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Nation : East India Company
Local Price : £1295.00

A Fine Scarce, Antique, Chinese Dadao Sword, Ching Dynasty. Used From the Opium Wars and The Boxer Rebellion. The Ching or Qing Dynasty Was Founded From 1644 and Ruled Until 1912.. A big and impressive sword with a long single edged blade. Black iron mounts to the leather bound scabbard and sword guard, round pommel wide cord wrapped grip, with plaited sword knot. Made in the Ching {Qing} Dynasty. Used during the Taiping Rebellion, the Opium Wars and into the Boxer Rebellion era, and most likely brought back to England by a soldier that either served in the Taiping Rebellion the Opium War, or defended the legations at the siege in Peking. This weight of sword was frequently used not only in battle but for executions. All black finish. The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty. About 20 million people died, mainly civilians, in one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. Hong established the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, officially the "Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace", with its capital at Nanjing. The Kingdom's army controlled large parts of southern China, at its height containing about 30 million people. The rebels attempted social reforms believing in shared "property in common" and the replacement of Confucianism, Buddhism and Chinese folk religion with a form of Christianity. The Taiping troops were nicknamed "Long Hair" by the Qing {Ching} government. The Taiping areas were besieged by Qing forces throughout most of the rebellion. The Qing government crushed the rebellion with the eventual aid of French and British forces. The Opium Wars, also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, divided into the First Opium War from 1839 to 1842 and the Second Opium War from 1856 to 1860, were the climax of disputes over trade and diplomatic relations between China under the Qing Dynasty and the British Empire. After the inauguration of the Canton System in 1756, which restricted trade to one port and did not allow foreign entrance to China, the British East India Company faced a trade imbalance in favour of China and invested heavily in opium production to redress the balance. British and United States merchants brought opium from the British East India Company's factories in Patna and Benares, in the Indian state of Bengal, to the coast of China, where they sold it to Chinese smugglers who distributed the drug in defiance of Chinese laws. Aware both of the drain of silver and the growing numbers of addicts, the Dao Guang Emperor demanded action. Officials at the court who advocated legalization of the trade in order to tax it were defeated by those who advocated suppression. In 1838, the Emperor sent Lin Zexu to Guangzhou where he quickly arrested Chinese opium dealers and summarily demanded that foreign firms turn over their stocks. When they refused, Lin stopped trade altogether and placed the foreign residents under virtual siege, eventually forcing the merchants to surrender their opium to be destroyed. In response, the British government sent expeditionary forces from India which ravaged the Chinese coast and dictated the terms of settlement. The Treaty of Nanking not only opened the way for further opium trade, but ceded territory including Hong Kong, unilaterally fixed Chinese tariffs at a low rate, granted extraterritorial rights to foreigners in China which were not offered to Chinese abroad, a most favoured nation clause, as well as diplomatic representation. When the court still refused to accept foreign ambassadors and obstructed the trade clauses of the treaties, disputes over the treatment of British merchants in Chinese ports and on the seas led to the Second Opium War and the Treaty of Tientsin. Hero of China, British General Gordon, was presented with an identical example, and he is carrying his, while dress in his Chinese garb, in the picture shown in the gallery. He was known affectionately as "Chinese" or "China" Gordon. Overall very good condition. He later became known as Gordon of Khartoum, as he was assassinated by the Mahdi's warriors at the end of the siege of Khartoum The Qing dynasty, officially the Great Qing, was the Manchu-led last dynasty in the imperial history of China. It was proclaimed in 1636 in Manchuria, in 1644 entered Beijing, extended its rule to cover all of China proper, and then extended the empire into Inner Asia. The dynasty lasted until 1912. The Qing Dynasty fell in 1911, overthrown by a revolution brewing since 1894 when western-educated revolutionary Sun Zhongshan formed the Revive China Society in Hawaii, then Hong Kong. In 1911, the Nationalist Party of China held an uprising in Wuchang, helped by Qing soldiers, and 15 provinces declared their independence from the empire. Within weeks the Qing court agreed to the creation of a republic with its top general, Yuan Shikai, as president. Xuantog abdicated in 1912, with Sun creating a provisional constitution for the new country, which ushered in years of political unrest centered around Yuan. In 1917, there was a brief attempt to reinstate the Qing government, with Xuantog being restored for less than two weeks during a military coup that ultimately failed. The Boxer Rebellion, more properly called the Boxer Uprising, or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement was a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement called the "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" in China, but known as the "Boxers" in English. The main 'Boxer' era occurred between 1898 and 1901. This fascinating era was fairly well described in the Hollywood movie classic ' 55 Days in Peking' Starring Charlton Heston and David Niven. The film gives a little background of Ching Dynasty's humiliating military defeats suffered during the Opium Wars, Sino-French War and Sino-Japanese war or the effect of the Taiping Rebellion in weakening the Ching Qing Dynasty. However, situations in which the various colonial powers exerted influence over China (a great source of outrage that drove many Chinese to violence) are alluded to in the scene in which Sir Arthur Robinson and Major Lewis visit the Empress after the assassination of the German minister. * Dowager Empress - "….the Boxer bandits will be dealt with, but the anger of the Chinese people cannot be quieted so easily. The Germans have seized Kiaochow, the Russians have seized Port Arthur, the French have obtained concessions in Yunnan, Kwan See and Kwantang. In all, 13 of the 18 provinces of China are under foreign control. Foreign warships occupy our harbours, foreign armies occupy our forts, foreign merchants administer our banks, foreign gods disturb the spirit of our ancestors. Is it surprising that our people are aroused?" * Sir Arthur Robinson - "Your Majesty if you permit me to observe, the violence of the Boxers will not redress the grievences of China" * Dowager Empress - "China is a prostrate cow, the powers are not content milking her, but must also butcher her." * Sir Arthur Robinson - "If China is a cow your majesty, she is indeed a marvelous animal. She gives meat as well as milk…." The Dadao was continually used by Chinese Nationalist Army in the 1930's. the Pictures in the gallery of the Boxers 1900 and the combat in the siege.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1,295.00

