A Stunning Kunitake Early Shinto Katana With All Original Very Fine Edo Period Koshirae & A Finest Quality Kagonami, Nanban, Kirin, Phoenix & Dragons Kiyou-Tojin Tsuba, Inlaid with Solid Silver and Gold, Nagasaki-he Gairaishita Chukokujin no Saku

Just one of the beautiful aspects of the Kunitake 国武 katana is its beautiful blade with a captivating hamon, in beautiful polish. All its stunning fittings are original early Edo including the original urushi lacquer saya with an irridescent twin panels of green ground of crushed abilone shell decor, bordered by black lacquer. Kabuto gane kashira in shakudo with matching shakudo fuchi, patinated copper menuki under original Edo tsuka-Ito of green silk to compliment the green urushi saya, and a wonderful Kiyou-Tojin Nanban Tsuba, a large rectangular sword guard. It has a stunning and very scarce form of habaki in silver with charming, engraved decor of various forms of raindrops, of a particular style that is very rare. The hamon shown on this beauty is absolutely beautiful and most complex.
The Swordsmith; signed Kunitake (国武), from the reign of Kan ́ei (寛永, 1624-1644), Yamashiro – “Heianjō-jū Fujiwara Kunitake” (平安城住藤原国武), “Kunitake” (国武), “Sanjō Kunitake” (三条国武), student of Horikawa Kunihiro (堀川国広), a later smith from the line of Sanjō Yoshinori (三条吉則), and tradition says that he was the father of Izumo no Daijō Yoshitake (出雲大掾吉武), often his blade forms are itame-nagare with ji-nie, suguha, notare mixed with gunome-ashi in ko-nie-deki, sugu-bōshi with a ko-maru-kaeri, wazamono, Rated as jō-saku {superior smith}

The magnificent tsuba is a tettsu {iron} plate with pure gold and silver wire inlay throughout. With twin carved takebori dragon to one side and the kirin and phoenix, to the opposite side, also takebori carved.

Japanese art often depicts the Kirin as deer-like, with an ox tail and a single horn, sometimes with a backwards-curving horn.
Significance:
The Kirin is believed to appear during periods of good governance and when a wise sage or ruler is present
Extremely similar in style and workmanship to a guard signed Zhūjiàn (珠見) or Shubai in Japanese.
Listed in Haynes H.08805.0 as an “artist from China” ca. 1650-1700.

Yoshimura Shigeta illustrates a similar piece in his book Nanban Tsuba, page 10.
The caption reads, Nagasaki-he gairaishita Chukokujin no saku or
"Said to be made by a Chinaman who came to Nagasaki"
The manner of execution of the tsuba represents a very high degree of artistic hybridity, suggesting that the tsuba was made along maritime trade-routes, where artisans had access to decorative arts from around the globe. The indented corners, pointed Shitogi-gata seppa-dai, smooth-skinned dragons and phoenix in takebori style and almost caricature drawing- style, points to Indochina, perhaps Tonkin. There is a similar piece in the 1973 W.M. Hawley book Tsubas (sic) in Southern California. One can see a number of similar pieces with NBTHK attribution to "Nagasaki". Although some believe it more likely is that these were imported to Japan through the VOC factory in Deshima.

Cultural exchanges between China and Nagasaki became quite frequent after the Kangxi emperor reopened Qing seaports to foreign trade in 1684, and issued trading licenses to private concerns.In the 1640s a number of refugees from the collapse of the Ming Dynasty emigrated to Nagasaki. One of them—Shoyu Itsunen became the abbot of Kofukuji temple in Nagasaki. Itsunen is also known to have taught painting to Kawamura Fukuyoshi, a samurai and customs official who is better known as Jakushi I. Another Chinese priest, Yinyuan Lonqi, was the abbot of Wanfu temple on Mount Huangbo in Fujian. He came to Nagasaki at the invitation of Itsunen. Lonqi, known in Japan as Ingen Ryuki, became the founder of Obaku Zen Buddhism. The Nagasaki school of painting was deeply influenced by the Chinese painter Shen Nanpin, who lived and taught painting in Nagasaki for several years. Nanpin’s work was heavily influenced by European scientific and botanical painting, which resonated with the intellectual community at Nagasaki, which in Japan was the centre of Chinese medical studies, and Rangaku (the study of European science).


Nanban-style tsubas (Japanese sword guards) often feature intricate designs incorporating dragons and phoenixes. These designs, commonly found in Hizen ware during the Edo period, represent the harmonious union of opposites – the masculine dragon and the feminine phoenix. This symbolic representation reflects the balance between power and grace, often associated with the Emperor and Empress in Japanese culture.
Key aspects of Nanban tsubas with dragon and phoenix:
Symbolism:
The dragon represents strength and power, while the phoenix embodies grace and beauty. Together, they symbolize the harmonious union of opposites.
Design:
Nanban tsubas often feature intricate designs with dragons, phoenixes, and other floral motifs, sometimes incorporating techniques like pierced work, inlays, and gilding. This is a sublime example of just such workmanship
Influence:
Nanban style was influenced by foreign art and culture, particularly Chinese designs, which contributed to the prevalence of dragons and phoenixes in these tsubas.
Examples:
The Ashmolean Museum has examples of Nanban tsubas with these designs.
Nanban tsubas are typically made of iron and often feature intricate details in gold or silver as does this example.

