French Cavalry-of-the-Line Flintlock Pistol M1816 for Cuirassiers, Dragoons and Lancers, Ordnance Converted to Percussion in 1822

It has all its complete and original parts completely conserved, serviced, and cleaned by hand. Including a walnut half-stock, iron and brass mounts, ramrod lacking, and butt-cap, the lock inscribed for the French arsenal manufacture, 'M.re Rle de M? {possibly Manufacture Royale de Mutzig}. French Royal restoration period, with numerous inspector's stamps throughout all parts.

Used by the French line regiments of the cuirassiers, dragoons, or lancers from 1816 up to and including the Crimean war.

Good tight action, sound barrel. Many pistols of this type were also imported to the USA during the Civil War. At the time of the Crimean War, the army of the Second Empire was a subscripted army, but was also the most proficient army in Europe. One of the more famous groups were the Zouaves. According to Captain George Brinton McClellan, an American Military Observer, the Zouaves were the "most reckless, self-reliant, and complete infantry that Europe can produce. With his graceful dress, soldierly bearing, and vigilant attitude, the Zouave at an outpost is the beau ideal of a soldier."
The French army consisted of the Imperial Guard infantry, the line infantry including the Foreign Legion, cavalry, artillery, and engineer troops. Sources suggest that between 45,000 and 100,000 French forces were involved at one time or the other in the Crimea. Service in the French army was for seven years, with re-enlistments in increments of seven years. The Battle of Eupatoria was the most important military engagement of the Crimean War on the Crimean theatre in 1855 outside Sevastopol.

Ottoman forces were being transferred from the Danube front to the Crimean port of Eupatoria and the town was being fortified. Upon direct orders from the Czar who feared a wide-scale Ottoman offensive on the Russian flank, a Russian expeditionary force was formed under General Stepan Khrulev aiming to storm the base with a force variously estimated between 20,000 to 30,000.

Khrulev hoped to take the Ottoman garrison by surprise on February 17, 1855. His intention failed to materialise, as both the Ottoman garrison and the Allied fleet anticipated the attack.

The Russian artillery and infantry attacks were countered by heavy Allied artillery fire. Failing to make progress after three hours and suffering mounting casualties, Khrulev ordered a retreat.

This reverse led to the dismissal of the Russian Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Sergeyevich Menshikov and probably hastened the death of Nicholas I of Russia, who died several weeks after the battle.

As for the battle's strategic importance, it confirmed that allied total command of the sea would ensure that the threat to the Russian flank would remain for the duration of hostilities. For the allies, possession of Eupatoria meant that the total investment of Sevastopol remained a viable option. For the Russians, they could not afford to commit unlimited resources from their vast army to the Crimea, for fear of a lightning allied thrust from Eupatoria closing the neck of the peninsula at Perekop.

For the Ottomans, their Army had regained its self-esteem and to some extent its reputation; most French and British realised this, although others including the high command would stubbornly refuse to make further use of their fighting abilities in the Crimean theatre. A very nice example of French cavalry percussion pistol (Ref. "French Military Weapons 1717-1938", by James E. Hicks, pp. 81 and 94).

Hand specialist conservation and preservation of original items is one of our fundamental tenets, it is not unusual for us to expend up to ten times the cost of an item in order to preserve a piece for the future, and to return it to how it once looked for posterity. Of course over restoration can be worse than no restoration at all so every care is made to ensure exactly the right amount of conservation is undertaken by our specialist and highly trained world renown artisans,

Photo in the gallery of the same pistol in the belt of an American Civil War Union trooper  read more

Code: 24803

A Superb Antique Edo Period Musha-Ningyo Samurai General Warrior Doll. A Uniquely Japanese Art Form Representing The Legendary Samurai

