An Exceptionally Beautiful, Almost 500 Year Old Ancient Samurai Aikuchi Tanto, Signed Bizen Osafune Ju Sukesada

Aikuchi tanto are intentionally designed to have an uninterrupted profile, for ease of access, for the securing and withdrawing from an obi, and bear no tsuba sword guard. This is an absolute beauty, in fabulous condition.

It is from a museum grade small collection of remarkable and exceptional samurai tanto. Acquired by a discerning collector over many years seeking an example of all the varrying forms and styles of tanto and their blades, from the zenith of the samurai period of the Koto era and beyond.
Each one is a veritable work of art demonstrating the skill of craftsmen at the apex of their careers, as the very finest swordsmiths and koshirae fitting makers, that has been combined to create wonders of rare beauty. Not only to represent the acme of samurai art, but also functional and usable swords [in the culture of samurai, even small tanto are classified as swords] for the samurai of the highest rank and status, including daimyo and lords, from the Koto to Edo period.

It has a very fine signed Koto ancient blade, in superb Edo polish with a sophisticated, deep, straight hamon. The saya is an absolutely stunning, original Edo period beauty, of finest two colour urushi lacquer of cinnabar flecks red over deep lustrous black. The fabulous menuki are contrasting pure gold and copper gambolling ponies, and the kozuka is decorated a pair of mythical hooved beasts [similar to shishi lion dogs] on a nanako ground, and a small saya mount is Alison in gold and copper of two shishi puppies.

All the mounts are carved buffallo horn. The tsuka is bound with a very fine quality micro herringbone pattern ito, and intricate finely chiselled round, flowerhead form, gold mukugi rims.

Made and signed by one of the early Sukesada, from the Sukesada school of master swordsmiths, in around 1500, between around 500 and 530 years ago.

The highly regarded Sukesada line of swordsmiths descended in the Osafune school and are recorded as far back as the end of the Nambokucho period (around 1394). This blade here is placed it in the Sue-Koto Period (1469-1596).

The whole tanto is in very good condition with just a few natural aging small urushi lacquer surface nicks.

The original Edo period urushi lacquer on the stand is in simply excellent condition for age and shows most elegant intricacy, it reveals within that intricacy the finest craftsmanship and beauty worthy of a master of the art of urushi decor. Japanese lacquer, or urushi, is a transformative and highly prized material that has been refined for over 7000 years.

Cherished for its infinite versatility, urushi is a distinctive art form that has spread across all facets of Japanese culture from the tea ceremony to the saya scabbards of samurai swords

Japanese artists created their own style and perfected the art of decorated lacquerware during the 8th century. Japanese lacquer skills reached its peak as early as the twelfth century, at the end of the Heian period (794-1185). This skill was passed on from father to son and from master to apprentice.

The varnish used in Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the urushi tree, also known as the lacquer tree or the Japanese varnish tree (Rhus vernacifera), which mainly grows in Japan and China, as well as Southeast Asia. Japanese lacquer, 漆 urushi, is made from the sap of the lacquer tree. The tree must be tapped carefully, as in its raw form the liquid is poisonous to the touch, and even breathing in the fumes can be dangerous. But people in Japan have been working with this material for many millennia, so there has been time to refine the technique!  read more

Code: 24538

An Original, French, Napoleonic Year 13 Modele, & Dated 1813 French Flintlock Line Cavalry Pistol, Mauberge Manufacture Imperial. Manufactured For Napoleon's Army To Replace All The Grande Armee Pistols Lost In the Retreat From Moscow

One of the flintlocks from a fabulous & large original collection of finest Imperial French swords and pistols we recently acquired, this one is one of a near identical pair we purchased, but each is being sold separate. Each part of this flintlock pistol bears the poincon stamp of Gouilloud, Napoleonic imperial arms inspector from 1804, lock made at the Maubeuge Manufacture Imperiale. Excellent condition overall with a tight and crisp spring action. A true museum grade original souvenir from the Napoleonic Wars

This flintlock pistol was made at the French Royal Arsenal at Mauberg {formerly the Imperial Arsenal} in 1813, before Napoleon's defeat in 1814 and exile to Elba, and his return in 1815. Thus this pistol was made and whereupon it was issued to the cuirassiers, that then very soon transferred their loyalty back to their old emperor, Napoleon upon his return from exile in Elba. It was used by the cuirassiers in the 100 Days War, culminating in Napoleon's final defeat at Quatre Bras and Waterloo by the Duke of Wellington, and this pistol being taken as war booty.

