This Is A Truly Fabulous Ancestral Bladed WW2 Officer's Katana With A Rare Shinto Blade, Circa 1615, Signed Hizen no Kuni Ju Nin {Suriage, Tadayoshi} 肥前国住人 & 忠吉作 相模守義道 Bearing the Signatures of Two Master Sword Smiths of Both Hizen and Osaka

We have spent numerous decades, seeking the best and most historical ancestral bladed WW2 Japanese officers swords to be found. All with original, early samurai sword blades, many hundreds of years old, but this week we have found from impeccable sources three superb examples, two of them extraordinary rare examples.
This beauty has a most historical and unique Shinto blade, which is both signed by Hizen no Kuni Ju Nin (suriage} Tadayoshi {the original master smith} and further inscribed and signed on the reverse side of the nakago, Tadayoshi, followed further down with, "shortened {in 1737} by Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi ". This fine ancestral blade, with two udenka-ana, is fitted within its very fine, hand made bespoke shin gunto military mounts, with its tsuka {hilt} field service fully leather covered, a traditional Edo circular iron sukashi tsuba, and the saya is matching with its field service leather covered over wood. Interestingly the tsuka field service leather has, on half its length, traditional diamond 'windows' carved through the surface leather, to reveal its traditional Edo period menuki beneath. A very special, yet small feature, but incredibly interesting, and we can't recall ever seeing such work of its like created before. Especially since we have handled, likely more Japanese swords {in our 104 years} than any other company in the world

The phrase "Tadayoshi shortened by Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi" refers to a specific type of Japanese sword inscription where a famous Tadayoshi (often Hizen Tadayoshi lineage) sword had its signature shortened or altered by another renowned smith, Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi (possibly 3rd Gen), often for quality control or to indicate a collaboration/re-tempering, showcasing two major Edo-period sword-making schools in one blade, a significant find for collectors.

Tadayoshi: Refers to the famous Hizen Tadayoshi school of swordsmiths from Saga, prominent in the early Edo period, known for their domain-sponsored production.
Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi was a skilled Osaka-based smith, often associated with the Mishina school, known for his exceptional hamon (temper lines), particularly choji midare.
"Shortened by": This usually means Yoshimichi re-worked or finished a sword originally made by a Tadayoshi smith, sometimes signing his own name (Sagami no Kami Yoshimichi) alongside or over the original signature, perhaps to enhance quality or attest to its excellence.

Effectively this is a most rare blade showing two master swordsmith's names that worked upon a single blade. The second smith inscribed it when he re-worked the blade, around 100 years after the first smith originally crafted the blade: It combines two highly respected names from different major sword-making centres (Hizen and Osaka).
Such rare blades are much prized by collectors, highlighting master craftsmanship and unique historical moments in Japanese sword history,
The subject smith Yoshimichi 義道 with Sagami-no-kami 相模守 title was a student {and later master} of 2nd gen. Ouomi-no-kami Hisamichi 近江守久道. He was born in Hyuga Province (now in Miyazaki pref.) in Kyushu island. His real name was Tomita Jin-uemon 冨田甚右衛門. It is said that he also lived and worked in Hiroshima, Aki province (now in Hiroshima pref.).

