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Nation : Burmese
Local Price : £595.00

Burmese Dha 19th Century. Burmese Dha 19th Century solid fighting blade single edged for the first 7 inches and then double for the remaining length 15.25 inches. The grip is cord wrap and complete with silver fitting. The scabbard polished wood which shows shadows of where decoration has been removed, over all length 29.75 inches

Nation : Unknown
Local Price : £595.00

A Beautiful and Original Antique Mandingo Chieftain's Slave and Gold Trader Sword With Tattoo'd Leather Scabbard. In superb condition for age, with amazing traditional leather work, wonderfully cared for. Traditional antique African tribal weaponry are incredibly sought after today, especially as unique pieces of interior decoration to display their beauty and historical appeal A chieftain's weapon of Mandingo slave and gold traders. The Manding (Mandingo) are West African people. Their traditional sword for the slave traders comprises a sabre like blade, guardless leather grip and scabbard with exquisite leather work. This example is a long sized example, of a high ranking Mandingo, of very nice quality and finely tattooed. inches long curved blade, leather grip and leather scabbard with leaf shaped widening tip, entirely tooled tattooed and decorated. Of special interest is the finely bound and decorated leather work. These weapons are well known for their leather-work and the tattooing applied to the leather of the scabbards. The iron work skills are typical of the region and period. Many blades are taken from European weapons such as sabres and cutlasses. While the Baule are a distinct tribal group to the west, it is important to observe that Malinke is a variant term applied to the Mandingo (also Manding, Mandin, Mande). In general, these remain primarily considered Mandingo weapons, and from regions in Mali. These were of course invariably mounted with European sabre blades. Mandingo Tribe (also known as the Mandinka, Mande, or the Malinke Tribes) were the traders of the African West Coast, trading primarily in gold and slaves from other African tribes. 30 inches long overall in scabbard, blade 23 inches long

Nation : French
Local Price : £595.00

French First Empire Marine Dirk. French First Empire period marine dirk. A single fullered, curve blade with gilt brass hilt showing an anchor to the cross-guard and two serpent quillons,

Nation : French
Local Price : £595.00

French Resturation Naval Officer’s Dirk. French Resturation period naval officer's dirk. A fine example having a fluted mother of pearl grip, brass cross-guard featuring two dolphins with anchor

