Just Returned From Artisan Blade Cleaning & Conservation The Most Incredible Rare Early Samurai Sword Ever To Be Seen The Great Sword Nagamaki, From The Collection of Likely The World's Greatest Authority & Author, Japanese Polearms & Their Use

Our magnificent Nagamaki Japanese great sword, almost seven feet long, has just returned, after an 80 hour blade conservation, by hand, in the artisan workshop {about twice as long as we estimated} but it has achieved wonders.

Around 500 years old it is likely the only full length, original, surviving example available anywhere in the world outside of Japan, and those within Japan are mostly in museums, and certainly not for sale. The blade is superb, and a rare unokubi-zukuri form with a back that grows abruptly thinner before the middle of the blade; however, the unokubi zukuri regains its thickness just before the point.


The weapon became synonymous with the bodyguards of elite warlords, most notably Uesugi Kenshin, who employed a dedicated vanguard of nagamaki-wielding retainers. Nagao Kagetora (長尾 景虎; February 18, 1530 – April 19, 1578, later known as Uesugi Kenshin (上杉 謙信), was a Japanese daimyō (magnate). He was born in Nagao clan, and after adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. He was one of the most powerful daimyō of the Sengoku period. Known as the "Dragon of Echigo", while chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield as a military genius and war hero.
Our behemoth of a sword may well have been created for such a daimyō guard.

What a magnificent beauty! The Great Nagamaki sword that crosses the divide between the fearsome naganata long pole-arm and the no-dachi great sword.

It is a joy to acquire this monumental and incredibly rare example of ancient samurai arms, even if just for a brief while. We show it in the gallery now after the intense conservation’s completion. The original Edo period koshirae fittings will be relatively left untouched as they are already in great condition, with light artistic 風が吹いている (kaze ga fuite iru) ‘the wind is blowing’ decor. Which may be a symbolic representational name of the sword, such as 山颪 yamaoroshi, ‘wind blowing down from a mountain’

The blade has no damage, and in superb order which is remarkable, apart from a couple of very slight surface openings due to its several polishings over the past 500 years. The tsuba is a nice small, oval, and shibui plain iron with some kanji stampings, and it has a nice traditional copper habaki

We also show in the gallery early Japanese woodblock prints of similar examples used by great figures of samurai history.

Famous Users: The weapon became synonymous with the bodyguards of elite warlords, most notably Uesugi Kenshin, who employed a dedicated vanguard of nagamaki-wielding retainers. Nagao Kagetora (長尾 景虎; February 18, 1530 – April 19, 1578, later known as Uesugi Kenshin (上杉 謙信), was a Japanese daimyō (magnate). He was born in Nagao clan, and after adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. He was one of the most powerful daimyō of the Sengoku period. Known as the "Dragon of Echigo", while chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield as a military genius and war hero,

The nagamaki is a type of sword developed from the Odachi but has the reach of a polearm too. It offers versatile combat techniques, and has the cutting power and technique of a sword with the reach of a longer weapon/polearm.

This behemoth of a sword appears illustrated in the author's second seminal work on samurai polearms and their combat use, of 'Japanese Spears: Polearms and Their Use in Old Japan' published in 2004.

Hosokawa Sumimoto (1489–1520) was a prominent samurai commander during Japan's Muromachi period, often depicted in art holding or associated with the nagamaki, a distinctive, long-handled Japanese sword.
Sumimoto is famously depicted in a 1507 equestrian portrait by Kano Motonobu wearing armor and holding a nagamaki, which is often used in modern media to illustrate this specific weapon.

The nagamaki ("long wrapping") is a sword with a blade length similar or much longer than a katana or tachi {as has this beauty} and with a very long handle (sometimes equal in length to the blade) that is wrapped in cord or leather. It was used for powerful sweeping and slicing strokes, particularly effective for infantry against cavalry.

We acquired this collector's prized nagamaki great sword, that is almost seven feet long, in its Edo koshirae. The blade was made prior to the Azuchi Momoyama period, circa 1550. The type of samurai sword you very, very rarely see in Europe today outside of a museum, and often not in most museums either. This is one of the rarest types, of an example that escaped the Shogun's *edict to cut the nagamakis and no-dachis down to regular katana sword length, as he believed swords that were over length for regular close quarter combat and should be shortened. {see details below}

We show a famous woodbloock print of Hosokawa Sumimoto carrying his nagamaki while on horse back. Our nagamaki was likely made within eighty years or so of Sumimoto's sword, just around the time of the Battle of Sekigahara. From the dimensions in the print, our blade is likely around a foot longer than his nagamaki.

Hosokawa Sumimoto (1489–1520) was a prominent samurai commander during Japan's Muromachi period, often depicted in art holding or associated with the nagamaki, a distinctive, long-handled Japanese sword.
The nagamaki is a type of sword developed from the Odachi but has the reach of a polearm too. It offers versatile combat techniques, and has the cutting power and technique of a sword with the reach of a longer weapon/polearm.

The nagamaki ("long wrapping") is a sword with a blade length similar to a katana or considerably longer, our nagamaki has a 43 inch polished cutting edged length blade, and with a very long nakago over half as long again.
The tsuka {handle} sometimes equal in length to the blade that is wrapped in cord or leather. Ours is wrapped in leather, the saya is decorated in a blowing wind pattern. This incredible sword was used for powerful sweeping and slicing strokes, particularly effective for infantry against cavalry.

To appreciate the heft and greatness of this sword, by just reading here, the blades polished cutting edge is around 70% longer than a more usual long katana, and around 50% wider, and thicker, thus, likely six to eight times heavier. Is is already massively impressive un-mounted in its fittings but, once mounted it is likely the most impressive, original, and early samurai sword you will ever likely see or handle, a true behemoth of a museum piece.