'If' this katana was indeed made by the 1st generation Tadayoshi 忠吉, the recognized production year is judged on about Kencho 20 (ca.1615) from it's inscription. His katana's preserved the typical shape that became widespread during Keicho (1596-16) period. From his workmanship, Tadayoshi was very much influenced by the Soshu-Bizen works during Nanbokucho period
The first generation Tadayoshi was born in Genki 3 (1572) as a son of sword maker Hashimoto Michihiro 橋本道弘 in Nagase town, Saga district. He became separated from his father Michihiro 道弘 who died of a disease and grandfather Morihiro 盛弘 who met death in the battle of Shimabara at the same time in the 3rd month Tensho 12 (1584) when he was as young as 13 years old. He was compelled to serve his apprenticeship to the other local sword makers in his young ages. However he excelled in as a superior sword maker since teen age and finally was picked out by feudal lord Nabeshima Katsushige 鍋島勝茂.
Keicho 1 (1596), when he was 25 years old, he went up to Kyoto to join the famed school of Umetada Myouju 埋忠明寿 and learn the most updated culture and technique for three years.
From on about Keicho 18 (1613) down to Kanei 1 (1624) he intentionally used the other inscription of "Hizen-koku-junin Tadayoshi-saku" 肥前国住人忠吉作 mainly for those unconventional artworks which are out from the standard works of Tadayoshi's studio as if he challenged to make an innovative artworks to try using different sence of technique from antcient times and regions.
He passed away in the 15th day, the 8th month of Kanei 9 (1632), was 61 years old.

There is one most intriguing point about this fine blade. It was intentionally shortened by another master smith, Minamoto Yoshimichi, of high repute, thus, if it wasn't highly revered at the time {in 1727} why do this?, and thus, inscribe it accordingly.

Surely, one would never contemplate such a very special and most expensive treatment for the blade, if it was not of great significance of its owner at that time. Additionally, the master smith who shortened it and signed it accordingly, {Minamoto Yoshimichi} would likely never put his name to a blade he considered not correct, and thus, inferior to his efforts.

The blade is in good, original Edo polish, with small aged surface thinning, and a few minuscule edge nicks and the koshirae are in superb condition for a WW2 mounted officer's sword  read more

Code: 26010

A German WW2 Eastern Front Medal Designed Original, Exceptional Example of the German SS/Heer Issue WW2 'Operation Barbarosa' Eastern Front Combat During 1941-1942 Service Medal. Designed by a Serving SS Soldier SS Untersharfuhr

Excellent condition for age. Awarded for service during 15 November 1941 to 15th April 1942, for being wounded in action, killed in action or for 14 to 60 days served in active combat between the dates Nov 1941 to April 1942 on the Eastern Front. Designed by a serving SS Soldier SS Uuntersharfuhrer E. Kraus it was held in high regard by serving soldiers. It's issue was officially decommissioned by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on the 4th of September 1944. The centre obverse features a half open-winged eagle clutching an immobile swastika. Above the medallion is a helmet resting on top of a stick grenade. On the reverse is the purpose of the medal, which cites the winter in Moscow 1941-42 positioned over a sword resting on laurel leaves. The ribbon was red, white and black symbolic of blood, snow and death.

Operation Barbarossa was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and several of its European Axis allies starting on 22 June 1941, during World War II. This was the medal issued for bitter, horrendous first winter on the Eastern Front, in which millions of men who were unprepared for the brunt of the Russian winter were forced to fight in often inhuman conditions. More than 3.8 million Axis troops invaded the western Soviet Union along a 2,900-kilometer (1,800 mi) front, with the main goal of capturing territory up to a line between Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan (A-A line). The attack became the largest and costliest military offensive in history, with around 10 million combatants taking part in the opening phase and over 8 million casualties by the end of the operation on 5 December 1941. It marked a major escalation of World War II, opening the Eastern Front—the largest and deadliest land theatre of war in history—and bringing the Soviet Union into the Allied powers.

Awarded for service during 15 November 1941 to 15th April 1942, for being wounded in action, killed in action or for 14 to 60 days served in active combat between the dates Nov 1941 to April 1942 on the Eastern Front. Designed by a serving SS Soldier SS Untersharfuhrer E. Kraus it was held in high regard by serving soldiers. It's issue was officially decommissioned by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on the 4th of September 1944. The centre obverse features a half open-winged eagle clutching an immobile swastika. Above the medallion is a helmet resting on top of a stick grenade. On the reverse is the purpose of the medal, which cites the winter in Moscow 1941-42 positioned over a sword resting on laurel leaves. The ribbon was red, white and black symbolic of blood, snow and death.

