Original Extremely Rare U.S. Pre-WWII USAAC Airship Pilot Wings Army Air Corps Airship Pilots Badge by N.S. Meyer - Sterling Silver

This is an excellent example of an Airship Pilots Wings from the early 1930’s. The wings were relatively short-lived, being authorized in Oct of 1921 and abolished in 1940. When the Airship Pilot wing badge was first introduced in October 1921, the airship image seen on it was actually patterned after the U.S. Army RN-1. The RN-1 began life in 1919 as the French built Navy Zodiac ZDUZ-1 and was acquired by the Army that same year. It was extensively modified with a new envelope in 1923 built by Airships Inc. with stronger and lighter tail surfaces built by Wittemann-Lewis Aircraft Co.


The envelope for the RN-1 was 910 feet long, 200 feet high and 185 feet high. It cost $1,500,000 to build in 1919.


The wings here were made by N. S. Meyer of New York. N. S. Meyer was founded in New York City around 1906 by Nathan S. Meyer (1870-1935). However, Nathan Meyer was the son of Simon N. Meyer (1843-after 1910), who established his business in Washington, D. C. (possibly) as early as 1868. Nathan Meyer's New York business, under the name, N. S. Meyer, at 79 5th Ave. in 1906 is described as "Army and Navy Equipment" in its initial listing in the Manhattan telephone directory. N. S. Meyer was in business in New York from 1906 to 2000. In 2000 they were taken over by Vanguard, another military goods supplier.


The wings measure just over 3” across and are made of a single struck design. Most of the original plating has been retained and the artwork is still very easily recognizable. The back is “hollow” and the N. S. Meyer "Shield" hallmark and STERLING can be found on the right wing {looking from the back}.


This is an excellent example of a rare Army Air Corps Airship Pilots Badge. Comes ready to display!

The history of American military aviation began during the Civil War, when the Union Army operated observation balloons. Later, a balloon was used by the US Army in Cuba during the Spanish–American War. These were ad hoc and not part of an established branch of the Army. The use of observation balloons continued after the end of World War I. The last use of observation balloons by the Army was during maneuvers conducted in Louisiana during September 1941. Balloons must either be tethered, or go where they are blown by the wind, but towards the end of the nineteenth century powered airships, capable of being directed at the will of the pilot, were developed.


In 1908, the US Army experimented with its first powered aircraft, the SC-1, or Signal Corps number 1. It was a small non-rigid airship with a top speed under 20 mph and an endurance of just over 2 hours. Following tests at Fort Myer, the SC-1 was sent to Fort Omaha, Nebraska, where the Signal Corps School was located. While the SC-1 was being tested at Fort Myer, the Signal Corps had built an airship hangar and a plant to produce hydrogen gas at Fort Omaha. Fort Omaha became, for a while, the first permanent military airfield in the United States. The SC-1 was scrapped in 1912, and the base at Fort Omaha closed in 1913.


The US Army operated French observation balloons during World War I, but did not operate another airship until after the war ended. During World War I the Joint Airship Board assigned the US Navy the role of acquiring and developing rigid airships. This did not dissuade the Army from pursuing its own course. Colonel William Hensley flew as an observer on the return voyage of the British R34 airship from Long Island, New York to the UK in the summer of 1919. Hensley was then sent on a confidential mission to contact the Zeppelin Company to attempt to purchase the remaining undelivered wartime Zeppelin, the L 72. The scheme probably originated with General "Billy" Mitchell. Hensley visited the Zeppelin plant, inspected L 72 and flew on the Bodensee, a small passenger Zeppelin. The Inter-Allied Commission of Control ordered that L 72 should be turned over to France. In November 1919 the US Army contracted with the Zeppelin corporation for construction of the LZ 125, which was to be larger than the R38 class airship which the USN had contracted to purchase from Britain as the ZR-2. This attempt to avoid the conditions set by the Joint Airship Board would have encountered legal problems as the US Senate refused to ratify the Allied Peace Treaty with Germany until October 1921. Complaints by the Secretary of the Navy resulted in the Secretary of War ordering the German contract terminated in December 1919.


Following the end of World War I, the U.S. Army acquired a variety of blimps from US, French and British sources. Plans were made for operating airships from both Fort Bliss and Brooks Field, in Texas and Langley Field, Virginia. The first blimp operated by the Army was the A-4, which was operated primarily from Langley until transferred to the new Balloon and Airship School at Fort Scott, Illinois. The Army operated several Navy C class blimps and D class blimps during the immediate post-World War I era.


Army blimps participated in the "Mitchell" bombing test in 1921. They were used for training, coastal patrol, and experimentation in the early 1920s. The Army purchased three British SST class blimps from the British, which were operated out of Biggs Field, Fort Bliss, and Brooks Field, both in Texas for purposes of border patrol between 1920 and 1923.


During the 1920s the Army developed several "Motorized Observation Balloons". The OB-1 and MB were intended to fly to where needed, and then be tethered as observation balloons.


The US Army acquired the Italian semi-rigid airship Roma in 1921. The Roma was the largest airship ever operated by the Army and was based at Langley Field. With a cruising speed of 50 mph and a range of 7,000 miles, the Roma allowed the Army to consider transcontinental deployments, missions to Panama, the fast transport of cargo and passengers, and long-range sea patrols. The Roma crashed into high-tension wires and was destroyed by fire near Norfolk, Virginia on 21 February 1922. The Roma tragedy led Congress to decree that all future US airships would use non-flammable helium instead of hydrogen as the lifting gas.


During the 1920s and '30s, the US Army Airship Service was responsible for improvements in airship operation construction. These included the use of internal gondola suspension and the only advanced semi-rigid airship manufactured in America, the RS-1, built by Goodyear. The army operated the RS-1 during the late 1920s until the requirement for a new envelope grounded the ship and resulted in it being scrapped in 1930. The Airship Service also supplied airship pilots and logistic support for stratospheric research flights.


The majority of the airships operated by the US Army during the 1920s and '30s were of the "TC" Class, designed for coastal patrol duty, because the US Army had long held the primary responsibility for coastal and harbor defense of the US.The airship was seen as capable of searching for hostile ships and tracking those ships until they could be engaged by coastal defenses or Army bombers. One TC class blimp, the C-41, was often used for various public relation experiments in the 1930s, including landing on the Washington D.C. mall to lay a wreath at the Lincoln Memorial and experimenting with picking up mail from a moving train.


