A Large Antique Indian Ceremonial Steel Tabar Axe Inlaid in Brass, Copper & Gilt With Scene of Krishna & Temple Decor

India, 19th century. Recently returned from conservation and attention in our workshop. The result is stunning and worthy of the finest museum conservation

Of typical shape with a large crescentric cutting edge, and brass and copper nails, each side of the crescent embellished with chased brass and copper-overlaid figural decoration depicting Krishna playing the flute inside a domed shrine, flanked by two attendants holding fly-whisks, surrounded by floral sprays and vegetal tendrils, the butt with a copper-inlaid inscription and surmounted by brass chhajjas (domed pavillion-shaped structures) the top of the axe head has a sharp faceted steel spike, the patinated wooden shaft is embellished with brass rosettes and a domed pommel end. ,

This 19th century tabar - or saddle axe - is Indian. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the tabar was a standard weapon given to calvalrymen on the field of battle. The tabar would have been carried under the horseman's saddle. This is the elaborate ceremonial version of the tabar saddle axe.
Krishna
Krishna, Sanskrit Kṛṣṇa, one of the most widely revered and most popular of all Indian divinities, worshipped as the eighth incarnation (avatar, or avatara) of the Hindu god Vishnu and also as a supreme god in his own right. Krishna became the focus of numerous bhakti (devotional) cults, which have over the centuries produced a wealth of religious poetry, music, and painting. The basic sources of Krishna’s mythology are the epic Mahabharata and its 5th-century-CE appendix, the Harivamsha, and the Puranas, particularly Books X and XI of the Bhagavata-purana. They relate how Krishna (literally “black,” or “dark as a cloud”) was born into the Yadava clan, the son of Vasudeva and Devaki, who was the sister of Kamsa, the wicked king of Mathura (in modern Uttar Pradesh). Kamsa, hearing a prophecy that he would be destroyed by Devaki’s child, tried to slay her children, but Krishna was smuggled across the Yamuna River to Gokula (or Vraja, modern Gokul), where he was raised by the leader of the cowherds, Nanda, and his wife Yashoda.

The child Krishna was adored for his mischievous pranks; he also performed many miracles and slew demons. As a youth, the cowherd Krishna became renowned as a lover, the sound of his flute prompting the gopis (wives and daughters of the cowherds) to leave their homes to dance ecstatically with him in the moonlight. His favourite among them was the beautiful Radha. At length, Krishna and his brother Balarama returned to Mathura to slay the wicked Kamsa. Afterward, finding the kingdom unsafe, Krishna led the Yadavas to the western coast of Kathiawar and established his court at Dvaraka (modern Dwarka, Gujarat). He married the princess Rukmini and took other wives as well.

Krishna refused to bear arms in the great war between the Kauravas (sons of Dhritarashtra, the descendant of Kuru) and the Pandavas (sons of Pandu), but he offered a choice of his personal attendance to one side and the loan of his army to the other. The Pandavas chose the former, and Krishna thus served as charioteer for Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers. On his return to Dvaraka, a brawl broke out one day among the Yadava chiefs in which Krishna’s brother and son were slain. As the god sat in the forest lamenting, a huntsman, mistaking him for a deer, shot him in his one vulnerable spot, the heel, killing him.

85cm high.  read more

Code: 24667

A Singularly Beautiful Napoleonic Wars, Elite Cuirassier's 'Year 13' Imperial French Dated Sword, Of The War of The 100 Days, Culminating at the Battle Of Quatre Bras & The Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington's Decisive Victory Over Napoleon

Superb and beautiful hilt, with very fine original leather bound grip, and a very fine double fullered blade with stunning bright patina. Steel combat scabbard without denting.

We are very privileged to be the UK’s premier original military antiques gallery and website, and to be able to consistently, continually, and regularly, offer the finest original collectors items in our shop for over 100 years

French Napoleonic 'An 13', year 13 swords, were manufactured from 1805 and discontinued in late 1815, whereupon it was superceded in general by the later hilt style of the 1816 model, although some of the surviving models, such as this beauty, continued in service.
Renown throughout the world of historic sword collectors as probably the biggest and most impressive cavalry sword ever designed. This would have seen service in the Elite Cuirassiers of Napoleon's great heavy cavalry regiments.

