A Fabulous Royal Bronze Battle Mace From 2,500 to 3,200 Years Old. From the Era of Rameses the Great of Egypt, to Darius, King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire. As Used By The Shardanas Warriors from Sardinia Who Fought for Rameses II Against the Hittite

13th-6th century BC. This is a classic style royal baton mace head of the ancient Bronze Age culture. Examples of this mace can be seen in several of the world's finest ancient Near Eastern bronze collections. The shaft is elaborately decorated with raised striking knobs of a herringbone design. This was an effective striking weapon likely used by high-ranking soldiers or royal subjects due to its extremely decorative design. In battle, maces like this were often used by commanders to display rank when giving orders in battle and leading soldiers, inspiring leadership and power. A substantial bronze cudgel and mace with tubular body, ribbed collar, flared rim and panels of raised herringbone ornament. Ist to 2nd Millennium B.C. In use it would have slotted onto a wooden haft. Items such as this were oft acquired in the 18th century by British noblemen touring the Middle East, Northern France and Italy on their Grand Tour. Originally placed on display in the family 'cabinet of curiosities', within his country house upon his return home. A popular pastime in the 18th and 19th century, comprised of English ladies and gentlemen traveling for many months, or even years, throughout classical Europe, and the Middle East, acquiring antiquities and antiques for their private collections. The use of the stone headed mace as a weapon and a symbol od status and ceremony goes back to the Upper Palaeolithic stone age, but an important, later development in mace heads was the use of metal for their composition. With the advent of copper mace heads, they no longer shattered and a better fit could be made to the wooden club by giving the eye of the mace head the shape of a cone and using a tapered handle.

Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Along with Thutmose III he is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, itself the most powerful period of Ancient Egypt.

The Shardanas or warriors from Sardinia who fought for Ramses II against the Hittities were armed with maces, exactly as this fabulous example, consisting of rounded wooden hafts with the bronze mace heads slotted upon the hafts. Many bronze statuettes of the times show Sardinian warriors carrying swords, bows and original maces.

Darius the Great, was a Persian ruler who served as the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until his death in 486 BCE. He ruled the empire at its territorial peak, when it included much of Western Asia, parts of the Balkans (Thrace–Macedonia and Paeonia) and the Caucasus, most of the Black Sea's coastal regions, Central Asia, the Indus Valley in the far east, and portions of North Africa and Northeast Africa including Egypt (Mudrâya), eastern Libya, and coastal Sudan.

Darius ascended the throne by overthrowing the legitimate Achaemenid monarch Bardiya, whom he later fabricated to be an imposter named Gaumata. The new king met with rebellions throughout his kingdom and quelled them each time; a major event in Darius' life was his expedition to subjugate Greece and punish Athens and Eretria for their participation in the Ionian Revolt. Although his campaign ultimately resulted in failure at the Battle of Marathon, he succeeded in the re-subjugation of Thrace and expanded the Achaemenid Empire through his conquests of Macedon, the Cyclades and the island of Naxos as well as the sacked Greek city of Eretria.

Persians used a variety of maces and fielded large numbers of heavily armoured and armed cavalry (cataphracts). For a heavily armed Persian knight, a mace was as effective as a sword or battle axe. In fact, Shahnameh has many references to heavily armoured knights facing each other using maces, axes, and swords. The enchanted talking mace Sharur made its first appearance in Sumerian/Akkadian mythology during the epic of Ninurta. Roman though auxiliaries from Syria Palestina were armed with clubs and maces at the battles of Immae and Emesa in 272 AD. They proved highly effective against the heavily armoured horsemen of Palmyra. Photos in the gallery of original carvings from antiquity in the British Museum etc.; Ashurbanipal at the Battle of Til-Tuba, Assyrian Art / British Museum, London/ 650-620 BC/ Limestone,, An Assyrian soldier waving a mace escorts four prisoners, who carry their possessions in sacks over their shoulders. Their clothes and their turbans, rising to a slight point which flops backwards, are typical of the area; people from the Biblical kingdom of Israel, shown on other sculptures, wear the same dress, on a gypsum wall panel relief, South West Palace, Nimrud, Kalhu Iraq, neo-assyrian, 730BC-727BC.
A recovered tablet from Egypt's Early Dynastic Period (3150-2613 BC) shows a Pharaoh smiting his foe with a war mace. Part of an original collection we have just acquired, of antiquities, Roman, Greek, Middle Eastern, Viking and early British relics of warfare from ancient battle sites recovered up to and around 220 years ago.