Amongst the most interesting U.S. Army Airship Service experiments was to pursue the ability to operate airplanes from airships. While both the Germans and British had experimented with releasing fighters from rigid airships, it was the US Army that first flew an airplane from the ground and 'hooked' on to a trapeze suspended from an airship. Many tests involving a Sperry Messenger airplane and TC-3, a TC class blimp, were made in the mid-1920s. Eventually, the technology was adopted by the US Navy on the "flying aircraft carriers", USS Akron (ZRS-4) and USS Macon (ZRS-5).


The US Army continued to show interest in the acquisition and operation of rigid airships well into the 1930s. The Army Airship Service developed new designs, and operated a number of blimps, primarily from Scott Field and Langley Field through the early 1930s when competition for funding from the rapidly growing Air Corps started its decline. In 1932, the Army contracted for two blimps significantly more capable than any in service, these were the TC-13 and TC-14. When Army Airship operations were terminated in 1937, a number of Army blimps were transferred to the US Navy, but only two, the TC-13 and 14 were ever operated by the Navy.

Unlike the Navy, the Army had failed during the post-World War I era to establish a definite mission, much less a comprehensive plan for accomplishing that mission, for its airships. By 1935, Congress was considering the elimination of funding for the Army airship program, and Chief of the Air Corps Major General Benjamin Foulois, who himself had been a pilot of the SC-1, was recommending the program be terminated. In mid-1937, the US Army's airship operations officially ended.  read more

Code: 26105

A Stunning, Early, Signed Munemitsu, Bizen School Koto Blade Katana With Hi Circa 1480. A Most Beautiful And Elegant Ancient Samurai Sword By a Master Smith Of the 15th Century

Beautiful, and original, Edo period koshirae {sword mounts and fittings}

The rich mid blue-green torqoise tsuka-ito has just been beautifully restored, as has the black saya, with a ribbed top section, and ishime {stone finish} lacquer to the rest, and as hoped it once again looks absolutely fabulous. A true beauty of an early, signed, samurai art and combat sword, around 550 years old, and a signally fine piece, worthy of any museum grade collection.

Possibly by Bishu Osafune Munemitsu {a smith from the Bunmei reign in the Koto era}

The blade is absolutely beautiful, with hirazukuri, iori-mune, very elegant zori, chu-kissaki and carved with broad and deep hi on both sides, the forging pattern is beautiful, and a gunome-midare of ko-nie, deep ashi, hamon, the tang is original, and full length, and it is mounted with a silver habaki. The blade has a fabulous blocking cut on the mune, a most noble and honourable battle scar that is never removed and kept forever as a sign of the combat blocking move that undoubtedly saved the life of the samurai, and will thus be never removed.

The tsuka has an iron Higo school kashira, a beautiful signed shakudo-nanako fuchi with very fine quality takabori decoration.

Its tsuba is beautiful with a takebori design of Mount Fuji with dragon flying in the sky above, with highlights in gold, silver and copper. The Edo menuki are of a shakudo and gold representation group of samurai armour upon a tachi, and a shakudo and gold dragon {clutching an ancient Ken double edged straight sword with lightning maker} a Edo Antique Ken maki Ryu zu

What with the defensive cut, its shape and form, this fabulous sword has clearly seen combat, yet it is in incredibly beautiful condition for its great age, and it is a joy to behold.


There are many reasons why people enjoy collecting swords. Some people are drawn to the beauty and craftsmanship of swords, while others appreciate their historical and cultural significance. Swords can also be a symbol of power and strength, and some collectors find enjoyment in the challenge of acquiring rare or valuable swords.

One of the greatest joys of sword collecting is the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of different civilisations. Swords have been used by warriors for millennia, and each culture has developed its own unique sword designs and traditions. By studying swords, collectors can gain a deeper understanding of the people who made and used them.

Another joy of sword collecting is the sheer variety of swords that are available. There are swords in our gallery from all over the world and from every period of history. Collectors can choose to specialize in a particular type of sword, such as Japanese katanas or medieval longswords, or they can collect a variety of swords from different cultures and time periods. No matter what your reasons for collecting swords, it is a hobby that can provide many years of enjoyment. Swords are beautiful, fascinating, and historically significant objects.

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading experience behind us.

The world of antique sword collecting is a fascinating journey into the past, offering a unique lens through which to view history and culture. More than mere weapons, these artifacts serve as tangible connections to the societies and ancient times where they originated. Each blade tells a story, not just of the battles it may have seen but of the craftsmanship, artistic trends, and technological advancement of its time.

The swords mountings can be equally telling. Engravings and decorative elements may enhance the sword’s beauty and hint at its historical context. The materials used for them can reveal the sword’s age

Collecting antique swords, arms and armour is not merely an acquisition of objects; it’s an engagement with the historical and cultural significance that these pieces embody. As collectors, we become custodians of history, preserving these heritage symbols for future generations to study and appreciate.

We are now, likely the oldest, and still thriving, arms armour and militaria stores in the UK, Europe and probably the rest of the world too. We know of no other store of our kind that is still operating under the control its fourth successive generation of family traders

As once told to us by an esteemed regular visitor to us here in our gallery, and the same words that are repeated in his book;

“In these textures lies an extraordinary and unique feature of the sword - the steel itself possesses an intrinsic beauty. The Japanese sword has been appreciated as an art object since its perfection some time during the tenth century AD. Fine swords have been more highly prized than lands or riches, those of superior quality being handed down from generation to generation. In fact, many well-documented swords, whose blades are signed by their makers, survive from nearly a thousand years ago. Recognizable features of the blades of hundreds of schools of sword-making have been punctiliously recorded, and the study of the sword is a guide to the flow of Japanese history.”
Victor Harris
Curator, Assistant Keeper and then Keeper (1998-2003) of the Department of Japanese Antiquities at the British Museum. He studied from 1968-71 under Sato Kenzan, Tokyo National Museum and Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords  read more

Code: 26072

A Very Attractive, and Most Rare Original Antique Edo Era Ashigaru {Foot Samurai} Armour and Jingasa Helmet. Commanded in Battle By The Ashigarugashira 足軽頭 . Around 300 Years Old.

17th to 18th century. Its Jingasa helmet is made in hardened leather, decorated with black lacquer, with a large red sun mon, a do cuirass of frontis plate with the same red sun mon, that secures at the back with cords. It has kusari kote arm sleeves and gauntlets, three panels of ito bound kusazuri, this is the plate skirt that protects the lower part of the body as well as the upper leg. It is laced together to the upper plates.

