-keeping, and return. read more
1325.00 GBP
A Very Good WW1 Aerial Flechette Dart, Probably An RFC (Royal Flying Corps) ‘Bristol’ Pattern. A Superb Original Artefact of WW1 Aeronautical Warfare History
A steel 'aerial dart' or flechette, with a turned, bulbous steel nose of lenticular form.The shaft is long and slender with four flat flights at the opposite end to the head. The flights are roughly square-shaped with one corner, that facing the direction of travel, being rounded off.
Although originally made in large numbers the surviving examples are now pretty rare. Flechettes, or aerial darts, are essentially short steel rods with a sharp point at one end, and fins at the other. Originally invented by the Italians in 1911-1912, during the First World War they were first said to have been used by the French in 1914, although they were also later used by the British and Germans. The Germans took the opportunity to make a point about the development of the use of flechettes by stamping some of their flechettes (that were the same in style to the French ones), 'INVENTION FRANCAIS, FABRICATION ALLEMANDE' French invention, German made in French for their enemy to read.
Flechettes were dropped from aeroplanes or airships in great numbers, each canister holding between twenty and 250 darts. One French airman in March 1915 dropped 18,000 in a single day over the German lines. The idea was that by dropping them at great heights they would acquire sufficient momentum (like a bullet) to allow them to pierce the heads, or bodies of enemy soldiers or civilians. The canisters were attached under the fuselage. A wire was pulled to open the bottom of the canister, which released the flechettes.
They were also used by the British to try and down German airships by dropping them from aircraft flying above. This failed to work, much in the same way firing normal ammunition at airships failed to work - they may have been able to penetrate the envelope of the airship, but did not cause much damage. Incendiary weapons were generally more successful. Against troops and civilians their success was variable. There are accounts of men being killed by flechettes, which were recorded as making thin, but deep wounds. Flechettes were primarily used early in the war, although some were still being used in January 1917.
At the start of the war aeroplanes attacked enemy troops by dropping simple steel darts on them. 50,000 darts were dropped during the Battle of the Marne. Fléchettes were quickly replaced by hand-dropped bombs. Later, specialised aircraft were developed for ground attack with bombs and machine gun fire.
Royal Armouries example, near identical
Object number:
XI.586 read more
180.00 GBP
A Super and Intriguing WW2 German, Third Reich, Military, Surveillance Officer's Wrist Watch, Stamped, DI H, Deutsches Inteligenz {or Italienisch For Afrika Korps} Heer. Made For The German Armed Forces By Helvetia Swiss Watch Co. Good Working Order
Supposedly only 8000 ever made. An Helvetia watch Co. fine & rare, original, German, Third Reich issue, 1940's military surveillance officer’s wrist watch. Only the second of this type of rare service watch we have found in over 30 years. Our last one was another Helvetia type 2 case watch..
A Helvetia DI H, Type 1 case {stamped 3199 with 2 below} watch, second type dial signed Helvetia and Swiss made, 800C movement, Deutsches Heer officer issue, but classified as the rare type. Serial numbered DI 0000688 H, the “2” denotes an 11.5 ligne movement
All Type 1 case watches use the Helvetia 800C sweep second hand movement.
This watch was issued by the German military during the early 1940's of World War II, Helvetia were a renowned Swiss maker producing fine and accurate watches for the Nazi officers.
The case of the watch is nickel plated with light to average wear. The cream dial is in good condition with Arabic numerals, signed Helvetia Swiss Made. GWO/C
The movement is a hand wound Swiss movement. The watch sits on a black leather military style strap.
The great majority of the companies were Swiss .
with Helvetia being one of the best, making superb timepieces. Stamped either side of the probably three figure serial number, is the official Wehrmacht classification DI.H, with 2 and then 3199 stamped above. However DH was the regular stamp classification, but the much rarer type, have DI H with its serial number stamped between the I and H. This has always been the subject of debate amongst some collectors, due to some limited belief that they were assembled from parts, likely due to their rarity, however, this timepiece, alongside all the 'deemed correct' examples have the has the important 3199 stamp on the back case cover. In a seminal work “A Concise Guide to Military Timepieces 1880 -1990” by Z.M. Wesolowski IT specifies that the DI H marks are “Deutsches Heer property marks found on non-waterproof wristwatches used for surveillance purposes, the I in DIH may stand for Inteligenz or Italienisch for surveillance officers and spies etc.
