For Sale

The following items are listed by for sale by users of the site and dealers. They are in no way endorsed or guaranteed by www.antiquearmsresearch.com

Add a Classified Item

Type:

Nation:

Keyword(s):

Budget: to

Clicking on the sword will take you through to the relevant classified item or dealer site.

Don't miss out! - Do you want to be kept informed weekly of new aditions? Just join our weekly update list.

You can also receive regular email notifcations when items match your keywords. To recieve them just register or logon at the top right of this page.

Nation : British
Local Price : £2575

Rare Scottish 1798 Pattern Officers’ Basket Hilted sword with Paktong / Nickel Hilt. A rare example of the distinctive basket hilted sword introduced for Scottish Infantry officers in Highland Regiments in 1798. It was replaced by the regulation steel basket hilt 1828 pattern three decades later. The sword type was used throughout the Napoleonic War period. The hilts of these swords were most usually made of gilt copper, bronze or brass. This sword is a rare example in that the hilt is made from a lighter coloured nickel-based alloy. The use of nickel alloy in the production of weapons and tableware was increasing in the early 19th century as a substitute for silver, variously called Tutenag, Paktong, German Silver etc, but is rare in the production of sword hilts at this time, although some made from imported Chinese Paktong are known (for an example see an English Georgian Slot Hilt Hanger of the late 18th century mounted with a Paktong hilt sold by C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd, Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK, lot 119, 1st November, 2017). A further nickel-based hilt of Scottish 1798 pattern that we are aware of is detailed in note 1 below. The basket guard is made of rounded bars and flattened plates in the usual manner with forward loop guards and a swollen wrist guard terminal to the rear quillon. The upper terminals of the guard arms are fixed onto a ring inside which the stem of the mushroom shaped pommel is fitted. The pommel is dome-shaped on top with a protruding integral waisted pommel button. The double-edged gently tapering blade is 32.5 inches (just over 82 cm) long. It is of lenticular section with a short ricasso. A central fuller commences a short distance from the hilt on each side and is 9.5 inches (24 cm) long. The blade is unmarked and probably a German import which is a common occurrence on swords of this type and most usually of Solingen manufacture. The grip is of spirally grooved wood covered with shagreen held in place with thin strands of twisted copper wire now coloured with age. It is mounted with an alloy ferrule at the base of similar colour to the hilt and retains a red woollen fringe at the top plus its leather liner stitched with red cloth on the outside and bound with blue silk ribbon at the hem. The materials used for 1798 pattern hilts were less robust than iron and as a result were susceptible to damage. Many surviving and published examples have bars missing, are out of shape and often with repairs. This sword is a good example. The blade has just small patches of blackened age-related staining in places and the hilt has kept its shape without damage or repairs. Note 1: For other examples of the 1798 type see: Harvey J S Withers, “The Scottish Sword 1600-1945”, Paladin Press, 2009, particularly page 144 for a 1798 Pattern described as: “An unusual piece. The basket appears to be manufactured from a combination of white metal and brass (mixed together)”. The pommel, blade ricasso, grip shape and binding, plus the basal ferrule, liner and fringe, are more than coincidentally similar to our sword, indicating that both may have been made in the same batch by the same maker.

Nation : Chinese
Local Price : £2575

Click and use the code >24355 to search for this item on the dealer website Ancient Chinese Warrior´s Bronze Sword, Around 2,300 to 2,800 Years Old, From the Zhou Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, Including the Period of the Great Military Doctrine ´The Art of War´ by General Sun-Tzu

