Antique Arms & Militaria

A Superb & Very Rare Original Grouping, 5th to 7th Century Roman & Goth Period 'Ceremonially Folded' Sword, From a Pagan Ritual, A Warrior or Legionary's Spartha Sword, and War Shield Mounts

A very similar find of a Roman sword and shield boss was excavated in Greece last May, and caused a sensation and world news. The 'astonishing' findings have been shared by Errikos Maniotis, an archaeologist at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, who believes the man likely served in the Roman imperial army.

'Usually, these types of swords were used by the auxiliary cavalry forces of the Roman army,' Maniotis told Live Science.

'Thus, we may say that the deceased, taking also into consideration the importance of the burial location, was a high-ranking officer of the Roman army.

It's rare to find a 'folded' sword in an urban landscape, let alone in this part of Europe, Maniotis pointed out. The term 'folded' sword describes that it has been believed to have been ceremonially killed and bent, in a pagan rite, to sacrifice the sword from current use, to represent a warrior passing into the afterlife, for it to be used in the afterlife by the warrior, and thus buried with his shield and offerings to the gods. Our sword group is around 1400 to 1600 years old. It was likely recovered more up to two centuries ago, probably a ‘Grand Tour’ find, from the area historically known as Merovingian Roman-Frankish Germany or France. The shield boss and handle have survived remarkably well, naturally the leather covered wooden shield body and sword hilt have rotted away over its 1200 plus years underground. The organic parts of shields and swords simply never survive this great period of time being buried. For example, we know not of a single complete Viking wooden shield in existence today, the only way we know today of their appearance is from ancient texts and poems that have survived. The spatha is a type of straight and long sword, measuring between 0.75 and 1 m , with a handle length between 18 and 20 cm , in use in the territory of the Roman Empire during the 1st to 6th centuries AD. Later swords, from the 6th to 10th centuries, like the Viking swords, are recognisable derivatives and sometimes subsumed under the term spatha.

The Roman spatha was used in war and in gladiatorial fights. The spatha of literature appears in the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD as a weapon used by presumably Germanic auxiliaries and gradually became a standard heavy infantry weapon, relegating the gladius to use as a light infantry weapon. The spatha apparently replaced the gladius in the front ranks, giving the infantry more reach when thrusting. While the infantry version had a long point, versions carried by the cavalry had a rounded tip that prevented accidental stabbing of the cavalryman's own foot or horse.

Archaeologically many instances of the spatha have been found in Britain and Germany. It was used extensively by Germanic warriors. It is unclear whether it came from the Pompeii gladius or the longer Celtic swords, or whether it served as a model for the various arming swords and Viking swords of Europe. The spatha remained popular throughout the Migration Period. It evolved into the knightly sword of the High Middle Ages by the 12th century. Picture of combating Frankish warrior knights using spartha and shields of the same type, from the Stuttgart Psalter.

The Merovingians were a Salian Frankish dynasty that ruled the Franks for nearly 300 years in a region known as Francia in Latin, beginning in the middle of the 5th century. Their territory largely corresponded to ancient Gaul as well as the Roman provinces of Raetia, Germania Superior and the southern part of Germania. The semi legendary Merovech was supposed to have founded the Merovingian dynasty, but it was his famous grandson Clovis I (ruled c.481-511) who united all of Gaul under Merovingian rule. Charles de Gaulle is on record as stating his opinion that "For me, the history of France begins with Clovis, elected as king of France by the tribe of the Franks, who gave their name to France. Before Clovis, we have Gallo-Roman and Gaulish prehistory. The decisive element, for me, is that Clovis was the first king to have been baptized a Christian. My country is a Christian country and I reckon the history of France beginning with the accession of a Christian king who bore the name of the Franks. The Merovingians are featured in the book The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (1982) where they are depicted as descendants of Jesus, inspired by the "Priory of Sion" story developed by Pierre Plantard in the 1960s. Plantard playfully sold the story as non-fiction, giving rise to a number of works of pseudohistory among which The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail was the most successful. The "Priory of Sion" material has given rise to later works in popular fiction, notably The Da Vinci Code (2003), which mentions the Merovingians in chapter 60 . The ritual 'killing' of swords, such as bending or breaking have been found in thousands of examples of this practice across Europe, indicating that it was a ritual common to all the pan-Celtic tribes. However, although many theories have been postulated, for now the exact significance of this mysterious custom remains unclear. Some suggest it may be for all to know that the blade is not to recovered by grave robbers, or, possibly, the warrior or knight owner has been killed in battle, and thus his sword, as part of him, is also now dead. Or, maybe an offering to the gods of the afterlife. A Merovingian Frankish sword in 'un-killed' condition, is such a rare piece to survive to today, would likely be valued comfortably into five figures £12,000 plus. In May 2021 An iron sword deliberately bent as part of a pagan ritual has been discovered in a Roman soldier's grave in Greece, an archaeologist has revealed.

The deformed or 'folded' sword was buried with an as yet unidentified soldier about 1,600 years ago in the Greek city of Thessaloniki.

His 'arch-shaped' grave was found in the underground remains of a basilica – a large public building and place of worship – dating from the fifth century AD. 'Folded swords are usually excavated in sites in Northern Europe,' he said.

'It seems that Romans didn't practise it, let alone when the new religion, Christianity, dominated, due to the fact that this ritual was considered to be pagan.'

Archaeologists are yet to assess the remains of the soldier, described as likely a 'Romanized Goth or from any other Germanic tribe who served as a mercenary'.

'We don't know anything about his profile – age of death, cause of death, possible wounds that he might have from the wars he fought,' Maniotis said.

The soldier's grave was one of seven found in the basilica, but not all of them were found containing artefacts. in the third century A.D., the Goths launched a series of raids into the Roman Empire. “The first known attack came in 238, when Goths sacked the city of Histria at the mouth of the river Danube. A series of much more substantial land incursions followed a decade later,” writes Peter Heather, a professor at King’s College London, in his book “The Goths” (Blackwell Publishers, 1996).

He notes that in A.D. 268, a massive expedition of Goths, along with other groups also called barbarians, broke into the Aegean Sea, wreaking havoc. They attacked a number of settlements, including Ephesus (a city in Anatolia inhabited by Greeks), where they destroyed a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana.

“The destruction wrought by this combined assault on land and sea were severe, and prompted a fierce Roman response. Not only were the individual groups defeated, but no major raid ever again broke through the Dardanelles,” writes Heather.

