Antique Arms & Militaria

The Lanes Armoury, Described To Us Every Day, By Hundreds of Our Daily Visitors, Including, By President Ronald Reagan Over 40 Years Ago, As, Probably, The Most Amazing & Very Best Shop In Britain & Especially Featured in The New York Times

Thousands of worldwide visitors to the UK come to visit us here, every day {except Sunday} of every week, and the most consistent, much appreciated and most kind comment includes they believe we are the most amazing, incredible and interesting shop in Britain, just like a museum, but, everything is for sale! If we were a UK National museum, we would likely be the very smallest, but, we contain thousands upon thousands of original collectables and books, ancient, antique and vintage from a 20 million year old megaladon shark's tooth, to a samurai sword made almost 800 years ago {we have at any one time, up to 350 original samurai antique swords in stock to view, apparently the largest original selection to be seen for sale in any shop in the world }. From an Ancient Greek 'Wreath, or Crown Of Victory' in solid hammered gold, made around 2300 years ago from the time of Alexander the Great, to many cased duelling pistols, and numerous cased Georgian and Victorian sporting guns, all with their original tools, made for a prince, or a fantastic selection of original French sabres used by Napoleon’s generals and commanders of his Imperial Garde, to a 1st Edition 'Great Gatsby', and several various James Bond or Charles Dickens Ist Editions.

We always try to have an intriguing selection of Ist Editions, for example this month you can view and buy, rare James Bond 1st Edition books, Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan Ist editions, alongside Bull-Dog Drummonds, and, up to 2,000 other history based books in stock, all vintage and hardback. We also stock antique magical and witchcraft pieces, wondrous artefacts, many arcane or esoteric, such as a collection of amazing African Congo ‘fetish’ and so-called voodoo statues, many near identical to those in the `Rockefeller Collection in the Met in New York, or, an incredibly rare ancient Hun or Visigoths Life-stone mounted sword, around 1,600 years old, reputedly imbued with magic powers to enable its warrior owner to be protected or healed from fatal wounds inflicted by their ancient Roman combat adversaries, also, a stunning early 19th century Witch Ball, mounted upon an Ancient Greek bronze ‘after the antique’ statue of Atlas, and each piece can be with a history that could likely be beyond compare.

Twenty four years ago, after 80 years of their family’s trading in Brighton, the Lanes Armoury was honoured by being Nominated & Awarded by BACA, In The Best Antique & Collectables Shop In Britain Awards 2001
Presented by MILLER'S Antiques Guide, THE BBC, HOMES & ANTIQUES MAGAZINE, for the British Antique & Collectables Awards. The version of the antique dealers ‘Oscars’ of Britain.

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

We were also very kindly described and listed as one of the most highly recommended visitors attractions in the whole of Europe {and thus the UK} by nothing less than the 'New York Times ' within their travel guide "New York Times, 36 Hours, 125 Weekends in Europe. However, this is not the sort of intimidating gallery that you may find in the most exclusive parts of London or Paris, where each room may only have a few, well lit, exclusive pieces with six and seven figure price tags. We are more like a Dickensian, ancient spell-book and magic shop, within our ancient narrow Brighton Lanes, just like Diagon Alley, as one may find within the pages of Harry Potter {by the genius author J.K Rowling} with glass cases overflowing with thousands of flintlocks, artefacts and antiquities, and thousands upon thousands of antique swords, rifles and muskets, mounted upon numerous heaving racks affixed upon the guards red painted walls, rising up from floor to ceiling. Glorious antique helmets by the dozen, piled high upon cabinets, and thousands of books stacked up on the floor and in cabinets and upon desks. Plus of course we have the ubiquitous original old ghost books, volumes on spells, sorcery and magic, and original, ancient pagan, mystical charms.

In the previous 104 years, our family’s past and present clients have included some highly fascinating people from all fields of interest, such as, Hollywood & British legends, of film and theatre, royalty, aristocracy, and academics in all fields, including curators of museums such as the British museum and likely the most famous and very first museum in the world, The Tower of London, and politicians of all types, and from all manner of countries around the world. For example, in the 1970’s {before Mark’s experience serving President Reagan} he was introduced to late great Garfield {Garry} Weston, Canadian billionaire, one of the world’s most famous philanthropists and owner of Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly London, whereupon Mark supplied Garry with finest antique Meissen porcelains thereafter for his antique department in Fortnums. He also had the incredible good fortune to meet the genius writer, artiste, actor and raconteur. Barry Humphries {aka Dame Edna Everidge}. After a glorious afternoon of entertainment, wit and wisdom imparted by Barry, Mark sold to him a fabulous rare piece of Art Nouveau for his collection. And on one extraordinary visit to our shop, in October 1970, when Mark was present {but still, at the time, studying at Brighton College } David snr and Camilla {Mark and David jnr’s mother} were visited by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. With their intention to buy a mansion house from David and Camilla {for Elizabeth’s ex-husband Michael Wilding} but, remarkably, resulted in Elizabeth selling to Camilla her own Rolex watch, just in order to annoy and anger Richard {as intensely as possible, and needless to say, it was remarkably successful}

Our oldest regular collector is now over 103 years old, and our most regular customer has been coming to us for over 78 years! Every month over 60,000 of our regular followers around the world request our weekly stock updates by our updates email. and it is so easy to join in with them, just go to our home page, enter your regular email address in the box, and click go!. you will then get an update email every weekend, {if you don't, just check your spam or junk box.}

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 plus years or more of our family’s trading.