Nation : British
Local Price : £825.00

British 1892 Pattern Household Cavalry Trooper's Sword, Unusual Variant. Slightly curved, single fullered blade with spear point, basket guard with pierced foliate ‘honeysuckle’ decoration incorporating the cypher ‘HC’, buff leather hilt liner and washer, brass wire-bound shagreen grip, smooth steel backstrap and integral smooth oval pommel. Buff leather sword knot. Steel scabbard with two hanging rings and fixed side loop to the upper band. Blade 32 inches in length (81.3cm), the sword 37¾ inches (95.9cm) overall. The blade is unmarked. The outside of the hilt is stamped with two broad arrows point to point, a mark that was put on War Department equipment that was declared obsolete or to be sold off. The inside of the hilt is stamped near the quillon (under the hilt liner) with ‘1 . 08’ above ‘4 / 01’ above ‘T’ above ‘209’. The first two are most likely issue dates of January 1908 and April 1901, indicating periods this sword was in service. The last number is most likely a serial or rack number. The ‘T’ marking is interesting – see below. Since their inception the regiments of Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards which collectively made up the Household Cavalry carried different swords than the regiments of the regular cavalry. This stemmed from their unique status as bodyguards to the Sovereign, which placed them beyond the effective control of the Army bureaucracy for most of their existence. Until 1882 they designed, ordered and carried swords on their own initiative, not necessarily producing better weapons but enhancing their prestige and elite status. The 1892 Pattern sword for the Household Cavalry was adopted after much discussion of the shortcomings of its predecessor the 1888 Pattern. An intense debate had been ongoing throughout the 1880s of the optimal form for a cavalry sword, which had already resulted in three new models of sword for the regular cavalry in just ten years. It was eventually decided to simply adopt the blade of the then-current 1890 Pattern cavalry trooper’s sword, paired with essentially the same distinctive Household Cavalry hilt, which had not been particularly criticised. Ironically after all the talk of blade handling and sturdiness, the 1892 Pattern saw no combat. After 1908 the regiments of the Household Cavalry would carry the new 1908 Pattern while in the field, while the 1892 Pattern was retained (in the slightly modified Mk II form introduced in 1902) for parade use only. This was done on the direct request of King Edward VII, who found the 1908 pattern “hideous”. The use of the 1892 Pattern as their parade sword continues to this day. This example appears to have been modified from a standard 1892 Pattern – its blade has been reduced in length by 2½ inches from the standard and has also been significantly reduced in breadth by grinding back the edge and the false edge, leaving the fuller roughly central in a blade 2.8cm wide at the shoulder, which rapidly narrows to 2cm along most of the blade’s length (2.7 on an unmodified example), with a much slenderer point as a result. It has even been reduced in thickness – the original is 8mm thick along most of its length while this example is 6mm. The removal of material has made the fullers shallower and appears to have removed any previous markings from the blade. Conversion to this extent would have required the sword to be dismantled, and this is shown in its repeened pommel with atypical flat tang button. The changes to the blade allow it to fit into its atypical bespoke scabbard, which is along the lines of the steel parade scabbards used for all infantry officer’s swords since 1866, but modified with a fixed loop on the top band alongside the two hanging rings, which matches the Household Cavalry’s hanging configuration. The complex blade conversion has been very well done, and reminds me of very similar conversions done in the early 1900s to make sergeant’s swords, which also slimmed down 1890 Pattern Cavalry blades in order to fit them into scabbards like those of infantry officers. The parallels are interesting and may suggest some kind of deliberate reuse of old stock across the Army. I can find no reference to an official sword in this configuration, however so why was this sword made? The most logical reason to convert the 1892 Pattern to resemble the infantry sword would be to make it more readily wearable on foot. I think there is a strong possibility therefore that this example is an attempt to create a variant for trumpeters and other bandsmen of the regiments. These men had significantly more dismounted duties than the others, making a shorter sword more practical. At least one example exists of the 1820 Pattern sword for the Life Guards, which is usually more than 37½ inches in the blade and sometimes as much as 38¾, having been shortened to 33 inches, which is thought to have been for these musicians (see p185, The British Cavalry Sword by Dellar). The 1882 Pattern was the first to officially acknowledge this need with two distinct versions of the sword manufactured, one with a 34¾ inch blade for trumpeters and bandsmen, and one with a 38 7/8 inch blade for all other troopers. Notably the short model also had a variant scabbard with two hanging rings, just as this sword does. Officially the scheme of long & short versions was then dropped again in the 1888 Pattern, with a 37½ inch model for all troopers. I doubt that the practical need for a shorter version went away in those few short years, however. Perhaps in practice the bandsmen either used the old short 1882s for their foot duties or, as time passed, produced their own up-to-date short versions by conversion. Might that be the significance of the ‘T’ marking on this example – that it is intended for the regimental Trumpeters? See attached reference of a painting by notable military artist Richard Simkin depicting a trumpeter of the Royal Horse Guards on foot with sword as of 1912. The blade is bright with a high polish overall and only tiny areas of frosting or patination. There is no damage to its edge, which has been sharpened. The hilt including backstrap and pommel is likewise bright and clean. The knot and washer have some small areas of staining, the liner is clean. The buff leather pieces are so good that they may be later replacements, but this is difficult to judge. The wire binding of the grip is all intact and there are no losses or visible handling wear to the shagreen. The scabbard has some light patination and polishing marks.