*The Tokugawa shogunate did not issue a single, specific edict exclusively to reduce sword lengths but rather, in 1603, shortly after establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate, they enacted strict regulations that mandated all swords—including the massive no-dachi (field swords) and nagamaki, —be restricted to a specific, shorter length.
Many long no-dachi and nagamaki blades used in the previous warring era (Sengoku) were cut down at the tang (the handle part) and reduce the blade length to meet the new, shorter regulations to fit with the standard daishō (pair of swords) that samurai were allowed to carry.

As of this time we know of no other original length Nagamaki available on the worldwide collectors market today. In over 100 years we can recollect only owning three before, and we have likely handled in that time more original Japanese swords than any other still remaining antique sword dealers in the world today.

Many pieces that we acquired from the Roald Knutsen Collection were from his friend and fellow enthusiast Henry Russell Robinson's private collection. (7 May 1920, Hackney, London - 15 January 1978) He became Keeper of Armour at The Tower Of London, and it is likely many pieces of his was part of a display of Japanese armour he organised for display in the Tower of London. The Japanese armour exhibition in 1965, which featured samurai artefacts arranged to demonstrate evolving defensive technologies and cultural contexts, drawing thousands of visitors to the Tower.

This nagamaki may well have been displayed in the Tower of London exhibition of Japanese Armour in 1965, but we cannot find a surviving visitor catalogue list in order to check.

He was a British military armourer and historian.He served in the RAF during the Second World War making models interpreting aerial photographs. This was when he met Sir James Mann, Master of the Armouries at the Tower of London. Robinson joined the staff of the Tower Armouries in 1946 as a Temporary Assistant, before rising to Assistant Keeper and finally, in 1970, Keeper of Armour.

Robinson was a founder member and president of the Arms and Armour Society. In 1965, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. In 1977, he was awarded an honorary MA by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Between 1967 and 1969, he (a practical armourer) worked with Charles Daniels to interpret and reconstruct the Roman armour nowadays known as 'lorica segmentata'. He produced a series of reconstructions of the two sub-types of armour from the Roman site at Corbridge and one from Newstead in time for them to be exhibited at the 1969 Congress of Roman Frontier Studies held in Cardiff.

His work on the armour featured in one of his best-known books, The Armour of Imperial Rome. Published in 1975 by Lionel Leventhal at the Arms and Armour Press, it included line illustrations by his friend, Peter Connolly. Robinson's system of categorizing Roman helmets has been widely adopted in the UK and USA but never really found favour in Europe.

Robinson was not only known for Roman armour, since he worked on an exhibition of Japanese armour at the Tower Armouries and subsequently wrote two books on the subject. He was also an authority on Native American artefacts and was responsible for the production of the replica of the revised reconstruction of the Sutton Hoo helmet and wrote a guide to the Stibbert Museum.

We know from records, and from our mutual great friend and colleague of over 35 summers, Christopher Fox, who was Roald’s dojo sempei, that quite a few of his collection {acquired prior to 1978} were from, or gained with assistance, from Robinson and his invaluable recommendations.

There is another in the Royal Armouries Collection, but the cutting edge blade of theirs is considerably shorter {by 16 inches} at 27 inches long, ours is 43 inches. {see link below}

https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-49421  read more

Code: 26203

Welcome to The Lanes Armoury, Britain's Truly Magical Place, Where Thousands of Original & Breathtaking Wonders Are For Sale And New Fantastic Original Treasures From The Past Are Added, Every, Single, Day, Since 1921

Our magnificent Nagamaki Japanese great sword, almost seven feet long, has just arrived for display, after an 80 hour blade conservation by hand in the workshop. We will be adding photographs today. 500 years old it is likely the only full length surviving example available anywhere in the world outside of Japan, and those within Japan are mostly in museums, and certainly not for sale.
The weapon became synonymous with the bodyguards of elite warlords, most notably Uesugi Kenshin, who employed a dedicated vanguard of nagamaki-wielding retainers. Nagao Kagetora (長尾 景虎; February 18, 1530 – April 19, 1578, later known as Uesugi Kenshin (上杉 謙信), was a Japanese daimyō (magnate). He was born in Nagao clan, and after adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. He was one of the most powerful daimyō of the Sengoku period. Known as the "Dragon of Echigo", while chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield as a military genius and war hero.
Our behemoth of a sword may well have been created for such a daimyō guard.

Our beautiful pieces from history are not always just for looking at, some {such as the B3 Pilots Jacket} can still be enjoyed, and even worn, for every one to see.

Based in Brighton for generations the Lanes Armoury stems from a family of antiques dealers that was one if the leading antiques exporting companies in the world. Including, being pioneers of antiques shipments worldwide at the very beginning of containerisation exports that began in the 1960’s, after its invention by Malcolm McLean, in America, in 1956. Mark was the export director of the family company, and personally supervised the sale and export an average of over 3,000 of the finest antiques, every week for over 15 years.

The Lanes Armoury is incredibly fortunate that we occupy a position within the worldwide collectors market that we can, and do, every day, locate and pass on great and fantastic historical pieces, of great beauty and quality for just a small percentage of the cost that other antique stores, at the top of their area of interest, have to make available. In almost all the other top level areas of the sphere of collecting antiques, their offerings must often be in the hundreds of thousands, and even millions of pounds range. Colleagues in the profession we have personally known, that are similar leaders in their field, such as Renaissance bronzes and sculptures, and they can be up to 20 millions, fine art paintings, that can be millions or tens of millions, the finest French furniture that will be hundreds of thousands and even millions as well. In fact, we know of no other sphere of antique collecting, where the best available can be found so inexpensively, by comparison, to all other forms of antiques and art. Please view over the next 130 plus pages, detailing thousands of pieces of world class historical interest, and every single piece has brought, and will continue to bring, great joy for their owners, the new custodians of great artefacts of history.
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'Exceptional'

