Swords
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**RARE**NAPOLEONIC PENINSULAR WARS ERA**, British Thomas Gill Birmingham Warranted 1786 Pattern 5 Ball Spadroon Infantry Officer’s Sword With C1760 George II Etched Blade ‘Never To Fall’ & Antique Ivory Hilt. ED 2362. - ED 2362 This is an original rare to find example of a British 1786 Pattern 5 ball spadroon Infantry Officer's sword (see page 155 of World Swords by Withers & Robson’s Swords Of The British Army page 144 No.129 where similar spadroons are illustrated). It has the correct brass 5 ball guard and crown top. The correct ribbed antique ivory grip is excellent with just light surface blemishes consistent with ivory of this age. It has a 32” long single edged, diamond section blade. The blade is etched on both sides with martial arms and foliate panels together with King’s Crown. One side has King’s crown above ‘II’ indicating that this sword was made using an earlier C1760 George II blade (GR II Reign June 1727 – October 1760) . One side of the ricasso is signed ‘T. Gill Birmingham’ (Thomas Gill began manufacturing Swords in Birmingham during the mid to late 1700’s and is last recorded at St James, London in 1816), the reverse ‘Warranted Never To Fall’. The blade has staining consistent with age. As is typical this sword is without scabbard. The price for this rare spadroon includes UK delivery. ED 2362 (NB Ivory Content Comprises less Than 10% Volume & Weight) £875.00 |
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UNAVAILABLE UNAVAILABLE (19/03) WW2 1942 Japanese 1944 Pattern Mounted Army Officer’s Sword With Gendaito Blade Double Signed Dated Tang ‘Hiro Gawa Aki Mitsu’, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 19156. - 19156 This sword has been assessed by UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. In exerts from the assessment he states “A 1944 pattern Army Officer’s sword with Gendaito hand forged blade. Big strong looking signed by ‘Hiro Gawa Aki Mitsu’ a Rikugun Jumei Tosho (army approved smith). He has a good rating in the back of John Slough’s book on swordsmiths 1 million Yen. Real name Hiro Gawa Orie born 1899 lived in Gotenba. Sturdy blade in original old polish with some scratching obscuring any grain. Hamon is Ko (small) Midare in Nie Deki which is heavily scattered along edge of hamon (good sign). Mounted in 1944 pattern Kosherai. Saya iron mounts with thick crackled dark brown lacquer on Honoki wood base, damaged bottom end patches of lacquer missing. Tsuba darkened iron plate. Tsuka is coarse hessian wrapped with dark brown stippled lacquer applied to it. In very good condition but missing original steel screws. Only 1944 pattern swords had metal mekugi for locking sword in tsuka. It is possible to repair the lacquer damage (on saya) this would then be a good addition to any sword collection”. In images of the tang which accompany the assessment, one side has the translated smith signature the reverse has a translation of the markings ‘Made May 1942’. The cutting edge of the blade is just under 26 ¼” length. Total length just under 34 ¾”. Kissaki 33mm. He also identifies a polisher’s mark’. The hilt's locking catch works as it should securely retaining the sword in the scabbard. The price for sword with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 19156. £0.00 |
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**NAPOLEONIC PENINSULAR WARS ERA** British 1796 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword With Etched Blade & Scabbard With Etched Panel ‘J. READ DUBLIN’ . Sn 19226. - 19226 This is an original British 1796 Pattern Infantry Officer's sword (see page 160 of World Swords by Withers where an example with blued and etched blade is illustrated. In his book withers states that most of these swords are found with missing quillons, & worn blades). Our excellent example has the correct shell guard with foliate decoration, one shell correctly folds for scabbard carry. It has the correct knuckle bow and ornate urn shaped pommel. The wire bound grip is excellent and retains its original quillon finial. All wire is tight and intact. It has a 32 ½” long fullered, single edged blade. The blade is etched on all sides. The etchings are foliate & Martial panels, and Turkish / Ottoman themed devices. All of the etchings are crisp. Its original scabbard has brass mounts and 2 hanging rings. The throat mount has a frog bar and has a nice oval etched panel, ‘J. Read Dublin’ (either a retailer or the Officer who originally owned the sword). The price includes UK delivery. Sn 19226. £1,350.00 |
