Militaria
With a network of specialists covering all fields of militaria we are able to maximise potential return on medals, badges, bladed weapons, firearms and associated collectables from all wars, periods and nations with a particular interest in historical diaries, photographs, paintings and ephemera.
A .450 cal Whitworth percussion muzzle loading rifle, circa 1862-63,
33" hexagonal bore barrel, marked “Whitworth Patent”, 2 band with bayonet bar to front band, ladder sight marked to 1200yds. Lock marked with "The Whitworth Company Limited" and with Whitworth crest. Dark patina metalwork, original woodwork with some minor dings, Complete with safety chain, swivels and ram-rod. No military markings. #D366. ALR
Realised: $3,100
A good Indian mail and lamellar shirt, 17thC, probably Bijapur, Karnataka state, India,
of large riveted iron rings open at the front and extending to cover the upper leg, the back with single vent and formed around three rows of narrow vertically overlapping iron plates, the central row with cusped lower edges, the sides incorporating pairs of iron plates, the front with two pairs of overlapping square convex iron plates each with two shaped bars with buckles for straps, and full length sleeves. Note: This shirt is almost certainly part of the large group captured in 1689 following the defeat of Adilshahi dynasty at the siege of Adoni by Maharajah Anup Singh and subsequently installed in the armoury at Bikaner, Rajasthan. (from Christies catalogue lot essay https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5356449 ) Provenance: The estate of Richard Rice. A noted and life-long Gisborne collector. Purchased Christies, South Kensington London 30 Sep 2010, Sale 5477 Lot 24, GBP1875 (NZ$3990)
Realised: $2,400
A 17thC Indian mail shirt and head covering with plume.
The shirt formed of slender iron rings extending to below the knees and to wrists, with a series of plates and to front larger plates with fastening buckles, the head mail similar with large black ostrich plume to top. Provenance: Christies, South Kensington London, 9 Oct 2009, Lot 220
Realised: $2,100
A 19thC Persian kulah khud helmet, with nasal bar,
the steel skull embossed with a demon face with gold highlights and chiseled overall with foliage inhabited by wild animals and cartouches containing courtly figures, the base with a border of calligraphy; surmounted by demons horns, a square section spike and twin plume holders. With 'vandyke' camail of steel and brass butted links. The nasal bar incorrectly fitted Provenance: purchased Philips Auctions, London, 2000, £1250.
Realised: $2,000
A rare 16thC Indian Moghul chain mail coat with integral iron plates front and rear,
constructed from individually riveted links that are graduated in size, being thicker and larger at the shoulders and chest, ranging down in size to the arms and skirt. Four large iron plates on front with fastening devices (still intact); approximately 104 smaller plates across the back, extending down to the waist. These overlap like a crayfish tail. . Vendor's notes record: Coat of Armour made for Lion Maharaja Lord Shratoon Shijajee, North India, 16th Cent. Wht 28 lbs. Provenance: Private purchase: 1995, Napier
Realised: $2,000
A 19thC Prussian M1811 'Blucher' sabre,
from the early to mid-19th century. Based on the British 1796 light cavalry sabre. With heavy 33" (825mm) blade, marked ‘221/Crown/JW’ to the blade back, the hilt with fluted wooden grip with steel stirrup guard and riveted back strap with langets. With steel scabbard. Numerous armoury stamps to crossguard front and leading face as well as scabbard throat. Such swords were often reissued numerous times to different units. VGC.
Realised: $2,000
c.1850 J. Cooper's patent 6 shot pepperbox pistol,
under hammer action with ring trigger, fine foliate decoration, engraved maker's name. Walnut grips. L.195mm. No license required.
Realised: $2,000
A fine set of Persian Char-aina plate body armour,
of five plates with borders of calligraphy, silver and gold embossed, figures with foliage, horsemen with bows and arrows. Provenance: The estate of Richard Rice; a noted and life-long Gisborne collector. Purchased London 2006.
Realised: $1,800
A fine muzzle loading percussion double barrel rifle/shotgun, cased, with two sets of barrels, by Franz Leutheuser, Graz, Austria, c.1860.
23¾" .38 bore damascus-barrels with flat top ridge marked 'Leutheuser in Gratz', with hinged leaf sight. 30½" 16 bore damascus-barrels with flat top ridge marked 'Leutheuser in Gratz'. Fine walnut stock , with tang mounted diopter sight. Baize lined teak case with accessories including a powder flask. Provenance: The estate of Richard Rice. A noted and life-long Gisborne collector. No license required.
Realised: $1,800
A mid-19thC .50 cal smoothbore muzzle loading percussion rifle with spare 20 bore shotgun barrel, by Clayton of Lymington. In baize lined fitted oak case with accessories.
With figured walnut half-stock, with sling eye, steel butt-plate and trigger-guard with acanthus and pineapple finials and a large bow with a rear finger-spur, a vacant white-metal escutcheon at the grip, signed "Clayton' to action, replaced horn tipped forend. The .50 cal octagonal damascus barrel, signed "Clayton Lymington", with rear elevator sight, steel ram rod. The 20 bore 29½" octagonal to round damascus barrel, signed with wooden ram rod. Bearing original label for ‘Edward Whistle, Gun and Pistol Repository’. NLR Footnote: Alfred Clayton is recorded at Lymington, Hampshire, between 1843 and 1855. In December 1850 he registered a design for an improved tube for Col. Hawker's ignition. Between 17 January 1838 and 12 January 1850 numerous references to him appear in Colonel Peter Hawker's Diary
Realised: $1,750