Items: 0 Price: £0    
view cart

Swords

 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  Next Page 1 of 24

**RARE**NAPOLEONIC WARS ERA**British 1804 Pattern Royal Navy Seaman’s Boarding Cutlass With Correct ‘Figure Of 8’ Guard Hilt, Rope Lanyard With WD Brass Boatswain's Call / Bosun's Pipe Attached. Sn 23174:31 - 23174:31
The British Royal Navy due to its global presence and command of the sea was by far the most organised and trained of all the World major sea services and it's edged weapons used for boarding and repelling boarders reflected this. The Royal Navy was one of the first Navies in the 18th Century to begin standardising the personal edged weapons used by ordinary seaman. The 1804 Pattern Naval Seaman’s Boarding cutlass was the first regulation Naval cutlass issued to British Seamen (see page 241 of World Swords by Withers where a cutlass with 1804 pattern hilt the same as ours is illustrated). British Naval Boarding Cutlasses were made by a number of Government contracted manufacturers. In the Napoleonic-era Royal Navy, a Boatswain's call (or Bosun's pipe) was a specialised, high-pitched whistle used to communicate orders across a vessel. As a Command Tool, Its shrill, high-pitched tone was designed to be heard over the roar of gale-force winds, the crashing of waves, and the thunder of cannon fire during battle. In the Napoleonic era, the pipe was a badge of rank for Boatswains / Bosuns. This is a very good, rare to find, original British RN 1804 patten boarding Cutlass. It has the correct 1804 pattern hilt consisting of a black painted flat metal figure of 8 shaped guard and ribbed / segmented iron handle. The 28 ¾” long cutlass blade has staining and old stable pitting consistent with age and sea service carry. The cutting edge has some nicks to the cutting edge consistent with age and service use (34” overall). There is no rust. There are no manufacturer or date marks on the blade or hilt but the may be present under the black finish. As is common the cutlass is without scabbard as they were predominantly stored in ship deck racks. The cutlass was found with a rope lanyard attached to it which is mounted with a brass Boatswain's Call / Bosun's Pipe). The Gun: A narrow tube that directs air is straight and The Buoy (or Bowl): A hollow metal sphere with a hole that resonates to create the sound work correctly. The Keel: A flat piece of metal beneath the gun that provides structural support is present with no damage & The Shackle: A ring at the end used to attach a lanyard is present and attached to the lanyard. The Call is 4 ½” length and the Buoy has ‘WD Broad Arrow’ mark. The Call has no date or other maker marks. The price for this piece of British Naval history includes UK delivery. Sn 23174:31 (in bucket armoury)
£975.00

Inter War 1921 British Army In India WD ‘Small Grip’ IP08 (India Pattern 1908) Heavy Cavalry Trooper’s Sword & Scabbard. Sn 23174:30 - 23174:30
The British Army of India variant of the 1908 sword featured a smaller grip to match the generally smaller hands of cavalry troopers recruited in the sub-continent. As private purchases, officer's swords sometimes showed some variation from the standard pattern. Occasionally whole Regiments would have their own variation on the theme. This British Indian Army 1908 Pattern Heavy Cavalry Troopers sword & scabbard is in very good condition. The Sword has an undamaged 34 ½” single edged blade with fuller (41 ½” overall). The blade is clean and is dated ‘11 21’ date (November 1921) together with WD ordnance inspection marks. The spine has ‘IP 08’ (India pattern 1908 designation) and it has its original leather hilt washer. The steel bowl guard has no dents & has the typical smaller India issue stippled wood hilt with correct thumb recess to assist grip. It is complete with its original steel scabbard with fixed hanging rings and brass throat mount. The scabbard has no dents. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23174:30
£475.00