Ashigaru armour was light, flexible and simpler to make than usual samurai armour. It was worn by spear men foot soldiers, in battle or defensive service, and they may be armed with yari or nagananata {polearms}, yumi {bows with arrows} or tanegashima {muskets}, in most samurai armies. It was the most common form of armour in Rokugan.

In the Ōnin War, ashigaru gained a reputation as unruly troops when they looted and burned Miyako (modern-day Kyoto). In the following Sengoku period the aspect of the battle changed from single combat to massed formations. Therefore, ashigaru became the backbone of many feudal armies and some of them rose to greater prominence.

Those who were given control of ashigaru were called ashigarugashira (足軽頭). The most famous of them was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who also raised many of his warrior followers to samurai status.

Ashigaru formed the backbone of samurai armies in the later periods. The real change for the ashigaru began in 1543 with the introduction of matchlock firearms by the Portuguese. Almost immediately local daimyōs started to equip their ashigaru with the new weapon, which required little training to use proficiently, as compared with the longbow, which took many years to learn. As battles became more complex and forces larger, ashigaru were rigorously trained so that they would hold their ranks in the face of enemy fire.

The advantage of the matchlock guns proved decisive to samurai warfare. This was demonstrated at the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, where carefully positioned ashigaru gunners of the Oda and Tokugawa clans thwarted the Takeda clan's repeated heavy cavalry charges against the Oda clan's defensive lines and broke the back of the Takeda war machine.

After the battle, the ashigaru's role in the armies was cemented as a very powerful complement to the samurai. The advantage was used in the two invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597 against the Koreans and later the Ming-dynasty Chinese. Though the ratio of guns (matchlocks) to bows was 2:1 during the first invasion, the ratio became 4:1 in the second invasion since the guns proved highly effective

Some samurai would consider wearing ashigaru armour if a mission required them to travel light and fast, such as scouting, and Ronin were also noted for commonly using ashigaru armour, because of it's availability and lesser cost than elaborate armour

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 25006

Superb Early to Mid Edo,Museum Quality Signed Samurai War Helmet Kabuto, by Nobutada, of 21 'Helmet Skull' or 'Bowl Plates', with a Leaping Animal, Carved Wooden and Gold Maedate & Clan Mon of the Sakai Clan, & “Fierce Face” Ressai, Face Armour

A truly fabulous, original, Edo samurai's antique kabuto, war helmet, worthy of a museum display, the best samurai or Japanese art collections, or as a single 'statement' piece for any home. This is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful and fine original antique samurai war helmets, kabuto, we have seen for a jolly long time. Helmets of such beauty and quality as this can be prized and valued as much as a complete original samurai armour.

The imposing beauty of the helmet is entrancing, and the menpo {the moustached, grimacing expression face armour} sets it off superbly with a most intimidating presence. When this was worn by its fierce-some armoured samurai he must have looked spectacularly impressive.

A 21 plate goshozan sujibachi kabuto, with ressei {fierce face } mempo face armour, that has just returned from having the mempo's moustache expertly conserved, and it looks as good as new.

Probably a 17th-18th century, 21 ken plate, Sujibachi, which is a multiple-plate type of Japanese helmet skull bowl with raised ridges or ribs showing where the 21 tate hagi-no-ita (helmet plates) come together creating the main skull bowl bachi, and culminating at the multi stage tehen kanamono finial, with the fukurin metal edges on each of the standing plates.
The mabisashi peak is lacquered and it has a four-tier lacquered iron hineno-jikoro neck-guard laced with gold, and the skull is surmounted by a gilt-lacquered wood leaping animal, the maedate (forecrest), possibly a rabbit or deer, the Fukigaeshi small front wings shows the mon crest symbol of a plain form katabami mon {the wood sorrel flower}.

It's one of popular kamon that is a design of the flower of oxalis corniculata.
The founder of the clan that chose this flower as their mon had wished that their descendants would flourish well. Because oxalis corniculata is renown, and fertile plant.
the mon form as used by clans such as the Sakai, including daimyo lord Sakai Tadayo

One of the great Sakai clan lords was Sakai Tadayo (酒井 忠世, July 14, 1572 – April 24, 1636). He was a Japanese daimyō of the Sengoku period, and high-ranking government advisor, holding the title of Rōjū, and later Tairō. You can see his image in the gallery wearing the very same form of war helmet kabuto.

The son of Sakai Shigetada, Tadayo was born in Nishio, Mikawa Province; his childhood name was Manchiyo. He became a trusted elder (rōjū) in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's government, alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu. Under Hideyoshi, he was made lord of Kawagoe Castle (in Musashi Province, today Saitama Prefecture) and later of Nagoya Castle in Kyūshū's Hizen Province. In 1600, in the lead-up to the decisive Sekigahara campaign, he fought against the Tokugawa at Aizu, and submitted to them at the siege of Ueda. Thus, having joined the Tokugawa prior to the battle of Sekigahara itself, Sakai was made a fudai daimyō, and counted among the Tokugawa's more trusted retainers. He served under Ieyasu for a time, and under the second shōgun, Tokugawa Hidetada, as a hatamoto.
The lacquered iron menpo (face mask) with four-lame yodarekake face armour. The kabuto is signed on the interior Nobutada saku Nobutada made this

After the introduction of firearms, smoke blanketed many battlefields, causing confusion for the troops. So they could be more readily identified, samurai began to wear helmets with elaborate ornaments at the front, back, or sides, often featuring an intricate crest (maedate).

In their quest for unique and meaningful armour, samurai turned to nature, folklore, or religion for inspiration. Whatever the source, they selected designs for their armor that would set them apart and communicate their personality and beliefs, whether whimsical, frightening, or spiritual.

An antique woodblock print in the gallery, likely of Sakai Tadayo, showing his same form of war helmet kabuto, decorated with his same Sakai clan mon of the katabami, and he also has a leaping animal, gold covered carved wood, as his maedate helmet crest as has ours. And he has the same 'fierce face' mempo face armour with the very same style of elaborate, pronounced moustache.

The Fukigaeshi on the left facing side of the helmet shows the mon crest symbol of a plain katabami mon but small surface lacquer area partly missing. There are very small age nicks to the helmet lacquer. It has its original helmet lining but most removed back to reveal the signature

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 25056

Twenty Six Years Ago, After Over 80 Years Trading in Brighton, We Were 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, and we were nominated, and voted into in the top four in Britain.

