Napoleonic Swords – Booklets for the Collector

FIVE BRAND NEW SWORD BOOKLETS FOR THE COLLECTOR!

by Harvey J S Withers

CLICK ON BOOKLETS FOR MORE INFORMATION

The British 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry Trooper’s Sword

Classic Arms and Militaria Review

“The author is well known as a leading sword dealer and authority with some six well-produced books already to his name. This is a new volume in a projected series of about 15 monographs on individual types of British military sword. This is a welcome venture, rather reminiscent of the Arms and Armour Press monographs from the 1960’s that so many collectors cut their teeth upon and which are still highly rated today.

This very useful book concentrates upon the iconic 1796 light Cavalry sword carried by Wellingtons Light Dragoons and Hussars throughout the Napoleonic wars. It has a very ‘busy’ format with photos of many views of the swords interspersed with contemporary and other pictures.

The book starts with an introduction before moving on to the parts of the sword – particularly useful for new collectors – its historical background, examples and variants, the Regulations for Sword Exercise for the Cavalry (1796), makers, collecting tips and notes on preservation and care.

This series will build up into a useful reference work on British military swords and Classic Arms and Militaria wishes Mr Withers every success with his endeavour. Excellent value for money.”

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The Scottish 1828 Pattern Highland Basket-hilted Broadsword

Classic Arms and Militaria Review

“This is number 2 in the series covering the distinctive sword still carried in Highland Regiments to this day. It follows the format of volume 1 with numerous views and illustrations. There are sections on swords marked to individual regiments as well as those swords carried for fighting or undress with the crossbar guard instead of the full basket. A very useful, in-depth study.”

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British 18th and 19th Century Naval Cutlasses

Classic Arms and Militaria Review

“Volume 3 fills a much-needed gap for those collectors whose passion is for the fighting sword of the lower deck in the Royal Navy. The book starts with non-regulation types that proliferated before the celebrated 1804 Pattern with the figure-of-eight guard. Throughout this period the emphasis was on producing a cheap, robust, no-frills sword for the seaman to use when boarding, repelling boarders of on landing parties. The Royal Navy was never known to lavish much attention on personal arms for the seaman, believing instead that resources were better spent on the ships themselves and their artillery of great guns.

The Napoleonic era is illustrated with a nice plate of Henry Angelo’s Cutlass Exercise of 1814. The 19th Century cutlass tended to be very much better made and more sophisticated. The Patterns of 1845/58, 1889 and 1900 are all dealt with in detail. The cutlass bayonets, Patterns 1871 and 1859 are covered; they represent an attempt (only partially successful) to make an effective weapon system for the seaman armed with an Enfield or Martini rifle. An excellent, tightly drawn study.”

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Swords at the Battle of Waterloo

Classic Arms and Militaria Review

“Specially produced for the 20th anniversary year of this militarily and politically important battle, the author            deviates slightly from his chosen path of British military swords in volume 4 to include those carried by the French as well. Most of the main types – infantry and cavalry – are depicted in what must be seen as a general book. Nonetheless it is a  battle specific guide to what was principally carried by the two main combatant forces.”

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British Napoleonic Infantry Swords Part One

 (awaiting review)

BRITISH NAPOLEONIC INFANTRY SWORDS 1

With over 200-300 full colour illustrations and photographs in each booklet

Glossy softback booklets

Book length average is 64-68 pages

BOOKLETS INCLUDE:

Historical Background

 Examples of the Pattern

 Sword Makers

Maker Marks

Collecting the Pattern

Care and Preservation of Antique Swords

SEE THE SAMPLE IMAGES

ALSO AVAILABLE AS SINGLE BOOKLETS

Harvey Withers Antique Swords

 

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I have been collecting and dealing in antique swords and edged weapons since 1998 and over that time, have been lucky enough to handle many thousands of antique military swords.  They have ranged from ancient Celtic warrior’s swords to superbly decorated 17th Century rapiers, to the very last cavalry sabres used on the battlefields of WWI.  Below are some examples of swords that I have bought and sold over the years.