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**SUPERIOR SMITH**ANCIENT BLADE**C1650’s Bizen School Japanese Wakizashi Short Sword Blade Smith Signed ‘YOKO YAMA KO JUKE KAMI FUJIWARA SUKE SADA’ With WW2 Shin Gunto Army Mounts & Leather Field Service Covered Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 21345 - 21345 This is a Japanese Wakizashi with ancient blade. The sword 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 “ A Bizen school / den wakizashi blade in shin gunto army mounts. Good bizen shape, has been shortened by moving blade shoulders down aprox 2”. Tang end Jiri untouched. A bit short to have been made as an uchigatana originally. Signed by ‘YOKO YAMA KO JUKE KAMI FUJIWARA SUKE SADA’. This is a Jo-Saku rated smith (superior). This mie wants checking out in Japan by the sword expert panels . Whoever made this blade it certainly looks to date to early to mid 17th Century. Good polish shows large mokume grain (hada) and a thick nioi edged hamon of gunome midare, only spoilt a bit by 2 kizu & 1 blister on one side. Bizen den made more good swords than any other school / style. Saya black lacquered honoki wood covered in good brown leather field service cover for war. Tsuba standard gunto pattern, brass with some gilding left on it. Habaki original antique copper, one covered in plate of silver with some decorative cat scratches good condition. Tsuka hilt good intact fish skin wrap, brown cotton ito binding. Metal mounts have brown finish with a bit of gilt left. Missing its knot loop. Never had a locking catch fitted. A nice Bizen antique blade taken to war, good looker, good condition with only a couple of flaws to spoil it being perfect”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as just over 50 cms. Total length just under 66 cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21345 £1,350.00 |
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**MATCHING NUMBERS, BLADE NUMBERED ON SIDE**Original, WW2 Japanese NCO's Type 95 Katana With ‘The Lijima Swords Factory’ & Toyo 1st Arsenal Arsenal Marks & Scabbard. Sn 20906 - 20906 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 '137879' and with inspection mark (later examples were stamped on the spine). The blade has no damage and just light areas of staining consistent with age. The hilt is stamped with Tokyo 1st Arsenal Star mark, Lijima Swords Factory roundel with crossed swords mark and inspection 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 no dents and retains its original 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 20906 £1,200.00 |
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**CAPTURED / SURRENDERED U.S. ARMY SOLDIER BRING BACK**WW2 Era 1935-1940’s Japanese Katana Long Sword Blade In Quality Period Protective Honoki Wood Shira Saya Resting Mounts With Ink Signature To ‘E.W. Lusted St Louis’ & Expert Assessment. Sn 21346 - 21346 This Japanese Katana has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written assessment notes accompany this Tanto. In his assessment he states “Katana long sword blade mounted in original shira saya resting mounts, dating to 1935-1940’s period. Just over 24” it is minimum length for a katana. It is in bright condition, looks like its been re-polished by a previous owner in the past (half done). This is obscuring the work in the hamon & grain if any. Typical seki / mino pointed gunome hamon which looks edged in nioi crystals very hazy. Covered in fine scratches obscuring view of workmanship. There are 2 points of view with this blade. It is either a low grade gendaito, possible special order, they usually made 2 and picked the best which was then signed and mounted for the client. The remaining one was left unsigned put in shira saya either left in rack or sold off to trade dealers who mount and sell on. The other view is, it’s a good quality showa to bar stock oil quenched blade made for an army contract and never mounted. Its poorly finished tang would indicate this. Strangely the shira saya has been a high quality item, don’t usually go to this much effort for a showa to. It also looks like its had an original saya Gaki (ink attribution inscription) which is mostly missing (see image 3). A war souvenir by a U.S soldier who has written his name on it in ink ‘E.W Lusted St Lois’. An interesting sword needing a professional polish to see what’s in it”. In his illustrations of the blade he adds “cutting edge is just under 61.5 cms, total length is just under 81 cms. He also describes other blade and tang characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price for this Katana with original expert assessment worthy of further research re the named Soldier includes UK delivery. Sn 21346 £1,095.00 |
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**ANCIENT BLADE**1661-1673 Shinto Period Kan Bun Era Japanese Uchigatana Single Handed Sword Blade Smith Signed ‘BITCHU KAMI TACHIBANA SADA SHIGE SAKU’ With Re-Furbished Hilt Fittings & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 21347 - 21347 This is a Japanese Uchigatana with ancient blade. The sword 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 “Uchigatana Single Handed Sword dating to Shinto period Kan Bun era 1661-1673. Big wide powerful looking with shallow curvature, a typical shape for this time in Japanese history. Been polished in recent times, bright hamon visible & grain. Had a good high temperature quench lots of nie crystals. Good quality blade signed ‘BITCHU KAMI TACHIBANA SADA SHIGE SAKU’. This man working around Kan Bun era originally came from Taijima Hojoji school to Musashi. Saya is restored Honoki wood finished in black paint? with Buffalo horn mounts. Tsuba looks cast iron late Edo period. Tsuka is modern refurbishment with new fish skin (shrunk), black cotton ito wrapwith good quality fuchi kashira look Soten school, warriors in a forest in shakudo / nanoko (faded) & a good pair of gilt menuki Dragons (mint). Would look better with a professional hilt re-build. A powerful looking sword”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as 57 cms. Total length 73 cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21347 £1,645.00 |