Adorned with full traditional miniature armour of lacquerwork and lacings and court cap jingasa and damask silk clothing, he is holding a katana. He is seated on a traditional stool. Warrior dolls also known as musha-ningyo are very popular as fine Japanese traditional works of art among Western collectors. Embodying the martial spirit of the samurai, these figures are decked out in full military regalia with lacquered armour, weaponry. They frequently represent very specific historical characters and are a fascinating window into Japan’s rich military past. There may be a continuity in the making of the dogū, humanoid figures, by the ancient Jomon culture in Japan (8000-200 BC) and in the Haniwa funerary figures of the subsequent Kofun culture (around 300-600 AD). Expert Alan Pate notes that temple records refer to the making of a grass doll to be blessed and thrown into the river at Ise Shrine in 3 BC; the custom was probably even more ancient, but it is at the root of the modern doll festival or Hinamatsuri. There are various types of traditional dolls, some representing children and babies, some the imperial court, warriors and heroes, fairy-tale characters, gods and (rarely) demons, and also people of the daily life of Japanese cities. Many have a long tradition Musha, or warrior dolls, are usually made of materials similar to the hina dolls, but the construction is often more complicated, since the dolls represent men (or women) seated on camp chairs, standing, or riding horses. Armor, helmets, and weapons are made of lacquered paper, often with metal accents. There is no specified "set" of such dolls; subjects include Emperor Jimmu, Empress Jingu with her prime minister Takenouchi holding her newborn imperial son, Shoki the Demon-Queller, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his generals and tea-master, and fairy-tale figures such as Momotaro the Peach Boy or Kintaro the Golden Boy. In the nineteenth century ningyo were introduced to the West.

Doll collecting has since become a popular pastime in the West. Famous well known collectors from the West include individuals such as James Tissot (1836–1902), Jules Adeline (1845–1909), Eloise Thomas (1907–1982), and Samuel Pryor (1898–1985). During the Meiji period, three men became pioneers in collecting ningyo, Shimizu Seifū (1851-1913), Nishizawa Senko (1864–1914), and Tsuboi Shogoro (1863–1913). The three men are referred to as "Gangu San Ketsu" (the three great toy collectors). They introduced a systematic approach to collecting ningyo in an effort to preserve and document the various forms of ningyo. Shimizu, an artist and calligrapher, put his artistic ability to use by creating an illustrated catalog of his own collection of 440 ningyo dolls. The catalog was published in 1891, under the title Unai no Tomo. Nishizawa, a banker, gathered a significant collection on hina-ningyo. He was an active researcher, collector of stories, documents, and information relating to the development of hina-ningyo during the Edo period. Nishizawa’s son Tekiho (1889–1965) inherited his collection but a great portion of the collection was lost in the Kanto earthquake of 1923. Tsuboi, founder of the Tokyo Anthropological Society, was the most trained of the three, and he brought a scientific element to the collecting of ningyo. Dolls have been a part of Japanese culture for many years, and the phenomenon of collecting them is still practiced. Many collections are preserved in museums, including the Peabody Essex Museum, Kyoto National Museum, and the Yodoko Guest House.
The doll is similar to the work of Maruhei a famous Japanese doll artist from Kyoto
Dimensions: 17.5 inches high
Condition: The doll is in very good condition according to age and with wonderful antique taste. Some wear and fading to fabric in places.  read more

Code: 24815

A Stunning British Regulation Pattern Light Dragoon Pistol by Barnett Dated 1802 A Contract Gunmaker Made For the EIC But Used By The British Light Dragoons In the Peninsular and Waterloo

One of the pistols likely turned over by the East India Co. army to the Board of Ordnance for the Napoleonic wars, due to the urgent need for arms to counter Napoleon's massive armament reserve. The light dragoon pistol was the standard weapon issued to the British trooper throughout the 18th and early-19th centuries. It bears the same British Board of Ordnance inspection lock stamp, numbered by inspector '2'. Crown Inspector '2' was Richard Duce, and he was the principle inspector for the crown from 1797, and the small arms turned over from the EIC, just as this turned-over pistol {and turned-over Brown Bess muskets} usually bore. We had,and sold within a few days of its arrival, just a couple of weeks ago, a very fine 1802 Brown Bess musket, also turned-over by the EIC at the verey same time, and also inspected and crown stamped '2' by Richard Duce.

Thomas Barnett was contractor to the Ordnance from 1794.

The world changed in 1793, a mere 10 years after the loss of the American colonies. Britain found itself once again at war, this time with Revolutionary France. An army now reduced in size to an authorised strength of only 44,432 men had to be expanded rapidly, along with the local militia and volunteer forces. The call for arms was huge. Indeed, in 1793 the total stock of muskets in armouries around Britain, including the central arsenal at the Tower of London, was around 60,000. The stocks held in French arsenals amounted to over 700,000.