Used as a regimental issue sidearm, by and the very best French Napoleonic frontline cavalry, the carabineers, cuirassiers, chasseurs, dragoons and lancers, serving in Napoleon Bonaparte's army during the Napoleonic Wars. This is the pattern called the AN 13 {year 13} which represents the 13th year of French Ist Republic of 1792. The French Republican Calendar or French Revolutionary Calendar was a calendar proposed during the French Revolution, and used by the French government for about 12 years from late 1793. This is the pattern of pistol that would have first seen service in the Elite Imperial Guard Cuirassiers of Napoleon's great heavy cavalry regiments. 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 pistols now in England very likely came from that field of conflict, after the battle, as trophies of war. This pistol may well have been taken from a vanquished Cuirassier pistol that was drawn for combat on the field of battle. One can imagine this pistol lying freely, or, maybe, even still clasped in his cold desperate hand, or even under his fallen steed, at the field of conflict at Waterloo. 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 super Napoleonic pistol. 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. Made in the period that Napoleon was Emperor and ruling most of Europe, it was used through the Napoleonic period from 1813, later in the the Royal restoration period, when Napoleon was imprisoned at Elba, and then during the War of the 100 days, culminating at Waterloo .
All Napoleon's heavy Cavalry Regiments fought at Waterloo, there were no reserve regiments, and all the Cuirassiers, without exception fought with their extraordinary resolve, bravery and determination. The Hundred Days started after Napoleon, separated from his wife and son, who had come under Austrian control, was cut off from the allowance guaranteed to him by the Treaty of Fontainebleau, and aware of rumours he was about to be banished to a remote island in the Atlantic Ocean, Napoleon escaped from Elba on 26 February 1815. He landed at Golfe-Juan on the French mainland, two days later. The French 5th Regiment was sent to intercept him and made contact just south of Grenoble on 7 March 1815. Napoleon approached the regiment alone, dismounted his horse and, when he was within gunshot range, shouted, "Here I am. Kill your
Emperor, if you wish." The soldiers responded with, "Vive L'Empereur!" and marched with Napoleon to Paris; Louis XVIII fled. On 13 March, the powers at the Congress of Vienna declared Napoleon an outlaw and four days later Great Britain, the Netherlands, Russia, Austria and Prussia bound themselves to put 150,000 men into the field to end his rule. Napoleon arrived in Paris on 20 March and governed for a period now called the Hundred Days. By the start of
June the armed forces available to him had reached 200,000 and he decided to go on the offensive to attempt to drive a wedge between the oncoming British and Prussian armies. The French Army of the North crossed the frontier into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, in modern-day Belgium. Napoleon's forces fought the allies, led by Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815. Wellington's army withstood repeated attacks by the French and drove them from the field while the Prussians arrived in force and broke through Napoleon's right flank. The French army left the battlefield in disorder, which allowed Coalition forces to enter France and restore Louis XVIII to the French throne. Off the port of Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, after consideration of an escape to the United States, Napoleon formally demanded political asylum from the British Captain Frederick Maitland on HMS Bellerophon on 15 July 1815. The pistol is in very nice condition overall.  read more

Code: 25398

A Delightful Armour Piercing Sengoku Period Samurai’s Dagger. A Period That Commenced in 1468. A Samurai Tanto From The Koto Era, Made Around 500 Years Old. Fully Mounted And Fitted With Original Edo Period Mountings {Koshirae}

The era is beautifully depicted in Akira Kurowsawa’s films called Jidaigeki. The Sengoku Period (1467-1568 CE) was a lawless century-long era characterized by rising political instability, turmoil, and warlordism in Japan. During this period, field armies and soldiers rapidly rose in number, reaching tens of thousands of warriors. Many castles in Japan were built during the Sengoku Period as regional leaders and aristocrats alike competed for power and strong regional influence to win the favours of the higher-class Japanese at the time. Kurosawa’s film depiction of Macbeth, Throne of Blood, is set in this era of Japan’s feudal period. Original title 蜘蛛巣城, Kumonosu-jō, lit. 'The Castle of Spider's Web'


With a most powerful armour piercing blade showing a very fine and most elaborate hamon in nice polish. The all Edo period mounts are decorated with a flock of geese flying in formation over high mounted fishing nets in a shower of rain of pure gold in shakudo and gold. The seppa are beautifully carved with deep crenellated edging in pure gold and shakudo. The tsuba is an oval plate in iron with a full relief edge decoration of prunus. Superb lobster scale pattern ribbed lacquer saya shown with a small kozuka pocket containing its sinchu kodzuka knife decorated with a takebori dragon on both sides. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the feudal system of Japan under the Ashikaga Shogunate. Various samurai warlords and clans fought for control over Japan in the power vacuum, while the Ikkō-ikki emerged to fight against samurai rule. The arrival of Europeans in 1543 introduced the arquebus into Japanese warfare, and Japan ended its status as a tributary state of China in 1549. Oda Nobunaga dissolved the Ashikaga Shogunate in 1573 and launched a war of political unification by force, including the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War, until his death in the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582. Nobunaga's successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed his campaign to unify Japan and consolidated his rule with numerous influential reforms. Hideyoshi launched the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592, but their eventual failure damaged his prestige before his death in 1598. Tokugawa Ieyasu displaced Hideyoshi's young son and successor Toyotomi Hideyori at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and re-established the feudal system under the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Sengoku period ended when Toyotomi loyalists were defeated at the siege of Osaka in 1615.

The Sengoku period was named by Japanese historians after the similar but otherwise unrelated Warring States period of China.The tanto was designed primarily as a stabbing weapon, but the edge can be used for slashing as well. Tanto are generally forged in hira-zukuri style (without ridgeline), meaning that their sides have no ridge line and are nearly flat, unlike the shinogi-zukuri structure of a katana. Some tanto have particularly thick cross-sections for armour-piercing duty, and are called yoroi toshi. The tantos primary use was a type of stabbing weapon, however, the blade could also be used for slashing as well. Some tanto were forged with a particularly thick cross section which was thought to aid in piercing the armour of enemies, this type of dagger would be called a yoroi toshi.

A tanto would most often be worn by Samurai, and it was very uncommon to come across a non samurai with a tanto. It was not only men who carried these daggers, women would on occasions carry a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi which would be used for self-defence. In feudal Japan a tanto would occasionally be worn by Samurai in place of the wakizashi in a combination called the daisho, which roughly translates as big-little, in reference to the big Samurai Sword (Katana) and the small dagger (tanto). Before the rise of the katana it was more common for a Samurai to carry a tachi and tanto combination as opposed to a katana and wakizashi. The blade is in super condition for it's age, with a small rice grain sized blemish to one side of the blade, the kashira has a small impact dent. Overall 14.25 inches long in saya  read more

Code: 23961

A Superb WW2 Imperial Japanese Naval Officer's Kai Gunto Sword Tachi. Signed Blade, with Unusual Brown Ishime Lacquer Saya, and Brown Silk Battle Wrapped Tsuka, Over Black Samegawa {Giant Rayskin}

In our opinion this is a "near impossible to better" original, WW2 Naval officer's kai gunto sword, used and carried by of an officer of the {formerly} divine Emperor Hirohito's Imperial Navy in WW2.