The Italienisch mark may have been for a contract for the specialist Italians serving with the Afrika Korps in the desert campaign under Rommel.
See in the gallery three photographs of the standard watch type, with regular black dials, worn by officers during World War II in the German Heer/SS, one being Herbert Otto Gille, seen here as SS-Gruppenführer and commander of 5. SS Panzer Division Wiking.
Helvetia DI H watches are really relatively rare, it seems that only around 8000 of all types were ever completed The watch in nice running condition, but no warranty implied. read more
Twenty Six Years Ago, After Over 80 Years Trading in Brighton, We Were Honoured by Being Nominated & Awarded by BACA, In The Best Antique & Collectables Shop In Britain Awards 2001
Presented by MILLER'S Antiques Guide, THE BBC, HOMES & ANTIQUES MAGAZINE, for the British Antique & Collectables Awards. The version of the antique dealers ‘Oscars’ of Britain.
It was a great honour for Mark and David, especially considering at the beginning of the new millennium, in the year 2000, there was over 7,000 established antique and collectors shops in the UK, according to the official Guide to the Antique Shops of Britain, 1999-2000, and we were nominated, and voted into in the top four in Britain.
Since first opening our doors early in the last century, for over 55 years as mine host, Mark, and for 45 years by David, they have personally greeted hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and likely tens of millions in over half a century, to their family owned galleries. To every single one we have tried our utmost to provide our renown five star service of courtesy, respect, assistance, help, and advice.
We still have many more pieces from our super Crimean war collection, to add to our web store. Many are absolute beauties of museum quality, including military artifacts, guards bearskin caps, swords, and militaria all from the Crimean War
Plus, many more original samurai swords, are to be added. Also, an amazing collection of original, antique samurai sword tsuba {sword guards} from the past 500 years, and, as well as all that, so much more!
A resume, below, of our family’s ‘old English merchants and traders’ 500 year old history, that stretches from our ancestors serving Queen Elizabeth 1st as her ‘Sea-Hawk’ captains, that were highly successful {though technically, unofficial} maritime raiders, and scourge of the Spanish fleet of King Philip of Spain, relieving them of his gold, looted from The Americas, then, over 400 years later, to HMS Hawkins, a ‘Hawkins’ class heavy-cruiser, {the ship and her class that were named after Sir John Hawkins, one of Queen Elizabeth’s Sea-Hawk captains} that took part in the Normandy landings in 1944, supporting American troops landing on Utah Beach, and then, to current times, and our shop here in The Lanes.
Our family have been involved as merchants and traders in the South of England {lately in Sussex, and formerly, in the ‘West-Country’ in Devon} since the early part of the 16th century. Our ‘Hawkins’ ancestors, were then based in Plymouth, in the county of Devon, and were sea-farers of world renown, and some of the very earliest traders regularly sailing their merchant ships across the Atlantic to the New World, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st.
Our fleet were taking emigrating English pilgrims and settlers West to America, and returning with new and exotic cargo from the entire Americas, {such as tobacco and potatoes from the Andes}, Eastwards across the Atlantic, to the eager 16th century English markets.
By the 19th century part of our family had re-located Eastwards to Brighton, yet still connected to our maritime roots, into the local Brighton shellfish trade, supplying shellfish to the Prince Regent’s kitchens at the Palace in Brighton, and his accompanying aristocratic court that had built their family ‘town’ mansions across the length of Brighton’s seafront.
From there, part of the Hawkins family ‘migrated’ to more land based pursuits, of merchant traders, primarily as shop-keepers in and around Brighton, and other Hawkins’ though emigrated, and settled to trade in America and Canada.