The idea of introducing the East India Company's arms into British Army service was conceived. By the end of 1794. at that time the East India Company had delivered 29,920 muskets into government stores, all that they could spare.

However they agreed to sell almost all their current contracted guns, for the forseeable future. Indeed, transactions for East India Company small arms would continue throughout the duration of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.

By 1815, the East India Company had sold the Board of Ordnance at least 142,970 small arms.

This fabulous example was one of those desperately required light dragoon flintlocks, sold to Britain in 1802.  read more

Code: 24801

A Fine & Exceedingly Handsome US Civil War Moore 7 Shot Belt Revolver With Original New York Factory Engraving. Later Cased With Tools

A Daniel Moore Seven-shot .32 calibre rimfire revolver, serial number 1074, manufactured by Daniel Moore of Brooklyn, and patented by him on September 18th, 1860. In overall, superbly nice condition with much original nickel plating and blue finish. The nickel plating shows of beautifully the original, fine, ‘New York’ factory engraving.

It is extremely keenly priced when it is considered next to it far better known Civil War revolver competitors, such as Smith and Wesson, Colt, Remington and Starr etc. plus it’s rarity, in that it’s production was barely 3% that of Colt alone, plus, it was a breech loading cartridge gun, that made its firing advantage far greater than that of its cap and ball percussion revolver rivals. No wonder Cole Younger continually used his until it was captured from him in 1876.

This gun is the very first revolver with swing-out cylinder ever produced. With the hammer in halfcock position, a pressure on the catch located right from the hammer on the recoil shield allows the barrel and cylinder to be swung out to the right for loading.

Engraved Moore’s Patent Firearms Co. Single Action Belt Revolver. These revolvers were made in Brooklyn, New York from 1861-1863 and number less than 7,000 in total, possibly as low as 5,000. The primary significance of this pistol is that many of these are known to have been purchased by Union officers and enlisted men for use during the American Civil War, Including, Cole Younger of Quantrill's Raiders.

Sturdy and very well made, this revolver was in its days a lot more advanced that all its competitors. Unfortunately for Mr Moore, its bored-through cylinder made it also an infringment on the Rollin White patent, that was then owned by Smith & Wesson. As they usually did, S&W filed a claim, which resulted in the surrender to S&W of 18,072 unsold revolvers by 4 companies in settlement of the damage claims. The mention "Manufd. for Smith & Wesson by Moore's Pat. Fire Arms Co" was stamped on the barrels of all turned over revolvers prior to sale, but ours was made prior to this change.

This one bears the early serial 1074 and does not have this mention, which indicates it was sold before the trial.

Excellent weapon, featuring a factory New York hand-engraved brass frame. This fine Moore would undoubtedly have seen military use during the Civil War.

One of the most famous owners of a Moore 7 shot belt revolver just like this example, was 'Cole' Younger, during the Northfield Bank Robbery. He was part of the James -Younger gang with Jesse And Frank James and Cole’s brothers Jim, John and Bob. He supposedly used his Moore as a Captain in the notorious Quantrill's Raiders of the Confederate States Army in the Civil War.
After the war, as part of the Younger-James Gang after the Great Northfield Bank Raid, Cole Younger had his pistol taken from him on 21 September 1876, and it was his Daniel Moore 1860 patent revolver, which bore a serial number within 150 of this revolver. Also recovered with it was his Civil War Officer’s belt and holster.

Photos in the gallery of an original ambrotype photo of Cole Younger, {now in a museum} and his $5,000 reward 'wanted' poster for train robbery, also a photo of him with his brother Bob and Frank and Jesse James, and you can see Cole's revolver in his holster at his waist, and lastly, we show his marble tombstone.

One photo in the gallery is the same type of Moore revolver, with ivory grip, without case, that was sold by the Moore family in 2009 in the US that sold for $ 4,888  read more

Code: 24799

A Magnificent Ancient Greek Wreath of Victory, A Crown of Hammered Gold. From the Era of Alexander The Great. Circa 300 BC. Now Re-Assembled For Our Display

An original fine sheet gold Wreath of Victory, Around 2300 years old, reassembled in our workshop over the past two weeks.

