Soviet, USSR (CCCP) WW2 1945, Liberation Of Warsaw Medal "ЗА ОСВОБОЖДЕНИЕ ВАРШАВЫ" (For the Liberation of Warsaw)

Awarded to Soviet military personnel and partisans who directly participated in the capture and liberation of Warsaw between January 14 and January 17, 1945.

Made of brass, featuring the inscription "ЗА ОСВОБОЖДЕНИЕ ВАРШАВЫ" (For the Liberation of Warsaw) encircling a radiating starburst and laurel wreath at the bottom.

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets and post war, Cold War period Soviet medals we were delighted to acquire.

A blue silk moiré ribbon with a wide red stripe down the centre, flanked by narrow yellow edge stripes

Vistula–Oder Breakthrough: Marking Warsaw’s Liberation, January 1945
Instituted in the first weeks after victory in Europe, the Medal for the Liberation of Warsaw honoured Red Army, Navy, Air Force, NKVD, and Polish People’s Army personnel who took part in the operation that freed Poland’s capital on 17 January 1945.

Fought as part of the Vistula–Oder Offensive, the campaign combined river crossings, armor thrusts, and urban clearance. For collectors, this liberation medal pairs classic late-war Soviet design with substantial documentation potential and award numbers that sit between the largest victory issues and the scarcer city medals.

The Red Army liberated Warsaw on January 17, 1945, during the Soviet Vistula–Oder Strategic Offensive.
However, there is an important and vital historical backstory.
On August 1, 1944, the Polish underground Home Army (Armia Krajowa) launched the Warsaw Uprising to liberate the city from Nazi occupation before Soviet forces arrived.

The Warsaw Uprising triggered another stage of destruction. The Germans introduced artillery (including rocket artillery) and aviation into the fight. The insurgents did not have the strength to counteract these attacks. In turn, the German forces aimed to demolish as many houses as possible in order to destroy the insurgent resistance points. The Wehrmacht organized special units whose task was to set fire to Warsaw tenement houses.

After the uprising was suppressed, the Germans began systematic demolition of the remained buildings. Valuable home furnishings were transported inside Germany. It is estimated that the Germans used about 45,000 train wagons to move the goods stolen in Warsaw.

The Soviet Red Army halted its advance on the eastern bank of the Vistula River (in the Praga suburb) and remained idle for months while German forces brutally crushed the 63-day uprising, literally within view of the USSR armed forces

After the Polish resistance surrendered on October 2, 1944, German forces systematically razed and destroyed most of Warsaw

The losses caused by the uprising were not prevented in any way by the Red Army although its artillery and air force were stationed at hand. Stalin, for purely political reasons, allowed the destruction of the Poland’s capital city. According to propaganda messages, the Soviet forces did not have the necessary strength to counteract from the left-bank of Vistula. But meanwhile the Soviets found time and resources to create a terror apparatus to capture Polish soldiers from the Home Army who were tortured in the NKVD headquarters in Strzelecka or Władysław IV streets.

On January 12–14, 1945, Soviet and Polish allied forces resumed a massive offensive Troops from the 1st Belorussian Front and the 1st Polish Army entered the ruined city and took full control within three days on January 17, 1945 Years of occupation and final demolition reduced Warsaw's population from roughly 1.3 million before the war to a mere 150,000–162,000 survivors.
The capture, after the Germans were left undisturbed in order to destroy much of Warsaw, which allowed the Soviet Union to install a pro-communist Polish administration rather than restore the London-based Polish government-in-exile, leading to decades of communist rule.

Warsaw was ruined in 84% when the Red Army troops entered on 17 January 1945. The destruction was also a result of the Soviet’s indifference. Throughout the years of the People's Republic of Poland, this information was carefully censored. After the World War II, Warsaw had to put its homes on the altar of the Polish-Soviet friendship. In order to build the Stalin’s Palace of Culture and Science, 170 tenement houses were further demolished, and their inhabitants were relocated to the district of Muranów.  read more

Code: 26397

Original Soviet USSR Medal For The Capture of Berlin 1945. Original Ribbon {Wear Faded} & Brass Suspension Plate With Original Order of Glory Moiré Ribbon

The image shows a Soviet World War II Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" (Медаль «За взятие Берлина») attached to a standard pentagonal suspension ribbon• Inscription: The front features a five-pointed star at the top and the Russian text «ЗА ВЗЯТИЕ БЕРЛИНА» ("For the Capture of Berlin"), framed by an oak wreath at the bottom.
It is mounted on a pentagonal brass suspension ring wrapped in the red and black striped Order of Glory (St. George) ribbon.

