Antique Arms & Militaria

A Superb, Really Rare, French, Napoleonic Short Sea Service Boarding Pistol. The Pistolet De Bord Maritime, Modele 1786, Manufacture Nationale De Tulle Circa 1792

Used in the French navy during the Battles of the Nile and Trafalgar. Very good, tight and crisp action. Likely a war trophy of Trafalgar. French sea service pistols are far more rare than their British equivalents, due to the fact there were fewer French ships, and that so many French ships-of-the-line being captured or sunk by the British Royal Navy, between the 1790's to 1805 Such as when the French Fleet was soundly thrashed in the Egypt campaign at the Nile in 1798, and a little later the French and Spanish fleet, in 1805, were once again soundly thrashed and captured by Admiral Nelson at Cape Trafalgar.

The Battle of the Nile, was a battle that was one of the greatest victories of the British admiral Horatio Nelson. It was fought on August 1, 1798, between the British and French fleets in Abū Qīr Bay, near Alexandria, Egypt.

The French Revolutionary general Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 made planned for an invasion of Egypt in order to constrict Britain’s trade routes and threaten its possession of India. The British government heard that a large French naval expedition was to sail from a French Mediterranean port under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte

Determined to find the French fleet, he sailed to Egypt once more, and on August 1 1798 he sighted the main French fleet of 13 ships of the line and 4 frigates under Admiral François-Paul Brueys d’Aigailliers at anchor in Abū Qīr Bay.

Although there were but a few hours left until nightfall and Brueys’s ships were in a strong defensive position, being securely ranged in a sandy bay that was flanked on one side by a shore battery on Abū Qīr Island, Nelson gave orders to attack at once. Several of the British warships were able to maneuver around the head of the French line of battle and thus got inside and behind their position. Fierce fighting ensued, during which Nelson himself was wounded in the head. The climax came at about 10:00 PM, when Brueys’s 120-gun flagship, L’Orient, which was by far the largest ship in the bay, blew up with most of the ship’s company, including the admiral. The fighting continued for the rest of the night; just two of Brueys’s ships of the line and a pair of French frigates escaped destruction or capture by the British. The British suffered about 900 casualties, the French about 9,000.

The Battle of the Nile had several important effects. It isolated Napoleon’s army in Egypt, thus ensuring its ultimate disintegration. It ensured that in due time Malta would be retaken from the French, and it both heightened British prestige and secured British control of the Mediterranean.

The Battle of Trafalgar, (October 21, 1805), was a naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars, which established British naval supremacy for more than 100 years; it was fought west of Cape Trafalgar, Spain, between Cádiz and the Strait of Gibraltar. A fleet of 33 ships (18 French and 15 Spanish) under Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve fought a British fleet of 27 ships under Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Nelson was outnumbered, with 27 British ships of the line to 33 allied ships including the largest warship in either fleet, the Spanish Santísima Trinidad. To address this imbalance, Nelson sailed his fleet directly at the allied battle line's flank, hoping to break the line into pieces. Villeneuve had worried that Nelson might attempt this tactic but, for various reasons, had made no plans for this eventuality. The plan worked almost perfectly; Nelson's columns split the Franco-Spanish fleet in three, isolating the rear half from Villeneuve's flag aboard Bucentaure. The allied vanguard sailed off while it attempted to turn around, giving the British temporary superiority over the remainder of their fleet. In the ensuing fierce battle 20 allied ships were lost, while the British lost none.

Nelson's own HMS Victory led the front column and was almost knocked out of action. Nelson was shot by a French musketeer during the battle, and died shortly before it ended. Villeneuve was captured along with his flagship Bucentaure. He attended Nelson's funeral while a captive on parole in Britain. The senior Spanish fleet officer, Admiral Federico Gravina, escaped with the remnant of the Franco-Spanish fleet (a third of the original number of ships); he died five months later of wounds sustained during the battle.

