Antique Arms & Militaria

A Rare, Museum Piece, An Original, Antique, Very Impressive, & Iconic Bantu People Ngombe Doko Tribal Chiefs Power & Status Sword, Especially Used for Executions. An Ngulu. Also Called an Ngol, an Ngwolo, an M'Bolo, or, a Gulu By Connected Tribes

A rare museum piece due to its originality {not, as is most frequently seen these days, an old tourist piece} and it is in truly exceptional condition.

This large execution short sword was a symbol of power - and was a "ceremonial sword for tribal chiefs". With its indigenous names of an Ngulu, an Ngol, an Ngwolo, a M'Bolo, & a Gulu

The drawings in the gallery show the use of these Ngulu execution and power swords at various executions. The back side of the blade was used as a machete for cutting. It was believed a person remained "aware" for some time after decapitation. As a result, the deceased final sensual experience was flying through the air to meet his or her ancestors. Executions were not judicial events meant for murders or criminals. They were events carried out for ceremonial purposes and the chosen were invariably slaves.

Werner Fisher & Manfred A. Zirngibl wrote in their book Afrikanische Waffen: This design was selected for cult and execution. A knife or short sword was created which symbolised the inexorableness on the judgment and execution. This execution sword became a symbol of power and, in a few variations became a ceremonial sword for tribal chieftains.
At executions, the condemned man was tied to the ground with ropes and poles. His head was fastened with leather straps to a bent tree branch. In this way it was ensured that the man's neck would remain stretched. After the decapitation, the head would be automatically catapulted far away and his body left behind. Used by the Bantu peoples (including the Ngombe, Doko, Ngala, etc.) of the Congo Basin. The Ngulu beheading was forbidden by the Belgians during the Free State of Congo period (1885-1908). It resembles the Khopesh, the sickle-sword of ancient Egypt, except that it has a much more massive blade, made of iron, with sometimes a non-cutting back and a semi-circular concavity.

The blade hadn't been cleaned or polished for well over 100 years, so we fully conserved the whole sword. We removed {by hand} all the red oxidised blade surface colour to return it to its original, hand crafted steel colouring, revealing all it original age patina, and some not inconsiderable hand engraving, and then conserved and polished the complete original carved wooden hilt with brass studwork  read more

Code: 22327

An Extraordinary, 1100 to 1200 year old, Original, Ancient Viking Draken Head Staff Mount. A Knob of a Staff or Wand of Magic, Used By A Völva, a Sorcerer or Sorceress of Seiđr. A Seiðstafr, The Staff of Power in Viking Occult & Magick

Just returned from expert conservation {undertaken over many months}.
A fabulous ancient bronze Draken head {Viking for dragon} with remains of its forged iron wand attached to its socket mount. Modelled on one of the greatest iconic symbols of the Viking Norsemen, the Draken head, the iconic symbol on the prow of a Viking longship, the Draken figurehead.

The iron staff or wand was an important accessory used by the Völva when carrying out Seiđr, Viking magic. The.magic staffs were around two to three foot long, forged of iron, often in the form of a distaff, with a knob pommel, that could take many forms, made of other metals, more usually brass or bronze, sometimes the knob might be inlaid with gems, and the staff was used by professional Viking sorcerers and sorceresses when performing Seiđr, the Viking tradition of the occult.

These staffs acquired a plenitude of meanings and functions, from symbolic to practical. As such the staff may be understood as the attribute of a völva, the rod keeping up the world, a distaff spinning the future

"From the beginning seiðr was the prerogative of the gods, and it is clear that its origins predate the Viking Age by several centuries (Hedeager 1997). The sources relate how Òðin became the supreme master of sorcery, having learnt of its powers from the goddess Freyja."
(Price, N. 2008 “Sorcery and Circumpolar Traditions in Old Norse Belief” p. 245 in “The Viking World” Brink, S. & Price, N. eds)

Ok hon hafði staf í hendi, ok var á knappr

Eiríks saga rauða describes a seiðkonur with her staff:

"(Thorbjorg the seiðkonur) was dressed in such wise that she had a blue mantle over her, with strings for the neck, and it was inlaid with gems quite down to the skirt. On her neck she had glass beads. On her head she had a black hood of lambskin, lined with ermine. A staff she had in her hand, with a knob thereon; it was ornamented with brass, and inlaid with gems round about the knob."