Unterscharführer 'junior squad leader') was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party used by the Schutzstaffel (SS) between 1934 and 1945. The SS rank was created after the Night of the Long Knives. That event caused an SS re-organisation and the creation of new ranks to separate the SS from the Sturmabteilung.

Although Hitler was warned by many high-ranking military officers, such as Friedrich Paulus, that occupying Western Russia would create "more of a drain than a relief for Germany's economic situation," he anticipated compensatory benefits such as the demobilisation of entire divisions to relieve the acute labour shortage in German industry, the exploitation of Ukraine as a reliable and immense source of agricultural products, the use of forced labour to stimulate Germany's overall economy and the expansion of territory to improve Germany's efforts to isolate the United Kingdom. Hitler was further convinced that Britain would sue for peace once the Germans triumphed in the Soviet Union, and if they did not, he would use the resources gained in the East to defeat the British Empire.

"We only have to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down."

— —Adolf Hitler

The operation, code-named after the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa ("red beard"), put into action Nazi Germany's ideological goals of eradicating communism and conquering the western Soviet Union to repopulate it with Germans under Generalplan Ost, which planned for the extermination of the native Slavic peoples by mass deportation to Siberia, Germanisation, enslavement, and genocide. The material targets of the invasion were the agricultural and mineral resources of territories such as Ukraine and Byelorussia and oil fields in the Caucasus. The Axis eventually captured five million Soviet Red Army troops on the Eastern Front and deliberately starved to death or otherwise killed 3.3 million prisoners of war, as well as millions of civilians. The invasion began on 22 June 1941 with a massive ground and air assault, resulting in large territorial gains for the Nazis and their allies. The main part of Army Group South invaded from occupied Poland on 22 June and on 2 July was joined by a combination of German and Romanian forces attacking from Romania. Kiev was captured on 19 September, which was followed by the captures of Kharkov on 24 October and Rostov-on-Don on 20 November, by which time most of Crimea had been captured. Army Group North overran the Baltic lands and on 8 September 1941, began a siege of Leningrad accompanied by Finnish forces, which ultimately lasted until 1944.

Frontline strength of the Axis combatants; Germany, Romania Finland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia (22 June 1941)

3.8 million personnel
3,350–3,795 tanks
3,030–3,072 other AFVs
2,770–5,369 aircraft
7,200–23,435 artillery pieces
17,081 mortars
600,000 horses
600,000 vehicles

Strength of the Soviet Frontline strength (22 June 1941)

2.6–2.9 million personnel
11,000 tanks
7,133–9,100 military aircraft

This Eastern Front Medal beautiful and is maker marked 13 on the ring for Gustaz Brehmer. These medals were all made of zinc, and most have lost their finish over time. This example has nearly all of its lovely, age patination finish. It shows service wear. The ribbon on this Eastern Front Medal is a nice, long example, with bright original colour. These awards are scarce in this condition. This one is in near mint condition, and displays extremely well.

The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe, and Southeast Europe (Balkans) from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945. It was known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union – and still is in some of its successor states, while almost everywhere else it has been called the Eastern Front. In present-day German and Ukrainian historiography the name German-Soviet War is typically used.

The two principal belligerent powers were Germany and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies. Though never sending in ground troops to the Eastern Front, the United States and the United Kingdom both provided substantial material aid to the Soviet Union in the form of the Lend-Lease program along with naval and air support. The joint German–Finnish operations across the northernmost Finnish–Soviet border and in the Murmansk region are considered part of the Eastern Front. In addition, the Soviet–Finnish Continuation War is generally also considered the northern flank of the Eastern Front.
After Germany's initial success at the Battle of Kiev in 1941, Hitler saw the Soviet Union as militarily weak and ripe for immediate conquest. In a speech at the Berlin Sportpalast on 3 October, he announced, "We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down." Thus, Germany expected another short Blitzkrieg and made no serious preparations for prolonged warfare. However, following the decisive Soviet victory at the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943 and the resulting dire German military situation, Nazi propaganda began to portray the war as a German defence of Western civilisation against destruction by the vast "Bolshevik hordes" that were pouring into Europe.