Recently acquired, added to our web store and also, due to be added;
A collection of arms, helmets and armour from one of the foremost authorities, and late author of two seminal works, on Japanese polearms and combat techniques in the world. Sadly, not a rich man, so he wasn’t able to amass a huge collection, but what he did acquire, over the past 60 plus years, was simply incredible and we were most privileged to acquire the ‘museum pieces’ that we did. Including the ‘Green Dragon’ polearm naganata, his polearm of legend, and, his ‘great sword’ nagamaki, full length and unaltered, and once mounted is almost seven feet long. Plus armour, helmets, sword blades and polearms. Including a very rare momoyama nanban cuirass body armour. Nanban gusoku (南蛮具足): an interesting case of cross cultural exchange in East Asia. Japanese Samurai of the 16th century adopted and modified European breastplate and helmets into their own armour system. A fine, complete, and original momoyama nanban suit of gosuko today can cost between £50,000 to £100,000

A 1st Edition 1st Printing of The Great Gatsby, Publisher, Charles Scribners Sons, New York, Publication Date 1925, with the important words uncorrected, ‘chatter’ and ‘Northern’. Etc.
‘Now Under Offer and Sold’

Some superb French Napoleonic weaponry from the Grande Armee. A sword of the commander of the Grenadier Guards in the Crimean War, A fabulous quality and very good Napoleonic Wars Brown Bess, an incredible pair of Zulu War knopkerrie clubs, one a fabulous rare chiefs war club, the other a telegraph wire bound impi warriors war club, NOW BOTH SOLD, and one of the best and beautiful regimental pattern Napoleonic Wars swords, for one of the great Scottish regiments that saw incredible action in the Peninsular war and Waterloo. Also, a stunning Martini Henry 450-577 rifle {with both optional bayonet patterns} NOW SOLD one of the first 1400 ever made. And, one of the rarest Royal Marines pattern swords, 1796, we have ever seen. Trafalgar battle damaged. NOW SOLD
We also have two amazing Japanese swords both Museum pieces, by high ranked smiths, Dewa Daijo Fujiwara Kunimichi circa 1615, and Hamabe Toshizane, 1814. Plus, another super Brown Bess, (that now just sold ), but, another has arrived just the other day. Also a remarkable WW1 German snipers bullet proof armour shield. Some jolly nice Imperial and Third Reich German swords. And a super very rare Victorian tchapka lance cap of the 17th Lancers, of The Charge of the Light Brigade fame. Plus, lots, lots more!

“When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!”

These words were made famous by Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, and refer to that fateful day on 25th October 1854 when around six hundred men led by Lord Cardigan rode into the unknown.

The charge against Russian forces was part of the Battle of Balaclava, a conflict making up a much larger series of events known as the Crimean War. The order for the cavalry charge proved catastrophic for the British cavalrymen: a disastrous mistake riddled with misinformation and miscommunication. The calamitous charge was to be remembered for both its bravery and tragedy.

Recently we also have some superb, British, Victorian swords from the Crimean War, for a new young officer serving in The Zulu War, and one beauty, regimentally marked to the 1st Battalion The Welsh Regiment, for an officer that served in combat Mahdist War (1888): The 1st Battalion was dispatched to Egypt in 1886, playing a key role in the Mahdist War at the Battle of Gemaizah (Suakin) in December 1888, where they were highly praised for their efficiency by their commander, Col.Kitchener.

Colonel Herbert Kitchener, {later to become known as the great Field Marshal Lord Kitchener} who wrote in his dispatches:

‘The half-Battalion of The Welsh Regiment are seasoned soldiers and whatever I asked of them to do they did well. They’re marksmen at Gemaizah Fort and the remainder of the half-Battalion on the left fired section volleys driving the Dervishes from their right position and inflicting severe punishment upon them when in the open. Significantly the Battalion did not lose a man”

Later, the 1st Battalion was dispatched to South Africa in November 1899 for the Second Boer War: it was engaged in Battle of Paardeberg in February 1900, where they suffered heavy losses, and again at the Battle of Driefontein in March 1900

Also, cannon balls from the English Civil War seige. One ball was recovered {in living memory} almost five feet beneath the surface mud. And an incredibly very rare and historical.

Also, see our latest incredible 'Royal' daggers from the 17th century Pattal-hatara (Four Workshops) of the King of Sri Lanka.

Occasionally, as we are Great Britain’s leading gallery of our kind, we have had had such knives, over the past 30 years, before, but nothing as fine as these museum grade examples, from the small collection we were thrilled to have acquired.

We have just also just added to the web store; a German colonels sword surrendered at the formal surrender of the German armed forces in May 1945 to Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, and a beautiful and magnificent samurai swords from the 1600's Tokugawa Shogunate period, one of the most fabulous samurai swords you might ever see. Plus, an Ancient Greek short sword or long dagger From The Greco-Persian Wars era, From the time of the Spartans at Thermopylae, to Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia & Egypt {now sold}

We Are Not Just A Webstore, We Are Always Welcoming Thousands Personal Visitors To View or Buy our Museum Pieces in Our Gallery In Brighton, Every Day* {but Sunday}. In the world of antiques and collectables especially with online only companies, we are one of the oldest established family dealers in the world, and although we now have a premier online presence, we will always have premises where one-to-one contact is always available. We cannot over emphasise how important it is to conduct business with people who clearly declare, who they are, and an address from where they trade. Those that do not confirm to that essential principle, are not, in our opinion, respecting the safety and security of their customers, first and foremost. If you cannot clearly see who you are consulting, and where, ask yourself, why can’t I..

Thousands of original, historic, ancient, antique and vintage collectables. For example; from Ancient Rome, China and Greece, to Medieval Japan, and Viking Europe. Covering British, European, and in fact, all worldwide eras of historical events from the past 4000 years, with antiquities, weaponry, armour, object d’art, militaria and fabulous books, from the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the iron age, and right up to WW2.

Where else in the world could you find, under one roof, original artifacts, such as,; a mace and archer’s ring recovered from the site of Battle of Crecy, a sword of a British Admiral or notorious pirate fleet captain of the Golden Age of piracy of 17th century England, a battle mace, possibly once used by of one the personal guards in the service of the most famous Pharoah, Rameses the Great of Egypt, or, a museum quality 500 year old sword of a samurai clan Daimyo lord, and a pair of gold and enamel Art Deco 1920’s Magic Circle medals awarded to a friend of Harry Houdini. And all of the above, with many, many other Museum pieces, have been just been offered upon the site within the past couple of weeks.