The Goths' tumultuous relationship with Rome would continue into the fourth century. While Goths served as Roman soldiers, and trade took place across the Danube River, there was plenty of conflict.

Heather notes that a Gothic group called the Tervingi intervened in Roman imperial politics, supporting two unsuccessful claimants to the emperorship. In A.D. 321, they supported Licinius against Constantine, and in A.D. 365, they supported Procopius against Valens. In both instances this backfired, with Constantine and Valens launching attacks against the Tervingi after becoming emperor.

As contact with Rome intensified, a form of Christianity known as Arianism spread among the Goths.

“In the 340s, the Arian Gothic bishop Ulfilas or Wulfila (d. 383) translated the Bible into the Gothic language in a script based chiefly upon the uncial Greek alphabet and said to have been invented by Ulfilas for the purpose,” writes Robin Sowerby, a lecturer at the University of Stirling, in an article in the book “A New Companion to the Gothic” (Wiley, 2012).
In time, the Goths would adopt the Catholic form of Christianity that came to be used in Rome. ; From a private collection of an English gentleman acquired in the 1940's. As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity. Almost every iron weapon that has survived today from this era is now in a fully russetted condition, as is this one, because only the swords of kings, that have been preserved in national or Royal collections are today still in a relative good state and condition. We show in the gallery two photos of the excavated Roman's tomb in Thessaloniki, and the Roman's folded spartha sword. In the photo of the tomb interior one can plainly see the folded sword and shield boss, the shield boss has been crushed flat. Another photograph is of the exhibit in the museum of Nuremberg Germany showing another original spartha sword unfolded and a fully formed shield boss, both are extremely similar to ours.

A sword was still so valued in the much later Norse society that good blades were prized by successive generations of warriors. There is even some evidence from Viking burials for the deliberate and possibly ritual "killing" of swords, a ritual from ancient times, which still involved the blade being bent so that it was unusable. Because Vikings were often buried with their weapons, the "killing" of swords may have served two functions, namely a ritualistic function in retiring a weapon with a warrior, and a practical one in deterring any grave robbers from disturbing the burial in order to get one of these costly weapons. Indeed, archaeological finds of the bent and brittle pieces of metal sword remains testify to the regular burial of Vikings with weapons, as well as the habitual "killing" of sword  read more

Code: 21852

A Superb Ancient Bronze Age Mace Head 3000 to 4000 Years Old, From The Age Of Rameses The Great, The Greatest Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.

Ist to 2nd Millennium B.C.Although displayed on a short stand In use it would have slotted onto a wooden haft. For over 100 years we have been delighted to acquire such fabulous historical original Items such as this, originally collected in the 18th and early 19th century by British noblemen and women touring Europe and the Middle East on their personal expeditions known as a ‘Grand Tour’. Originally placed, after being purchased on their journeys, to be placed on display in the family’s classical gallery or 'cabinet of curiosities', within their country house upon their return home.

A popular pastime in the 18th and 19th century, comprised of English ladies and gentlemen travelling for many months, or even years, throughout classical Europe, and the Middle East, and Western Asiatic region, acquiring antiquities and antiques for their private collections. The use of the stone headed mace as a weapon and a symbol od status and ceremony goes back to the Upper Palaeolithic stone age, but an important, later development in mace heads was the use of metal for their composition. With the advent of copper mace heads, they no longer shattered and a better fit could be made to the wooden club by giving the eye of the mace head the shape of a cone and using a tapered handle.

The Shardanas or warriors from Sardinia who fought for Ramses II against the Hittities were armed with maces consisting of wooden sticks with bronze heads. Many bronze statuettes of the times show Sardinian warriors carrying swords, bows and original maces. Persians used a variety of maces and fielded large numbers of heavily armoured and armed cavalry (see cataphracts). For a heavily armed Persian knight, a mace was as effective as a sword or battle axe. In fact, Shahnameh has many references to heavily armoured knights facing each other using maces, axes, and swords. The enchanted talking mace Sharur made its first appearance in Sumerian/Akkadian mythology during the epic of Ninurta. Roman though auxiliaries from Syria Palestina were armed with clubs and maces at the battles of Immae and Emesa in 272 AD. They proved highly effective against the heavily armoured horsemen of Palmyra. Photos in the gallery of original carvings from antiquity in the British Museum etc.; Ashurbanipal at the Battle of Til-Tuba, Assyrian Art / British Museum, London/ 650-620 BC/ Limestone,, An Assyrian soldier waving a mace escorts four prisoners, who carry their possessions in sacks over their shoulders. Their clothes and their turbans, rising to a slight point which flops backwards, are typical of the area; people from the Biblical kingdom of Israel, shown on other sculptures, wear the same dress, on a gypsum wall panel relief, South West Palace, Nimrud, Kalhu Iraq, neo-assyrian, 730BC-727BC.
A recovered tablet from Egypt's Early Dynastic Period (3150-2613 BCE) shows a Pharaoh smiting his foe with a war mace. The mace is complete with its display stand as shown. Part of an original collection we have acquired, of antiquities, Roman, Greek, Middle Eastern, Viking and early British relics of warfare from ancient battle sites recovered up to and around 220 years ago on a Grand Tour.

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

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

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

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

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

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

This wonderful piece would have been made and traded throughout the Western Asiatic region. 10.5 inches high including stand.
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


Picture 10; Étiquette au nom du roi Den, ivoire, British Museum (EA 55586). Le roi Den est représenté debout brandissant une massue et tenant par les cheveux un personnage agenouillé qu'il s'apprête à frapper. {Multi-license with GFDL and Creative Commons CC-BY 2.5}  read more

Code: 23025

A Museum Quality Original & Ancient, Crusades Period, King Edward Ist Medieval Knights Sword, 13th century. Used During The Time of Edward Longshanks, William Wallace and Robert The Bruce, Used By Both English & Scottish Knights During That Historic Era

The type known in academic circles as the Oakshott Type XII. What a fabulous original ‘statement piece’ for any collection or decor. 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 wonderful example piece, from the ancient knightly age. Effectively, from this time of almost eight hundred years ago, from a collectors point of view, nothing else significant survives at all, only the odd small coin or very rarely seen, and almost impossible to own, carved statuary.A simply stunning historical original double-edged original knight's crusades period iron longsword of Oakeshott's Type XII (Oakeshott, 1991, p.105). Incredibly, still complete with its iron scabbard mount. Oakeshott is the standard that describes and by which defines Medieval swords, their types, and periods of use. The swords' broad, flat, evenly tapering blade is typical of specimens of its category, with the blade tending to widen below the hilt; incredibly the iron mouth of its original scabbard is also still present decorated with an openwork flower, but now in 2 pieces; the fuller is well defined, extending from below the guard for a little more than half of the blade's length;
This is the dominant style of knightly sword in use during the time of King Edward 1st of England Edward Longshanks such as in the first War with Scotland against Robert the Bruce and Sir William Wallace. The frequent myth is that the Scots mostly used the great sword Claymore, as seen in Braveheart, but the reality is very few of those were used, and even the so called William Wallace Claymore in the Wallace museum display in Stirlingshire, Scotland is iust an amalgam of various mixed sword parts, a Ship of Theseus of sorts.