On the 4th of September 1944 it was forbidden to wear the medal any longer officially as it was an embarrassment to Hitler as it represented the greatest defeat suffered by Germany by that time, but many combatants continued to wear the ribbon. Of course far greater defeats awaited him by Britain, the Commonwealth and the American allied forces in Europe.  read more

Code: 26062

A Stunning Mid 18th Century Ship's Captain Brass Cannon Barrel Pistol with a Silver Escutchon of the Goddess Minerva Adorned With Her Dolphin Helmet & Fishscale Armour

Blunderbuss pistol all brass cannon barrel, and action, beautifully engraved. Made by Hadley circa 1750, with large silver escutcheon engraved with the profile head of Minerva.

Minerva, whose dolphin helmeted face is depicted is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. Minerva is not a patron of violence such as Mars, but of strategic warfare.


The ‘Queen Anne’ style pistol is distinctive in that it does not have a ramrod. The barrel of the pistol unscrews and allows it to be loaded from the rear and near the touch hole at the breech of the barrel. These pistols were originally made in flintlock.

The Queen Anne pistols were very popular and were made in a variety of calibres, usually about 38 to 50 bore. Boot pistols, Holster pistols, pocket pistols and Sea Service pistols were all made in the 'Queen Anne' style. This type is known as a Queen Anne pistol because it was during her reign that it became popular (although it was actually introduced in the reign of King William III).

Here are some of the specific reasons why people enjoy collecting antique pistols:

Historical significance: Antique pistols are stunning relics of a bygone era, and they can provide insights into the history of warfare, technology, and culture. For example, a collector might be interested in owning a type of pistol that was used in a famous battle or that was carried by a famous historical figure.
Craftsmanship: Antique pistols are often works of art in their own right. Many early gunsmiths were highly skilled artisans, and their creations can be extraordinarily beautiful. Collectors might appreciate the intricate engraving, fine inlays, and other decorative elements that are found on many antique pistols.
Aesthetic beauty: Antique pistols can be simply stunning. Their elegant lines and graceful curves can be a thing of beauty. Collectors might enjoy admiring the form and function of these antique weapons.
Rarity and uniqueness: Some antique pistols are quite rare, and collectors might enjoy the challenge of finding and acquiring them. Others might be interested in owning a pistol that is unique in some way, such as a prototype or a custom-made piece.
Investment value: Antique pistols can also be valuable long term investments. The value of some antique pistols has appreciated significantly over the years. Collectors might enjoy the potential for profit, in addition to the other pleasures of collecting, but that should never be the ultimate goal, enjoyment must always be the leading factor of collecting.
No matter what their reasons, collectors of antique pistols find enjoyment in their hobby. They appreciate the history, craftsmanship, beauty, and rarity of these unique pieces.

In addition to the above, here is yet another reason why people enjoy collecting antique pistols:

Education: Learning about the history and technology of antique pistols can be a thoroughly rewarding experience. Collectors can learn about the different types of pistols that have been made over the centuries, how they worked, and how they were used.

Excellent condition overall, good tight and crisp action, old small split in stock, overall 12.5 inches long  read more

Code: 25219

Stunning Victorian, Silver Hound's Head Walking Stick Of William Page Wood, 1st Baron Hatherley, PC, British Statesman, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, Presented by John Bright, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster & Sherlock Holmes Connection

With lacquered hawthorn wood cane.