Upon Japan’s surrender the Emperor had to surrender his divine status.
Ideal for the collector of the very best surviving officer's swords of WW2.
A rare 1937 pattern Kai Gunto, with a fine signed blade. With all it's original gilded mounts and fittings, with near mint conserved dark brown ishime stone lacquer saya. Traditional pattern naval style flattened knot battle-wrap ito over black samegawa. The blade is absolutely near perfect and near flawless, with only a some very small surface stains, with all it's original finish, and fully signed tang {yet to be translated}. It has its original naval pattern ‘rising sun’ tachi tsuba with twin large seppa dai. This sword would, effectively, be near impossible to upgrade if you wanted the best possible available, regulation, deluxe grade tachi sword, as commissioned by a Japanese naval officer in WW2, in absolutely superb, conserved, condition. Only the tsuba has signs of old storage marks. Effectively, it is just like the day it was surrendered in 1945 apart from some very light natural service age wear.

Brown lacquer sayas are rare for naval swords, with black the most commonly found colour, although, a brown polished rayskin option was popular, but a very expensive option at the time, though a brown lacquer finish, with a single belt mount, finish is rarely seen.

The illustrative photo shows three Imperial Japanese Naval flying officers, the central figure carrying the same sword.

The air crewmen of a Ginga bomber that hit the allied aircraft carrier, Randolph. From left to right): Chief Flight Petty Officer Takeshi Igai (navigator), Lieutenant Koetsu Fukuda (pilot), and Chief Flight Petty Officer Kenji Ota (radioman).

The WW2 Japanese pilots, by tradition, carried their kai gunto swords aboard their planes, in a special metal almost cylindrical case affixed to the cockpit side, including the kamikaze pilots, which might be another reason that kai gunto swords are rare to find, as most pilots and their planes perished in combat, as did so many of the Imperial Japanese Naval combat vessals, that were sunk by the allied fleets. They carried their sword airborne in WW2 as part of their bushido tradition, in that, although they might never face hand to hand combat on land, unless if they landed in an emergency or survived a crash on land, but if they were to perish in their aircraft the sword would still be by their side.  read more

Code: 25395

A Very Rare and Historical 1822 Pattern Presentation Sword to Ensign Alexander Samson of the Caribbean, 1st West India Regt. In 1855, From Col. Lockyer Freestun ‘Great Officer’ of the Knights Hospitallers of Jerusalem

The West Indian Regiment was one of the great British colonial regiments, it was awarded 11 battle honours, and two of its other ranks volunteers, during its most notable history, were awarded the Victoria Cross, the rarest and most valuable medal for valour and gallantry in the entire military world. This is very rare sword indeed, with a fabulous pierced VR Gothic half basket hilt, sharkskin multi wire bound grip, all steel combat scabbard and deluxe grade fully etched blade, presentation inscribed, and it is in simply beautiful condition for its age.

Surviving, antique, British Army, West India Regimental swords are exceptionally rare, but an officer's presentation sword is so rare that this is the first we have ever seen in over 40 years, and it is possible no other surviving example may still be in existance within the collecting world, or even in museum collections.

Presented by a most highly decorated and exceptional army officer who was both a Colonel of The British Army of Queen Victoria, A Colonel of the Spanish Army of The Queen of Spain and a ‘Great Officer’ of the Knights Hospitallers of Jerusalem.

Presented in 1855 by Col William Lockyer Freestun, [formerly of the 93rd Highland Regt. Of Foot] was also a Colonel in the service of Her Catholic Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain. Who was granted the titles of Knight and Star of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles 3rd, Knight of the First Class of the National and Military Order of San Fernando, and Knight of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic for his gallantry and approbations in facing the enemy in the field. These orders he was granted permission to accept by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, personally, on August 14th 1840, and with concession and especial mark of Her Royal favour, be thus granted all due titles in Her Majesty's College of Arms. On the 23rd of June 1860 Her Majesty further granted a British Knighthood to Col. Lockyer Freestun who was also a Great Officer of the Knights Hospitallers of Jerusalem.

Ensign Sansom served with much honour in the West Indian Regiment for around 38 years rising to the esteemed rank of Colonel of the regiment. The West India Regiments (WIR) were infantry units of the British Army recruited from and normally stationed in the British colonies of the Caribbean between 1795 and 1927. The new West India Regiments saw considerable service during the period of the Napoleonic Wars, including participation by the First WIR in the occupation of the French island of Marie-Galante in 1808. The Regiments were later involved in the War of 1812, both on the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, taking part in the British attack on New Orleans. In 1800 there were 12 battalion-sized regiments which were seen as valuable also for dealing with revolts in the West Indies colonies. With numbers decreased by the effects of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, there was a shortfall of around five thousand at the start of the War of 1812, and the war offered hope of new recruitment from slaves, yearning to serve as free men, fleeing the United States. However only eight joined the regiments from the Chesapeake Bay area in 1814, and a further thirteen on the coast of Georgia early in 1815. Following the end of the War of 1812, numbers were progressively reduced
incorporating into the 1st West India Regiment the Carolina Corps that had been in existence since 1779, the original intention was both to recruit free black personel from the West Indian population and to purchase slaves from the West Indian plantations. The eighth of the newly raised regiments (Skerrett's) was disbanded the following year but the quality of the new corps led to a further five West India Regiments being raised in 1798.

In 1807 all serving black soldiers recruited as slaves in the West India Regiments of the British Army were freed under the Mutiny Act passed by the British parliament that same year. In 1808 the Abolition Act caused all trading in slaves to be "utterly abolished, prohibited and declared to be unlawful". In 1812 a West African recruiting depot was established on Blance Island in Sierre Leone to train West African volunteers for the West India Regiments. But it needs also to be remembered that we were in the forefront of abolishing the slave trade and that, even as Napoleon threatened our very survival, we devoted a substantial part of the Royal Navy to hunting down and destroying the slave traders. Many British ships and lives were lost in the process. By 1816 the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the reduction of the West India regiments to six enabled this depot to be closed.