Last picture in the gallery; Ramses II A larger-than-life Ramses II towering over his prisoners and clutching them by the hair. Limestone bas-relief from Memphis, Egypt, 1290–24 BCE; in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo

As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity.


This wonderful piece would have been made and traded throughout the Western Asiatic region. 551 grams, 24cm (9 1/4").  read more

Code: 23421

An Original & Beautiful Ancient & Archaic Warrior's Dagger of the Trojan Wars Era. A Bronze Long Dagger Circa 1200 bc Around 3200 Years Old, in Superb Condition With All Its Original Age Patination Intact

This is a most handsome ancient bronze long dagger from one of the most fascinating eras in ancient world history, the era of the so called Trojan Wars. A most similar dagger, but with its gold hilt panel intact, made from 1000 to1350bc, is on display in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a gift of The Ahmanson Foundation. We show their dagger and its hilt with gold inlay, as the last two photos in the gallery.

The ancient Greeks believed the Trojan War was a historical event that had taken place in the 13th or 12th century BC, and believed that Troy was located in modern day Turkey near the Dardanelles. In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta.

The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey . "The Iliad" relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy, while the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the Achaean leaders. Other parts of the war were told in a cycle of epic poems, which has only survived in fragments. Episodes from the war provided material for Greek tragedy and other works of Greek literature, and for Roman poets such as Virgil and Ovid.

The war originated from a quarrel between the goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite, after Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, gave them a golden apple, sometimes known as the Apple of Discord, marked "for the fairest". Zeus sent the goddesses to Paris, who judged that Aphrodite, as the "fairest", should receive the apple. In exchange, Aphrodite made Helen, the most beautiful of all women and wife of Menelaus, fall in love with Paris, who took her to Troy. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and the brother of Helen's husband Menelaus, led an expedition of Achaean troops to Troy and besieged the city for ten years due to Paris' insult. After the deaths of many heroes, including the Achaeans Achilles and Ajax, and the Trojans Hector and Paris, the city fell to the ruse of the Trojan Horse. The Achaeans slaughtered the Trojans (except for some of the women and children whom they kept or sold as slaves) and desecrated the temples, thus earning the gods' wrath. Few of the Achaeans returned safely to their homes and many founded colonies in distant shores. The Romans later traced their origin to Aeneas, one of the Trojans, who was said to have led the surviving Trojans to modern day Italy.

This dagger comes from that that great historical period, from the time of the birth of known recorded history, and the formation of great empires, the cradle of civilization, known as The Mycenaean Age, of 1600 BC to 1100 BC. Known as the Bronze Age, it started even centuries before the time of Herodotus, who was known throught the world as the father of history. Mycenae is an archaeological site in Greece from which the name Mycenaean Age is derived. The Mycenae site is located in the Peloponnese of Southern Greece. The remains of a Mycenaean palace were found at this site, accounting for its importance. Other notable sites during the Mycenaean Age include Athens, Thebes, Pylos and Tiryns.
According to Homer, the Mycenaean civilization is dedicated to King Agamemnon who led the Greeks in the Trojan War. The palace found at Mycenae matches Homer's description of Agamemnon's residence. The amount and quality of possessions found at the graves at the site provide an insight to the affluence and prosperity of the Mycenaean civilization. Prior to the Mycenaean's ascendancy in Greece, the Minoan culture was dominant. However, the Mycenaeans defeated the Minoans, acquiring the city of Troy in the process. In the greatest collections of the bronze age there are daggers exactly as this beautiful example. In the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the bronze sword of King Adad-nirari I, a unique example from the palace of one of the early kings of the period (14th-13th century BC) during which Assyria first began to play a prominent part in Mesopotamian history. Swords and daggers from this era were made in the Persian bronze industry, which was also influenced by Mesopotamia. Luristan, near the western border of Persia, it is the source of many bronzes, such as this dagger, that have been dated from 1500 to 500 BC and include chariot or harness fittings, rein rings, elaborate horse bits, and various decorative rings, as well as weapons, personal ornaments, different types of cult objects, and a number of household vessels.