Was this 'Hound's Head' appearance on the walking stick, the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, most famed Sherlock Holmes story, of the fiercesome and diabolical beast, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' serialized in the Strand Magazine?. According to family legend, the notorious 17th century Squire Richard Cabell inspired the character of Squire Hugo Baskerville, but it was the childhood memory of this very hounds head that was the inspiration of the diabolical beast. The likeness to the illustrations of the hound in Doyle’s original novel is unmistakable.

A most beautiful piece with great political history, of the Victorian Liberal Party, of Prime Minister Lord William Gladstone.

The recipient of the stick, from John Bright, was William Page Wood, 1st Baron Hatherley, PC (29 November 1801 – 10 July 1881). He was a British lawyer and statesman who served as a Liberal Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain between 1868 and 1872 in William Ewart Gladstone's first ministry.

John Bright, the sticks original owner (16 November 1811 – 27 March 1889) was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, one of the greatest orators of his generation and a promoter of free trade policies. In 1849 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster, and in 1851 was made Solicitor General for England and Wales and knighted. He was the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, a ministerial office in the Government of the United Kingdom. Excluding the prime minister, the chancellor is the highest ranking minister in the Cabinet Office, immediately after the Prime Minister, and senior to the Minister for the Cabinet Office. It was he who first used the phrase ‘England, mother of Parliaments, and another ‘flogging a dead horse’ ‘

A Quaker, Bright is most famous for battling the Corn Laws. In partnership with Richard Cobden, he founded the Anti-Corn Law League, aimed at abolishing the Corn Laws, which raised food prices and protected landowners' interests by levying taxes on imported wheat. The Corn Laws were repealed in 1846. Bright also worked with Cobden in another free trade initiative, the Cobden–Chevalier Treaty of 1860, promoting closer interdependence between Great Britain and the Second French Empire. This campaign was conducted in collaboration with French economist Michel Chevalier, and succeeded despite Parliament's endemic mistrust of the French.

Bright sat in the House of Commons from 1843 to 1889, promoting free trade, electoral reform and religious freedom. He was almost a lone voice in opposing the Crimean War; he also opposed William Ewart Gladstone's proposed Home Rule for Ireland. He saw himself as a spokesman for the middle class and strongly opposed the privileges of the landed aristocracy. In terms of Ireland, he sought to end the political privileges of Anglicans, disestablished the Church of Ireland, and began land reform that would turn land over to the Catholic peasants. He coined the phrase "The mother of parliaments."

The hounds head top of the walking stick, is engraved on one reverse panel J.B {John Bright}, and W.B {William Bright, was John's son, also a Liberal politician} and on the other side of the hound's head is engraved, W. Wood { the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain} in a panel on the obverse beneath the hound's head.

The head was, 'supposedly', the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'Hound of the Baskervilles'

Doyle was educated at the Jesuit preparatory school Hodder Place, Stonyhurst in Lancashire, which may be the initial connection to John Bright. One might conjecture that Doyle, as a young impressionable boy, saw Bright's hound's head cane {before he gave it to William Wood} maybe, on his {Bright's} visit to Hodder Place School in Lancashire.

This story was imparted to us as part of the family legend of the hound’s head stick's past illustrious history. Of course, there is absolutely no written evidence of this being the case, but it does seem, a most intriguing possibility.

It was also meant to be an accurate likeness of a a beloved hound that belonged to John Bright. John Bright took his hound to Doyle’s prep school when he visited.  read more

Code: 25176

A Original & Very Rare, Spontoon Pole Arm of The Personal Guard Of The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VIth Circa 1700's

Engraved with the twin headed eagle and the crest of Emperor Charles VIth. On the reverse side engraved with a seated figures flags and cannon. Charles VI (1 October 1685 - 20 October 1740; German: Karl VI., Latin: Carolus VI) succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia (as Charles II), King of Hungary and Croatia, Serbia and Archduke of Austria (as Charles III) in 1711. He unsuccessfully claimed the throne of Spain following the death of his relative, Charles II, in 1700. He married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenb?ttel, by whom he had his two children: Maria Theresa, the last Habsburg sovereign, and Maria Anna, Governess of the Austrian Netherlands.