The 'Great Seal of Robert The Bruce' shows him holding the very same type of sword.
This type was frequently made in Venice, by their great armourers, and many king's around all Europe had this form of sword. King Edward's sword, for example, was very similar to this sword, in its shape and form, but the king's sword would have been thinly coated with gold on the hilt. The Battle of Falkirk, (22 July 1298) was the initial Scottish victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, but was soon avenged by Edward at the Battle of Falkirk. English rule was thus re-established over Scotland, forcing William Wallace to wage a lengthy guerrilla campaign until he was hunted down, betrayed, and eventually executed for treason in 1305. After the disaster of Stirling Bridge, King Edward I of England determined to crush the Scots once and for all. He headed north to invade the country in 1298, advancing with an army of around 2,500 mounted knights many using swords just as this one and 12,500 infantry, including large numbers of Welsh and English archers armed with longbows. In response, Wallace tried to avoid a pitched battle, because his own forces were smaller than the English, totalling around 1,000 mounted knights and 5,000 infantry. Wallace preferred to conduct guerrilla warfare against the invading army, but was eventually forced into battle at Falkirk.
On the morning of battle, Wallace formed his pikemen up into four schiltrons, hedgehog like circular formations of pikemen standing shoulder to shoulder with their pikes facing outward through an outer row of men in armour. The gaps between the schiltrons were filled with archers. The four schiltrons withstood the initial English cavalry and infantry attacks but then became vulnerable to steady fire from Edward?s longbowmen, the first time significant use had been made of this deadly weapon in battle. As the arrows poured down, supplemented by crossbow and slingshot, the schiltrons were soon broken up by the charging English cavalry. The Scots then fled into the neighbouring woods. Wallace escaped, although he lost many supporters. English losses, too, were high, testimony to the effectiveness of the schiltrons in battle.

Losses: English, 2,000 of 15,000; Scottish, 2,000 of 6,000. This sword's blade's cross-section, being of lenticular design, was originally from thirty to thirty-two inches long; the grip is a little longer than previous Oakshott type XI; the style of guard is short and straight, with a flattened cross-section at the edges; the pommel is a thick spherical piece, slightly flattened at the centre. Nice condition for age.

To see references on this sword see Oakeshott, J, R.E., The Archaeology of the weapons, London, 1960 (Woodbridge, 1999); Oakeshott, E. 'Records of the Medieval Sword', Woodbridge, 1991; Nicolle, D., 'Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era', 1050-1350, vol I,, London, 1999; Scalini, M., 'A bon droyt, spade di uomini liberi, cavalieri e santi', Milano, 2007.

Oakeshott considered this category of sword as one of the most difficult to interpret, because of the affinity of the hilt with the types X and XVI (Oakeshott, 1991, p.65). Characteristics are the noticeable taper blade, with acute point, and the grip quite short, never of hand-and-a-half length. The fuller is usually running for at least half of the length of the blade. The sword was the most typical chivalry weapon diffused in all the Europe, largely attested by archaeological finds and artefacts from historical collections. Among the most famous specimen of such sword we should remember the one of Sancho IV (El Bravo) of Castilla, died in 1295 AD see photo in the gallery, which show a slightly curved hilt, and a cross-guard also expanded at the edges (Nicolle, 1999, cat.391). Our sword finds a good parallel in a Venetian sword preserved in Padova Museum (inv. IG 321119, s. Scalini, 2007, pp.126-127, cat.19), realised by an unknown Italian craftsman. Many of these swords were taken as booty from the Muslims taken from the vanquished crusader knights initially and preserved until recent times in the Arsenal of the Imperial Palace in Istanbul. Such weapons were mainly of Venetian origin, with slightly broader blades than our specimen. Scalini has suggested that such swords could also have been employed during the XIII-XIV century by the Venetian infantry in the operations of the Aegean Sea against Muslims and Eastern Romans. If this is true, the importance of the weapon consists in its functional use, not only reserved to the European and British knights, but also army of the Venetian Republic. The early flat disc pommels appear in the Mediterranean Sea at the beginning of the 12th century (for similar pommels s. Oakeshott, 1991, p.69) and persist in use until the 15th century and even later, although with significant variations. In art and medieval iconography, the best samples of swords of XII types can be seen on the famous Bible of Maciejowski made in approximately 1250 (Nicolle, 1999, 49a-49 as). Many of the swords illustrated therein seem to indicate a full length fuller; this might seem to indicate a Type X. However, most of the illustrations feature far too much profile taper to be a true Type X. Given the period of the Bible's manufacture they are far more likely to indicate swords of Type XII design. There is also an Apocalypse in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge (Nicolle, 1999, 189a-b) that was made around twenty years earlier that features illustrations of the type. Many of the illustrations from the Royal Armouries Manuscript I.33 can be interpreted as being of type XII pattern. More specifically, the typology of our specimen is visible on the sculpture of a warrior in the Church of Saint Justyna in Padua, confirming again the Venetian origin of such swords.