Nation : British
Local Price : £2550

English Silver Hilted Small Sword with London Hallmarks for 1726 / 1727 likely by Thomas Bass and made for the American market. A fine early 18th century English silver hilted small sword mounted with a double shell guard. The hilt is of the early plain form that arrived in the late 17th century and is the precursor to the period when the quality of small sword design and decorative appearance blossomed and reached its hiatus in London from the 1730’s onwards. An interesting feature of the hilt is the two outwardly concave bars which link the pas d'ane rings to the knuckle bow and rear quillon presumably to strengthen the structure in an attractive manner. The ring terminals also protrude upwards. These features are unusual on English silver hilted small swords but appear on one of the swords featured in Leslie Southwick’s “London Silver-hilted Swords”, Royal Armouries, 2001, page 279, plate 29. This sword is in the Royal Armouries Collection, Ref IX.2241. It is by the maker George Willcocks and hallmarked for 1720 / 1721. The hilt is almost identical to our sword even down to the minor details such as the shape of the pommel button and the grip ferrules. The maker's mark is also shown in the same place on the pommel button. Whilst the subtle features described above are unusual in English made swords they are not unusual in 18th century American small swords. Daniel D Hartzler in “American Silver-Hilted, Revolutionary and Early Federal Swords”, 2015, Volume 1, illustrates a number of swords with these features made by 18th century American silversmiths such as Edward Winslow (pages 222, 223), William Little (pages 249 to 251) of Massachusetts and working in the early 18th century contemporary with the maker of our sword. Hartzler describes the hilt features highlighted above as the “American manner of construction” (page 222). Our sword was presumably therefore made in the American manner most likely for an American gentleman by one of a number of London silversmiths that catered for this demand. Most American silver hilted small swords at this time, like our sword, are rather plain double shell guard types as can also be seen in Hartzler. The hilt of our sword is almost certainly by Thomas Bass. Three hallmarks marks are present on the knuckle bow and two on the pommel button. The knucklebow marks are the lion passant and the crowned leopard's head assay mark plus the date stamp for 1726 / 1727. The pommel button has a worn lion passant on one side and the maker's mark on the other which is also worn and indistinctly stamped onto this awkward surface. Thomas Bass's Sterling mark was registered in 1720 (Grimwade 2685) and consisted of his initials “T B” in raised relief inside a shield with a pellet between, and below, and a crown above. The mark on the sword pommel clearly shows the “T” plus the pellet to its right and the spine of the letter “B” to its right. Due to the tight curve of the small button most of the right hand part of the stamp is missing. A feature of the lives of London silver hilted sword makers of the 18th century was that talent in working with silver was not necessarily a guarantee of commercial success. To succeed they also needed business acumen. Some silversmiths were very successful and became wealthy men. However, the records show that many talented silversmiths, evidenced by the quality of their surviving works, lived a sparse existence and sometimes ended their lives in penury. Thomas Bass seems to have been one such unfortunate case. Thomas is recorded from 1701 to 1760 as a silver hilt maker and sword cutler. He was indentured to the profession by the cutler Joseph Reason for seven years and sworn “free” of the Cutlers' Company on 15th April 1708, after which he is recorded as working in Fetter Lane in the City of London where he remained for the next 50 years and registered his first mark. He indentured his one known apprentice, Isaac Stewart, in 1712, and registered his second (Sterling) mark in 1720. On 5th October 1721 the Court of Assistants of the Cutlers' Company excused Thomas from taking livery due to his “mean” circumstances. A year later he was excused again: “Thomas Bass being sumon'd did not appear but several Members knowing him to be poor the Court doth think fit to excuse him till he is in better Circumstances”. It seems that Thomas struggled with poverty all his life and spent his last years in a workhouse to be buried at St Andrew's Church, Holborn, on 22nd February 1760. The above reference work borrows from Leslie Southwick 2001. The hollow ground, triangular section blade displays a pronounced taper at the forte and is in fine condition with a grey uncleaned patina. Engraved scroll designs have been applied near to the hilt in panels on both sides. The widest shows a hatted figure surrounded by foliage. Minor speckles and patches of age staining are present in places. The blade length is 30.5 inches (77.5 cm) and the overall length of the sword is just over 37 inches (just over 94 cm).

Nation : British
Local Price : 3495.00 USD

Very Fine & Very Elegant Queen Anne British Silver Hilted Small Sword!. Here is a rare example of an early 18th century British silver hilted small sword from the Queen Anne Period and bearing the Queen’s Royal Initials on the blade! (a great rarity) This very fine example is one of the most detailed and beautifully designed examples that you will ever see. A true museum piece! This sword would have belonged to a staunch supporter of the Crown, either a high ranking military officer, a wealthy aristocrat or possibly a relation of the Royal Family. It is in exceptional original condition with only a few inconsequential dings and light wear as might be expected from a 300 year old sword. See photos. It has never been dismantled or re-peened and retains its original twisted silver and copper grip wraps along with its original Turk’s Head ferrules. It has 2 sets of silversmith’s touch marks: one on the counter-guards and one on the knuckle-bow (some wear) that indicate it was made 1709 – 1710 (letter date O), along with the Britannia figure, a lion’s head erased and the silversmith’s mark “WI” inside a heart which may be the mark of Charles Williams registered in 1697. (at that time it was common for silversmiths to use the first 2 initials of their sir-name) Its blade is in nearly new condition and still retains much of its original sheen. It is deeply stamped, in “olde” English style, “AR” for Anna Regina ("Anne the Queen" in Latin). The sword must have spent at least a few hundred years in its scabbard (now lost) to have survived in such fine condition. The stout, very strong blade retains its original length and never has been altered or shortened. It is about 26.5” long. The hilt is magnificent. Starting from the top down: Round pommel, with octagonal faceting, with a central belt. It sits on a double stepped neck and is topped off by a 3 tier mantle with tang button; all integrally designed. The knuckle bow nicely designed with an elongated inset diamond design, both sides and topped off by a graceful flirt. The grip beautifully wound with double strands of twisted silver wire and copper wire creating a chevron effect. All wire completely intact. Both original silver braided Turk’s head ferrules completely intact. The quillon block is exceptional. It gently flares from round to hexagonal and sits above a multi beaded base. The base plate is multi faceted in a flaring octagram design! A similar design is found on the underside of the counterguards. The elegantly detailed quillon even has a "nightcap" and terminates with a nipple! The graceful pas d'ane both branch out into 2 sections, flaring out above and below the kidney shaped counter-guards. The counter-guards both employ the same inset diamond shapes, atop and below, as does the knuckle-bow. A small graceful loop design joins the counter-guards on each end. The guard even retains its original leather washer! (sheath pad) The stout, “hollow ground” tri-foil blade measures about 1” at ricasso and is deeply stamped with Queen Anne’s Royal Initials. (very rare) Overall this sword is an exceptional example of the Queen Anne Period silversmith’s art! Through the years we have seen a few other examples of this silversmith’s small swords and they are nowhere near the exceptional design and quality of our sword. Although they were beautiful, they were of the common simpler design usually employed on swords of this period. Our sword has to be the finest example of a silver-hilted sword that this silversmith produced! Obviously made for someone very special. A similar sword, but not as nice, is illustrated in Aylward's book The Small sword in England #35. Another similar, but again not as nice, is pictured in The Rapier and Small-Sword by Norman, plate 114 and is in the Victoria and Albert Museum and still another similar example (again not as nice as ours) is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York. If you want to own the epitome of a Queen Anne silver hilted sword this is it! Price is firm. Thanks for looking!