Since first opening our doors early in the last century, for over 55 years as mine host, Mark, and for 45 years by David, they have personally greeted hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and likely tens of millions in over half a century, to their family owned galleries. To every single one we have tried our utmost to provide our renown five star service of courtesy, respect, assistance, help, and advice.

We still have many more pieces from our super Crimean war collection, to add to our web store. Many are absolute beauties of museum quality, including military artifacts, guards bearskin caps, swords, and militaria all from the Crimean War

Plus, many more original samurai swords, are to be added. Also, an amazing collection of original, antique samurai sword tsuba {sword guards} from the past 500 years, and, as well as all that, so much more!

A resume, below, of our family’s ‘old English merchants and traders’ 500 year old history, that stretches from our ancestors serving Queen Elizabeth 1st as her ‘Sea-Hawk’ captains, that were highly successful {though technically, unofficial} maritime raiders, and scourge of the Spanish fleet of King Philip of Spain, relieving them of his gold, looted from The Americas, then, over 400 years later, to HMS Hawkins, a ‘Hawkins’ class heavy-cruiser, {the ship and her class that were named after Sir John Hawkins, one of Queen Elizabeth’s Sea-Hawk captains} that took part in the Normandy landings in 1944, supporting American troops landing on Utah Beach, and then, to current times, and our shop here in The Lanes.

Our family have been involved as merchants and traders in the South of England {lately in Sussex, and formerly, in the ‘West-Country’ in Devon} since the early part of the 16th century. Our ‘Hawkins’ ancestors, were then based in Plymouth, in the county of Devon, and were sea-farers of world renown, and some of the very earliest traders regularly sailing their merchant ships across the Atlantic to the New World, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st.

Our fleet were taking emigrating English pilgrims and settlers West to America, and returning with new and exotic cargo from the entire Americas, {such as tobacco and potatoes from the Andes}, Eastwards across the Atlantic, to the eager 16th century English markets.

By the 19th century part of our family had re-located Eastwards to Brighton, yet still connected to our maritime roots, into the local Brighton shellfish trade, supplying shellfish to the Prince Regent’s kitchens at the Palace in Brighton, and his accompanying aristocratic court that had built their family ‘town’ mansions across the length of Brighton’s seafront.
From there, part of the Hawkins family ‘migrated’ to more land based pursuits, of merchant traders, primarily as shop-keepers in and around Brighton, and other Hawkins’ though emigrated, and settled to trade in America and Canada.

David Hawkins senior {Mark and David’s father} however, lovingly maintained his desire to remain connected to our ancient family maritime roots. His desire was sated by acquiring a deep-sea-fishing and sailing ship, a 1930’s gaff rigged schooner. Moored at Newhaven port’s Cresta Marine, but it was only used strictly for pleasure, until the late 1970’s. Offering frequent complimentary recreational therapy fishing trips to blind former servicemen from St Dunstans Hospital in the 1960’s.
A photo in the gallery is of portraits of two sea faring ‘Plymouth’ Hawkins, John and Richard, John was cousin to Sir Francis Drake who became one of England’s foremost naval commanders, and, scourge of King Philip of Spain, and father of Richard. Another photo is of heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins named in John’s honour, it was the lead ship of five Hawkins-class heavy-cruisers, named after our esteemed forebears. In 1944 HMS Hawkins returned home from the East Indies fleet to participate in the Normandy landings. Initially assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet, she was detached to the Western Task Force Gunfire Support Bombardment Force U to support American troops landing at Utah Beach.

Scholars think it is likely Francis Drake was illegitimate, and that is probably why he was placed at an early age into the household of William Hawkins of Plymouth. Drake thus began his seagoing training as an apprentice for the Hawkins family, and the rest as they say, is history.

We are open 6 days a week from 10.30 till 4.30. Please note however, we never open our gallery on Sundays or Bank Holidays. A tradition of just a single day of rest every week we have tried our best to maintain for 100 years.

However, our web store, like all the stores online, operates 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Here’s wishing a healthy and happy well-being to us all.
Gloria Antika!

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of trading  read more

Code: 23577

Magnificent Original Viking Age Broadsword With 'Hemse, Gotland' Bronze Hilt Mounts & Beautiful 'Sun Wheel' Sólarhvél. Jelling Decor. 800-1000 Years Old. Pattern Welded Blade, With Bronze Jelling Decorated Scabbard Chape, Viking Helmet & Head Design

The Viking broadsword was very often the status weapon of high ranked Vikings, such as Jarls, or the most successful leaders in battle, the general weapon of the warrior would be the spear or axe

Viking society was structured around powerful, elite leaders known as jarls (or earls), who functioned as regional chieftains and warlords. While they did not have a strict, feudal "lord" system in the early Viking Age, these, wealthy, high-ranking individuals held significant power, often governing territories in a king's stead or acting as independent rulers.
Jarls (Earls): These were the highest in the social hierarchy, often wealthy landholders who did not perform hard labour and commanded loyal armies.
Rather than a central state, power was decentralized among numerous, smaller chieftains or magnates.
Kings: In the Viking Age, a "king" was often a leading, charismatic magnate ("first among equals") rather than a hereditary monarch with absolute power.
These leaders hosted, managed trade, led raids, and maintained local law.
Well-known leaders often described as kings or powerful jarls include Ragnar Lodbrok, Harald Fairhair (who united Norway), and Cnut the Great.

Due to the seven-lobed or faceted hilt pommel, crossguard and scabbard chape, being of bronze, they have been remarkably well preserved showing every part of their Viking symbolism, and repeated sun wheel sólarhvél design. The pattern welded steel blade, a Geibig Viking typography type 5, with a moderate profile taper and elongated point, is also very fine indeed, and in a great state of preservation for age. The crossguard is moveable. Sólarhvél { Viking for sun-wheel} has, over the centuries, evolved into one of its later names, Odin's Cross

There are two very similar, bronze, sun-wheel Jelling decorated Viking age sword hilts in the Gotland Museum in Sweden. See photo 4 for reference. The stunning jelling bronze scabbard chape, that clearly shows in its intricately pierced design, a Viking nasal bar helmet worn upon the Viking warrior’s head, with his bared teeth, goatee beard, and surrounded by Viking knotwork decoration, is now all that remains of its former leather scabbard that obviously rotted away over the past millennia.

