Swords
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Victorian British Pattern 1827 Manchester Volunteer Rifles Officer's Sword With Blued & Etched Panels Blade By S&S Smith Manchester & Scabbard. Sn 22089 - 22089 Originally raised as the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1755, the Rifle Brigade was officially formed in 1800. Initially Officer’s carried a lighter version of the 1796 pattern Light cavalry sabre, later adopting the 1803 pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword with strung bugle motif placed within the knuckle bow. The Regiment, always renowned for its individuality both in uniform and tactics, it was no wonder that they eventually gained their own distinctive pattern of sword. The 1827 pattern is defined by an all steel hilt coupled with the replacement of the usual Royal Cypher with a strung bugle and Queen’s Crown in the hilt . The Manchester Volunteer Rifles were raised in 1859/60. Their expansion in WWI as eighteen battalions of the Manchester Regiment saw the Regiment play a significant role in the Great War. This is a very good, original example of the 1827 Pattern Sword To The Manchester Volunteer Rifles with Scabbard. The sword has a 32 ½” long elegantly curved blade with fullers (39” overall). The blade has just staining consistent with age and is blued & etched on both sides with foliate panels & banners together with Queen’s crown on one side and Rifle Brigade Bugle and Victorian Queen’s Crown ‘VR’ Victoria Regina panel ‘Manchester Rifles’ on the reverse. It also has the ordnance acceptance star with inlaid roundel at the ricasso on one side. The blade is signed by the maker ‘S&S Smith 34 Cross St Manchester’. It has a voided knuckle guard with the correct Rifle Brigade Queen’s crown with strung bugle motif, stepped pommel with ball end and wire bound, fish skin covered handle in excellent condition with all wire complete and intact. It is complete with original leather scabbard with steel mounts & 2 hanging rings. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 22089 £645.00 |
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**NAPOLEONIC WARS ERA**EARLY VARIANT RIGID GUARD**British John Salter London (Maker To Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson) 1796 Pattern Royal Marine’s Officers Sword With Blue & Gilt Etched Heraldic Arms Fighting Blade & Period Brass Naval Pattern Scabbard. - ED 2398 The Pattern 1796 British infantry officer's sword was carried by officers of the line infantry in the British Army between 1796 and the time of its official replacement with the gothic hilted sword in 1822. This period encompassed the whole of the Napoleonic Wars. Royal Marines served on board British War Ships during the Napoleonic Wars, seeing combat in Portugal & Northern Spain. John Salter was working as a swordsmith at 35 Strand between 1780 and 1824. The successor to Joseph & Edward Greensill, Salter achieved great fame in his time as a swordsmith, becoming the sword cutler to HRH Duke of Sussex. He also had the honour to make the swords for Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson, and also Lord Exmouth. Additionally Salter was asked to make swords for the Patriotic Fund. This is an original early example of a British 1796 Pattern Infantry Officer's sword by John Salter 35 Strand Pall Mall (see page 159 of World Swords by Withers). It has its regulation brass hilt with correct early variant rigid shell guard. Later variants of the 1796 Infantry sword had folding clamshells. It has the correct knuckle bow. urn shaped pommel and quillon finials which are often found to be missing from these swords. It has a wire bound grip, all very tight and undamaged. It has a 32” long blade with fullers (38 ½” overall). The blade is faintly gilt etched & blued on both sides with partially visible British heraldic arms. The fighting blade is sharp & undamaged and has just staining consistent with age. The spine of the blade is signed by the maker ‘Salter 35 Strand London Pall Mall’. The sword has its period brass Naval pattern scabbard in which it was found indicating that this fighting sword was most likely carried by a Royal Marine Officer aboard a British war ship during the Napoleonic wars. The scabbard has 2 brass hanging rings & brass shoe. The price includes UK delivery. ED 2398 £975.00 |
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19th Century Japanese Tanto With Ornately Hand Carved Ox Bone Handle & Scabbard. ED 2401 - ED 2401 This is an attractive original Japanese Tanto with beautifully deep carved Ox Bone Handle & Scabbard. The Tanto has a 7 ¼” single edged sharp steel blade and measures 12 ¼” overall. The blade has light staining consistent with age. Its handle and scabbard made of the bone from the shin of an Ox are ornately hand carved with imagery of Japanese Noblemen or Priests in a village setting. The pommel cap of the hilt and tip of the scabbard are polished horn. The price for this attractive Japanese Tanto which were popular tourist pieces in the Victorian era includes UK delivery. ED 2401 (in tanto box armoury) £245.00 |