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets and post war, Cold War period Soviet medals we were delighted to acquire.

Established by the Soviet Union on June 9, 1945, this campaign medal was awarded to soldiers of the Red Army, Navy, and NKVD who directly participated in the assault and capture of Berlin between April 22 and May 2, 1945.

Final Assault on the Reich: Commemorating the Fall of Berlin, May 1945
Created in the first weeks after victory in Europe, the Medal for the Capture of Berlin honored Red Army, Navy, Air Force, and NKVD personnel who directly participated in the city’s storming and surrender in April–May 1945. As the signature commemorative of the final offensive on the Eastern Front, it carries powerful historical resonance. For collectors, it offers classic late-war Soviet design, strong documentation potential, and award numbers that, while large, are far lower than the ubiquitous Victory medal.

A circular brass campaign medal on the standard pentagonal suspension, the Berlin medal combines a bold text obverse with a historically precise reverse date—marking the city’s capitulation. Period pieces exhibit clean lettering and even, well-struck fields.
Soviet pentagonal mount with moiré ribbon.

Obverse Details
Legend “ЗА ВЗЯТИЕ БЕРЛИНА” (“For the Capture of Berlin”).
Star and laurel elements framing the inscription; “2 МАЯ 1945” (2 May 1945), marking the city’s fall.

Commemorates the climactic operation of April–May 1945 culminating in the capitulation of Berlin and the end of the war in Europe.
Issued to a broad spectrum of combat and support arms—assault infantry, armour, artillery, sappers, medics, signals, and aviation units tied to the operation.

The military defence of the German capital took place between 16 April and 2 May 1945, serving as the final cataclysmic chapter of World War II in Europe. An overwhelming Soviet force of 2.5 million troops, 6,250 tanks, and over 41,000 artillery pieces advanced on the city. Facing them was a depleted, ad-hoc German force consisting of exhausted regular soldiers, elderly Volkssturm militia, and heavily indoctrinated Hitler Youth children.General Gotthard Heinrici attempted to stop the Soviets 90 kilometres east of the city at the Seelow Heights. Using clever tactical retreats to evade the opening Soviet bombardment, German forces delayed Marshal Georgy Zhukov's forces for four days before being entirely bypassed and encircled.Once the Red Army broke into the city, General Helmuth Weidling divided Berlin into eight defensive zones. Fighting became brutally claustrophobic; Germans hid in apartment basements using Panzerfaust anti-tank rockets to ambush Soviet armor, while the Soviets adapted by using heavy anti-aircraft guns to level upper floors street by street.The defence collapsed rapidly following Adolf Hitler's suicide in the Führerbunker on 30 April. General Weidling officially surrendered the city garrison to the Soviets on 2 May 1945  read more

Code: 26398

A Singularly Magnificent Original Antique Presentation Daimyo Samurai Daisho. A Signed Original Edo Period Daito By Muneyoshi Presented to Yoshifuji, In the Fortuitous Time of The Midwinter, In The Year of the Rabbit, in The Reign of Emperor Keio

The fantastic shoto {short sword} is Sukesada school, koto to shinto period, the stunning daito {long sword} is a shinshinto sword signed Muneyoshi.

The shoto blade has just returned from its traditional polish and conservation that took almost a year to complete, and looks amazing.

An incredibly Beautiful original antique Edo period (1596-1871) Daisho mounted with beautifully patinated copper koshirae based on hand carved botanical designs of incredible miniscule detail, gold tsukaito, with very finest, original Edo period, decoratively embossed two tone black urushi lacquer saya.
The kodzuka is gold to match the ito and decorated with cranes. The daito has a superb midare hamon of wondrous activity. The daito is, signed Muneyoshi, the shoto is mumei {unsigned}.
The shoto has a very fine and elegant suguha hamon and now looks absolutely amazing, and was well worth the wait.

The tsuka bore an inscription, signed on a parchment see photo under the tsukaito, to date the occasion when and to whom they were presented, during the Keio Emperor's reign in 1867. the daisho was already antique when it was presented to Yoshifuji san, no doubt a daimyo of great standing.

The presentation inscription reads;
“Keio san nen usagi Yoshi Chuto Kichi no tatsu Izumi ryu Koi, Koi Kawa Yoshifuji.’

Effectively, it translates to;

Presented to Yoshifuji, In the fortuitous time of the midwinter, in the year of the rabbit, the third year in the reign of Emperor Keio. Emperor Keio died in 1868, succeeded by the Meiji Emperor..

