classicarmsmilitaria20140405.pdf

Classic Arms Classic Arms Classic Arms &Militaria

The specialist journal for the military historian, private collector and classic shooter

NEWS ■ RESEARCH ■ EVENTS ■ AUCTIONS ■ BOOKS ■ REVIEWS

Volume XXI Issue 2 April/May 2014UK £3.95 Published every two monthswww.classic-arms-and-militaria.com

GROUP PUBLICATIONS PLC

DISPLAY UNTIL 30 MAY 2014

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■ HIGHLAND SWORDSMANSHIP ■ M/41B PRICKSKYTTEGEVÄR■ HAND GRENADES ■ MILITARIA FROM PAST CENTURIES ■ PERSIAN NEZAM ARMY ■ THE GUNMAKERS OF OXFORD

The Battle of DenainWar of the Spanish succession - a collectors view

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WWW.ROCKISLANDAUCTION.COMThe World Leader for Quality

Collectable and Antique FirearmsThe World Leader for Quality

®

7819 42nd Street West, Rock Island, IL 61201 ∙ PHONE: 001-309-797-1500 ∙ FAX: 001-309-797-1655 EMAIL: [email protected] ∙ Fully Licensed Class III Auctioneer

Magnum

H&H Magnum

MM Magnum

.375

300

7

Magnificent Documented Deluxe, Special Order, Factory Presentation Engraved Winchester Model 1894 Takedown Rifle

with Factory Letter, Factory Inscribed “James W Byrnes Saint Louis”

Historic Engraved Johann Springer Bolt Action Rifle for Kaiser Wilhelm II

Engraved Pair of Scottish Playfair German Silver Stocked

Flintlock Pistols


Flintlock Pistols


Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Barrel Damascus Flintlock Shotgun

Spectacular Exhibition Deep Relief Chisel Engraved and Gold Inlaid H. Faure Le Page Paris

Damascus Double Barrel 16 Gauge Under Lever Hammer Shotgun with Gold and Pearl Inlaid Stock

Exceptional Extremely Rare Remington Walker-Hepburn Schuetzen Single Shot Target Rifle

Fine John Moll Golden Age Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle with Detailed Engraved Patchbox

Exceptional Ehler’s Fifth Model Paterson Belt Model Revolver with Factory Case and Accessories

Rare Gold and Nickel Plated Thuer Conversion Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver

Factory Engraved Nickel and Gold Plated Merwin Hulbert & Co. Large Frame Pocket Army Double Action Revolver with Ivory Grips

Exceptional Merwin Hulbert

Large Frame Double Action Revolver

Historic Fully Documented W.R.A. Co. Inscribed Winchester Factory Cartridge Test Model Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Stock Once Part of the Winchester Museum

Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double

of the Winchester Museumof the Winchester Museum

Historic Engraved Johann Springer Bolt Action Rifle for Kaiser Wilhelm II

Fine John Moll Golden Age Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle with Detailed Engraved Patchbox

Magnificent Documented Deluxe, Special Order, Factory Magnificent Documented Deluxe, Special Order, Factory

Spectacular Exhibition Deep Relief Chisel Engraved and Gold Inlaid H. Faure Le Page Paris Relief Chisel Engraved and Gold Inlaid H. Faure Le Page Paris

Damascus Double Barrel 16 Gauge Under Lever Hammer Damascus Double Barrel 16 Gauge Under Lever Hammer Shotgun with Gold and Pearl Inlaid StockShotgun with Gold and Pearl Inlaid Stock

Rare Gold and Nickel Plated Thuer Conversion Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver

Exceptional Ehler’s Fifth Model Paterson

Hulbert & Co. Large Frame Pocket Army Double Action Revolver with Ivory Grips

Historic Fully Documented W.R.A. Co. Inscribed Winchester Factory Cartridge Test Model Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Stock Once Part

Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Extraordinary Engraved Gold Inlaid John Dickson & Son Double Barrel Damascus Flintlock ShotgunBarrel Damascus Flintlock Shotgun

Historic Fully Documented W.R.A. Co. Inscribed Winchester Factory Cartridge Test Model Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Stock Once Part

Factory Engraved Nickel and Gold Plated Merwin

Exceptional Merwin Hulbert

Large Frame Double Action Revolver

Factory Engraved Nickel and Gold Plated Merwin Hulbert & Co. Large Frame Hulbert & Co. Large Frame Pocket Army Double Action

Factory Engraved Nickel and Gold Plated Merwin

Rock Island Auction Company is proud, pleased, and excited to begin our 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction campaign with a breathtaking

and diverse offering of rare, high condition, historic, and investment quality firearms. On May 2nd, 3rd and 4th collectors

and investment buyers will be thrilled to see the exceptional quality, unrivaled diversity, and most important the FRESH,

historic, and high condition items in this sale; highlights of which include the lavish and impressive “Holland Triplets” - they are

three consecutively serial numbered Holland & Holland double rifles in .375 Magnum, 300 H&H Magnum, and 7 MM Magnum.