The victory confirmed the naval supremacy Britain had established during the course of the eighteenth century, and was achieved in part through Nelson's departure from prevailing naval tactical orthodoxy. The belt hook was removed in its working life. Belt hook screw mount still remains in place  read more

Code: 25204

A Fine & Rare Medieval Short Sword, 15th Century, Used in the Battle of Agincourt 1415 Period, The Weapon of A Man-At Arms, Or Foot Knight of The Anglo French Wars Era of King Henry Vth

What a fabulous original ‘statement piece’ for any collector of fine early arms. In the world of collecting there is so little remaining in the world from this highly significant era in European and British history. And to be able to own and display such an iconic original representation from this time is nothing short of a remarkable privilege.

A man-at-arms was a soldier of the High Medieval to Renaissance periods who was typically well-versed in the use of arms and served as a fully-armoured heavy cavalryman.A man-at-arms could be a knight, or other nobleman, a member of a knight's or nobleman's retinue, or a mercenary in a company serving under a captain. Such men could serve for pay or through a feudal obligation. The terms knight and man-at-arms are often used interchangeably, but while all knights equipped for war were men-at-arms, not all men-at-arms were knights

A fine example piece, from the ancient knightly age, from around 620 to 700 years ago. an ancient and original historical sword in usual russetted condition for edged weapons of this era, with some elements lacking, the grip would have been made of organic material (such as wood or horn) and such natural materials cannot survive so many centuries without constant care . Furthermore, almost every item made of iron from this period, even the rarest of swords and daggers in the Royal Collection, will likely be in this very same state of preservation, with overall traces of surface russetting.

This sword is probably of Italian origin, from the earliest renaissance period. Swords and daggers from Germany and Italy were often imported all around Europe and certainly into Britain for the use of warrior knights and men-at-arms..

A straight short sword, likely shortened from longer, with wide double-edged blade, shallow central groove, battle nicks to the sides, iron hilt with cross-guard in unusual Oakshott style 4 with a raised quillon, pommel in the Oakshott B1 type. 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. Weight 552 grams, 53cm (21”). Fine condition.

See Oakeshott, R.E., The Archaeology of the weapons, London, 1960; Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994).

The word daga in Italy and the Venetian Empire indicated a double edged and pointed short sword, used for both war and hunting, usually 40 to 60 cm long. This medieval short sword was often used during duels. Swords like this were able to penetrate thin parts of full plated armour owing to their sharp point.

Ewert Oakshott , Ronald Ewart Oakeshott (25 May 1916 – 30 September 2002) was a British illustrator, collector, and amateur historian who wrote prodigiously on medieval arms and armour. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Founder Member of the Arms and Armour Society, and the Founder of the Oakeshott Institute. He created a classification system of the medieval sword, the Oakeshott typology, a systematic organization of medieval weaponry, a seminal work of world renown  read more

Code: 23523

Beautiful Antique Fijian 'Snake Club' Gata Waka, A Fijian Warrior's Battle Club With Skull Splitter End, Known as a Gunstock Club. One Of The Most Important Possessions Of Fiji Warrior To Demonstrate His Status Is To Slay An Enemy With The Gata Waka