An Exceptional Giant Sized 1788 Style Hussar Sabre. EL7361 - This is a very mysterious and quite exceptional 18th century hussar/light cavalry sabre, featuring a massive broad 38 inch long blade. The whole sword is of giant proportions. At first sight it could be described as a British 1788 pattern light cavalry sabre, but I strongly suspect that this is an earlier Austrian or Hungarian huzzar sabre, on which the later British 1788 pattern was

Nation : British
Local Price : £1,275.00

QUALITY**NAPOLEONIC PENINSULAR WARS ERA** British Georgian Reddell & Bate 1796 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword With Blued & Gilt Etched Warranted Blade & Scabbard. Sn 22658 -. This is an excellent quality original British 1796 Pattern Infantry Officer’s sword (see page 160 of World Swords by Withers where an example with blued and gilt etched blade is illustrated. In his book withers states that most of these swords are found with missing quillons, & worn blades). Our 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 31” long fullered blade. The blued blade has foliate themed gilt panels on both sides including Grown GR (King George Rex), Heraldic Arms, martial banners, foliate panels ‘Warranted’ banner and maker or retailer banners ‘Reddell & Bate’. All of the etchings are crisp. Its original leather scabbard has brass mounts and 2 original hanging rings. The throat mount has a frog locket. All leather and stitching are intact with just light service wear. The price for this quality Napoleonic piece includes UK delivery. Sn 22658

Nation : British
Local Price : £1,275.00

**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 -. 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

Nation : Spanish
Local Price : £1,750.00

17th Century Spanish Main Gauche Dagger. Origin: Spain, Culture: Spanish, Period: 17th Century. A 17th century Spanish left hand (main gauche) parrying dagger.