Another spectacular arm is the exotic, beautiful, and equally historic Rothschild Family presentation John Dickson & Sons three barrel side by side 16 gauge shotgun. Winchesters are

wondrously represented in this sale! Not only with deluxe, factory engraved, lever action rifles, but with the most comprehensive and

breathtaking collection of Winchester 1890 rifles ever assembled and an iconic and comprehensive collection of Winchester

1866 carbines. Colt collectors will be captivated by the rare and magnificent Colts such as an Exceptional Ehler’s 5th Model Belt

Model Paterson with case and accessories. Last and certainly not least, Rock Island Auction Company is proud to host Part I of the world renowned Von Norden Collection of German World War II

firearms. With immense collections such as these, and scores of exciting individual consignments, 2014 is going to be a year to

remember as RIAC continues to add to its...

Decade of Success.

ROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION 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COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANYROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANY

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THTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTH 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

Presents A

PREMIERE FIREARMS AUCTION®

3 Day Live Public AuctionOver 2600 Lots

FULL-COLOR CATALOG NOW ONLINE!

To Order Your Full-Color 3-Volume Set Catalog Call 001-309-797-1500 ($75 Inc. S&H)

Don’t PAY to send YOUR items to auction, unlike some auction houses, RIAC has NO hidden fees, NO buy-in fees and NO insurance fees! Consign one gun or an entire collection, to the #1 Firearms Auction House in the World! We are also prepared to buy outright and/or can sell through private treaty.

Contact Patrick Hogan, Kevin Hogan or our Acquisitions Department Today by calling 001-309-797-1500 or Email: [email protected]

THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN BUY!

RIAC IS ALWAYS ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS!

The lavish and impressive “Holland Triplets.” Consecutively serial numbered Holland & Holland double rifles in .375 Magnum,

300 H&H Magnum, and 7 MM Magnum.

All 3 with cases

Fine John Moll Golden Age Pennsylvania Flintlock

wondrously represented in this sale! Not only with deluxe, factory engraved, lever action rifles, but with the most comprehensive and

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3www.classic-arms-and-militaria.com

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Welcome to the April/May issue of Classic Arms and Militaria. Graham Priests “Bayonet Bytes” takes a look at The Battle of Denain from the Spanish War of Succession as

featured on this months front cover. Graham explains the passion behind his hobby for collecting artefacts he describes as “windows on the past”, and how he considers the people who designed, built and owned a particular object; it is a fascinating read.

Our digital version of Classic Arms and Militaria, is proving really popular, particularly with our overseas readers and subscribers. At £2.99 it will save you 33% on a years subscription, and you get it before it appears on the bookstalls. Look out for our digital offer on page 24.

Jayne Thorpe Production Editor

WELCOME

LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF Classic Arms & Militaria ON SALE 30 May

p46

CONTENTS

ASK THE EXPERT 4Bill Harriman a professional member of the Forensic Science Society and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, answers your questions

CARTRIDGE BOX 7By Bill Harriman

ALLEN & WHEELOCK CARTRIDGE REVOLVERS 9By George Prescott

MAUSER RIFLES 14Part III Herr Paul’s � rst smokeless powder ri� e, by Paul Scarlata

BAYONET BYTES NO.8 19Graham Priest continues his series on bayonet history and collecting

M/41B PRICKSKYTTEGEVÄR 26By Guy and Leonard A-R-West FHBSA

THE GUNMAKERS OF OXFORD PART 2 32By John Evans and Brian Godwin

COLLECTING HAND GRENADES 39BY Bill Harriman

THE PERSIAN (IRAN) NEZAM ARMY 42By Dr. Chris Flaherty

HIGHLAND SWORDSMANSHIP 46By Duncan Noble

MORE MILITARIA FROM PAST CENTURIES 52by Brett Hammond

BOOK REVIEWS 56The Classic Arms panel of experts guides you through a range of new literature