This form of parchment inscription, concealed under the tsuka-ito, is very rare indeed and we have never seen a complete inscription such as this to survive before.

The daisho has a pair of very fine kikubana sukashi daisho tsuba with a tetsumigakiji, possibly Sunagawa Masayoshi school, Edo period.

The Sunagawa tsuba school derived from the artists trained by teachers from within the Yokoya school founded by Yokoya Somin. The Ishiguro (by way of the Sunagawa school) and Iwamoto schools had the same antecedents. The botan (peony) was a common theme in this school.

The daisho is a Japanese term referring to the traditional weapons of the samurai. The daisho is composed of a katana daito and wakizashi shoto. The daito, meaning big sword, and shoto, meaning small sword, The katana, the longer of the two swords, was typically employed in man-to-man combat. The wakizashi made an effective main-gauche or close-combat weapon. A daisho allows for defense while fighting or the fighting of two enemies. Also, the daisho allows the fighter to have a longer or more widespread fighting range. The concept of the daisho originated with the pairing of a short sword with whatever long sword was being worn during a particular time period. It has been noted that the tachi would be paired with a tantō, and later the uchigatana would be paired with another shorter uchigatana. With the advent of the katana, the wakizashi eventually was chosen by samurai as the short sword over the tantō. The ancient custom of leaving the katana at the door of a castle or palace when entering facilitated the continuing to wear the wakizashi within the host's castle.

The wearing of daishō was strictly limited to the samurai class, and became a symbol or badge of their rank. Daishō may have became popular around the end of the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573) as several early examples date from the late sixteenth century. An edict in 1629 defining the duties of a samurai required the wearing of a daishō when on official duty. During the Meiji period an edict was passed in 1871 abolishing the requirement of the wearing of daishō by samurai, and in 1876 the wearing of swords in public by most of Japan's population was banned; this ended the use of the daishō as the symbol of the samurai, and the samurai class was abolished soon after the sword ban. Picture of Last Fight of the Soga Brothers, 1858 by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861). Both saya have small areas of natural wear and use. The stand shown is for illustration only and not included. however it will come with another complimentary daisho stand. The shoto blade is being carefully cleaned so can be photographed later.

Special offer item, part one of a personal private collection, sourced from a former Far Eastern specialist fine samurai sword collector  read more

Code: 24245

Fascinating German WW2 Public Notice Poster Regarding Two Luftwaffe Flyers. Public Metaphorical Crucifixion of Former Luftwaffe Fighting Aces. Blamed For The Loss of The Battleship Tirpitz

Der flieger flyer Stefan Egidy hat sich vorsatzlich auf wache einen schuss in den oberschenkel beigebracht, um seine zeitweise versetzung in das helmatgeblet zu erreichen .er hat dabel einen ueberfall seitens franzosen vorgetauscht durch urtell des feldkriegsgerichts ist er wegen zerstzung der wehrkraft durch selbstverstummelung und wegen wachvergehen zu 5 jahren zucthaus und verlust der wehrwurdigkeit verurteilt worden. Roughly it translates that Flyer Stefan Egidy was court martialled for a self inflicted wounding and sentence to 5 years and loss of privileges. Also Flieger flyer Niklaus Nels was similar court-martialled and sentenced to 3 years 6 months. German pilots were occasionally court-martialled for all manner of reasons, another one at the time was Born in Oberbalbach, Heinrich Ehrler, he grew up in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich as one of 12 children. He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially service with the artillery and anti-aircraft artillery. He participated in the Spanish Civil War and following the outbreak of World War II transferred to the Jagdwaffe (fighter force). Following flight training, he was posted to the 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77?77th Fighter Wing), which was later redesignated to 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5?5th Fighter Wing).

Scapegoated for the loss of the German battleship Tirpitz, Ehrler - who had been nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords prior to the disaster - was court-martialled, stripped of his command and sentenced to three years and two months Festungshaft (honorable imprisonment). Ehrler's sentence was later commuted and his loss of rank rescinded, and in February 1945 he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7. According to his fellow pilots, Ehrler thereafter flew in the increasingly desperate air battles without the purpose and dedication that had made him one of the Luftwaffe's most successful aces. On 4 April 1945, he shot down two Allied bombers for his final two victories, before destroying a third by ramming with his damaged aircraft after having run out of ammunition. His last recorded statement was "Theo, I have run out of ammunition. I'm going to ram this one. Good bye. We'll see each other in Valhalla." - Heinrich Ehrler's last transmission over the Squadron Radio Network before he rammed the B-24 bomber "Trouble in Mind," piloted by Captain John Ray, destroying both aircraft and killing himself. Central tear through middle can't be seen in photo

Intriguing ephemera from the 3rd Reich would look very fine if framed, obviously not in good condition but as direct examples of WW2 aeronautical history absolutely fascinating. Remarkable to survive and probably unique examples.  read more

Code: 19675

British WW2 Anti Hitler Propaganda Pamphlet "Ein Peinliches Versprechen" An Embarrassing Promise

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.