Personalised and unique ‘Certificates of Authenticity’ can be supplied for every, single, purchase.

Our family have been personally serving the public in Brighton for several generations, in fact, for over 105 years.

* Opening hours Monday to Saturday 11.00am till 4.00pm, closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.


See in the gallery Will Young wearing one of our fabulous Victorian tunics, plus, James Marshall ‘Jimi’ Hendrix

And Tom pops in again to pick up a few trinkets the other day, and Liz and Richard pop down to visit us in October 1970  read more

Code: 24055

Historismus Chinese Bronze Charioteer's Helmet, of Substantial Form and Presence. Ancient C.400 BC, Warring States Archaistic Style. A Stunning Antique & Most Sophisticated Centrepiece For Any Form of Historic Display

A fabulous statement piece, simply perfect as any interior decor centrepiece. Absolutely ideal for every art form display, from contemporary modernist and minimalist, to Georgian elegance, the most lavish oriental chinoiserie, or classic art deco.

This elegant piece could be perfectly at home anywhere, from an all white decor Park Avenue apartment, to a fellow’s rooms at Oxbridge, to a stateroom aboard a superyacht. And especially so, in arguably the most beautiful royal palace interior in Great Britain, just a few hundred yards from our gallery, The Royal Pavilion in Brighton, The artistic possibilities are endless.

A superbly beautiful Archaistic piece, with fine green aged patination, and as ancient tradition dictated, cast in one piece.

In the past 30 years or so we have had only a very few of this style of Archaistic helmet. This is an Historismus, ancient Chinese style example. It is a most beautiful work of art, extremely attractive, and highly decorative, and it would compliment any historical or classical display of arms or antiques. We don't normally acquire or sell Archaistic items but some forms of historismus pieces, especially helmets, have always been desirable and most collectable in their own right.

Historicism or also historism and historismus comprises artistic styles that draw their inspiration from recreating historic styles or imitating the work of historic artisans. This is especially prevalent in architecture, such as revival architecture. Through a combination of different styles or implementation of new elements, historicism can create completely different aesthetics than former styles. Thus it offers a great variety of possible designs.

In the history of art, after Neoclassicism which in the Romantic era could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by an interpretation not only of Greek and Roman classicism, but also of succeeding stylistic eras, which were increasingly considered equivalent. In particular in architecture and in the genre of history painting, in which historical subjects were treated of with great attention to accurate period detail, the global influence of historicism was especially strong from the 1850s onwards. The change is often related to the rise of the bourgeoisie during and after the Industrial Revolution.

The history and evolution of armour in Chinese warfare is difficult to ascertain with certainty, given its often perishable nature, but text descriptions and appearances in art, such as in wall paintings and on pottery figurines, along with surviving metal parts can help reconstruct major developments. Just who wore armour and when is another point of discussion. Military treatises of the Warring States period (c. 481-221 BCE) suggest that all officers of any level wore armour. The same sources contain references to commanders keeping armour in storage bags and distributing it to troops, but at least some of the ordinary conscripted infantry probably had to provide their own. This obviously depended on their means, and being farmers it is unlikely to have been a realistic possibility for most. 31 cm high, weight 3 kilos.

The last three images in the gallery are of our magnificent Regency Oriental Palace, The Royal Pavilion, Brighton.  read more

Code: 22225

An Incredible & Rare Souvenir From The Trench Warfare of the Great War. A Very Good German WW1 1915 Discus Grenade, Discushandgranate An Improved 1913 Type

All plungers and heads present, overall in good condition throughout. A great and rare example.

The 1915 discus grenade functioned exactly the same as the first 1913 type but with a pressed instead of cast body.
Its body was made of pressed steel of about 1mm thick.
The fuze assembly was made of an alloy with 4 brass end screws. Throwing the discus in a rotating way, the plungers were driven outwards by the centrifugal force. This was its safety during flight. Striker pins are uncovered as the safety pin falls out during flight. On impact, in theory, one, or possibly two plungers (with primer), would drive itself onto one of the four striker pins.
Unfortunately for the German combatants in practice, when thrown as it was designed, horizontally like a discus, the pins often did not come in contact with anything, and it failed to detonate at the Tommy’s feet. Subsequently, the joyful Tommy would then pick it up; happily return it to sender {the German} by throwing it the wrong way, vertically, whereupon it would explode. Probably, much to the German's annoyance

Inert, empty and safe. Not available for export. UK mainland collectors only  read more

Code: 26230

Rare Pre 1940, 36th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Badge, Royal Engineers, based on 344 AA Company at Harrow, To Become 58th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment, With Service In The Battle of Britain, The Blitz, & Operation Diver to Combat Against V1 Rockets

Individually serial number stamped to the searchlight operator or officer. Early three figure number 155. Multi colour enamel of a searchlight beam, in white, with a Junkers bomber, in red, in its beam, surmounted with king's crown, R. E. T. A. and motto In Defence Of Harrow within a scroll, in red enamel.

Searchlight crews were vital for illuminating enemy bombers at night so that anti-aircraft gunners and night fighters could intercept them. Because of this, they were frequently targeted directly by the Luftwaffe via bombing or strafing runs to blind the air defenses.

The Fall of France (1940): Many searchlight crews were overrun by the German advance. The 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment suffered 28 killed, 41 wounded, and three captured during their defense of the retreat. The 21st Searchlight Militia lost half their unit during the evacuation, and personnel from the 2nd Searchlight Regiment were forced into close-quarter infantry combat during the defense of Calais.Singapore (1942): The 5th Searchlight Regiment lost over 50 men killed and approximately half the regiment captured when the fortress fell

58th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) raised just before World War II. It defended the East Midlands of England during The Blitz, and later served as infantry in North West Europe at the end of the war, converting to the anti-aircraft (AA) artillery role postwar.