It is now been thus re-assembled, and framed flat under glass temporarily, it is a magnificent historic wonder to behold. Around 2300 years old in fabulous condition overall considering the passing two plus millennia. Likely 22ct gold.

The Ancient Greek Gold Wreath of Victory
was was derived from wreaths of real leaves worn in religious ceremonies and given as prizes in athletic and artistic contests, at the point of triumph. Gold wreaths were fragile ant not meant to be frequently worn, but were definitely meant for display. See the Getty Collection for their partial view of an example of a Gold Crown of Triumph.
In Ancient Rome, in later centuries it was similarly worn on the head as a symbol of triumph. There are numerous, surviving original Roman carved sculptures of Roman Caesars and Emperors adorned with their Wreath of Victory.
The symbol of the laurel wreath is from Greek mythology. The Romans adopted the symbol because they admired Greek culture. In Rome, they were symbols of military victory.
Military commanders or emperors often wore them after a battle. Laurel wreaths in ancient times are most often shown as a horseshoe shape.

Greek goldsmiths and artisans inherited their techniques from Egypt and Mesopotamia, however, they managed to create and develop a unique style. Gold became the primary decorative material, although silver, lead, bronze and electrum were also used. Skilled artisans worked the gold in thin leaves
In Classic and Hellenistic Greece it was the advent of the Golden Age of Greece, when Hellenic culture blossomed, that Greek jewellery reached its high water mark. The reign of Alexander the Great saw an enormous influx of gold and precious stones from the Orient, providing the core resources to produce items of incredible splendour. This era was brought to an end when the Roman Empire took control of Greece in the 2nd century BC, bringing many drastic and dramatic changes in jewellery style.

Photos in the gallery show ours as we have assembled it, see photos 1, 2, 3 and how ours would likely have appeared 2300 years ago, when it was worn at the triumph see photo 7, and in the gallery we show the Massachusetts collection gold crown see pgoto 6, fully assembled, and the last photo is the Getty Collection crown photo 4.
In the gallery we show the other museum examples, in exactly how they would have looked when worn and complete. We also show one partial crown in the Getty Collection, our crown is designed with laurel leaves and some oak leaves. The Massachusetts collection, fully re-assembled example, sold in Christies in 2019 for $325,000 USD

The Somerset crown was incredibly rare gold crown believed to be more than 2,000 years old was discovered under a bed in a Somerset cottage. That was the last completely assembled example that we saw and had the opportunity to acquire. It was in 2016. The delicate Greek gold myrtle wreath, which was thought to date to 300BC, was found in a cardboard box in the modest Taunton property. When appraised by a local auction in 2016 it was estimated to be worth approaching 200,000 GBP.

We re-assembled our gold crown for our photographic display, but it will need re-assembling for whatever form of permanent display its new owner feels suits it best. It comprises of up to 100 parts of hammered gold from up 4 inches to 1/8th inch long.

Our example was from a late esteemed private collection of a famous British ‘Barrister at the Temple’ and antiquities collector, acquired in the 1960’s  read more

Code: 24772

A Large & Superbly Impressive Circa 20 Million Year Old Megalodon Giant Shark Tooth

Miocene period and one of the largest we have seen in years.
Megalodon (Otodus megalodon), meaning "big tooth", is an extinct species of mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago (Mya), from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene epochs. It was formerly thought to be a member of the family Lamnidae and a close relative of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). However, it is now classified into the extinct family Otodontidae, which diverged from the great white shark during the Early Cretaceous.

While regarded as one of the largest and most powerful predators to have ever lived, the megalodon is only known from fragmentary remains, and its appearance and maximum size are uncertain
Extrapolating from a vertebral column and reconstructing a 3D model with dimensions based on all extant lamnid sharks suggests that a 16-meter-long (52 ft) individual, but it may have been much larger than that compared to previous estimates, possibly reaching an excess 90 feet, and weighing 61.5 metric tons (67.8 short tons) or more, in body mass; and an individual megaladon of this size would have needed to consume at least 98,175 kcal per day.

Their teeth were thick and robust, built for grabbing prey and breaking bone, and their large jaws could exert a bite force of up to 108,500 to 182,200 newtons (24,400 to 41,000 lbf) with the ability to bite a whale in half with one bite.