Nation : German
Local Price : 3495.00 USD

Massive 16th Century Germanic Cutlass / Short Sword!. Here is a super rare circa 1575 - 1600 battle sword. Probably custom made for a landsknecht warrior. Made for a very large person with a giant shell guard and a very wide (just over 2 ¼”) blade. This type of shell guard hilt often used on cutlasses and Sinclair type sabers of the late 16th - early 17th centuries. However this type blade is sometimes found with a blunt tip on katzbaldgers of the 1520 – 1550 period. Entire sword is in as found, lightly cleaned condition and its massive blade is an amazing display of early hand forged metal, Damascus type lamination throughout! The original wood grip is still intact but with some losses and decay (no restorations). Wonderful cross and orb brass inlay on blade! Blade is about 24 3/4" long. About the same length as an early katzbaldger! Extreme rarity! You will never see another like this! Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Be sure to check out our other listings for more rare and important swords! Our direct email address is: [email protected]

Nation : British
Local Price : 3495.00 USD

Ex Rare 18th Century British Dragoon Basket Hilt Sword!. Here is a very rare C 1740 British heavy cavalry sword of exceptional weight! It is actually a full basket version of the so called “Irish Hilt” ¾ hilt dragoon saber. According to Cyrill Mazansky this full basket pattern does not exist. See “British Basket Hilted Swords” page 229. BUT, according to George Neumann “Swords and Blades of the American Revolution” page 150, it does! Sword is in fantastic “untouched condition” with original fish skin ferrules and braided wire Turk’s head ferrules. The basket is beautifully forged and the lap forging can be prominently seen on the inside of the basket, see photos. Both basket and blade have a wonderful gentle age patina with no pitting. Blade is about 36 1/4" long. Basket is very hefty and heavy. NO KNOWN PUBLISHED EXAMPLES! RARE!!! Price is firm. Thanks for looking. Be sure to check out our other listings for more great swords, arms and armor! Our direct email address is: [email protected]

Nation : Russian
Local Price : £2,500.00

Spanish Cup Hilt Rapier, Late 17th Century.. A Spanish Cup Hilt Rapier, Late 17th Century. With slender tapering blade of ovoidal section with central fuller on each face of the forte and stamped with blade smiths marks (rubbed) iron hilt comprising plain cup with turned rim, with engraved foliate disk inside the bowl, long slender quillons with turned button terminals, knuckle guard en suite and with turned central moulding, compressed globular pommel, wire bound grip with two Turks heads.

Nation : British
Local Price : $2495.00

Rare English Silver-Hilted Smallsword, ca. 1680. Silver hilt cast and chased with fruit between borders of petals, including knuckle-guard, rear quillon (expertly repaired), globular pommel with button, and single side ring enclosing a plate pierced and engraved with flowering foliage. Knuckle guard with monster head hooked into the pommel and stamped with maker's mark “FW”. The grip bound with alternating single strand and twisted silver wire and finished with Turks’ heads top and bottom. Unmarked single-edged 27 3/4″ blade with triangular spine and broad full-length single fuller. Blade bright, with scattered light pitting and tiny edge nicks. Quillon repair visible only on reverse face. Overall length 33″.