An edged weapon found in the palace of Mallia and dated to the Middle Minoan period (2000-1600 BC), is an example of the extraordinary skill of the Cretan metalworker in casting bronze. The hilt of the weapon is of gold-plated ivory and crystal. A dagger blade found in the Lasithi plain, dating about 1800 BC (Metropolitan Museum of Art), is the earliest known predecessor of ornamented dagger blades from Mycenae. It is engraved with two spirited scenes: a fight between two bulls and a man spearing a boar. Somewhat later (c. 1400 BC) are a series of splendid blades from mainland Greece, which must be attributed to Cretan craftsmen, with ornament in relief, incised, or inlaid with varicoloured metals, gold, silver, and niello. The most elaborate inlays--pictures of men hunting lions and of cats hunting birds--are on daggers from the shaft graves of Mycenae, Nilotic scenes showing Egyptian influence. The bronze was oxidized to a blackish-brown tint; the gold inlays were hammered in and polished and the details then engraved on them. The gold was in two colours, a deeper red being obtained by an admixture of copper; and there was a sparing use of neillo. The copper and gold most likely came from the early mine centres, in and around Mesopotamia, see gallery and the copper ingots exported to the Cretans for their master weapon makers. This dagger is in very nice condition with a single fracture one one side of the hilt 14.75 inches long overall.  read more

Code: 20797

Fabulous and Extremely Scarce, Original, WW2 German Third Reich 'Nebelwerfer 41' Un-Fired or Failed Detonation Rocket. D-Day 'Operation Overlord' Vintage. Recovered in 1944 by a French Normandy Farmer. Abandoned by The Retreating German's On His Land

Empty, inert and perfectly safe. This is one of the very last few we have seen in over 30 years and the first three we sold straightaway, we only have two remaining.

From a superb collection of German ordnance that arrived from a French farm in Normandy. All recovered by the farmer and stored {hidden} in one of his barns, with his incredible collection. Apparently he scoured his local area in late 1944 for abandoned German weaponry, munitions armoured vehicles, and artillery pieces. This is one of our last Nebelwerfer Rocket from this collection.

Nicknamed by the allies the 'Moaning Mini' due to it's unearthly scream as it flew. An original unfired example, and a simply remarkable piece of history, from the early German Third Reich's rocket technology, and part of a superb Third Reich collection we have been thrilled to acquire. An interesting statistic, it is estimated 75% of all German hi-explosive launched combat in Caen, the Normandy campaign, primarily involved the Nebelwerfers, the rest were fired by the panzers and luftwaffe. Beautifully waffen amt marked and with original paint decoration. The Nebelwerfer ("Smoke Mortar") was a World War II German series of super weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's so-called "smoke troops" (Nebeltruppen).

This weapon was given its name as a disinformation strategy designed to fool observers from the League of Nations, who were observing any possible infraction of the Treaty of Versailles, into thinking that it was merely a device for creating a smoke screen. However, they were primarily intended to deliver poison gas combined with smoke shells, although a high-explosive shell was developed for the Nebelwerfer from the very beginning. And then as an offensive/defensive long range battle weapon the Nebelwerfer and its crews truly came into their own. Initially, two different mortars were fielded before they were replaced by a variety of rocket launchers ranging in size from 15 to 32 centimetres (5.9 to 12.6 in). Nebeltruppen smoke troops are general chemical warfare troops, who were trained for both smoke and gas operations, and in the event of chemical warfare breaking out, the offensive role will be borne primarily by them. Specifically with reference to the use of smoke, it should be borne in mind that when smoke is required in limited areas it is produced generally by smoke-producing ammunition fired by the combat units' organic weapons, such as artillery and mortars; in operations involving the use of smoke in large quantities the specially trained and equipped, smoke troops are used. A number of these units was reported destroyed at Stalingrad. Three smoke batteries were also reported in North Africa. It was known that the Grossdeutschland Division and probably 20 divisions formed since December 1941, include a Nebelwerfer smoke battery.

"It is well to point out here that the Germans distinguish between the blinding screen and the area screen, a distinction not specifically made by General von Cochenhausen. The blinding screen is laid to blind hostile observation. The area screen is laid over an extensive area and fighting is carried out within the screen under conditions similar to a natural thick fog." The previous details were in part taken from a report on German smoke tactics in WWII, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 32, August 26, 1943. US War Dept.The thin walls of the rockets had the great advantage of allowing much larger quantities of gases, fluids or high-explosives to be delivered than artillery or even mortar shells of the same weight. With the exception of the Balkans Campaign, Nebelwerfers were used in every campaign of the German Army during World War II. A version of the 21 cm calibre system was even adapted for air-to-air use against Allied bombers. The name was also used to fool observers from the League of Nations, who were observing any possible infraction of the Treaty of Versailles, from discovering that the weapon could be used for explosive and toxic chemical payloads as well as the smoke rounds that the name Nebelwerfer suggested.

