Very Special Offer!! Many Have Been Reserved Just 5 Remaining As Not Yet Reserved A Fabulous, Original Set of Antique MK II Zulu War &1880's Vintage Martini Henry Rifles

Special one off offer items. We are sending them individually to be conserved and stock restored but as requested and as required. The stocks and all steel parts are very good but some stock cracking needs attention etc. our artisan can attend to that near invisibly. All the rifles are with original Victorian era leather slings.
These the very types of MK IIs as were used by the 24th Foot at Ishandwhana and Rorkes Drift. All of them are original ordnance contract examples, made either by Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms or London Small Arms, all with VR Crown mark, all originally line regiment issue. All sold on an individual basis . As they are incredibly collectible it is most unlikely they will remain available for long.

These rifles are truly exceptional examples, maker marked, and in very good operational order indeed with an excellent action, and clearly combat used. All their cleaning rods are present but usually no longer removable.
The Martini Henry, .450 577 rifle was most famous British Infantry breech loading rifle of the 19th century. All of these rifles are just as were used in the film ZULU, and the exact type as was used during the 1879 Zulu War, all very nice examples.
The Martini-Henry was a breech-loading lever-actuated rifle adopted by the British, combining an action worked on by Friedrich von Martini (based on the Peabody rifle developed by Henry Peabody), with the rifled barrel designed by Scotsman, Alexander Henry. It first entered service in 1871 replacing the Snider-Enfield, and variants were used throughout the British Empire for 30 years. It was the first British service rifle that was a true breech-loading rifle using metallic cartridges.
During the Martini-Henry period in service, the British army were involved in a large number of colonial wars, most notably the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. The Martini Henry, 450-577, Short Lever, [MK I converted] MK II or the regular MK II rifle was the type used by the company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot present at Rorke's Drift during the eponymous battle. The MK I originally had a small design fault in that the actions hinge pin was initially made of brass, which was too soft for continual use. The rare and early MKI's were thus converted by removing this pin, replacing it with a steel pin, and then redesignated the MKII. The later dated 1880's examples we have were used throughout the British empire. This fabulous set, will now be sold individually, and were used for lecture purposes for almost 15 years at various military bases around the country

As with all our original antique arms, no licence is required to own, purchase or to collect anything of that description we sell. They, and all of these rifles, are entirely unrestricted to own, collect, and display just as they are, however, we only permitted to sell to those who are over 18 of age [with suitable I.d.]  read more

Code: 24259

A Very Good Queen's South Africa Medal Lancashire Fusiliers

3 Clasps. A superb medal from one of the great British Regiments of the Line. Known for their valour, determination and courage. The Lancashire Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that saw distinguished service through many centuries and wars, including the Second Boer War both World War I and World War II, and had many different titles throughout its 280 years of existence.During the Second Boer War, the 2nd Battalion saw action at the Battle of Spion Kop in January 1900 and the Relief of Ladysmith in February 1900. The 6th (Militia) Battalion also served in the war, leaving for South Africa with 650 men on 10 February 1900. All three Volunteer Battalions also found 'service companies' of volunteers who served alongside the Regulars, and gained the battle honour South Africa 1900?1902 for their battalions. The Lancashire Fusiliers Boer War memorial is to be found in Whitehead Gardens, known as Clock Tower Gardens,
in front of the Town Hall bordered by Manchester Road and Knowsley Street,
Bury, Greater Manchester. It was originally situated in Market Place,
Bury. It takes the form of a bronze statue of a soldier standing in Fusilier's
dress, waving his cap, on a plinth upon which is the inscription. It
lists the men who died from the Lancashire Fusiliers, regular, militia
and volunteers, in South Africa 1900-1902. There are 170 brave souls names listed.
The memorial was unveiled on 18th March 1905 by the 17th Earl of Derby;
the sculptor was Sir George James Frampton.  read more

Code: 21373

A Miniature Waterloo Period 'Brown Bess' Musket Bayonet

Original hand engineered miniature, made post war by renown miniaturist engineer Ronald Platt. Photographed alongside the original bayonet to show perspective. the Third or India Pattern became the standard British musket in use throughout the remainder of French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and was used in almost every theatre in which the British were present. It was the musket that the British soldier carried during the Peninsular War and the Hundred Days campaign including both the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. It was also used in the War of 1812 in North America.  read more

Code: 21596

An Early Fine Miniature Single Shot Bolt Action Rifle

Showing all the minute detail of the original bolt action rifle. European armies continued to develop bolt-action rifles through the latter half of the nineteenth century, first adopting tubular magazines as on the Kropatschek rifle and the Lebel rifle, a magazine system pioneered by the Winchester rifle of 1866. The first bolt-action repeating rifle was the Vetterli rifle of 1867 and the first bolt-action repeating rifle to use centerfire cartridges was the weapon designed by the Viennese gunsmith Ferdinand Fruwirth in 1871. Ultimately, the military turned to bolt-action rifles using a box magazine; the first of its kind was the M1885 Remington Lee, but the first to be generally adopted was the British 1888 Lee-Metford. World War I marked the height of the bolt-action rifle's use, with all of the nations in that war fielding troops armed with various bolt-action designs. Probably a Colt or Remington pattern. 6 inches long Non working original hand engineered miniature, made post war by renown miniaturist engineer Ronald Platt.  read more