"ein peinliches versprechen". An air dropped propaganda leaflet pointing out that Hitler prophesied a German victory in 1941, as the Year of Final Victory. Undermining the Fuhrer Myth through Black Propaganda and clandestine means became the stated objective of the OSS.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. Black people were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military..

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed either immediately or at the wars cessation, so few survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

8.25 inches x 5.25 inches  read more

Code: 24498

A Most Interesting & Historical Nazi Propaganda Leaflet Written by Notorious British Nazi and Traitor, John Amery, Who Was Executed At the Wars End. He Was The Son Of Churchill's Secretary of State & Journalist Leo Amery, Anti-Appeasement, & Churchill Al

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.
An anti-Semitic propaganda leaflet printed in English, by infamous traitor John Amery, the Amery family's black sheep fascist, and the son of Churchill's Secretary of state for India. It was intended for distribution to British soldiers and civilians, a double-sided propaganda leaflet, entitled "Why Die for Stalin? Why die for the Jews?" and authored by British fascist and propagandist JOHN AMERY (1912-1945), who was tried and executed for treason postwar. The leaflet features the usual conspiratorial pabulum explaining that British soldiers are dying fruitlessly for Jewish and communist interests in Italy, Burma and on the Atlantic, while attempting to explain the fruitlessness of hostilities between England and Germany.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. People of colour were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military. And by the wars end they even encouraged foreign Muslims to join the dedicated Muslim waffen SS regiments, which in the 1930's would be unthinkable.

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed, either immediately on landing or at the wars cessation, so very few indeed survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

On 22 June, the Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed between France and Germany. Amery resided in the territory belonging to the collaborationist Vichy government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain. However, his personality soon antagonised the Vichy Regime so he made several attempts to leave but was not allowed. The head of the German Armistice Commission offered Amery a chance to live in Germany to work in the political arena but he was unable to get Amery out of occupied France.

In September 1942, Hauptmann Werner Plack gained Amery the French travel permit he needed, and in October Plack and Amery travelled to Berlin to speak to the German English Committee. It was at this time that Amery suggested that the Germans consider forming a British anti-Bolshevik legion. Adolf Hitler was impressed by Amery and allowed him to remain in Germany as a guest. During this period, Amery made a series of pro-German propaganda radio broadcasts, attempting to appeal to the British people to join the war on communism.

British Free Corps
The idea of a British force to fight the communists languished until Amery encountered Jacques Doriot during a visit to France in January 1943. Doriot was part of the LVF (Légion des Volontaires Français), a French volunteer force fighting alongside the Germans on the eastern front.

Amery rekindled his idea of a British unit and aimed to recruit 50 to 100 men for propaganda purposes and to establish a core of men with which to attract additional members from British prisoners of war. He also suggested that such a unit could provide more recruits for the other military units made up of foreign nationals.
Amery's first recruiting drive for what was initially to be called the British Legion of St George took him to the Saint-Denis POW camp outside Paris. Amery addressed between 40 and 50 inmates from British Commonwealth countries and handed out recruiting material. This first effort at recruitment was a complete failure, but he persisted.

Amery's drive for recruits found two men, of whom only one, Kenneth Berry, joined what was later called the BFC. Amery's link to the unit ended in October 1943, when the Waffen SS decided his services were no longer needed, and it was officially renamed the British Free Corps.

Arrest
Amery continued to broadcast and write propaganda in Berlin until late 1944 when he travelled to Northern Italy to lend support to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's Salò Republic. On 25 April 1945, Amery was captured along with his French mistress Michelle Thomas by Italian partisans from the Garibaldi Brigade near Como. Amery and Thomas were initially to be executed, but both of them were eventually sent to Milan, where they were handed over to Allied authorities. Amery was wearing the uniform of the "Muti Legion", a fascist paramilitary organisation. The British army officer who took him into custody was Captain Alan Whicker, later known as a broadcaster.

