A Good and Scarce Antique Malaysian Kampilan Sword

A rare tribal sword, somewhat crude but superbly effective in the terrain and jungles of the Philippines. The standard kampilan is a type of single-edged long sword, used in the Philippine islands of Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon. This unusual variant has a long 33.5 inch double edged blade more reminiscant of a European broadsword, more similar to the sword of Datu Lapu-Lapu, legendary warrior Philippine king of the Mactan

The kampilan has a distinct profile, with the tapered blade being much broader and thinner at the point than at its base, sometimes with a protruding spikelet along the flat side of the tip and a bifurcated hilt which is believed to represent a mythical creature's open mouth.

The Maguindanao and the Maranao of mainland Mindanao preferred this weapon as opposed to the Tausug of Sulu who favoured the barung. The Kapampangan name of the Kampilan was "Talibong" and the hilt on the Talibong represented the dragon Naga, however the creature represented varies between different ethnic groups. Its use by the Illocanos have also been seen in various ancient records.

A notable wielder of the kampilan was Datu Lapu-Lapu (the king of Mactan) and his warriors, who defeated the Spaniards and killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan at the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521.

The mention of the kampilan in ancient Filipino epics originating from other non-Muslim areas such as the Hiligaynon Hinilawod and the Ilocano Biag ni Lam-Ang is possible evidence for the sword's widespread usage throughout the archipelago during the ancient times. Today, the kampilan is portrayed in Filipino art and ancient tradition. The hilt is quite long in order to counterbalance the weight and length of the blade and is made of hardwood. As with the blade, the design of the hilt's profile is relatively consistent from blade to blade, combining to make the kampilan an effective combat weapon.

The complete tang of the kampilan disappears into a crossguard, which is often decoratively carved in an okir (geometric or flowing) pattern.The guard prevents the enemy's weapon from sliding all the way down the blade onto bearer's hand and also prevents the bearer's hand from sliding onto the blade while thrusting.

The most distinctive design element of the hilt is the Pommel, which is shaped to represent a creature's wide open mouth. The represented creature varies from sword to sword depending on the culture. Sometimes it is a real animal such as a monitor lizard or a crocodile, but more often the animal depicted is mythical, with the naga and the bakonawa being popular designs. Some kampilan also have animal or human hair tassels attached to the hilt as a form of decoration.  read more

Code: 16828

A Fabulous Imperial German Air Service Flask & Cigarette Case

This is just the epitome of all things Imperial German from the time of Kaiser Willhelm and Baron von Richthofen. The reservists flask was a peculiarly German artifact, and alongside the bier stein absolutely typical of the Germanic age of the early 20th century. The flask is an alloy depicting an embossed Zeppelin, an embossed plane and another, an anchor and a panel for luftschiff reserve service, and a similar for the flieger reserve service. It has a mono plane cup holder with a young pilot and his fraulein drinking and reveling. The front panel opens on a hinge revealing a picture behind the flask and a holder for cigarettes. It has wear and aging, but for the Imperial German WW1 reservist flask and stein collector you could probably not find a better or more desirable example. Overall 9 inches tall by 5 inches wide by 2 inches deep  read more

Code: 16392

Every Customer Should Expect & Will Receive Our World Renown 5* Star Service, Day In, Day Out, 365 Days of the Year

We have received the greatest honour of being described by almost every visitor to our store in Brighton, as possibly, the very best and most remarkable specialist shop in the country, if not the world. Our standards of personal service, honed through the generations for over 100 years, we hope, are second to none, and every possible effort is made to create the best possible atmosphere and assistance, for every single customer, be it for a single item, or hundreds, in person, or via our website.
No stone is left unturned in order to ensure every single customer’s buying or selling experience is a pleasure and a joy. Thankfully, dozens of you confirm this to us every single day, these days electronically, and for that we cannot thank you enough. Stay Healthy, Stay Safe.  read more

Code: 23485

Original Lewis & Vickers Machine Gun Crates

Just uncovered from long-term storage in our gun room, acquired over the past 50 to 60 years.

Original Lewis and Vickers machine-gun transit cases. Designed and constructed by the British ordnance and made to exacting standards, to suffer the vagaries and exertions of wartime combat on the front line, and storage of machine guns for up to, and over, 100 years. Solid wood with all metal edge strengthening supports. They were designed to be thrown around and heavily manhandled on the backs of army trucks, tanks, and armoured vehicles in combat war situations, even to be dropped out of planes for arms supply drops behind enemy lines, they are incredibly strong.

