Archaic Chinese Warrior's Bronze Sword, Around 2500 Years Old, From the Zhou Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, Including the Period of the Great Military Doctrine 'The Art of War' by General Sun-Tzu

Chinese Bronze 'Two Ring' Jian sword, however both the grip rings are now lacking, as is the pommel. Used in the era of the Seven Kingdoms period, likely in the Kingdom of Wu, up to the latter part of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (475 – 221 BC).

From our wonderful collection of ancient Chinese weaponry we recently acquired, another stunning ancient sword around 2500 years old or more. From the Zhou dynasty, and the area of the King's of Wu, in Chu. as this sword bears old damage it is priced accordingly, yet it is still an ancient piece of great beauty and interest.

Swords of this type are called “two-ring” swords because of the prominent rings formerly located on the hilt. This is the very type of sword used by the warriors serving under the world renowned General Sun Tzu, in the Kingdom of Wu, who is thought by many to be the finest general, philosopher and military tactician who ever lived. His 2500 year old book on the methods of warfare, tactics and psychology are still taught and highly revered in practically every officer training college throughout the world.
We show a painting in the gallery of a chariot charge by a Zhou dynasty warrior armed with this very form of sword.
The Chinese term for this form of weapon is “Jian” which refers to a double-edged sword. This style of Jian is generally attributed to either the Wu or the Yue state. The sword has straight graduated edges reducing to a pointed tip, which may indicate an earlier period Jian.

The blade is heavy with a midrib and tapered edges
A very impressive original ancient Chinese sword with a long, straight blade with a raised, linear ridge down its centre. It has a very shallow, short guard. The thin handle would have had leather or some other organic material such as leather or hemp cord, wrapped around it to form a grip. At the top once had a round, likely dished pommel

The Seven Kingdom or Warring States period in Chinese history was one of instability and conflict between many smaller Kingdom-states. The period officially ended when China was unified under the first Emperor of China, Qin pronounced Chin Shi Huang Di in 221 BC. It is from him that China gained its name.

The Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) was among the most culturally significant of the early Chinese dynasties and the longest lasting of any in China's history, divided into two periods: Western Zhou (1046-771 BCE) and Eastern Zhou (771-256 BCE). It followed the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE), and preceded the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE, pronounced “chin”) which gave China its name.

In the early years of the Spring and Autumn Period, (770-476 BC) chivalry in battle was still observed and all seven states used the same tactics resulting in a series of stalemates since, whenever one engaged with another in battle, neither could gain an advantage. In time, this repetition of seemingly endless, and completely futile, warfare became simply the way of life for the people of China during the era now referred to as the Warring States Period. The famous work The Art of War by Sun-Tzu (l. c. 500 BCE) was written during this time, recording precepts and tactics one could use to gain advantage over an opponent, win the war, and establish peace.

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. His works focus much more on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit, and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes. Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure. His birth name was Sun Wu and he was known outside of his family by his courtesy name Changqing The name Sun Tzu by which he is more popularly known is an honorific which means "Master Sun".

Sun Tzu's historicity is uncertain. The Han dynasty historian Sima Qian and other traditional Chinese historians placed him as a minister to King Helü of Wu and dated his lifetime to 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity place the extant text of The Art of War in the later Warring States period based on its style of composition and its descriptions of warfare. Traditional accounts state that the general's descendant Sun Bin wrote a treatise on military tactics, also titled The Art of War. Since Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as Sun Tzu in classical Chinese texts, some historians believed them identical, prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972.

Sun Tzu's work has been praised and employed in East Asian warfare since its composition. During the twentieth century, The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society as well. It continues to influence many competitive endeavours in the world, including culture, politics, business and sports.

The ancient Chinese people worshipped the bronze and iron swords, where they reached a point of magic and myth, regarding the swords as “ancient holy items”. Because they were easy to carry, elegant to wear and quick to use, bronze swords were considered a status symbol and an honour for kings, emperors, scholars, chivalrous experts, merchants, as well as common people during ancient dynasties. For example, Confucius claimed himself to be a knight, not a scholar, and carried a sword when he went out. The most famous ancient bronze sword is called the “Sword of Gou Jian”.