Antique Swords and Making Friends

I get a terrific thrill from buying and selling antique swords and there is no greater pleasure than attending auctions, antique arms shows or rooting around antiques shops, looking for a hidden gem.  I have met many collectors over the years and like to think that I have also made many friends in the world of antique sword collecting.  I am proud to say that the key to any positive relationship between buyer and seller is trust and I am happy to say that many of my current customers have been with me from my early days of selling.  Hopefully, it means that I am getting something right!  I have always traded on my reputation for providing original and interesting examples of swords spanning many centuries, coupled with a friendly and efficient approach to customer queries.  Emails are always answered promptly and I like nothing more than a good chat about swords!

Antique Swords and Books for Collectors

I have accumulated many thousands of full colour photographs of the swords that I have purchased and since 2003, have put them to good use by producing a series of price guides and reference books for the collector and student of antique military swords.  Click the images below for more information on all the books that I have authored.

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Books will always pay you back many times over

I have always believed that the initial investment in a good reference book will always pay you back many times over and give you the edge when on the hunt for antique swords.  Take a look at my other articles and you will see that I have put together a bibilography of books for the sword collector.  I hope to keep adding to this list and welcome any suggestions.  Just e-mail me here if you have a suggestion for a title to add to the list.  The more knowledgeable we all become can only be a good thing.

Future Articles

As I develop this web site, I hope to produce more articles about collecting antique military swords and importantly, the history of these unique items.  Please check back regularly as I will be regularly adding new articles.  

I hope that you will find then both helpful and informative and please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to submit an article or make a suggestion.

Happy collecting!
Best wishes,

Harvey Withers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antique Sword and Edged Weapons Consultancy Service

As an experienced and respected dealer of antique swords and edged weapons for many years and author of numerous books on the subject, I can provide a professional consultancy service for academic institutions, media and film companies.

Historical programmes and Movies

If you are making a programme or movie that requires absolute historical accuracy with regard to the correct swords and edged weapons carried by all cultures throughout history and need an enthusiastic and knowledgeable partner who can identify and advise you during the production process, then I can provide this service for you.

 

Lecture Service

I can also provide clients with a comprehensive and interesting lecture service if required. A fee is payable (+ travel and/or accommodation expenses). Further details are available upon request.

Books Published

See below for images of the books I have produced to date.  If you want more information about these books please click on the images.

Please contact me at sales@militariahub.com with your requirements and I will endeavour to help you.

 

 

 

Harvey J S Withers – Antique Sword Images Gallery #1

Antique Sword and Edged Weapons Gallery #1 

Dear Collectors,

Here is a selection of both past and present antique swords and edged weapons that I have bought and sold over the last few years.  I hope that you enjoy viewing these images and that they add to your knowledge of the subject.  I will be adding more galleries shortly.

© IMPORTANT NOTE:  I ask that you do not copy these images without my express permission as they are owned by me and therefore copyrighted.

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Harvey Withers – Antique Swords – E-Bay Customer Testimonials

Please see below examples of my excellent positive feedback (well over 2500 feedbacks to date) that I have received on E-Bay since 1999!  Be assured that you are buying from an established and reputable dealer of over 20 years experience in selling antique swords and edged weapons.  If you want to confirm these feedbacks please check my E-Bay ID – anglianswords.

 

A+! Great pair of reference books. Appreciate the personalized signature

ANTIQUE SWORDS BOOK – WORLD SWORDS & BRITISH SWORDS – COLLECTORS’ PRICE GUIDES (#300640456515)

Book is as-advertised; useful & interesting; prompt; good communication

WORLD SWORDS 1400-1945 PRICE GUIDE $55.95 NOW $35.95!! (#300629974476)

Fantastic item, thanks for your patience. Will buy any more like this one

FINE 19TH CENTURY AFRICAN ZULU KNOBKERRIE (#300639268550)

great thanks

GERMAN C.1920’S/30’S CAVALRY OFFICER’S DRESS SWORD WITH SWORD KNOT (#300643157734)

cheers

BRITISH MILITARY SWORDS BOOK 1786-1912 FULL COLOUR COLLECTOR’S PRICE GUIDE (#300644514837)

Smooth transaction

THE SWORD IN BRITAIN 1600-1700 – AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY – GREAT NEW SWORDS BOOK! (#300636453756)

Excellent service, Excellent item, thanks Harvey

ORIGINAL C.WW2 JAPANESE ARMY NCO’S SHIN GUNTO SWORD (#300639487159)

Great Seller Fast shippping Great sword Book thank you Richard

WORLD SWORDS 1400-1945 PRICE GUIDE $55.95 NOW $35.95!! (#300629974476)

good service good description

BRITISH C.WW1 QUALITY BRASS AND HARDWOOD NCO’S MARCHING/SWAGGER STICK (#300639487892)

Very nice book great packaging+++AAA

THE SWORD IN BRITAIN 1600-1700 – AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY – GREAT NEW SWORDS BOOK! (#300636453756)

perfekt books thanks

SUPERB WORLD SWORDS & BRITISH SWORDS COLLECTORS’ PRICE GUIDES – BUY NOW! (#300626998186)

The excellent seller! Thanks!