The free WIR soldiers became a valued part of the British forces garrisoning the West Indies, where losses from disease and climate were heavy amongst white troops. The black Caribbean soldiers by contrast proved better adapted to tropical service. They served against locally recruited French units that had been formed for the same reasons. Free black Caribbeans soldiers played a prominent and often distinguished role in the military history of Latin America and the Caribbean

The 1st West India Regiment from Jamaica went to the Gold Coast of Africa to fight in the Ashanti War of 1873-4
Battle honours
Dominica, Martinique 1809, Guadeloupe 1810, Ashantee 1873?74, West Africa 1887, West Africa 1892-93 & 94, Sierra Leone 1898
The Great War (2 battalions): Palestine 1917?18, E. Africa 1916-18, Cameroons 1915-16.

Honours and awards
Private Samuel Hodge of the WIR was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1866 for courage shown during the capture of Tubab Kolon in the Gambia. Private Hodge was the second black recipient of this decoration the first being Able Seaman William Hall of the Royal Navy. In 1891, Lance Corporal William Gordon of the 1st Battalion WIR received a VC for gallantry during a further campaign in the Gambia. Promoted to sergeant, Jamaican-born William Gordon remained in employment at regimental headquarters in Kingston until his death in 1922.  read more

Code: 22501

18th Century, Very, Very Rare Butt Reservoir Air-Gun, Outside Lock, Circa 1785. Very Few People Realise Just How Far the Air Rifle Can Trace Back It’s History. And, Just How Amazingly Effective They Were

Likely German. Recently returned from being featured in a documentary on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. We have only had two such similar reservoir butt guns in the past 20 years. Fine resevoir guns such as this were made by Samuel Henry Staudenmayer around 1799, he was a former workman of John Manton, gunmaker to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. Two air weapons by this maker are recorded in the Hanoverian Royal Gunroom, one of which was sold at Sotheby's, Hanover, October 2005. He is also the maker of a Girandoni-system air rifle that resides in the Royal Collection at Windsor (inv. No. L 409). Georg Wolf is recorded in Wurzburg circa 1775. Two bellow guns by this maker are preserved in the Bargello, Florence and another was formerly in the gunroom of the Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck at Schloss Dyck. A Girandoni System Austrian Repeating Air Rifle, Circa 1795, was believed to have been taken on the Lewis & Clark Army Corps of Discovery Expedition in 1803-1806. The Girandoni air rifle was in service with the Austrian army from 1780 to around 1815. The advantages of an air gun were a high rate of fire, no smoke from propellants, and low muzzle report, these features granted it acceptance as a military arm. It did have its problems and was eventually removed from service for several reasons, but decades after introduction. While the detachable air reservoir was capable of around 30 continual shots it took nearly 1,500 strokes of a hand pump to fill those reservoirs. Later, an improvement of a wagon-mounted pump was provided. The reservoirs, were made from hammered sheet iron held together with rivets and sealed by brazing, and they proved very difficult to manufacture using the techniques of the period, and were always in short supply.

In addition, the weapon was very delicate and a small break in the reservoir could make it inoperable. Finally, it was very different from any other weapon of the time and any soldier using it needed to be highly trained.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition used the rifle in the demonstrations that they performed for nearly every Native American tribe they encountered on the expedition

As far back as 250BC, Pharaoh Ktesbias II of Egypt, first described the use of compressed air to propel a projectile. Modern air gun history began in the 15th century. These weapons were known as wind chambers and were designed using an air reservoir connected to a cannon barrel. These devices were capable of propelling a four pound lead ball over a distance of 500 yards, and able to penetrate 3 inch oak board. These weapons rivaled the power of gun powder based firearms of that time and came into use in the Napoleonic wars in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Due to the fact that high powered air guns were both silent and deadly, they were feared by many, Nobility tried to keep these air guns out of the hands of commoners, and air resevoir butt guns even saw much combat in battle, including the Austrian Army that used an air resevoir rifle designed by Grandoni in 1779 that shot 20 rounds of .44 cal. bullets at speeds as high as 1,000 feet per second. They fought well against Napoleon's Army and even though the Austrian Army was outnumbered and lost the battle, the Austrian's armed with air guns demoralized Napoleon's Army, and they suffered had a great number of casualties. Air guns were so feared by Napoleon's Army that any enemy soldier captured with a air rifle was executed as an assassin. One important reason Napoleon was so fearful about air guns was because there was no cloud of smoke upon firing which would allow the sniper to be pin-pointed and killed.

One of the most famous air guns in history is the .36 caliber air gun that Lewis and Clark took along with them on their expedition of 1803-06 see painting in the gallery. They took it along for hunting, just in case the black powder got wet and also used it to impress the Indians, the Indians call this air rifle, "The smokeless thunder stick.". In overall fine condition. The round, smoothbore, appox .44 calibre, sighted, steel barrel, has smooth untouched surfaces, fine bore with front site.. Exposed cocking "hammer" with an external mechanism and sculpted mainspring: matching, smooth, blued surfaces and in functional order. Complete with its original air release lever. Leather wrapped, conical, hollow, steel butt stock/air reservoir. Matching mechanism with all of its original components, a strong mainspring and air release valve. Very fine stock. A very nice and complete example of a rare late 18th century German or Austrian Reservoir-Butt gun. Overall length, 55". As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 20919

A Fabulous Quality & Simply Beautiful Original Victorian Uniform Dolman Tunic of a Captain of the Pembrokeshire Hussars. An Hussar Regiment That Fought With Distinction In The Boer War.

blue cloth with white facings, silver bullion lace and braid trim including pointed ornamental cuffs, Austrian knot devices to back, 17 loops, with plain silver plated buttons to chest, shoulder cords with regimental buttons and 3 embroidered rank stars, white silk lining, pair matching overalls with double silver lace stripe. Good Condition, the lace generally bright overall. The officer who wore this superb uniform served alongside Col Cropper as a fellow Captain of the Pembrokeshire Hussars. As we know not this uniform's officer's name we show with the gallery the details of Col. Croppers distinguished career in the Zulu War and both Boer Wars. Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry. This type of cavalry first appeared in the Hungarian army of King Matthias Corvinus. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen was subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry regiments in European and other armies. The hussars played a prominent role as cavalry in the Napoleonic Wars (1796-1815). As light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, they would be used to fight skirmish battles and for scouting. Most of the great European powers raised hussar regiments. The armies of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia had included hussar regiments since the mid-18th century. In the case of Britain, four light dragoon regiments were converted to hussars in 1806-1807.