"Most probably our specimen is from a battlefield or, most probably, a river find. Type XII (Oakeshott, 1960 (1999) p.206), is generally dated between about 1180 and 1320, It has a large blade, very similar in shape to the Ulfberht ones but generally with a more acute point, and a well-marked and slightly narrower fuller starting in the tang and running about halfway along the blade; this occasionally is of two or more grooves. The pommel is generally in the form of a thick disc, sometimes with the edges bevelled off, sometimes of the so-called "wheel" form. Its cross is generally straight, circular in section and widening at the ends, but it may be of a square section; or it may be curved or have decorated terminals. Inscriptions on examples of these swords dating after about 1220 are slightly different again; the letters are closer together, often so dose that it is nearly impossible to make them out; and instead of the clearly legible religious phrase there is a jumble of repetitive letters which seems meaningless. Typical of the High Middle Ages, these swords begin to show greater tapering of the blade and a shortened fuller, features which improve thrusting capabilities while maintaining a good cut. The Cawood sword is an exceptionally well preserved type XII specimen, exemplifying a full-length taper and narrow fuller, which terminates two thirds down the blade. A number of Medieval examples of this type survive. It certainly existed in the later 13th century, and perhaps considerably earlier, since the Swiss National Museum in Zurich possesses an example that has a Viking Age-type hilt but clearly a type XII blade." Above quote on this sword from Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Small hole damage to central fuller and extreme tip missing. As with all our items they are accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity and thus Guaranteed for Life. Just under a kilo in weight, 74.5cm (29 1/4" inches long overall). As usual the wooden handle and scabbard leather perished centuries past. Almost every iron weapon that has survived today from this era is now in a fully russetted condition, as is this one, because only the swords of kings, that have been preserved in national or Royal collections are today still in a good state and condition. This sword will be accompanied by a complimentary wooden display stand. It could also be enhanced by affixing to a rectangular bespoke display panel.


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 trading  read more

Code: 22938

A ‘Special Offer’ Pair, A Single Fired Musket Ball & Single Musket Flint From The Waterloo Battlefield Site During the Construction of the Waterloo Mound in the 1820’s

From the field of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, during a Grand Tour at the building of the Waterloo mound, a huge lion monument at the battle site of Waterloo, in honour of the Prince of Orange. A collection 20 assorted musket flints and pistol and musket balls recovered from Waterloo, offered by us as a matched pair of one ball and one flint at a time. Originally purchased by the nobility from the peasant excavators in Belgium, while building the Prince of Orange's Waterloo Mound at the battlefield in the 1820's, and acquired by us from their descendants as a collection of 20. From part of our antiquities and curiosities acquired from a circa 1820's Grand Tour classical collection from Europe and the Middle East. Such as Agincout, Poitiers, Crecy, Waterloo, Philippi, and following Alexander's campaign trail of his conquests then part of the Ottoman Empire. We have been purchasing piecemeal from the same family for around 20 years, military items and artefacts from the family's forebears Grand Tour in the early 19th century.

We are offering them as two fabulous souvenirs of the famous Duke of Wellington's victory over France and Napoleon, a matched pair, one flint and one ball.
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday, 18 June 1815, near Waterloo in Belgium, part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands at the time. A French army under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by two of the armies of the Seventh Coalition, a British-led coalition consisting of units from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hanover, Brunswick, and Nassau, under the command of the Duke of Wellington, referred to by many authors as the Anglo-allied army or Wellington's army, and a Prussian army under the command of Field Marshal von Blücher, referred to also as Blücher's army. The battle marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle was contemporaneously known as the Battle of Mont Saint-Jean or La Belle Alliance (the beautiful alliance).
Waterloo was the decisive engagement of the Waterloo Campaign and Napoleon's last. According to Wellington, the battle was "the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life". Napoleon abdicated four days later, and coalition forces entered Paris on 7 July. The defeat at Waterloo ended Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French and marked the end of his Hundred Days return from exile. This ended the First French Empire and set a chronological milestone between serial European wars and decades of relative peace, often referred to as the Pax Britannica. The battlefield is located in the Belgian municipalities of Braine-l'Alleud and Lasne, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Brussels, and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town of Waterloo. The site of the battlefield today is dominated by the monument of the Lion's Mound, a large artificial hill constructed from earth taken from the battlefield itself; the topography of the battlefield near the mound has not been preserved. Photo is of ten of our twelve pairs

THE HOME OF ORIGINAL AND AFFORDABLE ANCIENT ANTIQUITIES & ANTIQUE COLLECTABLES IN BRITAIN.

The Lanes Armoury, world renown as Britain's favourite specialist collectors shop, and also a font of historical and educational information that is detailed with every single item. We detail each piece alongside its historical context, either generic or specific, for those that may wish to read, learn, or be informed, as opposed to simply acquire collectable items. It is probably one of the oldest companies of our kind in the whole of Europe and we have been established through generations, as specialists in armoury antiques, militaria collectables, and specialist books, since the early 1900’s, and thus we have continued to be one of the largest in the world today. We are also very pleased to know we are also studied and read by academics and students from hundreds of universities around the world, by those that are interested in not only British but worldwide history.
For this reason we also like to be known as a learning and researching website.
Everyday we are contacted by historians that wish to make contributions to our detailed information for our pieces, and to thus add to our constant dedication to impart historical knowledge, that may be unknown to many of our millions of viewers.

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

Code: 23946

A Simply Wondrous, And An Absolute Beauty of a Cased, Double Barrelled Percussion Sporting Gun, Tools, Powder Flask Cleaning Rod, Nipple Key, Ramrod With Multi Heads, Turnscrew Etc. Bespoke Made Circa 1835. Maker to The King. W Parker Master Gunsmith

A magnificent original set, that would cost today, to be bespoke custom hand made, in excess of £125,000. the hand engraving alone is simply breathtaking.

A finest, King William IVth period, original cased English double Damascus barrelled sporting gun by one of England's pre-eminent makers of the 19th century, William Parker of 233 High Holborn, gun maker to Prince Edward, to King William IV (1830-1837) and the Duke of Kent. The whole gun's mounts are hand engraved with superlative skill and expertise, it features, pheasants, a gun dog, dolphin hammers a stunning pineapple finial to the trigger guard and profuse scrolling arabesques. The stock is the finest Juglans Regia walnut and the mahogany case bears its original baize lining and maker label. It is fully fitted throughout with essential equipment and tools including a signed copper powder flask, a shoulder mounted bandolier type shot flask, a percussion cap tin, a gun fitted ram rod, and a separate case ram/cleaning rod, oil bottle, and a most rare shot-pouring funnel, nipple key and screw driver. To replace such a fine hand made gun today, likely only Purdey or Boss of London could have the skills required to replicate it. A fine engraved Purdey side by side, with a pair of Damas barrels, costs today £113,500, with an 18 months to 2 year waiting time, and additional costs for casing and tools. When John Field died in 1791, William Parker went into partnership with his widow (name not known), and they traded as Field & Parker. John Field had been a goldsmith, sword cutler and gun maker at 233 High Holborn from 1783 to 1791, trading under his own name and also as Field & Co and Field & Clarke (William Clarke of Duke Street, Portland Place). In 1793, William Parker bought John Field's widow's share of the partnership. From that date he ceased being a goldsmith. In 1803, on John Brown's bankruptcy, he appears to have bought the rights to Joseph Hall's "New Invented Hammer" patent (No. 2573 of 1802 - waterproof primer and steel)from John Brown, and he used George Dodd's 1805 patented lock. In 1803 he started to supply the London Police Offices with guns. In 1804 William Parker became a Contractor to Ordnance. In 1806 Parker opened additional workshops at 22 Chamber Street, these moved in 1808 to 52 & 31-32 Chamber Street.