Napoleon hoped to compel Tsar Alexander I of Russia to cease trading with British merchants through proxies in an effort to pressure the United Kingdom to sue for peace. The official political aim of the campaign was to liberate Poland from the threat of Russia. Napoleon named the campaign the Second Polish War to curry favour with the Poles and provide a political pretence for his actions. The Grande Armee was a very large force, numbering nearly half a million men from several different nations. Through a series of long marches Napoleon pushed the army rapidly through Western Russia in an attempt to bring the Russian army to battle, winning a number of minor engagements and a major battle at Smolensk in August. Napoleon hoped the battle would mean an end of the march into Russia, but the Russian army slipped away from the engagement and continued to retreat into Russia, while leaving Smolensk to burn. Plans Napoleon had made to quarter at Smolensk were abandoned, and he pressed his army on after the Russians. The battles continued, but once the winter set in Napoleon's army was facing insurmountable odds that left it effectively shattered beyond repair. Napoleon fled, it is said, dressed as a woman, and the army left to it's sad and miserable fate. Only around 27,000 were able to return after a mere six months of the Russian campaign. The campaign was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. The reputation of Napoleon was severely shaken, and French hegemony in Europe was dramatically weakened. The Grande Armee, made up of French and allied invasion forces, was reduced to a fraction of its initial strength. These events triggered a major shift in European politics. France's ally Prussia, soon followed by Austria, broke their alliance with France and switched camps. This triggered the War of the Sixth Coalition. The Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Regiments used the largest men in France, recruited to serve in the greatest and noblest cavalry France has ever had. They fought with distinction at their last great conflict at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and most of the Cuirassiers swords in England very likely came from that field of conflict, after the battle, as trophies of war. However, this sword was one of the few that were allowed to remain in the elite cuirassier corps after Waterloo, serving King Louis XVIIIth both before Napoleon's 100 days, and after his crushing defeat by Wellington at Waterloo. Inspected on the blade by Napoleonic inspectors, Lobstein and Bick, also back strap engraved Manufacture Rle January 1815. Made during the abdication period and used in the War of the 100 days. Less than a year following his abdication (April 6, 1814) and the Bourbon Restoration, Napoleon left his island exile in the Tyrrhenian Sea and landed at Cannes on March 1, leading 1,500 men, and marched at once upon Paris. Louis XVIII fled to Ghent on March 13, and Napoleon entered Paris one week later. To broaden his support, Napoleon made liberal changes to the Imperial Constitution, which led a number of former opponents, most notably Benjamin Constant, to rally to his cause. On March 25 Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia concluded an alliance against Napoleon and forced a series of military engagements leading up to the fatal Battle of Waterloo (June 18).

Every warrior that has ever entered service for his country sought trophies. The Mycenae from a fallen Trojan, the Roman from a fallen Gaul, the GI from a fallen Japanese, the tradition stretches back thousands of years, and will continue as long as man serves his country in battle. In the 1st century AD the Roman Poet Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis Juvenal
wrote; "Man thirsts more for glory than virtue. The armour of an enemy, his broken helmet, the flag ripped from a conquered trireme, are treasures valued beyond all human riches. It is to obtain these tokens of glory that Generals, be they Roman, Greek or barbarian, brave a thousand perils
and endure a thousand exertions". A truly magnificent Napoleonic sword in superb condition for it's age.
The largest sword of it's kind that was ever made or used by the world's greatest cavalry regiments. The cuirassiers were the greatest of all France's cavalry, allowing only the strongest men of over 6 feet in height into it's ranks. The French Cuirassiers were at their very peak in 1815, and never again regained the wonder and glory that they truly deserved at that time. To face a regiment of, say, 600 charging steeds bearing down upon you mounted with armoured giants, brandishing the mightiest of swords that could pierce the strongest breast armour, much have been, quite simply, terrifying. The brass basket guard on this sword is first class, the grip is totally original leather and a great colour
only shows expected combat wear, the blade is double fullered and absolutely as crisp as one could hope for. Made in the Napoleonic Wars period.
Used at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo. Apparently every remaining French elite cuirassier regiment fought at Waterloo for Napoleon, and there were no cuirassier reserve, and there were no cuirassier militia