Rocket development had begun during the 1920s and reached fruition in the late thirties. This offered the opportunity for the Nebeltruppen to deliver large quantities of poison gas or smoke simultaneously. The first weapon to be delivered to the troops was the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 in 1940, after the Battle of France, a purpose-designed rocket with gas, smoke and high-explosive warheads. It, like virtually all German rocket designs, was spin-stabilized to increase accuracy. One very unusual feature was that the rocket motor was in the front, the exhaust venturi being about two-thirds down the body from the nose, with the intent to optimize the blast effect of the rocket as the warhead would still be above the ground when it detonated. This proved to greatly complicate manufacture for not much extra effect and it was not copied on later rocket designs. It was fired from a six-tube launcher mounted on a towed carriage adapted from that used by the 3.7 cm PaK 36 and had a range of 6,900 metres (7,500 yd). Rocket-projector troops are employed as battalion and regimental units, in keeping with their task of destroying hostile forces by concentrated fire. One of the advantages of the Nebelwerfer 41 is that it can mass its projectiles on a very small target area. By means of a shrewd disposition of the batteries, a carefully planned communication system, and a large number of observation posts with advanced observers, the infantry can assure for itself manoeuvrability and a concentration of its fire power upon the most important points. Projectors are placed well toward the front almost without exception, at points forward of the artillery so that they will be able to eliminate hostile command posts, destroy hostile positions, and even repulse sudden attacks effectively. The firing positions of the projectors are always carefully built up so that the weapons can give strong support to the infantry.

In Russia, during the winter of 1942-43, many breakthrough attempts by hostile forces were repulsed by direct fire from rocket-projector batteries. The projectile itself resembles a small torpedo?without propeller or tail fins. The base is flat, with slightly rounded edges. The rocket jets are located about one-third of the way up the projectile from the base, and encircle the casing. The jets are at an angle with the axis of the projectile so as to impart rotation in flight, in "turbine" fashion. The following note on the operation of the Nebelwerfer 41 is reproduced from the original WW2 German Army periodical Die Wehrmacht.

The Nebelwerfer 41, is unlimbered and placed in position by its crew of four men. As soon as the protective coverings have been removed, the projector is ready to be aimed and loaded. The ammunition is attached to the right and to the left of the projector, within easy reach, and the shells are introduced two at a time, beginning with the lower barrels and continuing upward. Meanwhile, foxholes deep enough to conceal a man in standing position have been dug about 10 to 15 yards to the side and rear of the projector. The gunners remain in these foxholes while the weapon is being fired by electrical ignition. Within 10 seconds a battery can fire 36 projectiles. These make a droning pipe-organ sound as they leave the barrels, and, while in flight, leave a trail of smoke. After a salvo has been fired, the crew quickly returns to its projectors and reloads them. Only its original empty steel shell casing and parts, no propellant, no ingnition system, thus completely safe in all regards.
No restrictions to ownership or personal display, but only for sale to over 18's.

Not suitable to Export. UK mainland delivery only. 38 inches long approx.
Copy and paste for original film of Nebelwefer in use on youtube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSTMYGEyaM  read more

Code: 21929

An Original, Inert, Imperial German, WW1, Trench Fragmentation Grenade, The Kugelhandgranate Model 1915

A fabulous German souvenir of WW1 trench warfare This is the German Kugel 1915 Na (new model), a High-Explosive-Fragmentation (HE-Frag), hand-grenade, a simplified fragmentation pattern of the Kugel 1913 Na hand-grenade adopted, in order to improve its massive production ability.

This Kugel 1915 Na hand-grenade only difference between the Kugel 1915 Na hand grenade and the older type, Kugel 1915 Aa, was that the outside groove pattern was easier to machine, but it kept all the other characteristics.

The use of these two Kugel hand-grenades was pretty safe, but uneasy due to their heavy weight (1kg).

Launched by hand, their range was not longer than 15m, unless on favourable ground on which they could continue to roll for a certain distance after landing.

The only way to reach longer (up to 300m) ranges was the use of a mechanical spring-based grenade-launcher.

Not answering to the trench warfighting conditions, these hand-grenades were gradually replaced by newer models, including the famous stick-grenades.

Inert, deactivated, and completely safe.  read more

Code: 26387

A Superb and Scarce Royal Marines Commando's Morse Code Signalling Torch Unit. Stamped By the Ordnance as Admiralty Pattern, AP 16001. For Royal Marines Commando Covert Tactical Signalling

Intact Maker's Plate: Features the original, completely legible brass manufacturer's plate on the Morse tapper assembly reading: "Santon Limited, Somerton Works, Newport. Mon. Signalling Unit." An "A.P." stamp on a WWII British military item stands for Admiralty Pattern, meaning the design was officially approved and specified by the Royal Navy

Highly collectible piece of British wartime maritime history: an original World War II Admiralty Pattern 16001 Morse Signalling Unit.
This tactical torch was manufactured by the prominent wartime contractor Santon Limited at their Somerton Works in Newport, Monmouthshire (Wales). These robust, heavy-duty signaling lamps were standard issue for the Royal Navy, British Army, and Commando units for covert tactical communication during WWII.