A völva buried in Fyrkat, Denmark was buried with a box containing talismans or taufr. These included an owl pellet, small bones from birds and animals as well as henbane seeds. When thrown on a fire, henbane seeds can produce a hallucinogenic smoke that gives those who inhale it a sense of flying which may have enhanced the völva’s trance. The völur who were buried in the Oseberg ship were similarly outfitted with a pouch of cannabis seeds for their journey beyond life.

Völur were also buried with a staff, not only a shamanic implement but also an insignia of their profession. The Old Norse term völva has been widely translated to mean a “wand carrier” or “magical staff bearer”. Many shamans use a ceremonial staff as an object of spiritual power. Held during the visionary ritual of seiðr these seiðstafr or völ, may have been representation of the World Tree as is common among shamans from the Arctic to Asia and down to the Peruvian Amazon. Since the spiritual principle uniting the spirit worlds for the Norse was the Great Tree, Yggdrassil it makes sense that völur would carry a staff. Being able to travel into the realms of the spirits is a critical requirement for any shamanic practitioner. The wand or staff would function as a connection to all the realms of spirit as well as another kind of tether to help a völva return to this world.

We show in the gallery one drawing of a museum exhibit, an iron staff of power recovered from a burial, in Klinta, Oland, Sweden, and held to the right is a recreated copy of the ancient Viking relic with its brass, formed, knob pommel.

Being a staff pommel, we believe it is the smallest surviving part of a Seiðstafr, {The Staff of Power} yet, of all the surviving examples we have seen in the past 50 years, and they are so few as to be near non-existent, this example is, in our opinion, the most iconic Viking image example existing, and likely now unique in the world {so far discovered}, and as such, may be the only surviving part of its type to appear on the open market, or ever likely to.

The closest example we have ever seen are the small, semi flat, cast draken head clothing pins that were cast, often in lead, in intaglio carved mould stones. Which show just how important the draken (dragon) head was to Viking symbolic culture. We show a really rare find, of one such small Draken head clothes pin moulds, in carved soapstone, now in the collection of Swedish History Museum.

For example; With regards to expert conservation methods of bronze {copper alloy} objects {and some other materials} The dirt from the surface of the object could be removed manually using a scalpel under magnification. Care would be taken not to dislodge the powdery, corroding surface. Where the surface was in particualrly bad condition the dirt will be left in situ and small areas might be locally consolidated using 2.5% HMG Paraloid B72 (methyl ethyl methacrlylate) in 50:50 Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone) and Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol. This method of conservation is also used by the British Museum {amongst other institutions}

Our Draken head is approx. 6cm long overall, including the remaining iron staff top.
As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity  read more

Code: 24789

A Good 19th Century, Heavy Grade, Antique 'Berber's' Jambiya or Koummya

Two ring mounting with beautiful and finely scroll engraved panelled front decoration The koummya is the characteristic traditional dagger of the Berber and Arabic peoples of Morocco. Stone classifies these as being one localised variant of the Arabic jambiya, and the contoured handles, curved double-edged blades and exaggeratedly upturned scabbard tips are all features consistent with such an interpretation. In the context of the traditional regional manner of dress, the koummya is worn visibly at the left side, generally about at the level of the waist and is suspended vertically, with the scabbard tip forward, by a long woolen baldric, attached at either end to one of the two scabbard rings, and worn crossing in front and back of the torso and over the right shoulder. A much greater diversity in forms and decoration exists than is represented by the examples presented here and presumably such features could be used to place particular examples geographically and temporarily.
Koummya blades are curved and double edged with the portion nearer the hilt remaining relatively straight while the curvature becomes pronounced in the half towards the tip. The length of the blade which is bevelled and sharpened is longer along the concave side than along the opposite convex side. Blade thickness tapers from the base of the blade, where it is thickest, to the tip. While the edge bevels may give the blade a flattened diamond or lenticular cross-section towards the tip, the cross-section is rectangular at the forte. These blades are characteristically relatively thin and utilitarian and the presence of fullers or ridges is not typical.  read more

Code: 23296

A Wonderful, Museum Piece. A Rare, Ancient Bronze and Iron Incredibly Long, High Status, Combat Cavalry Sword. 36 Inches Long. A Finely Engraved 'Eared' Bronze Hilt With a Long Iron Back Sword Blade. Around 3200 Years Old

Ancient Near East long sword 12th to 9th century BC. A magnificent, enormous bronze sword of the "double ear" pommel style, likely made using the lost wax casting technique by highly trained urban artisans for an elite member of a nomadic horse-riding clan. The blade was forged in iron first, and then the handle was cast onto it - scans of similar swords have revealed tangs inside the handles. Size: Hilt 9.75 inches long, 3 inches width at its widest x blade 30" long width at widest 1.25 inches, total overall length 39.35 inches

This well-balanced weapon has a slender, hilt, with raised decorative elements on each of the four sides joining to a pommel that divides into two finely decorated semi-circular "ears" at right angles to the blade. A polyform hilt with cylindrical grip geometrically engraved with a ruled herringbone pattern, carefully designed with crescent-shaped horns extends down to firmly grip the upper end of the prominent blade midrib that tapers regularly with almost straight single cutting edge to a point.