THE LANES ARMOURY, THE PREMIER HOME OF ORIGINAL AND AFFORDABLE ANCIENT ANTIQUITIES & ANTIQUE COLLECTABLES IN BRITAIN.

The Lanes Armoury, is world renown as Britain's favourite specialist collectors shop, and also a font of historical and educational information that is detailed with every single item. We detail each piece alongside its historical context, either generic or specific, for those that may wish to read, learn, or be informed, as opposed to simply acquire collectable items. We are probably one of the oldest companies of our kind in the whole of Europe and we have been established through generations, as specialists in armoury, military antiques, militaria collectables, and specialist books, since the early 1900’s, and thus we have continued to be one of the largest in the world today. The current partners were set on this path by their great grandfather, who while intrigued by historic antique arms and armour, was woefully under capitalised for his dream profession, so much so that even when starting his very small business, just after the first world war, he still kept up his original working class pre war trade as a scaffolder as his safety net in case his dreams folded. Just as well for his succeeding generations, he didn’t fail. However, true to his very old-fashioned working class ethics, every subsequent generation had to follow their own path, with no financial assistance whatsoever, with his son, grandson and great-grandsons having to make their own way, on their own skill and merits, whatever they may be.
We are also very pleased to know we are also studied and read by academics and students from hundreds of universities around the world, by those that are interested in not only British but worldwide history. Of course we are not perfect and errors can and will be made, but thanks to our viewers and visitors, errors can be corrected, and learnt from.
Our sacred principle is that every single country's history ought to be studied, and passed down, however good, or bad some of it may be. All history is knowledge, good, bad or indifferent.

Everyday we are contacted by historians that wish to make contributions to our detailed information for our pieces, and to thus add to our constant dedication to impart historical knowledge, that may be unknown to many of our millions of viewers.

As once told to us by an esteemed regular visitor to us here in our gallery, in order to view and study our Japanese edged weapons and armour gallery, and the same words that are repeated in his book;

“In these textures lies an extraordinary and unique feature of the sword - the steel itself possesses an intrinsic beauty. The Japanese sword has been appreciated as an art object since its perfection some time during the tenth century AD. Fine swords have been more highly prized than lands or riches, those of superior quality being handed down from generation to generation. In fact, many well-documented swords, whose blades are signed by their makers, survive from nearly a thousand years ago. Recognizable features of the blades of hundreds of schools of sword-making have been punctiliously recorded, and the study of the sword is a guide to the flow of Japanese history.”
Victor Harris
Curator, Assistant Keeper and then Keeper (1998-2003) of the Department of Japanese Antiquities at the British Museum. He studied from 1968-71 under Sato Kenzan, Tokyo National Museum and Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords  read more

Code: 25789

An Amazing Samurai Long-Sword Katana.Signed, Hizen kuni Dewa no kami Yukihiro Circa 1670 Made For the Nabeshima Clan. Yukihiro Acquired the Title of Dewa Daijo in 1648 & Was Ranked Up to Dewa (No) Kami in 1663. (Governor of Dewa Province)

A fabulous, signed, samurai katana of the Nabeshima clan lords. Likely, for such as a hatamoto (旗本, "Guardian of the banner") who was a high ranking samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan.

Hatamoto:
This term literally means "bannerman" and referred to the samurai who served directly under the Tokugawa Shogunate. They were a higher-ranking class compared to the Gokenin, who were the lower vassals.
Daimyo were powerful feudal lords who ruled their own domains and held significant power in Japanese society.
Karo, or clan elders, were the highest-ranking positions among a feudal lord's samurai retainers. They played a crucial role in managing political and economic affairs.

Overall in superb condition, and an absolute corker of an early samurai sword
All original Edo fittings to compliment the blade. A sword made circa 1670, with fine iron Higo school mounts with pure gold inlaid Imperial chrysanthemum mon to the fushi and kashira. Round iron signed Edo tsuba. Original Edo period urushi lacquer saya.

Yukihiro was a swordsmith of Hizen province, and as we believe this sword was made by him around 1670, he was making his swords for the Nebeshima at this time, so we believe it is very likely this was created for a high ranking samurai of that family clan, possibly such as a hatamoto. .
He was the Second son of Hashimoto Yoshinobu.
Yukihiro acquired the title of Dewa Daijo in 1648 and was ranked up to Dewa (No) Kami in 1663.
He travelled to Nagasaki to learn under Hisatsugu and Tanenaga who were highly informed about western steels brought to Japan by the Dutch. Yukihiro also studied Bizen-den style under the swordsmith that belonged to the Ishido School and sometimes added the character Ichi to his signature. Later he became a retained swordsmith of the Nabeshima family and lived in Nagase town. He passed away in 1683, aged 66. The clan controlled Saga Domain from the late Sengoku period through the Edo period.

The Nabeshima clan was a cadet branch of the Shoni clan and was descended from the Fujiwara clan. In the late 12th century, Fujiwara no Sukeyori, a descendant of Fujiwara no Hidesato in the 9th generation, received the title of Dazai Shoni (equivalent to that of vice-governor of the military government of Kyushu) from Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the title became the family name.