This searchlight unit was formed as part of the doubling in size of the TA at the time of the Munich Crisis in late 1938. Formally, it was a duplicate of 36th (Middlesex) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers, based on 344 AA Company at Harrow, which was transferred from 36th AA Battalion to provide a cadre of trained men. Two new companies were then formed to give the unit the following organisation

58th (Middlesex) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers

In February 1939 the existing AA defences came under the control of a new Anti-Aircraft Command. In June a partial mobilisation of TA units was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations. The outbreak of World War II saw 58 AA Battalion forming part of 40th Anti-Aircraft Brigade in 2nd AA Division. Based at RAF Duxford, the brigade was responsible for providing AA defence for RAF airfields in East Anglia. In April 1940, 58th moved to come under the command of 39 AA Bde.
Battle of Britain and Blitz
On 1 August 1940 the Royal Engineers' AA battalions were transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA), being redesignated searchlight regiments, and the companies became batteries. By this time 58th (Middlesex) had been moved to 32nd (Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade, still in 2 AA Division, but now responsible for AA defence of the East Midlands during the forthcoming Blitz.

On 19 April 1943, 344th Bty received orders to train for a mobile role, and after this training it joined 100 AA Bde on 30 June. 100 AA Bde was one of the formations slated to participate in Operation Overlord (the Allied invasion of Normandy planned for 1944) and shortly afterwards the battery became formally independent of 58 S/L regiment. 344th Independent S/L Bty proceeded to Normandy in July 1944 where it pioneered the use of searchlights to create artificial moonlight, otherwise known as movement light or 'Monty's Moonlight', to aid movement in night operations by 21st Army Group. In February 1945 it changed its title to 344th Independent Moonlight Bty and split off a separate 581st Independent Moonlight Battery.

Operation Diver
Meanwhile, the rest of 58th S/L Regt (425 and 426 Btys) had remained with AA Command. In May 1944 it was joined by 314 (Kent) S/L Bty from 29th (Kent) S/L Rgt. Then on 1 June E Troop of 372 S/L Bty of 43rd (5th Duke of Wellington's Regiment) S/L Rgt joined and became E Trp of 425 S/L Bty. Soon after D Day in June 1944 the bombardment of London by German V-1 flying bombs began, and AA Command was engaged in the efforts to combat them (Operation Diver). Much of AA Command's strength was repositioned on the South Coast of England to engage the V-1s as they came in over the sea. In the centre of the line at Dungeness were four Z Batteries, each of 64 twin 3-inch rocket-launchers. Z Batteries defending towns were by 1944 largely manned by shifts of part-time members of the Home Guard, but for these frontline batteries the detachments were provided by 58th S/L Regiment, which had been hastily trained in the new role.

Once the Government had decided that women could be attached to Mixed Batteries of Anti Aircraft Command of the Royal Artillery it was agreed that this could well include searchlight duties. A secret experiment was carried out in April 1941 to see if women were capable of carrying out the tasks that were required of Searchlight Regiments. On 23 April 1941 54 A.T.S. members were sent for training at Newark. They were aged between 19 and 35 "the Army Intelligence tests showed the general intelligence to be rather higher than that of the men: the members were fairly representative of A.T.S. personnel."

This was a WW2 song for the Searchlight Girls:

"When the barrage opens out to meet the invading hun
Everybody's thoughts go out to the Girls Behind the Guns
But they are not the only girls in the frontline every night
For suddenly from out of nowhere comes a blinding light
A long accusing finger pointing upwards to the sky
To tell the guns and fighters "there the raiders lie"
They're the Girls that do a job - A far from easy one
But equally important in keeping off the hun
Unloved, unwanted - fact few people know
That when the beams are out at night the girls are down below
But if they help in some small way to keep the hun at bay
They're satisfied
And don't give two hoots what people say"  read more

Code: 26231

A Super King George IIIrd Royal Naval Bosun's 'Persuader' or 'Start'. Ideal Implement Of the Bosun When on Press-Gang Service In The Landing Party After The Ship Docks In Harbour To Replenish Crews

Georgian Royal Navy with our Royal Navy Bosun’s Starter or Cosh Persuader, circa 1800. Handmade and weighted, hardwood cosh with a leather-covered end, leather button belt mount, and original wrist strap reflects the brutal realities of the maritime world. A unique collectible in its original condition.
The "Bosun's Persuader" (also known as a Start Club, Cosh, or Starter).Were brutal instruments used during the 18th and 19th centuries by Royal Navy boatswains (bosuns) and press gangs.
They were used as a form of physical discipline to "start" or encourage lazy or slow sailors to work faster, and to enforce compliance during press-gang recruitment.
It was ironically called a "persuader" or "starter" because the strike of the club served to "start" the sailor into action. Because they were handmade by sailors, they varied significantly in length and design. They were concealable up a sleeve, or hung upon a belt, but powerful enough to cause injury or render someone unconscious if needed.

A most fascinating piece, and thus reveals the type of situations that it's owner would have had to face both while on press gang shore patrol, and in boarding party conflicts at sea. It could also be mighty handy in the darkened, sinister back streets of all the likely ports travelled by Royal Naval matelots in the Georgian to Victorian era, such as at Canton, Marseilles New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Port au Prince, Montego Bay, Kingstown, and not least London and Liverpool etc.
Press Gang – words to the song

As I walked out on London Street
A press gang there I chanced to meet
They asked me if I’d join the fleet
On board of a man-o-war, boys

Come brother shipmates tell to me
What kind of treatment they give you
That I may know before I go
On board of a man-o-war, boys

When I got there to my surprise
All they had told me was shocking lies
There was a row and a bloody old row
On board of a man-o-war, boys

The first thing they done they took me in hand
They lashed me with a ‘tar of a strand’
They flogged me till I could not stand
On board of a man-o-war, boys

Now I was married and me wife’s name was Grace
‘Twas she that led me to shocking disgrace
It’s oft I’d curse her ugly face
On board of a man-o-war, boys

When next I get may foot on shore
To see them London girls once more
I’ll never go to sea no more
On board of a man-o-war, boys

The popular image of press gangs, as illustrated right, is one of men being forcibly taken. While violence might have been threatened it was rarely used as dead or injured seamen were of no use to the Royal Navy. The last recorded press was in 1814 towards the end of Britain’s long war with Napoleon Bonaparte’s France, yet press-ganging remained legal for another 50 years. Despite a public campaign for abolition, the government retained the right to impress until the 1860s when it finally created an effective Naval Reserve to crew the fleet in an emergency.  read more

Code: 26224

A 'Superb' Original, Antique, Victorian, Charge of the Light Brigade Era, 1821 Pattern, Hussar's or Lancer's NCO's Sword In Simply Amazing Fully Restored and Conserved Condition. The NCO's Version Of the 1822 Officer's Sabre.