The tooth is length top to bottom
As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity  read more

Code: 24809

A Most Handsome Shinto Katana Signed Mutsu Daijo Fujiwara Kaneyasu

Late 17th century sword, bearing signature that approximately translates to "of the Fujiwara Clan, the Daijo (a honourific lordship title) of Mutsu Province, Kaneyasu made this''. With all original Edo period koshirae sword mounts, including a superb antique original Edo 'lobster scale' cinnabar urushi lacquer saya.

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.

The varnish used in Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the urushi tree, also known as the lacquer tree or the Japanese varnish tree (Rhus vernacifera), which mainly grows in Japan and China, as well as Southeast Asia. Japanese lacquer, 漆 urushi, is made from the sap of the lacquer tree. The tree must be tapped carefully, as in its raw form the liquid is poisonous to the touch, and even breathing in the fumes can be dangerous. But people in Japan have been working with this material for many millennia, so there has been time to refine the technique!

Higo school silver inlaid tettsu fuchi kashira and iron plate tsuba. very interesting menuki of a panel separated and placed over two bows, decorated with relief kanji. Beautiful blade with a gradually undulating gunome hamon. An impressive sprauncy sword almost certainly made for a mounted samurai considering its power and dimensions.

Of all the weapons that man has developed since our earliest days, few evoke such fascination as the samurai sword of Japan. To many of us in the, the movie image of the samurai in his fantastic armour, galloping into battle on his horse, his colourful personal flag, or sashimono, whipping in the wind on his back, has become the very symbol of Japan, the Empire of the Rising Sun. And, truly, to the samurai of real life, nothing embodied his warrior's code of Bushido more than his sword, considered inseparable from his soul.

Indeed, a sword was considered such a crucial part of a samurai's life that when a young samurai was about to be born, a sword was brought into the bedchamber during the delivery. When the time came for an old samurai to die and cross over into the White Jade Pavilion of the Afterlife his honoured sword was placed by his side. Even after death, a daimyo, or nobleman, believed he could count on his samurai who had followed him into the next world to use their keen blades to guard him against any demons, just as they had wielded their trusty weapons to defend him against flesh-and-blood enemies in this life. In a samurai family the swords were so revered that they were passed down from generation to generation, from father to son. If the hilt or scabbard wore out or broke, new ones would be fashioned for the all-important blade. The hilt, the tsuba (hand guard), and the scabbard themselves were often great art objects, with fittings sometimes of gold or silver. The hilt and scabbard were created from the finest hand crafted materials by the greatest artisans that have ever lived. Often, too, they told a story from Japanese myths. Magnificent specimens of Japanese swords can be seen today in the Tokugawa Art Museum's collection in Nagoya, Japan. The saya has a few age seam lines, but at all detrimental to its beauty and entirely commensurate to its age
Blade 29 inches tsuba to tip  read more

Code: 24040

A Very Good WW1 Gloucester Regt. Sterling Silver & Blue and White Enamel Military Sweetheart Brooch

The Gloucestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed "The Glorious Glosters", the regiment carried more battle honours on their regimental colours than any other British Army line regiment. During the course of the war, the regiment raised 25 battalions, seeing service on the Western Front, Gallipoli, Macedonia, Mesopotamia, Persia and Italy. Battle Honours gained in WW1; The Great War (25 battalions): Mons, Retreat from Mons, Marne 1914, Aisne 1914 '18, Ypres 1914 '15 '17, Langemarck 1914 '17, Gheluvelt, Nonne Bosschen, Givenchy 1914, Gravenstafel, St Julien, Frezenberg, Bellewaarde, Aubers, Loos, Somme 1916 '18, Albert 1916, '18, Bazentin, Delville Wood, Pozi?res, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, Arras 1917 '18, Vimy 1917, Scarpe 1917, Messines 1917 '18, Pilckem, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 '18, St Quentin, Bapaume 1918, Rosi?res, Avre, Lys, Estaires, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, B?thune, Drocourt-Qu?ant, Hindenburg Line, ?p?hy, Canal du Nord, St Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914?18, Piave, Vittorio Veneto, Italy 1917?18, Struma, Doiran 1917, Macedonia 1915?18, Suvla, Sari Bair, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915?16, Egypt 1916, Tigris 1916, Kut al Amara 1917, Baghdad, Mesopotamia 1916?18, Persia 1918  read more