This is one of a stunning collection of original archaic bronze age weaponry we have just acquired and has now arrived. Many are near identical to other similar examples held in the Metropolitan in New York, the British royal collection, and such as the Hunan Provincial Museum, Hunan, China.
As with all our items, every piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity  read more

Code: 24876

A Fantastic Looking Knight's Mounted Weapon, Medieval 15th Century Form 'Scorpion Tail' Chained Mace, or Battle Whip Head

A superb knight's 'scorpion tail' or 'battle whip' iron mounted knight's chained mace with screw pin to imbed into a wooden haft, composed of a carinated and facetted head with trapezoidal suspension loop, chain with figure-of-eight links with coiled wire collars, screw with tapering twisted shank and suspension loop with a facetted collar. This chained battle mace had the name of a Scorpion in England or France, or sometimes a Battle-Whip. It was also wryly known as a 'Holy Water Sprinkler'. King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon as well as his sword, but as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat. Although blind he was a valiant and the bravest of the Warrior Kings, who perished at the Battle of Crecy against the English in 1346. On the day he was slain he instructed his Knights both friends and companions to lead him to the very centre of battle, so he may strike at least one blow against his enemies. His Knights tied their horses to his, so the King would not be separated from them in the press, and they rode together into the thick of battle, where King John managed to strike not one but at least four noble blows. The following day of the battle, the horses and the fallen knights were found all about the body of their most noble King, all still tied to his steed.
According to the Cronica ecclesiae Pragensis Benesii Krabice de Weitmile, when told by his aides that the battle against the English at Crécy was lost and he better should flee to save his own life, John the Blind replied: "Absit, ut rex Boemie fugeret, sed illuc me ducite, ubi maior strepitus certaminis vigeret, Dominus sit nobiscum, nil timeamus, tantum filium meum diligenter custodite. --Far be it that the King of Bohemia should run away. Instead, take me to the place where the noise of the battle is the loudest. The Lord will be with us. Nothing to fear. Just take good care of my son-.

It is difficult to block with a shield or parry with a weapon such as this on a chain because it can curve over and round impediments and still strike the target.

It has a faceted orb mace head connected by a chain, and bar for holding in the hand or affixing to a wooden haft. . Modern works variously refer to this particular weapon as a "mace-and-chain" or "chain mace," and sometimes erroneously label them as simply a "mace" or morning star, terms which technically apply only to rigid weapons. Some historians refer to this weapon as a kettenmorgenstern ("chain morning star") to distinguish it from the rigid weapon. Despite being depicted in medieval manuscripts they were very likely most rare bespoke weapons in their day, and infrequently encountered, as rigid maces, iron or bronze weighted heads, affixed to a wooden hafts, were far simpler to make and thus much less expensive to create.
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

Sir Walter Scott describes the flail in the hands of an unhinged Crusader in his 19th-century novel The Talisman:

“I am Theodorick of Engaddi,” he said,—“I am the walker of the desert—I am friend of the cross, and flail of all infidels, heretics and devil-worshippers.” … So saying, he pulled from under his shaggy garment a sort of flail or jointed club, bound with iron, which he brandished round his head with singular dexterity.

“Thou seest thy saint,” said the Saracen, laughing, for the first time, at the unmitigated astonishment with which Sir Kenneth looked on the wild gestures and heard the wayward muttering of Theodorick, who, after swinging his flail in every direction, apparently quite reckless whether it encountered the head of either of his companions, finally showed his own strength and the soundness of the weapon, by striking into fragments a large stone which lay near him.

“This is a madman,” said Sir Kenneth.

The gallery contains photos of original medieval paintings of chained maces used in knightly combat, and another of a Renaissance tapestry of another chained mace, and an original 17th century engraving. Another final variety the Iberian flail or mangual. This can be seen below at the feet of the figure on the frontispiece of the Handbook of the True Skill of Arms in Thirty-Eight Assertions by Miguel Perez de Mendoza y Quixada, published in 1675. This weapon was a specialized armament meant primarily to oppose rapiers and perhaps two handed swords like montante in combat, the figure standing amongst an armoury of weapons including a zweihander great sword, a maine gauche, numerous swept hilt and cup hilt rapiers, and at his feet, a multi chained mace battle-whip or mangual. Picture 10 in the gallery is another a capture taken from a Renaissance painting

Very good, surface russetted condition, 22 inches long approx., and with great heft.  read more

Code: 24107

A Wonderful 16th Century Renaissance Era Italian 'Fusetto' Gunner's Dagger Used on Land By Venetian Artillery Chief Cannoneers, or At Sea by The Venetian and Papal States Navy Cannoneers

A supremely effective stiletto from the Italian Renaissance, for defending the guns and cannoneers during close combat, and measuring the bore of cannon to ensure the right size cannon ball was used, measuring powder charges, and lastly, for ‘spiking the guns’ during the imminent threat of capture.