Photo in the gallery of a German standing next to British tank holding a British army machete, and a Royal Marines morse code signalling torch in his belt, taken after the Dieppe Raid by the British Commando's and Canadian Army. Known as Canada's single bloodiest day.

Overall in superb condition considering its age and service use.  read more

Code: 26386

A Most Beautiful, Ancient Roman, Large Size Candlestick Style, Unguentarium Vase, Of Blown, Iridescent Glass, Circa 1st-2nd Century AD Around 2000 Years Old. This Ancient Beauty is in Superb Condition.

Unusually large survivor from Ancient Rome, as most original glass pieces that remain are barely 3.5 inches tall.

A candlestick unguentarium vase was a vase to contain unguents, perfumes and oils, shaped in the candlestick form of profile.

An early Roman glass vessel or bottle with a 16 cm (approx. 6.25-inch) height typically dates from the 2nd AD and features a fine and elegant form, it sits upon a concave base and features a domed body leading to a long cylindrical neck and out-splayed folded rim.

Roman glass objects have been recovered across the Roman Empire in domestic, industrial and funerary contexts. Glass was used primarily for the production of vessels, although mosaic tiles and window glass were also produced. Roman glass production developed from Hellenistic technical traditions, initially concentrating on the production of intensely coloured cast glass vessels.

However, during the 1st century AD the industry underwent rapid technical growth that saw the introduction of glass blowing and the dominance of colourless or 'aqua' glasses. Production of raw glass was undertaken in geographically separate locations to the working of glass into finished vessels, and by the end of the 1st century AD large scale manufacturing resulted in the establishment of glass as an available material in the Roman world, and one which also had technically very difficult specialized types of luxury glass, which must have been very expensive, and competed with silver and gold as elite tableware.

Invented on the Syro-Judean coast in the 1st century BC, glassblowing transformed glass from a costly royal luxury into a relatively affordable vessels and bottles across the Roman Empire.
Romans introduced mass production, window panes, and blowing techniques to Britain and Western Europe.

However, after the Roman Empire fell, local European glass production slowed significantly
Many centuries later the 12th century brought a limited European revival, led by magnificent stained glass windows in Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals. Although for around 600 years the appearance of glass vessels, vases, cups and goblets became effectively non existent in Europe and Britain


https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1919-0618-4  read more

Code: 26385

A Delightful & Most Beautiful Edo Period, Japanese Kaiken {Or Kwaiken} Tanto, with Beautifull Hamon Wonderful Polish and Horimono Mei Signature "Made by Tama of the Ichimonji School, Unrivaled Under Heaven."

天下無双一文字珠作
Tenka Musō, a famous Japanese idiom meaning "Peerless in the world" or "Unparalleled under heaven."

A kaiken is a small tanto carried by both samurai men and women for close-quarters or indoor self-defense where longer swords like the katana were impractical.

In the case of women's protection, for traditional samurai wives and daughters, they kept the taiken dagger tucked in their sash for personal safety or as a wedding gift symbolizing family honour

Potentially used historically to swiftly cut the carotid artery to preserve honour in moments of extreme crisis, as a form of ritual suicide (Jigai).

The traditionally made smith made blade is incredibly similar to the type of kaiken seppuku tanto that was presented to the Zero pilots, the 'kamikaze' in WW2, and worn around their neck.

The type as were presented to the WW2 Zero pilots before their Kamikaze suicide missions and also given to or purchased by Kaiten pilots, the Japanese navy's one man human suicide torpedoes. Photo in the gallery shows a WW2 'Kamikaze' pilot being issued his suicide Seppuku tanto in the Kaiten ceremony. Originally they could have had an exterior brown leather cover and neck strap. The pilot had the choice whether to commit suicide, or not. It was not an order, nor directive and if the pilot missed the ship he had the option of killing himself to ask forgiveness of the honourable ancestors for his failure, as many of the planes had only enough fuel for a one way trip. Because the Zero pilot was belted into a very narrow seat and wearing many layers of his cold atmospheric pilot's flying suit with the addition of his life vest; it would be impossible for the aeronautical pilot to commit traditional ritual seppuku. It is said the procedure was to pull the knife out from it's neck sheath and thrust it straight into the throat much like the ladies form of seppuku.