The autographed photographs in the gallery, one from President Reagan, that was taken in the Oval Office in The White House and was very kindly given to Mark during his visit in the 1980’s. and the two certificates from The BACA Awards, and The New York Times.

Plus, in the gallery, a photo of Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton arriving at Brighton Railway Station in October 1970, prior to their visit to our shop to see Mark and David’s parents.  read more

Code: 22898

A Superb Spencer Carbine, The Best Carbine Rifle of the American Civil War, & The Wild West. One of The 500 Guns Of The ‘Colorado Shipment’ & Used In The ‘Post Colorado War’ Indian Wars, Between the Southern Cheyenne, Arapaho, & Brulé and Oglala Sioux

An absolutely cracking example in superb condition for age, probably one of the best we have seen in years, and comparable or possibly better to one we had last year, which was, until then, the finest we had seen anywhere in the last 10 years. Complete with its removable and reloadable magazine. Serial numbered 33k range.

It bears a US inspector’s cartouche stamp on the stock, and that particular inspector is seen on the Colorado issue range, within the 33k serial numbered guns, this is rare in that only 500 carbines from this serial numbered range were transferred to the Colorado territory, and this is only the second we have ever seen, both in that rarely seen 33k serial number sequence.

Colorado, in the world famous Rocky Mountains aka ‘The Rockies’, was at the very heart of what is known today as the “Wild West’ period, and it went through an incredible series of historical events at this time, it was not granted statehood till August 1st 1876, as President Andrew Jackson vetoed it in 1865, it had an amazing and violent ‘Gold Rush’ period during the war, and it was experiencing all manner of difficulties and dangers regarding the breaking of the Fort Laramie Treaty, which became known as the the Colorado War, between the warring Native American tribes, such as between the Southern Cheyenne, Arapaho, and allied Brulé and Oglala Sioux. It became the centre of so many Hollywood ‘Wild West’ films in the entire 20th century, in the telling of the stories of Colorado and ‘The Rockies’ that one way or another it became one of the most famous territories and states of America around the world.

In modern movie times the 1860 Spencer Rifle was used by Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman in ‘The Unforgiven’ and in ‘3.10 to Yuma’ by Christin Bale

The Spencer was the most advanced infantry weapon in the world of its times, it was patented in 1860 by Christian Spencer, a machinist who worked in Hartford. Conn. For Sharps and developed the Spencer on his own time. We are offering this simply superb example that is in great condition for its age. This carbine was a fundamental game changer of the entire Civil War. Although Confederates captured some of these weapons, the South's armament industry was unable to manufacture much of the ammunition due to a shortage of copper. It is only a small exaggeration to state that this cartridge decided the outcome of the Civil War.
Col. John T. Wilder said of them:"Hoover's Gap was the first battle where the Spencer repeating rifle had ever been used, and in my estimation they were better weapons that has yet taken their place, being strong and not easily injured by the rough usage of army movements, and carrying a projectiile that disabled any man who was unlucky enough to be hit by it." One of his soldiers wrote about the Spencer that it "never got out of repair. It would shoot a mile just as accurately as the finest rifle in the world. It was the easiest gun to handle in the manual of arms drill I have ever seen. It could be taken all to pieces to clean, and hence was little trouble to keep in order -- quite an item to lazy soldiers." According to Smith Aktins, a colonel in Wilder's regiment, it was "the best arm for service in the field ever invented, better than any other arm in the world then or now, so simple in its mechanism that it never got out of order, and was always ready for instant service.".

Major-General James H. Wilson, who was instrumental in crushing Hood at Nashville (15-16 Dec. 1864) and defeated Forrest at Selma (2 April 1865), wrote the following about them: "There is no doubt that the Spencer carbine is the best fire-arm yet put into the hands of the soldier, both for economy of ammunition and maximum effect, physical and moral. Our best officers estimate one man armed with it is equivalent to three with any other arm. I have never seen anything else like the confidence inspired by it in the regiments or brigades which have it. A common belief amongst them is if their flanks are covered they can go anywhere. I have seen a large number of dismounted charges made with them against cavalry, infantry, and breast-works, and never knew one to fail. It was the world's first practical repeater and fired a .52 calibre metallic rimfire cartridge (patented by Smith & Wesson in 1854 and perfected by Henry in the late 1850's} which completely prevented gas leakage from the back because the brass casing expanded on ignition to seal the chamber. It had a "rolling block" (actually a rotating block) activated by lowering the trigger guard. This movement opened the breech and extracted the spent cartridge. Raising the lever caused a new cartridge, pushed into position by a spring in the 7-round magazine, to be locked into the firing chamber. The 7-round magazine was located in the stock.
The Spencer was easy to manufacture (given the requisite industrial infrastructure), had relatively few parts, many of which were in common with the Sharps rifles, and was cheaper than other repeaters on the market such as the Henry. It also turned out to be extremely reliable under battlefield conditions. Its great advantage over the muzzle loading rifles such as the Enfields and Springfields lay not only in the rapidity of fire, but also in the ability of the shooter to aim each shot. In a normal battle situation, the muzzle loaders were fired in an aimed manner only the first few shots, thereafter it was usually a case of hurried fire after frantic loading. A trained soldier could get off two or three shots a minute with them until the barrel fouled with lead deposit. With the Spencer the soldier could fire 20 to 30 times a minute when necessary, taking advantage of the cartridge box which held 10 preloaded magazines. The only disadvantage of the Spencers was the relatively small powder charge in the cartridge which limited its range. Some marksmen therefore preferred the single shot Sharps breechloader which used paper or linen cartridges with a larger powder charge and had greater range. With the Sharps you could fire about 10 times a minute. But for the cavalry which fought mostly at close range, the Spencer was the weapon of choice.