Used in artillery combat in Papal armies such as were commanded by Cesare Borgia, who was an Italian cardinal and condottiero, an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI and member of the Spanish-Aragonese House of Borgia. His fight for power was a major inspiration for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli see his portrait in the gallery. The Prince, one of Machiavelli's greatest works, as Machiavelli admired Borgia's undimmed ruthlessness, but mainly, because Borgia, for Machiavelli, exhibited a unity and coherence of purpose and intents that was good for the polity. {see Casare’s portrait in the gallery}

Used during the same time as the great and legendary masters, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo were creating their masterpieces for the great families of Renaissance Italy, such as the Borgias or for Pope Sixtus IVth’s Vatican Palace Sistine Chapel.

While the greatest artists the world has ever seen, we’re creating their glorious works in Rome, Florence or Venice, the cannoneers were mastering their guns in the great battles against enemy Italian States, or foreign invaders, such as the Ottoman army and navy of the Grand Turk.

A superb and most rare museum piece, only normally to be seen today in the world great armoury collections, such as in the Doge’s Palace Armoury in Venice, or the Royal Armoury of Turin,

This stunning beauty of this piece is the elegance and simplicity of its form, and, it is in fantastic condition for its age, which is around, an amazing, 500 years. A wonderful example of an original ‘fusetto’, the chief gunner's dagger, carried by an Italian chief cannoneer during the Renaissance period.

The exact type as used at the Battle of Pavia, by the artillery, and the Battle of Lepanto by the Papal States and the Venetian Navy. The blade is of rare rounded section, as, more commonly, they were square section. For the specific use of the Chief Cannoner of artillery, for several important purposes, including, the clearing the vent touch hole from burnt powder build up, and, as it has an engraved blade with a number scale cuts, in order to measure across the bore of a cannon at the muzzle, in order to gauge the calibre of the cannon, thus to ensure the right size ball was used, and also, for the correct measure of powder, plus, if all hope of defence of the gun is lost, for 'spiking' a cannon's vent touchhole if the cannon are overrun by the enemy. Finally, and often just as importantly, for use in close combat by the chief cannoneer, for, if the guns are over run the chief gunner or cannoneer needs a vitally important weapon for personal defence.

The side notches in the blade were cut showing graduation of muzzle widths and called the Scala di Cattaneo. The rare round form blade, being long and graduated, in addition to enhancing the elegance of the blade, has a function of mechanical compliance, for, as mentioned before, if during a battle the cannon were about to be taken by the enemy, the bombers and of course the other troops beat the retreat. At this point the 'fuse' the bottom tip of the 'fusetto' blade was used to render the cannon ineffective, the blade's tip was stuck with force into a cannon’s vent (the small upper touch hole opening, into which the touch powder flowed into to the breech ) and then with a violent blow the ‘fuse’ or tip of the blade was snapped off into the hole. This rendered the cannon unusable, at least for the time of retreat. Italian early artillery, particularly field artillery, became an indispensable part of any first-rate army during the Italian Wars.

The naval Battle of Lepanto, is shown in the gallery, painted by unknown artist, in the late 16th century. Another painting In the gallery is of the siege of Constantinople painted by The great master Tintoretto.
A new chapter for Venice and the Venetian navy opened in 1453, with the Fall of Constantinople and the beginning in earnest of the Ottoman–Venetian wars, a centuries long confrontation with the Ottoman Empire.

Faced with a constant threat to its maritime possessions, Venice had little choice but to maintain a standing fleet of dozens of galleys on a war footing in peacetime, bolstered in times of actual war by over a hundred galleys held in reserve. To oversee the efficient supply and administration of such a force required an extensive organisational effort, leading to the creation of the office of the Magistrato alla milizia da mar "commissioner of naval forces" responsible for the construction and maintenance of ships and cannon, provision of hardtack and other ship's stores, weapons and gunpowder, recruitment of crews and the management of finances.

With the maturation of firearms technology, the previous Greek fire projectors were replaced with cannon positioned in the bow as chasers. This era saw the development of further ship types. During his invasion of Italy, Charles VIII employed the first truly mobile siege train: culverins and bombards mounted on wheeled carriages, which could be deployed against an enemy stronghold immediately after arrival. The French siege arsenal brought with it multiple technological innovations. Charles' army pulled cannons with horses rather than the oxen typically used at the time. Additionally, French cannons, created methods used to cast bronze church bells, and achieved a lightness and mobility previously unheard of. Perhaps the most important improvement the French made to cannons, however, was the creation of the iron cannonball. Before the Italian Wars, artillery fired stone balls that often shattered on impact. The invention of the water mill allowed furnaces to generate enough heat to melt iron to be smelted into cannonballs. With this technology, Charles’ army could level, in a matter of hours, Italian castles that had formerly resisted sieges for months and years.