The Viking sunwheel originates from ancient European, particularly Nordic, Bronze Age (c. 1800–500 BCE) petroglyphs and, pre-dating the Viking Age itself. These sun crosses, found in Scandinavia, symbolized the sun, the movement of the sun, and the cycle of seasons. It is not a solely Viking-specific symbol but a broader, ancient Indo-European symbol.
Prehistoric Roots: The sun cross, a circle with radial arms, appears in prehistoric rock carvings, such as those at Madsebakke, Denmark, and in Bohuslän, Sweden.
Symbolic Significance: It represented the sun and was used in, or as part of, prehistoric, sun-oriented rituals or as a general symbol of well-being.
Symbolism in Nordic Context: These motifs, including various forms of wheels, crosses, and swastikas, were associated with "sun worship" and the changing seasons.

Modern Appropriation: The term sonnenrad was later appropriated, notably for the "Black Sun" (a 12-spoke wheel) by the Nazis, but the ancient Viking form is fundamentally different in, and much older than, the Nazi-associated, 12-spoked, concentric, and often crooked "Black Sun" design. The closest design the Third Reich appropriated was the regular Viking sun wheel swastika used for decor of the Luftwaffe first pattern swords and dagger hilts

Viking swords with seven-lobed or seven-faceted pommels (often classified under Type T, L, or R in Petersen's typology) represent a distinct, highly ornate style prevalent in the 10th to 11th centuries, frequently found in Baltic and Scandinavian regions. These swords are characterized by a pommel composed of seven distinct lobes or sections

The Baltic Vikings (or Curonians) were a fierce tribe that lived on the shores of the Baltic Sea Known as the "Baltic Vikings," they were renowned for their maritime prowess, raiding, piracy and a warrior culture so formidable that they were often feared by all the other Scandinavian Vikings. .
From the 7th to the 13th centuries, the Baltic Vikings were active pirates and raiders.They frequently attacked the shores of Sweden and Denmark, sometimes in alliance with the Oeselians (Estonian Vikings).
Covering the entire region the warlike Norse Men or "Vikings" were infamous for their identical lifestyle of shipbuilding, seafaring, and plundering.

They were so disruptive as they fought others {outsiders} as much as each other, the Danes against Norwegian Vikings, Norwegian against Swedish Vikings, or Lapp Vikings, that some Norse prayers reportedly asked for protection from "fire, storms, and Baltic Vikings the Curonians" of the Baltic lands.

They grew wealthy from the Amber Road, trading "the gold of the north" as far as Egypt and Rome. They were also famous for their high-quality horses.
The Baltic Vikings were among Europe's last pagans, fiercely resisting Christianisation. Their culture included powerful oracles and soothsayers sought after by people from as far away as Greece.

The Vikings that used this fabulous sword were persistent raiders and pirates throughout their whole era, and despite not always prevailing in combat, were the most feared of all the Norsemen. In many respects they almost equalled the notorious Viking ‘Berserkers’, a Viking group of warrior’s named that was so feared through the Viking age history, it has travelled down to today, to represent those going ‘berserk’, effectively, meaning those that are demonstrating insanely violent and aggressive behaviour.


The Viking Age (about 800–1050 CE) was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonising, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. The Viking Age applies not only to their homeland of Scandinavia but also to any place significantly settled by Scandinavians during the period. Although few of the Scandinavians of the Viking Age were Vikings in the sense of being engaged in piracy, they are often referred to as Vikings as well as Norsemen
One of their recorded conflicts are mentioned among other participants of the Battle of Brávellir.

Grobin (Grobiņa) was the main centre of the Curonian Vikings during the Vendel Age. Chapter 46 of Egils Saga describes one Viking expedition by the Vikings Thorolf and Egill Skallagrímsson in Courland. Curonians established temporary settlements near Riga and in overseas regions including eastern Sweden and the islands of Gotland and Bornholm.

Rimbert in his Vita Ansgari described early conflicts between the Curonians and other vikings. In 854, Curonians rebelled and refused to pay tribute to Sweden. The rebellious Apuolė fortress was first attacked by the Danes, who were hoping to make the town pay tribute to Denmark. The locals were victorious and gained much war loot. After learning of Danish failure, King Olof of Sweden organized a large expedition into Curonian lands. Olof first attacked, captured, and burned Grobiņa before besieging Apuolė. According to Rimbert, 15,000 locals defended themselves for eight days but then agreed to surrender: the Curonians paid a silver ransom for each man in the fortress, pledged their loyalty to Sweden, and gave 30 hostages to guarantee future payments








For reference see photo 4 of the two Gotland guards (Hemse on the top left) and their Latvian analogy.
Source: SHM; Gotlands Museum; Tomsons 2012: Fig. 2.1.

Based on the reference to Tomsons 2012 (Fig. 2.1), the image illustrates a comparative study of Viking Age sword components found on the island of Gotland, specifically focusing on cross-guards or pommel parts that show stylistic similarities with finds.
Hemse (Top Left): Refers to a sword guard (likely a hilt component) found in Hemse parish, Gotland, often housed in the Gotland Museum or SHM (Swedish History Museum).

Geibig’s blade type analysis, sourced from Ian Peirce’s Swords of the Viking Age.

Picture 7 in the gallery is a page from the Stuttgart Psalter, circa 830 ad, that clearly shows the Viking age sword, and its distinctive lobed pommel, being wielded by a Viking lord, and another within the other noble's scabbard, who also wields a spear.

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery

Original ancient iron swords, if they still have a crossguard, never have their original wooden grips, the wooden grip never survives the hundreds of years passing which means, the crossguard becomes mobile and no longer in a fixed position.  read more

Code: 26048

A Beautiful & Massive Ancient Bronze Age Long Sword Circa 1200 to 800 BC. As Used From Before and Including the Greco-Persian Wars, Such as the Battles of Marathon & Thermopylae. As Used in Hand To Hand Combat Between Xerxes' Immortals, and The Hoplites

Massive bronze age sword with Double Ear Pommel, 10th-9th Century BC. with partial green encrustations, with some parts of the blade end showing hand to hand combat denting. A sword that was possibly made in around 1200 bc, but expected at the time to have a functioning use of 500 to 600 years or even more. Swords were immensely expensive, and being of bronze easy to maintain and repair, but constant sharpening was also required as they couldn't hold an edge as the much later Iron age sword could.