18th to 19th century, an early19th century Fiji battle club. Excellent condition with fabulous natural patina. So called because of their resemblance to the butt of a gun, they are actually have no relation to rifles or muskets, and predate their appearance. It could be described as a dueling club as it could be used to parry, and then bring the bladed end down on its victim. Another trick the Fijians would use is to pin them down by the neck with the crook of the club and then snap. Probably nokonoko wood. These clubs are made from the buttress roots of an uprooted sapling that has been planted and deliberately and carefully trained to produce the desired shape. The heavy two handed war club in all its various forms is regarded as being the favourite arm of the Fijian warrior. To slay an enemy with a club brought the warrior more prestige than to kill with any other weapon. Sometimes in order to gain 'Koroi, killer status, a detained prisoner would be speared and then administered a killing blow by a warrior to the head with a club. The fact that the club shattered that part of the body held most sacred by Fijians; the head, accounted in some degree for the special psychological aura surrounding it and distinguishing it from every other weapon in the Fijian warrior's armoury.
A tally of kills made with a club was often kept by a means of nicks or notches on the head or handle, by boring small holes in the shaft. A 19th century Fijian Gata Waka snake club of dark brown patina, the heavy gunstock head the main section with raised medial ``skull splitter`` ridge, the tapering oval section haft with swelling butt. The role of the craftsman in Fijian culture was a much-valued skill and the woodcraftsmen in Fiji formed a distinct group in the community, with their own chiefs and specialists in making various items. Clubs were lovingly crafted and some clubs required years to make. Club carvers 'matai ni malumu' were highly skilled in selecting the correct type of wood for making the club and experienced enough to experiment with design as the variation in design and ornamentation on Fijian clubs attest to.
According to Rod Ewins, "This type of club is notable for the cheeks that were pounded with rocks while the tree was growing. The ridges running across the cheeks are typical." (Traditional Fijian Artefacts, Just Pacific, 2014, p. 89, fig. 6.34(i)) A small rounded ridge is located at the base of the spur at the head of the club. It is called the Tere Tere after the frill of an iguana. Small defensive wood cut in the haft midsection. This Gatawaka or gunstock club is around 37.5 inches long and an absolute beauty.  read more

Code: 20893

Superb & Incredibly Sought After, US Pre-Civil War Staghorn Antler Gripped Bowie Knife, London Made By Joseph Buck, Freeman of The City of London Circa 1830's. German Silver Crossguard & Hilt Panel. With Its Original German Silver Mounted Brown Scabbard

This is a simply superb pre-American Civil War period clipped back blade Bowie knife, complete in its original scabbard, maker marked by Joseph Buck of Tottenham Court Road, London. A very rare maker of Bowie knives, from around 1833 at Tottenham Court Rd London, until he moved his main addressed premises in 1836 to Newgate St., and again in 1856

Photos in the gallery of a Sun Fire Insurance Policy record register, from 5 November, 1834 (policy 1187028) revealed business owner “Joseph Buck of No. 245 Tottenham Court Road, Saw, Plane, File and Tool Maker.”
Further pictures in the gallery of a personal photo of Joseph Buck himself, who was awarded “The Freedom of the City of London", and a photo of his admission papers as a ‘freeman’ on 20 January, 1836. All of the above are copies for informative provenance only.

Traditional, and original, American pre Civil War period, London made, US import Bowie knife, with clip back blade, maker marked by its very rare Bowie maker, Buck of Tottenham Court Rd, {London}. All the best and most collectable antique Bowies used in the pre-Civil War, the war period, and the Wild West era, were actually British imports, mostly from Sheffield, but the rarest were made in London, as is this one.

The "first" Bowie knife was reportedly a simple hunting knife, designed by Rezin Bowie for his brother James Bowie {world famous hero of the Alamo seige in Texas} and forged by blacksmith Jesse Clifft from an old file around 1827 in Louisiana. While Rezin Bowie claimed the design and his granddaughter corroborated seeing Clifft make it, the exact appearance and maker are debated, with James Black also claiming to have made the first Bowie knife for Jim Bowie. The knife gained fame after James Bowie used his version in the 1827 Sandbar Fight, leading to widespread popularity and numerous variations, including this Bowie, made just a few years after their invention and use by Jim Bowie.

The blade is very good indeed, nicely edged and tipped, the nickel hilt mounts are in superb condition, as are the staghorn grip plates. The brown scabbard has its original nickel throat mount with frog stud, and overall in very nice order indeed

The old traditional early Bowie knife was both a hunting knife and a tool. With it, one could clear a path, hack a sapling, dig a hole, or butcher game. In the siege of Bexar in 1835, Texans used Bowie knives to dig through roofs and walls and engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Mexicans. The knife was not designed or balanced for throwing.