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading

Overall 14 3/4 inches long, blade length 10 inches  read more

Code: 22445

A Good Antique Edo Period Round Signed Tetsu Wakazashi Tsuba Embossed Seashells

A delightful iron round tsuba takebori patterned with various shells over a water pattern background, with ana openings for kozuka and kogai. The Tsuba can be solid, semi pierced of fully pierced, with an overall perforated design, but it always a central opening which narrows at its peak for the blade to fit within. It often can have openings for the kozuka and kogai to pass through, and these openings can also often be filled with metal to seal them closed. For the Samurai, it also functioned as an article of distinction, as his sole personal ornament 61 mm  read more

Code: 22455

A 18th to Mid 19th Century Steel, Indo Persian, Double Crescent Blade Headed War Axe and Spike, Known as a Tabarzin

Of a type carried into battle by Indo-Persian/Mughal warriors. With engraved bird and floral decoration to the axe heads. Iron shaft.

The double head war axe with spike would have been a very effective battlefield weapon and had excellent balance.

The term tabar is used for axes originating from the Ottoman Empire, Persia, Armenia, India and surrounding countries and cultures. As a loanword taken through Iranian Scythian, the word tabar is also used in most Slavic languages as the word for axe.

The tabarzin (saddle axe) (Persian: تبرزین‎; sometimes translated "saddle-hatchet") is the traditional battle axe of Persia. It bears one or two crescent-shaped blades. The long form of the tabar was about seven feet long, while a shorter version was about three feet long or less. What makes the Persian axe unique is the very thin handle, which is very light and always metallic. The tabarzin was sometimes carried as a symbolic weapon by wandering dervishes (Muslim ascetic worshippers). The word tabar for axe was directly borrowed into Armenian as tapar (Armenian: տապար) from Middle Persian tabar, as well as into Proto-Slavonic as "topor" (*toporъ), the latter word known to be taken through Scythian, and is still the common Slavic word for axe.

A delightful example of a ceremonial axe in war axe form  read more

Code: 25036

One Million Viewers!! Google Just Informed Us 1,000,000 People Searched To Find Our Location on Google Maps Since We Updated Our Company Entry Recently.

Google recently let us know our updated Google entry just past the amazing 1,000,000 { one million } searches in order to find out our location to visit us here in Brighton, England.

Twenty Five Years Ago, After 80 Years Trading in Brighton, We Were Honoured by Being Nominated & Awarded by BACA, In The Best Antique & Collectables Shop In Britain Awards 2001
Presented by MILLER'S Antiques Guide, THE BBC, HOMES & ANTIQUES MAGAZINE, for the British Antique & Collectables Awards. The version of the antique dealers ‘Oscars’ of Britain.

It was a great honour for Mark and David, especially considering at the beginning of the new millennium, in the year 2000, there was over 7,000 established antique and collectors shops in the UK, according to the official Guide to the Antique Shops of Britain, 1999-2000, and we were nominated, and voted into in the top four in Britain.

We were also very kindly described and listed as one of the most highly recommended visitors attractions in the whole of Europe and the UK by nothing less than the 'New York Times ' within their travel guide "New York Times, 36 Hours, 125 Weekends in Europe  read more

Code: 25531

A Superb, Ancestral, 600 Year Old Signed Blade, Kyu Gunto Mounted Sword For An Officer In Sino Japanese War, The Boxer Rebellion, In China, The Russo-Japanese War & Further Used In WW1 and WW2 Usually By Very Senior Ranking Samurai Family Officer

If one needs an exceptional example, this must be the one, of this very scarce form of very early samurai family Japanese sword {signed Masa kiyo, possibly Mihara school} with Meiji era koshirae mounts.