AUCTION REPORTS 59A selection of results of the past months’ auctions and upcoming events

EVENTS CALENDAR 61What’s ahead for the arms and militaria enthusiast in the forthcoming months

p34

CONTENTS

HIGHLAND SWORDSMANSHIP 46By Duncan Noble

MORE MILITARIA FROM PAST CENTURIES 52by Brett Hammond

BOOK REVIEWS 56The Classic Arms panel of experts guides you through a range of new literature

AUCTION REPORTS 59

03 Welcome contents.indd 3 13/03/2014 14:37

ASK THE EXPERT

4 www.classic-arms-and-militaria.com

Bill Harriman is a professional member of the Forensic Science Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, thus, a nationally recognized � rearm expert. He uses his professions as a writer and broadcaster/specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow to communicate his passion for weapons and their use in history to a larger audience. He has a personal collection of over 150 military ri� es and their accessories dating from the 1830s to the First World War.

Bill is a practicing � rearms forensic examiner and technical adviser to the Association of Chief Police Of� cers.

If you have any questions you would like answering please email [email protected], or write to the address on page 62.

Q&AQDear Classic Arms

I always enjoy Bill Harriman’s contributions to

Classic Arms (as well as The Antiques Roadshow), and he clearly knows a lot about � rearms’ law.

But I’m confused by a comment he makes in the December/January issue. He says ’In my opinion any gun made in 1898 is an antique � rearm irrespective of what cartridge it is chambered for.’ If by this he means that such a gun should be treated by the law as an antique, I quite agree. But if he means any late 19th-century gun is a Section 58 antique irrespective of what cartridge it is chambered for, this is surely wrong, as many guns from the period accept readily available modern ammunition – a Lee-Metford .303 ri� e, for example, or a Smith & Wesson .22 revolver – and therefore at best require an FAC, or at worst are completely prohibited, possession carrying a mandatory � ve-year prison sentence.

Someone � nding an old gun in their grandfather’s attic, say, and taking Bill’s advice literally, could � nd themselves in big trouble.

Paul Williams

AI’m glad that Mr Williams enjoys my articles in CAAM. It’s always heartening to see

one’s work recognised. I’m very happy to expand upon my remarks.

In UK law there is no definition of what constitutes an ‘antique

firearm’ for the purposes of Section 58(2) of the Firearms Act 1968. The final arbiter in law is a court in the event of any prosecution. That is the only mechanism whereby a de� nitive ruling on a � rearm’s status can be obtained. Consequently, the Home Of� ce has issued guidance to the police to provide a working framework of what might ‘of� cially’ be considered to be an antique. This is arti� cial and politically inspired being based on the free availability of those � rearms which are not deemed either to be attractive to criminals or which pose no tangible threat to public safety. The underlying principle is whether ammunition is ‘commercially available’i.e. can you go into Bloggs’ Gunshop and buy it off the shelf?

To my mind that principle is neither legally nor intellectually sustainable. In my opinion, a .45 Colt SAA revolver made in 1885 is an antique by virtue of its age and its technical obsolescence. By the same token it would be ludicrous to say that an 1885 Benz car was not an antique motor car because it is powered by petroleum spirit, available from all good � lling stations. In law, the test of whether something is antique is its age and possibly its technical obsolescence.

The Home Of� ce guidance may be a useful starting point for de� ning antiques but it has no legal status. Some years ago, The Recorder of Cardiff, HH Judge Cooke, described it as ‘an unauthoritative’ statement of the law which was plainly inadmissible, i.e. it could not be used in court.

It would be disingenuous of me to condemn the Home Of� ce guidance. out of hand as it contains some useful material. Section 2.40 contains a

list of criteria which may be used to determine if a � rearm is an antique. They are:• An indication of date of manufacture• Details of technical obsolescence• A lack of commercial availability of suitable ammunition or• A written opinion by an accredited expert.

More importantly, the guidance con� rms that in the event of a prosecution, it is up to the Crown to prove that the gun is not an antique. That is a very heavy burden of proof and it is always dif� cult to prove a negative. I would hope that no right-minded expert with an eye on his personal credibility would give evidence that an old gun was not an antique.