RARE FRENCH NAPOLEONIC MODEL ANIX LIGHT CAVALRY TROOPER’S SWORD (#300629914616)

A very nice transaction, thanks.

ORIGINAL NEPALESE C.1900’S BONE-HANDLED GURKHA KUKRI KNIFE (#300629924902)

Excellent, thank you! A++++++

NEW BOOK!! THE SWORD IN BRITAIN 1600-1700 – AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY (#300629978002)

Very nice book great packaging +++++++

WORLD SWORDS 1400-1945 PRICE GUIDE $55.95 NOW $35.95!! (#300629974476)

A most interesting item, Well packed and fast delivery. Thanks

UNUSUAL FRENCH(?) NAPOLEONIC HUSSARS MIRLITON HELMET HAT (#300627089579)

Beautiful skean dhu, thanx!!!

SCOTTISH LATE-20TH C SOLID SILVER SKEAN DHU DAGGER (#300614203178)

Great item, just as described. Fast delivery. Very pleased. Many thanks 🙂

VERY GOOD FRENCH M1829 LIGHT ARTILLERY TROOPER’S SWORD (#300596543417)

thanks for signing the book

SUPERB WORLD SWORDS & BRITISH SWORDS COLLECTORS’ PRICE GUIDES – BUY NOW! (#300622191640)

Fantastic book, incredible service. Highly recommended

WORLD SWORDS 1400-1945 PRICE GUIDE $55.95 NOW $35.95!! (#300563091075)

excelent item and service, thank you

WORLD SWORDS 1400-1945 PRICE GUIDE $55.95 NOW $35.95!! (#300563091075)

Bayonet as described, timely arrival for international order.

RARE US MODEL 1917 REMINGTON BAYONET WITH SCABBARD (#300596539375)

Superb book! Masses of info. Recommended to all! Thank you! Great seller!

BRITISH MILITARY SWORDS 1786-1912 COLOUR PRICE GUIDE – BUY NOW FOR XMAS DELIVERY

AOK

RARE ORIG. BRITISH ARMY 1821 PATTERN HEAVY CAVALRY TROOPER’S SWORD (#300617668232)

All perfect, nice book !

WORLD SWORDS 1400-1945 PRICE GUIDE $55.95 NOW $35.95!! (#300563091075)

A+ Thank you…..Excellent buyer++++fast payment…..hope to deal again.

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CLICK IMAGES TO BUY YOUR SWORD BOOKS!!

 

 

 

Harvey Withers – Antique British Swords

Harvey Withers – Antique British Swords – Are you a Collector?

If so, please take the time to visit my antique sword store and here you will find a great selection of antique British military swords for sale.

I have been a dealer in antique swords and edged weapons for many years and am also the author of a number of books on both British and World Swords.  Just click on the images below for more information.

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Harvey Withers – Selling Antique Swords and My Personal Reputation

For a number of years I have been selling antique swords to customers throughout  the world and have earned a reputation for fairness and reliability. I am always happy to correspond with customers and talk about this fascinating area of history and collecting. I am also a great believer in freedom of speech on the internet but please be aware that this freedom should not extend to anonymous individuals committing libel and spreading outrageous falsehoods about a person’s character and reputation. Unfortunately, I have been a persistent victim of this anonymous and cowardly practice (as have other sword collectors, dealers and auction houses that have innocently crossed this individual’s path) and I ask anyone reading blogs that spread this malicious material to simply make up your own mind as regards the kind of mentality that would spend hours writing anonymously (he never displays his real name) about individuals they have never met and who have no right to reply.