Hussars were notoriously impetuous, and Napoleon was quoted as stating that he would be surprised for a hussar to live beyond the age of 30, due to their tendency to become reckless in battle, exposing their weaknesses in frontal assaults. The hussars of Napoleon created the tradition of sabrage, the opening of a champagne bottle with a sabre. Moustaches were universally worn by Napoleonic-era hussars; the British hussars were the only moustachioed troops in the British Army leading to their being taunted as being "foreigners", at times.

The French hussar of the Napoleonic period was armed with a brass-hilted sabre, a carbine and sometimes with a brace of pistols, although these were often unavailable. The British hussar was armed with, in addition to his firearms, the 1796-pattern light-cavalry sabre. British hussars also introduced the sabretache (a leather pouch hung from the swordbelt) to the British Army.

An extract from Chapter IX of the Historical Records of the Pembroke Yeomanry
The Pembrokeshire Hussars Yeomen, with the other 3 companies of the Welsh Yeomanry Battalion reached Cape Town on the 6th April, 1900, and were sent to Maitland camp, joining some 3,000 other yeomen, waiting their turn to go to the front. Stellenbosh and Wellington were the next places visited, and after some days of useful drilling the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry were ordered to join the Army at Bloemfontem.

On May 16th the Pembrokeshire and the two Montgomeryshire Companies of the Battalion, some 300 strong moved out to the North-west on a patrolling expedition, and after a week of this returned to Bloemfontein in time for the Queen's birthday parade. The Pembrokeshires. were given the place of honour in the van, and their smart appearance and soldier-like bearing, to quote his words, so pleased General Pretyman that he subsequently had the Yeomanry ranked past him in single file.

On May 27th the Pembrokeshire Squadron was ordered to Smithfield, Orange River Colony, Nos. 2 and 4 Troops being shortly afterwards sent to Rouxville, a small township nearer the Basuto Border, Nos. 1 and 3 Troops remaining at Smithfield under Major Cropper.

Leaving No. 1 Troop behind at Smithfield, under Captain Richardson the remaining three Troops of the Pembrokeshires on July 29th started on a three weeks' "trek," but nothing happened of interest, and after passing through Wepener and Dewetsdorp the company once more found itself at Bloemfontein.

On August 21st the company left by train for Ventersburg Weg, and with one of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Companies, and the Denbighshire Hussars formed part of Colonel White's column. On the 24th the advanced scouts of the column were in touch with the enemy, and next day the Pembrokeshire Yeomen exchanged their first shots with the Boers.

The Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, under Major Cropper, were forming the rearguard of the column which was moving back to Ventersburg, and had dispatched a troop under Lieutenants Jones and Blunt, to burn a farm from which the column had been fired upon.

The attacking troop, however, met with a hot reception, and Lieutenant Jones, whose horse was shot, had a narrow escape, and would have been captured but for the brave conduct of Trooper Atkinson, and Farrier Sergeant Williams, of Lampeter, who rode back to their officer's assistance.

Sergeant Williams, in his gallant act, was killed, and was buried in Ventersburg Cemetery, with the following epitaph on the little cross that marks his grave “Died whilst gallantly attempting to rescue his officer." Trooper Atkinson was recommended for the coveted Victoria Cross, but was only awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

As the Boer Commando, against which Colonel J White's Column was operating had managed to escape, the Yeomanry were entrained for Winburg, and after a reconnaissance had been made against Oliver's Commando in that neighbourhood the Pembrokeshire men were moved to Bloemfontein.

Next the Pembrokes were hurriedly moved to the rescue of Lady brand, White's column being attached to General Bruce-Hamilton's Brigade. After some sharp short skirmishes Ladybrand, with its plucky little garrison of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, was relieved.

One section of the Pembrokes was nearly cut off, and Trooper Atkinson had his horse shot, and was only saved by the gallantry of Sergeant Millett, who brought him out on his horse, covered by the rifles of a few Pembroke Yeomen.

Major Cropper's men assisted in driving a Boer Commando into the hands of General Hunter, and after another attempt to corner a Commando at Doornberg the Pembrokes were engaged in the Bethulie district assisting in re- organising and provisioning the neighbouring towns.

Meanwhile the Troop of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry left under Captain Ernald Richardson at Rouxville had not been left idle and had been on duty garrisoning Fauresmith, Jagersfontein, and Pitensburg, three towns in a hotbed of Boerdom. At Fauresmith with two companies of HighlandIanders and Lovat's Yeomanry Scouts they were practically in a state of siege for two months. Hertzog's Commando joining the besieging force and here Trooper Stanley Thomas, of the company was killed, and another trooper (Greatorex) finding, on returning from picket duty, that he had left his bandolier outside, coolly clambered over the earthworks to get it. He, of course, drew the enemy's fire on him, and was badly hit.

Trooper Francis of the company made a famous ride with despatches from Fauresmith to Jagersfontein, and after being fired on by both friend and foe delivered his despatches and was rewarded with the rank of Corporal and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Captain Richardson's Troop, after Fauresmith was relieved, saw some active service with the columns in Cape Colony, and lost one or two wounded. The troop forming part of Colonel Hubert's column, and after several fights against Kritzerger eventually joined their squadron.

Major Cropper's three troops now took part in the relief of Phillipolis, and marched 60 miles in 24 hours - the Pembroke men out-distancing the other units of Colonel White's columns, and after rescuing the score of Nesbitt's Horse, who for a fortnight had held out against 600 men, repaired to Springfontein.