To sum up, therefore, I would say that Paul Williams’ notional .303 Lee Metford ri� e is an antique � rearm by virtue of its age and its technical obsolescence. That is my opinion as an expert. I hope it carries weight with the courts. The Guidance should certainly be changed to classify it as an antique.

My advice to anyone who wants to go outside of the guidance is to get an opinion from an accredited expert and then speak to the local � rearms licensing manager.

QI have a 7.62mm Soviet Russian Mosin Nagant carbine with

a folding bayonet under its barrel. The Scottish Police say that I am not allowed to use it on a range because of this. Are they right?

(Name and address supplied)

AIt is an offence under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to have any pointed or bladed

article in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. As you hold this carbine on the authority of a Firearm Certi� cate you have lawful authority to possess it in a public place because its bayonet is an integral part of it.

In any case you would certainly have reasonable excuse for transporting it from your home to a range because that is explicitly allowed by condition 4(b) on your certi� cate which refers to ‘transit’.

A range is not ‘a public place’ for the purposes of the Firearms Act 1968, so no offence is committed . There is no reason why you should not � re your carbine with the bayonet � xed or un� xed because that is how the gun was originally designed. There is no reason why you should not possess any other bayonet for a ri� e that you own. In any case, many militaria enthusiasts collect bayonets in their own right.

To my mind any military ri� e ought to be accompanied by its cleaning kit, ammo pouch(es), bayonet etc to form a micro collection around it. It seems to me that at � rst blush, the Scottish Police are being over-zealous.

ASK THE EXPERT

4 Expert.indd 4 13/03/2014 10:02

WANTED... ANTIQUE ARMS ARMOUR AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS

ANDREW BOTTOMLEYANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR

TELEPHONE: 01484 685234MOBILE: 07770 398270

Email: [email protected]

We have been dealing in antique weapons for 45 years and we have a long list of clients who wish to buy any interesting weaponry. Please phone or email to discuss any object you might be thinking of selling. Discretion assured. All transactions treated in strict confi dence.

We are currently looking to purchase the following specifi c items for clients...• Guns/pistols made in Maastricht • Spanish swept-hilt Rapiers • Dutch fl intlock pistols and Dutch wheel-lock rifl es • Bronze cannon barrels • Any fl intlock or percussion pistols made in Berlin or Dusseldorf • German pistols and rifl es made by Tanner, Stormer, Krause, Mantz, Drechsler • Weapons marked E.I.G. or E.I.C • All cased pistols, especially cased duelling pistols • French military weapons • German percussion rifl es • Matching European breast plate and back plates • Cased pair of fl intlock & percussion pistols • Knife pistols marked “Unwin and Rodgers” Sheffi eld • Silver mounted Persian daggers • Any “Kerrs patent” revolvers, cased or uncased • All revolvers in .577 calibre • Any fi ne quality Indian, Turkish or Russian weapons • English marked revolvers by Le-Mat • Any Miquelet or Snaphaunce pistols • All multi-shot pistols • All Chinese weapons especially swords from the Boxer rebellion • Any combination weapons especially sword-pistols • Early Scots dirks• Scottish basket hilted swords • Double barrelled fl intlock sporting guns by Joseph Egg, John Manton • “Webley Longspur” revolvers• All miniature arms • Any profusely decorated weapons especially pistols inlaid with Gold or silver • 451 calibre rifl es made by The Whitworth Rifl e Company • Brown- Bess musket with a 46 inch barrel • Jade handled weapons • Native American items including

any quill work or beadwork items ie. head-dress, knife scabbards, quivers, shields, moccasins • Scottish all steel flintlock pistols• All Danish and Norwegian weapons • Any unusual African swords, daggers & artefacts • Mail-Coach blunderbuss • British military Flintlock Padgets carbines • South Sea wooden clubs, weapons and objects • Japanese matchlock rifl es swords and pistols • Any Swiss weapons • Helmets and armour • All bowie knives especially knives made by Joseph Rodgers • Baker fl intlock rifl e with bayonet • World War souvenirs • Spanish Ripoll belt pistols • Naval swords especially with Silver hilts • British 1796 pattern Heavy cavalry sabre (disc hilt) • North American Indian trade weapons, peace pipes, tomahawks • 18th century engraved powder horns engraved with maps • 1805 pattern naval boarding cutlasses • Any Albanian, Greek, Turkish weapons especially with silver mounts • All Napoleonic period weapons • Any unusual Naval weapons especially if named to offi cers • Ottoman/ Persian steel recurved bows • Turkish Quivers • Any genuine Roman or Greek weapon, armour, etc. • Good quality English sporting guns especially guns made by William, Charles and Samuel Smith • Revolvers made by Colt and Remington either percussion system or Rimfi re.