Code: 21285

A Georgian 18th century Carved Horn Primer or Pistol Flask

made in the 18th and used into the early 19th century. With powder measure screw on cap. Cow horn with wooden base plate.
Firearms became more and more sophisticated during the 16th-century but still required a number of accessories to load and operate them. The main charge, placed in the barrel with the shot, was carried in the powder flask. Smaller priming flasks contained fine-grain powder for priming the pans of wheel-lock firearms. Flasks were attached to a bandolier, a type of sling worn over the shoulder or around the waist, from which hung the various accessories required for a weapon including spanners for the mechanism, measured charges, powder flasks and priming flasks.  read more

Code: 21666

A Victorian Durham Light Infantry Helmet Plate Ist Volunteer Battalion

In white metal with black centre. The 1st Durham Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed at Stockton-on-Tees in 1860, and in 1880 was amalgamated with other Durham corps, from Darlington, Castle Eden and Middlesbrough, to form a battalion of eight companies.

The 1st Durhams later became the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry and as such gained the battle honour `South Africa 1900-02' for the services of its members during the Boer War.  read more

Code: 16734

An Edwardian West Yorkshire Regt. Large Helmet Plate

World War I saw numerous battalions of The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) serving at Neuve-Chappelle, Loos, the Somme, Passchendaele, Ypres, Marne, Arras, Cambrai and Gallipoli. At its peak The West Yorkshire Regiment numbered 37 battalions, 66 Battle Honours were bestowed and four Victoria Crosses were awarded.

The four TF battalions formed the West Yorkshire Brigade, which mobilised as 146 Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division on the outbreak of World War I and served in France 1915?18. They raised duplicate battalions (2/5th, 2/6th, 2/7th, 2/8th) that constituted 185 Bde in 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division, which also served in France 1917?18. In 1915 they formed further reserve battalions (3/5th, 3/6th, 3/7th, 3/8th) Battle honours in WW1 The Great War [31 battalions]: Aisne 1914 '18, Armenti?res 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Hooge 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 '18, Albert 1916 '18, Bazentin, Pozi?res, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Thiepval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, Arras 1917 '18, Scarpe 1917 '18, Bullecourt, Hill 70, Messines 1917 '18, Ypres 1917 '18, Pilckem, Langemarck 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Cambrai 1917 '18, St. Quentin, Rosi?res, Villers Bretonneux, Lys, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, Marne 1918, Tardenois, Amiens, Bapaume 1918, Drocourt-Qu?ant, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, ?p?hy, Canal du Nord, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, France and Flanders 1914-18, Piave, Vittorio Veneto, Italy 1917-18, Suvla, Landing at Suvla, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915-16  read more

Code: 19251

A Pair of WW2 Gas Shield Eye Protectors, Afrika Korps Dessert Campaign Souvenirs, 'Rommel' Type

Made for the British forces in the earliest part of the war, initially as gas protectors, but actually soon realised to be far better as sand storm eye protection, made of an early form of clear celluloid with elastic.

Used to great effect by our so-called Desert Rats in North Africa, but many were captured in the early part of the war in Afrika by the German forces, and re-issued and used by them. In fact Rommel used the very same protectors for that purpose as one can see from the numerous photos of Rommel taken in Africa.

Part of a collection of Afrika Korps campaign souvenirs, including the tinted celluoid goggle type, and a complete pack of goggles, in all original packing, very rare to survive complete packet and contents  read more

Code: 19025

We Are Thrilled To Congratulate Our Dear Friend Steve Ellis’ Release of His 10 CD Career Defining Boxed Set

After a friendship going back 30 years we heartily congratulate the iconic music legend, Steve Ellis, for his career spanning 6 decades, and launch of his 10 CD boxed set, and further thrilled to know his world classic single, Everlasting Love, by his group Love Affair, featured as the musical centrepiece of the incredible Academy Award winning film Belfast by Sir Kenneth Branagh. His forthcoming 10 CD boxed set will be the culmination of the career of one of England’s most iconic soul singers and a music legend.  read more

Code: 24215

A King George IVth Police Tipstaff

With areas of painted finish lacking. Traditional of uppermost cylindrical form with a turned grip. The 18th century had been a rough and disorderly age, with mob violence, violent crimes, highwaymen, smugglers and the new temptations to disorder brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Clearly something had to be done. In 1829 the Metropolitan Police Force, organised by Sir Robert Peel, was established to keep the order in London. The force, under a Commissioner of the Police with headquarters at Scotland Yard, was essentially a civilian one: its members were armed only with wooden truncheons and at first wore top-hats and blue frock-coats. The "Peelers" or "Bobbies" were greeted largely with derision by Londoners, but they did become accepted fairly quickly. Thier primary purpose was to prevent crime, and some London criminals left their haunting grounds of London for the larger provincial towns, which in turn established their own forces on the Metropolitan model. The pattern followed through to the small villages and countryside. To secure co-operation between the spreading network and establish further forces, Parliament passed an act in 1856 to co-ordinate the work of the various forces and gave the Home Secretary the power to inspect them. In the counties, under the Police Act of 1890, the police became the combined responsibility of the local authorities - the County Councils - and the Justice of the Peace, while in London, the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard remained under the Commissioner appointed by the Home Office. At the turn of the century, the British police force established a reputation for humane and kindly efficiency. Their mere existence undoubtedly did a lot to prevent crime, and they built up what was on the whole a highly effective system of investigation and arrest.  read more

Code: 16913