It has a super blade, with suguha midare hamon, that was first initially used by its first samurai owner before the Sengoku and Onin wars in 15th century Japan, continually right through the next 500 years by dozens of family samurai, until after the Tokugawa shogunate was deposed, and into the last samurai war, of the Meiji emperor, known as the Satsuma Rebellion.
That was the last war and battles of the ancient caste of samurai. And then, this sword was used by a samurai family, in the Meiji period of the 19th century, by a young officer {mounted in finest quality military fittings} permitted to use his ancestral early samurai blade.
Used in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895): Fought primarily over control of Korea, this war demonstrated the effectiveness of Japan's modernization. Japan decisively defeated China, resulting in the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which gave Japan control over Taiwan, the Pescadores Islands, and the Liaodong Peninsula (though Russia later forced them to return the latter).
Japanese Invasion of Taiwan (1895): Following the Sino-Japanese war, Japan officially occupied and colonized Taiwan, facing significant armed resistance from the local population.
The Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) where Japan joined the Eight-Nation Alliance (including Britain, Russia, and the US) to suppress an anti-foreign uprising in China. Japan provided the largest contingent of troops, earning international respect for its military organization.

Then, after a few years in the Russo Japanese War {1904-1905}, and it was further permitted to be used, often by veteran samurai born family officers, in the later WW1 and WW2.

A great and rare form of Japanese sword. However, it also has an ancient 600 year old ancestral, pre Sengoku period blade, so this is a great rarity, amongst rarities. One would be hard pressed to ever find another better example of such beauty, age and condition.

Dating from 1467-1603, the Sengoku or ‘Warring States’ period is known as the bloodiest in Japan’s history; an era of continuous social upheaval and civil war which transformed the country. Shogun-led authority was shattered and 150 years of murder and betrayal followed as fearsome warlords ruled local territories with unflinching ruthlessness.

Bear in mind this swords blade was hand made around the time that Henry Vth was fighting Agincourt in France

Almost all the original gilding is present to the hilt, the ancient blade is in original polish, and the habaki has deluxe cat scratch décor in gold and silver. Wooden saya from WW2, with sayagaki, bearing the signature {kanji} of the blade appraiser, and an elegant elongated hilt tsuka with knucklebow and original wire bound pristine samegawa {giant rayskin}.

The first standard sword of the Japanese military was known as the kyū guntō. The kyū guntō was used from 1875 until 1934, it closely resembled European and American swords of the time, with a wraparound hand guard (also known as a D-Guard) and chrome plated scabbard (saya), the steel scabbard is said to have been introduced around 1900
The Kyu gunto was a sword that began to cross the divide between the traditional Samurai sword, that was banned in the era of the Meiji Emperor, and the modern Western style sabre, but occasionally permitted to be fitted with a family ancestral samurai sword blade. The Kyu gunto style was adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army in the 1870's. By the early 1900's the Japanese officer class began more and more to see themselves as the reincarnated embodiment of the old Samurai warrior class, and the desire for the return to the traditional Bushido warrior code was becoming a powerful force. Modern Western styles had been faithfully adopted and the Imperial Japanese military had joined the rest of the civilised world in all it's advancements and technology in weaponry and uniforms that it had to offer. However, the officer class saw a threat to their long felt superiority over all others as their dress made them all but indistinguishable from soldiers of other inferior nations. A resurgence in the Samurai ethic needed a connection to the modern uniform, so a return to the Samurai sword was achieved in combat, but still with the visible connection to more modern Western dress form.
This sword, that bridged the gap between modern and ancient sword styles, was popular and adopted with great keeness. In fact Japanese military sword styles progressed even further in the subsequent decades, so that by the 1930's the standard officer's sword was a near identical copy of the ancient Samurai Tachi, with very little deference to modern sword patterns. The mounts are very good indeed, and the blade is also superb.

Three photos in the gallery {numbers 7,8,9,} of Admiral Togo with his Kyu-gunto mounted ancestral sword, with the Russo Japanese war service scabbard, and photo number 10 with a WW2 Japanese officer with his Kyu-gunto sword but its WW2 service saya {scabbard} like this one.
Tōgō Heihachirō (東郷 平八郎; 27 January 1848 – 30 May 1934), served as a gensui or admiral of the fleet in the Imperial Japanese Navy and became one of Japan's greatest naval heroes. As Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, he successfully confined the Russian Pacific naval forces to Port Arthur before winning a decisive victory over a relieving fleet at Tsushima in May 1905. Western journalists called Tōgō "the Nelson of the East". He remains deeply revered as a national hero in Japan, with shrines and streets named in his honour.

Overall in saya 34.25 inches long, katana blade 25.25 inches long, hilt 7.5 inches long  read more

Code: 26191

A Superb, WW2 Issue Stielhandgranate {German Stick Grenade} M24, WW2 Issue. In Excellent Condition For age. With Rare Fragmentation Ring, A Shrapnel 'Splitterring'. Issued To All Combat Ground forces Of The SS, Heer, Kriegsmarine, and Luftwaffe .

