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Customer commentswelcome to antique militaria!
I have been a military antiques dealer (based at Grays Antique Market in London's West End until Christmas 2008) for over 40 years: antique swords, weapons, guns, uniforms, helmets, equipment, medals, belt buckles, bayonets and almost all other items of general militaria. British, German, European and worldwide items... I have provided all kinds of arms and armour and military collectibles to both private customers, trade and museum clientelle all around the world!
featured antique military items
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Cut steel Tula smallsword with Toledo blade - Russian
This is a copy of a Woodstock hilt. The blade is marked Tomas on one side and Aiala on the other. He was a famous Toledo swordsmith of the 17th century. There is a similar example to this sword in the Metropolitan Museum of New York City, with butterfly shells. In all other respects, the hilt is virtually identical, as are the scabbard mounts.
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Commemorative snuff box, paktong & horn - French
This snuff box (7.5cm diameter) commemorates the surrender of the Garde Francaise at Versailles and their subsequent delivery from prison in the ferment of the October Days (of the French Revolution). This was the point where Lafayette marched to Versailles in command of the Paris National Guard and other troops to prevent counter-revolution.
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Heavy cavalry sabre, 1822 model - French
This replaced the line model of 1816 - a superb weapon, with better balance than its predecessor and a lightly curved blade, taken directly from the pattern of the Grenadier a Cheval of the First Empire. This sword was manufactured by the famous Coulaux family of Klingenthal in Alsace, and is marked as such on the back of the blade.
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Infantry hanger, 1751 pattern - British
This hanger, marked 'T[homas].CRAVEN' at the forte alongside a Tower of London 'view' mark, was in all probability a surplus item which the Board of Ordnance sold off in the late 18th century to government contractors (eg Craven, a Birmingham sword and bayonet-making firm in business from c 1798 to 1820).
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Rifle Regiment Warrant Officer's sword, 1885 pattern - British
This is one of the rarest infantry swords of the late 19th century, being essentially designed as a combat weapon, with a very robust cavalry style scabbard with fixed rings. The line regiments had the same sword with a gilt hilt, Rifle regiments having an iron one, both carrying the VR cypher and crown. This example was made by Robert Mole.
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Iron mace head - British
Excavated from a drain in York (UK) some 50 years ago, this fine piece is three inches high and appears to be of cast, or possibly wrought, iron construction. It may well be a captured Islamic piece brought back from the Crusades or purchased through trade with the East - rather than British. The design is clearly of Persian origin.
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a little history on my antiques interest
I have been a collector of military antiques since the age of 12, starting with bayonets and moving gradually on to swords, finally entering the broader military antique dealing arena in about 1970. At that stage, I rapidly started to learn about antique English pistols and revolvers.
In about 1980, I broadened my dealing coverage from mainstream militaria to include English campaign medals. The arrival of powerful auction houses in this field drove me back to my original interest in general militaria (swords, bayonets, dirks, guns, pistols, etc).
However, I still maintain a lively interest in all military objects, especially the rare and exotic, eg Imperial Russian and Austrian.
Throughout my dealing career, I have built up my personal collection of antique military prints and drawings and a substantial selection of early military photographs up to 1945, principally German and English. To aid both my dealing and collecting, I have a huge library covering all military aspects of antiques going back to the Middle Ages, and many aspects of antiques in general, especially early English silver.