Southerners replaced their sword canes with Bowie knives, and sought expert cutlers, North and South, to craft fine blades. The cutlers usually were surgical and dental instrument makers in large cities. Most signed their works; Peter Rose and John D. Chevalier were prominent in New York, English & Huber and Clarenbach & Herder in Philadelphia, Reinhardt in Baltimore, Thomas Lamb in Washington, Dufilho in New Orleans, Alfred Hunter in Newark, Marks and Rees in Cincinnati, Daniel Searles in Baton Rouge, and Rees Fitzpatrick in Natchez. Henry Schively also made improved versions in various styles. English cutlers in Sheffield, who had dominated the American cutlery market since colonial times, took advantage of the fascination with the Bowie knife. They capitalized on vivid reports by English journalists of murder and mayhem in America, involving the defenders of such heinous crimes and assaults, using just such as this beautifully made knife.

A trickle of Sheffield Bowie knives in the early 1830s developed into a flood before the Civil War. Bowie knife collections indicate that only about one in ten was American made. English cutlers applied clever motifs and blade etchings that appealed to American tastes and patriotic spirit. Examples include such labels as "American Bowie Knife," "Texas Ranger Knife," "Arkansas Toothpick," "Patriot's Self Defender," "Death to Abolition," "Death to Traitors," "Americans Never Surrender," "Rio Grande Camp Knife," and "I'm A Real Ripper." Handle and guard mountings also carried symbols and slogans with American appeal. Cutlers attached handles of ivory, pearl, tortoise shell, black and gray buffalo horn, India stag horn, and fine woods. Handle pommels of nickel silver featured horse heads, shells, and geometric designs. Manufacturers generally signed their blades and added such distinctive trademarks as I*XL, B4ANY, and XCEED. At the outbreak of the Mexican War in 1846, the Bowie knife was a popular weapon in Texas. Texas Rangers under Jack (John Coffee) Hayes and Ben McCulloch carried Bowie knives and Colt Dragoon pistols into battle. Knife blades stamped and etched with Mexican War motifs appeared. Zachary Taylor, mounted on Old Whitey, was a favorite subject. Bust etchings included "Old Zach," "General Taylor Never Surrenders," "Palo Alto," and "Buena Vista." Pommels featured a Taylor bust with a patriotic slogan.

In the late 1830s an alarmed public in several Southern states demanded stringent laws to curtail the increasing "rule of the Bowie knife." In January 1838 the Tennessee legislature passed "An Act to Suppress the Sale and Use of Bowie Knives and Arkansas Toothpicks in this State." However, the sale of the knives continued to accelerate, due to it being the ideal defensive sidearm against nefarious attack, reaching a peak after the Civil War. During that war, crude blacksmith made Bowie knives were popular among Confederate soldiers. Some had large, wide blades, like those of artillery shorts words; most were unmarked. The Confederates considered the knife an essential accoutrements in the early months of the war, but as the conflict wore on the knife was replaced with the bayonet. The knives had hickory or hardwood handles and iron mounts, and were worn in heavy leather sheaths with throats and tips of tin, iron, or brass. Blades had scratch engravings and crude acid etchings, with such patriotic motifs as "Sunny South," "Confederate States Defender," or "Death to Yankees." A few Confederate Bowie knives were made by experienced cutlers and exhibited excellent workmanship. Union soldiers generally wore Sheffield or British made Bowie knives.

"In the history of American arms," wrote historian Harold L. Peterson (1958), "three weapons stand out above all the rest: the Kentucky rifle, the Colt's revolver, and the Bowie knife." Each became a part of the "Great American Legend."

Overall in scabbard approx. 13 inches long, Blade approx. 8 inches long.
The blade is 90% excellent bright, yet it does have some small salt-and-pepper pitting around the makers mark, possibly caused by a non-removed thumbprint, that has corroded, as they often do if not polished off, over a long period of time, and at the ricasso there a little pitting as well on both sides, just below the nickel crossguard. An area often missed when blades are cleaned before being re-offered into their scabbards.