Beautifully designed constructed and perfect for storage, and historical collectors. Also absolutely ideal for a deactivated Lewis or Vickers machine gun collectors to complete historical display.

***Available for UK collection only***. They are available for collection from our Brighton gun shop on a click and collect basis by appointment. Please telephone or email for details. They are simply incredible value probably couldn’t be made for 10 times the price. Call 07721 010085. We have seen these sell for over £200 each in the past, when they have been rarely available

We also have some Bren gun cases And Russian USSR maxim machine-gun transit cases. Some are stencilled others are plain. We do not have any of the actual guns available for sale at present.  read more

Code: 23486

A Superb English Lord-Lieutenant's Silver Belt and Silver Lace Bullion Belt

Victorian. The silver buckle bears a centrally mounted English rose motif with an oakleaf and acorn wreath surrounding. A red Morocco leather lined belt which is covered in pure silver silver lace brocade bullion, in the continued design of the highest rank oak leaf and acorn scrolling vine, representing the monarch's personal representative, the Lord Lieutenant.
The Lord-Lieutenant is the British monarch's personal representative in each county of the United Kingdom. Historically, the Lord-Lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. Lieutenants were first appointed to a number of English counties by King 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.

Lieutenancies soon became more organised, probably in the reign of his successor King Edward VI, their establishment being approved by the English parliament in 1550. However, it was not until the threat of invasion by the forces of Spain in 1585 that lieutenants were appointed to all counties and counties corporate and became in effect permanent. Although some counties were left without lieutenants during the 1590s, following the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the office continued to exist, and was retained by King James I even after the end of the Anglo-Spanish War.

The office was abolished under the Commonwealth, but was re-established following the Restoration under the City of London Militia Act 1662, which declared that:


The King's most Excellent Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, shall and may from Time to Time, as Occasion shall require, issue forth several Commissions of Lieutenancy to such Persons as his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, shall think fit to be his Majesty's Lieutenants for the several and respective Counties, Cities and Places of England and Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed.

Although not explicitly stated, from that date lieutenants were appointed to "counties at large", with their jurisdiction including the counties corporate within the parent county. For example, lieutenants of Devon in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries appointed deputy lieutenants to the City of Exeter, and were sometimes described as the "Lieutenant of Devon and Exeter" The origin of this anomaly may have lain in the former palatine status of Pembrokeshire.

The City of London was uniquely given a commission of lieutenancy, and was exempt from the authority of the lieutenant of Middlesex. The Constable of the Tower of London and the Warden of the Cinque Ports were ex-officio lieutenants for the Tower Hamlets and Cinque Ports respectively, which were treated as counties in legislation regarding lieutenancy and militia affairs.

The official title of the office at this time was His or Her Majesty's "Lieutenant for the county of ..", but as almost all office-holders were Peers of the realm, they were referred to as "Lord-Lieutenant".  read more

Code: 20522

A Stunning Russian Cold War Era Poster

Original poster with interesting subject matter of medal of a Hero of the Soviet Union. This is one of a collection of Russian USSR posters we have acquired from the estate of an ex British Glider Pilot of WW2. This poster is folded and in condition as seen in the photos. Dated 1968 38 inches x 22 inches. This poster would look super nicely framed  read more

Code: 13712

Original Russian Soviet, USSR 1930's Propaganda Poster

Unusual poster with munitions factory, airship and young woman with plane. Early Russian posters of the Lenin and Stalin period before the war are now becoming extraordinarily collectable. Another poster for the Battleship Potemkin [a Russian historical silent film that is shown in our gallery for illustration purposes] designed by the Stenberg brothers in 1925, sold in November 2012 for 103,250 Pounds Sterling at Christies Auction in London. It arranged class elements into a powerful design of revolutionary upheaval. The poster comprises three pictorial elements: the battleship, the officer and the able seaman. Each of these signs is placed in relation to the others. The fragile balance of bourgeois society is revealed at its very tipping-point.
We never normally comment on the investment potential of any collectable, but the potential for all underpriced WW1 and WW2 posters must be incredible, for example the more famed poster, 'Keep Calm and Carry On' can now sell for over £20,000.

Photographed in plastic protector frame case. Sent unframed when purchased 24.5 inches x 37 inches  read more

Code: 18057

A Super Collection of 300 20th Century Books of Military Interest Arrived This Week!!