Nation : British
Local Price : £1255.00

Superb Crimean War 1853 Issue British Cavalry Sabre, Exactly as Used by The Charge of the Light Brigade, and, The {Less Well Known, Yet Ironically More Successful} Charge of the Heavy Brigade. In Its Stunning Steel Scabbard, With White Buff Hide Knot. A stunning 1853 pattern sabre that superseded the earlier issue 1821 pattern. A beautiful three bar bright steel hilt, with regulation chequered leather grip, held with 5 rivets. A Regulation steel blade with ordnance stamps and ordnance contract maker stamp, Mole. In its regulation pattern, rolled sheet steel, mirror bright plated scabbard. Many Mole blades were used extensively by the British Army, including during the Crimean War (in the Charge of the Light Brigade) this sword has every indication to have been one of them, such as in the 13th Light dragoons This original 1853 pattern trooper's sabre was the replacement of the previous 1821 pattern. This particular sabre was issued, just in time, to a few of the hussar and lancer regiments that departed for service in the Crimean War, but it took around another 10 years or so to be supplied to all the other cavalry regiments in the army, especially if they were in service at the time within the far flung reaches of the empire. We have also acquired, a similarly fabulous, 1821 issue example, from the same collection. However, all our other, fabulous condition British cavalry sabres, that we recently acquired from the Crimean War collection, have now been sold over the past few weeks. Both cavalry charges against the Russian lines happened on the same day in the Crimean War, at Balaklava, on the 25th October 1854, and barely two hours apart. The first charge was at 9.30 am and was the 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade', and it was followed at 11.10 am by the famed 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. This sabre would very likely have been used in either charge as the 1853 pattern was designated for use by both light and heavy cavalry. It bears the same ordnance maker's mark, as an identical pattern issue sword, from the Charge of the Light Brigade, used by a trooper the 13th Light Dragoon's in the charge, that is now in the 13th-18th Royal Hussars and Light Dragoons Regimental Museum {see a photo of that sword in the gallery}. Our sword also bears the line regt. issue ordnance inspectors marks. Following the Battle of the Alma in September 1854, British, French and Ottoman forces had begun to besiege the Russian naval base of Sevastopol. The siege lines, running back to their base at Balaklava harbour, went through two valleys and a ridge, and were vulnerable. Seeking to take advantage of this, the Russians planned to break the British lines and then capture the base. 'The Thin Red Line' The Russian cavalry charged on Balaklava, but their route was blocked by the 93rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. Traditionally, infantry facing a charge would form a square, four lines deep. But the Highlanders took an unconventional approach, making two lines instead. In the face of the oncoming Russian horses, the Highlanders' commander, Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, told his troops: ‘There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand.’ They fired two disciplined volleys at the advancing enemy, which turned the Russians back. 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade' The Heavy Brigade, moving up to support the Highlanders, then intercepted the retreating Russian cavalry. The 800 British horsemen were hugely outnumbered by the 3,000-strong Russian cavalry. But seeing their enemy halted and vulnerable to attack, they charged uphill all the same. Their advance was little faster than a trot and only lasted 10 minutes, but it sent the Russian horsemen into disorder. 'Charge of the Light Brigade' ‘Cavalry to advance rapidly to the front’ To prevent the Russians moving the guns they had captured earlier, Lord Raglan issued an order to the Light Brigade to go and retrieve them. He was still waiting on reinforcements from Sevastopol to arrive, so the light horsemen were the only troops available to him. But the cavalry commanders, who lacked Raglan’s view of the battlefield, were uncertain as to which guns his order referred to. What’s more, all they could see was a Russian artillery battery at the end of a heavily defended valley. In response to their orders, the Light Brigade began their charge, but at the wrong gun batteries. They galloped through Russian artillery fire from three sides and on into the ‘Valley of Death’ suffering heavy losses in the process. Some of the horsemen succeeded in reaching the Russian guns at the end of the valley, and even drove the men operating them into retreat before charging the Russian cavalry beyond. After intense fighting, the remnants of the Light Brigade were forced to retreat from the guns. They made their way back through the ‘Valley of Death’ before reaching safety. Fortunately, their return was ensured by the French cavalry, who cleared the Russians from the north side of the valley. Although the reinforcements from Sevastopol had now deployed and were ready to begin an assault on the heights, no further action was taken. The battle ended in strategic stalemate, with the Russians controlling the heights and the road, but Balaklava still in Allied hands. Unfortunately, Russian possession of the road made supplying the forces besieging Sevastopol during a terrible winter much harder. The loss of the Light Brigade was one of Britain’s most spectacular military disasters. It is remembered because of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s popular poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, written a few weeks after the battle. Years later, Tennyson also wrote ‘The Charge of the Heavy Brigade’ to raise money for Crimean veterans, many of whom were living in poverty. For similar reasons Rudyard Kipling wrote ‘The Last of the Light Brigade’ in 1890 to raise awareness of the hardships faced by veterans. The blade is grey stained. Over two decades ago we were delighted to buy Captain Nolan's undress sabretache that was used to carry the order in the Charge of the Light Brigade, and was recovered from beneath his, and his horses bodies after the battle. It spent most of its life after the charge in two museums, one at the rebuilt and re-sited Crystal Palace in London. We were privileged to buy direct it from the original family owners with the personal assistance of the late Gordon Gardner, Militaria Expert of Sotheby's from 1979. "Robert Mole & Sons" was a prominent British sword manufacturer and contractor active during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Established in Birmingham, England, in 1835 by a descendant of German craftsman Hermann Mohll (later Anglicized to Mole). Government Contractor: The firm was a significant supplier to the British War Office, the Admiralty, and the Government of India, particularly from 1852 to 1919. Produced swords, sword bayonets, lances, and matchets (machetes). They were known for high-quality production, often considered second only to Wilkinson Sword during the Victorian era. Mole blades were used extensively by the British Army and Navy, including during the Crimean War (Charge of the Light Brigade), the Boer War, and World War I. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Robert Mole & Sons produced swords, including cavalry sabers and naval cutlasses, that were imported by the Confederacy. Blades are typically marked "RobT Mole & Sons, Makers, Birmingham" or simply "Mole" on the spine or ricasso. Records of their production were discovered in 1988, detailing contracts from 1852-1920. The company eventually became part of Wilkinson Sword.

Nation : French
Local Price : £1,250.00

French First Empire AN XII.... French Napoleonic period, AN XII model naval officers epee. 33 inch single fullered blade, showing remnants of engraving to the forte and evidence of

Nation : -
Local Price : £1,250.00 GBP

Carved Hilt Transitional Rapier. An 18th century transitional rapier featuring a richly decorated carved hilt. Some of the scenes are valiant while some others appear to be affectionate. The markings on the blade have yet to be researched, but they appear to be of typical Solingen form."