Introduced in Jan. 1862, it found its first major use by Col. John Wilder's Indiana "Lightning Brigade" of mounted infantry at Hoover's Gap during the Tullahoma Campaign (22 June - 3 July 1863). The firepower and speed of this unit overwhelmed Wheeler's cavalry guarding the southern end of this pass and allowed George H. Thomas's 14th infantry corps to place itself on the flank of the Confederate General Hardee. This sudden development misled Hardee into thinking he had been outflanked by the entire Union Army of the Cumberland, and he retreated without orders back to Tullahoma, 15 miles in his rear. Wilder then spearheaded the turning movement to the east of Tullahoma, and this in turn undermined Bragg's entire defensive line, and he had to pull back into Chattanooga. At the price of about 500 casualties the Union Army advanced 100 miles and made military history. Later, at the battle of Chickamauga (19-20 Sept. 1863), his troops used them with decisive effect on the first day, keeping Bragg's troops from cutting the road to Chattanooga, and slowing Longstreet's attack on the second day. This is the scarcer Burnside Spencer Repeating Rifle Contract Carbine,

Made in Providence Rhode Island This specimen is one of the Burnside Contract, making it much scarcer and thus rarer than those standard carbines made by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company. Out of the 34,000 made by Burnside, over 30,000 were purchased by the U.S. government, which in gun production numbers, during this period, 30,000 was a most small contract indeed.

On October 16, 1868, 500 Burnside Contract Spencer Carbines were transferred by the Ordnance Department to the Colorado Territory. The Ordnance inspector cartouche remain visible on the left side of the stock behind the sling ring bar, this particular Ordnance stamp is also the ones used for the 500 Colorado Territory guns shipment.

Thousands of people had flooded into Colorado between 1858-1861 trying to find quick riches. As a result, the Colorado territory was born. This was the first time that a concentrated group of people had began to settle the region. It was almost immediately filled with wealth, trade, and rail transportation. By 1865, more than 1 million ounces of gold had been found. But this now overpopulated area had spilt out and violated an already unstable situation; The Treaty of Fort Laramie had been broken. The Treaty was meant to establish boundaries and offer peace, internally and externally, among both the United States and Natives. The American miners settling on the Native land only exaggerated the existing conflicts between tribes. The result ended up being years of war between multiple tribes and the U.S. Government, in what is now known as the Colorado War.
As the conflicts ceased, population growth flourished, and resources kept flowing, the territory became a state on August 1, 1876. Colorado could have been a state a little sooner if President Andrew Jackson didn’t issue a veto against the statehood in 1865. A lot of American history happened in a short span of time. Colorado played a huge role in the history of the American West, making the potential of this rifle in our opinion very special indeed.
As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 23152

A Rare, Superb and Impressive Original British or American 24-Pounder Naval Cannon Ball Souvenir of the War of 1812. The Round Shot Cannon Ball Is Indistinguishable Between US or British Fired 24 Pounders

This cast iron ball, a battle souvenir from the War of 1812, was a form of ammunition that could wreak havoc when shot from a cannon and blasted across the decks or into the hulls of warships in the late 18th and 19th centuries. And the 24 pounder was the most prolific cannon of the US Navy fleet in the War of 1812, and a main or secondary armament of the Royal Navy, depending on the rating of the vessel. This shot was returned to England and unloaded when the HMS Terror and its sister ship returned from the Fort McHenry bombardment, {part of Admiral Cochrane’s fleet} and they removed their unfired 90 pounder 10 inch mortars.

The solid shot balls were made to fit both Amarican and British 24 pounder cannon, so it may have been an unfired British shot aboard a British ship, or, an American ball that impacted once fired by a 24 pounder from an American frigate. There are numerous accounts of ‘at sea’ ship repairs, after naval engagements, where vessels of both sides removed from their hulls impacted shot that failed to penetrate the thick solid oak .