A great original souvenir of WW2 combat. you would have to go a long way to find a better example. With a loose pull-cord porcelain bead under the handle cap.

Overall in excellent condition, with maker code stamps to the top and wooden haft.

The Stielhandgranate 24 (M24) "potato masher" was primarily an offensive, concussion-based weapon designed to stun and kill through blast overpressure rather than shrapnel. Because its thin metal casing produced limited fragmentation, a specialized fragmentation sleeve—often referred to as a Splitterring (fragmentation ring) or shrapnel sleeve—was developed to increase its lethality.

The sleeve was designed to slide over the standard Stielhandgranate explosive head to create a "defensive" grenade that scattered high-velocity shrapnel over a wide area, according to a Reddit post and a forum discussion.
It consisted of a pre-scored or solid steel sleeve designed to break into multiple fragments upon detonation.
These sleeves were designed to convert the offensive stick grenade for defensive purposes, but they were often in short supply, limiting their deployment.
They were used to increase the destructive power of the grenade, which was particularly important for defensive combat scenarios where a wider, fragmentation-based lethality was desired.
Collector Item: Due to their specialized nature and the conditions of WWII, finding an authentic, original shrapnel sleeve with a stick grenade is rare.

While the standard M24 was a concussion grenade with an effective kill radius of only 10-12 meters (mostly in enclosed spaces), the addition of this sleeve significantly enhanced its effectiveness in open ground


The Stielhandgranate (German for "stick hand grenade") was a German hand grenade of unique design. It was the standard issue of the German Empire during World War I, and became the widespread issue of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht during World War II.
The very distinctive appearance led to it being called a "stick grenade", or "potato masher" in British Army slang, and is today one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th century

Germany entered World War I with a single grenade design: a heavy 750-gram (26 oz) ball-shaped fragmentation grenade (Kugelhandgranate) for use only by pioneers in attacking fortifications. It was too heavy for regular use on the battlefield by untrained troops and not suitable for mass production. This left Germany without a standard-issue grenade and improvised designs similar to those of the British were used until a proper grenade could be supplied.

The "stick grenade" first appeared in the midst of World War I; it was introduced in 1915 for use by the German Empire's armed forces. As time went on, the design further developed, adding and removing certain features. Aside from its unique and unusual appearance, the Stielhandgranate used a friction igniter system, a method very uncommon in other nations but widely used in German grenades.

During World War I, the original design of the Stielhandgranate, under the name M1915 (Model 1915), was in direct technological competition with the British standard-issue Mills bomb series. The first design model of the Mills bomb – the grenade No. 5 Mk. 1 – was introduced the same year as the German Model 1915, but due to delays in manufacturing it was not widely distributed into general service until 1916. (There was a small period of time where German troops had large supplies of new Model 1915 grenades, while their British opponents only had a very small number.)

As World War I progressed, the Model 1915 Stielhandgranate was further improved with various changes. These received new designations corresponding for the year of introduction, such as the Model 1916 and the Model 1917, and this one the M24

This item is empty, inert and safe, legal to own within the UK.
Not suitable for export.  read more

Code: 26199

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 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.

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.

Recently acquired and added to our web store and also due to be added; A 1st Edition 1st Printing of The Great Gatsby, Publisher, Charles Scribners Sons, New York, Publication Date
1925 with the two important word uncorrected, ‘chatter’ and ‘Northern’. Etc.
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}

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

A Museum Grade Wakazashi By Toshizane, With Fine Samurai Sword Pure Gold & Shakudo, Soten School Mounts. Edo, Sōheishi Nyūdō Sōten Sei. Taira Atsumori (1169-1184) Riding On Horseback Through Crashing Waves To Escape Kumegai & The Minamoto Samurai

Superb and beautiful blade, now returned from artisan surface cleaning, and thus re-photographed, is signed by a remarkable master smith, showing a stunning sanbonsugi {three cedar} hamon with yakideshi, The whole sword is representing the great samurai heroic story from the Gempei War, depicting the 15 year old samurai commander in chief of the Taira, Taira Atsumori (1169-1184) riding on horseback through crashing waves to escape Kumegai and the Minamoto warriors.

Effectively several great samurai sword masters were combined to create this wonderful sword of immense quality combined with incomparable beauty, including Sōheishi Nyūdō Sōten Sei, and Hamabe Toshizane. The saya {scabbard} and its urushi lacquer work is also a master-work, but, sadly, there is no way of knowing his name and such workmanship was never signed.