Four years before the birth of Maria Theresa, faced with his lack of male heirs, Charles provided for a male-line succession failure with the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713. The Emperor favoured his own daughters over those of his elder brother and predecessor, Joseph I, in the succession, ignoring the decree he had signed during the reign of his father, Leopold I. Charles sought the other European powers' approval. They exacted harsh terms: Britain demanded that Austria abolish its overseas trading company. In total, Great Britain, France, Saxony-Poland, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Venice, States of the Church, Prussia, Russia, Denmark, Savoy-Sardinia, Bavaria, and the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire recognised the sanction. France, Spain, Saxony-Poland, Bavaria and Prussia later reneged. Charles died in 1740, sparking the War of the Austrian Succession, which plagued his successor, Maria Theresa, for eight years. We show for information an engraving of the Guard of The Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg, With the very same spontoon. 7 ft overall , head 22 inches including sidestraps  read more

Code: 21520

An Ancestral WW2 Japanese Officer’s Sword, in Traditional Type 98 Japanese Officer's Gunto Military Mounts. Stunning Hamon Shinto Blade Circa 1680 Signed Shimosaka

NOW SOLD WW2 ancestral Katana, signed Oite? Shu Ju Shimosaka, Shinto period.

The blade is in great polish showing the beautiful, incredible and elaborate hamon, of midare with areas of the sanbonsugi {three cedar} pattern. The full suite of koshirae, 98 pattern, show the usual, average, combat service wear light battle scars of a sword that has certainly seen action during its service of its officer in WW2. The robust nature of the type 98 mounts has protected the blade very well indeed.

During the Meiji period, the samurai class was gradually disbanded, and the Haitorei Edict in 1876 forbade the carrying of swords in public except for certain individuals such as former samurai lords (daimyōs), the military and police. Skilled swordsmiths had trouble making a living during this period as Japan modernised its military and many swordcsmiths started making other items such as cutlery. Military action by Japan in China and Russia during the Meiji Period helped revive the manufacture of swords and in the Showa period (1926–1989) before and during World War II swords were once again produced on a large scale.

During the pre World War II military buildup and throughout the war, all Japanese officers were required to wear a sword. Traditionally made swords were produced during this period but, in order to supply such large numbers of swords, blacksmiths with little or no knowledge of traditional Japanese sword manufacture were recruited. In addition, supplies of the type of Japanese steel (tamahagane) used for sword making were limited so several other types of steel were substituted. Shortcuts in forging were also taken, such as the use of power hammers and tempering the blade in oil rather than hand forging and water tempering; these measures created swords without the usual characteristics associated with Japanese swords.

However, families of great standing or with samurai backgrounds and ancestry were permitted to allow their son's to wear military mounted swords, but, containing ancient ancestral blades, usually of great significance to the family's history. This is one of those swords. it was once estimated only 1 in 100 had such historical swords to carry in combat, while serving their divine emperor Hirohito in WW2.

The Type 98 shin gunto ( kyuyon-shiki gunto) officers' sword's mounts replaced the Western style kyu gunto mounts in 1934. It had a traditionally constructed hilt (tsuka) with ray skin (same) wrapped with traditional silk wrapping (ito). The cherry blossom (a symbol of the Imperial Japanese Army) theme was incorporated into the guard (tsuba), pommels (fuchi and kashira), and ornaments (menuki).

The scabbard for the Type 98 was made of metal with a wood lining to protect the blade, and the option of adding a combat leather cover, or, a wooden scabbard covered with combat leather. It was often painted brown and was suspended from two brass mounts, one of which was removable and only used when in full dress uniform. The fittings on the metal scabbard were also decorated with cherry blossom designs.

Overall in better than average condition, the blade being spectacular with just a very few, minuscule, old age pits  read more

Code: 26004