Nation : British
Local Price : £585.00

British 1845 Pattern Naval Cutlass (1887 Conversion). Slightly curved, unfullered spear pointed blade, steel bowl hilt with cut down side edges and sword knot slit near the pommel, the outside of the hilt inset with a diamond-shaped brass plaque secured by two brass rivets through the steel. Cast iron ribbed grip, steel teardrop shaped pommel cap. Black leather scabbard with steel throat and chape pieces, the throat piece with teardrop frog stud. Blade just under 26½ inches in length, 1½ inches broad at the shoulder, 7mm wide at the shoulder, the cutlass 32 inches overall. The blade is stamped on one side at the forte with a broad arrow and ‘WD’, indicating War Department property, as well as a crown inspection stamp with ‘E’, indicating the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and on the other side with ‘C’ over ‘/87’, indicating that it underwent conversion in the year 1887, a reissue stamp /93 for 1893, and a crown stamp with ‘BR’ indicating that the cutlass underwent repair at Birmingham. The spine of the blade is stamped with a faint BR Birmingham Repair stamp and also with the letter ‘B’. The ricasso of the blade is stamped with a crown inspection stamp with ‘E’. Given that the cutlass underwent conversion (which would have taken place at Enfield) it is possible some markings were removed and replaced in the process. The outside of the hilt is stamped with ‘N’ indicating Royal Navy ownership. The brass plaque on the outside of the guard is stamped with ‘13’, which would be a rack number. The leather of the scabbard is stamped on one side next to the seam with another broad arrow and ‘WD’, another ‘N’, two more crown inspections stamps for Enfield and the manufacture date ’97. The throat piece is stamped beside the mouth with ‘97’, which has been cancelled with a strikethrough, and ‘1’. Experiments during the early 1840s for a new naval cutlass design to replace the venerable 1804 Pattern resulted in a design by George Lovell, the Inspector of Small Arms, being accepted in 1842. A fire at the Tower of London destroyed early stocks and the design did not enter service in bulk until three years later, hence being termed the 1845 Pattern. It was considered very successful, handling well compared to its bulky predecessor the 1804 Pattern and being simpler to manufacture. Like many successful designs the 1845 was tinkered with in attempts to improve it further. First a version sometimes referred to as the ‘Type B’, was introduced in 1859, which had a modified guard and a blade much like the original but only 27 inches in length. Then in the 1870s the blade was judged to be the wrong shape and attempts to modify the original stocks began (Type Bs in 1871 and Type As in 1875). Converting the numerous old cutlasses in store was substantially cheaper than ordering new ones. Many 1845s therefore had their curved 29½ or 27-inch blades altered by reforging to be straight and 25½ inches in length. This process was botched, however, by a lack of proper heat treatment after the reforging, leading to blade failures in combat, the deaths of British sailors, a public outcry and a military procurement scandal when the scale of the problem became apparent in the 1880s. In the wake of these problems, it was ordered in September 1887 for all remaining 29-inch cutlasses to have their blades reduced to 27 inches – this time there was no attempt to straighten the blade and it was simply ground down, which eliminated the reforging issue. This cutlass is one of these conversions, although its blade has been reduced another half inch further, possibly to repoint it during a repair. Judging from the shape of its grip, the downturned edge of its hilt and the presence of a strengthening piece, this was originally a Type B. This would be the last chapter of the 1845 Pattern, as a new pattern of cutlass was finally introduced in 1889, which had a straight blade and incorporated new features like a full-width tang that could not have been added by conversion. With the size of the Royal Navy the 1845 probably had a few further years of service while the new type was being introduced. This example has been modified by cutting down the inner and outer edges of the guard in straight lines, turning it from a disc shape into more of a rectangle. This was perhaps done to prevent it rubbing against the wearer’s uniform when worn, and brings it roughly in line with the shape of the 1889 Pattern and 1900 Pattern cutlasses’ hilts. The exposed edges are patinated to the same extent as, for instance, the inside of the hilt, so it is not a recent modification. The cutlass is solid with no movement to any parts, its blade rings when struck. The blade has some small nicks to its edge, which is unsharpened, its tip is intact. Its faces are bright with old polishing marks, a few spots of frosting, track marks from rubbing against the scabbard retaining spring while sheathing and drawing, some light scratching in places and some small streaks of heavy patination near the edge towards the tip. The hilt, grip and pommel all have varying amounts of their original black lacquer ‘japanning’ – the inside of the hilt retains quite a lot, as do the recesses of the grip while the outside of the hilt only has fragments remaining. Where the japanning has worn the steel is darkly patinated on the inside of the hilt the grip and the pommel, while on the outside of the hilt it is brighter with some scratching and patches of dark patination. The brass plaque has a moderate patina with some spots of light staining. The steel scabbard fittings are free of dents and darkly patinated with light rust spotting to the chape piece. The leather of the scabbard has some light dents and surface rubbing but remains strong and flexible. The cutlass will sheath and draw fully, the retaining spring holds the blade quite tightly so take care to hold the throat piece. The chape piece has a few dents which do not interfere with sheathing and drawing.

Nation : British
Local Price : £585.00

British P1856 Victorian Drummer MK 1 by Mole. British P1856 Victorian Drummer MK 1 Sword by Mole in good condition, regulation solid cast hilt, double edged blade and complete with black leather scabbard with matching mounts. The hilt with regimental markings and inspection stamps and the blade maker marked Mole and further inspection stamps

Nation : British
Local Price : £585.00

British Victorian P1856 Drummer MK 1 by Mole. British Victorian P1856 Drummer MK 1 Sword by Mole in good condition, regulation solid cast hilt, double edged blade and complete with black leather scabbard with matching mounts. The hilt with regimental markings and inspection stamps and the blade maker marked Mole and further inspection stamps