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**REPUTEDLY TAKEN AS A WAR SOUVENIR IN THE PACIFIC**WW2 Japanese Kamikaze & Kaiten Pilot Officer’s Aikuchi Suicide Dirk With Scabbard. Sn 22051 - 22051 The WW2 Japanese Kamikaze (divine wind) special attack corps was formed from volunteer pilots who crashed their aircraft or 'Okhas' (piloted bombs) into enemy shipping. Kaiten (Japanese Navy One man Submarines) were also used for this purpose. A Kamikaze or Kaiten pilot could if he wished carry a small Aikuchi (dagger without guard) with which to cut his own jugular or stab himself in the last moments before hitting his target. This is an original Japanese Kamikaze / Kaiten Pilot's Aikuchi Seppuku Suicide Dirk with scabbard reputedly carried in WW2 by a Japanese Major and taken as a war souvenir by a US Army Soldier in the Pacific theatre of war. It has an 8” long, single edged, sharp curved blade. The blade is un-signed and clean & has a brass habaki (collar). The dirk measures 13 ¼” overall (in its scabbard it measures 14 ½” overall). The Dirk has a Japanese Maple handle with polished horn ferrule & bone pommel cap. The dirk is correctly without finger guard. The original scabbard is leather covered wood. The leather is clean with just surface scuffs to be expected with age & war service and all stitching is intact. The price for this rare, sought after Japanese Kamikaze piece includes UK delivery. Sn 22051 (in tanto box armoury) £695.00 |
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**EXTREMELY RARE**ORIGINAL**16th Century Circa 1550-1580 German Heinrich Koel Spanish Export Rapier Sword Blade Signed ‘ENRIQUE COEL EN ALEMANIA’ With C1650 Transitional Form Hilt. Sn 22060:3 - 22060:3 Rapier is a loose term for a type of slender, sharply pointed sword. With such design features, the rapier is optimized to be a thrusting weapon, but cutting or slashing attacks were also recorded in some historical treatises. These weapons were mainly used in Early Modern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. The rapiers of the 16th & 17th centuries had long heavy blades and elaborate guards made up of all sorts of combinations of cups, shells and loops (examples of period rapiers are illustrated on page 525 of the book ‘A Glossary Of The Construction, Decoration & Use Of Arms & Armour’ by Stone). By a long period of slow evolution rapier blades became lighter and guards incorporated fuller guards to afford better protection. Our Rapier’s blade was made circa 1550 - 1580 by a German smith named Heinrich Koel for the Spanish market (hence he’s written his name as Enrique Coel and En Alamania which is clever branding). The rapier is 42 ½” overall length. It has a 36 ¾” double edged Rapier blade with fullers. Both sides of the blade have crisp markings, one side ‘+E+N+R+I+Q+U+E+ C+O+E+L+’ the reverse ‘+E+N+A+L+E+M+A+N+I+A+’, (illustrated). The blade is undamaged and has light staining consistent with age. The bar hilt guard hilt with urn type pommel has a partial bowl guard indicating transitional hilt replacement circa 1650 and has a turn down quillon and finger ring guard. The wood grip has just knocks bumps and bruises expected (hilt replacement was a relatively common occurrence when one had a blade in the family). During duals these swords were often paired with a dagger carried in the left hand, referred to as a ‘Main Guache’ (French-left hand) not only for defensive parrying but also for attack, see page 431 of Stone’s book (a Victorian or earlier Main Gauche dagger is available separately on our website stock number Sn 22060:4). As is usual with European swords of this age it is without its scabbard. The price for this ancient Rapier in excellent condition includes UK delivery. Sn 22060:3 £2,450.00 |
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**HIGH GRADE SHOWA-TO**WW2 Period Japanese Katana Sword Blade Seki Gunto Smith Signed ‘NOSHU SEKI JU MATSUDA KANE TAKA SAKU’ In Protective Wood Shira Saya Resting Mounts & Expert Assessment. Sn 22019 - 22019 This is Katana blade has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written assessment notes accompany this piece. His notes state “A Showa period katana blade in 20th century resting mounts (shira saya). Probably a war time sword in shin gunto mounts, they must have been very badly damaged with war service and water saturation from the look of the once heavily rusted tang. Put into shira saya to protect the blade which has a just visible signature of a seki gunto smith ‘NOSHU SEKI JU MATSUDA KANE TAKA SAKU’, real name is ‘MATSUDA TAKE ICHI’ born 1911 a student of ‘KOJIMA KANE MICHI’ worked as a gunto smith does not seem to have entered any competitions. No mention of him making gendaito?. There is no sign of either Showa or seki arsenal stamps? Maybe pre 1939 manufacture. Have to class it as High Grade Showa-To because of its condition. Out of polish & heavily scratched & stained. Needs professional polish to reveal workmanship (see fuller & Grgory 1st book for 3 oshigata of this man pages 37 & 38 also Marcus Sesko book on sword smiths page 274. A big strong blade with dramatic hamon, would look good with re-polish”. In his illustrations of the blade he adds “cutting edge is 67.5 cms, total length is 90.5 cms. He also translates the tang signature & describes other blade and tang characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price for this Katana with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 22019 £995.00 |