A brief resume of the War of 1812 at Baltimore;

With Washington in ruins, the British next set their sights on Baltimore, then America’s third-largest city. Moving up the Chesapeake Bay to the mouth of the Patapsco River, they plotted a joint attack on Baltimore by land and water. On the morning of September 12, General Ross’s troops landed at North Point, Maryland, and progressed towards the city. They soon encountered the American forward line, part of an extensive network of defences established around Baltimore in anticipation of the British assault. During the skirmish with American troops, General Ross, so successful in the attack on Washington, was killed by a sharpshooter. Surprised by the strength of the American defences, British forces camped on the battlefield and waited for nightfall on September 13, planning to attempt another attack under cover of darkness.

Meanwhile, Britain’s naval force, buoyed by its earlier successful attack on Alexandria, Virginia, was poised to strike Fort McHenry and enter Baltimore Harbour. At 6:30 AM on September 13, 1814, Admiral Cochrane’s ships began a 25-hour bombardment of the fort. Rockets whistled through the air and burst into flame wherever they struck. Mortars fired 10- and 13-inch bombshells that exploded overhead in showers of fiery shrapnel. It is said many exploded too soon as the fuses were set too short, which created the firework effect. Major Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry and its defending force of one thousand troops, ordered his men to return fire, but their guns couldn’t reach the enemy’s ships. When British ships advanced on the afternoon of the 13th, however, American gunners badly damaged them, forcing them to pull back out of range. All through the night, Armistead’s men continued to hold the fort, refusing to surrender. That night British attempts at a diversionary attack also failed, and by dawn they had given up hope of taking the city. At 7:30 on the morning of September 14, Admiral Cochrane called an end to the bombardment, and the British fleet withdrew. The successful defense of Baltimore marked a turning point in the War of 1812. Three months later, on December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent formally ended the war. "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbour during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large U.S. flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the U.S. victory. During the bombardment, HMS Terror and HMS Meteor provided some of the "bombs bursting in air".

Long guns, so-called because of their longer barrels, loaded with 24-pound balls (or shot) were referred to as “24-pounder long guns.” The weight of the ball combined with the length of the gun was an efficient and effective weapon used by many maritime nations at the time. Larger ships-of-the-line in the Royal Navy carried such guns as their secondary battery, but both British and American large frigates carried the 24-pounders as their primary battery.

A naval 24-pounder, which was the primary gun on board early U.S. Navy vessels during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The U.S.S. Constitution carried thirty 24-pounder guns on her gun deck below the spar deck, which carried twenty-four 32-pounder carronades. Photo 3 in the gallery is from aboard the USS Constitution, where one can see, likely, a 30 pounder ball alongside a 24 pounder. The guns were mounted in naval carriages, which were sometimes painted green, black, red, or brown, but more than likely left in their natural wood, but treated with a protective varnish that had a slight red-brown hue. All 24-pounder cannon made in the United States were cast from iron as tin and copper were not assessable natural resources at the time, so they were painted black to prevent rust. Even the bores were painted black with a scrub brush on a rod. At sea they were cleaned and painted often. Iron 24-pounder guns actually weighed some 300 pounds lighter than their bronze or brass contemporaries. The dimensions for a heavy 24-pounder are: Length: 9 ft. 6 in.; Weight: 5,488 pounds; Calibre of gun: 5.83 in.; Calibre of projectile: 5.54 in.; Weight of charge: 4 to 6 pounds; Types of projectiles: 24 pound round shot, grape shot, chain shot, and case or canister shot; Range: 300 - 400 yards.  read more

Code: 25852

A Very Rare Fabulous, Original Battle of Waterloo Recovered 12 Pounder Explosive French 'Gribeauval' Cannon Ball. Fired by What Napoleon Called His "Beautiful Daughters" Likely From The Grand Battery Pounding Mont St Jean

Recovered from the time of excavation of the battle field site of Waterloo for the construction of the 'Waterloo Mound' in the 1820's, constructed to hold the massive lion statue, to commemorate the Prince of Orange's contribution to the battle. The mound is frequently believed to be far more impressive than the prince's actual efforts as the commander of his men during the battle.
Obviously a miss-fired explosive French cannon ball that failed to detonate.

At the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the French army, under Napoleon's command, utilized the 12-pounder Gribeauval cannon. This cannon, which fired a 12-pound round shot, and explosive ball, was a mainstay of the French artillery and a key component of Napoleon's forces. The Gribeauval system, including the 12-pounder, was known for its lighter weight compared to other artillery of the time, contributing to the French army's mobility.

The 12-pounder Gribeauval cannon was a field artillery piece that fired a 12-pound (approximately 5.4 kg) round shot. It was also capable of firing other projectiles like grapeshot, canister shot, explosive Howitzer type, and later, shells.

Napoleon favoured the Gribeauval system, including the 12-pounder, calling it his "beautiful daughters". He valued its lighter weight, which allowed for greater maneuverability on the battlefield.
Waterloo Deployment:
At Waterloo, the French artillery, including the 12-pounders, played a significant role, though the battle's outcome was ultimately determined by other factors. While the exact number of 12-pounders deployed at Waterloo is debated, historical accounts mention batteries of 12-pounders being used to bombard Wellington's lines.
British 12-pounders:
It's also worth noting that the British, under Wellington's command, also used 12-pounder guns, although they were heavier than the French Gribeauval system.