It is a not often realised reaction of steel to the simplest of issues, fingerprints. Fingerprints contain highly corrosive acids that if left un-removed from raw polished steel will continue its highly invasive corroding effect, often for years, that results in localised pitting of this very nature. Probably the most famous Colt revolver in the collecting world is known as the ‘Thumb Print Colt Walker’. A revolver valued today in the millions of dollars, due to its simple, corroded thumbprint pitting, on the surface of its otherwise fine finish of the pistol. The Colt Walker Dragoon revolvers were made for a very small but significant large calibre dragoon pistol order by Capt Walker of the Texas Rangers in the 1850’s. Most were over loaded with powder {a significant design fault} that they exploded in service, so very few survive, and are thus highly prized. But one, has its incredibly distinctive ‘thumbprint corrosion’ damage, and is so iconic that it now is the pistol of legend within the collecting world.  read more

Code: 25905

A Stunning & Rare Original Neolithic Battle Axe 4,000 to 5,000 Years OId. Recovered From Oxfordshire. With An Incredible Weighty Heft of Two Pounds. Potentially A PreHistoric Anglo-Norse Weapon

Although this axe was recovered some decades ago from Oxfordshire it may have been a Norse made battle axe of an English stone age settler up to 5,000 Years ago.

This lithic battle axe has convex sides that are slightly swollen around the central hole, the latter being designed for the fitting of a handle. It has been worked from a single block of carved and polished stone.
Battle-axes from the Neolithic Norse cultures were used as combat weapons in the area of Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Like the one we are now show, they were heavy and sturdy pieces, capable of dealing a heavy blow to the enemy. They were sometimes decorated with engravings and were used for hunting as well as for warfare.

The archaeological discovery of lithic industry (stone tools) is a clear sign of human activity and progress. During the Neolithic period, the lithic industry reached a high degree of skill and evolution (in fact, the very name "Neolithic" -new stone- responds to a new way of working stone, which will be polished as opposed to the carved stone of the Palaeolithic, a change that represented a real technological revolution.

Stone hand axes were in use in the Paleolithic period for hundreds of thousands of years. The first hafted stone axes appear to have been produced about 6000 BCE during the Mesolithic period. Technological development continued in the Neolithic period with the much wider usage of hard stones in addition to flint and chert and the widespread use of polishing to improve axe properties. The axes became cult objects (for example, the entry for the Battle-axe people of Scandinavia, treated their axes as high-status cultural objects). Such stone axes were made from a wide variety of tough rocks such as picrite and other igneous or metamorphic rocks, and were widespread in the Neolithic period.

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

Just over 7 inches long almost I kilo in weight  read more

Code: 24919

Stone Age Britain Flint Tools, Some of The Earliest Evidence of Stone Age Man in the UK. Paleolithic Henley Pit Chopper Core & Moortown Pit Handaxe 200,000 to -300,000 Years Old

Approximately a quarter of a million years old. A framed display containing two large stone age tools, the Paleolithic Henley Pit chopper core and the Moortown Pit handaxe Acheulian (Homo erectus) brown flint hand axe / chopper, c.300,000 to 200,000 B.C. One artefact comes from Moortown Pit, Dorset, UK. The other Henley Pit. In untouched condition before mounting. They are in jolly fine condition. From an early Lincoln Collection originally found in Dorset. The frame is somewhat later.  read more

Code: 22297

An Extraordinary Original Conversation Piece. A Superb, Original, Late Queen Elizabeth Ist to King James Ist Period Miniature Pistol. Late 1500's, To The Turn of The 17th Century, Functioning Miniature Pistol

A pistol made in bronze, many hundreds of years ago, to fire off for the entertainment of the nobility and their children. Dark blue-black bronze age patination

An extraordinary little piece of rarely known history, from the earliest age of the black powder pistol. These intriguing miniature functioning pistols were called petronel, named after the original early name of matchlock and wheellock pistols, and very much of the period, from the Elizabethan to the Carolean age.

A petronel is a 16th and 17th century black powder muzzle-loading firearm, defined by Robert Barret (Theorike and Practike of Modern Warres, 1598) as a horsemans peece. It was the muzzle-loading firearm which developed on the one hand into the pistol and on the other into the carbine. The name (French petrinel or poitrinal) was given to the weapon either because it was fired with the butt resting against the chest (French poitrine, Latin pectus) or it was carried slung from a belt across the chest. Petronels are found with either matchlock or wheellock mechanisms.