Nothing to Hide

Anything I write on the net I do so with my name prominently displayed – I have nothing to hide and am proud of what I do and my achievements.  It is interesting to note that if I was such an awful character as depicted in these dreadful blogs and I had done all the things attributed to me by this one individual, then how is it that I have managed to stay in business selling antique swords to thousands of satisfied customers since 1999?  Surely, my misdemeanours would have caught up with me by now and I would be pursuing a different occupation?

Commitment to Customer Care

If you want to find out more about my longstanding and genuine commitment to customer care and honesty, please go onto e-Bay (user id: anglianmilitaria) and read my many thousands of positive feedbacks that date back to 1999.

Strong Family

Luckily, I am blessed to have a wonderful wife and family who have supported me during this difficult time and I thank them for making me realise that those who actually know me whether through personal friendship or business dealings, would never believe anything written by this individual.  I sometimes wonder if he is referring to another Harvey Withers as this person and all his awful character traits is definitely not known to me!

Role of the Internet and Blogging

Let me finish by saying that the internet is supposed to be a forum for debate, information and improving our understanding of the world.  In that role it does a marvellous job and long may it continue.  Blogging is a major outlet for those who wish to express their views on a myriad of issues and concerns and in many countries, it is the only democratic means to highlight serious miscarriages of justice and human rights concerns.

Saying that,  I do not believe that web hosts who allow anonymous blogging that defames innocent people and destroys reputations, adds anything to the internet or the goodness and progress of the world in general.

Thank you for reading this.

Harvey Withers

Internet Trolls and the Sword Collecting Community

Be aware that trolls really do exist and they are in resident in our sword collecting community!  There are individuals out there who gain enormous pleasure from writing completely false and libellous comments in blogs and forums about those who both collect and sell antique swords.  They are called internet trolls and usually suffer from various forms of mental illness and deep self-loathing.

Multiple Personality Disorders

Feel sorry for them and their multiple personality problems but don’t believe what they write!  If you read anything in a blog that attacks an individual, look at the kind of language used – invariably it takes on a ranting tone and includes lots of personal attacks and lies – interestingly, it usually concerns the personal appearance of the victim which probably indicates an physical inferiority complex by the internet troll himself (or herself of course!).  Normally their blog not only attacks an individual, but a whole group of people, organisations or companies, who they have decided (in their own twisted view of the world) should be relentlessly attacked from the comfort (and safety) of their computer many hundreds, if not thousands of miles away.  How cowardly is that?  If you read garbage from any individual on the internet purporting to be an expert on antique swords and using multiple blogs and bogus forums (peopled by himself using aliases) to attack both me and other persons, I suggest you take whatever is said with a very large pinch of salt and just carefully read the rantings and make your own mind up!

Seen an Internet Troll Recently?

I have been told that the troll below is pretty representative of what these subterranean folk look like.  Do you know anyone who looks like this…?

Antique Sword Collecting Books by Harvey J S Withers

Here are a selection of reference books by Harvey J S Withers for those interested in collecting antique military swords

 

All books are lavishly illustrated in full colour and present a detailed history of the military sword and some also include a price guide for those interested in knowing what their swords are worth.  Just click on the images for more information.

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Harvey J S Withers – British Military Swords 1786-1912.  The Regulation Patterns.  An Illustrated Price Guide for Collectors, Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2003.

ISBN: 0-9545910-0-3

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Harvey J S Withers – World Swords, 1400-1945, An Illustrated Price Guide for Collectors, Studio Jupiter Military Publishing, 2006.

ISBN: 0-9545910-1-1

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Harvey J S Withers – The Sword in Britain, Volume One 1600-1700, Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2011.

ISBN: 0-9545910-3-8

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Harvey J S Withers – The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Swords and Sabres, Lorenz Books, Studio Jupiter Military Publishing, 2008.

ISBN: 13:978-0-7548-1851-9

ISBN: 10:0-7548-1851-9

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Harvey J S Withers – The Scottish Sword, 1600-1945, An Illustrated History, Paladin Press, 2009.

ISBN: 978-1-58160-713-0

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Harvey J S Withers – The Pictorial History of the Sword – Southwater Books, 2010

ISBN-10: 1844768392

ISBN-13: 978-1844768394

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Harvey J S Withers & Dr Tobias Capwell – The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Knives, Swords, Spears and Daggers – Lorenz Books, 2010

ISBN-10:0754823318

ISBN-13: 978-0754823315