**Scarce**CRIMEAN WAR ERA**British Ordnance Reeves & Co 1853 Pattern British Cavalry Trooper’s Sword & Scabbard Regiment Marked Regiment Marked ’68 7 L.V.A’ (Volunteer Artillery). Sn 23174:29 - 23174:29
The 1853 Pattern Cavalry trooper's sword was a unique attempt by the British to marry the characteristics of both heavy and light Cavalry swords. It first saw service during the Crimean War (see pages 28 & 29 Swords Of The British Army by Robson). This is an excellent original example. The Sword has a clean 35 ½” slightly curved heavy single edged blade with fullers (9mm thick spine). The blade has small ordnance inspection marks on one side of the blade and original leather hilt washer. The spine of the blade is faintly signed by the maker ‘Reeves & Co’. It has the correct voided knuckle guard and stippled black leather grips secured by the correct 5 rivets. It is complete with its correct steel scabbard which has 2 hanging rings. The steel scabbard has a brass throat insert and just a few small dents. The scabbard is stamped with Regiment marks ’68 7 L.V.A’ (most likely a Mounted Volunteer Artillery Unit worthy of further research). The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23174:29
£675.00

WW1 Era British WD 1897 Pattern Henry Wilkinson London Infantry Officer’s Sword With King George V Guard, Blade Number 45075, Leather Officer’s Cord & Acorn Knot Leather Covered Field Service Scabbard & Sam Browne Leather Frog. Sn 23174:28 - 23174:28
This is an original British 1897 pattern Infantry Officer's sword with Cord Acorn Knot scabbard and frog. These swords were a great improvement on previous patterns with better protection to the hand through its ¾ basket hilt (see page 179 of World Swords by Withers & pages 165-167 of Swords of the British Army by Robson). The sword has a 32 ½” long blade with partial fullers and measures 39” overall. The blade has small areas of staining consistent with age and use. The ricasso has the makers name in etched and blued panel ‘Henry Wilkinson Pall Mall London’ with heraldic Arms and Warranted banner. The reverse has the correct ordnance acceptance proof star and inlaid brass proof roundel & original leather hilt washer. The spine of the blade is numbered 45075. It has the full 1897 Pattern knuckle guard with Crown GR V device. It has a curved stepped pommel with ball top and knurled back strap for grip, fish skin covered grip with wire binding in excellent condition. The hilt is fitted with Leather Officer’s Cord & Acorn Knot. It is complete with leather covered wood field service scabbard. The scabbard has a German silver throat mount & is fitted with Sam Browne Pattern leather frog that has 2 belt loops and buckles. All leather & stitching are clean and intact. The price for this nice complete WW1 era sword set includes UK delivery. Sn 23174:28
£645.00

**NAPOLEONIC WARS ERA**MATCHING MAKER**Georgian British 1796 Pattern Officer's Private Purchase Quality Light Cavalry Sword By Woolley & Co Birmingham & Scabbard By Woolley & Co Birmingham. Sn 23174:27 - 23174:27
Woolley of Birmingham produced their 1796 pattern sabres especially for the looming 100 Days War in March and April 1815, after the Congress of Vienna declared Napoleon an outlaw after his escape from his first exile to the Elba, and the Allies mobilised their armies accordingly. This is an original British 1796 Pattern Officer's Private Purchase Quality Light Cavalry Sabre with Scabbard both by Woolley & Co Birmingham. These Sabres were primarily used by British Light Dragoons and Hussars during the Napoleonic Wars. The blade is remembered today as one of the best of its time and has been described as the finest cutting sword ever manufactured in quantity. Officers of the famous 95th Rifles, Light Infantry Regiments and the "flank" Companies of Line Regiments adopted these Swords (The Hit Napoleonic War, Book & TV series Sharpe's Rifles featured this pattern of Sword). Pattern 1796 Sabres were used at The Battle of Waterloo 1815. This example has a single edged, fullered 32 ¾” Sabre blade (38” overall). The blade has some staining and rubbing consistent with age but no rust and the cutting edge has no nicks. The blade has its original leather hilt washer. The spine of the blade is signed ‘Woolley & Co’. Its cross guard with rounded langets, knuckle guard, pommel are in good order. The wood grip has lost some of its leather covering through the ages but there is no damage & the wire binding is tight, complete & intact. The Sabre is complete with its original steel scabbard with 2 hanging rings. The scabbard has even patina with no cracks and just a few small dents to be expected. The scabbard has an engraved roundel with the maker’s name ‘Woolley & Co Birmingham’. The lack of Board of Ordnance marks indicates that this sword & scabbard are an Officer's Private Purchase piece. The price for this excellent Napoleonic Wars Era Sword & Scabbard includes UK delivery. Sn 23174:27
£1,275.00