The clan played an important role in the region as early as the Muromachi period, when it helped suppress opposition to the Ashikaga shogunate's control of Kyushu. It did not take the name Nabeshima, however, until the late 15th century, when Shoni Shigenao established himself at Nabeshima in Hizen province (today part of Saga City, Saga prefecture). Later, in the Sengoku period (1467-1603), the Nabeshima were one of a number of clans which clashed over the island. The Nabeshima sided with the Ryuzoji clan against the Otomo clan, though this ultimately ended in failure and the death of Ryuzoji Takanobu at the 1584 battle of Okita Nawate. Several years later, however, the Nabeshima recovered power and prominence by aiding Toyotomi Hideyoshi in his 1587 invasion of Kyushu; Nabeshima Naoshige was granted the region of Saga as his fief, as a reward for his efforts. Naoshige also contributed to Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea in the 1590s.

The clan initially aided Ishida Mitsunari against Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Sekigahara Campaign in 1600. However, they switched sides to support the Tokugawa, who were ultimately victorious, before the campaign had ended, battling and occupying the forces of Tachibana Muneshige, who was thus prevented from contributing directly to the battle of Sekigahara. Though regarded as tozama daimyo ("outside" lords), and assigned particularly heavy corvee duties, the Nabeshima were allowed to keep their territory in Saga, and in fact had their kokudaka increased. The clan's forces served the new Tokugawa shogunate loyally in the years which followed; they remained in Kyushu during the 1615 Osaka Campaign as a check against a possible rebellion or uprising by the Shimazu clan, and aided in the suppression of the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637. In recognition of their service, members of the clan were granted the prestigious family honorific name of Matsudaira in 1648, Matsudaira being the original Tokugawa family name, the ruling Shogun of Japan for almost 300 years.

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 exanding 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.


Very long 29.75 inch blade from tsuba to tip.

THE LANES ARMOURY, THE PREMIER HOME OF ORIGINAL AND AFFORDABLE ANCIENT ANTIQUITIES & ANTIQUE COLLECTABLES IN BRITAIN.

The Lanes Armoury, is world renown as Britain's favourite specialist collectors shop, and also a font of historical and educational information that is detailed with every single item. We detail each piece alongside its historical context, either generic or specific, for those that may wish to read, learn, or be informed, as opposed to simply acquire collectable items. We are probably one of the oldest companies of our kind in the whole of Europe and we have been established through generations, as specialists in armoury, military antiques, militaria collectables, and specialist books, since the early 1900’s, and thus we have continued to be one of the largest in the world today. We are also very pleased to know we are also studied and read by academics and students from hundreds of universities around the world, by those that are interested in not only British but worldwide history.
For this reason we are also well known to be a learning and researching website for students of history around the world.
Everyday we are contacted by historians that wish to make contributions to our detailed information for our pieces, and to thus add to our constant dedication to impart historical knowledge, that may be unknown to many of our millions of viewers.

As once told to us by an esteemed regular visitor to us here in our gallery, and the same words that are repeated in his book;

“In these textures lies an extraordinary and unique feature of the sword - the steel itself possesses an intrinsic beauty. The Japanese sword has been appreciated as an art object since its perfection some time during the tenth century AD. Fine swords have been more highly prized than lands or riches, those of superior quality being handed down from generation to generation. In fact, many well-documented swords, whose blades are signed by their makers, survive from nearly a thousand years ago. Recognizable features of the blades of hundreds of schools of sword-making have been punctiliously recorded, and the study of the sword is a guide to the flow of Japanese history.”
Victor Harris
Curator, Assistant Keeper and then Keeper (1998-2003) of the Department of Japanese Antiquities at the British Museum. He studied from 1968-71 under Sato Kenzan, Tokyo National Museum and Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords

Overall 39 inches long in saya, some natural age surface thinning.  read more

Code: 25760

A German WW2 German Kriegsmarine Officer’s Dagger by Horster of Solingen Probably The Cheapest Original Example On The Market

Excellent near mint deluxe blade with fully etched naval pattern anchor symbols and scrolls.

The scabbard is completely dent free and very clean indeed.
The gilding to the hilt has been worn throughout and the eagle and swastika pommel has a side seam crack. However this is well reflected in the price making it the least expensive original 1930’s to early 1940’s German war navy dirk we have seen in years, especially so as the blade is near mint, with all its original frosting and mirror bright polish

In good condition they can achieve £800 to £900 or potentially many thousands if it had a known provenance of ownership.
But, this one is just over half that price, and that makes it a fantastic, original and cheap example of these rare and collectible German officers daggers, to add to an existing collection or even to begin one. It fits beautifully snug with its scabbard with a good crisp retaining hilt scabbard button
No grip wire.  read more

Code: 25788

Some Fantastic & Superb Pieces Just Arrived & Shall Be Added Soon. Including A Stunning Kunitake Early Shinto Katana With Kagonami Tsuba , & A Fine Kugyō Daisho, A Daito & Shoto, Some Of The Most Beautiful Samurai Swords We Have Seen

Just one of the beautiful aspects of the Kunitake 国武 katana is its beautiful blade with a captivating hamon, in beautiful polish. All its stunning fittings are original early Edo including the original urushi lacquer saya with an irridescent green ground of crushed abilone shell decor. Kabuto gane kashira, and its Kiyou-Tojin Nanban Tsuba, a large rectangular sword guard.
It is tettsu {iron} with gold wire inlay. The manner of execution of the tsuba represents a high degree of artistic hybridity, suggesting that the tsuba was made along maritime trade-routes, where artisans had access to decorative arts from around the globe. The indented corners, pointed Shitogi-gata seppa-dai, smooth-skinned dragons and almost caricature drawing- style points to Indochina, perhaps Tonkin. There is a similar piece in the 1973 W.M. Hawley book Tsubas (sic) in Southern California. One can see a number of similar pieces with NBTHK attribution to "Nagasaki". Although some believe it more likely is that these were imported to Japan through the VOC factory in Deshima.

