Category: Previously Sold

A good late-19th Century British Army Boer War Campaign Cutlery Set.  The cutlery set comprises a knife and fork that fit into a hardwood case.  It is very typical of the kind of personal equipment that both officers and men would have carried amongst their own personal effects whilst on campaign duty.  The presence of a number of Victorian (Queen Victoria) crowns to the blade indicates that this was probably carried during the Boer War (1899-1902) or certainly no later than the First World War.  It is also marked that it was made in Sheffield, England.  During the 19th Century and 20th Century, Sheffield, England was the centre of blade making and produced huge quantities of knives edged cutlery that was sold throughout the world.  This would have been made in one of the numerous knife and blade making workshops of the city.

Sheffield knife makers

The city gained a reputation for high quality and innovation in blade making. This is a good example of this workmanship. and in fine condition.  Overall length of the knife and fork when inside the wooden case is 8 inches.

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SOLD

A good example of an Antique Finnish Pukko Knife and Scabbard.  These distinctive knives are associated with Finland and other parts of Scandinavia and are still manufactured in these areas and have become synonymous with this particular country and its cultural traditions.

They come in a variety of hilt styles and this knife is distinguished by the its horn hilt and scabbard.  Both hilt and scabbard have white metal mounts.  In Finland and northern Scandinavia,the carving of the Pukko’s hilt is very important and great pride is taken during this process.  Over generations, this knife has become intimately tied to Nordic culture.  The knife comes complete with its original scabbard.

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 SOLD

Unusually long Antique European Ivorine-handled Penknife.  I assume that this had a particular purpose as the length of both the handle and the blade must have been specifically made for a practical use.  The penknife is well made with a long ivorine slab grip held together by steel pins that is in excellent condition.  The plain blade is nickel-plated and with all the original polish remaining.  I would guess that this  penknife was made in the early to mid-20th Century.

Blade is maker marked

The blade is maker marked “Gustoc” and also “ROSTFREI” and with two interlocking animals motif to the other side. Blade length is 4.75 inche (10.5 inches overall).  a nice and unusual addition for the collector of antique penknives.

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SOLD

A very rare and original Boer War Afrikaner Regiment Military Shako Helmet.  This helmet was made for the Boer government or Z.A.R. (Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek) who were in existence from 1874-1902 and was also known as the Transvaal Republic.  It was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century.  Established in 1852, the republic was independent from 1856 to 1877 and again from the end of the First Boer War in 1881, when the Boers regained their independence from the British Empire, until 1900.  In 1900 the Z.A.R. was annexed by the United Kingdom during the Second Boer War although the official surrender of the territory only took place at the end of the war, on 31 May 1902. In 1910 it became the Transvaal Province of the Union of South Africa.  The first president of the South African Republic was Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, elected in 1857, son of Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, who commanded the Boers to victory at the Battle of Blood River.  The capital was established at Pretoria (founded 1855).  This shako was probably worn by a military unit although most Boer soldiers tended to wear their own civilian clothes as during the Boer Wars, they fought as a guerrilla army within the local Boer population and so did not want to be identified.  I do know that there was a Boer artillery regiment that was trained by German officers who wore a uniform and this might be from that regiment.  The condition of the shako is very good for its age with only minor age wear in places.

The inside of the helmet is stamped with a maker’s mark and indication that it was made for the Z.A.R. Comes complete with the original detachable feather plumes.  also retains the original chinscales chinstrap that hooks onto the lionshead ornaments on the side of the shako.   A great piece of Boer War history and rarely seen in the market.

SOLD

An original Antique 19th Century Silver-hilted Moroccan Jambiya Dagger.  With extensive and fine decoration to both the hilt and scabbard – is very intricate and comprises a series of inter-twined patterns.  The blade is typically plain and double-edged towards the point and is engraved with the letters, “GS”.  The hilt is made from dark hardwood.  Condition of the Jambiya is good with some age wear in places – actually adds to the character of the piece.

Many of thesee Moroccan Jambiyas are of poor quality and made for the tourist market – this is not one of those and was made to be used and carried.  Blade length is 8.25 inches (14 inches overall).

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SOLD

An excellent Turkish 19th Century Yataghan Sword and Scabbard.  This is a well made and a fine example of the type of sword carried throughout Turkey and Eastern Europe during the 1800’s.  The sword comprises a deeply chased brass hilt with typical ears to the pommel.  The blade is also deeply engraved with designs of swirling foliage near the blade forte and it is double-edged towards the end of the blade.  The sword comes complete with a heavy brass scabbard.  Condition of the sword is very good for its age with numerous light dings to the scabbard that is a normal feature of this type of sword style.  Both sword and scabbard fit perfectly and there is no looseness – this is the same for the hilt and scabbard – rock solid – no movement.  Blade length is 22.5 inches (27 inches overall).