The sclopus was the prototype of the petronel. The petronel is a compromise between the harquebus and the pistol. Early petronels date back to the end of the 14th century, with a crude buttstock. Generally the touch hole is on the right side, and fired by a separate slow match. Sometimes they had small hinged plate covers to protect the priming from moisture. By extension, the term petronel was also used to describe the type of light cavalry who employed the firearm. The petronel (cavalryman) was used to support the heavy cavalry such as demi-lancers and cuirassiers. The petronel was succeeded by a similarly armed cavalryman called the harquebusier.


We acquired a stunning little collection of miniature petronel, effectively toys, and they are the Zenith of original, and historical conversation pieces, especially when one considers they are around 450 year old working pistols. Naturally they were not made with the action mechanism of a full sized petronel, one just ignited them with a smouldering match cord, to create an instantaneous small bang and puff of smoke.
Please note, under no circumstances should one try to use them today. Each pistol is to be sold seperately.  read more

Code: 24929

Beautiful European Topographic Watercolour of A Castle on The Rhine 19th C. Likely by William Callow RWS {Royal Watercolour Society} (1812-1908) Court Painting Tutor to The Children of King Louis Phillipe of France

In the British romantic landscape style, beautifully executed with fine skill, not far removed in quality by the greatest exponant of the art of watercolours, Joseph Mallord Willam Turner who is said laid the foundation for Impressionism. This is a beautiful Victorian English School watercolour, superbly executed. It is titled but unsigned, possibly by William Callow 1812-1908 {if not, by one of his esteemed contemporaries}

The topographical tradition describes a long-established tradition of painting largely or entirely concerned with specific places on the earth and their topography.

In his article "The Topographical Tradition", Bruce MacEvoy states that the topographical tradition is rooted in 18th-century British watercolour painting intended to serve practical as well as aesthetic purposes: "At the beginning of the 18th century, the topographical watercoulor was primarily used as an objective record of an actual place in an era before photography."

William Callow (1812–1908) was an English landscape painter, engraver and water colourist.

Callow was born in Greenwich on 28 July 1812. He was apprenticed to the artist Copley Fielding, where he learnt the technique of plein air sketching. He went on to study under Theodore and Thales Fielding, where he learnt to colour prints and make aquatints, and was taught water colour painting between 1825 and 1827.
In 1829 Thales Fielding found him work as an engraver in Paris, where he worked alongside his friend Charles Bentley. While in the French capital he was encouraged by Thomas Shotter Boys to take up watercolours again. After exhibiting a watercolour of Richmond Hill in the Paris Salon of 1831, he was offered a job teaching the family of King Louis Philippe I of France, and for several years gave lessons to the Duc de Nemours and Princess Clémentine, while his own works rapidly gained popularity in England.This was helped by his influence over Francois, prince de Joinville during the turbulence of the July Revolution. Briefly the 'Callow youth' was plunged into a platonic love affair that went unrequited with the darling Princess Clementine.

Elected a member of the Old Water-Colour Society, Callow returned to London in 1841 and began to paint larger pictures, moving away from the more "dashing" style of his earlier smaller works. He travelled extensively in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, had a large number of pupils, and enjoyed favour with the royal family. He married one of his students, the artist and composer Harriet Anne Smart, in 1846.

He kept detailed diaries of his early travels, and just before his death, his sight having failed, he dictated an autobiography. In 1855 he moved to Great Missenden, in Buckinghamshire, where he died in 1908

He made two major trips to Germany to paint such subjects, firstly in 1852, and 50 years later in 1902 when aged 90.

7 X 9.5 inches, Frame 18.25 x 15.25 inches  read more

Code: 16919

A Most Scarce Original Antique Sharpshooter's Sword Used By Swiss Mercenaries In the 1849 Italian Revolution. Made by F Horster of Solingen

Wooden grip with brass rivets. Single edged blade made by Horster of Solingen. Carried by the Swiss Infantry sharpshooters, snipers.