Reinforced by a squadron of the London Rough Riders, Colonel White's column moved out from Springfontein to clear the Boers from the line between and Bloemfontein. Three miles out from the town the Rough Riders, who were acting as scouts, were surprised in a narrow nek, and lost one killed and three wounded.

But the Pembrokes and some guns came to the rescue, and the dashing leadership of Major Cropper in the subsequent pursuit, earned the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry the commendation of their Column Commander.

In the early part of November, 1900 the Squadron, still with Colonel White's Column, were operating to the West of the Free State Capital, and had several' hot engagements with Hertzog and Brandt Commandoes, at one of which, with the 16th Lancers, near Aasvogel Kop the Pembroke men specially distinguished themselves.

News was now received that the Boer leader Haasbroek, who was marching down country to join De Wet, was expected to cross the Modder River between the Column and Bloemfontein. A hurried march brought the Column within touch of the Boers just after they had crossed the river, and after a hot fight the Commando was driven back, but not without heavy losses on both sides. The Pembroke Squadron dashing gallantly on this occasion was once more mentioned in despatches.

The Squadron now took part in the big Christmas drive of De Wet, who had close on 4,000 Boers under his command and despite the almost 4,000 Boers under his command and despite the almost perfect trap, De Wet and his men broke through the cordon.

But the chase was not given up, and the British Troops came on his rearguard, and after a hand to hand fight, in which the regular cavalry and Yeomanry specially distinguished themselves, darkness came and stopped the pursuit. The Boers lost 8 killed 33 wounded and 18 prisoners, and a large number of horses.

General Knox, the British Commander, followed De Wet right up the East side of the Orange Free State, occasionally hastening his movements with a few shells or a sharp skirmish. In all these latter fights the Pembroke Yeomen bore their part.

At Hammonia near Ficksburg a very stiff fight with the Boers took place. The enemy had surprised the Denbighshire Hussars, who were acting as an advance guard, and the Pembroke and Montgomeryshire Yeomanry were ordered up, and eventually drove the Boers off, clearing the ridge with their hot and sharp fire.

The company still in pursuit of De Wet spent its Christmas Day at Kaffir Kop, but hardly had the Christmas dinner been finished than scouts rode in to say that De Wet had again given the Troops the slip. On January 1st, 1901, the Pembrokes were again hot on De Wet's trail, and on the 3rd. at Kaffir Kop, the Pembrokes with the rest of the Welsh Yeomanry were ordered to make a flanking movement to dislodge the Boers, who had taken up some strong positions.

The Pembrokeshire Yeomanry some 30 strong, attempted to rush the enemy, who were lining a rocky kopje fronted by a deep donga. Down the slope which led to the enemy's position went the small troop, and as they galloped the fire grew fiercer. The few" Boers who were supposed to be there numbered apparently close on 500. Some twenty yards in front of his men was Major Cropper, till stopped by a precipitous descent of some 20 feet. No horseman could ride down it, and to dismount was to count certain death. Slowly Major Cropper, who had been twice hit while so gallantly leading his men, wheeled his horse round and pointed with his hand for them to retire, which was at once done. When Major Cropper reached the ridge he fell off his horse into the arms of Colonel Forbes, al- most senseless, gasping “Couldn't do it, sir."

He had been hit three times and had ridden grasping his saddle with both hands. The gallant Major was at once invalided home, and a few months afterwards died of his wounds. No one else was hit in this death ride, although several had their clothes riddled with bullets, and their horses wounded.

The remnant of the Pembrokes were now under the charge of Lieutenants Jones and Blunt.

The other Troop under Captain Richardson had by now rejoined the company, and after some hot work after De Wet in wild Karoo desert, found themselves in March, 1901, engaged in clearing the country south of Bloemfontein.

Then came more clearing of the rebel farms, and finally the new 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company of Yeomanry arrived to relieve them.

A few more weeks were spent with Colonel White's Column, and then orders were issued for the old company to proceed to Worcester, where remnants of the original 9th Battalion were to mobilise.

Another misfortune befell the Company ere its departure for home. Sergeant Major Prothero, after successfully resisting an attack of enteric fever, fell a victim to pneumonia, to the great regret of all ranks.

At last the company embarked for home, and on their arrival at Tenby were accorded a splendid reception, and the members of the Squadron later had the honour of receiving the medals from the King on that memorable day when His Majesty decorated some thousands of his Imperial Yeomen in London.  read more

Code: 22420

A Great Opportunity To Acquire A Most Beautiful & Stunning 4th/9th Ghurkha, 16th Brigade, 'Chindit' Officer's Japanese Combat War Trophy. A Japanese Officer's Shingunto Sword, Signed by Kanenori, and Dated 1944.

Signed Kanenori dated 'a lucky day in the 18th Year of Showa {1944 }. Possibly the gendaito smith Noshu Seki Jyu Kanenori(濃州関住兼則)

Only the old worn shingunto leather covered wooden saya scabbard of the sword's original WW2 mounts now remain, and will accompany this fabulous sword blade. This is a Chindit officer's war trophy, and not a surrendered sword. Apparently the Japanese officer was not granted the opportunity in order to surrender his sword, it was taken from him.

Born in the 40th year of the Meiji era (1907) in Seki city, Gifu prefecture, Noshu Seki Jyu Kanenori(濃州関住兼則) was a younger brother of Kojima Kanemichi, one of the most famous swordsmiths in modern times.
Kanenori belonged to the company called Seki Kyoshinsha run by his brother Kanemichi during World War Ⅱ.

Well, this sword had without doubt seen considerable hand to hand jungle combat action. All of the wrap mounts and leather combat cover simply rotted away in the Jungle.

However, the very grey blade was sent by the previous owner to be completely cleaned and polished, and it had been returned to him looking in fabulous condition, then sold to us and now offered here for sale. It could be remounted in a bespoke hand made shirasaya {made by us} or refitted in mounts of choice. Type 98 shingunto possibly or even traditional style.