The blade has wonderful steel bright colour, and the hilt has fabulous patina. Overall 45.5 inches long in its scabbard, the spear pointed blade is 37.7 inches long. Old original aged patina and regular usual surface blacking to the scabbard steel.  read more

Code: 25736

Vintage, Household Cavalry Dress Uniform. A Wonderful Helmet, Cuirass Armour, Tunic, White Leather Panteloons, Jack Boots with Spurs, Buff Hide & Cotton Riding Gauntlets Of The Royal Mounted Bodyguard of Her Well Beloved Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth IInd

Post 1953 period. The full dress uniform helmet and armour of the Blues and Royals

The Household Cavalry are the only British regiments dressed as cuirassiers and has worn them since the coronation of William IV in 1830. The cuirass consists of a front and back polished steel plate shaped to fit the body. It had brass edges and studs on the sides and was secured on the shoulders by two gilt scales of regimental pattern. At the waist it is secured by a thin buff hide leather belt. The cuirass is lined with leather, The cuirass is only worn in mounted review order with the white leather panteloons and jack boots.

This unit is one of the two Household Cavalry regiments in the British Army, the other being The Life Guards. It was formed in 1969 by amalgamating The Royal Horse Guards with The Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons), both of which had origins dating back to the mid-17th century.

19th century
In 1809, the unit moved to the Peninsular War (1808-14), helping to cover Wellington's retreat to Torres Vedras (1810) and charging at Fuentes de Onoro the following year. It also fought at Ciudad Rodrigo (1812), Badajoz (1812), Alba de Tormes (1813), Vitoria (1813) and Pamplona (1813).

In 1815, it fought at Waterloo with the Union Brigade. It captured the eagle of the French 105th Line Infantry Regiment there before being counter-attacked by French lancers.

A long period of home service followed until the Crimean War (1854-56), where the regiment charged with the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava in 1854.

The next three decades were spent on garrison duties in England, Ireland and Scotland. During this period, in 1877, the regiment was re-named the 1st (Royal) Dragoons. Then, in 1884, it sent a detachment to the Sudan that fought at Abu Klea (1885).

In 1899, it sailed to South Africa to fight in the Boer War (1899-1902), where it was immediately employed in the relief of Ladysmith.

The regiment deployed to the Western Front in 1914 and spent the entire First World War (1914-18) there with 3rd Cavalry Division. It fought in many battles including the First Battle of Ypres (1914), Second Battle of Ypres (1915), Loos (1915), Arras (1917) and Amiens (1918).

It was stationed in England, India, Palestine and Egypt during the inter-war period.

Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War (1939-45), it became a mechanised unit, joining the Royal Armoured Corps in 1940. It served as an armoured reconnaissance regiment in Syria (1941) and North Africa, where it fought in the Gazala battles and at El Alamein in 1942. It then took part in the Sicily and Italian campaigns in 1943.

The regiment landed in Normandy in July 1944 and ended the war as part of the force which liberated Copenhagen in May 1945.

Although famous for its ceremonial duties, the new unit saw much active service during the 1970s and 1980s as a reconnaissance unit in West Germany with the British Army of the Rhine. Squadrons from the regiment also carried out several tours of Northern Ireland and served on Cyprus with United Nations forces.

In 1982, it sent detachments to the Falklands War, where they supported The Parachute Regiment in the Battle of Wireless Ridge.  read more

Code: 24993

A Very Good & Attractive, Continental, Historical American Revolutionary War 18th Century Infantry Military Musket

The form of musket used by the Continental forces sent to fight in the American Revolutionary War, such as the Netherlander's, Hessian's and Prussians. Walnut stock with all steel furniture. A direct competitor to the English 'Brown Bess' Long Land and Short Land pattern muskets, however as it doesn’t have the fame of the Brown Bess of that period it is up to 70% less expensive today, thus makes a tremendous value collector’s piece from that era and conflict, despite actually being a rarer musket to find. The term "Hessians" refers to the approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British to help fight during the American Revolution. They were principally drawn from the German state of Hesse-Cassel, although soldiers from other German states also saw action in America. (At the time, Germany was not a unified country but a collection of individual states that shared a language and culture.)