The battle involved a significant amount of artillery fire from both sides. Solid shot, like that fired from the 12-pounders, was a powerful weapon capable of inflicting serious damage on troops and fortifications,

We know from his Memoirs that Napoleon ordered at 11am that the 12-pounder batteries of II and VI Corps would mass with that of the I Corps, that these 24 guns would bombard the troops holding Mont St Jean and that Comte d’Erlon would commence the attack, by first launching his left division, and when necessary, supporting it by the other divisions of the I Corps. Now, this established a battery of 18 x 12 pounders and 6 x 6 inch howitzers to batter Wellington’s line in advance of Mont St Jean.

Empty safe and inert.  read more

Code: 25842

A Superb, Antique, Meteoric Steel Kris With Singularly Beautiful Blade of Meteorite Steel. The Metalurgical Graining in The Blade Is Absolutely Spectacular

Made with laminate steel and pamor and likely with metal from a meteorite. An old, 18th century Bali Keris [or Kris] with a superbly sculpted serpentine seven wave blade bearing pamor wos wutah. The old wrongko is the batun form in the South Bali style, it is made from an outstanding piece of timoho. The old bondolan hilt is from well patterned timoho wood and is fitted with an old wewer set with pastes.
This keris displays impeccable blade quality in a scabbard of beautifully marked timoho wood and is an outstanding example of the Balinese keris. Pamor is the pattern of white lines appearing on the blade. Kris blades are forged by a technique known as pattern welding, one in which layers of different metals are pounded and fused together while red hot, folded or twisted, adding more different metals, pounded more and folded more until the desired number of layers are obtained. The rough blade is then shaped, filed and sometimes polished smooth before finally acid etched to bring out the contrasting colors of the low and high carbon metals. The traditional Indonesian weapon allegedly endowed with religious and mystical powers. With probably a traditional Meteorite laminated iron blade with hammered nickel for the contrasting pattern. Traditionally the pamor material for the kris smiths connected with the courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta originates from an iron meteorite that fell to earth at the end of 18th century in the neighborhood of the Prambanan temple complex. The meteorite was excavated and transported to the keraton of Surakarta; from that time on the smiths of Vorstenlanden (the Royal territories) used small pieces of meteoric iron to produce pamor patterns in their kris, pikes, and other status weapons. After etching the blade with acidic substances, it is the small percentage of nickel present in meteoric iron that creates the distinctive silvery patterns that faintly light up against the dark background of iron or steel that become darkened by the effect of the acids.  read more

Code: 22611

A King George IVth Police Tipstaff The Very First Truncheon Issued To Metropolitan Police In The Year of Formation in 1829.

With areas of painted finish lacking. Traditional of uppermost cylindrical form with a turned grip.

The 18th century had been a rough and disorderly age, with mob violence, violent crimes, highwaymen, smugglers and the new temptations to disorder brought about by the Industrial Revolution.

Clearly something had to be done.
In 1829 the Metropolitan Police Force, organised by Sir Robert Peel, was established to keep the order in London.
The force, under a Commissioner of the Police with headquarters at Scotland Yard, was essentially a civilian one: its members were armed only with wooden truncheons and at first wore top-hats and blue frock-coats. The "Peelers" or "Bobbies" were greeted largely with derision by Londoners, but they did become accepted fairly quickly. Their primary purpose, in those days, was to prevent crime, and some London criminals left their haunting grounds of London for the larger provincial towns, which in turn established their own forces on the Metropolitan model. The pattern followed through to the small villages and countryside. To secure co-operation between the spreading network and establish further forces,

Parliament passed an act in 1856 to co-ordinate the work of the various forces and gave the Home Secretary the power to inspect them. In the counties, under the Police Act of 1890, the police became the combined responsibility of the local authorities - the County Councils - and the Justice of the Peace, while in London, the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard remained under the Commissioner appointed by the Home Office. At the turn of the century, the British police force established a reputation for humane and kindly efficiency.
Their mere existence undoubtedly did a lot to prevent crime, and they built up what was on the whole a highly effective system of investigation and arrest, that lasted for just over 120 years. However, as Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, expressing the idea of impermanence around 500 BC once remarked
"Nothing is permanent except change".  read more

Code: 16913

South American 19th Century Brazilian ‘Faca De Ponta’ Fighting Knife Rare Antique Brazilian Cangaceiros Faca De Ponta Lampiao Bandit Dagger Knife.

Intersperced discs of carved bone and horn handle. Good maker mark logo of a prancing pony. Although made earlier they are now called after the early 20th century bandit leader. Lampiao became associated with an established bandit leader, Sebastiao Pereira. After only a few months of operating together, in 1922, Pereira decided to retire from banditry; he moved to the State of Goias and lived there peacefully into advanced old age. Lampiao then took over leadership of the remnants of Pereira's band. For the next 16 years, he led his band of cangaceiros, which varied greatly in number from around a dozen to up to a hundred, in a career of large-scale banditry through seven states of the Brazilian Northeast.