Code: 18819

A Stunning, Historical, Napoleonic War’s Period, 1796 Pattern Officer's Combat Sword of William A. Cuninghame, of the 95th

It’s rarity value is due to both it’s known specific history to a Napoleonic Wars family member and it’s condition.
With superb provenance, that is very rare to survive. He was the father of Capt William Cuninghame Cuninghame, hero of the 79th Foot in the Crimean War, and brother of Capt. Thomas Cuninghame of the 45th Foot. One of all three original family swords, owned and used in combat by William Cunningham senior, all with their own built in provenance, from the world renown British Army, serving in the 95th, 45th and the 79th Regiments. All three were acquired, then expertly conserved by us.
They were obtained by us from a direct line family descendant, still possessor of the same family name, and they are all all offered for sale by us separately, but the light infantry sabre of the 45th regiment is now sold. A super, antique and historical, officers combat sword of his ancestor, who fought with distinction in the Napoleonic Wars era. Each sword is engraved with the family name, crest, and motto. This sword, belonged to William Alexander, Cuninghame, who joined his regiment as a junior officer in April 1813, and served as an officer in the 95th regt., Another sword belonged, and was used, by Thomas Cuninghame, William Alexander's elder brother, who served in the 45th regt., both used by them in the Napoleonic Wars, and a basket hilted broadsword which we have also fully conserved, that was used by William Alexander Cuninghame's son, Capt. William Cuninghame Cuninghame, in the Crimean War. According to family record, W.A.Cuninghame while serving with his regiment was wounded in Guadaloupe in 1814, but this may well have been early 1815, during the British invasion to retake the island in Napoleon's Hundred Days period. The Hundred Days war was so called after Napoleon returned from exile in Elba, reformed his army, declared war on the allies, and that culminated in the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium, Wellington's great victory and Napoleon's final defeat. The 1796 Pattern British Infantry Officers Sword was carried by officers of the line infantry in the British Army between 1796 and the time of its official replacement with the gothic hilted sword in 1822. This period encompassed the whole of the Napoleonic Wars.

The Napoleonic Wars, was a series of wars between Napoleonic France and shifting alliances of other European powers that produced a brief French hegemony over most of Europe. Along with the French Revolutionary wars, the Napoleonic Wars constitute a 23-year period of recurrent conflict that concluded only with the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon’s defeat by Wellington, and thus his subsequent second abdication on June 22, 1815. It is interesting that statistically Napoleon had fought and won more battles than the worlds next three great military commanders combined, however, despite his obvious genius he never actually won a war, and Wellington had never lost one.

France had a population of 27,350,000 in 1801 as opposed to Great Britain’s 10,942,146, outnumbering Britain almost three to one, and France had gained much territory warfare since 1792. However, a significant advance in economic strength was to enable Great Britain to wage war against this formidable adversary and to achieve the “miracles of credit” whereby foreign military assistance could be subsidized. The French, whose manufactures progressed less dramatically than the British and whose seaborne trade had been strangled by the superior nature of Britain’s navy, found it impossible to raise funds commensurate with their aggressive policy in Europe, so that Napoleon had to rely on the spoils of conquest and looting to supplement the deficiencies of French finance. As a matter of course, Wellington had forbade his armies to engage in looting of any kind, upon penalty of severe flogging or worse.

The Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars were massive in their geographic scope, ranging, as far as Britain was concerned, over all of the five continents. They were massive, too, in terms of expense. From 1793 to the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 the wars cost Britain more than £1,650,000,000. Only 25 percent of this sum was raised by government loans, the rest coming largely from taxation, not least from the income tax that was introduced in 1798. But the wars were massive most of all in terms of manpower. Between 1789 and 1815 the British army had to expand more than sixfold, to about a quarter of a million men. The Royal Navy, bedrock of British defence of its trade, and empire, grew further and faster still. Before the wars it had employed 16,000 men; by the end of them, it employed more than 140,000. Because there was an acute danger between 1797 and 1805 that France would invade Britain, the civil defense force also had to be expanded. The militia was increased, and by 1803 more than 380,000 men were acting as volunteers in home-based cavalry and infantry regiments. In all, one in four adult males in Britain may have been in uniform by the early 19th century.