The "double ear" style of sword - with both bronze and iron blades - have been excavated from graves in southern Azerbaijan, the Talish and Dailaman regions of northwest Iran, and the urban sites of Geoy Tepe and Hasanlu, also in northwestern Iran. Another, with both bronze pommel and blade, was pulled from the Caspian Sea, where it may have been thrown as an offering.

It seems that swords like this example were not just made to be used in battle, but instead to show status or as votive weapons. There is a strong tradition in the ancient Near East of swords and other weapons being associated with the gods. For example, there is a rock carving dating to ca. 1300 BCE from this region that shows a scene of the gods of the Underworld, including one who is holding a sword similar to this one. Similarly, a golden bowl excavated at Hasanlu (northwestern Iran) shows three swords of similar form to this one that are associated with three deities from the Hittite pantheon. Whatever its original function, this would have been a spectacular weapon to behold, with a deep, shining surface when polished. Whoever commissioned this sword must have been an elite individual of high status, perhaps seeking to honour the gods by handling such a weapon.

This is a most handsome ancient bronze weapon from the era of the so called Trojan Wars. The ancient Greeks believed the Trojan War was a historical event that had taken place in the 13th or 12th century BC, and believed that Troy was located in modern day Turkey near the Dardanelles. In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey . "The Iliad" relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy, while the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the Achaean leaders. Other parts of the war were told in a cycle of epic poems, which has only survived in fragments. Episodes from the war provided material for Greek tragedy and other works of Greek literature, and for Roman poets such as Virgil and Ovid.

The war originated from a quarrel between the goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite, after Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, gave them a golden apple, sometimes known as the Apple of Discord, marked "for the fairest". Zeus sent the goddesses to Paris, who judged that Aphrodite, as the "fairest", should receive the apple. In exchange, Aphrodite made Helen, the most beautiful of all women and wife of Menelaus, fall in love with Paris, who took her to Troy. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and the brother of Helen's husband Menelaus, led an expedition of Achaean troops to Troy and besieged the city for ten years due to Paris' insult. After the deaths of many heroes, including the Achaeans Achilles and Ajax, and the Trojans Hector and Paris, the city fell to the ruse of the Trojan Horse. The Achaeans slaughtered the Trojans (except for some of the women and children whom they kept or sold as slaves) and desecrated the temples, thus earning the gods' wrath. Few of the Achaeans returned safely to their homes and many founded colonies in distant shores. The Romans later traced their origin to Aeneas, one of the Trojans, who was said to have led the surviving Trojans to modern day Italy. Made in copper bronze in the Western Asiatic region. Western Asiatic bronzes refer to items dating from roughly 1200-800 BC that have been excavated since the late 1920's in the Harsin, Khorramabad and Alishtar valleys of the Zagros Mountains especially at the site of Tepe Sialk. Scholars believe they were created by either the Cimmerians or by such related Indo-European peoples as the early Medes and Persians. Weapons from this region were highly sought after by warriors of many cultures because of their quality, balance and durability.

The Battle of Thermopylae
The first decision, to hold the narrow Vale of Tempe between Macedonia and Thessaly, was abandoned when it was realised that the position could easily be turned. The Greeks then occupied the still narrower pass of Thermopylae with 6,000 or 7,000 hoplites and stationed 271 triremes at Artemisium in northern Euboea. The positions were linked by communication between the Spartan commanders, King Leonidas at Thermopylae and Eurybiades at Artemisium, who intended to halt and damage the Persian forces. Meanwhile, Xerxes was advancing slowly. He made no use of separate columns, and his fleet suffered heavy losses in a storm when it was convoying supply ships along the coast. It was already August when Xerxes began the operations, which extended over three days.