Trial and execution
Amery was tried for treason in London. In a preliminary hearing, he argued that he had never attacked Britain and was an anti-Communist, not a Nazi. At the same time, his brother Julian attempted to show that John had become a Spanish citizen, and therefore would legally be incapable of committing treason against the United Kingdom.

His counsel, Gerald Osborne Slade KC, meanwhile, tried to show that the accused was mentally ill. Amery's sanity was questioned by his own father, Leo, but all efforts to have the court consider his mental state were unsuccessful. Further attempts at a defence were suddenly abandoned on the first day of his trial, 28 November 1945, when to general astonishment, Amery pleaded guilty to eight charges of treason, and was sentenced to death. The trial lasted just eight minutes.

Before accepting Amery's guilty plea, the judge, Mr Justice Humphreys, made certain that Amery realised the only permissible penalty would be death by hanging. After satisfying himself that Amery fully understood the consequences of pleading guilty, the judge announced this verdict:

John Amery ... I am satisfied that you knew what you did and that you did it intentionally and deliberately after you had received warning from ... your fellow countrymen that the course you were pursuing amounted to high treason. They called you a traitor and you heard them; but in spite of that you continued in that course. You now stand a self-confessed traitor to your King and country, and you have forfeited your right to live.

Amery was hanged in Wandsworth Prison on 19 December 1945 by executioner Albert Pierrepoint, who in his autobiography described Amery as "the bravest person I'd ever hanged", and buried in the prison cemetery. Amery actually quipped as he was led to the scaffold, "I've always wanted to meet you, Mr Pierrepoint, though not of course under these circumstances!" In 1996, Julian Amery had his brother's remains exhumed and cremated, scattering his ashes in France.

5 1/2" x 8"  read more

Code: 24493

A Scarce Late 19th Century Boer War Stretcher Bearer's Badge

A rare Boer War stretcher bearer's cloth badge, by men known as 'The Body Snatchers', worn by the men under the command of Mahatma Ghandi, of the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps. A most interesting corps that served alongside Mahatma Ghandi's Indian bearers. At the time it recruited from two curiously supposedly contrasting groups of citizens,... lawyers, and vagrants.  read more

Code: 26395

Mightier Yet! Every Day More Planes Every Day More Pilots Original WW2

Propaganda poster for the British wartime RAF and the mighty Hurricane. Printed for HM Stationary Office by J. Weiner Ltd London WC1. A propaganda information and recruitment poster. The size as were used in the underground trains advertising panels, or the back of black cabs. Britain re-created the World War I Ministry of Information for the duration of World War II to generate propaganda to influence the population towards support for the war effort. A wide range of media was employed aimed at local and overseas audiences. Traditional forms such as newspapers and posters were joined by new media including cinema (film), newsreels and radio. A wide range of themes were addressed, fostering hostility to the enemy, support for allies, and specific pro war projects such as conserving metal and growing vegetables. In 1940 in particular, Winston Churchill made many calls for the British to fight on, and for British units to fight until they died rather than submit. His calls for fight to victory inspired a hardening of public opinion. Determination raised the numbers of the Home Guard and inspired a willingness to fight to the last ditch, in a manner rather similar to Japanese determination, and the slogan "You can always take one with you" was used in the grimmest times of the war. British victories were announced to the public for morale purposes, and broadcast to Germany for purposes of undermining morale.

Even during Dunkirk, an optimistic spin was put on how the soldiers were eager to return.

When the U-boat commander Gunther Prien vanished with his submarine U-47, Churchill personally informed the House of Commons, and radio broadcasts to Germany asked, "Where is Prien?" until Germany was forced to acknowledge his loss.

The turn of the war made BBC's war commentaries much more stirring.

We never normally comment on the investment potential of any collectable, but the potential for all underpriced WW1 and WW2 posters must be incredible, for example the more famed poster, 'Keep Calm and Carry On' can now sell for over £20,000.
Good condition 10 inches x 15 inches  read more

Code: 20863

The Lanes Armoury Welcomes Thousands Upon Thousands of Personal Visitors To The Store In Brighton Every Day {But Not Sundays} . Fabulous Pre-Historic, Archaic, Ancient, Antique, & Vintage Treasures, Artifacts, & Collectables Are Added Every Single Day

We are told, most generously, every single day, when the gallery-shop is open, by literally dozens of our thousands of visitors, that we are their favourite shop in the whole of the U.K. Many, when they are returning to England for another visit, tell us they make a point to make another visit to us every single time as part of their UK travels.
Just the other week one of our regular visitors from China diverted his journey from Beijing to Paris, to go via London Gatwick Airport, in order to just to visit us for a couple of hours, and then return to Paris.