A magnificent, enormous bronze sword of the “double ear” pommel style, made using the lost wax casting technique by highly trained urban artisans for an elite member of a nomadic horse-riding clan. The blade was cast first, and then the handle was cast onto it - scans of similar swords have revealed tangs inside the handles.

This well-balanced weapon has a slender, square hilt, with raised decorative elements on each of the four sides joining to a pommel that divides into two finely decorated semi-circular “ears” at right angles to the blade. A rectangular guard carefully designed with crescent-shaped horns extends down to firmly grip the upper end of the prominent midrib that tapers regularly with almost straight cutting edges to a point.

The “double ear” style of sword - with both bronze and iron blades - has been excavated from graves in southern Azerbaijan, the Talish and Dailaman regions of northwest Iran, and the urban sites of Geoy Tepe and Hasanlu, also in northwestern Iran. Another, with both bronze pommel and blade, was pulled from the Caspian Sea, where it may have been thrown as an offering. It seems that swords like this example were not just made to be used in battle, but instead to show status or as votive weapons.

There is a strong tradition in the ancient Near East of swords and other weapons being associated with the gods. For example, there is a rock carving dating to circa 1300 BC from this region that shows a scene of the gods of the Underworld, including one who is holding a sword similar to this one. Similarly, a golden bowl excavated at Hasanlu (northwestern Iran) shows three swords of similar form to this one that are associated with three deities from the Hittite pantheon. Whatever its original function, this would have been a spectacular weapon to behold, with a deep, shining surface when polished. Whoever commissioned this sword must have been an elite individual of high status, perhaps seeking to honour the gods by handling such a weapon.

The late bronze age early Luristan culture was renowned for their bronze workmanship and this cast bronze sword is an excellent illustration of their skill. Cast using the lost wax process, this sword is a rare example of the double ear pommel type found in the great museums of the world.

This well-balanced and mighty weapon, is around the same proportions of the much later Roman gladius. It features a slender square hilt that joins to a pommel that divides at right angles to the blade into two finely decorated semi-circular "ears". The pommel features with a semi-circular opening in the centre of each ear. A rectangular guard carefully designed that extends down to firmly grip the upper end of the double-edged blade.
The wide graduated blade that tapers regularly to a point and it has, low, twin central midribs that taper regularly with almost straight cutting edge to a point, making it most suitable for thrusting and cutting.
It is the austere perfection of line and proportion that makes this weapon so beautiful.

This type of pommel represents the north-western Persian version of weapons evolved from Elamite or Mesopotamian flange-hilted blades. They are found made throughout the northern regions of Persia in both bronze and iron, and sometimes with a combination of bronze hilt and iron blade. Items such as this were oft acquired in the 18th century by British noblemen touring Northern France and Italy on their Grand Tour. Originally placed on display in the family 'cabinet of curiosities', within his country house upon his return home. A popular pastime in the 18th and 19th century, comprised of English ladies and gentlemen travelling for many months, or even years, throughout classical Europe, and Middle East, acquiring antiquities and antiques for their private collections. This is a most handsome ancient bronze weapon from the era of the so called Trojan Wars. The ancient Greeks believed the Trojan War was a historical event that had taken place in the 13th or 12th century BC, and believed that Troy was located in modern day Turkey near the Dardanelles. In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey . "The Iliad" relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy, while the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the Achaean leaders. Other parts of the war were told in a cycle of epic poems, which has only survived in fragments. Episodes from the war provided material for Greek tragedy and other works of Greek literature, and for Roman poets such as Virgil and Ovid.

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

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

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

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

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

Around 26 inches long overall.  read more

Code: 24766

A Beautiful Matched Pair of An Ancient Bronze Sword and Dagger With Pierced Bird Cage Pommels. From The Era of the Ancient Greco-Persian Wars, Circa 5th Century B.C.

It is incredibly rare to find two weapons that may likely have been made by the same sword-maker up to 2500 years ago, likely for the same warrior, and them to still be together today. Almost certainly excavated, two hundred years ago or more during the era of the Grand Tour, possibly from the same warrior's tomb or burial or an ancient battle site or sunken bireme. A bireme is an ancient oared warship (galley) with two superimposed rows of oars on each side. Biremes were long vessels built for military purposes and could achieve relatively high speed. They were invented well before the 6th century BC and were used by the Phoenicians, Assyrians, and Greeks. The bireme was also recorded in ancient history on the 8th and early 7th-century BC Assyrian reliefs, where they were used to carry out an amphibious attack on the coast of Elam and the lagoons of the Persian Gulf during the reign of Sennacherib. Over the centuries in the Persian Gulf the Aegean Sea and the Northern Mediterranean, ancient artifacts, pottery and the like have been drawn up by numerous fishermen’s nets, such as, for example our Minoan spears recovered by 18th century Cretan fishermen from the sea bed. See the picture in the gallery of a 500bc Greek bireme.

A picture in the gallery from a mosaic tile floor excavation in Medeina of an ancient Roman Villa, showing a bird in a cage, the inspiration of the shape and form for the pommels on these swords, that were likely made up to 1000 years before the villa was built by the Romans in the 2nd century.

Double edged graduating blades with central midrib. Hollow grips, the dagger with open panels for side plate inserts, the short sword with cylindrical grip. The short sword has a pair of rounded quillon crossguard with widened flattened ends.

The style of warfare between the Greek city-states, which dates back until at least 650 BC (as dated by the 'Chigi vase'), was based around the hoplite phalanx supported by missile troops. The 'hoplites' were foot soldiers usually drawn from the members of the middle-classes (in Athens called the zeugites), who could afford the equipment necessary to fight in this manner. The heavy armour (the hoplon) usually included a breastplate or a linothorax, greaves, a helmet, and a large round, concave shield (the aspis) .Hoplites were armed with long spears (the dory), which were significantly longer than Persian spears, and a sword (the xiphos). The heavy armour and longer spears made them superior in hand-to-hand combat and gave them significant protection against ranged attacks. Lightly armed skirmishers, the psiloi also comprised a part of Greek armies growing in importance during the conflict; at the Battle of Plataea, for instance, they may have formed over half the Greek army. Use of cavalry in Greek armies is not reported in the battles of the Greco-Persian Wars.