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SOLD

A very fine English late-18th Century Infantry Officer’s Sword with distinctive iron slotted hilt and elaborate recurved hilt bars.  The grip is made from ebony and with copper banding.  The blade is plain with a single fuller and is slightly curved.  The hilt displays a very prominent tang button.  Condition of the sword is very good for its age and it has a fine age patina – there is a small age crack to front of the slotted hilt.  This type of sword is very typical of late-18th Century English military swords and very representative of the many different hilt and blade styles that were prevalent before British military swords became more regulated after 1786 with the introduction of the 1786 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword.  Blade length is 27.5 inches (34 inches overall).

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SOLD

A very attractive 19th Century Officer’s Mother-of-Pearl Smallsword.  It is probably either French or Italian in origin and comprises a cast white metal hilt with mother-of-pearl slab grips.  The hilt is decorated with very elaborate rococo inspired patterns and the pommel has a pronounced tang button.  The blade is plain, straight and with a double edge and spear point.  These kind of swords were usually carried by senior officers, including diplomats and civilian officials and would have been worn at court or at official engagements.  Condition of the sword is very good and both hilt and blade are rock solid.  There is no scabbard with this sword.  Blade length is 31.5 inches (37 inches overall).

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A very rare Antique African Somalian Billao dagger. This sword originates from Somalia and was used mainly by the coastal people of Somalia. It has a long non-symmetrical leaf shape blade and the handle is made of sections of dark horn separated by a single section of a light colored metal – looks to be some kind of lead. The pommel is of a typical triangular, pronged shape and made from metal.  Condition of the short sword dagger is very good for its age with a nice age patina to the blade.  Have another couple of these for sale in both long and short sword form – please take a look at my other listings.  Blade length is 15.5 inches (24 inches overall).  This is a very distinctive short sword and dagger style and they are only found in this particular part of West Africa.

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SOLD

A very rare Antique African Somalian Fighting short sword Billao dagger. This sword originates from Somalia and was used mainly by the coastal people of Somalia. It has a long non-symmetrical leaf shape blade and the handle is made of sections of dark horn separated by a single section of a light colored metal – looks to be some kind of lead. The pommel is of a typical triangular, pronged shape and made from metal.  Condition of the short sword dagger is very good for its age with a nice age patina to the blade.  Have another couple of these for sale in both long and short sword form – please take a look at my other listings.  Blade length is 15.5 inches (23.5 inches overall).  This is a very distinctive short sword and dagger style and they are only found in this particular part of West Africa.

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SOLD

A very rare Antique African Somalian Fighting Sword. This sword originates from Somalia and is a development of the Somali Billao dagger used mainly by the coastal people of Somalia. It has a long non-symmetrical leaf shape blade and the handle is made of sections of dark horn separated by three sections of a light colored metal – looks to be some kind of lead. The pommel is of a typical triangular, pronged shape and made from metal.  Condition of the sword is very good for its age with a nice age patina to the blade.  Have another couple of these for sale in short sword form – please take a look at my other listings.  Blade length is 22 inches (30 inches overall).  This is a very distinctive sword style and only found in this part of West Africa.

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SOLD

An original Scottish 1st Volunteer Battalion Highland Light Infantry Glengarry Badge.  In excellent condition throughout and  made from white metal and including the original fastening lugs to the back.  This badge dates from the early 1900’s and features the Kings’ Crown to the top of the badge and the battle of Assaye (1803) elephant honour.  This regiment was previously known as the 74th Regiment of Highlanders and was involved in many famous battle of the 19th Century.  During the 1900’s there were a large number of volunteer battalions attached to the regular British Army forces and this was one of them.  The Highland Light Infantry were a regiment of the British Army from 1881 until 1959.  They were based in Glasgow and were known as the official regiment of that famous Scottish city.  Diameter of the badge is 2 inches.  Nice original addition to a collector of antique Scottish militaria.

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An original antique C.1900’s Brass British Ship’s Cased Nautical Clock.  This probably dates from the turn of the 20th Century and could have been carried on both a military naval ship or a merchantman.  With well made brass case and heavy and thick glass face (chip to one side).  The clock was made by Smiths (Empire) clockmakers and is maker marked to the face.  It appears to run after winding up (a key is supplied) although I have not monitored it for long periods, and the hands are a little loose and probably need tightening.  Looks like it was definitely used on board a ship and is an original period piece and not a modern reproduction – has a nice and genuine aged look that would display well.  Has a second hand incorporated into the dial.  Condition is good overall.  The diameter of the clock is 7 inches.  A nice display piece for the collector of maritime military and merchant marine collectables.

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SOLD

An original German Prussian WW1 Model 1898/05 Butcher Bayonet that was originally of sawback form but with evidence of contemporary removal.  The first pattern butcher bayonet had high ears on the crossguard and was made from 1906 until 1915.  It would originally have come supplied with a leather scabbard. The second pattern butcher bayonet had the ears filed down on the hilt crossguard and was manufactured from 1915 until 1918 when it was supplied with a metal scabbard. A sawback model was made for NCO’s.  Contrary to popular belief it was actually designed to be used as a tool (to cut wood or barbed wire) but in 1917, it was ordered by German authorities that all sawback bayonets have their sawbacks removed.  This followed threats by the Allies that any German soldier found with a sawback bayonet would be treated with the utmost severity.  The bayonet is stamped with maker marks to Mauser that are repeated to the top of the black painted steel scabbard.  Condition of the bayonet is good overall with some wear to the wooden grips, probably during its service life.  Blade length is 14.5 inches (19.5 inches overall).