David Hawkins senior {Mark and David’s father} however, lovingly maintained his desire to remain connected to our ancient family maritime roots. His desire was sated by acquiring a deep-sea-fishing and sailing ship, a 1930’s gaff rigged schooner. Moored at Newhaven port’s Cresta Marine, but it was only used strictly for pleasure, until the late 1970’s. Offering frequent complimentary recreational therapy fishing trips to blind former servicemen from St Dunstans Hospital in the 1960’s.
A photo in the gallery is of portraits of two sea faring ‘Plymouth’ Hawkins, John and Richard, John was cousin to Sir Francis Drake who became one of England’s foremost naval commanders, and, scourge of King Philip of Spain, and father of Richard. Another photo is of heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins named in John’s honour, it was the lead ship of five Hawkins-class heavy-cruisers, named after our esteemed forebears. In 1944 HMS Hawkins returned home from the East Indies fleet to participate in the Normandy landings. Initially assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet, she was detached to the Western Task Force Gunfire Support Bombardment Force U to support American troops landing at Utah Beach.
Scholars think it is likely Francis Drake was illegitimate, and that is probably why he was placed at an early age into the household of William Hawkins of Plymouth. Drake thus began his seagoing training as an apprentice for the Hawkins family, and the rest as they say, is history.
We are open 6 days a week from 10.30 till 4.30. Please note however, we never open our gallery on Sundays or Bank Holidays. A tradition of just a single day of rest every week we have tried our best to maintain for 100 years.
However, our web store, like all the stores online, operates 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Here’s wishing a healthy and happy well-being to us all.
Gloria Antika!
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 trading read more
Price
on
Request
An Original, Net Camouflaged, D.Day Pattern MK III 'High Rivet' Helmet. Fabulous D-Day Collection, Medals, & Stripes, of ANCO Corporal of The Ox & Bucks Light Infantry & Later Part of the Airborne Div,
The helmet with its original netting and camouflage is seriously rare and it comes with an accompanying group of his four British medals {unworn} and his corporal stripes.
A D-Day Pattern MKIII high rivet helmet, with original netting and camouflaging, and his corporal's battledress stripes and medals. The helmet may have painted regimental markings, but there is no way the net and camouflage should be removed in order to check. The German part of the collection, the iron cross medals etc. was sold separately.
We do not know if he qualified for more than his four medals, as his family knew not either. His German souvenir medals were put away after the war and never saw the light of day till very recently, which is why they are in superb condition. The helmet was not his first original service issue, he originally had the Brodie pattern helmet. His German medals {which may be from an Arnham based SS Panzer Division crew} will be sold separately, but only his medals, stripes and D-Day MKIII camouflage helmet are sold together here under this stock code.
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry committed three battalions to the Normandy campaign in 1944, with two landing on the 6th June 1944 - one by air, one by sea.
2nd Battalion (52nd), Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division
Part of 6th Airborne Division, 2nd Battalion were some of the first Allied troops to arrive in Normandy when six gliders carrying D Company and elements of B Company, led by Major John Howard, landed in the early hours of 6 June. Though one of the gliders landed some distance to the east, five would land remarkably close to their objective. They successfully captured and held the River Orne and Caen Canal bridges, securing a vital bridgehead to pave the way for the advance of the allied forces that would land on the beaches. One of these bridges was renamed Pegasus Bridge after the emblem of the British Airborne, the name it is still known by today. The rest of the Battalion would arrive by glider around 9pm on 6 June, landing at the bridgehead as part of Operation Mallard.
1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, No. 6 Beach Group
The 1st Bucks Battalion, a territorial army battalion of the Ox & Bucks, also landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. Part of No. 6 Beach Group, an anti-tank platoon landed with the first tide, while the remainder landed with the second tide of the invasion force. The Group was responsible for organising units landing on Sword and arranging supply dumps in the area. As infantry support for the Beach Group, 1st Bucks were tasked with defending the beachhead from any counterattacks.
The Battle of Arnhem and the subsequent defence of the Oosterbeek Perimeter have passed into legend and the subject of numerous books and films, meaning that the story of the Operation is quite well known by most who have an interest in military history, what is probably less known is the contribution of the Regiment in Operation Market Garden.