Many incredible treasures arrive here every day,
Just in this week, include, a superb gallantry 'Military Medal' with Mons Star medal group of WW1, a QSA,KSA and WW1 South African Volunteer 5 medal group, and, a WW1 Royal Naval pair with mine clearance badge. Also a rare Boer War stretcher bearer's cloth badge, by men known as 'The Body Snatchers', worn by the men under the command of Mahatma Ghandi, of the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps. A most interesting corps that served alongside Mahatma Ghandi's Indian bearers. At the time it recruited from two curiously supposedly contrasting groups of citizens,... lawyers, and vagrants. As well as a 1400's knights spur recovered from the Battle of Agincourt field of combat in the 1820's. A pair of Napoleonic French crossbow pistol's quarrel bolts recovered from Waterloo while constructing the Lion Mound. Plus, a "Holy Grail" WW1 cap badge, it is the badge to the 1/4th Goorkhas Scouts. Certain Gurkha Regiments raised units of Gurkha Scouts in the 1880's. These carefully selected soldiers tended to serve on detachment from their parent unit and at times were brigaded together to form reconnaissance units. The 4 GR provided scouts and they had their own badge although no record of any official recognition of this badge is known. It was likely locally commissioned or worn without formal, high-level War Office documentation. The badge has a Kings Crown but still uses the "Goorkhas" title which had changed in to Gurkhas in 1891 - no examples of a badge with a Victorian crown has ever been seen. The badge is incredibly rare ( no other Gurkha Regt has a Scouts badge, as far as we are aware - some collectors have been looking for this one for over 25 to 30 years or more.

Many incredible treasures arrive here every day, including a 900 year old ancient samurai sword in fabulous condition, a WW2 German combat awards badge collection of a WW2 combat bomb disposal officer.

He was a member of a section of the special engineering units {Fleming’s so called ‘Red Indians} in wartime Europe were a vital part of clandestine warfare, and all parts of the units combat service were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, bomb disposal, and combined with recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment for intelligence gathering. Reporting all elements of their findings back to Command, and by them to the Admiralty. Fleming referred to such brave men as his ‘Red Indians’. see Casino Royale for reference. Plus, dozens of Museum Grade original antique collectibles such as cased pistols, samurai swords, tantos, etc.

The story so far of the Hawkins Brothers and "The Lanes Armoury" written by Frank Taylor;

"Sadly it is likely the last, true, original 'armoury' shop left in the whole of Britain. Defining the original term of an historical 'Armoury' as a building containing all forms of militaria, arms and armour, from all of the eras of mankind from the stone age culture, to all the civilizations of antiquity, both pre-history, and historic, on into the medieval, the post medieval and later, to WW1 and WW2. Effectively covering from 300,000 years b.c. until WW2. Not including their fossils of course that can be up to 100 million years old.

They were described as one of the most highly recommended visitors attractions in the whole of the UK by the New York Times. It is also regularly featured by many other world wide publications. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and regular visitors come to see them every single year, including, in the 1970's such erstwhile luminaries as President Ronald Reagan, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. They evolved their company from one of the oldest established family businesses in Sussex, spanning over 100 years, with a client base that includes museums, heads of state, presidents, princes and kings. But whether you are a movie star, a head of state or a student, all will be treated with the same courtesy and respect. Every sale is important to them, albeit a £5 badge a £5,000 rare book, or a suit of armour for £50,000.
Every day they are told that to some, this is their favourite shop in the world, with some foreign visitors returning year in year out for 40 years or even more, so they truly believe they have a great responsibility to their customers, their reputation, and to the amazing city of Brighton.
Their oldest customer has incredibly been a regular buyer, for an amazing, near 70 years.