The koshirae are without doubt, in our opinion, first division Soten school fittings, decorated in pure hammered gold embellished solid shakudo mounts. Soten, alongside Goto, are the two great Japanese schools of sword fittings. The signed fittings, by renowned artisan Mogarashi Nyudo Soten, a master craftsman from Hikone in Goshu Province.

The signed tsuba 藻柄子入道 * 宗典製 * 江州 * 彦根住
Sōheishi Nyūdō * Sōten sei * Kōshū * Hikone jū tsuba is similarly truly wonderous, depicting Taira Atsumori fleeing Kumegai crashing through the waves holding his yumi bowstring through his clenched teeth. Remarkably, the bowstring is a chiseled out, micro thin, separate but integral, piece of solid shakudo metal, and the whole design is all decorated in pure hammered gold upon *nanako ji ground. A representation of the tsuba maker's incredible skill, learnt by a master over a lifetime of his craft. All the koshirae exemplifies the artistry and skill of the masterful Soten school at its best.

The fabulous blade, by an Hamabe school master smith is 文化 dated Bunka, 11th year, February 1814. By, Hamabe Gihaichirou Toshizane of Inshu. To illustrate the skill of this master swordsmith, one of his pupils became one of the world's recognised great master swordsmiths under Toshizane's pupilage, and his blades today can fetch between $300,000 to $2,000,000. By comparison, imagine being able to acquire a painting by master artist who was the mentor and master that taught the legendary Van Gogh how to paint, and being able to acquire it for just thousands of pounds, compared to 100 million pounds for his pupils painting.

因　州 Inshuu , 住. Jyuu 濱 Hama 部 Be 義八郎 ,儀八郎 Gihachirou, {Correct character is 儀.}
壽Toshi 實Zane.

He was a master smith of Hamabe school, but remained in Inaba province and took the name Minryushi. He was the teacher of both Kiyomaro and Masao. A Kiyomaro sword {by Toshizane's pupil} sold a few years ago for $2million.

The stunning fittings are Soten school, late, Edo period {1615-1868} By Sōheishi Nyūdō Sōten Sei. It is rare to find Soten work in shakudo or any soft metals, other than fuchigashira, as they typically worked in iron.

The matching kozuka side knife is also by Soten, of pure gold decorated figures in takebori relief carving, of Taira Atsumori, holding his yumi, involved in his full chase, with another samurai Kumegai in full armour, also with his yumi { war bow} over a micro hammered nanako ground. The back of the kozuka is decorated with a layer of pure gold with a scored oblique decoration in a rain pattern.

The deep takebori Soten shakudo and gold tsuba depicts Taira Atsumori (1169-1184) Riding On Horseback Through Crashing Waves To Escape Kumegai & The Minamoto. Kumagai Naozane and Taira no Atsumori. Atsumori was the legendary and heroic 16 year old samurai commander-in-chief, and flute player, who was beheaded after hand to hand combat by Kumegai, and Kumegai wept as he had no choice but to execute such a young, noble and honourable, 16 year old warrior. The same age as his son.

The all matching koshirae mounts {Gempei kassen} are detailing a scene from the Gempei wars

The Genpei Kassen (源平合戦) is the theme of all the fittings. It is also called the Jishou Juei-no Ran (治承・寿永の乱) and stretched over six years from 1180 until 1185. This is the battle between the Minamoto (源) clan (Genji family) and the Taira (平) clan (Heike family). By the call of Mochihito Ou (以仁王), many Samurai raised armies to overthrow the Taira family. It was the trigger of this conflict. Mochihito Ou was unfortunately beaten by the Taira family and passed away in 1180. However, after that, Samurai who fought for Minamoto family side defeated the Taira side armies one after another. Finally, the Minamoto side won the battle and overthrew the Taira clan in 1185 at Dan-no Ura (壇ノ浦). It was the final battle of the Genpei Kassen, which led to the destruction of the Taira clan, who reached the height of glory. In this tsuba there is Taira Atsumori who rides on a horse with his yumi war bow, and another also with his yumi. Each person’s facial expressions are carefully carved, and the liveliness and tension on the battlefield are beautifully expressed in this work.

Its original Edo saya is fabulous, in finest ishime {stone finish} urushi lacquer, with carved buffalo horn fittings. The saya bears four, very small defensive sword edge cuts at the base, which have been left completely untouched as they are honourable combat scars despite bieng very small.