Operation “Market Garden”
“Market” was the Airborne element of the operation, with three Allied Airborne Divisions being dropped behind enemy lines in Holland with the task of capturing and holding until relieved by ground forces, all the bridges along a “corridor” from the Belgian/Dutch border along a single road to the river Rhine at Arnhem.
The American 101st Airborne Division were to capture the bridges around Eindhoven, the American 82nd Airborne Division the bridges around Nijmegen and the British 1st Airborne Division along with the Polish Independent Parachute Brigade the bridges at Arnhem on the Rhine.
“Garden” was the land based element with the main thrust along the “corridor” being made by Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks’s British 30th Corps, with the 12th and 8th Corps on each flank. 30th Corps objective was to advance along the corridor linking up with the Airborne Divisions and reaching the Rhine at Arnhem within four days! From there the British 2nd Army could then cross the River Rhine, the last natural barrier, and then turn into the Ruhr and Germany itself and end the war by the end of 1944.
“This is a tale you will tell your grandchildren... …and mightily bored they’ll be”
Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks, commanding British 30th Corps
1st Battalion (43rd) Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Operations by the 53rd (Welsh) Division in 12th Corps, containing the 43rd, aimed to protect the left flank of the land based “Garden” force, 30th Corps, pushing through the airborne corridor from Eindhoven to link up with the Market forces at Arnhem.
On 20 September the enemy withdrew through De Kruisberg, leaving a small force to cover the retreat. The 43rd followed at night to push ahead in single file through the town to protect the flank of 15th (Scottish) Division forming a bridgehead on the Wilhelmina Canal at Best.
The advance by the 43rd in the direction of Oirschot attracted heavy fire. The blown bridge at Oirschot was reached at midday on 21st and the nearside bank of the canal was made secure to protect the western flank of the Scottish Division. The canal was a formidable obstacle but could be crossed by wading infantry.
The village of Dun was captured and where Regimental Headquarters was established until 5 October.
Nijmegen, Holland - October 1944
On 5 October, the 43rd was ordered to move up to Nijmegen bridgehead as reserve battalion. The move was full of small incidents of enemy action and manoeuvre. The Battalion led the attack by 71st Brigade to liberate 's-Hertogenbosch, which was secured by 27th, but the remnants of the enemy did not withdraw completely over the Maas to the north.
The objectives of the 1st British Airborne Division were to capture and hold the bridges over the river Rhine at Arnhem, however in the end only a force slightly over battalion strength managed to reach and hold the northern approaches to the Road Bridge. Only the Second Parachute Battalion (less C company, who were separated in the town), reinforced by part of 1st Parachute Brigade HQ, individual members of 1st and 3rd Parachute Battalions and some attached arms personnel actually reached the Divisional objective – the Bridge.
The Corporal of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Defence Platoon, survived the debacle, escaped capture during the greater Operation Market Garden, to be evacuated. See a photo of some of the various men evacuated after the Arnham debacle in the gallery.{but this photo does not include Ox and Bucks combatant}
**The price shown is for the helmet, his 4 british campaign medals and his corporal stripes, it does not include the German medals, they were for sale, separately, though now sold,
The last owners name will be past on to the next owner. read more
1150.00 GBP
A Stunning, Demi-Shabraque Of An Officer Of The British Monarch, Her Late Most Beloved Majesty Queen Elizabeth IInd Mounted Bodyguard of the Household Cavalry The Horse Guards. Post 1953 With 19 Battle Honours Up to 1991
With the regiments Garter Star, the lion surmounted the Queen's Crown {the Imperial State Crown}, with 19 battle honours around and below. All in the finest gold and silver bullion, on a garnet cloth with a wide bullion trim with embossed oak leaves of the mounts fore-quarter shabraque.
A post 1953 shabraque, with battle honours up to 1991.