Hiring a foreign army was not unusual in the eighteenth century. For Hesse-Cassel, soldiers were a major export. By renting its army to the British, Hesse-Cassel took in an amount equal to about thirteen years' worth of tax revenue Life in the Hessian Army was harsh. The system aimed to instill iron discipline and the punishments could be brutal. Still, morale was generally high. Officers were well-educated, promotion was by merit, and soldiers took pride in serving their prince and their people. Furthermore, military service provided economic benefits. The families of soldiers were exempt from certain taxes, wages were higher than in farm work, and there was the promise of booty (money earned through the sale of captured military property) and plunder (property taken from civilians). In spite of such action, some 3,000 Hessians decided they liked the country well enough to make it their new home after the war, and they declined returning to Europe. In America, they lived side by side—and perhaps shared a Christmas drink—with their former foes. 44 inch long barrel, overall 60 inches long  read more

Code: 23406

Very Rare Antique 1850's 'Lancaster Patent' Two-Band Oval Bore Rifle-Musket 50 Bore Lancaster’s Patent Royal Engineers Rifle!

An antique extremely rare and highly desirable Two-Band Rifle-Musket by Charles Lancaster, manufactured in London, England circa 1850's. In simply fabulous condition for its age. Charles William Lancaster (1820-1878) was devoted to his craft and was among the best England had to offer in the field of firearms making and invention. It was around the year 1850, when he conceived the idea of the oval bore. Indeed, it is very slightly oval, almost imperceptibly and the rifling is very subtle and this rifle could easily be mistaken for a smooth bore. The rifling is also “gain twist”, meaning that the twist gets faster as the projectile approaches the muzzle. He believed that the oval bore was the future form all rifles and cannons should take due to the design’s inherent ability to mitigate the fowling that came from using black powder, as well as their accuracy. He would put his idea to the test when he entered the government trials for what would become the Pattern 1853. He would spend much of 1852 and 1853 in doing so. His oval bore proved more accurate and less prone to foul than the competition, though the very subtle rifling was prone to wear out sooner with much use than conventional rifling. His system was not ultimately adopted for the Pattern 1853 infantry rifle-musket, but it was adopted in smaller numbers for sapper muskets.

This example is a 2-band rifle, the type which could have been made and sold for the Royal Engineers, Sappers and Miners, and volunteer units during this period, but this is a particularly rare chequered stock officer’s version, with a name engraved silver cartouche.

The Volunteer Movement was a response to the Crimean War as well as heightened tensions between England and France and the outbreak of war between France & Austria. England had a lot of territory to cover between the British Isles and its colonies, and there was imminent risk of being pulled into another conflict. This was a popular movement to create home defence. These had a great deal of autonomy initially, though many were eventually folded into the regular British Army. The rifle has fantastic sights stamped with Enfield inspector stamp.

We bought the entire small collection from the widow of a 'Best of British Empire Rifles and Bayonets, Both British and German' collector, who acquired them over the past 40 years, and only ever kept the very best he could afford to keep. Act fast they are selling really fast, three rifles and four bayonets and a cutlass have sold today alone. Top quality and condition,19th and 20th century scarce British and German collectables are always the most desirable of all.  read more

Code: 25145

A Beautiful Mughul High Ranking Warrior's Sword Talwar 17th-18th Century, Likely Wootz or Damascus Kilij Form Blade

With fine chiselled steel hilt decorated with leaf design and blind fretwork, and a chiselled disc pommel. It has a superb, sharp, likely wootz or Damascus steel blade, with numerous chisel engraved fullers with a return 10 inch false edge at the tip.
The talwar belongs to the same family of curved swords as the Persian shamshir, the Turkish kilij, Arabian saif and the Afghan pulwar, all such swords being originally derived from earlier curved swords developed in Turkic Central Asia. The average talwar typically does not usually have as radical a curve as the shamshir and only a very small minority have the expanded, stepped, yelman typical of the kilij, somewhat as this sword has.