A problem faced by all the British and Ghurkha Chindits, and Japanese soldiers alike. Leather from uniforms and equipment covers could rot in a matter of months, uniforms would simply fall to pieces, and there are numerous photographs taken of jungle warfare soldiers mid campaign where their uniforms, boots and kit simply fell off their bones. Exactly as it was for Allied POWs in Japanese prison camps in Japanese occupied territories, eventually they were reduced to being naked, having no clothes at all but a simple loin cloth.

Ideal piece of combined Imperial Japanese and WW2 'Chindit', history, perfect to remount in a bespoke, handmade shira saya, or, traditionally as required. We do still have its near complete shingunto leather bound scabbard

Th 4th/9th Ghurkha Rifles were part of 16th Brigade in 1944. On 5 February 1944, Fergusson's 16th Brigade left Ledo for Burma. They avoided Japanese forces by traversing exceptionally difficult terrain. The rest of the Brigades were brought in by air to create fortified bases with airstrips.

600 sorties by Dakota transport aircraft transferred 9,000 men to the landing zones. Chowringhee was abandoned once the fly-in was completed, but Broadway was held with a garrison which included field artillery, anti-aircraft guns and even a detachment of six Mk.VIII Spitfires of No.81 Squadron RAF from 12 March to 17 March. On 17 March they were attacked during take-off by Japanese Ki-43 'Oscars'. S/L William 'Babe' Whitamore and F/O Alan M Peart managed to get airborne, with both shooting down one 'Oscar' each. Whitamore was shot down and killed but Peart survived for over half an hour, holding off over 20 enemy fighters. The remaining Spitfires were destroyed on the ground for the loss of another pilot, F/Lt Coulter. Peart flew back to Kangla the same day in his damaged Spitfire (FL-E JF818) and reported the action.28 The detachment was duly ended by AFC Stanley Vincent, the CO of No. 221 Group.27

Fergusson's brigade set up another base named Aberdeen north of Indaw, into which 14th Brigade was flown. Calvert's brigade established yet another, named White City at Mawlu, astride the main railway and road leading to the Japanese northern front. 111 Brigade set up ambushes and roadblocks south of Indaw (although part of the brigade which landed at Chowringhee was delayed in crossing the Irrawaddy River), before moving west to Pinlebu.

Ferocious jungle fighting ensued around Broadway and White City {all the Chindit bases had British city region names}. At times, British and Japanese troops were in close combat, bayonets and kukris against katanas. On 27 March, after days of aircraft attack, the Japanese attacked Broadway for several nights before the attack was repulsed with flown-in artillery and the aid of locally recruited Kachin irregulars.

The deprivations of the Burma campaign were horrifying for all sides. This is just one account in Burma. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. The most prominent firsthand retelling of what happened comes from naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the Battle of Ramree Island and gave this written account:

“That night of Feb. 19, 1945 was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. motor launch crews ever experienced. The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above the water, watchfully alert for their next meal. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud…

The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of the wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on Earth. At dawn, the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.” — Bruce Stanley Wright

The giant lizards had a feast of their lives as nearly 1,000 terrified soldiers dripped blood and sweat into the crowded confines of the Ramree mangrove swamp.

Around 500 Japanese soldiers are believed to have fled the mangrove swamps, with 20 of them being recaptured by British forces who had set up a perimeter around the dense jungle. Around 500 of the fleeing men, however, never made it out of the swamp.

Survivors are said to have heard harrowing stories of hundreds of crocodiles assaulting the soldiers in a mass assault, as well as appalling tales of crocodiles attacking the soldiers individually.

Photo 6 in the gallery shows an example of one of our museum grade handmade & bespoke sword storage and display mounts, a shira saya. Every blade in traditional times, including those now in museums, would have such a set of mounts. This is what we could make for the blade if required, cost around £350.

One side of the blade three inches from the tip has a small area of tiny pin prick marks .


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: 25390

A Most Impressive & Beautiful Antique Shinshinto Edo Era Samurai Horseman's Katana. This Is A Most Impressive Sword Of Commanding Presence. Likely of a Seieibushi {Elite Ranked Samurai}

We show in the gallery an antique woodblock print of a late Edo samurai general holding his identical liveried sword.

All original Edo period fittings. The fuchi kashira, tsuba, sayagaki kurigata, and sayajiri are matching brass decorated with fulsome designs and silver striping. Fully matching suite of sinchu and contrasting silver line mounts to the tsuka, tsuba and saya, of the fine Matsushiro Sinano school. The saya has all its original period Edo lacquer of gold flakes, covered in very fine, tinted, clear urushi lacquer, Byakudan nuri: Transparent lacquer of a golden yellow colour, with its original, Edo period, multi coloured sageo. The menuki are Kaga Gotō school dragon menuki of pure gold overlay, overlaid over copper. They are traditional hilt mountings of very fine quality.
We show these temporarily removed in one photograph before the finest original Japanese silk tsuka-ito was re-bound on the samegawa wrapped tsuka by our Japanese trained, medal winning, traditional artisan.

The blade has a superb and elaborate gunome hamon, that was in original old Edo polish, but with a few areas of aged finger print 'spider web' markings to the surface, but all are now beautifully removed.

This is a katana was likely made for a senior, high ranking samurai, a seieibushi. based upon horseback in combat, certainly not a light and deeply cursive katana, but a battle sword, made to complete an uncomprimising task of close combat and aggressive close quarter hand to hand swordmanship. Designed as much for cleaving through samurai armour and kabuto helmets in two, as much as defeating another samurai while on horseback. Although samurai would not, one would say, be a cavalry based warrior, all senior samurai would be mounted and thus travel on horseback, and some cavalry type samurai could be deployed in battle, but with differing combat styles depending on what part of Japan they came from. The cavalry troops, being Samurai, had personal retainers that stayed closer to them in the Sonae, carried their weaponry and worked as support units, much like an European squire. They also joined the fight whenever possible (especially in the mounted infantry scenario) and were often responsible of taking heads for their lords.
These foot Samurai were also used as heavy infantry or archers to support the ashigaru lines.