This shabraque would look amazing bespoke framed
The Household Cavalry is classed as a corps in its own right, and consists of two regiments: The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons). They are the senior regular regiments in the British Army, with traditions dating from 1660, and act as the King's personal bodyguard. They are the cavalry element of the guards regiments and, with the five foot guard regiments, constitute the seven guards regiments of the Household Division.
A shabrack or shabraque is a saddlecloth, formerly used by European light cavalry.
The shabraque was an accoutrement of the hussar cavalry, based on the Hungarian horsemen in Austrian service who were widely imitated in European armies in the 18th and 19th centuries. The shabraque was a large cloth which in its original form, covered the Hungarian-style saddle, and was itself surmounted by a sheep or goat skin.
Made of Sheep or Goat skin, The Shabrack was a common Military article during The Napoleonic Wars, used by both The French, their Allies and by The English and theirs. Traditionally, Royal Regiments bore their Monarch's Signet – often embroidered in Silver or Gold Thread.
By the end of the 19th Century and into the 20th, Shabracks (when found), were used solely by Officers of various Elite Cavalry Units (such as those found today on Great Britain). Variations were used by both American and Confederate Officers during The American Civil War. Today, in The American Army, The Shabrack is most commonly used for Funeral Processions known as The ''Fallen Rider''.
The corners of the shabraque were rounded at the front and elongated into long points at the rear. It could be elaborately decorated with a contrasting border and a royal cypher or regimental crest. It was often discarded while on active service and by the start of the 20th century, was confined to ceremonial use; in the British Army, it is used by the Household Cavalry and by General Staff officers. read more
950.00 GBP
A Very Fine, 1917 US Bayonet, The *U.S. Model 1913 ‘1917’ Dated Remington Bayonet and Scabbard.
Excellent plus, and an exceptional example. The American U.S. Model 1913 , dated 1917 Bayonet in leather and steel scabbard with frog button mount. Known as a 'sleeper', in the collecting market, in that it was put into storage in 1946 and hasn't seen the light of day since, we have just acquired a super collection of bayonets all in stored or mint condition.
This is a superb 1913- 1917 pattern bayonet marked to the blade with 1917 over Remington in a circle on one side and U.S. on the other with the grenade stamp. These bayonets were originally manufactured by the U.S. in WWI and acquired by the British in WWII for use mainly by the Home Guard.
Pattern 1913/17. In excellent order. Made by Remington. The pattern of bayonet that was continually used in WW2 by the British Home Guard. With twin cuts in the wood grip added to differentiate for British forces that it was the American bayonet and not a British 1907 Wilkinson.
Originally the bayonet design was made for the British in September 1917 (the 9 17 mark) by Remington in the US as the 1913 Pattern intended to be issued with the P14 Rifle in .303 inch calibre. However, when America entered the war they changed production of the P14 rifle over to .30 inch calibre, at which point it became their M17 rifle. As the calibre change meant no alteration to the bayonet was required they basically took the unfinished/unshipped bayonets and made them American property by over-stamping the British marks with American marks, thus becoming M1917 bayonets.
This bayonet beautifully original with all original blue and parkerised blade.
Generic photos in the gallery, this bayonet is actually better that the one photographed read more
A Superb and Very Rare Imperial German Naval Service Issue Straw Hat From SMS Emden One of The Most Famous Warships of WW1, It Sunk or Captured 23 Allied Ships, and 60 Allied Ships Took Part in the ‘Hunt-for-the-Emden’ Before She Was Sunk.
Bearing the wide, imperial black silk straw cap band with the embroidered badge of [SMS] Emden, with a crown over the imperial battle flag, and from family history it was used, during it's service life, on the SMS Emden's barge to transport the Kaiser to his ship before WW1, and by their sailors serving on land based duties in the concessions at Tsingtao, China from 1910. The Emden and her crew has a most significant status within German Naval history for in only three months service it sank or captured 23 ships. It fought with such valiant heroism before it was finally destroyed by the Royal Australian Navy, in November 1914, that all the surviving crew were given the singular and unique honour of having the ship's name, Emden, added as a suffix to their family surname in purpetuity. The SMS Emden was a Dresden class light cruiser launched in 1908 and posted to the East Asia squadron based at Tsingtao in 1910. She took part in the suppression of the Sokehs Rebellion on Ponape in 1910-11 and in 1913 (along with British and Japanese ships) shelled a rebel Chinese fort on the Yangtze.