Used by of the swiss regimental sharpshooter mercenaries that fought for the King in the revolution in Italy in 1848.

A Swiss regiment that fought in the streets of Naples for Ferdinand II, King of the two Kingdoms of Sicily, during the uprising of 15 May 1848. Between 1856 and 1860, around 1,200 Swiss mercenaries from the Swiss regiments in Naples continued their military careers in the Dutch colonial army.

The Revolution which began in Palermo was one of a series of such events in Italy, though perhaps more violent than others. It quickly spread across the island and throughout Italy, where it prompted Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, to follow the example of Ferdinand II and issue a written constitution, the Albertine Statute {the Albertine Statute later became the constitution of the unified Kingdom of Italy and remained in force, with changes, until 1948}. In imitation of these events, riots and revolutions followed around Europe at the same time, and may be considered a taste of the socialist revolts to come.

King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies
By the recapture of Sicily in May 1849, the battle was said to be practically over. Filangieri, however, dared not let his troops enter the set of alleys that then made up the historic center of Messina: although the regular Sicilian forces had been exterminated or forced to flee, the bombardment of the Bourbons continued on the defenseless city, that is, on the part that had not yet been occupied by the regi, for another seven hours. The soldiers of the Bourbon army gave themselves up to the looting and violence against the inhabitants.

Homes of foreigners living in Messina were also looted and destroyed, so much so that the English consul Barker reported the incident to his government writing that many English subjects living there were reduced to ruin and that even a diplomat, the consul of Greece and Bavaria M. G.M. Rillian, despite being in uniform, had been wounded by sabre, before his dwelling was also looted and burned down. The Bourbon troops did not spare even the religious buildings from looting. For example, the church of San Domenico, rich in works of art, was first looted of its sacred objects, then burned down and totally destroyed. Loss of life was incalculable. A Bourbon official wrote to his brother, immediately after the capture of Messina, stating that the Neapolitan departments had recaptured the city with a very intense fire and "trampling corpses in every step that progressed for the space of about two miles" and then commenting "What a horror! What a fire! British Admiral Parker also condemned the work of the Bourbons, and in particular the prolonged terrorist bombardment of the city even after the end of all resistance for eight hours: "The greatest ferocity was shown by the Neapolitans, whose fury was incessant for eight hours, after all resistance had ceased".

During the siege of Messina, the last insurgents who resisted the attack of the Bourbons inside a convent, rather than hand themselves over, chose to throw themselves into a well, taking their tricolour flags with them. Messina was also troubled by the work of common criminals sent by King Ferdinand II to Sicily against the insurgents and that after tormenting the Sicilians for months with brigand actions (crimes, violence, thefts, etc.) they gave themselves at the time of the fall of the city to its looting, arriving with small boats from Calabria to make loot.

Overall in nice condition, with old traces of pitting throughout the blade , one rivet cap lacking, no scabbard. A very rarely seen sword.  read more

Code: 25907

A Superb 1821 Pattern, Victorian British Officer's Light Cavalry Sabre, For Light Dragoon's, Lancer's or Hussars. Used in the Crimean War, Such As the Famous and Renown 'Charge of the Light Brigade'.

In superb naturally bright and patinated condition. Excellent fishkin grip, copper wire bound.

A most impressive sabre, and very good indeed. The very type of regulation Hussar's, Lancer's and Horse Artillery officer's sabre, as used by British Cavalry in the ill fated 'Charge of the Light Brigade' in the Crimean War against Russia.

All steel three bar steel hilt, combat blade with fine-fishskin ribbed grip with original copper triple wire binding.

Absolutely used at the time, and as used, by all the serving officer's of the light cavalry in the famous 'Charge'.

In the Crimean War (1854-56), the Light Dragoons, Hussars and Lancers were in the forefront of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalised 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.

For example in 1854 the 13th Hussars 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 endeavoring 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.

No scabbard. Great all round steel condition, and excellent grip patina.  read more

Code: 25908