Acquired from a former military officer and collector of historical reading matter. Please email us details of any out of print military based book, historical, reference et cetera et cetera, printed in the last century, that you have been looking for, and we may have it within the collection. We have been promised another 500 volumes, including over 30 various books signed personally by Winston Churchill, that he still retains, hopefully they should arrive with us after lockdown sometime in the New Year.

Every Customer Should Expect & Will Receive Our World Renown 5* Star Service, Day In, Day Out, 365 Days of the Year

We have received the greatest honour of being described by almost every visitor to our store in Brighton, as possibly, the very best and most remarkable specialist shop in the country, if not the world. Our standards of personal service, honed through the generations for over 100 years, we hope, are second to none, and every possible effort is made to create the best possible atmosphere and assistance, for every single customer, be it for a single item, or hundreds, in person, or via our website.
No stone is left unturned in order to ensure every single customer’s buying or selling experience is a pleasure and a joy. Thankfully, dozens of you confirm this to us every single day, these days electronically, and for that we cannot thank you enough. Stay Healthy, Stay Safe.  read more

Code: 23458

A GIFT VOUCHER FOR ANY AMOUNT CAN BE WITH YOU WITHIN THE HOUR !

A Gift Voucher is often the ideal solution to leave the decision of the item to choose to the person you wish to gift. They can choose any form of militaryantiques and militaria or books they wish. They can be with you via email within the hour, if you call us direct during opening hours, or by the next day if you contact us out of hours. They are simple to print off at home, and sometimes it can be the perfect solution to that last minute need during these difficult times. They are available from us for all values, and as required, and are entirely bespoke to the recipient. All are unique and customised for each and every occasion. We have priced this sample example as our £200.00 voucher, but you can specify any alternative amount at all in the 'comment' section in the Webstore Order page, or call us direct. Our unique bespoke Gift Vouchers are valid without time limit for use at the recipients convenience at any time in the future. Just call 01273 321357 or 07721 010085  read more

Code: 19531

Please View Probably The Best Selection Of Original & Varied Samurai Arms in Europe & Possibly the World

Please View One of The Best Selections Of Original Samurai Arms to be Seen. Over the past 49 years I have personally supervised our company's determination to provide the most interesting, educational, yet not too intimidating, gallery of original Japanese Samurai weapons, helmets, sword fittings, polearms, muskets and armour. Principally concentrating on swords and daggers, with a combination of age, beauty, quality and history. Thanks to an extensive contact base [built up over the past 100 years or more] that stretches across the whole world, including collectors [both large and small], curators, academics and consultants, we have been very fortunate, that this effort has rewarded us with the ability to offer, what we believe to be, the most comprehensive selection available in Europe, if not the world, and during that time we have handled likely tens of thousands of original samurai artefacts and swords. In one week I sent over 300 samurai swords and daggers to be sold at our business in Georgia, USA [in the 1970’s we found the best market for Japanese swords was America]. Some of the most learned scholars studying this art all their lives often only scratch the surface of the knowledge to be learnt in this field, and like them, we have always loved the incredible history of the Samurai, and admired, respected and envied the unparalleled quality and beauty of their swords. Our Japanese weapons vary in age up to 800 years old, and are frequently some of the finest examples of specialist workmanship ever achieved by mankind. We have tried to include, within the description of some items, a brief history lesson, for those that are interested, and may not know, that will describe the eras, areas and circumstances in which these items were used. We have tried our utmost to be informative and interesting without being too academic in order to keep the details vibrant, fascinating yet not too complex. Please enjoy, with our compliments, our Japanese Gallery. It has been decades in the creation, and we intend it to remain interesting and informative, hopefully, for decades to come. Although they appear to be likely a relative expensive luxury compared to other antique swords from other nations, they are in fact incredible value for money, for example a newly made bespoke samurai style sword blade from Japan will cost, today, in excess of £11,000, take up to two years to complete, will come with no fittings at all, and will be modern [naturally] with no historical context or connection to the ancient samurai past in any way at all. Our fabulous original swords can be many, many, hundreds of years old, stunningly mounted as fabulous quality works of art, and may have been owned and used by up to 30 samurai in their working lifetime. Plus, due to their status in Japanese society, look almost as good today as the did possibly up to 500 years ago, or even more. Mark Hawkins [Partner].  read more

Code: 14195