In recognition of the unfavourable progress of the war, towards the end of 1943 the Japanese high command considered suggestions for various suicide craft. These suggestions were initially rejected, but later deemed necessary. Various suicide craft were developed in the Japanese Special Attack Units.

For the Navy, this meant Kamikaze planes, Ohka piloted bombs, Shinyo suicide boats, Kaiten submarines, and Fukuryu suicide divers or human mines. The Kamikazes were somewhat successful, and the second most successful were the Kaitens.

Research on the first Kaiten began in February 1944, followed on 25 July of the same year by the first prototype. By 1 August, an order for 100 units had been placed.

The island of Ōzushima, in the Inland Sea, was used as a training site. The island was equipped with cranes, torpedo testing pits, and launch ramps, and had a large shallow bay for test running and firing. The Kaiten Memorial Museum is now situated there.

Kaiten pilots were all men aged between 17 and 28. Initial training consisted of sailing fast surface boats by periscope and instrument readings alone. When a pilot had advanced past this basic training, he would begin training on Kaitens. Training craft were fitted with a dummy warhead that contained telemetry equipment and an emergency blowing tank that could return the craft to the surface should the trainee dive to a dangerous depth. Kaiten training started with basic circular runs to and from a fixed landmark at a reduced speed; the training advanced to faster and more hazardous runs around rocks and through channels in deeper waters. The more difficult runs required the pilot to surface and check the periscope repeatedly, and required conscientious adjusting of trim tank levels because of the reducing weight as oxygen was used up. When the instructors were confident about a pilot's abilities, they would advance the pilot to open water training against target ships. Training at this level was often done at full attack speed, and either at night or in twilight. The final phase of training would be a submarine launch and more open water attack runs on target ships.

Training was dangerous, and 15 men died in accidents, most commonly collisions with the target vessels. Although the warheads were only dummies, the impact at ramming speed was enough to both cripple the Kaiten and severely injure the pilot.

In action, the Kaiten was always operated by one man, but the larger training models (Types 2, 4, and 5) could carry two or even four.

Kaiten pilots who were leaving for their final missions would leave testaments and messages behind for their loved ones

blade length approx 5 inches long, overall in saya 8.25 inches long  read more

Code: 26379

Early Shinto, Signed, Yamashiro Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu (山城大掾藤原国次) Handachi Sword With Full Suite Of Omori Teruhide School 'Omori Wave' Pattern of Handachi Koshirae Of Churning Water With Inlaid Gold Sea Spray Droplets. Kinai School Budou-sukashi Tsuba

Samurai blade, Shinto period, circa 1620, of very strong and powerful form with substantial heft, signed Yamashiro Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu (山城大掾藤原国次). Black Stone finish lacquered saya handachi mounted Koshirae.

This is truly what one might call a ‘no nonsense’ blade of significant presence and power. A most serious blade meant for long lasting samurai warfare and truly impressive hand to hand combat in the crush of the melee..

A handachi koshirae featuring a crashing wave with gold sea spray motif represents a dynamic, high-status configuration for a Japanese sword mounting. The combination of crashing waves and gold sea spray is one of the most celebrated themes in classic Japanese sword fittings (tosogu), famously associated with the Omori School of metalworkers during the Edo period.

They pioneered the technique of embedding tiny, raised dots of pure gold alloy across the dark metal to represent crashing spray

The "Omori Wave": Unlike flat or highly stylized geometric waves, Omori artisans carved deeply undercut, three-dimensional, churning waves that look violently alive. Omori Teruhide (Omori-ryu). His signature style revolutionized the depiction of water

Handachi (meaning "half-tachi") style combines the styling and reinforced metallic components of a traditional tachi mount with the utility of an uchigatana, meaning it is worn edge-up tucked through the obi sash rather than slung edge-down
The kabuto-gane replaced the standard katana kashira. It features deeply carved churning water wrapped around the butt of the hilt
Fuchi (Hilt Collar): Adorned with matching ocean waves rising to crests gold sea spray droplets (Zogan / Iroie):

The "sea spray" (shibuki) is brought to life using precise pure gold inlay or gold overlay techniques, depicting individual glistening droplets scattered across the dark, turbulent waves.The distinguishing factor of a handachi is the presence of protective metal chassis bands wrapping around the scabbard
Semegane & Kashiwaba metallic bands that encircle the scabbard further up its length to prevent splitting. These echo the same ocean theme.

Kojiri is the long, protective metal cap at the very tip of the scabbard, matching the crashing wave and gold drop motif.