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Japanese Meiji Period C 1880’s- 1910 Concealed Fan Tanto Dagger With Cord & Associated Period Sepia Post Card Photograph Of Western Tourists In Japanese Costumes Posing In Village Rickshaw Scene Attended By A Japanese Servant By Photographer Schida. - 21966:5 This is an original Japanese tanto / dagger disguised as a fan made in the Meiji Period C 1880’s- 1910. The dagger is of the type favoured by Western Tourists visiting Japan to take home as souvenirs or gifts. The dagger’s single edged steel blade has a cutting edge of 6 ¼” and has a copper habaki collar at the hilt. The blade has just small areas of age related staining and is sharp. These blades are usually unsigned but we cannot strip the dagger down to check. The lacquered wood hilt and scabbard come together to form the outside appearance of a folded fan. The tanto in its scabbard measures 12” length. The dark lacquered wood raised edges of the hilt and scabbard have the appearance of a fan frame. The front and back edges are cleverly ribbed with fine lines & painted with lacquer having the appearance of the folded leaves of a fan. The hilt is holed and ringed & fitted with cord. Attached to the cord and found with the dagger is a clean and undamaged original period Sepia Post Card Photograph Of Western Tourists In Japanese Costumes posing in a Village Rickshaw Scene Attended By A Japanese Servant. One of the westerners in the images most likely bought this fan dagger whilst on holiday in Japan. These types of staged photograph were popular with Victorian & Edwardian tourists in the early days of tourism photography. One edge of the post card has the photographers name and Kobe Japan address highlighted in gilt alongside Japanese kanji characters which can be seen in the images. The price for this interesting piece includes UK delivery. Sn 21966:5 (tanto box armoury) £475.00 |
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**AS FOUND**NAPOLEONIC WARS ERA** British WD 1796 Pattern Cavalry Trooper’s Sabre By Osborn Birmingham & Scabbard Regiment Marked ‘B’ (Squadron?). Sn 21843 - 21843 Henry Osborn was a Birmingham based sword smith who produced a wide variety of military goods. Although best known for his swords, and the Pattern 1796 that he helped design, Osborn also spelt Osborne was additionally listed as a Gun maker, silversmith, accoutrement maker and hilt maker as well as a sword and dirk cutler. The Pattern 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre was used primarily by British Light Dragoons and Hussars during the Napoleonic Wars (see page 77 of World Swords by Withers). 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 Peninsular War, Book & TV series Sharpe's Rifles featured this pattern of Sword). This original 1796 Sabre by Osborn in as found condition. It has a single edged, fullered 32 ½” Sabre blade (37 ½” overall). The blade has staining consistent with age. The spine of the blade is faintly signed by the manufacturer ’Osborn’ * One side of the blade has an ordnance inspection mark. It has the correct cross guard with plain rounded langets, knuckle guard & pommel. The ribbed wood grip has cracks and old stable, cured worm holes. The Sabre is complete with its original steel scabbard with 2 hanging rings. The scabbard has even patina consistent with age and service use. Near to the throat the scabbard is stamped ‘B’ (most likely Squadron designation) above struck out ‘D’ (Squadron) and weapon number ‘47’. The price for this Napoleonic Wars era Cavalry Sword by a quality maker with Scabbard includes UK delivery. Sn 21843 £895.00 |
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**MATCHING NUMBERS, BLADE NUMBERED ON SIDE**Original, WW2 Japanese NCO's Type 95 Katana With ‘The Lijima Swords Factory’ & Kokura Arsenal Marks & Scabbard. Sn 21886 - 21886 This is an original WW2 Japanese NCO's Katana and scabbard. The sword has the typical aluminium cast handle with lanyard ring and fully functioning scabbard retaining clip. The hilt retains some of its original brown paint. Its early, fullered, 27 ½” blade is stamped on one side '59554' and with inspection mark (later examples were stamped on the spine). The blade has no damage and clean. The hilt is stamped with Lijima Swords Factory roundel with crossed swords mark and inspection mark together with Kokura arsenal mark (see pages 185 & 186 of Swords Of Imperial Japan by Dawson). It is complete with its original scabbard which has a single hanging ring. The scabbard has just a few small dents and retains its original olive green paint finish. The throat of the scabbard is stamped with matching number. This piece is clearly a WW2 bring back, surrendered or recovered from the battlefield. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21886 £1,095.00 |
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Victorian British 1845 / 1854 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword With Brass Hilt, Etched Blade & Steel Scabbard. Sn 17834 - 17834 The British 1845 / 1854 Pattern Infantry Officer’s sword was the successor to the 1822 pattern. The 1822 Pattern had a pipe back blade and fold down guard. The 1845 / 54 pattern does not have a folding guard and has a fullered single edged blade (see page 175 of World Swords By Withers). This original infantry Officer's Pattern 1845 / 54 sword has a 33” single edged blade with fullers (39 ¼” overall). The blade has just light staining consistent with age and has its original leather hilt washer, etched panels on both sides with Victoria Regina ‘VR’ Crowns and foliate panels. The ricasso has ordnance acceptance stars and inlaid proof roundel. There are no visible manufacturer, date or Regiment marks. The voided brass knuckle guard inspired by Gothic architecture incorporates the Crown & stylised Royal Cypher ‘VR’. It has a brass stepped pommel. Its leather bound grip with finger grooves & wire binding is undamaged with all wire tight and intact. The sword is complete with its original steel scabbard with 2 hanging rings and shoe. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 17834 £595.00 |
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