In 1814 the firm rented additional production facilities at John Stinton's workshops in Glasshouse Yard. In about 1814 William Parker's daughter, Mary, married John Field Jnr. From 1820 to 1826 William was recorded at 60 Theobalds Road (workshop). In 1829 William Parker started to supply guns to the Metropolitan Police (London Police Offices re-named). At some time William Parker became gun maker to Prince Edward, then to King William IV (1830-1837) and the Duke of Kent. In 1833 William became a contractor to the East India Company, and in 1837 a contractor to the Hudson's Bay Company. The double-barrelled sporting gun was seen as a weapon of prestige and authority, especially in the days of the East India Company and the later Raj in India, where it was known as Dunali (literally "two pipes"). It was especially valued in Bihar, Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab

In 1838 Ordnance contract ended and the firm moved their workshops to 10 Chamber Street. In 1841 William Parker died, aged 68, and John Field Jnr and his sons trading as Parker, Field & Sons took over. This fabulous gun is in overall excellent condition. As with all our antique guns, no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22880

A Wonderful, Very Early Period, 17th Century Flintlock Long Buccaneer's 'Fleet Captain's' or Pirate Pistol By Martin of Angers, Anjou, France. From The Real Pirates of The Caribbean & Port Royal Period The So-Called 'Golden Age of Piracy' Circa 1680

An absolute typical and beautiful form of the earliest and most elegant flintlocks of the 17th century, and just as favoured by Pirate Fleet Captains and Buccaneers during the golden age of piracy. Superb walnut stock, earliest form steel mounts, long barrel, and early barrel form ramrod pipes. Long eared steel 'skull crusher' buttcap, and early, typical 17th century 'banana shaped' lock, with florid scroll engraving to the lock plate and engraved with the gunsmiths name, Martin, Angers {Angers is partially obscured through age wear}. Twin nearside lock screws.
Martin is recorded in Angers sometime before 1680 and up to 1710, but his Christian name is not known. Angers was one of the principal provincial gunmaking centres - other significant Angers gunmakers were Boular, Bleiberg, and Pierre Monlong.

In the mid to late 17th century,m in the Western world, the period from the 1680s to the 1720s, has come to be known as the ‘Golden Age’ of piracy.

This was a time of heightened pirate activity, when thousands of ships in the Atlantic and beyond became the prey of roving bands of sea-robbers. Many of the most infamous pirates and buccaneers from history come from this era, Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach, Captain William Kidd, Anne Bonny, 'Calico' Jack Rackham, Henry Morgan, Stede Bonnet and more.

The Caribbean and the east coast of North America were the main areas that saw a surge in activity in the early 1700s. Ships carrying expensive cargoes were often intercepted, and stolen goods were sold in nearby islands and European colonies. Some pirates operated further afield, off the West African coast or in the Indian Ocean, where the island of Madagascar became a key base.

The real Pirates of the Caribbean
"The ‘golden age’ of piracy coincided with the expansion of English, later British, colonial activity around the Caribbean," writes Blyth. "This began in earnest with the capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655." While piracy has been traditionally portrayed as a male-dominated pursuit, historical evidence suggests that women actively participated in piratical activities during various periods. In the Golden Age of Piracy, from the late 17th to the early 18th centuries, the presence of women in pirate crews became more pronounced. Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two notable examples of women who defied societal norms and navigated the perilous waters of piracy alongside their male counterparts. Their inclusion in pirate crews challenged prevailing gender roles and added a layer of complexity to the maritime lore of the era.

The story of Henry Morgan

Henry Morgan, a British privateer turned pirate, rose to prominence as a cunning strategist and a master of raiding Spanish colonies. Born circa 1635 in Wales, Morgan's early life remains relatively obscure, with scant historical records providing details about his upbringing. His maritime career began as a privateer, authorized by English authorities to harass Spanish colonies and shipping interests in the Caribbean during a period marked by geopolitical tensions between England and Spain.

Sir Henry Morgan was a unique individual in the history of buccaneering. He started out life as an indentured servant on a plantation in Barbados, but worked himself up to become one of the most notorious buccaneers there ever was, receiving not only praise from his uncouth brethren of the coast, but also from his king, who rewarded him with the a knighthood and a lofty position. Morgan had connections running in all levels of society, from the lowest dregs, his mutinous crewmen, to the highest echelons of nobility. Together with his loyal friend and crony, Sir Thomas Modyford, he rampaged the Spanish territories in the Caribbean, his name inspiring fear along the vast coastline of New Spain and its dependencies. Through his network he was able to operate as a broker between criminals from various countries and a nation state, culminating in the biggest amphibious buccaneering raid ever in the Caribbean and the destruction of the once proud city of Panama, of which the ruins can still be visited today. The expected end for a man of his making would be at the gallows, or swinging from the gibbet in some port or another. But not for Sir Henry Morgan. His networking skills protected him, set him up with a respectable position after his career as a buccaneer, and provided him with the luxury of drinking himself to death in the comfort of his own home at the ripe age of 53; a fate most other pirates must have surely envied him for. His exploits in the plunder of Port Royal and the attack on Spanish merchant ships contributed to the era’s rich folklore and became the stuff of legends. Sabatini based the first part of the story of Blood on Henry Pitman, a surgeon who tended the wounded Monmouth rebels and was sentenced to death by Judge Jeffreys, but whose sentence was commuted to penal transportation to Barbados where he escaped and was captured by pirates. Unlike the fictional Blood, Pitman did not join them, and eventually made his way back to England where he wrote a popular account of his ordeal. For Blood's life as a buccaneer, Sabatini used several models, including Henry Morgan and the work of Alexandre Exquemelin, for historical details

The motivations for women to join pirate crews were as diverse as those of their male counterparts. Some, like Anne Bonny and Mary Read, disguised themselves as men to gain access to the adventurous and lucrative world of piracy. Their ability to conceal their gender allowed them to operate freely within the confines of a pirate ship, participating in raids, engaging in combat, and earning the respect of their fellow crew members. The reasons for adopting a pirate's life were multifaceted, often stemming from a desire for economic independence, a rejection of societal constraints, or a quest for personal freedom in an era when opportunities for women were limited.