Depending on the terrain and other conditions, the bandits operated either on horseback or on foot. They were heavily armed, and wore leather outfits, including hats, jackets, sandals, ammunition belts, and trousers, to protect them from the thorns of the caatinga, the dry shrub and brushwood typical of the dry hinterland of Brazil's Northeast. The police and soldiers stationed in the backlands often dressed in an identical manner; on more than one occasion Lampiao impersonated a police officer, especially when moving into a new area of operations, in order to gain information.

The firearms and ammunition of the cangaceiros were mostly stolen, or acquired by bribery, from the police and paramilitary units and consisted of Mauser military rifles and a variety of small arms including Winchester rifles, revolvers and the prized Luger and Mauser semi-automatic pistols.

A strange and contradictory piety ran through Lampiao's psyche: while robbing and killing people, he also prayed regularly and reverenced the Church and priests. He wore many religious symbols on his person; presumably, he invested them with talismanic qualities. Like many others in the region he particularly revered Padre Cicero, the charismatic priest of Juazeiro. He was noted for his loyalty to those he befriended or to whom he owed a debt of gratitude. He generously rewarded his followers and those of the population who shielded or materially helped him (coiteros), and he was entirely reliable if he gave his word of honour. Lampiao was capable of acts of mercy and even charity, however, he systematically used terror to achieve his own survival. His enmity, once aroused, was implacable and he killed many people merely because they had an association with someone who had displeased him. He is recorded as having said "If you have to kill, kill quickly. But for me killing a thousand is just like killing one". For the cangaceiros murder was not only casual, they took pride in their efficiency in killing. They were excellent shots and were skilled in the use of long, narrow knives (nicknamed peixeiras - "fish-filleters") which could be used to dispatch a man quickly.

Lampiao's band attacked small towns and farms in seven states, took hostages for ransom, extorted money by threats of violence, tortured, fire-branded, and maimed; it has been claimed that they killed over 1,000 people and 5,000 head of cattle and raped over 200 women. The band fought the police over 200 times and Lampiao was wounded six times. 11 inches long overall
No scabbard  read more

Code: 20875

Very Fine & Beautiful, Victorian, ‘Scottish’ Officer's Sword of Presentation Grade, 29th Lanarkshire Regt. Volunteers. Presented By His Company to Captain Hincksman in 1875.Identical to The Sword Used by Lt Bromhead at Rorke's Drift

The 29th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers were created in February 1860 in Coatbridge. The corps absorbed several other Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteer companies before becoming the 7th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in June 1880. The following year this became part of the Cameronian (Scottish Rifles) as part of the army reforms of that year.

Just returned from over 20 hours of expert hand polishing and conservation in the workshop to return it to as close to how it was when presented to Capt. Hincksman in 1875. It now look breathtaking. It also still has its original patent leather inner half basket lining, This was stitched in but had to be removed to enable conservation and photographed seperate. It has now been re-stitched back in place, and we have photographed it accordingly. It’s finest grade mercurial gilt finish hilt has over 95% of all of it original mint bright gilt finish remaining.

An absolute beauty of an original historical sword. Overall in superb condition. A sword that would compliment any form of background decor. Exactly the form of sword used by Lt Bromhead in the Zulu war, as was portrayed and carried in the film 'Zulu' by Sir Michael Caine. One may find it impossible indeed to see another as fine and beautiful and as original as this sword. With its original, mirror bright polished and counter-frosted ground, bespoke fully etched blade, bearing the cypher and crest of H.M. Queen Victoria, and named and dated presentation panels.
Gothic pieced half basket hilt, combined, combat-dress scabbard, fine wire bound sharkskin grip.

Photo in the gallery from the film "Zulu" and Michael Caine as Bromhead with his sword for information only not included.
The 1822/45 pattern of sword has a Gothic hilt and Queen Victoria's cypher within the pierced oval centre. This sabre would have seen service by an officer at the very cusp of England's Glory of Empire. A sabre fit to represent the age and used throughout the Zulu War and numerous other great and famous conflicts of the Victorian era. The 1822 pattern infantry with it's elegant pierced Gothic style hilt, and the graceful monogram of Queen Victoria make it one of the most attractive patterns of sword ever used by British Army officers, and it was a pattern that saw service for almost 80 years. The blade is by Henry Wilkinson, who developed in 1845 pattern blade. Many swords of British officers were continually used for many decades, until the 1890's in fact, as swords were quite often passed on from father to son, down the generations, in many military families. During the period of this sword's use, two of most famous pair of engagements in the British army's history, during the last quarter of the 19th century, happened over two consecutive days. Curiously, it is fair to say that these two engagements, by the 24th Foot, against the mighty Zulu Impi, are iconic examples of how successful or unsuccessful leadership can result, in either the very best conclusion, or the very worst. And amazingly, within only one day of each other. The 1879 Zulu War, for the 24th Foot, will, for many, only mean two significant events, Isandlhwana and Rorke's Drift. This is the brief story of the 24th Foot in South Africa; In 1875 the 1st Battalion arrived in Southern Africa and subsequently saw service, along with the 2nd Battalion, in the 9th Xhosa War in 1878. In 1879 both battalions took part in the Zulu War, begun after a British invasion of Zululand, ruled by Cetshwayo. The 24th Foot took part in the crossing of the Buffalo River on 11 January, entering Zululand. The first engagement (and the most disastrous for the British) came at Isandhlwana. The British had pitched camp at Isandhlwana and not established any fortifications due to the sheer size of the force, the hard ground and a shortage of entrenching tools. The 24th Foot provided most of the British force and when the overall commander, Lord Chelmsford, split his forces on 22 January to search for the Zulus, the 1st Battalion (5 companies) and a company of the 2nd Battalion were left behind to guard the camp, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine (CO of the 1/24th Foot).