Superb grey bright polished finish on all steel parts.
From the period, and from one of the front line rank British cavalry regiments of 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' period in the Crimean War.

The 1822 officer's version, was a degree lighter in weight, and had a fully etched blade This NCO's type is the combat weight version, with a plain blade, but wire bound fishskin grip to match their officer's swords, the other ranks trooper's version had a leather grip.

Used by an NCO that served in the charge in such as the; 4th Light Dragoons: A light cavalry regiment known for speed.
8th (The King's Royal Irish) Hussars: Light cavalry, also known as the "Cherry Pickers".
11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars: Light cavalry, distinguished by their distinctive uniforms.
13th (Light Dragoons) Regiment of Light Dragoons: A light cavalry regiment.
17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers: Known for their lances, they were positioned on the left flank.

Maker marked by Mole {an ordnance contractor from Birmingham} the blade backstrap at the forte.

Regulation three bar hilt with wire bound fishskin grip, plain NCO's blade, maker marked and steel scabbard, with numerous War Dept inspection stamps throughout. Clearly from the amount of WD inspection stamps it remained in serve for some decades after it first issue in around 1850.

The scabbard is good {with old pitting at the chape area} the multiwire binding is excellent as is the fishskin grip and all the steel, superb.

From our collection of original British regimental swords' acquired to create a collection of the finest or best examples to be found. Each one is an historical beauty and good or better condition example, every one worthy of any of the best museum collections in Europe.
There is no way to know which specific regiment of hussars or lancers that the NCO served in during the Crimean War.

As used in the Crimean War such as the infamous and renown 'Charge of the Light Brigade' by NCO's of several regiments, other regiments used the 1853 pattern sabre. A most impressive sabre, and very good indeed. The very type of ordnance made and issued Hussar's and Lancer's sabre used by British Cavalry NCO's in the ill fated charge in the Crimean War against Russia.

Absolutely used at the time and used by all the serving cavalry still issued with the 1821 pattern sabre, in the famous 'Charge'. In the Crimean War (1854-56), the Light Dragoons were in the forefront of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalized by Tennyson's poem of that name ("Into the valley of death rode the six hundred").
The regiments adopted the title hussars at this time, and the uniform became very stylish, aping the hussars of the Austro-Hungarian army. But soon the blues and yellows and golds gave way to khaki as the British army found itself in skirmishes throughout the far-flung Empire, in India and South Africa especially.
In 1854 the regiment received its orders from the War Office to prepare for service overseas. Five transport ships - Harbinger, Negotiator, Calliope, Cullodon, and the Mary Anne – embarking between the 8 May and 12 May, carried 20 officers, 292 other ranks and 298 horses. After a troubled voyage, the regiment arrived at Varna, Bulgaria on the 2 June. On the 28 August the entire Light Brigade (consisting of the 4th Light Dragoons and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers, the 8th Hussars and 11th Hussars, under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan were inspected by Lord Lucan; five men of the 13th had already succumbed to cholera.
On the 1 September the regiment embarked for the Crimea - a further three men dying en-route.
On the 20 September the regiment, as part the Light Brigade, took part in the first major engagement of the Crimean War, the Battle of the Alma. The Light Brigade covered the left flank, although the regiment’s role in the battle was minimal. With the Russians in full retreat by
late afternoon, Lord Lucan ordered the Light Brigade to pursue the fleeing enemy. However, the brigade was recalled by Lord Raglan as the Russians had kept some 3,000 uncommitted cavalry in reserve.
During the 25 October the regiments, the Light Brigade, took part in the Battle of Balaclava and the famous Charge of the Light Brigade.
The 13th Light Dragoons formed the right of the front line. The 13th and 17th moved forward; after 100 yards the 11th Hussars, in the second line, also moved off followed by the 4th and 8th. It was not long before the brigade came under heavy Russian fire. Lord Cardigan, at the front of his
men, charged into the Russian guns receiving a slight wound. He was soon followed by the 13th and 17th. The two squadrons of the 13th and the right squadron of the 17th were soon cutting down the artillerymen that had remained at their posts. Once the Russian guns had been passed, they engaged in a hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy that was endeavouring to surround them by closing in on either flank.
However, the Light Brigade having insufficient forces and suffering heavy casualties, were soon forced to retire. Capt. Louis Edward Nolan (January 4 1818-October 25 1854), who was a British Army officer of the Victorian era, an authority on cavalry tactics, and best known for his controversial role in launching the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava. He was the first casualty of that engagement.

We pride ourselves, for over the past 100 years, of attempting {and hopefully succeeding} in acquiring every single day, fabulous, and original, historical pieces, that arenot only collectors items, but incredibly decorative for display and wonderfully evocative of great moments in history.

For example, almost three decades ago we were delighted to buy Captain Nolan's actual undress pattern sabretache that was used by him to carry the order to Charge for the Light Brigade, and it was recovered from beneath his, and his horses bodies after the battle. It spent most of its life after the charge in two museums, one at the rebuilt and re-sited Crystal Palace in London. We were privileged to buy direct it from the original family owners with the personal assistance of the late Gordon Gardner, Militaria Expert of Sotheby's from 1979.