Cultural exchanges between China and Nagasaki became quite frequent after the Kangxi emperor reopened Qing seaports to foreign trade in 1684, and issued trading licenses to private concerns.In the 1640s a number of refugees from the collapse of the Ming Dynasty emigrated to Nagasaki. One of them—Shoyu Itsunen became the abbot of Kofukuji temple in Nagasaki. Itsunen is also known to have taught painting to Kawamura Fukuyoshi, a samurai and customs official who is better known as Jakushi I. Another Chinese priest, Yinyuan Lonqi, was the abbot of Wanfu temple on Mount Huangbo in Fujian. He came to Nagasaki at the invitation of Itsunen. Lonqi, known in Japan as Ingen Ryuki, became the founder of Obaku Zen Buddhism. The Nagasaki school of painting was deeply influenced by the Chinese painter Shen Nanpin, who lived and taught painting in Nagasaki for several years. Nanpin’s work was heavily influenced by European scientific and botanical painting, which resonated with the intellectual community at Nagasaki, which in Japan was the centre of Chinese medical studies, and Rangaku (the study of European science).

Swordsmith; KUNITAKE (国武), Kan ́ei (寛永, 1624-1644), Yamashiro – “Heianjō-jū Fujiwara Kunitake” (平安城住藤原国武), “Kunitake” (国武), “Sanjō Kunitake” (三条国武), student of Horikawa Kunihiro (堀川国広), later smith from the line of Sanjō Yoshinori (三条吉則), a tradition says that he was the father of Izumo no Daijō Yoshitake (出雲大掾吉武), itame-nagare with ji-nie, suguha, notare mixed with gunome-ashi in ko-nie-deki, sugu-bōshi with a ko-maru-kaeri, wazamono, Rated as jō-saku {superior smith}
Nanban-style tsubas (Japanese sword guards) often feature intricate designs incorporating dragons and phoenixes. These designs, commonly found in Hizen ware during the Edo period, represent the harmonious union of opposites – the masculine dragon and the feminine phoenix. This symbolic representation reflects the balance between power and grace, often associated with the Emperor and Empress in Japanese culture.
Key aspects of Nanban tsubas with dragon and phoenix:
Symbolism:
The dragon represents strength and power, while the phoenix embodies grace and beauty. Together, they symbolize the harmonious union of opposites.
Design:
Nanban tsubas often feature intricate designs with dragons, phoenixes, and other floral motifs, sometimes incorporating techniques like pierced work, inlays, and gilding.
Influence:
Nanban style was influenced by foreign art and culture, particularly Chinese designs, which contributed to the prevalence of dragons and phoenixes in these tsubas.
Examples:
The Ashmolean Museum has examples of Nanban tsubas with these designs.
Nanban tsubas are typically made of iron and often feature intricate details in gold or silver.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, improved tools led to more delicate and rapid production of Nanban tsubas.

The daisho, that require at present professional conservation that shall be attended to, have finest original Edo saya, of urushi lacquer decorated with kamon of multiple clans, this suggests affiliations and allegiance to such clans, they are multiples of mon applied, on a ground of gold-nashiji, of gold-ikakeji. This form of highest superior work was restricted, in feudal times, to san mi 三位, samurai owners, of the third court-rank, or possibly even higher, such as 一位, Ichii, First rank, or, 二位, Nii, second rank. These samurai nobles of the third to higher ranks were called kugyō when these two swords was made and carried in the early Edo period of the Tokugawa shogunate.

First Rank (一位, Ichii): The highest court rank, reserved for individuals of exceptional merit and influence.
Second Rank (二位, Nii): A higher rank, often associated with those in positions of authority.
Third Rank (三位, Sanmi) and Fourth Rank (四位, Shii): These ranks denoted important positions in the court system

In feudal Japan, court ranks, known as mibun, were a hierarchical system defining the status and duties of individuals, particularly within the samurai class. These ranks influenced everything from a samurai's attire and position to their ability to request audiences with the Shogun. The system was a complex tapestry of colors, symbols, and titles, signifying one's place in the social order.

In the Tokugawa shogunate each of the First to Third Ranks is divided into Senior (正, shō) and Junior (従, ju). The Senior First Rank (正一位, shō ichi-i) is the highest in the rank system. It is conferred mainly on a very limited number of persons recognized by the Imperial Court as most loyal to the nation during that era.

The Junior First Rank (従一位, ju ichi-i) is the second highest rank, conferred in many cases on the highest ministers, premier feudal lords, and their wives.

Nobles with the Third Rank or upper were called kugyō.