The Battle of Marathon
The Persian fleet headed south down the coast of Attica, landing at the bay of Marathon, roughly 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Athens. Under the guidance of Miltiades, the general with the greatest experience of fighting the Persians, the Athenian army marched to block the two exits from the plain of Marathon. Stalemate ensued for five days, before the Persians decided to continue onward to Athens, and began to load their troops back onto the ships. After the Persians had loaded their cavalry (their strongest soldiers) on the ships, the 10,000 Athenian soldiers descended from the hills around the plain. The Greeks crushed the weaker Persian foot soldiers by routing the wings before turning towards the centre of the Persian line. The remnants of the Persian army fled to their ships and left the battle.89 Herodotus records that 6,400 Persian bodies were counted on the battlefield; the Athenians lost only 192 men.

As soon as the Persian survivors had put to sea, the Athenians marched as quickly as possible to Athens. They arrived in time to prevent Artaphernes from securing a landing in Athens. Seeing his opportunity lost, Artaphernes ended the year's campaign and returned to Asia.

The Battle of Marathon was a watershed in the Greco-Persian wars, showing the Greeks that the Persians could be beaten. It also highlighted the superiority of the more heavily armoured Greek hoplites, and showed their potential when used wisely  read more

Code: 24850

Superb Crimean War 1853 Issue British Cavalry Sabre, Exactly as Used by The Charge of the Light Brigade, and, The {Less Well Known, Yet Ironically More Successful} Charge of the Heavy Brigade. In Its Stunning Steel Scabbard, With White Buff Hide Knot

A stunning 1853 pattern sabre that superseded the earlier issue 1821 pattern. A beautiful three bar bright steel hilt, with regulation chequered leather grip, held with 5 rivets. A Regulation steel blade with ordnance stamps and ordnance contract maker stamp, Mole. In its regulation pattern, rolled sheet steel, mirror bright plated scabbard. Many Mole blades were used extensively by the British Army, including during the Crimean War (in the Charge of the Light Brigade) this sword has every indication to have been one of them, such as in the 13th Light dragoons

This original 1853 pattern trooper's sabre was the replacement of the previous 1821 pattern. This particular sabre was issued, just in time, to a few of the hussar and lancer regiments that departed for service in the Crimean War, but it took around another 10 years or so to be supplied to all the other cavalry regiments in the army, especially if they were in service at the time within the far flung reaches of the empire. We have also acquired, a similarly fabulous, 1821 issue example, from the same collection. However, all our other, fabulous condition British cavalry sabres, that we recently acquired from the Crimean War collection, have now been sold over the past few weeks.

Both cavalry charges against the Russian lines happened on the same day in the Crimean War, at Balaklava, on the 25th October 1854, and barely two hours apart. The first charge was at 9.30 am and was the 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade', and it was followed at 11.10 am by the famed 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. This sabre would very likely have been used in either charge as the 1853 pattern was designated for use by both light and heavy cavalry. It bears the same ordnance maker's mark, as an identical pattern issue sword, from the Charge of the Light Brigade, used by a trooper the 13th Light Dragoon's in the charge, that is now in the 13th-18th Royal Hussars and Light Dragoons Regimental Museum {see a photo of that sword in the gallery}.
Our sword also bears the line regt. issue ordnance inspectors marks.

Following the Battle of the Alma in September 1854, British, French and Ottoman forces had begun to besiege the Russian naval base of Sevastopol. The siege lines, running back to their base at Balaklava harbour, went through two valleys and a ridge, and were vulnerable.

Seeking to take advantage of this, the Russians planned to break the British lines and then capture the base.
'The Thin Red Line'
The Russian cavalry charged on Balaklava, but their route was blocked by the 93rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. Traditionally, infantry facing a charge would form a square, four lines deep. But the Highlanders took an unconventional approach, making two lines instead.

In the face of the oncoming Russian horses, the Highlanders' commander, Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, told his troops: ‘There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand.’ They fired two disciplined volleys at the advancing enemy, which turned the Russians back.

'Charge of the Heavy Brigade'
The Heavy Brigade, moving up to support the Highlanders, then intercepted the retreating Russian cavalry.

The 800 British horsemen were hugely outnumbered by the 3,000-strong Russian cavalry. But seeing their enemy halted and vulnerable to attack, they charged uphill all the same. Their advance was little faster than a trot and only lasted 10 minutes, but it sent the Russian horsemen into disorder.

'Charge of the Light Brigade'

‘Cavalry to advance rapidly to the front’
To prevent the Russians moving the guns they had captured earlier, Lord Raglan issued an order to the Light Brigade to go and retrieve them. He was still waiting on reinforcements from Sevastopol to arrive, so the light horsemen were the only troops available to him.

But the cavalry commanders, who lacked Raglan’s view of the battlefield, were uncertain as to which guns his order referred to. What’s more, all they could see was a Russian artillery battery at the end of a heavily defended valley.

In response to their orders, the Light Brigade began their charge, but at the wrong gun batteries. They galloped through Russian artillery fire from three sides and on into the ‘Valley of Death’ suffering heavy losses in the process.

Some of the horsemen succeeded in reaching the Russian guns at the end of the valley, and even drove the men operating them into retreat before charging the Russian cavalry beyond.
After intense fighting, the remnants of the Light Brigade were forced to retreat from the guns. They made their way back through the ‘Valley of Death’ before reaching safety. Fortunately, their return was ensured by the French cavalry, who cleared the Russians from the north side of the valley.

Although the reinforcements from Sevastopol had now deployed and were ready to begin an assault on the heights, no further action was taken.

The battle ended in strategic stalemate, with the Russians controlling the heights and the road, but Balaklava still in Allied hands. Unfortunately, Russian possession of the road made supplying the forces besieging Sevastopol during a terrible winter much harder.

The loss of the Light Brigade was one of Britain’s most spectacular military disasters. It is remembered because of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s popular poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, written a few weeks after the battle.

Years later, Tennyson also wrote ‘The Charge of the Heavy Brigade’ to raise money for Crimean veterans, many of whom were living in poverty. For similar reasons Rudyard Kipling wrote ‘The Last of the Light Brigade’ in 1890 to raise awareness of the hardships faced by veterans.

The blade is grey stained.

Over two decades ago we were delighted to buy Captain Nolan's undress sabretache that was used to carry the order in the Charge of the Light Brigade, and was recovered from beneath his, and his horses bodies after the battle. It spent most of its life after the charge in two museums, one at the rebuilt and re-sited Crystal Palace in London. We were privileged to buy direct it from the original family owners with the personal assistance of the late Gordon Gardner, Militaria Expert of Sotheby's from 1979.