Original engravings in the gallery of;

Anne Bonny, as pictured in Charles Johnson’s 1724 book A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates. Anne Bonnya (disappeared after 28 November 1720) was a pirate who served under John Rackham. Amongst the few recorded female pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy, she has become one of the most recognized pirates of the era, as well as in the history of piracy in general.
The first biography of Bonny comes from Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book A General History of the Pyrates. In August 1720, Bonny, Rackham, and another woman, Mary Read, together with about a dozen other pirate crewmembers, stole the sloop William, then at anchor in Nassau harbor, and put out to sea. The crew spent months in the West Indies attacking merchant ships. Bonny took part in piracy alongside the men, handing out gunpowder to fellow pirates, a job usually referred to as a powder monkey. On 5 September 1720, Governor Rogers put out a proclamation, later published in The Boston Gazette, demanding the arrest of Rackham and his associates. Among those named are Anne Bonny and Mary Read

Portrait of Capt. Sir Henry Morgan, as pictured in Alexandre Exquemelin's Piratas de la America (1681) It is probable that in the early 1660s Morgan was active with a group of privateers led by Sir Christopher Myngs attacking Spanish cities and settlements in the Caribbean and Central America when England was at war with Spain. It is likely that in 1663 Morgan captained one of the ships in Myngs' fleet, and took part in the attack on Santiago de Cuba and the Sack of Campeche on the Yucatán Peninsula

Engraving of Capt. Stede Bonnet with a Jolly Roger flag from A General History of the Pyrates (1724) Stede Bonnet (c. 1688 – 10 December 1718) was an English pirate who was known as the Gentleman Pirate because he was a moderately wealthy landowner before turning to a life of crime. Bonnet was born into a wealthy English family on the island of Barbados, and inherited the family estate after his father's death in 1694. Despite his lack of sailing experience, Bonnet decided he should turn to piracy in the spring of 1717. He bought a sailing vessel, the Revenge, and traveled with his paid crew along the Eastern Seaboard of what is now the United States, capturing other vessels and burning other Barbadian ships.

Bonnet set sail for Nassau in the Bahamas, to the haven for pirates known as the "Republic of Pirates", but he was seriously wounded en route during an encounter with a Spanish warship. After arriving in Nassau, Bonnet met the infamous pirate Blackbeard. Incapable of leading his crew, Bonnet temporarily ceded his ship's command to Blackbeard. Before separating in December 1717, Blackbeard and Bonnet plundered and captured merchant ships along the East Coast. After Bonnet failed to capture the Protestant Caesar, his crew abandoned him to join Blackbeard aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge. Bonnet stayed on Blackbeard's ship as a guest, and did not command a crew again until summer 1718, when he was pardoned by North Carolina governor Charles Eden and received clearance to undertake privateering against Spanish shipping interests. Bonnet was tempted to resume his piracy but did not want to lose his pardon, so he adopted the alias "Captain Thomas" and changed his ship's name to Royal James. He had returned to piracy by July.

THE HOME OF ORIGINAL AND AFFORDABLE ANCIENT ANTIQUITIES & ANTIQUE COLLECTABLES IN BRITAIN.

The Lanes Armoury, world renown as Britain's favourite specialist collectors shop, and also a font of historical and educational information that is detailed with every single item. We detail each piece alongside its historical context, either generic or specific, for those that may wish to read, learn, or be informed, as opposed to simply acquire collectable items. It is probably one of the oldest companies of our kind in the whole of Europe and we have been established through generations, as specialists in armoury antiques, militaria collectables, and specialist books, since the early 1900’s, and thus we have continued to be one of the largest in the world today. We are also very pleased to know we are also studied and read by academics and students from hundreds of universities around the world, by those that are interested in not only British but worldwide history.
For this reason we also like to be known as a learning and researching website.
Everyday we are contacted by historians that wish to make contributions to our detailed information for our pieces, and to thus add to our constant dedication to impart historical knowledge, that may be unknown to many of our millions of viewers.

Overall in super condition for age, very nice and crisp action, good steel all over with just minor traces of usual old surface pitting, very small contemporary repairs to the walnut stock with small losses to the forestock wood trim, bottom half of the brass tipped rammer lacking.
19.5 inches long overall.

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 trading  read more

Code: 25750

An Exceptional 1821 Pattern Victorian British Cavalry Officer's Combat Sabre By Hawkes & Co. Piccadilly. Fully Etched Deluxe Quality Blade. The Regulation Pattern Used in the 'Charge of the Light Brigade' in the Crimean War.

Bearing Queen Victoria's VR cypher with crown. Regulation three bar steel hilt and sharkskin bound wired grip. Slightly curved blade, bearing the maker's name, address and Royal Warrant of Hawkes and Co.

The very type of Hussar's and Lancer's sabre as used by British Cavalry Officer's in the ill fated charge in the Crimean War against Russia. All steel three bar steel hilt, Full original wire binding over complete fish skin grip. Overall in fine all bright patina. Sadly, of course, we have no way of knowing if this sword was ever used by a specific officer in the charge, however it is absolutely used at the time and is the type used by all the serving Cavalry officers The Cavalry officers actually used two types of sword, this, the 1821 pattern, and a few officers also used the mamaluke pattern sword In the Crimean War (1854-56), the Light Dragoons were in the forefront of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalized by Tennyson's poem of that name ("Into the valley of death rode the six hundred").
The regiments adopted the title hussars at this time, and the uniform became very stylish, aping the hussars of the Austro-Hungarian army. But soon the blues and yellows and golds gave way to khaki as the British army found itself in skirmishes throughout the far-flung Empire, in India and South Africa especially.
In 1854 the regiment received its orders from the War Office to prepare for service overseas. Five
transport ships - Harbinger, Negotiator, Calliope, Cullodon, and the Mary Anne – embarking
between the 8 May and 12 May, carried 20 officers, 292 other ranks and 298 horses. After a
troubled voyage, the regiment arrived at Varna, Bulgaria on the 2 June. On the 28 August the
entire Light Brigade (consisting of the 4th Light Dragoons and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th
Lancers, the 8th Hussars and 11th Hussars, under the command of Major General the Earl of
Cardigan) were inspected by Lord Lucan; five men of the 13th had already succumbed to cholera.
On the 1 September the regiment embarked for the Crimea - a further three men dying en-route.
On the 20 September the regiment, as part the Light Brigade, took part in the first major
engagement of the Crimean War, the Battle of the Alma. The Light Brigade covered the left
flank, although the regiment’s role in the battle was minimal. With the Russians in full retreat by
late afternoon, Lord Lucan ordered the Light Brigade to pursue the fleeing enemy. However, the
brigade was recalled by Lord Raglan as the Russians had kept some 3,000 uncommitted cavalry
in reserve.