Menuki of ken wrapped around by dragon beneath golden silk tsuka-ito over samegawa giant rayskin.

Iron maru-gata sukashi tsuba of Kinai school. This specific tsuba displays an organic, detailed grapevine design (Budou-sukashi) complete with leaves, tendrils. Kinai masters were highly celebrated for their fluid, deeply carved openwork (ji-sukashi) depicting natural motifs like plant life, flowers, and shells

This handachi is an antique Japanese sword crafted during the early Edo period (Shinto era), circa 1620, typically associated with the Echizen Shimosaka school in Echizen Province (modern-day Fukui prefecture): Early Edo period, with authenticated works recorded around the Kan'ei era (e.g., August 1629)

It is said that the first-gen Yasutsugu was the founder of the Echizen Shimoasaka school. He was born in Shimosaka town in Shiga prefecture at the end of the Muromachi period(Late 16 century ). He built his career there until the beginning of the Keicho era(1596). However, he moved to Echizen province due to the relocation of the lord he served. He eventually was noticed and supported by Matsudaira Hideyasu, the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the founder of the Edo government.

Hideysu was the feudal lord of Echizen province during the early Edo period. With the support of Hideyasu, the first-gen Yasutsugu was able to establish the Echizen Shimosaka school. And his school’s fame became nationwide.

By Hideyasu’s recommendation, the first-gen Yasutsugu became Okakaekaji for the Tokugawa shogun family, meaning that he exclusively forged swords for the Shogun family. Yasutsu was acknowledged by the first and second Tokugawa Shoguns, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Tokugawa Hidetada.

The first-gen Yasutsugu received 康(YASU) from Tokugawa Ieyasu and changed his maker’s name. He was also allowed to inscribe the holly oak symbol(family crest of Tokugawa) on the tang. The school flourished during the Edo period and trained many skilled apprentices. Echizen Province was famous for forging razor-sharp, practically designed swords.

The Edo government, run by the Tokugawa clan, ordered many blades from the swordsmiths in this province during the Edo period(1603-1868).

It has a superb blade with a stunning hamon, in great condition for age. It does have a fingerprint surface stain in the polish, so we are having it expertly removed and fully polished out. It will be photographed, looking like it last did in the 1860's, when it was already 240 years old, upon its return, probably by the 10th October  read more

Code: 26383

Aircrew Europe Six Medal Group, With Africa Star and 1942-43 Bar, 13th Squadron Observer, Operation Jubilee, 19/8/1942, the Dieppe Raids, One of the Top Five Most Secret Operations of WW2 with His Observer Wing {x 2} Dog Tags, Cap Badge & Silver O Wing

Of Sgt F.H. Westbrook -(Observer-13 Sqn)-

Operation Jubilee or the Dieppe Raid (19 August 1942) was an Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France, during the Second World War.

For over 60 years it has been thought by many of the world's historians that it was a foolhardy raid, with extraordinarily optimistic intentions, that failed, costing thousands of lives, numerous aircraft and ships, possibly, pointlessly .

In truth, it was in fact, one of the most top, top, top secret operations of the entire war. The whole event was an operation to capture for Bletchley Park a new, ultra top secret 4 rota enigma machine, kept in a German HQ safe, containing the new upgraded German enigma machine, plus several months worth of future German codes and cyphers. Even the special forces commanders of the raid where kept completely in the dark, and barely a dozen highest level top intelligence officers had even the remotest clue as its intentions. It was meant to look like a rehearsal for an allied invasion, so the German High Command wouldn't have the remotest clue as to its main objective. Thousands of allied soldiers died, not in vain as has been thought, but in order to, potentially, save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Over 6,050 infantry, predominantly Canadian, supported by a regiment of tanks, were put ashore from a naval force operating under protection of Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters.

The port was to be captured and held for a short period, allegedly to test the feasibility of a landing, and to gather intelligence on German coastal defences, port structures, and important buildings were to be demolished. The raid was intended as a boost for Allied morale, and to demonstrate the commitment of the United Kingdom to re-open the Western Front and support the Soviet Union, fighting on the Eastern Front. Little did anyone know for the past 60 years, just how important this raid truly was, it was in fact an incredibly costly diversion to hide an 'ultra' top secret operation.

Aerial and naval support was insufficient to enable the ground forces to achieve their objectives; the tanks were trapped on the beach and the infantry was largely prevented from entering the town by obstacles and German fire. After less than six hours, mounting casualties forced a retreat. The operation was a fiasco in which only one landing force achieved its objective and some intelligence was gathered (including electronic intelligence).