Another identical version of this sword appears in 'Crimean Memories. Artifacts of the Crimean War' by Will Hutchison, Michael Vice, and B J Small. Featuring a group of original artifacts used in combat the Crimean War, that presently reside in numerous museums, regimental messes, and notable private collections  read more

Code: 26229

A Spectacular & Most Rare 1928, Original 'Zeppelin' Issue Airship Cocktail Shaker & Travelling Bar. An Amazing Example of Art Decor Functional Object D'art. The Last Example of This Wonderful & Rare Aeronautica That We Found, Sold For $23,000

Only the second we have had since 1930, and we have only ever seen one or two others in the States

A jolly rare piece of superb and unique Third Reich period Art Deco German craftsmanship, DRGM register stamped beneath the cocktail shaker body, with its serial number '11'. Only the second we have had in the past 18 years. Stunning, original Art Deco piece, almost certainly by J.A. Henkels Twin Works of Germany. DRGM stamped and further marked, Made in Germany on the base. Made for, used and sold aboard the Graf Zeppelin Air Ship and later, the Hindenberg Air Ship. There are 14 pieces, in this set including; the gondola, four stacking cups, a corkscrew and cover, a gin tankard flask, a full shaker, with lid, and condiment container { tail fin section}
.
All pieces are plated on their interior in 24k gold. It's brilliantly engineered and constructed, the pieces fitting together to form a Zeppelin Airship model, with hand-in-glove precision.LZ 129 Hindenburg (Luftschiff Zeppelin 129; Registration: D-LZ 129) was a German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the lead ship of the Hindenburg class, the longest class of flying machine and the largest airship by envelope volume. It was designed and built by the Zeppelin Company (Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH) on the shores of Lake Constance in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and was operated by the German Zeppelin Airline Company (Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei). It was named after Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, who was President of Germany from 1925 until his death in 1934.

LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin was a German-built and -operated, passenger-carrying, hydrogen-filled, rigid airship which operated commercially from 1928 to 1937. When it entered commercial service in 1928, it became the first commercial passenger transatlantic flight service in the world. It was named after the German pioneer of airships, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who was a count (Graf) in the German nobility. During its operating life, the airship made 590 flights covering more than 1.7 million kilometers (over 1 million miles). It was designed to be operated by a crew of 36 officers and men. The LZ 127 was the longest rigid airship at the time of its completion. The creation of the DZR as successor to DELAG occurred for both political and business reasons. Luftschiffbau Zeppelin (LZ) chairman Hugo Eckener, who had intended to run against Hitler in the 1932 presidential election, was already disliked by the Nazis. When Eckener later resisted the new Nazi government's efforts to use zeppelins for propaganda purposes, Reich Minister of Aviation Hermann Goring insisted that a new agency be created to extend Party control over LZ Group. A personal rivalry between Goring and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels also played a role. To complicate matters further, the Luftschiffbau was a loss-making concern and needed cash investment, in particular to complete construction of the Hindenburg.

Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei was therefore incorporated on 22 March 1935 as a joint venture between Zeppelin Luftschiffbau, the Ministry of Aviation, and Deutsche Lufthansa. The LZ Group's capital contribution came primarily from its two airships LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin and LZ 129 Hindenburg, the latter of which was not yet complete on the date of incorporation.
Overall length of the portable cocktail bar is 12 inches. This example is in superb original condition. The nickel finish is fully original but worn. "The Zeppelin Airship cocktail shaker and traveling bar"
Circa. 1928 {not the commonly found 1960's copy, with DRGM marked gondola} silver-plated brass 4 inches wide x 12 inches high. Just lacking 4 spoons that fit in the gondola however, the spoons should be relatively easy to replace I cup is an original period replacement.
A near identical example, by the same maker, made in the the same year, was sold at auction. It was an identical, but a complete eighteen-piece set with four spoons including the four nesting spoons, four nesting cups, removable flask, and with an original, leather case. Signed the same with the impressed manufacturer mark to underside: Germany D.R.G.M. with serial number 11. Signed with impressed Germany. Estimated 7,000 to 9,000 dollars, that example sold for $23,750 dollars US. In Wrights Modern And Contemporary Design Auction, in Illinois October 2012.
DRGM; Deutsches Reich Gebrauchs Muster

Provenance: Private collection, Los Angeles
Literature: Modernism: Modernist Design 1880-1940, Duncan, pg. 187. Link to the $23,000 auction example; copy and paste
https://www.wright20.com/auctions/2014/12/important-design/177  read more

Code: 21160

Great Britain's Favourite Armoury Antiques & Collector's Shop . A Most Scarce Original Late 14th Century Crossbow Bolt Quarrel. From the Reign of King Henry Vth and the Battle of Agincourt in 1415

Part of our wondrous, new, historical, and original Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek, Viking, Crusaders, and Medeavil battlefield antiquities and artefacts, another fabulous museum grade collection that has arrived with us .

Heavy diamond form steel bolt head, and its almost complete socket

Much of it acquired by a family in the 1820's while on a Grand Tour of Anglo French battle sites within Northern & Western France from Azincourt, in the Pas-de-Calais, to Poitiers in Aquitaine.

Although the English and Welsh Longbowmen that fought at Agincourt are incredibly famous, the crossbow was used predominantly by the French army, yet some English, plus, some mounted knights used crossbows as well, as longbows were incredibly impractical if not impossible for use on horseback

Much of it acquired by a family in the 1820's while on a Grand Tour of Anglo French battle sites within Northern & Western France from Azincourt, in the Pas-de-Calais, to Poitiers in Aquitaine.

After several decades of relative peace, the English had renewed their war effort in 1415 amid the failure of negotiations with the French. In the ensuing campaign, many soldiers perished due to disease and the English numbers dwindled, but as they tried to withdraw to English-held Calais they found their path blocked by a considerably larger French army. Despite the disadvantage, the following battle ended in an overwhelming tactical victory for the English.

