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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 45 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 clientele all around the world!
featured antique military items
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1st model Lutwaffe sword by E & F Horster, Solingen - German
This is a good example of a first pattern sword, which could only be worn by officers and senior NCOs. It has the early nickel silver mounts throughout, together with most of the original EPNS finish. It was worn without a portepee on a lightweight baldric under the uniform jacket. The second pattern sword, with aluminium mounts, followed in 1938.)
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Foot Guards gorget, 1816 pattern - British
Regarding the regiment, the Grenadiers had a very specific gorget with multiple pierce work on both wings, the Scots Guards normally had '3rd Guards' engraved on both sides at the tips, therefore, by elimination, this is almost certainly a Coldstream Guards example. The Dighton watercolours of the period appear to confirm this.
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SS Pioneer officer's cap, 1938 model - German
This cap would have been worn by a Pioneer officer in the Waffen SS in the early years of WW2. The Pioneers were responsible for bridge-building, flame-thrower team, etc. This has 1940 pattern Bevo SS other ranks insignia and the lining is stamped 'Maria Damm 57' (the 57 indicates size).
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NSKK dirk, RZM marked M7/68 - German
This is the SA dirk 1933 pattern, modified with a black finish to the scabbard by order of Korpsfuhrer Huhnlein in 1936. The RZM code stands for the firm Lauterjung & Co of Solingen. The top chape is engraved '15/24547', representing the Standarte number and the owner's personal NSKK number.
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US dragoon officer's sword, 1831 model - American
This is one of the rarest of the post-1812 War cavalry swords. The Federal army was microscopic at this time, perhaps only 30,000 strong, the numbers only gearing up for the Mexican War of 1848. The design is a direct copy of the British light cavalry sabre of the same era.
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KS98 issue bayonet with DOA markings - German
This rare bayonet was issued to the German troops in German East Africa and is marked DOA on the cross guard. Only some 11,000 men of these troops at one point kept 50,000 British and Indian men at bay. Von Lettow Vorbeck surrendered six weeks after the armistice on the Western Front and, by his own account, could have gone on fighting for ever.
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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.