The talwar has a distinctive, all-metal, Indo-Muslim hilt was developed in Medieval western India. The increasing influence in India of Turco-Afghan, and later Turco-Mongol, dynasties (employing Persian and Central Asian arms) in the Late Medieval and subsequent eras led to ever greater use of sabre-like, curved swords. By Mughal times, the talwar had become the most popular form of sword in the Subcontinent. The talwar was the product of the marriage of the curved blade derived from Turco-Mongol and Persian swords and the native all-metal Indo-Muslim hilt.

The Mughal empire was created and sustained by military warfare but also established new administrative practices and incorporated diverse ruling elites to produce an efficient, centralised, standardised rule. Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, instituted agricultural taxes which served as the base of the empire's collective wealth. These taxes, amounting to well over half of a peasant cultivator's output, had to be paid in money, and this impelled peasants and artisans to enter market networks so as to obtain it.

Battles during Mughal Rule

1st Battle of Panipat 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi establishing the Mughal Empire in India.
Battle of Khanwa 1527 Babur defeated Rana Sunga of Mewar and his allies.
Battle of Ghaghra 1529 Babur defeated the joint forces of the Afghans and Sultan of Bengal
Battle of Chausa 1539 Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun
2nd Battle of Panipat 1556 Akbar defeated Hindu king Hemu
Battle of Thanesar 1567 Akbar defeated two rival groups of Sanyasis
Battle of Tukaroi 1575 Akbar defeated Sultanatte of Bangala and Bihar
Battle of Haldighati 1576 Undecisive battle between Raja Man Singh of the Mughal army and Rana Pratap of Mewar
Battle of Samugarh 1658 Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh defeated Dara Shikoh
Battle of Khajwa 1659 Aurangzeb defeated his brother Shah Shuja
Battle of Saraighat 1671 Lachit Borpukhan of Ahom kingdom defeated the Mughal army led by Ram Singh.
Battle of Karnal 1739 Nadir Shah defeated Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah and looted the Mughal treasury including Peacock throne and the Kohinoor diamond

Burgeoning European presence in the Indian Ocean, and its increasing demand for Indian raw and finished products, created still greater wealth in the Mughal courts. There was more conspicuous consumption among the Mughal elite, resulting in greater patronage of painting, literary forms, textiles, and architecture, especially during the reign of Shah Jahan. Among the Mughal UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Asia are Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Lahore Fort, and the Taj Mahal, which is described as the "jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage  read more

Code: 24262

A Letter Sent From Port Royal from Capt Vansittart, the Capture of a French Privateer. Dated April 5th 1804 from Capt. Henry Vansittart (1777-1843) of HMS Fortunee to Admiral James R. Dacres Admiral of the White

The letter informs the admiral that Capt Vansittart captured the French pirate ship, the Privateer Tayan with 46 men aboard. Capt Vansittart had a most distinguished career culminating in his appointment as Vice-Admiral. He served on on the Princess Royal, flagship of Rear-Admiral Goodall, the L'Aigle with Capt. Hood at the Battle of Calvi, on HMS Victory, and as Lieutenant of HMS Stately in the capture of the Cape of Good Hope, and Capt of HMS Fortunee for nine years
Born: 17th April 1777 at Hanover Square, Westminster, Middlesex
Vice-Admiral
Died: 21st March 1843 at Eastwood, Woodstock, Canada