On the first day, Xerxes sent a detachment of 200 ships, unseen by the Greeks, to sail around Euboea and close the narrows of the Euripus Strait. He also attacked with his best infantry at Thermopylae, where the Greeks inflicted heavy casualties. During the afternoon the Greek fleet, having learned about the Persian detachment from a deserter, engaged the main Persian fleet with some success. The Greeks intended to sail south that night and destroy the detachment the next day, but a tremendous storm kept the Greeks at Artemisium and wrecked the 200 Persian ships off south Euboea. On the second day, news of the Persian disaster was brought up by a reinforcing squadron of 53 Athenian ships. Xerxes attacked again with no success at Thermopylae, and the Greeks sank some Cilician vessels off Artemisium.

A Greek traitor, Ephialtes, offered to guide the Persians along a mountain path and turn the position at Thermopylae. The Immortals, a cadre of elite Persian infantry, were entrusted to him. At dawn on the third day, they began to descend toward the plain behind the Greek position. Leonidas retained the troops of Sparta, Thespiae, and Thebes and sent the remainder south. He then advanced. He and his soldiers fought to the death, except the Thebans, who surrendered. Meanwhile, the Persian fleet attacked at noon. Both sides suffered heavy losses, and the Greeks realized that they could succeed only in narrower waters. That evening, when the fall of Thermopylae was known, the Greek fleet withdrew down the Euboic channel and took station in the narrow straits of Salamis.

For reference see: Moorey P.R.S. "Catalogue of Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum" (1971), pg. 80 fig 63, Mahboubian, H. "Art of Ancient Iran" pg 304 386(a) & (b) and pg 314-315 397a-I, Moorey PRS "Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Adam Collection" pg 58 28 and Muscarella "Bronze and Iron, Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art" pgs 282-285 385-390.


The British Museum holds an example of the "double ear" style that is smaller than this one (ME 124630).
Formerly from a famed US Californian collector Mr Retting, he acquired this sword in the 1960's  read more

Code: 25355

A Superb & Most Gruesome Original Collectors & Conversation Piece, A King George IIIrd Man Trap "Leg Smasher" Torture Device. Only The Second Original Example Of These Incredibly Effective Anti Poaching Devices We Have Had in 10 years

A very scarce English wrought iron 'man trap', probably 18th or very early 19th century, made to most agonisingly deter trespassers and poachers from private estates.

Comprising two large sprung iron ‘jaws’, each lined with a row of prominent, interlocking saw teeth, that would be instaneously released and snapped shut with immense and rapid power, likely in a mere millesecond, by simply applying foot pressure to its trip plate. Known within the realms of tools of torment as a torture device, as it was certainly not meant to kill outright, just agonisingly maim, {that would likely though, eventually cause death but, probably weeks later} yet it would likely cause death within a few days, if, you couldn't escape its vicious jaws.

Here is a superb object to attract curiosity, great interest and thus, intriguing conversation. It would look superb mounted upon a wall {especially a castle, if you have one}. Man traps such as this have been popular for centuries as part of museum and castle armoury displays. Within the sections dedicated to early iron torture devices, and tools of torment, such as iron maidens, the scavengers daughter, gibbets, scolds bridles, ducking stools, thumb screws and finger crushers, iron pears, spiked collars, and last, but certainly not least, the rack!

In the 18th and early 19th centuries common land and shared fields were being enclosed in pursuit of more efficient and productive farming, as well as for fashionable parkland. William Cobbett (born in Farnham in 1763) wrote passionately about the resulting loss of livelihood for the rural poor and there were other protests. In 1721 a masked gang, led by 'King John' killed 11 deer at the Bishop's Park at Farnham and then rode through the market place in triumph.

In 1723 the 'Black Act' authorised the death penalty for more than 50 poaching offences. It remained law for nearly a century and when it was repealed poachers were transported instead. Landowners also used man traps, as well as spring guns and dog spears operated by trip wire, to deter poachers. Man traps were made illegal in 1826 but in 1830 a new law was passed enabling landowners to apply for a licence to use them. They were finally banned in 1861, although Gertrude Jekyll, famous ornamental garden designer writing in 1904, observed that "notices of such dangers were posted on the outsides of properties to within a comparatively recent date."
Our man trap probably dates to the late 18th to 19th century. To set it, the metal jaws were forced apart and held down by a finely balanced catch , just like a modern day mousetrap. The slightest movement of the central plate would release the catch, causing the jaws to slam shut. It is hard to imagine that the poacher would not lose his foot, it would certainly smash all the legbones in the effected area. The hooks on the plate were to hold down the leaves and grass used to camouflage the trap.
Gertrude Jekyll includes a photograph of a man trap in Old West Surrey, along with the story of how this "curious relic of cruel old days" was found - "it {the man trap} was discovered in a wood on a beautiful property owned by a lady who had four, then unmarried, daughters. Luckily no one enjoyed the obvious joke more than these dear ladies themselves."