Successive Tokugawa shoguns held the highest or near-highest court ranks, higher than most court nobles. They were made Shō ni-i (正二位, Senior Second Rank) of court rank upon assuming office, then Ju ichi-i (従一位, Junior First Rank), and the highest rank of Shō ichi-i (正一位, Senior First Rank) was conferred upon them upon their death. The Tokugawa shogunate established that the court ranks granted to daimyo by the imperial court were based on the recommendation of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the court ranks were used to control the daimyo.

Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi were Shō ni-i (正二位, Senior Second Rank) and Ju ichi-i (従一位, Junior First Rank) respectively, but both were elevated to Shō ichi-i (正一位, Senior First Rank) in the Taisho era, about 300 years after their deaths.

The daisho, prior to a ‘no expense spared’ conservation, cleaning and polishing, are shown in the gallery ‘as is’ now.  read more

Code: 25784

A Very Important Piece of US Aeronautical Pilot Headgear. An Original, WW1, 1917 United States Air Service Pilot's Flying Service Helmet. In Exceptional Condition For It’s Age, A Remarkable & Rare American Aviation History Museum Piece.

The first pilot's helmet made, in WW1, for the US Army Air Service, and designed for service use with electric earphones. U.S. Air Service, Western Electric Type, 1-A Flying 1917 Patt U.S. Air Service Leather Flying Helmet.

The Type 1-A Flying Helmet was the first flying helmet standardized by the United States Army Air Service in 1917. It remained in use throughout the mid-1920s.
A similar example, also with earphones lacking, is in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the helmet was worn by Lt. Byron M. Bates. All The earliest US pilots flew with their helmets without the optional earpieces fitted, {see the photos in the gallery}

A WWI U.S. Air Service Western Electric Type 1-A Flying Helmet and Airplane, Interphone Type S.C.R. 57. The Western Electric Type 1-A was the first helmet to incorporate radio telephone communication equipment.
The russet brown leather helmet is lined in flannel and laces in the back for a snug fit. The crown of the helmet is also fitted with a strap and buckle for further adjustment. There are leather housings for earphones mounted on each side (earphones lacking) and coverted in leather. Tag mounted on the inside reads "Western Electric Co. Inc. / No. 1-A Helmet / Medium Size".
William Thaw {see his photo in the gallery} came from one of the 100 wealthiest families in the United States. During her lifetime, William Thaw’s remarkable grandmother donated $6 million to charitable causes, and in 1913 her grandson soloed in a Curtiss hydro aeroplane, bought for him by his dad.
When the war began, he went to France hoping to join the French air service, but settled for the French foreign legion and fought in the trenches for months until the air service made him an observer. Despite bad eyesight, Thaw became an ace, and is probably the first American to fly in combat.The first U.S. aviation squadron to reach France was the 1st Aero Squadron, which sailed from New York in August 1917 and arrived at Le Havre on September 3. A member of the squadron, Lt. Stephen W. Thompson, achieved the first aerial victory by the U.S. military while flying as a gunner-observer with a French day bombing squadron on February 5, 1918. As other squadrons were organized, they were sent overseas, where they continued their training. The first U.S. squadron to see combat, on February 19, 1918, was the 103rd Aero Squadron, a pursuit unit flying with French forces and composed largely of former members of the Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Corps. The first U.S. aviator killed in action during aerial combat occurred March 8, 1918, when Captain James E. Miller, commanding the 95th Pursuit Squadron, was shot down while on a voluntary patrol near Reims. The first aerial victory in an American unit was by 1st Lt. Paul F. Baer of the 103rd Aero Squadron, and formerly a member of the Lafayette Flying Corps, on March 11. The first victories credited to American-trained pilots came on April 14, 1918, when Lieutenants Alan F. Winslow and Douglas Campbell of the 94th Pursuit Squadron scored. The first mission by an American squadron across the lines occurred April 11, when the 1st Aero Squadron, led by its commander, Major Ralph Royce, flew a photo reconnaissance mission to the vicinity of Apremont.

The 1st American Balloon Group arrived in France on December 28, 1917. It separated into four companies that were assigned individually to training centres and instructed in French balloon procedures, then equipped with Caquot balloons, winches, and parachutes.
The 2nd Balloon Company joined the French 91st Balloon Company at the front near Royaumeix on February 26, 1918. On March 5 it took over the line and began operations supporting the U.S. 1st Division, becoming the "first complete American Air Service unit in history to operate against an enemy on foreign soil."

By the beginning of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the Air Service, the AEF, consisted of 32 squadrons (15 pursuit, 13 observation, and 4 bombing) at the front, while by November 11, 1918, 45 squadrons (20 pursuit, 18 observation, and 7 bombardment had been assembled for combat. During the war, these squadrons played important roles in the Battle of Château-Thierry, the St-Mihiel Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne.

Several units, including the 94th Pursuit Squadron under the command of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, and the 27th Pursuit Squadron, which had "balloon buster" 1st Lt. Frank Luke as one of its pilots, achieved distinguished records in combat and remained a permanent part of the American air forces.

The historically most famous of all the American air force pilots was the great Billy Mitchell. Who, remarkably, decades before, foresaw the bombing of Pearl Harbour by Japan as the instigator of the next world war to involve America. And as is so often proven to be the case, he was rewarded for his foresite by being court martialled, by what might be called the ‘little men’, the politically driven senior commanders that so often hamper and confound the actual men that produced almost all the historically proven greatest achievements.

Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, commanded all American air combat units in that country. After the war, he was appointed deputy director of the Air Service and began advocating for increased investment in air power, believing that this would prove vital in future wars. He argued particularly for the ability of bombers to sink battleships and organized a series of bombing runs against stationary ships designed to test the idea.

He antagonized many administrative leaders of the Army with his arguments and criticism and in 1925, his temporary appointment as a brigadier general was not renewed, and he reverted to his permanent rank of colonel, due to his insubordination. Later that year, he was court-martialed for insubordination after accusing Army and Navy leaders of an "almost treasonable administration of the national defense’ for principally investing in battleships. He resigned from the service shortly afterwards.

Mitchell received many honours following his death, including a Congressional Gold Medal. He is also the first person for whom an American military aircraft design, the North American B-25 Mitchell, is named. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is also named after Mitchell.  read more

Code: 23499

A Fine and Beautiful Carved Horn Hilted 18th Century Royal Naval Officer's Hanger Sword, Cutlass or Cuttoe

American Anglo French wars period, made Circa 1750's, called during it's era of service use a ‘cuttoe’, a variation on the word cutlass, but a variation used specifically by naval officer's. Oval guard deer hoofed quillon form, carved horn handle with carved pommel and twin gilt capped mounting rivets. Single edged blade with a small return false edge and double fuller. Finely geometric scroll engraved blade with a leaping stag slightly obscured through time within the fuller on both sides.

Although also used on land, the cutlass is best known as the maritime weapon of choice. A naval side-arm, its popularity was likely because it was not only robust enough to hack through heavy ropes, canvas, and wood, but short enough to use in relatively close quarters, such as during boarding actions, in the rigging, or below decks.

Another advantage to the cutlass was its simplicity of use. Employing it effectively required less technical skill than that required to master a rapier or light small sword, and it was more effective as a close-combat weapon than a full-sized sword would be on a cramped ship.

Cutlasses are famous for being used by pirates, although there is no reason to believe that Caribbean buccaneers invented them, as has occasionally been claimed. However, the subsequent use of cutlasses by pirates is well documented in contemporary sources, notably by the pirate crews of William Fly, William Kidd, and Stede Bonnet. French historian Alexandre Exquemelin reports the buccaneer François l'Ollonais using a cutlass/cuttoe as early as 1667. Pirates used these weapons for intimidation as much as for combat, often needing no more than to grip their hilts to induce a crew to surrender, or beating captives with the flat of the blade to force their compliance or responsiveness to interrogation.

Owing to its versatility, the cutlass was as often an agricultural implement and tool as it was as a weapon (cf. machete, to which the same comment applies) that was used commonly in rain forest and sugarcane areas, such as the Caribbean and Central America. In their most simplified form they are held to have become the machete of the Caribbean.  read more

Code: 21684

Original & Rare Anglo-Saxon Spear From The Era of King Offa to King Harold, &, What is Remarkable, It Is Complete With It’s Original Scabbard. It Is The Very First Spear From That Era, With It’s Scabbard Still Present, We Have Seen In Over 50 Years

Viking and Anglo Saxon history is now at the forefront of interest today, especially with so many representations and depictions of the the great Viking age and often their British enemies the Anglo Saxon peoples being created into films and documentaries currently.

The interest in original Viking artefacts, and weapons of their natural foes, has never been greater than it is today. In our Brighton gallery almost all of our daily thousands of visitors make a beeline to all our amazing original Viking pieces, the interest is literally unceasing. Many are spellbound by their historical significance and almost all are surprised to be able to view up close, let alone acquire, such amazing pieces. And this fine example is one of the least expensive pieces of its type we can offer currently, and probably one of the very rarest, bearing in mind original Viking and Anglo Saxon arms and armour we can show and have had recently, can easily approach up to around £40,000 each.

Used by Anglo Saxon warriors from the 6th century to the 11th century Norman Conquest of 1066. This ancient spear, remarkably, also has part of its original iron scabbard, with traces of line engraving at the throat, and it is the very first spear scabbard we have ever seen to survive. it would have had a small leather top attachment. The spear has matching line engraving at the socket opening. The main weapon the Anglo-Saxons used during war were their spears. They were usually leaf or kite shaped and had a socket for the attachment of the staff. The usual length of the spear was 6’6”- 8’ (2.00m-2.50m). Spears were used for both hand to hand combat and as Javelins. Anglo-Saxons burials that contained weapons 86% of the time had spears in them. There were also 21 different types of spears the Anglo-Saxons used during war. The group of tribes known by the three names Saxons, Angles, and Jutes all belonged to the Teutonic stock; the Jutes perhaps being nearer akin to the Gothic and Scandinavian branch than to the German. It is doubtful whether there was any real distinction between Angles and Saxons other than the designation of the territory from which they started. The king's power
One of these customs was fighting everyone in sight. A king's power was not hereditary; it depended solely on his ability to win battles and so gain land, treasure, and slaves to give his supporters. He was obliged to fight and keep fighting. If not, he would find himself out of a job or deprived of his life, or both. Succession from father to son was never a foregone conclusion. Any relative of the old king who could muster enough support could make a bid for the throne. This helps to explain why the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms came and went so quickly. The power of any kingdom over its neighbours was only as solid as the strength of its king in battle.