**ANCIENT LATE 14th - LATE 16th CENTURY MUROMACHI ERA BLADE IN MINT FULL POLISH**Wakizashi Short Sword Suriage Cut Down From Samurai Tachi Blade, Officer’s Rank Tassel, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. ED 3033 - ED 3033
This Wakizashi with ancient blade has been examined by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg and a copy of his assessment notes accompany the sword. In extracts of his notes he states “Ancient blade now a wakizashi (length). I Think this has been a tachi blade originally made sometime in the muromachi period (ran from late 14th century to late 16th century). Suriage (cut down) tang shortened and cut square. Blade shoulders (machi) moved down. Shortening cutting edge to the length it is now. Any signature that may have been on it lost in the shortening process. The boshi (temper) with its strings of long nie (hakikaki) looks like yamashiro work. In practically mint polish, showing all the workmanship. Needs more research in Japan to identify It properly. Put into shin gunto pattern mounts for service in WW2. Saya is leather covered wood with brass koi-guchi (mouth) some old damage to leather (repaired) complete with rare plated suspension chain. Tsuba is good quality gunto pattern in gilt brass, in good used condition. Tsuka (hilt) is complete with all binding and mounts & brass wire sarute (loop) for blue/brown rank tassel of a Lieutenant to Captain grade. In good used condition, finish on mounts faded. A very light & well balanced Samurai blade in very good polish. A nice addition to a Japanese sword collection”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as just under 52cms. Total length 65.5cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. ED 3033
£2,250.00

Victorian British Ordnance 1821 Pattern Artillery Volunteers Officer’s Sword With Etched Blade By Mole With Stylised Monogram ‘JC’ & Scabbard. Sn 23157 - 23157
The Artillery Volunteer Corps was a unit of the Volunteer Force raised to supplement the British Army at a time of a perceived French threat in 1860. This is an original 1821 pattern Volunteer Artillery Officer’s sword & Scabbard (see page 94 Of Swords Of The British Army by Robson & page 99 of World Swords by Withers). It has a 32 ½” blade with fullers and measures 38” overall. It has a fish skin covered grip with wire binding which is intact and tight and correct 3 bar guard hilt. The blade has original leather hilt washer & is etched on both sides with foliate panels & Queen’s Crown ‘VR’ (Victoria Regina) Royal Cypher. The blade is also etched to the ‘Artillery Volunteers’ with gun carriage device, separate gun carriage device, stylised monogram within shield ‘JC’ (most likely the original initials of the original Victorian Officer who commissioned this sword). The ricasso has the ordnance proof star and inlaid proof roundel. The spine of the blade is signed by the prestigious British sword maker ‘Mole’. The blade has areas of staining consistent with age. The blackened steel scabbard with 2 hanging rings has no dents and just patina consistent with age. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23157
£595.00

Victorian, British Ordnance Scarboro Rifles (Scarborough North Yorkshire) Pattern 1827 Volunteer Rifle Brigade Officer's Sword With Etched Blade By Hart & Hill, Scarboro & Scabbard. Sn 23156 - 23156
The Volunteer movement had its origins in the eighteenth century. Service in the Militia was compulsory at that time for those selected by ballot and who were not wealthy enough to hire a substitute. But specific threats, such as Jacobite risings or the threat of French invasion, induced men to volunteer for home defence. A series of Militia Acts, notably in 1761, 1768 and 1802, had the effect of transforming the Militia from a home defence force into a reserve for the Regular Army, and its former function was increasingly filled by the Volunteers. During the Napoleonic Wars 1793-1815, the risk of invasion by Revolutionary France persuaded the government to authorise the formation of volunteer units that would be subject to military discipline and eligible for pay when called out. Numerous Volunteer units were formed around the country. British Volunteer strength peaked in 1803 at a remarkable total of some 440,000, but with the defeat of Napoleon they were all disbanded. In 1859 after another threat of Invasion Volunteer rifle units throughout Britain were reinstated. The Scarborough Volunteer Rifles were part of the historic Yorkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps. They became part of the North York Militia, then the North York Rifles, and later a battalion of the Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment). The 1827 pattern is defined by gothic bar guard hilt coupled with the usual Royal Cypher with strung bugle cartouche badge of the Rifle Brigade (see page 174 of World Swords by Withers). This is an original 1827 Pattern Scarborough Rifles Officer’s Sword. The sword has a clean 32 ½” blade (38 ½” overall) with fullers and original leather hilt washer. The blade has etched & blued foliate panels together with ‘Scarboro Rifles’, the slung bugle of the Rifle Brigade Queen’s crown and ‘VR’ Royal Cypher (Victoria Regina). The blade also has ordnance proof star and roundel & is signed by the maker or retailer ‘Hart & Hill, Scarboro’. It has the correct steel gothic bar knuckle guard with the Rifle Brigade 'Queen’s Crown with slung bugle' badge and curved stepped pommel. The fish skin covering on the grip grip is very good, the grip’s copper wire binding is all present and tight. It is complete with its steel scabbard with 2 hanging rings and shoe. The scabbard has areas of staining consistent with age but no dents. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23156
£675.00