Vice-Admiral Vansittart was the 5th son of George Vansittart (1745-1825) of Bisham Abbey in Berkshire, who married, on 24th October 1767, Sarah, daughter of the Rev. Sir James Stonhouse, bart. He was born in George Street, Hanover Square, on 17th April 1777 and grew up in Bisham. General George Henry Vansittart, was his elder brother; Henry Vansittart, the Governor of Bengal, and Professor Robert Vansittart were his uncles; and Nicholas, 1st Baron Bexley, his first cousin. Having been entered on the books of the Scipio, guard-ship on the Medway, in October 1788, he was afterwards nominally in the Boyne, guard-ship on the Thames, and probably actually served in the Pegasus on the Newfoundland station in 1791. In 1792, he was on the Hannibal, stationed in Plymouth, and, in 1793, went out to the Mediterranean on the Princess Royal, flagship of Rear-Admiral Goodall. During the Siege of Toulou by the Republican Army, he was severely wounded. After the evacuation of the place, he was moved into L'Aigle, with Captain Samuel Hood, served at the Siege of Calvi and was, in October 1794, moved onto the Victory in which he returned to England. On 21st February 1795, he was promoted to be lieutenant of the Stately, in which be was present at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope, and of the Dutch squadron in Saldanha Bay. He was then moved onto the Monarch, Elphinstone's flagship, and returned in her to England. He was next appointed to the Queen Charlott, Keith's flagship in the Channel; and, on 30th May 1798, was promoted to be commander of the Hermes, from her, he was moved to the Bonetta, which he took out to Jamaica; and, on 13th February 1801, he was posted to the Abergavenny, stationed at Port Royal. In the July, he returned to England in the Thunderer and, after a few months on half-pay, was appointed, in April 1802, to the Magicienne from which, in January 1803, he was moved, to the Fortuned of 36 guns. For upwards of nine years, he commanded this ship in the North Sea, off Boulogne, in the Channel, in the West Indies and in the Mediterranean, for the most part in active cruising and in convoy service. In August 1812, he was moved onto the 74-gun ship ?Clarence?, till March 1814. With the exception of a few months in 1801-2, he had served continuously from 1791. He became a Rear-Admiral on 22nd July 1830, Vice-Admiral on 23rd November 1841 and died on 21st March 1843 at his seat, Eastwood at Woodstock in Canada. He married, in 1809, Mary Charity (d. 1834), daughter of the Rev. John Pennefather, and was the father of five children including Vice-Admiral Edward Westby Vansittart. Paper bears Admiralty, Crowned oval bearing Brittania watermark, and maker name, Gater and date 1803.  read more

Code: 20833

A Most Beautiful Early 18th Century Austrian Flintlock, A Royal Castle Gun, Originally Made in Vienna Possibly by Fowler & Riflemaker Casper Zelner. Latterly Used in the American Revolutionary War of the 1770's

Somewhat reminiscent of the beautiful guns produced by Caspar Zelner of Vienna, as his long guns utilized the rifle style trigger guard combined with stock cheekpiece despite being a fowler, Likely to make the gun more accurate than a regular fowler, but an expensive addition to the guns initial cost, but if it was indeed made as a royal castle gun for the hunts of the dukes and princes, this would be an inconsequential expense.

The brass trigger guard bow and front tang are have deep scroll carving. The brass buttplate tang is also nicely carved and engraved. The brass wrist escutcheon has a royal coat of arms in the center. The brass sideplate is very well executed. The carved half stock is fine. It has edge lines along the ramrod channel, carving and edge lines along the trigger guard, carving around the barrel tang, and decorative lines at the forward part of the comb. The action functions correctly. It's unusual to find an early fowler with its original full length barrel as most were shortened during their period of use. This could very well be a castle gun, originally used for royal hunts. Then possibly taken by an officer nobleman who fought in the American Revolutionary War with the Prussians for the British, or, for the American Continental Army

From the American Revolutionary War period. Banana shaped lock, good swan necked cock and walnut stock with finest brass mounts.

The great military arms collections in the US such as the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan have numerous guns of this very type, all once the property of officers serving in the American Continental Army during the War of Independence. This is a very nice example in very good order with a good sound action. The mounts are beautiful quality, in all brass, superbly deluxe engraved.