King Henry V of England led his troops into battle and participated in hand-to-hand fighting. The French king of the time, Charles VI, did not command the French army himself, as he suffered from severe psychotic illnesses with moderate mental incapacitation. Instead, the French were commanded by Constable Charles d'Albret and various prominent French noblemen of the Armagnac party.

This battle is notable for the use of the English longbow in very large numbers, with the English and Welsh archers forming up to 80 percent of Henry's army. The decimation of the French cavalry at their hands is regarded as an indicator of the decline of cavalry and the beginning of the dominance of ranged weapons on the battlefield.

Agincourt is one of England's most celebrated victories. The battle is the centrepiece of the play Henry V by Shakespeare. Juliet Barker in her book Agincourt: The King, the Campaign, the Battle ( published in 2005) argues the English and Welsh were outnumbered "at least four to one and possibly as much as six to one". She suggests figures of about 6,000 for the English and 36,000 for the French, based on the Gesta Henrici's figures of 5,000 archers and 900 men-at-arms for the English, and Jean de Wavrin's statement "that the French were six times more numerous than the English". The 2009 Encyclopædia Britannica uses the figures of about 6,000 for the English and 20,000 to 30,000 for the French. Part of an original medieval collection we have just acquired, of Roman, Greek, Assyrian, Celtic, Viking and early British relics of warfare from ancient battle sites, much of it recovered up to 220 years ago.

Richard Lassels, an expatriate Roman Catholic priest, first used the phrase “Grand Tour” in his 1670 book Voyage to Italy, published posthumously in Paris in 1670. In its introduction, Lassels listed four areas in which travel furnished "an accomplished, consummate traveler" with opportunities to experience first hand the intellectual, the social, the ethical, and the political life of the Continent.

The English gentry of the 17th century believed that what a person knew came from the physical stimuli to which he or she has been exposed. Thus, being on-site and seeing famous works of art and history was an all important part of the Grand Tour. So most Grand Tourists spent the majority of their time visiting museums and historic sites.

Once young men began embarking on these journeys, additional guidebooks and tour guides began to appear to meet the needs of the 20-something male and female travelers and their tutors traveling a standard European itinerary. They carried letters of reference and introduction with them as they departed from southern England, enabling them to access money and invitations along the way.

With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months or years to roam, these wealthy young tourists commissioned paintings, perfected their language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent.

The wealthy believed the primary value of the Grand Tour lay in the exposure both to classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A Grand Tour could last from several months to several years. The youthful Grand Tourists usually traveled in the company of a Cicerone, a knowledgeable guide or tutor.

The ‘Grand Tour’ era of classical acquisitions from history existed up to around the 1850’s, and extended around the whole of Europe, Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and the Holy Land

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

Code: 25550

A Beautiful Greco-Persian Wars Bronze Age Long Dagger Around 2500 Years Old. Such as From The Battles of Marathon, Thermopylae and Plataea

Approximately 2500 years old, Achaemenid Empire era, 550 bc to 330 bc From the the Greco-Persian War, such as includes the iconic battles of Marathon, Thermopylae and Plataea, up to the time of Alexander the Great. This wonderful antiquity, from one of the most eventful and ground breaking periods of classical history, is in amazing condition and beautifully decorated 6th-4th century BC. A bronze long dagger with narrow lentoid-section blade, collared grip with crescentic ears to the pommel. By the 7th century BC, the Persians had settled in the south-western portion of the Iranian Plateau in the region of Persis, which came to be their heartland. From this region, Cyrus the Great advanced to defeat the Medes, Lydia, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire, establishing the Achaemenid Empire. The Ionian Greek Revolt in 499 BC, and associated revolts in Aeolis, Doris, Cyprus and Caria, were military rebellions by several regions of Asia Minor against Persian rule, lasting from 499 to 493 BC. At the heart of the rebellion was the dissatisfaction of the Greek cities of Asia Minor with the tyrants appointed by Persia to rule them, along with the individual actions of two Milesian tyrants, Histiaeus and Aristagoras. In 499 BC, the then tyrant of Miletus, Aristagoras, launched a joint expedition with the Persian satrap Artaphernes to conquer Naxos, in an attempt to bolster his position in Miletus (both financially and in terms of prestige). The mission was a debacle, and sensing his imminent removal as tyrant, Aristagoras chose to incite the whole of Ionia into rebellion against the Persian king Darius the Great. In 490 BC the Persian forces were defeated by the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon and Darius would die before having the chance to launch an invasion of Greece. The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. The battle was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate Greece. The Greek army decisively defeated the more numerous Persians, marking a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. Xerxes I (485–465 BC, "Hero Among Kings"), son of Darius I, vowed to complete the job. He organized a massive invasion aiming to conquer Greece. His army entered Greece from the north, meeting little or no resistance through Macedonia and Thessaly, but was delayed by a small Greek force for three days at Thermopylae. A simultaneous naval battle at Artemisium was tactically indecisive as large storms destroyed ships from both sides. The battle was stopped prematurely when the Greeks received news of the defeat at Thermopylae and retreated. The battle was a strategic victory for the Persians, giving them uncontested control of Artemisium and the Aegean Sea.

Following his victory at the Battle of Thermopylae, Xerxes sacked the evacuated city of Athens and prepared to meet the Greeks at the strategic Isthmus of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf. In 480 BC the Greeks won a decisive victory over the Persian fleet at the Battle of Salamis and forced Xerxes to retire to Sardis. The land army which he left in Greece under Mardonius retook Athens but was eventually destroyed in 479 BC at the Battle of Plataea. The final defeat of the Persians at Mycale encouraged the Greek cities of Asia to revolt, and the Persians lost all of their territories in Europe; Macedonia once again became independent. Alexander the Great, an avid admirer of Cyrus the Great, conquered most of the empire by 330 BC. Upon Alexander's death, most of the empire's former territory came under the rule of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and Seleucid Empire, in addition to other minor territories which gained independence at that time. The Iranian elites of the central plateau reclaimed power by the second century BC under the Parthian Empire. Ancient Greece. 191 grams, 35cm (13 3/4"). From a Japanese collection, 1990s.  read more

Code: 23416