"Robert Mole & Sons" was a prominent British sword manufacturer and contractor active during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Established in Birmingham, England, in 1835 by a descendant of German craftsman Hermann Mohll (later Anglicized to Mole).
Government Contractor: The firm was a significant supplier to the British War Office, the Admiralty, and the Government of India, particularly from 1852 to 1919.
Produced swords, sword bayonets, lances, and matchets (machetes). They were known for high-quality production, often considered second only to Wilkinson Sword during the Victorian era.
Mole blades were used extensively by the British Army and Navy, including during the Crimean War (Charge of the Light Brigade), the Boer War, and World War I.
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Robert Mole & Sons produced swords, including cavalry sabers and naval cutlasses, that were imported by the Confederacy.
Blades are typically marked "RobT Mole & Sons, Makers, Birmingham" or simply "Mole" on the spine or ricasso.
Records of their production were discovered in 1988, detailing contracts from 1852-1920. The company eventually became part of Wilkinson Sword.  read more

Code: 26098

A Singularly Beautiful Napoleonic Wars, Elite Cuirassier's 'Year 13' Imperial French Dated Sword, Of The War of The 100 Days, Culminating at the Battle Of Quatre Bras & The Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington's Decisive Victory Over Napoleon

Superb and beautiful hilt, with very fine original leather bound grip, and a very fine double fullered blade with stunning bright patina. Steel combat scabbard without denting.

We are very privileged to be the UK’s premier original military antiques gallery and website, and to be able to consistently, continually, and regularly, offer the finest original collectors items in our shop for over 100 years

French Napoleonic 'An 13', year 13 swords, were manufactured from 1805 and discontinued in late 1815, whereupon it was superceded in general by the later hilt style of the 1816 model, although some of the surviving models, such as this beauty, continued in service.
Renown throughout the world of historic sword collectors as probably the biggest and most impressive cavalry sword ever designed. This would have seen service in the Elite Cuirassiers of Napoleon's great heavy cavalry regiments.

Napoleon hoped to compel Tsar Alexander I of Russia to cease trading with British merchants through proxies in an effort to pressure the United Kingdom to sue for peace. The official political aim of the campaign was to liberate Poland from the threat of Russia. Napoleon named the campaign the Second Polish War to curry favour with the Poles and provide a political pretence for his actions. The Grande Armee was a very large force, numbering nearly half a million men from several different nations. Through a series of long marches Napoleon pushed the army rapidly through Western Russia in an attempt to bring the Russian army to battle, winning a number of minor engagements and a major battle at Smolensk in August. Napoleon hoped the battle would mean an end of the march into Russia, but the Russian army slipped away from the engagement and continued to retreat into Russia, while leaving Smolensk to burn. Plans Napoleon had made to quarter at Smolensk were abandoned, and he pressed his army on after the Russians. The battles continued, but once the winter set in Napoleon's army was facing insurmountable odds that left it effectively shattered beyond repair. Napoleon fled, it is said, dressed as a woman, and the army left to it's sad and miserable fate. Only around 27,000 were able to return after a mere six months of the Russian campaign. The campaign was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. The reputation of Napoleon was severely shaken, and French hegemony in Europe was dramatically weakened. The Grande Armee, made up of French and allied invasion forces, was reduced to a fraction of its initial strength. These events triggered a major shift in European politics. France's ally Prussia, soon followed by Austria, broke their alliance with France and switched camps. This triggered the War of the Sixth Coalition. The Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Regiments used the largest men in France, recruited to serve in the greatest and noblest cavalry France has ever had. They fought with distinction at their last great conflict at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and most of the Cuirassiers swords in England very likely came from that field of conflict, after the battle, as trophies of war. However, this sword was one of the few that were allowed to remain in the elite cuirassier corps after Waterloo, serving King Louis XVIIIth both before Napoleon's 100 days, and after his crushing defeat by Wellington at Waterloo. Inspected on the blade by Napoleonic inspectors, Lobstein and Bick, also back strap engraved Manufacture Rle January 1815. Made during the abdication period and used in the War of the 100 days. Less than a year following his abdication (April 6, 1814) and the Bourbon Restoration, Napoleon left his island exile in the Tyrrhenian Sea and landed at Cannes on March 1, leading 1,500 men, and marched at once upon Paris. Louis XVIII fled to Ghent on March 13, and Napoleon entered Paris one week later. To broaden his support, Napoleon made liberal changes to the Imperial Constitution, which led a number of former opponents, most notably Benjamin Constant, to rally to his cause. On March 25 Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia concluded an alliance against Napoleon and forced a series of military engagements leading up to the fatal Battle of Waterloo (June 18).

Every warrior that has ever entered service for his country sought trophies. The Mycenae from a fallen Trojan, the Roman from a fallen Gaul, the GI from a fallen Japanese, the tradition stretches back thousands of years, and will continue as long as man serves his country in battle. In the 1st century AD the Roman Poet Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis Juvenal
wrote; "Man thirsts more for glory than virtue. The armour of an enemy, his broken helmet, the flag ripped from a conquered trireme, are treasures valued beyond all human riches. It is to obtain these tokens of glory that Generals, be they Roman, Greek or barbarian, brave a thousand perils
and endure a thousand exertions". A truly magnificent Napoleonic sword in superb condition for it's age.
The largest sword of it's kind that was ever made or used by the world's greatest cavalry regiments. The cuirassiers were the greatest of all France's cavalry, allowing only the strongest men of over 6 feet in height into it's ranks. The French Cuirassiers were at their very peak in 1815, and never again regained the wonder and glory that they truly deserved at that time. To face a regiment of, say, 600 charging steeds bearing down upon you mounted with armoured giants, brandishing the mightiest of swords that could pierce the strongest breast armour, much have been, quite simply, terrifying. The brass basket guard on this sword is first class, the grip is totally original leather and a great colour
only shows expected combat wear, the blade is double fullered and absolutely as crisp as one could hope for. Made in the Napoleonic Wars period.
Used at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo. Apparently every remaining French elite cuirassier regiment fought at Waterloo for Napoleon, and there were no cuirassier reserve, and there were no cuirassier militia

The blade has wonderful steel bright colour, and the hilt has fabulous patina. Overall 45.5 inches long in its scabbard, the spear pointed blade is 37.7 inches long. Old original aged patina and regular usual surface blacking to the scabbard steel.  read more

Code: 25736