Within ten hours, 3,623 of the 6,086 men who landed had been killed, wounded or became prisoners of war. The Luftwaffe made a maximum effort against the landing as the RAF had expected, but the RAF lost 106 aircraft (at least 32 to anti-aircraft fire or accidents) against 48 German losses. The Royal Navy lost 33 landing craft and a destroyer.

Both sides learned important lessons regarding coastal assaults. The Allies learned lessons that influenced the success of the D-Day landings. Artificial harbours were declared crucial, tanks were adapted specifically for beaches, a new integrated tactical air force strengthened ground support, and capturing a major port at the outset was no longer seen as a priority. Churchill and Mountbatten both claimed that these lessons had outweighed the cost. The Germans also believed that Dieppe was a learning experience and made a considerable effort to improve the way they defended the occupied coastlines of Europe.

Fighter Command claimed to have inflicted many losses on the Luftwaffe for an RAF loss of 106 aircraft, 88 fighters (including 44 Spitfires), 10 reconnaissance aircraft and eight bombers; 14 other RAF aircraft were struck off charge from other causes such as accidents. Other sources suggest that up to 28 bombers were lost and that the figure for destroyed and damaged Spitfires was 70. The Luftwaffe suffered 48 aircraft losses, 28 bombers, half of them Dornier Do 217s from KG 2; JG 2 lost 14 Fw 190s and eight pilots killed, JG 26 lost six Fw 190s with their pilots. The RAF lost 91 aircraft shot down and 64 pilots; 47 killed and 17 taken prisoner, the RCAF lost 14 aircraft and nine pilots and 2 Group lost six bombers. Leigh-Mallory considered the losses "remarkably light in view of the number of Squadrons taking part and the intensity of the fighting" noting that the tactical reconnaissance suffered heaviest with about two casualties per squadron. The Luftwaffe in France was back to full strength within days of the raid. Copp wrote that Dieppe failed to inflict the knockout blow against the Luftwaffe that the RAF sought. Although the Allies continued to lose on average two aircraft for every one German aircraft destroyed for the rest of 1942, the output of fighters by the United States, Britain and Canada combined with better Allied pilot training, led to the Luftwaffe gradually losing the war of attrition in the skies above France. Copp concluded that: "The battle for air superiority was won on many fronts by continuous effort and August 19, 1942 was part of that achievement". The Forward Air Controller, Air Commodore Adrian Cole, was injured when Calpe was attacked and was awarded the DSO for gallantry. Of course Copp had no idea as to the real objective of the raid

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 24973

A Very Good & Fine Original Medieval 'Crusader' Knight's Bronze Battle Mace & Scorpion Flail Mace Head Circa 12th Century. Around 900 Years Old, In Superb Condition and With Excellent Natural Age Patination

Made of Bronze Copper Alloy. A weapon made at the time at great cost, and only for the most affluent knight, a battle mace for the crushing and smashing of armour. The mace head is approx. the width of a pool or billiard ball. This fabulous mace could be mounted upon a haft {pretty much none of the original hafts from that period are now still in existence, being organic they decay very quickly once buried} or the aperture filled with lead and a large hand wrought iron staple, that would then be chained, and further mounted upon a short wooden haft to use as a flail mace.
Although no original early mace heads, in reality, were that large, they were heavy and powerful enough, combined with the impetus of a powerful swing, to be incredibly and dramatically effective at smashing through armour, and even iron plate helmets.

This bronze mace was made and used in the era of the first, through to all the knightly crusades to the Holy Land to reclaim Jerusalem.

The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Christian Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these military expeditions are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that had the objective of reconquering Jerusalem and its surrounding area from Muslim rule after the region had been conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate centuries earlier. Beginning with the First Crusade, which resulted in the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, dozens of military campaigns were organised, providing a focal point of European history for centuries. Crusading declined rapidly after the 15th century.

In 1095, after a Byzantine request for aid, Pope Urban II proclaimed the first expedition at the Council of Clermont. He encouraged military support for Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and called for an armed pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Across all social strata in Western Europe, there was an enthusiastic response. Participants came from all over Europe and had a variety of motivations. These included religious salvation, satisfying feudal obligations, opportunities for renown, and economic or political advantage. Later expeditions were conducted by generally more organised armies, sometimes led by a king. All were granted papal indulgences. Initial successes established four Crusader states: the County of Edessa; the Principality of Antioch; the Kingdom of Jerusalem; and the County of Tripoli. A European presence remained in the region in some form until the fall of Acre in 1291. After this, no further large military campaigns were organised.  read more

Code: 25454