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SOLD

A fine example of an original British C.1790 Military Naval Short Hanger Sword.  This sword comprises a very well ribbed horn grip and brass stirrup hilt with a prominent tang button.  The blade is extremely curved and plain.  No markings to the sword that I can see but it is good quality manufacture and was probably made for use by a junior officer or NCO.  The brass hilt and relatively short blade makes me wonder if this has a naval origin as it would have made a pretty effective close combat edged weapon whilst on board a ship.  Condition of the sword is excellent with a pleasing patina to the hilt and blade.  Both blade and hilt are rock solid with no movement.  Blade length is 23 inches (28 inches overall).  A tidy little piece.

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A very fine and unusual 19th Century Malayan Silver Kris Dagger with hand-forged blade.  These Malayan kris daggers are found with many hilt forms including ivory, hardwood and horn but these silver hilts are quite scarce. The kris dagger is a very common and associated with the culture of Indonesia, but is also found in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although straight-bladed examples are also found.  A kris is divided into three parts – the bilah (blade), hulu (hilt), and warangka (sheath).  The origin of the word kris comes from an old Javanese term – “ngiris”, which means to slice, wedge or sliver. “Kris” is the more frequently used spelling in the Western world, but the word “keris” is more popular in the native countries where the kris is found.  The hilt is decorated with a series of abstract designs and also the number “25” that seems quite unusual – can’t quite explain that!  Condition of the kris is very good and the blade still retains its interesting blade patterning.  Blade length is 15 inches (19.5 inches overall).

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SOLD

A good example of a British 1845 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword and Scabbard.  With a typical gilt brass “Gothic Hilt” with a royal “VR” (Queen Victoria – 1837-1901) cypher to the pierced hilt.  The grip is bound with original fishskin and copper twistwire.  The sword is quite rare in that it retains the original Army officer’s sword knot and the leather hilt liner – very few hilt liners remain on swords of this great age.  The blade is etched to the forte with what I believe is a retailer’s name of Crindlay and Co.  Cannot find them listed in my books but pretty certain that they were not a manufacturer of swords but a purveyor of swords to military officers.  The blade is very well etched with foliage and there is a royal crown and cypher to the centre.  Condition of the blade is generally good with some commensurate age wear in places.  The sword comes complete with a steel service scabbard.  Blade length is 32.5 inches (38 inches overall).

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An excellent and original British Army WW2 Steel helmet.  This looks to be a private purchase helmet and is of superior quality – probably for an officer.  All the original khaki paintwork remains and comes complete with liner.  The liner is in very good shape and shows virtually no wear – I doubt whether this has ever been worn or issued.  Not sure which mark or pattern it is but is likely to be early war and probably kept at home in the United Kingdom and never carried abroad – wonder whether it could even be Home Guard issue to an officer.  Have been told that this could also be a post-war Dutch issue copy of this helmet type.  With maker’s stamp inside helmet.  Difficult to read but seems to “R.D.M.L. Ltd”.  There is also an issue(?) number stamped to the inside rim of the helmet.  The helmet also retains a green canvas chinstrap with brass mounts.  Hard to find a better example of an original British military helmet for the collector of British WW2 militaria.

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A terrific and original French Napoleonic Heavy Cavalry Cuirassier Trooper’s Sword.  This is a scarce example in very good condition and comprises a large four-bar brass hilt and original leather grip with brass twistwire.  The hilt is numbered 1556 and this is matched on the scabbard – is very rare to get both the hilt and scabbard number matched as these swords tended to have a long and hard service life and scabbards were invariably lost and replaced over many years.  The hilt is also marked – VERSAILLES – indicative of official French manufacture.  The blade is multi-fullered and with a hatchet point.  Condition of the blade is excellent and very clean.  Cannot really fault this example and with the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo next year, this iconic French Napoleonic cavalry sword can only increase considerably in value.

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SOLD

A very fine example of a C.1750 English Continental Cut Steel Smallsword.  This is a nice piece with a terrifically detailed cut steel and pierced hilt that comprises a series of complex patterns to each of the shell guards.  The grip has a wooden core that is bound with copper twistwire and blued steel bands.  The blade is of colichemarde or trefoil form and decorated with decoration including a winged cherubic figure and intertwined patterns.  The blade narrows very dramatically into  a stiletto point.  Condition of the smallsword is excellent with a wonderful dark patina to the hilt.  The blade length is 25 inches (32 inches overall).  Interestingly, the blade appears shorter than normal but does not show any evidence of being cut down as the blade narrows to a severe point and there is very little left to reduce.

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SOLD