Ethnic Germans, and indeed Austrians, served on both sides of the American Revolutionary War. Large numbers of Germans had emigrated to Pennsylvania, New York, and other American colonies, and they were generally neutral. Some belonged to pacifist sects such as the Amish, but many were drawn into the Revolution and the war.
Germans in Europe lived in numerous separate states. Some of these states had been in alliance with Britain during the Seven Years' War, and were eager to assist Great Britain. Britain had used auxiliary forces in every one of its 18th century wars, their use in suppressing rebellion seemed consistent with previous policy. Their use against British subjects was controversial, however. Despite British Whig opposition to using German soldiers to subjugate the "sons of Englishmen," Parliament overwhelmingly approved the measure in order to quickly raise the forces need to suppress the rebellion.

The leasing of soldiers to a foreign power was also controversial to some Europeans, but the people of these continental states generally took great pride in their soldiers' service in the war. Prussia notably rejected the request to send soldiers. Germans living in America did not enlist in the auxiliary units but some enlisted in British units. The 60th (Royal American) Regiment recruited both from the Americas and from Germany.

Colonial-era jurists drawing a distinction between auxiliaries and mercenaries, with auxiliaries serving their prince when sent to the aid of another prince, and mercenaries serving a foreign prince as individuals.13 By this distinction, the troops which served in the American Revolution were not mercenaries, but auxiliaries. Early Republican historians, however, defended the term "mercenaries" to distinguish the foreign, professional armies from the idealized citizen soldier who altruistically fought for independence.14 Mercy Otis Warren promoted the idea of German auxiliaries as barbarians, but also as victims of tyranny.15

Throughout the war, the United States attempted to entice the hired men to stop fighting. In April 1778, Congress issued a letter, addressed "To the officers and soldiers in the service of the king of Great Britain, not subjects of the said king", which offered land and livestock to defecting German units, in addition to increased rank.16 At the conclusion of the war, Congress offered incentives—especially free farmland—for these ethnic Germans to remain in the United States. Great Britain also offered land and tax incentives to its Loyalist soldiers willing to settle in Nova Scotia in present-day Canada.

41.5 inch barrel, 57 inches long overall  read more

Code: 24963

A Very Fine & Beautiful Handachi Katana Dated 1539 signed Bizen Kuni Osafune ju Tsuguiye

Just under 500 years old, and a delight to observe the wonderful curvature to the blade. It possesses a very long signature by the smith on the nakago. It has all original Edo period mounts fittings and saya, with original saya intricately patterned urushi lacquer. Typical Edo handachi mounts with a beautiful iron tsuba with gold onlay of prunus and grasses. It has a very active hamon on the stunning blade and it’s all original Edo tsukaito binding to the hilt, now somewhat pleasingly colour faded in part and usual signs of combat use age appropriate wear as to be expected.

The samurai were roughly the equivalent of feudal knights. Employed by the shogun or daimyo, they were members of hereditary warrior class that followed a strict "code" that defined their clothes, armour and behaviour on the battlefield. But unlike most medieval knights, samurai warriors could read and they were well versed in Japanese art, literature and poetry.
Samurai endured for almost 700 years, from 1185 to 1867. Samurai families were considered the elite. They made up only about six percent of the population and included daimyo and the loyal soldiers who fought under them. Samurai means one who serves."

Samurai were expected to be both fierce warriors and lovers of art, a dichotomy summed up by the Japanese concepts of bu to stop the spear expanding into bushido (the way of life of the warrior) and bun (the artistic, intellectual and spiritual side of the samurai). Originally conceived as away of dignifying raw military power, the two concepts were synthesised in feudal Japan and later became a key feature of Japanese culture and morality.The quintessential samurai was Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary early Edo-period swordsman who reportedly killed 60 men before his 30th birthday and was also a painting master. Members of a hierarchal class or caste, samurai were the sons of samurai and they were taught from an early age to unquestionably obey their mother, father and daimyo. When they grew older they may be trained by Zen Buddhist masters in meditation and the Zen concepts of impermanence and harmony with nature. The were also taught about painting, calligraphy, nature poetry, mythological literature, flower arranging, and the tea ceremony.

it has been said that part of their military training, samurai were taught to sleep with their right arm underneath them so if they were attacked in the middle of the night and their the left arm was cut off the could still fight with their right arm. Samurai that tossed and turned at night were cured of the habit by having two knives placed on either side of their pillow.