This sword’s design was introduced by General Order in 1796, replacing the previous 1786 Pattern. It was similar to its prececesor in having a spadroon blade, i.e. one straight, flat backed and single edged with a single fuller on each side. The hilt gilt brass with a knucklebow, vestigial quillon and a twin-shell guard somewhat similar in appearance to that of the smallswords which had been common civilian wear until shortly before this period. The pommel was urn shaped and, in many later examples, the inner guard was hinged to allow the sword to sit against the body more comfortably and reduce wear to the officer's uniform.  read more

Code: 21865

A Superb, Late 18th Century Napoleonic Wars Volunteer Jäger Officer’s Rifle. With Finest Walnut Stock And High Quality Mounts, Fine Quality Rifled Barrel of Approx .75 Inch Bore.

Fine walnut full stock, in great polish, with King George IIIrd crown stamp on the inner butt box slide, and carved rifle cheek-piece. Sighted barrel, with the with traditional wooden Jägers patch box, and very finely engraved brass mounts, traditional rifle trigger guard and the butt plate is numbered 4, it has its original rifle ramrod with carved bone end to match the carved bone forend. Superb set trigger action conversion to percussion, in it working life in order to extend its use, and enable its use in foul weather.
An original Napoleonic & Anglo-French wars period issue Officer’s grade rifle, as used by an officer of the 60th Regiment, and the predecessor rifle to the world renown Baker Rifle, that was itself a Jager rifle copy, that was issued to the 95th. Another remarkable thing about this rifle is that is a little more than half the cost today of it's equivalent, yet more well known successor, a regulation issue Baker Rifle. This is due to the fact it does not quite have the fame as associated with the Baker Rifle of the 95th Rifles, much due to the wonderful modern book and film series penned by Bernard Cornwall, ‘Sharp of the 95th’ etc.

These Austro-Prussian made rifles, used by the 60th Rifles Regt. Volunteers, are referred to in British Military Firearms 1650 to 1850 by Howard Blackmore.

The story of the earliest British rifle regiment goes as follows; at the end of 1797 - the year in which the Duke of York became colonel in-chief -of the 60th, it was decided to increase British forces in America, and an Act of Parliament was passed authorizing the Crown "to augment His Majesty's 60th Regiment of Infantry by the addition of a Fifth Battalion," to serve in America only, and to consist of foreigners.

“De Rottenburg organized his new battalion entirely for the special duties of ‘Riflemen.’ They were to be the ‘eyes of the army.’ He instituted a perfect system of drill for riflemen, and out-post duties; this system he printed in a book, which was afterwards embodied in the book of ‘Field Exercise and Evolutions of the Army,’ with a complimentary order by the Duke of York, then Commander-in-Chief.