The Zulus, 22,000 strong, attacked the camp and their sheer numbers overwhelmed the British. As the officers paced their men far too far apart to face the coming onslaught. During the battle Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine ordered Lieutenants Coghill and Melvill to save the Queen's Colour—the Regimental Colour was located at Helpmakaar with G Company. The two Lieutenants attempted to escape by crossing the Buffalo River where the Colour fell and was lost downstream, later being recovered. Both officers were killed. At this time the Victoria Cross (VC) was not awarded posthumously. This changed in the early 1900s when both Lieutenants were awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses for their bravery. The 2nd Battalion lost both its Colours at Isandhlwana though parts of the Colours—the crown, the pike and a colour case—were retrieved and trooped when the battalion was presented with new Colours in 1880.

The 24th had performed with distinction during the battle. The last survivors made their way to the foot of a mountain where they fought until they expended all their ammunition and were killed. The 24th Foot suffered 540 dead, including the 1st Battalion's commanding officer.

After the battle, some 4,000 to 5,000 Zulus headed for Rorke's Drift, a small missionary post garrisoned by a company of the 2/24th Foot, native levies and others under the command of Lieutenant Chard, Royal Engineers, the most senior officer of the 24th present being Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead. Two Boer cavalry officers, Lieutenants Adendorff and Vane, arrived to inform the garrison of the defeat at Isandhlwana. The Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton persuaded Bromhead and Chard to stay and the small garrison frantically prepared rudimentary fortifications.

The Zulus first attacked at 4:30 pm. Throughout the day the garrison was attacked from all sides, including rifle fire from the heights above the garrison, and bitter hand-to-hand fighting often ensued. At one point the Zulus entered the hospital, which was stoutly defended by the wounded inside until it was set alight and eventually burnt down. The battle raged on into the early hours of 23 January but by dawn the Zulu Army had withdrawn. Lord Chelmsford and a column of British troops arrived soon afterwards. The garrison had suffered 15 killed during the battle (two died later) and 11 defenders were awarded the Victoria Cross for their distinguished defense of the post, 7 going to soldiers of the 24th Foot.

The stand at Rorke's Drift was immortalised in the 1964 movie 'Zulu', and Sir Michael Caine is carrying this very same pattern of sword.

Overall in excellent plus condition. Very nice and snug fit to the very brightly polished scabbard, with all its original wood liner present. The combat scabbard its the only part of the sword that bears any natural age wear with traces of old light surface pitting {now hand polished out}  read more

Code: 25848

And Now, For Something Completely Different! ***Congratulations to Our Former 'Lanes Armoury' World Wide 'Meet and Greet" Representative, Holly Hawkins-Smith's All New On-line Fashion Project & Shop, Kaija Swim

Our former and remarkably talented worldwide 'meet and greet' representative, {who is also our partner's granddaughter and great niece} has just revamped part of her successful fashion line, that she started from her bedroom as a 16 year old young school girl during the UK Covid lockdown,

kaijaswim.com

https://www.instagram.com/hollyhawkinssmith/?hl=en-gb

Congratulations from us all here, we are so, so proud of you, and your mum for all her help, advice and guidance.
Maybe some of our tens of thousands of daily viewers might know ladies that need a very special gift!!

Since then, over just the past few years, she has traveled the world sourcing sustainable materials and manufacturers from, such as, Brazil, Italy to Bali. She has arranged models and photoshoots around the globe, in the Maldives, Italy, Dubai etc. All in the past three years since she turned 18. And, as our American cousins might say, 'all on her own dime', most admirably, without a single penny of assistance from her family or banking finance.

Naluda Magazine interview with Stunning Model & Entrepreneur Holly Hawkins-Smith in 2023

Check out our interview with stunning British Model and Entrepreneur Holly Hawkins-Smith. Holly was born and raised in Brighton, England and was scouted at age 9 by a child model agency and has been working in the industry ever since. She recently signed with top London Model Agency FOMO Models and has worked with some of the most influential fashion brands in the industry including Valentino Beauty, SKIMS by Kim Kardashian, Oh Polly, Lounge, Pretty Little Thing, Boohoo and is an Ambassador for American Fashion Brand, Fashion Nova to name a few.

Besides modelling Holly also has her own successful business Kamiraa and is currently working on her first sustainable swimwear line to be launched this Summer!