To view just a flavour of the visual history one can view here, and their modus operandi during the past century of their business and store, please click the group photos to the left, and see just small aspects of their gallery, in photos taken recently, and from the distant past.
One is a photograph from the outside of their shop taken around 1920, another one from more recently, and another, of their 1920's vintage horse drawn pantechnichon that was still in use for local deliveries until 1969 and another photo one of their 'more modern' pantechnichons in the 1970's. The partners, Mark and David also regularly appear on the BBC and numerous UK TV channels, consulting on historical documentaries, and on various antique 'discovery' programs, and act as consultant appraisers and for notable private individuals and public companies. During Mark's 55 years personally trading in The Lanes, and David's 45 years {that's around 98 years combined} both within the family businesses, it is estimated they have had pass through their hands, and appraised, possibly more items than any other living dealers in the country, and their breadth of knowledge and experience is simply astonishing. While in his capacity as export director of the old family company, Mark was personally responsible for the sale and export of over 2,000 individual antique items every single week for nearly ten years. Shipping their treasures within a fleet of trucks and 40 foot container lorries, to the four corners of globe. If you can get Mark to describe some of his past professional trades, you will certainly be amazed. Just one part of his trade, back in the 1970’s was the selling and shipping of vintage classic cars to the States. Dozens of 20 foot containers were sent, containing either a vintage Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lagonda, Alvis, Aston Martin, and their like, with the interiors packed full of antique porcelains and silver and antique furniture stacked on top {in order to utilise every valuable space possible}. Mark’s first personal car was a BRG 1932 Aston Martin Le Mans. Originally raced by Sir Sydney Caffyn as an amateur {who was a friend of Mark’s father David senior}, which Mark bought from Sir Sydney’s brother, some while after Sir Sydney had died, for which he paid the princely sum of £325 in around 1971. He sold it to an Italian-American Las Vegas casino owner for £800 three years later, The last known example he knew of, the Aston Martin 1932 Le Mans LM8, and that he tried to buy {unsuccessfully I might add}, sold recently for €905,000 at Sothebys {somewhat in excess of Mark’s budget}. How times {and prices} have changed!

Of course, these days, after selling their wholesale antique export shipping companies, that were some of the largest of their kind in Europe, for the past 35 years the brothers have concentrated their devotion to being England's leading specialist antique arms and militaria dealers, focusing their core business from general antiques and fine art, to the finest, ancient, antique or vintage samurai weaponry, armour, and worldwide swords, firearms and militaria and historical books, covering the past three millennia. It is now said they are the largest samurai weapon dealers in the western world, and this website is the largest of it's type in the world, including over 17,000 full colour photographs of some of their items for sale.
A recent article, written about their business on 'City News Live' is copied here below, as published;**
"With so many different histories to offer, you can feel freer in Brighton than in most British cities to select trips which coincide with your interests and of course, you're much more likely to find in Brighton things to do which bring the history you love to life. For the lover of militaria, a visit to The Lanes Armoury is a must with a difference. The Armoury's housed in a three-storey 16th century building and is a real treasure trove, it's a museum which is not a museum as everything is for sale. It has been nominated and then short-listed for the British Antique & Collectors Awards as the best Antique Shop in Great Britain and is the latest incarnation of a much older business David Hawkins Brighton Ltd which was one of the earliest and largest dealers in Antiques and Collectibles within the whole of Europe in the last century."

It's their current specialisation in worldwide Arms, Armour, Militaria, and Books, which really marks them out and creates such a fascinating and fantastic place to visit. From antiquities from all the past ancient empires, including bronze-age swords, axes, helmets and daggers, to Roman Viking and medeavil weaponry, to suits of samurai and European armour, muskets, revolvers, duelling pistols, American civil war swords, right through to medals and World War II militaria, it's all there to be viewed and drooled over. For example they had in stock a signed 1st Edition book that once personally belonged to Winston Churchill detailing a story of combat in the American Revolutionary War. It was presented to him during WW2 and signed by it's author, Robert Graves, one of England's greatest WW1 poets and novelists. It was declared by Churchill, in a personal letter to Robert Graves thanking him for the gift, that it was one of only 6 or 7 novels that he had read during his premiership in the war, and subsequently this very book was used by him to advise the creation and modus operandi of the new British Commandos. Also the last time I visited I was shown their first edition The Great Gatsby, an absolute gem of a rarity, that must be valued at many tens of thousands of pounds. It's not a museum, but when you leave, you've had the same experience! I can honestly say the experience of a visit to the armoury, although not a vast premises by any means, is utterly memorable, and every single person that passed through their doors while I was there was either astonished, amazed, or both! "

Frank Taylor

“With the passing of the generations that came before, all that is left, after the memories dim and fade away, is what that is physically left behind. To seek such manifestations of past generations, and preserve them for the future, is vital for all those generations yet to come”

Mark Hawkins  read more

Code: 19615

Early Shinto, Signed, Yamashiro Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu (山城大掾藤原国次) Handachi Sword With Full Suite Of Omori Teruhide School 'Omori Wave' Pattern of Handachi Koshirae Of Churning Water With Inlaid Gold Sea Spray Droplets. Kinai School Budou-sukashi Tsuba

Just returned today from full blade cleaning and conservation and it looks fabulous! see the gallery for its new and latest photographs

Samurai blade, Shinto period, circa 1620, of very strong and powerful form with substantial heft, signed Yamashiro Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu (山城大掾藤原国次). Black Stone finish lacquered saya handachi mounted Koshirae, and very beautiful suguha based on notare hamon.