Samurai have been describes as "the most strictly trained human instruments of war to have existed." They were expected to be proficient in the martial arts of aikido and kendo as well as swordsmanship and archery---the traditional methods of samurai warfare---which were viewed not so much as skills but as art forms that flowed from natural forces that harmonized with nature.
Some samurai, it has been claimed, didn't become a full-fledged samurai until he wandered around the countryside as begging pilgrim for a couple of years to learn humility. When this was completed they achieved samurai status and receives a salary from his daimyo paid from taxes (usually rice) raised from the local populace.

Japanese lacquer, or urushi, is a transformative and highly prized material that has been refined for over 7000 years.

Cherished for its infinite versatility, urushi is a distinctive art form that has spread across all facets of Japanese culture from the tea ceremony to the saya scabbards of samurai swords

Japanese artists created their own style and perfected the art of decorated lacquerware during the 8th century. Japanese lacquer skills reached its peak as early as the twelfth century, at the end of the Heian period (794-1185). This skill was passed on from father to son and from master to apprentice.

Some provinces of Japan were famous for their contribution to this art: the province of Edo (later Tokyo), for example, produced the most beautiful lacquered pieces from the 17th to the 18th centuries. Lords and shoguns privately employed lacquerers to produce decorated samurai sword saya and also ceremonial and decorative objects for their homes and palaces.

27.25 inch blade tsuba to tip.

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: 24332

A Beautiful Antique Edo Period Wakizashi Samurai Short Sword, With a Fabulous Quality Botanical Shakudo Gold and Silver Takebori Mounts & Tsuba

Circa 1680. A stunning antique shinto wakazashi samurai sword, its blade and fittings saya etc. have been almost completely untouched since its arrival in England around 150 years ago. All original Edo period fittings with one mekugi-ana, midare hamon, fully bound tsuka with shakudo fuchi-kashira decorated with flowers and tendrils in gold, shakudo and gold floral menuki, mokko-shaped iron tsuba decorated with silver and gold takebori foliage, in its beautiful black stippled lacquer saya complete with a super shakudo kodzukatana utility knife decorated with a takebori figure of a sage, possibly Tenaga from Japanese folklore, and a dog on a lead. Fabulous faultless blade showing a superb undulating hamon.

Wakizashi have been in use as far back as the 15th or 16th century. The wakizashi was used as a backup or auxiliary sword; it was also used for close quarters fighting, and also to behead a defeated opponent and sometimes to commit ritual suicide. The wakizashi was one of several short swords available for use by samurai including the yoroi toshi, the chisa-katana and the tanto. The term wakizashi did not originally specify swords of any official blade length and was an abbreviation of "wakizashi no katana" ("sword thrust at one's side"); the term was applied to companion swords of all sizes. It was not until the Edo period in 1638 when the rulers of Japan tried to regulate the types of swords and the social groups which were allowed to wear them that the lengths of katana and wakizashi were officially set.

There are many reasons why people enjoy collecting swords. Some people are drawn to the beauty and craftsmanship of swords, while others appreciate their historical and cultural significance. Swords can also be a symbol of power and strength, and some collectors find enjoyment in the challenge of acquiring rare or valuable swords.

One of the greatest joys of sword collecting is the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of different civilisations. Swords have been used by warriors for millennia, and each culture has developed its own unique sword designs and traditions. By studying swords, collectors can gain a deeper understanding of the people who made and used them.

Another joy of sword collecting is the sheer variety of swords that are available. There are swords in our gallery from all over the world and from every period of history. Collectors can choose to specialize in a particular type of sword, such as Japanese katanas or medieval longswords, or they can collect a variety of swords from different cultures and time periods. No matter what your reasons for collecting swords, it is a hobby that can provide many years of enjoyment. Swords are beautiful, fascinating, and historically significant objects

Blade length 15.5 inches long

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: 24184