When the First World War broke out the Emden, under the command of Korvettenkapitan Karl von Muller, set sail from Tsingtao to cause mayhem amongst allied shipping in the Indian Ocean and bombard enemy ports (including Madras in British India). The allies put vast efforts into catching the SMS Emden (at one point having over 60 warships involved in the search) but she eluded them, capturing and sinking thousands of tons of Entente shipping along the way. In November 1914 she was finally cornered off the Cocos Islands and sunk by the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney. The surviving crew of the SMS Emden were uniquely honoured for their bravery by being allowed to add the suffix '-Emden' to their surnames. To this day some of their descendants still carry this additional name. She sank eighteen merchantman, converted another to an armed merchant cruiser and captured and used three colliers. She had also raided two allied ports and sank a cruiser and a destroyer as well as causing major disruption to shipping and tying down a large number of enemy warships. Throughout the voyage she had maintained an excellent reputation for "gentlemanly" behaviour, not a single person from the merchant ships she sank was killed, prisoners were well treated and released at the earliest opportunity, enemy wounded were treated as best they could and neutral ships were treated as such.SMS Emden ("His Majesty's Ship Emden") was the second and final member of the Dresden class of light cruisers built for the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Named for the town of Emden, she was laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft (Imperial Dockyard) in Danzig in 1906. Her hull was launched in May 1908, and completed in July 1909. She had one sister ship, Dresden. Like the preceding Konigsberg-class cruisers, Emden was armed with ten 10.5 cm (4.1 in) guns and two torpedo tubes.
Emden spent the majority of her career overseas in the German East Asia Squadron, based in Tsingtao, in the Kiautschou Bay concession in China. In 1913, she came under the command of Karl von Muller, who would captain the ship during World War I. At the outbreak of hostilities, Emden captured a Russian steamer and converted her into the commerce raider Cormoran. Emden rejoined the East Asia Squadron, after which she was detached for independent raiding in the Indian Ocean. The cruiser spent nearly two months operating in the region, and captured nearly two dozen ships. In late October 1914, Emden launched a surprise attack on Penang; in the resulting Battle of Penang, she sank the Russian cruiser Zhemchug and the French destroyer Mousquet.Muller then took Emden to raid the Cocos Islands, where he landed a contingent of sailors to destroy British facilities.
Emden then set of to raid the important wireless/cable station at the Cocos Islands, arriving at 0600 on November 9. A forty man landing party was put ashore unopposed and the Buresk was signalled to join Emden. Buresk did not reply but the the island started to transmit "S.O.S. Emden is here" both by wireless and cable. Only fifty miles to the north east the was the Anzac convoy which intercepted the transmission. HMAS Sydney (Captain Glossop) was detached from the convoy. Sydney was a modern light cruiser, her 6 inch main guns outgunning the 4.1 inch armed Emden. She left the convoy at 0700 and by exceeding her designed speed arrived at the Cocos after 0900.
At first Emden's lookouts thought Sydney was Buresk but when she was identified as a cruiser the landing party was recalled but were too slow and so at 0930 Emden pulled out of the lagoon without them.
Ten minutes alter Emden opened fire with her starboard guns at 10,000 yards, hitting with her third salvo, knocking out Sydney's range finder. Emden continued to score hits, knocking out a gun and starting a fire but by 1000 Sydney had found Emden's range. By 1020 Emden had lost her wireless station, a forward gun, her electrics and steering. She then received damage to her shell hoists and her firing became ragged. Sydney was a faster ship than Emden and throughout the action maintained a range best suited to her heavier guns. Emden's forward funnel fell across deck causing her to be shrouded in smoke and to reduce speed below twenty knots. For the next half an hour Emden was hit repeatedly, over 100 times during the entire action, and Captain Muller decided to beach her before she sank. At 1115 she was beached, Sydney ceasing fire five minutes later and setting off after Buresk which had just arrived. Buresk scuttled herself to prevent capture and Sydney returned to the Emden. She signalled Emden to ask for surrender but received no reply and as Emden was still flying her battle flag she opened fire again. Emden hauled down her battle flag and raised a white flag, ending the battle.