During the 25 October the regiments, the Light Brigade, took part in the Battle of
Balaclava and the famous Charge of the Light Brigade.
The 13th Light Dragoons formed the right of the front line. The 13th and 17th moved forward; after 100 yards the 11th Hussars, in the second line, also moved off followed by the
4th and 8th. It was not long before the brigade came under heavy Russian fire.Lord Cardigan, at the front of his
men, charged into the Russian guns receiving a slight wound. He was soon followed by the 13th
and 17th. The two squadrons of the 13th and the right squadron of the 17th were soon cutting
down the artillerymen that had remained at their posts. Once the Russian guns had been passed,
they engaged in a hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy that was endeavouring to surround them
by closing in on either flank. However, the Light Brigade having insufficient forces and suffering heavy casualties, were soon forced to retire. The last picture in the gallery is of 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. His identical sword can be plainly seen in that painting. This sword has no scabbard at present, however, it may well become available, as the last owner had it but it was lost in their home, if it is found, and if required, it will be supplied by us at its cost price to us.

Overall in excellent condition for age.

The regulation pattern of sword used by British cavalry officer's, such as all the hussar and lancer officer's that took part in the 'Charge of the Light Brigade' in the Crimean War.

We show in the gallery a photograph of Winston Churchill holding his sword around the time he was in the Charge of Omdurman, another with Lord Cardigan of the Charge, holding his identical sword, and a photograph by Fenton, taken in the Crimean of officers of the Light Brigade all with their identical sword.  read more

Code: 25050

A Superb Boer War Period Royal Artillery Officer's Sable Busby With Near Mint Gilt Grenade Plume Holder With Royal Crested Badge of the Royal Artillery.

It still has the original leather lining with maker name in a gilt and leather seal, that reads; Jones Chalk and Dawson 6 Sackville St. London

The busby retains the original black leather chin strap gilt Royal Artillery coat of arms on gilt grenade helmet plate which is worn over the left ear together with the white horsehair brush plume. Finally the Busby has the rich red "bag" which hangs down the soldier's right side of the helmet. Officer helmets are always in very short supply and are sought for, but Sable helmets in this truly nice condition come along very infrequently.

The Second Boer War saw attempted application of bombardment as an alternative to the use of ground forces. In most battles fought during the conflict this was proved not to be possible. There was competition from the other side's ability to undertake evasive measures. The opponent was able to use cover to protect himself and hide his position. Nonetheless, the tactic of the creeping barrage, used at the Relief of Ladysmith, has been described as "revolutionary"
At the outbreak of the war the British army had some 100 guns available of which only twenty-seven were standard field artillery pieces of a reasonably modern design. The Royal Navy was able to contribute seven 12-pounders carried for use ashore. The rest had to be improvised and, as a result of the resourcefulness of Captain Percy Scott, shipboard 12-pounders, known as Long 12s, and 4.7-inch guns were given emergency carriages or mounts and rushed to the front. The defence of Ladysmith thus became possible. In the course of the war the Royal Field Artillery’s 15-pounders were augmented by another 322 guns, fifty Pom-Poms, eighteen 5-inch breech-loaders, thirty-nine 5-inch howitzers and twelve 6-inch guns. The Royal Horse Artillery brought out seventy-eight 12-pounders. Almost all these were out-ranged by Boer weapons of similar type. Furthermore, the British use of field artillery had to undergo a radical revision from the approved tactics that lost the guns at the Battle of Colenso to the fire-from-concealment approach that proved effective at the Battle of Magersfontein. In addition, new methods of coordinating artillery support and infantry movement had to be developed.

Royal Artillery in the Boer War;

Howitzer Batteries. These guns form part of the siege train sent out to South Africa under command of Lieutenant Colonel Perrott, and are engines of enormous destructive power. The howitzer is an old weapon newly introduced with far higher qualities than it ever possessed before. There are several calibres of the siege howitzer, that depicted being the 6-in. breech-loader, weighing 30-cwt., and when limbered up scaling nearly 4.5 tons in draught. The gun fires lyddite shrapnel, the shell complete weighing nearly 70-lb, and having a range of something like 10 miles. The breech mechanism is analogous to that of the field gun, with am interrupted screw, and buffers are provided to take the recoil. A vast amount of material accompanies a siege battery, ammunition being supplied to the extent of 500 rounds per gun, and the work of transport becomes therefore one of great difficulty. But it is in the hands of officers and men who thoroughly competent to undertake it. a siege train is, of course, the artillery formed for the reduction of fortified places. Such a train has nearly always to be organised specially for its particular purpose, and it rarely has any existence in peace-time. Thus when the war broke out the work of organising the siege train began, and the new siege material supplied was soon afloat, and reached South Africa in charge of a highly-trained force of experienced officers and men.
Siege train officers. In all about 32 officers, and over 1,100 men, drawn chiefly from Portsmouth, Plymouth, Exeter, and Devonport, are with the siege train in South Africa. They know the work thoroughly, and are all under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Perrott, Captain and Adjutant Currie, and Captain De Brett, DSO, Major Allen, Major Nicholls, and Captain Strange. These are the principal officers to whom the highly-important duties of the siege train are assigned, but the full exercise of their activity and experience will come later on in the war, when the time arrives for crushing the final opposition of the Boers. Meanwhile, however, the officers of the siege train have been very well employed.

Ammunition Column. These are representative types of the men who are concerned in the transport and distribution of ammunition. They are the sergeant-major, the gunner, the trumpeter, the sergeant, and the driver, and all are armed with revolvers, and certain of them with swords and rifles. There are two classes of ammunition columns. The first is attached to every division, as well as to the Corps Artillery and to the corps troops attached to the Army Corps, and brings up the ammunition reserve for all arms, the ammunition waggons feeding the batteries, and the small-arm carts supplying the infantry, while there are reserve waggons and carts for both. The other class of ammunition columns forms the ammunition parks, which consist of three sections, and are intended for the supply of the whole Army Corps and the cavalry brigades.

Formerly in the Roy Butler Collection.  read more

Code: 25756

A Most Rare Early, 15th Century Medievil Iron Hand Cannon or 'Handgonne' Made in the Period, & Used From the Battle of Agincourt era.