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**ANCIENT 1580’s -1680’s BLADE**Japanese Wakizashi Short Sword Tribute Signed ‘BISHU OSAFUNE MOTO SHIGE’ By Unknown Smith In Homage To An Earlier 14th Century Famous Smith With C1600-50’s Iron Tsuba, Ko-Gatana Knife Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 21350 - 21350 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 “It appears to date to 1580’s to 1680’s period, end of Koto (old sword) into Shinto period. It has a very good Bizen curve & shape and has a good strong stone polish, with precise shinobi and yakote lines, still healthy & good thickness to sides. Looks like it would polish well. Surface is covered in old black finger rust and fine scratches, obscuring any grain. You can only se the hamon in some clear patches. Looks a nioi edged ko-notare based on suguha but the original polish is obscuring the activity in the hamon. Signature looks like a homage one put on as a tribute to a famous smith, signed ‘BISHU OSAFUNE MOTO SHIGE’, this is definitely not a 14th century blade which is when this man worked, so a quality blade by an unknown smith. Needs a good professional polish. Saya is good quality Honoki wood covered with black lacquer good condition but some small patches of damage. Finished with horn kurikata & a Ko-Gatana in side pocket withreplacement blade. Has a good quality kodjuka soft metal in shakadu with Nanako & gold leaf, crayfish & banner all gilt intact, one small bit of damage to edge. Tsuba is ancient iron oval plate pattern copying Musashi work Circa 1600-1650, good condition, some old rust. Tsuka hilt is 19th century put together, blue ito wrap, fish skin small bits missing. Menuki tiny pouch clasps (odd), copper plain fuchi with very good kashira carp in waterfall. A nice looking sword”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as 44cms. Total length 56cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21350 £1,245.00 |
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**MINT**ANCIENT BLADE**Mid To Late 17th Century Japanese Mino School Wakizashi Short Sword Blade In Protective Honoki Wood Shira Saya Resting Mounts & Expert Assessment. Sn 21262 - 21262 This is an ancient Japanese Wakizashi blade which has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written assessment notes accompany this Tanto. Extracts from the assessment and notes include “A Wakizashi short sword in Shira Saya at some time been restored in Japan in near mint polish. Some odd faint scratches, odd finger mark. Mid to late 17th century probably mino school work but with some other influences. At this time smith’s travelled about studying different schools and styles of sword making. It would take study by a Japanese Shinsa panel to suggest a maker. Mounted in Honoki wood shira saya resting mounts with Buffalo horn end caps & around Mekugi Ana. One side has some coarse open grain otherwise good. A nice example of its type”. In his illustrations of the blade he adds “cutting edge is 52.5 cms, total length is just under 67.5 cms. He also describes other blade and tang characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price for this ancient blade with original expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 21262 £1,095.00 |
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**ANCIENT BLADE** Satsuma Rebellion Clan**Post 1600 Japanese Shinto Style Large O’ Wakizashi Or Uchigatana Single Handed Sword With Edo Open Winged Crane Iron Tsuba & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 21228 - 21228 This is a Japanese O’ Wakizashi or Uchigatana with ancient blade. The sword 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 “A Large O’ Wakizashi Or Uchigatana Single Handed Sword under 24” cutting edge. This style & size became popular in the Shinto post 1600 period age of peace. It has an unsigned tang & is out of polish, cannot see the hamon on most of the blade making it difficult to assign it to an individual school of work. From the tang shape its mino style but very complicated hamon (what I can see) looks Bizen work. It needs a professional polish to show the beauty of the work but worth it. Smiths started to blend different influences into their blades at this time. Saya is Honoki wood with what was a bright red lacquer finish, some damage towards mouth with old repair. Quality horn ito loop finished with one shakudo shita dome. Tsuba is in cast iron copied off earlier pierced example, theme is open winged Crane, wing touching beak. Eyes inlaid with shakudo metal (nice quality) late Edo Period. Tsuka is Satsuma Rebellion period hilt 1870’s, munition quality wrap, 2 pieces of rusty metal as menuki, with red saya & rebellion hilt possibly carried by Satsuma Clan Rebels. Taken out of storage &put together for the rebellion late 19th century. An interesting sword. The Kashira on handle is possible Mino / Goto school piece”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as 54.5cms. Total length 69.5 cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21228 £1,250.00 |
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