FOR SALE...A SELECTION OF OUR ORIGINAL ANTIQUE WEAPONS

18th century Double Barrelled Tap Action Flintlock Pistol, Brass frame, made

by Twigg, circa 1780-1810. Ref 6546

£1250.00

A scarce English transitional 6 shot percussion revolver with a very unusual folding bayonet. Circa 1840. Ref 7325

£1600.00

A Very Rare Large calibre Percussion single barrel knife-pistol complete with Leather scabbard and steel belt hook.

Circa 1840 - 1850. Ref 7361

£2300.00

A Fine Pair of Silver Mounted Turkish Flintlock Pistols,

circa 1800. Ref 6492

£3650.00

An interesting American antique percussion single shot “Bootleg”

pistol circa 1840. Ref 6884.

English Flintlock pocket pistol made by “Perry”, circa 1780-1790. Good condition

and action in working order. Ref 7254

Silver mounted Flintlock short Blunderbuss circa 1800.

Ref 6504

£750.00£590.00

American Colt no. 3 Antique Derringer pistol in .41 rimfi re. Manufactured Circa

1875. No Licence required. Ref 6825

£680.00£390.00

See our website: www.andrewbottomley.com



In 1878 Lt Edward Wilson Very of the US Navy was granted British Patent 2365 of the 14 June for his invention of airborne signal � ares � red from

a special pistol. Rather than having coloured � ares or lights held by hand, Very used the force of gunpowder to project them into the air where they could be seen from much greater distances. Henceforth, these � rearms and their cartridges became known as Very pistols and Very lights respectively.

Britain did not of� cially adopt the Very pistol cartridge until April 1887 when the list of Changes recorded it. The Mk1 signal cartridge was a 1“ Boxer type case made from rolled brass sheet lined with paper which protruded from the case mouth. This extension was sealed with a card wad and painted either red, white or green to delineate the colour of the � are. At the other end, the head was milled to provide tactile identi� cation in the dark. Red � ares had their case rims completely milled; white � ares were half milled and green ones left smooth. This means for identifying the colour of the � are seems to have become universal.

The Mk II, introduced is 1893, had an extra cardboard top wad. In 1897, the Mk III with a drawn case was used but the Mk II rolled case continued to be used. Initially, the Very cartridge was for naval use only and it was not until 1905 that it was approved for land service.

The expediencies of World War I saw a paper-cased version with a copper head introduced in 1915. These were essentially adapted from 4 bore wild fowling gun cartridge cases and were only intended as temporary measure. They survived well past the end of World War II. The introduction of the 1½“ pistol in April 1915 necessitated a larger cartridge, based in the leviathan 2 bore shotgun cartridge case. The Royal Navy used 1 inch cartridges loaded with black silk streamers.

During World War I, the American Expeditionary Force was mainly supplied with arms and equipment by

the French. In 1918 General Pershing ordered that henceforth the AEF would adopt the French signalling system for its pyrotechnics. This meant that the American 10 bore signal pistol had to be changed for a 25mm version. The 10 bore and its ammunition were relegated to training use only. The Americans used some 16 different Very cartridges, several with multiple star or light loads.

After World War I, many nations adopted Very cartridges with drawn brass cases. They are nominally known as 26.5mm or, in German, Kaliber 4. It is not uncommon to encounter 26.5mm Kynoch Ltd 1927 head stamped signal pistol cases without � ash holes or sometimes with an inert percussion cap inserted to block off the primer cavity. The story behind these unusual items is that the factory wanted to export some propellant for cannon and met with a large amount of bureaucracy over its carriage. When it discovered that powder loaded into blank ammunition was not covered, it simply � lled the signal pistol cases with the powder, called them blanks and exported them without further ado.

The Germans used drawn aluminium cases for their signal pistol ammunition � red from the LP34, LP38, LP42 pistol plus the myriad of others used by the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine. The original watertight Bakelite containers for these cartridges are highly collectable, especially when their labels survive. Many loads, especially those for parachute � ares, used extended length cases.

After World War II, signal pistols declined in military importance, largely because of improved radio communications. Post-war ammunition is either aluminium cased or paper cased like a shotgun cartridge. Some modern signal cartridges have solid drawn plastic cases made in the colours of the � ares they project.