An absolutely beauty and an incredibly significant historical piece, effectively the handgonne, was the very first iron hand held powder and ball piece, that began the evolution into the pistol, almost 700 years ago, and around 500 years before Mr Colt developed his first revolver in the 1840's.

From a collection of original rare antiquities collection we acquired, and this is the third extraordinarily rare original handgonne from that collection. We normally find only one or two every ten years or so, or even longer, but to buy all three from the collection was amazing.
Small enough and light enough to be manoeuvred by hand and thus then loosely fixed, or semi-permanently fixed, in either an L shaped wooden block and used like a mortar, or, onto a length of sturdy wooden haft, from three feet to five foot long to be used almost musket like and bound with wrought iron bands see illustration in the photo gallery of these medievil variations of mounting. The precursor to the modern day pistol and musket from which this form of ancient so called handgonne developed into over the centuries. It is thought that gunpowder was invented in China and found its way to Europe in the 13th Century. In the mid to late 13th Century gunpowder began to be used in cannons and handguns, and by the mid 14th Century they were in relatively common use for castle sieges. By the end of the 14th Century both gunpowder, guns and cannon had greatly evolved and were an essential part of fortifications which were being modified to change arrow slits for gun loops. Hand cannon' date of origin ranges around 1350. Hand cannon were inexpensive to manufacture, but not accurate to fire. Nevertheless, they were employed for their shock value. In 1492 Columbus carried one on his discovery exploration to the Americas. Conquistadors Hernando Cortez and Francisco Pizzaro also used them, in 1519 and 1533, during their respective conquests and colonization of Mexico and Peru. Not primary arms of war, hand cannon were adequate tools of protection for fighting men.. Approx, 4 3/4 inches long 1 inch bore, and weighs around 3.2 lbs

See Funcken, L. & Funcken F., Le costume, l'armure et les armes au temps de la chevalerie, de huitieme au quinzieme siecle, Tournai,1977, pp.66-69, for reconstruction of how such hand cannons were used.
At the beginning of the 14th century, among the infantry troops of the Western Middle Ages, developed the use of manual cannons (such as the Italian schioppetti, spingarde, and the German Fusstbusse).

THE HOME OF ORIGINAL AND AFFORDABLE ANCIENT ANTIQUITIES & ANTIQUE COLLECTABLES IN BRITAIN.

The Lanes Armoury, world renown as Britain's favourite specialist collectors shop, and also a font of historical and educational information that is detailed with every single item. We detail each piece alongside its historical context, either generic or specific, for those that may wish to read, learn, or be informed, as opposed to simply acquire collectable items. It is probably one of the oldest companies of our kind in the whole of Europe and we have been established through generations, as specialists in armoury antiques, militaria collectables, and specialist books, since the early 1900’s, and thus we have continued to be one of the largest in the world today. We are also very pleased to know we are also studied and read by academics and students from hundreds of universities around the world, by those that are interested in not only British but worldwide history.
For this reason we also like to be known as a learning and researching website.
Everyday we are contacted by historians that wish to make contributions to our detailed information for our pieces, and to thus add to our constant dedication to impart historical knowledge, that may be unknown to many of our millions of viewers.

Our unique certificate of authenticity is provided with every purchase from The Lanes Armoury, backed up by over 100 years of family trading in military antiques of all eras and all known civilizations  read more

Code: 24768

Superb Antique Indian Tulwar 17th to 18th Century Silver Decor Hilted Sword With Hybrid Wootz Damascus Shamshir Blade. It Has Just Returned From Expert Museum Grade Conservation, Polishing & Etching of The Blade To Reveal Its Stunning Pattern

A superb period sword, with a very good superb hybrid wootz Damascus shamshir steel blade. Hybrid Damascus wootz has a more open wood type running grain with larger patterns than plain wootz that has often small tight curls.
Silver decorated iron Lahore hilt decorated with stunning design with matching lined cap pommel. Strong and powerful blade of substance. There are clear indications that this particular hilt is of Punjab manufacture: the fat vase shape of the grip section, the slightly forward angle of the quillons and the beautiful silver koftgari.

For those familiar with fine Japanese blades, we notice just how incredibly similar hybrid Wootz can appear by comparison to the hamon and hada of some early Japanese tamahagane steel blades. In fact, the similarity is quite remarkable.

A sword as popular within the Sikh Empire as the Mughal Empire.

The hilt also known as tulwar comprises langets with lotus-head outlines, domed quillons, and a centrally swollen grip. A knuckle guard with a terminal that recurves toward the disc-pommel which has been attached with a pointed sunburst plaque, a decorative feature further fitted at its centre with a dome and lotus bud finial.

Persian: شمشیر (type, which refers to a Persian or Iranian sword with a radical curve. The name is derived from the shamshīr, which means “lion’s claw or lions tale” in the Persian language – pointing towards the curve of the blade. These types of blades are normally used for slashing unarmored opponents either on foot or mounted; while the tip could be used for thrusting. In India, the term ‘Goliya’ (meaning circle) was used to describe these types of blades; referring to their curve.

The Tulwar had historically been the quintessential combat sword used by Sikhs as their sacred kirpan due to its superior handling while mounted on horseback. With a curved blade optimized for cutting and slashing with sweeping cuts delivered from the shoulder by a horseman the curved blade of the tulwar could strike repeated blows without the danger of the blade getting stuck in bone or armour. It allowed for fierce slashing on all sides cutting through enemy formations while mounted on horseback.

Emperor Aurangzeb was the last significant Mughal emperor of India. His reign lasted from 1658 to 1707. During this phase, the empire had reached its largest geographical expansion. Nevertheless it was during this time period that the first sign of decline of the great Moghul Empire was noticed. The reasons were many. The bureaucracy became corrupted and the army implemented outdated tactics and obsolete weaponry. The Moghul Empire was descended from Turko-Mongol, Rajputorigins. It reigned a significant part of the subcontinent of Asia from the initial part of the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century. When it was at the peak of its power, around the 18th century, it controlled a major part of the Asian subcontinent and portions of the current Afghanistan. To understand it's wealth and influence, in 1600 the Emperor Akbar had revenues from his empire of £17.5 million pounds per annum, and 200 years later, in 1800, the exchequer of the entire British Empire had revenues of just £16 million pounds. It has been asked, that, although he had the income per annum of around 500 billion pounds a year in today's value,but was he actually happy? Apparently,...yes, he was ecstatic.



31 inch blade measured across the curve. No scabbard  read more

Code: 22647