Maximum length 113cms, jaws 37cms diameter. Fair to good condition, some old damage, now covered with old black preserving paint. Used to deter trespassers and poachers and therefore left out in the open within the landowner's property.

Deactivated, its sprung 'Trap Spring' is no longer functioning for safety.  read more

Code: 23563

A Most Scarce Antique 19th Century African 'Turkana Tepeth' Steel Tribal Wrist Knife

16cms. Of disc form with cut-out for the wrist, lined inside and out with leather strips GC Probably Tepeth tribe.

The Tepeth tribe:

The present inhabitants of Karamoja are the Karamojong tribes. The main Karamojong tribes are : the Matheniko ("The Bulls"; Moroto area), the Bokora ("The Turtles"; Kangole area), the Pian ("The Lightings"; Namalu area), the Jie ("The Warriors"; Kotido area), the Dodoth ("The Ostriches"; Kaabong and Kidepo area), the Jiye (The Jie of South Sudan), the Nyangatom ("those of the yellow trumpet"; Omo valley, Ethiopia and nearby South Sudan-Ethiopia border), scattered all along the Karamojong area. The Karamojong tribes are related to Masai people, forced to move centuries ago from their original lands located in Ethiopia by the arrival of arabian tribes from the north. The original inhabitants of Karamoja weren't Masai tribes, but - together with other two tribes - a Turkana-related tribe called Tepeth. During the last centuries, Tepeth people has been defeated by Karamojong tribes, and forced to reach the highest valleys of mount Moroto, mount Kadam and mount Napak where at present times they're living of small agriculture and sheep-rearing, organized in grass-made villages each one governed by a council of seniors. The Ik (known as "Teuso" too) and the Nyangia tribes were part of the original inhabitants of Karamoja too, and as the Tepeth they've been defeated by the arrival of the Karamojong tribes and they're still alive on the mountains of Karamoja, the Ik on mount Morungole and the Nyangya on the hills of north-western Karamoja. The wrist knives are a special handmade article of all Turkana tribes, used since ancient times as weapon, to defend, to attack, and for daily works. The wrist knives were used in the past among the tribes as a very valuable currency too.  read more

Code: 22508

A Scarce Volunteer Artillery Officers- Busby Plume Holder Badge circa 1860 to 1873.

A rare and most collectable silver badge from the mid Victorian period. Now naturally silver age blackened but it would polish up beautifully, which we can do if required. Following the Crimean War, it was painfully clear to the War Office that, with half of the British Army dispositioned around the Empire on garrison duty, it had insufficient forces available to quickly compose and despatch an effective expeditionary force to a new area of conflict, unless it was to reduce the British Isles' own defences. During the Crimean War, the War Office had been forced to send militia and yeomanry to make up the shortfall of soldiers in the Regular Army. The situation had been complicated by the fact that both auxiliary forces were under the control of the Home Office until 1855.

Tensions rose between the United Kingdom and France following the Orsini affair, an assassination attempt on Emperor Napoleon III on 14 January 1858. It emerged that the would-be assassin, Felice Orsini had travelled to England to have the bombs used in the attack manufactured in Birmingham. The perceived threat of invasion by the much larger French Army was such that, even without sending a third of the army to another Crimea, Britain's military defences had already been stretched invitingly thin. On 29 April 1859 war broke out between France and the Austrian Empire (the Second Italian War of Independence), and there were fears that Britain might be caught up in a wider European conflict  read more

Code: 20589

A Most Rare Original Anglo Saxon Bronze Crucifix Pendant Around 1000 to 1300 Years Old. One Side Engraved With Stylized Palm Tree Fronds. From Stamford Bridge Region Excavated in 1820

The Battle of Stamford Bridge (Old English: Gefeoht æt Stanfordbrycge) took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, in England, on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada and the English king's brother Tostig Godwinson. After a bloody battle, both Hardrada and Tostig, along with most of the Norwegians, were killed. Although Harold Godwinson repelled the Norwegian invaders, his army was defeated by the Normans at Hastings less than three weeks later.