King Offa
Roughly speaking, the 7th century was the age of Northumbrian ascendance, with Mercia playing second fiddle. In the 8th century these roles reversed. The most powerful and well known of the Mercian kings was Offa, who ruled from 758-796. A successful warrior (which is a given for anyone in those days who managed to hold onto power for so long), he defeated kings in Sussex, Anglia, and Wessex, proclaiming himself King of the English. In the 11th century, there were three conquests and some Anglo-Saxon people would live through it: one in the aftermath of the conquest of Cnut in 1016; the second after the unsuccessful attempt of battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066; the third after that of William of Normandy in 1066. The consequences of each conquest can only be assessed with hindsight. In 1016, no-one was to know that whatever cultural ramifications were felt then, they would be subsumed half a century later; and in 1066 there was nothing to predict that the effects of William's conquest would be any greater or more lasting than those of Cnut's. See Swanton, M.J. Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlements, London, 1973 for discussion. 221 grams,13 inches long overall Almost every iron weapon that has survived today from this era is now in a fully russetted condition, as is this one, because only the swords of kings, that have been preserved in national or Royal collections are today still in a good state and condition.

As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity  read more

Code: 22102

A Most Fine and Beautiful 18th Century French Flintlock Circa 1740. A Superb Example of Our Seven Years War Period Use, to Napoleonic Wars Era Officer’s Flintlock Pistols We Currently Have The Privilege To Offer

With a very fine and stunning looking tiger stripe maple wooden stock, bearing a simply superb natuaral age patina. Signed lock and all steel mounts. Long eared buttcap typical of the 1740's period flintlocks that saw service in the Anglo French Seven Years War in Europe and America. And continually right through the Napoleonic Wars. The French and Indian War (1754-63) comprised the North American theater of the worldwide Seven Years' War of 1756-63. It pitted the colonies of British America against those of New France. Both sides were supported by military units from their parent countries, as well as by American Indian allies. At the start of the war, the French North American colonies had a population of roughly 60,000 settlers, compared with 2 million in the British North American colonies. The outnumbered French particularly depended on the Indians. The European nations declared war on one another in 1756 following months of localized conflict, escalating the war from a regional affair into an intercontinental conflict.

The name French and Indian War is used mainly in the United States. It refers to the two enemies of the British colonists, the royal French forces and their various American Indian allies. The British colonists were supported at various times by the Iroquois, Catawba, and Cherokee, and the French colonists were supported by Wabanaki Confederacy members Abenaki and Mi'kmaq, and Algonquin, Lenape, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Shawnee, and Wyandot.

British and other European historians use the term the Seven Years' War, as do English-speaking Canadians.

No consensus exists as to when the French Revolutionary Wars ended and the Napoleonic Wars began. Possible dates include 9 November 1799, when Bonaparte seized power on 18 Brumaire, the date according to the Republican Calendar then in use;41 18 May 1803, when Britain and France ended the one short period of peace between 1792 and 1814; or 2 December 1804, when Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor.42

British historians occasionally refer to the nearly continuous period of warfare from 1792 to 1815 as the Great French War, or as the final phase of the Anglo-French Second Hundred Years' War, spanning the period 1689 to 1815.43 Historian Mike Rapport (2013) suggested using the term "French Wars" to unambiguously describe the entire period from 1792 to 1815.44

In France, the Napoleonic Wars are generally integrated with the French Revolutionary Wars: Les guerres de la Révolution et de l'Empire.

It is often the case, as is here, that some descended nobility of France often fought on the side of the revolutionaries and then under Napoleon, and used their predecessors weapons, as little changed in the efficiency of pistols from the 1740’s to the 1790’s or even the 1810’s, so older style pistols had a remarkably useful life for up to 80 years or even more, especially for senior officers serving under Bonaparte.

The last photo in the gallery shows a photograph of one section of the collection in the museum of Waterloo, taken in around 1900, showing all the weapons of Waterloo en situ, including all the protagonists {British, French, Prussian and Belgian muskets, swords, pistols, armour uniforms, etc}. The museum was founded and owned by a veteran of the 7 th Hussars that fought at Waterloo

As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 21456

An 1801 Pattern, Tower of London, Royal Navy Issue, Historic Nelson Period, Short ‘Sea Service Pistol’, With Original Belt Hook, Tower of London GR Crown Lock, Fine Stock & Skull Crusher Butt, Used at the Battle Of Trafalgar Period

The King George IIIrd issue British Royal Naval Sea Service pistol has always been the most desirable and valuable pistol sought by collectors.

Exactly as issued and used by all the British Ship's-of-the-Line, at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Such as;
HMS Victory,
HMS Temeraire,
HMS Dreadnought,
HMS Revenge,
HMS Agamemnon,
HMS Colossus
HMS Leviathan &
HMS Achilles.
Some of the most magnificent ships, manned by the finest crews, that have ever sailed the seven seas.