The whole sword is depicting Taira Atsumori (1169-1184) Riding On Horseback Through Crashing Waves To Escape The Minamoto Warriors. We show a woodcut in the gallery of this battle. By Toyokuni Utagawa,

The founder of the
Soten school, Kitagawa Sōteen I (also called Shūten and possibly Sōheishi Niūdō), flourished about 1650 and, like his successors, worked at Hikone, whence the name Hikone-bori for the style they evolved. The signature of his son, Sōten II (Sōheishi Niūdō), is that most frequently found on tsuba sword guards of this school.

The Sōten style may be summed up as the marubori-zōgan with the addition of elaborate landscape details. The figures, whether large or small, are either modeled completely in the round, the ground being more or less cut away and the whole enclosed by a border; or else they are in high relief on a solid ground. The work is nearly always in iron, with the nude portions encrusted in silver or copper, the patterns of the garments and the minute botanical details of the landscape being richly overlaid with gold.

The favourite subjects are taken from Chinese history and legend, or represent Japanese battle-scenes, especially from the Gempei campaigns of the 12th century and the Korean expeditions of the Empress Jingō and the Taikō Hideyoshi.

According to The Tale of the Heike, the Taira were scattered by Yoshitsune's attack from the Ichi-no-Tani cliff. Kumagai no Jirō Naozane, while scanning the beach for fleeing soldiers, spotted the young Atsumori swimming towards the fleeing vessels.

Ukiyo-e of Kumagai Naozane and Taira no Atsumori
Kumagai beckoned Atsumori with his fan, taunting Atsumori by saying, “I see that you are a commander-in-chief. It is dishonorable to show your back to an enemy. Return!”

Atsumori returned and they grappled on the beach. Kumagai was stronger. He knocked off Atsumori's helmet to deliver the finishing blow, only to be struck by the beauty of the young noble. Atsumori was “sixteen or seventeen years old, with a lightly powdered face and blackened teeth—a boy just the age of Naozane's own son...”

Kumagai, wishing to spare the life of the boy, asked for Atsumori's name, but the youth refused. He simply said that he was famous enough that Kumagai's superiors would recognize his head when it was time to assign rewards. At that moment, other Minamoto warriors arrived, and Kumagai knew that if he did not kill Atsumori, the other warriors surely would. Kumagai reasoned that it was better if he was the one to kill Atsumori, because he could offer prayers on his behalf for the afterlife.

Kumagai while crying beheaded the youth, searched the body for something to wrap the head in, he came across a bag containing a flute. He realized that Atsumori must have been one of the soldiers playing music before the battle and thought, “there are tens of thousands of riders in our eastern armies, but I am sure none of them has brought a flute to the battlefield. Those court nobles are refined men!”

It is said that the beheading of Atsumori is what led Kumagai to take priestly vows and become a Buddhist monk.

* Nanako Ji: "fish roe ground" A surface decoration produced by forming very small raised bosses by a sharply struck punch or burin called 'nanako tagane'. Shakudo is the metal most often used, but copper and gold are quite often employed. The harder metals, shibuichi, silver and iron are rarely decorated in this way. The size of the dots vary from 0.04" to 0.008" (25 to 125 and inch) and the regularity of the work is marvelous as the dots must be spaced entirely by touch. The dots are usually arranged in straight lines or in lines parallel to the edge of the piece being decorated, but sometimes in more elaborate patterns. Used on guards since the Momoyama period although the technique existed since much earlier periods. Usually done by specialist 'nanako-shi', but sometimes done by the maker of the guard himself.

Shakudo is a billon of gold and copper (typically 4-10% gold, 96-90% copper) which can be treated to form an indigo/black patina resembling lacquer. Unpatinated shakudo Visually resembles bronze; the dark color is induced by applying and heating rokusho, a special patination formula.

Shakudo Was historically used in Japan to construct or decorate katana fittings such as tsuba, menuki, and kozuka; as well as other small ornaments. When it was introduced to the West in the mid-19th century, it was thought to be previously unknown outside Asia, but recent studies have suggested close similarities to certain decorative alloys used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The lacquer surface of the saya has some age bruising etc. due to its vintage

See photo 9 in the gallery of a similar subject fuchigashira in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Sword-Hilt Collar and Pommel (Fuchigashira)
Japanese ca. 1615–1868 Fuchi inscribed: 藻柄子入道宗典製 Sōheishi Nyūdō Sōten sei (Made by the lay priest Sōheishi Sōten)
Donated by Herman A. E. and Paul C. Jaehne, New York and Coco Beach, Florida (by 1915–43; their gift to MMA).  read more

Code: 25605