The battle has traditionally been presented as symbolising the end of the Viking Age, although major Scandinavian campaigns in Britain and Ireland occurred in the following decades, such as those of King Sweyn Estrithson of Denmark in 1069–1070 and King Magnus Barefoot of Norway in 1098 and 1102–1103.

The exact location of the battle site is not known for certain. Sources indicate that it took place along the Derwent River, where a wooden bridge crossed the water. There are indications of a meadow on the west side of the river and higher ground on the eastern side. The original bridge no longer exists, and no archaeological traces of it remain. The traditional locating of part of the battle at Battle Flats is based on no contemporary references. Statements that in the 18th century skeletons and weapons were found there have not been corroborated by modern finds

According to Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, before the battle a single man rode up alone to Harald Hardrada and Tostig. He gave no name, but spoke to Tostig, offering the return of his earldom if he would turn against Hardrada. Tostig asked what his brother Harold would be willing to give Hardrada for his trouble. The rider replied "Seven feet of English ground, as he is taller than other men" (implying that both Hardrada and his army would be killed and buried on English soil). Then he rode back to the Saxon host. Hardrada was impressed by the rider's boldness, and asked Tostig who he was. Tostig replied that the rider was Harold Godwinson himself. According to Henry of Huntingdon, Harold said "Six feet of ground or as much more as he needs, as he is taller than most men."


Anglo-Saxon pilgrims also travelled abroad. Within a century of the arrival of missionaries from Rome to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxon pilgrimage to Rome was already well established. Not only monks and nuns, but kings and other lay people travelled to Rome. Some, like King Ine of Wessex and King Coenred of Mercia, remained there to die close to the shrines of the apostles Peter and Paul; others, such as Benedict Biscop (d. 689) and St Wilfrid (d. 709), returned with relics, books and increased understanding of the history, teaching and liturgy of the Church. A hostel (schola) was established close to St Peter's for English pilgrims and other visitors to Rome. Women pilgrims also made the arduous and dangerous journey. In the mid-eighth century St Boniface (d. 751) wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury asking him to forbid 'matrons and nuns' to travel to Rome because many of them perished and few kept their virtue. Some English pilgrims travelled even further afield. St Willibald left an account of a visit to the Holy Land and Constantinople, recorded by an English nun, Huneberc or Hugeberc.

A portrai painting in the gallery of an Anglo Saxon noble wearing a larger version of this crucifix pendant, this example is exactly the same, but around half that size.

Very strong and robust, perfectly suitable to wear today.
260mm across  read more

Code: 25939

Every Original Purchase Comes With Our Unique Certificate of Authenticity Based On Over 100 Years Of Our Family's Trading In Brighton

It will certify every piece as genuine, and further detail its area and era of use in its history, any conflicts and campaigns within which it may have been used, and all and any of its personal provenance if known.

The Lanes Armoury and their partners are the oldest surviving antique business in Sussex, and we are the largest specialist antique Japanese samurai artifacts and sword dealers outside of Japan {and potentially, within it too!}  read more

Code: 18577

An Incredible and Historic Napoleonic Wars Battle Site Recovered Exploded Solid Shot 12 Pounder Cannon Ball

Battle field recovery. With less than 50% remaining, the ball has hit its target, and split asunder.
Within the ball is an air pocket which may explain its split in two on impact.

Thomas Blomefield, as Inspector-General of Artillery, introduced a new system of Ordnance from 1784 onwards. His system of gun tubes was based around two standard lengths: that of 17 calibres and that of 13. Seventeen calibre tubes were used for the 'heavy' or 'long' pieces with the 'light' and siege/garrison guns having tubes of 13 calibres. The calibre of all 12-pounders was 4.623 inches.

Blomefield designed three types of 12-pounder, each being specialised towards a particular function. The heavy 12-pounder was used in garrison and siege work; the medium was used in the field and the light for the horse artillery. As the Napoleonic wars progressed, however, the medium 12-pounder became the sole weapon of its class.

The medium 12-pounder had a gun-tube that was 6 feet 6.66 inches in length and it weighed 18.0 cwt; an example cast by John and Henry King in 1795 at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, has a length of 6 feet 3 inches and a weight of 18 cwt 9lb. A medium 12-pounder also survives with its original block-trail carriage in Montreal. The Royal Artillery used 12-pounder field guns in almost all of their major operations and furthermore it was used by the Royal Horse Artillery. See; Wellington's Big Bang: the British 12-pounders By Anthony Leslie Dawson  read more

Code: 21295