“As a popular model and influencer you are followed by so many people. How do you feel about that pressure of doing always the right thing, and encourage people to follow their dreams”

"I will always encourage people to follow their dreams, I’m living proof of that! Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to model, travel and be successful. I had extremely bad skin when I turned 15 and I didn’t believe in myself if I’m totally honest! I lacked confidence, but my parents made me realize that nothing good comes easily and I will face much harder times in the future and to never ever give up! I want to show my followers that nobody is perfect and there is always ups and down along the way.
When it comes to doing the right thing, I do feel greatly that I have a responsibility to my followers to help make changes for the better. My new business Kamiraa’s {now re-named Kaija} main ethos is sustainability. Our fashion brand pieces are made from re-cycled plastic bottles and netting from the ocean, but manufactured, using ground breaking technology, to create a luxurious range of materials that have a natural feel, combined with sublime comfort. It was incredibly important to me, that if I was going to start something it had to be ethical and I’m really proud of it! Our first bikini launches in the Summer."
{It has actually taken a year longer, due to assuring herself of the very best production quality and designs possible}.

https://www.naludamagazine.com/interview-with-stunning-model-entrepreneur-holly-hawkins-smith/  read more

Code: 25849

A Rare, Original, Ancient Viking Iron Battle Hammer-Axe. Around 1100 to 1200 Years Old. Almost Every Viking Warrior Used the Axe or Spear As Their Primary Combat Weapon. Swords Were the Prerogative of Kings or Earls {Jarls} A South West England Find

An original English Viking site find in the 1870's, but not recorded as to where in the South West of England {likely Somerset} it was actually recovered.

In 836 King Egbert of led an army to Carhampton in West Somerset against a Viking army from 35 landed long-ships, in the ensuing battle the King Egbert’s army was defeated and withdrew, leaving the Vikings to raid and plunder all the surrounding countryside. The suffering of the Anglo Saxon peasantry was terrible and lasted for many decades. It wasn't until 878 that an army under King Alfred fought and defeated Viking King Guthrum's army at Edlington in Wiltshire and they fled. It wasn't until 914 that the vikings returned once more to Somerest but they were once again defeated.

Renown scholar Alcuin of York was back at Charlemagne's court by at least mid-792, writing a series of letters, regarding the brutal Viking raid at Lindisfarne, to Æthelred, to Hygbald, Bishop of Lindisfarne, and to Æthelhard, Archbishop of Canterbury in the succeeding months, dealing with the Viking attack on Lindisfarne in July 793. These letters and Alcuin's poem on the subject, "De clade Lindisfarnensis monasterii", provide the only significant contemporary account of these events. In his description of the Viking attack, he wrote: "Never before has such terror appeared in Britain. Behold the church of St Cuthbert, splattered with the blood of God's priests, robbed of its ornaments.

The Vikings began arriving en masse with armies intent on conquest. These armies were led by Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan, and Ubba, three of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, who had been killed by the Northumbrian King Ælla. The first English city to fall to the invaders was York, conquered in 866. The Northumbrians tried in vain to retake the city, and King Ælla was killed in the process. One-by-one, other Saxon realms capitulated until virtually all of north and eastern England was under the direct control of the Danes.

At this point, the strongest Anglo-Saxon kingdom was Wessex, and upon the death of its king Æthelred, Alfred succeeded the throne and took the fight to the Vikings in England, who had begun annexing huge chunks of Mercia, an ally of Wessex. Alfred’s initial campaign against the Vikings was, however, a complete failure. Anglo-Saxon military tactics and defenses were incapable of dealing with Viking raids, and Alfred was eventually forced into hiding in the Somerset Marshes. The Vikings in England had succeeded in opening up the whole of Anglo-Saxon England to their mercy.
In 878, King Alfred came out of hiding and met with the lords still loyal to his cause. During his time in the Somerset Marshes, he had carefully planned a major counter-offensive against the Danish Viking army under Guthrum. Alfred’s campaign was successful, and Guthrum’s army was beaten, first in the field at Edington and then starved into submission at Chippenham. Several years later, a boundary was established, dividing England in two, with one half under Anglo-Saxon control and the other half, known as the Danelaw, under the control of the Vikings.

King Alfred organized better defenses, as well as a powerful free-standing army better equipped to deal with Viking tactics. As a result, subsequent raids and a major invasion attempt were thwarted. The Vikings who were part of this invasion attempt either ended up settling in Danelaw or sailing to Normandy and settling there.
Beyer, Greg. "The Vikings in England (Or were they Danes?)" TheCollector.com, March 11, 2023, https://www.thecollector.com/danes-or-vikings-in-england/

Title page of a late manuscript of the Prose Edda written by Snorri Sturluson (13th century), showing the Ancient Norse Gods Odin, Heimdallr, Sleipnir, and other figures from Norse mythology, plus the legendary axe hammer.

The Tjängvide image stone with illustrations from Norse mythology
By Berig - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3682858
Showing axe hammers in combat and a Viking longship read more

5 3/4 inches x 2.1/4 inches x 2 inches at the socket width.  read more

Code: 25845