**ATTRIBUTED**Pre 1845 British William IV 1822 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword With Etched Blade To ‘Lieutenant-Colonel George William Paty, 96th Regiment Of Foot’ (Later General Sir George William Paty, K.C.B., K.H) & Scabbard. Sn 23109 - 23109
General Sir George William Paty, K.C.B., K.H., was born in 1788 and joined the 32nd Foot as an Ensign in 1804. He served in the Copenhagen Campaign of 1807, and afterwards in the Peninsular. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1817, on half pay, he served in the 96th Foot as a Major on full pay in 1825. The 1822 pattern sword was a radical departure from previous designs, having a ‘gothic’ style pierced basket hilt so named after its resemblance to window shapes in gothic architecture and folding langet on one side. Pre 1845 these swords had pipe back blades. Post 1845 they were made with slightly curved fullered blades (see page 173 of World Swords by Withers & Page 159 of Robson). This original infantry Officer's Pattern 1822 sword has a pre 1845, 32 ¼” single edged curved pipe back blade (37 ½” overall). The blade has very faint foliate panels decoration on both sides. There are no maker or date marks on the blade. One side of the blade is faintly etched with King’s Crown and Royal cypher ‘WR IV’ (William IV Rex) together with another faint etched panel ‘LT COL PATY 96th REGT’. The gothic style voided brass guard has stylised Royal Cypher King’s Crown and ‘WR IV’ (William IV Rex). The bar guard is fully intact. It has the correct folding langet on one side. Its fish skin grip with finger grooves & wire binding is in good condition with just light service wear & all wire tight and intact. The sword is complete with its blackened steel scabbard with 2 hanging rings and shoe. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23109
£795.00

C1700 – 1800 Japanese Late Edo Period Mino School Work Very Small Ko Wakizashi Possible Period Boy’s Coming Of Age Festival Sword With Ko-Gatana Side Knife, Scabbard, Carry Bag / Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 23063 - 23063
An original Japanese small Sword and scabbard. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “Ko-wakizashi ? Very small sword possibly made for boy’s festival coming of age ceremony, a scaled down katana unsigned looks mid to late Edo period 1700 to 1800. Looks like Mino influenced work shape of tang & what looks like gunome midare hamon (temperline) vaguely showing through the old finger rust & old buff marks needs a professional polish to see work. Fittings (mounts). Saya (scabbard) black lacquer with bright green speckled cloud decoration some old damage and end cap missing. Has ko-gatana (side knife) fitted in pocket blade is signed but unreadable with old rust. Kodjuka (hilt) shows chidori (small birds) flying under large waves signed ‘teru hide’ & kaikihan (seal) omori school style work (undercut waves) bit of wear to it. Tsuba is oval (brass) been gilt showing man with stick pointing at a rabbit with copper rim & one copper plug Hitso Ana nicely engraved circa 1800. Couple nice castellated seppas. Tsuka has old worn black ito over dirty fish skin wrap. Fuchi / Kashira (end caps) are copper been some gilding. Depicts Fish & Waves possibly same workshop as Kodjuka, worn. Menuki difficult to see looks like Motei with his sack in Shakudo & gilt nice quality. When new this would have looked a special sword. Worthy of restoration”. In his illustrations Bill describes the cutting edge as 31 cms & total length as 43 cms. He also describes & measures other blade characteristics which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23059 (in Tanto box armoury)
£975.00
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  Next Page 1 of 24