Sydney dropped off medical supplies then headed back to the main island to capture the landing party but when she arrived they had left in the commandeered schooner Ayesha. They eventually made it to Turkey in May 1915.
Emden lost 131 killed and sixty five wounded whilst Sydney suffered three killed and eight wounded. Karl von Muller was the last to leave Emden and spent the remainder of the war as a P.O.W.. Over a raiding career spanning three months and 30,000 nautical miles, Emden had destroyed two Entente warships and sank or captured sixteen British steamers and one Russian merchant ship, totaling 70,825 gross register tons. Another four British ships were captured and released. Another very rare surviving Imperial German Navy straw hat, from the Kaisers Yacht [the SMY Hohenzollern] but with it's Kaisersciffe title SMS Hohenzollern, we show it in our photograph gallery just as it is now exhibited in the The International Maritime Museum Collection, Hamburg read more
995.00 GBP
A Near Mint Condition Ordnance Issue British Army No7 Mk1 Bayonet by Elkington & Co Ltd of Birmingham. Designed and Made From 1944 For The No4 Enfield and Sten MkV Sub Machine Gun
As good example as you will ever see, and absolutely unbeatable.
Made by Elkington, and the scabbard, by scabbard contractor, G.G.Wade of 37 London Road Bromley
The No7 bayonet. The No7 was designed in 1944 for use with both the No4 rifle and the Sten MkV. Up until this point the No4 had been issued with a spike bayonet, which no one liked, and a way was sought to combine the socket attachment used to attach the bayonet to the No4 with the Bowie style blade used on the jungle carbine bayonet, which was universally liked. The resulting bayonet was a complicated, but very elegant blade. The pommel of the handle was designed to swivel through 180 degrees to allow the bayonet to be affixed to a weapon or used as a fighting knife, a sprung bar holds the swivelling portion firmly in place. Pulling it back and twisting the base reveals the socket connector. Which then attaches to the No4 rifle in a conventional style. A large muzzle ring is designed to allow rounds to pass safely through. These were made to the same design as that on the Jungle Carbine, not to fit that weapon, but because the part was available and it ensured that even with worn out barrels and poor ammunition, the round would clear the bayonet. This was to prove the bayonets’ downfall as it was discovered if the socket was not fully engaged, the bayonet would still fit to the rifle, but the .303 round could still hit the muzzle ring on firing. Once this was discovered the bayonet was rapidly issued only for use with the MkV Sten and for ceremonial duties by the Guards in London where it was visually far better suited than a spike bayonet.
The grips of the bayonet are made of Paxolin, a resin impregnated cloth, with four deep finger grooves to allow the bayonet to be used as a fighting knife.
The bayonet is marked ‘No 7 Mk 1/L’ on the ricasso, 176,000 of these bayonets were produced from 1944 onwards until production ceased in 1948
Birmingham Small Arms Ltd. – 25,000; Elkington & Co. Ltd. Birmingham – 20,000; Royal Ordinance Factory, Poole – 30,000; Royal Ordinance Factory, Newport – 100,000.
As can be imagined with relatively low numbers, this is a comparatively rare bayonet when compared with the wartime spike bayonet. The bayonet was issued with the standard scabbard also used on the No5 and No9 bayonets:
Original No7 bayonet to fit the MKV Sten Gun
No7 Mk1 Bayonet
No5 Mk1 metal Scabbard
A very good condition example of the short lived No 7 MK 1/L Bayonet. These bayonets were designed to be a hybrid bayonet/fighting knife, made with a swivelling pommel to fit the No 4 Rifle and MK V Sten guns. The 'L' designation signify's Land Service.
The bayonet maker marked M/78 for Elkington and Co, who only made 20,000 of this model.out of the 350,000. read more