This battalion, the first green-coated rifle battalion in the Army, was organized under the command of Lieut-Colonel Baron de Rottenburg, of Hompesch's Corps. It was formed of 17 officers and 300 men from Hompesch's Chasseurs, and was dressed in bottle-green cut-away coats with scarlet facings, white waistcoats, blue pantaloons, with black leather helmets and black belts. They were armed, at first, with inferior 'contract' rifles imported from Germany, but after those were rejected this better type was chosen. This fifth or "Jager" battalion served in Ireland in 1798 during the Rebellion, and then proceeded to the West Indies, where, in June, 1799, it received 33 officers and 600 men from Lowenstein's Chasseurs, another regiment of foreigners, at the capture of Surinam in 1791 and afterwards in South and North America.
In 1804 an Act was passed authorizing 10,000 foreign troops to serve in England, and the 5th Battalion was brought home in consequence in 1806. It went to Portugal in June, 1808, and from the opening skirmish at Obidos, on 15th August, two days before the battle of Roleia or Rolica down to the end of the war, took part in Wellington's campaigns in Portugal, Spain and the South of France.
This rifle was used prior to and during the Napoleonic Wars, the Peninsular War, the War of 1812 in America, and in the period of War of the 100 Days at Waterloo. The men in Hompesch’s British rifle corps were of all nations, except English and French and four hundred of the ‘Mounted Riflemen’ formed the nucleus of the new battalion, but they were chiefly Germans, and in Germany Rottenberg placed recruiting officers for the purpose of raising men for Britain's 60th.". "The battalion thus formed was the original of those battalions now so well known, and so distinguished in every sense of the word, as ‘Riflemen.’
The men were dressed and equipped as Jägers. They were armed with rifles, and carried what were called ‘rifle bags’ made of leather, instead of knapsacks; they grew the moustache, and they were dressed in green. In this particular they claim priority, in time, to all other battalions in the British army….” A superbly effective rifle, and a super and fine historical example, with the traditional German style patch box in wood as opposed to the Baker's brass version. A very fine walnut stock, brass furniture, including large ramrod pipes, heavy steel ramrod. Superb tight and crisp action. 30 inch rifled octagonal barrel, 45.5 inches long overall. “The men in Hompesch’s British rifle corps were of all nations, except English and French and four hundred of the ‘Mounted Riflemen’ formed the nucleus of the new battalion, but they were chiefly Germans, and in Germany De Rottenberg placed recruiting officers for the purpose of raising men for Britain's 60th.". "The battalion thus formed was the original of those battalions now so well known, and so distinguished in every sense of the word, as ‘Riflemen.’ The men were dressed and equipped as Jägers. They were armed with rifles, and carried what were called ‘rifle bags’ made of leather, instead of knapsacks; they grew the moustache, and they were dressed in green. In this particular they claim priority, in time, to all other battalions in the British army….” On our previous example, we had a few years ago, it still had inside the patch box, its original hand written label circa 1800, in part English and German, that gave what we believed to be the name of the rifleman 'Kluge' that used it, it's calibre, the gun's number 157, promise right of supply, and notes on it's accuracy at 100 ,150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600 & 700. We can enclose with our compliments a copy photo of that list, in our previous Jager rifle of the 60th, just to show to the new owner of this rifle, what it once may also have had stuck within the patch box lid. Before the standard Baker rifle, which was a near direct copy of this Jäger rifle, replaced the Jäger rifles, this was the rifle acquired by England from Prussia, by the British ordnance, and was issued to the earliest British rifle regiment the 60th, formed in the late 18th century. They were then used in America and Ireland, and then in Spain, Portugal & France

The riflemen were the first to fight the French at Obidos on Aug. 15, and then again played a leading role in the Battle of Roliça two days later.

Following Roliça, Wellesley decided to take five companies of the 5/60th and place them in each of the other brigades. This would strengthen the light companies of the battalions in those brigades and give them some rifle-armed troops. The decision was quickly vindicated by the 5/60th’s performance at the Battle of Vimeiro on Aug. 21. Not only did the five companies that were still brigaded with the 95th help defeat an attack on Wellesley’s centre, but the detached companies were present wherever the French attacked.

They also quickly gained a reputation for targeting French officers. Charles Leslie of the 29th Foot wrote:

“In this battle the 60th Riflemen, who were all Germans, showed great tact in taking advantage of the ground and dexterity in the use of their arms. General Fane, who commanded the light troops, observing one of these men successfully hit one or two French officers who were gallantly exposing themselves in front leading on their men, exclaimed in the excitement of the moment, ‘Well done, my fine fellow! I will give you half a doubloon for every other one you bring down.’ The man coolly loaded again, fired, and hit another, then looking at the General, he said gravely, ‘By Got, I vill make my vortune’.”

This rifle is a superb piece, in fabulous condition in all parts, walnut brass and steel. The action is as tight as a drum. And the walnut patina is a beautiful golden brown.

In the picture in the gallery there is a photograph of a 60th Rifleman next to a 95th in the Peninsular War. And another photograph we show is of another 60th rifles rifle patch box lid that we had on another Jager rifle of the 60th, some years ago, and on that rifle, affixed on that patch box lid, were written his site windage adjustments. Note the photo in the gallery of the 60th Rifleman's patch box lid inner side on our past 60th Jäger Rifle, {not of this rifle}.
We noticed inside this rifles patchbox lid, a feint, GR crown military inspection stamp.
As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables

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

Code: 24769