This is truly what one might call a ‘no nonsense’ blade of significant presence and power. A most serious blade meant for long lasting samurai warfare and truly impressive hand to hand combat in the crush of the melee..

A handachi koshirae featuring a crashing wave with gold sea spray motif represents a dynamic, high-status configuration for a Japanese sword mounting. The combination of crashing waves and gold sea spray is one of the most celebrated themes in classic Japanese sword fittings (tosogu), famously associated with the Omori School of metalworkers during the Edo period.

They pioneered the technique of embedding tiny, raised dots of pure gold alloy across the dark metal to represent crashing spray

The "Omori Wave": Unlike flat or highly stylized geometric waves, Omori artisans carved deeply undercut, three-dimensional, churning waves that look violently alive. Omori Teruhide (Omori-ryu). His signature style revolutionized the depiction of water

Handachi (meaning "half-tachi") style combines the styling and reinforced metallic components of a traditional tachi mount with the utility of an uchigatana, meaning it is worn edge-up tucked through the obi sash rather than slung edge-down
The kabuto-gane replaced the standard katana kashira. It features deeply carved churning water wrapped around the butt of the hilt
Fuchi (Hilt Collar): Adorned with matching ocean waves rising to crests gold sea spray droplets (Zogan / Iroie):

The "sea spray" (shibuki) is brought to life using precise pure gold inlay or gold overlay techniques, depicting individual glistening droplets scattered across the dark, turbulent waves.The distinguishing factor of a handachi is the presence of protective metal chassis bands wrapping around the scabbard
Semegane & Kashiwaba metallic bands that encircle the scabbard further up its length to prevent splitting. These echo the same ocean theme.

Kojiri is the long, protective metal cap at the very tip of the scabbard, matching the crashing wave and gold drop motif.

Menuki of ken wrapped around by dragon beneath golden silk tsuka-ito over samegawa giant rayskin.

Iron maru-gata sukashi tsuba of Kinai school. This specific tsuba displays an organic, detailed grapevine design (Budou-sukashi) complete with leaves, tendrils. Kinai masters were highly celebrated for their fluid, deeply carved openwork (ji-sukashi) depicting natural motifs like plant life, flowers, and shells

This handachi is an antique Japanese sword crafted during the early Edo period (Shinto era), circa 1620, typically associated with the Echizen Shimosaka school in Echizen Province (modern-day Fukui prefecture): Early Edo period, with authenticated works recorded around the Kan'ei era (e.g., August 1629)

It is said that the first-gen Yasutsugu was the founder of the Echizen Shimoasaka school. He was born in Shimosaka town in Shiga prefecture at the end of the Muromachi period(Late 16 century ). He built his career there until the beginning of the Keicho era(1596). However, he moved to Echizen province due to the relocation of the lord he served. He eventually was noticed and supported by Matsudaira Hideyasu, the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the founder of the Edo government.

Hideysu was the feudal lord of Echizen province during the early Edo period. With the support of Hideyasu, the first-gen Yasutsugu was able to establish the Echizen Shimosaka school. And his school’s fame became nationwide.

By Hideyasu’s recommendation, the first-gen Yasutsugu became Okakaekaji for the Tokugawa shogun family, meaning that he exclusively forged swords for the Shogun family. Yasutsu was acknowledged by the first and second Tokugawa Shoguns, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Tokugawa Hidetada.

The first-gen Yasutsugu received 康(YASU) from Tokugawa Ieyasu and changed his maker’s name. He was also allowed to inscribe the holly oak symbol(family crest of Tokugawa) on the tang. The school flourished during the Edo period and trained many skilled apprentices. Echizen Province was famous for forging razor-sharp, practically designed swords.

The Edo government, run by the Tokugawa clan, ordered many blades from the swordsmiths in this province during the Edo period(1603-1868).

It has a superb blade with a stunning suguha based on notare hamon, in great condition for age. Now looking just like it last did in the 1870's, when it was presented to a highly esteemed British visitor to Japan, when it was already 250 years old. The blade has just a few natural age marks as to be expected.  read more

Code: 26383