Tactics
Given the fact that the Samurai could directly dismount and operate as infantry, there were some specific tactics for horsemen.
Cavalry in general was only used after the battle was already started, either to deliver a decisive victory or to trying to save the day.

Norikiri
This is a classic charge, where several small groups of five to ten horseman ride consequently (possibly with a wedge formation) into a small area against the enemy lines, to maximize the shock. It was mainly used by heavy cavalry in the East, but given the fact that the ideal target where "weavering" units with low morale or disorganized, even medium cavalry could perform this charge.
The main role of this charge was to create confusion; if it didn't succeed, the cavalry regroups and either retreat or deliver another charge.

Norikuzushi
This is a combined infantry and cavalry charge. The horseman charged first, and after creating mayhem, a second charge is delivered by infantries armed with polearms, which could keep on fighting. The main target for this tactics were ranged units detached by the army. After a Norikuzushi usually follows a Norikiri by the cavalry group.

This striking and highly impressive katana has been re-bound in finest original, Japanese, green silk tsuka-ito by our artisans, and the koshirae have been in the workshop for two full weeks, while we undertake a museum grade conservation. The urushi lacquer had small age losses, which have been 'museum style' restored, in order to match closely the original urushi, but purposely not the intrude upon the original urushi lacquer finish. It also still has its original Edo period, antique, two colour sageo silk binding cord on the saya. Although it is a little frayed and worn we decided it is important to keep it just as original as historically possible.

Overall, after much expertise, time, effort and expense, we believe we have now returned this katana to just how it may have looked when last worn by a samurai of status at his daimyo's court, in the late Shinshinto period, before the upheaval of the Meiji reign, and the eventual banishment of bushido and the era of the samurai.

This sword was returned from superb no expense spared hand polishing, Edo style, to remove old finger marks and skuffs. It now looks absolutely beautiful.

Restoration, specialist conservation and preservation of original items is one of our fundamental tenets, it is not unusual for us to expend up to ten times the cost of an item in order to preserve a piece for the future, and to return it to how it once looked for posterity. Of course some restoration can be detrimental, and over restoration can be worse than no restoration at all, so every care is made to ensure exactly the right amount of conservation is undertaken by our specialist and highly trained world renown artisans. Thanks to the re-polishing 98% of all the pinprick surface marks were removed by hand.
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PAOB  read more

Code: 24339

A Stunning, Original 1840's ‘Prototype’ Bronze Cannon of a Dundas 32 Pounder Cannon On Original Bronze Carriage For Coastal Artillery. Around Quarter Size Original Presentation Cannon Made Circa 1840 To Assist In The Acquisition of The Ordnance Contract

An absolute joyful piece, perfect for a former military officer, or maybe a gentleman's study or boardroom. A working bronze demonstrator cannon of a Col. Dundas 1840's pattern cannon, such as a 32 pounder. Used by the Royal Navy and Coastal Artillery from the 1840's. Very possibly made by the cannon maker, Low Moor Iron Works in Yorkshire, as a prototype working piece for Colonel Dundas, for the benefit of a Royal Ordnance contract, and probably a presentation piece.

What an absolute corker! It is a very fine bronze cast barrel, with superb aged patination, on its original cast bronze and wooden carriage, with wooden wheels. Overall 18 inches long.

This cannon was designed in response to the need for heavier weaponry as armour on ships of the line improved. Colonel William Dundas, the government's Inspector of Artillery between 1839 and 1852, designed the cannon in 1846. It was cast by the Low Moor Iron Works in Bradford in 1847 and entered service soon after. Like numerous cannon before it, the full size version was made in cast iron, and smoothbore, loaded from the muzzle. The cannon was ‘relatively’ inexpensive to produce – the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom estimated that each cannon cost approximately £167 around £32,000 today.
Over 2000 were cast before 1861 and its exceptional durability, range and accuracy earned it a reputation as the finest smoothbore cannon ever made.

The use of coastal artillery expanded during the Age of Discoveries, in the 16th century; when a colonial power took over an overseas territory, one of their first tasks was to build a coastal fortress, both to deter rival naval powers and to subjugate the natives. The Martello tower is an excellent example of a widely used coastal fort that mounted defensive artillery, in this case, muzzle-loading cannon. During the 19th century China also built hundreds of coastal fortresses in an attempt to counter Western naval threats.

Coastal artillery fortifications generally followed the development of land fortifications; sometimes separate land defence forts were built to protect coastal forts. Through the middle 19th century, coastal forts could be bastion forts, star forts, polygonal forts, or sea forts, the first three types often with detached gun batteries called "water batteries".Coastal defence weapons throughout history were heavy naval guns or weapons based on them, often supplemented by lighter weapons.

Between 1804 and 1812 the British authorities built a chain of towers based on the original Mortella tower to defend the south and east coast of England, Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey to guard against possible invasion from France, then under the rule of Napoleon I. A total of 103 Martello towers were built in England, set at regular intervals along the coast from Seaford, Sussex, to Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Most were constructed under the direction of General William Twiss (1745–1827) and a Captain Ford. The northernmost tower at Aldeburgh is of quatrefoil design, and there are two towers at Clacton-on-Sea, one near the town and the other to the west near the local Golf Course

Included in the scheme were three much larger circular forts or redoubts that were constructed at Harwich, Dymchurch and Eastbourne; they acted as supply depots for the smaller towers as well as being powerful fortifications in their own right.

The effectiveness of Britain's Martello towers was never actually tested in combat against a Napoleonic invasion fleet. They were, however, effective in hindering smuggling. After the threat had passed, the Martello towers in England met a variety of fates. The Coastguard took over many to aid in the fight against smuggling.


Weight of this presentation piece is 18.5 kilos  read more

Code: 23351