The Battle of Trafalgar, (October 21, 1805), the most important naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars, and in fact of the entire century, established British naval supremacy for more than 100 years; it was fought west of Cape Trafalgar, Spain, between Cádiz and the Strait of Gibraltar. A fleet of 33 ships (18 French and 15 Spanish) under Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve fought a British fleet of 27 ships under Admiral Horatio Nelson. A resounding victory for the mighty Royal Navy and the ultimate demonstration of Nelson’s mastery of the sea, against the combined enemy fleet. This battle has since been taught ever since by every naval college the world over as an illustration of his genius tactics and command skill in battle.

At the end of September 1805, Villeneuve had received orders to leave Cádiz and land troops at Naples to support the French campaign in southern Italy. On October 19–20 his fleet slipped out of Cádiz, hoping to get into the Mediterranean Sea without giving battle. Nelson caught him off Cape Trafalgar on October 21.

Villeneuve ordered his fleet to form a single line heading north, and Nelson ordered his fleet to form two squadrons and attack Villeneuve’s line from the west, at right angles. By noon the larger squadron, led by Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood in the Royal Sovereign, had engaged the rear (south) 16 ships of the French-Spanish line. At 11:50 AM Nelson, in the Victory, signaled his famous message: “England expects that every man will do his duty.” Then his squadron, with 12 ships, attacked the van and centre of Villeneuve’s line, which included Villeneuve in the Bucentaure. The majority of Nelson’s squadron broke through and shattered Villeneuve’s lines in the pell-mell battle. Six of the leading French and Spanish ships, under Admiral Pierre Dumanoir, were ignored in the first attack and about 3:30 PM were able to turn about to aid those behind. But Dumanoir’s weak counterattack failed and was driven off. Collingwood completed the destruction of the rear, and the battle ended about 5:00 PM. Villeneuve himself was captured, and his fleet lost 19 or 20 ships—which were surrendered to the British—and 14,000 men, of whom half were prisoners of war. Nelson was mortally wounded by a sniper, but when he died at 4:30 PM he was certain of his complete victory. About 1,500 British seamen were killed or wounded, but no British ships were lost. Trafalgar shattered forever Napoleon’s plans to invade England.

It is clear this pistol has seen a fair amount of close quarter action, very possibly at Trafalgar, as it has several areas of field-service armourer's repair to the stock. However, this work shows it has been used for the very purpose for which it was designed for, repelling boarders, or, used during boarding actions. It has it's usual 9" barrel, as the barrels were regulatory shortened by official Admiralty order, to 9", from 12 inches long, as it's length of barrel of 12 inches was considered simply too unwieldy in close combat situations, even before the Napoleonic wars, thus its official title was, the ‘1801 Royal Navy Short Sea Service Pistol’

The first pattern date applied to the Sea Service pistol in this form is 1716. The Pattern 1716 Sea Service Pistol was very similar to the Land Service Pistol of the same era, in overall appearance and design. The pistol was a single shot, flintlock ignition gun with a long, round iron smoothbore barrel in “pistol bore”, approximately .56 calibre. The guns were of simple, but robust construction, and like their land service brethren were built with an eye towards the gun seeing equal service as a club, as it did as a firearm! In fact, US Naval manuals from the first decades of the 1800s included instruction on how to throw the pistol at an enemy, a tactic that no doubt originated in the Royal Navy.  read more

Code: 25312

A Rare, Very Early, 19th Century 'Pre-Worker's Union' British 'General Strike' Period Pistol, 19th Century Percussion Pistol With A 'Chartist Riot' Factory Armoury Label. Used in the 1842 General Strike, Also Known As 'The Plug Riots'

Overall in nice condition, with good action, signs of use and bearing a Chartist riots celluloid label mounted upon the stock. Captive ramrod lacking. A gun from the arsenal of Boden's Silk Mill in Derby, that was involved in the first part of the Chartist Riots in 1833, and this particular gun was for use into the 1842 General Strike feared riots, aka The plug Riots named after a specific form of factory boiler sabotage by the 'Chartist' strikers.

In 1842 the Chartists delivered The People's Charter asking for universal male suffrage as well as other demands signed by 3,000,000 people. In the same year strikes were organised by miners in Staffordshire and these strikes quickly spread across England and Wales. Eventually these strikes spread across 32 counties.

The "Plug Riots" of 1842, also known as the 1842 General Strike, were a series of protests and strikes that spread throughout industrial England, including Derbyshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. These disturbances were a response to wage cuts and economic depression, and they involved thousands of workers who shut down factories by removing boiler plugs and other actions. While the Plug Riots occurred in various locations, including Stalybridge, Manchester, and Preston, they are not always specifically associated just with Derby. Derby did also experience its own form of earlier civil unrest, primarily the Reform Bill Riots in 1832, which were distinct from the Plug Riots

Derby Reform Bill Riots 1831
Mass riots raged through the town for several days in October 1831 after the Reform Bill was rejected. Prisoners were released from the Derby jails by a crowd of 1,500 protestors.

Derby Silk Mill strike 1833-34
The Silk Mill was one of the first factories in this country and was the site of one of the first major lockouts in this country (1833-1834). Contemporary with the Tolpuddle Martyrs, hundreds of Derby mill workers were forced out of work for joining a radical new union.
Silk Mill – Canal Street, Derby
Purchased by John Boden and William Morley in 1824.
For reference see;
https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/14859/1/408374.pdf  read more

Code: 25779