Proof rounds for signal cartridges exist. They are loaded with the equivalent weight of � ne lead shot to simulate the pressures generated when the pyrotechnic � are is � red.

Obviously, the last thing that the proof authorities want is burning � ares ricocheting around their � ring chambers so lead shot is used instead.

Today the trend is away from signal pistols towards individual personal � are kits of the Mini� are type. These are easy to carry and disposable after use. Equally distress � ares for yachting/maritime uses tend to be launched from projectors and are often used in conjunction with coloured smoke.

Signal cartridges have also been produced for use in 12 bore shotguns. Brocks loaded Wildfowler Distress Flares in Eley Kynoch cartridge cases. Nike signal cartridges were available in red, green and white as were Zink signal � are cartridges from Germany. The internet offers signal cartridges for the .44 Magnum revolver.

Within the UK’s jurisdiction, a signal pistol cartridge is classi� ed as Section 1 ammunition for the purpose of the Firearms Acts and needs the authority of a Firearm certi� cate to own it lawfully. Any established collector of ammunition should not encounter any problems having his Firearm Certi� cate varied to include signal pistol cartridges.

Signal pistol cartridges need to be stored with some thought as to how they might be speedily removed in the event of a � re. Most have black powder charges which will cook off in cases of extreme heat, ejecting their burning pyrotechnic contents.

Signal pistol cartridges offer an interesting � eld of study in their own right as well as complementing any collection of military � rearms. The signal pistol has been in constant use for over 135 years, making it one of the longest lived � rearms in military history.

CARTRIDGE BOX

Caption Assorted cartridges for signal pistols and � are cartridges for shotguns.

Bill Harriman’s

7 Catridge Box.indd 7 13/03/2014 10:02

Historic Firearms and Early MilitariaLive Salesroom Auction April 30 - May 1, 2014 10:00 am EST

cowans.comContactJack Lewisfi [email protected] x2276270 Este Ave.Cincinnati, Ohio 45232

Bid Bid in person, by phone, absentee or live online.

CataloguesCatalogue is available online and in print. To request a printed catalogue e-mail CLASSICARMS414 to [email protected]

Cased John Rigby & Co. Double Rifl e

ConsignConsign now for the next Historic Firearms and Early Militaria Auction



The purchase of Rollin White’s American Patent for a bored-through cylinder by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson was

arguably one of the most in� uential events affecting American revolver development during the latter half of the 19th century. Probably equal in its in� uence to Colt’s protection of his revolving cylinder patent, White’s patent may conceivably have generated even more litigation than the Colonel himself was responsible for. It certainly resulted in a delay in the development of American rim-� re and centre-� re revolvers which saw English gun manufacturers providing such weapons to their civilian market almost 10 years before most of their American competitors, with the exception of Smith & Wesson and their licensees. William Tranter, for example, was manufacturing a robust, breech-loading centre-� re revolver in 1863, while Colt and Remington did not begin selling even their converted percussion weapons until as late as 1872, a direct result of Rollin White’s eagerness to sue Smith & Wesson’s competitors for patent infringement (Remington did make a New Model Army conversion from about 1868, but the company paid White a royalty

CARTRIDGE REVOLVERS

Allen & Wheelock

By George Prescott

for each revolver and weapons made under this license were stamped PATENTED APR’ 3d 1855, clearly showing that they were subject to White’s original patent.)

Even the US government became involved in the furore. Although both Houses of Congress passed the Bill White placed before them in 1869, asking for an extension to his patent, President Ulysses Grant refused to allow its passage, on the recommendation of his Chief of Ordnance, Alexander Dyer. Dyer’s objection was that White’s action in retaining his patent during the American Civil War had served as ‘an inconvenience and embarrassment’ to Union forces resulting in the ‘inability of manufacturers to use this patent’. Dyer knew what he was talking about, having been in charge of the Federal Armoury at Spring� eld, Massachusetts, from 1861 to 1864, so he probably had personal experience of the inconvenience White’s refusal to co-operate caused � rearms manufacturers in those years.

THE PATENT DEALSmith and Wesson bought Rollin White’s patent rights in 1857. Their agreement, however, did not just cover the payment to White of a small royalty for each gun produced (a � gure of 25 cents for each gun is claimed). It also obliged him to take legal action, at his own expense, in any case of patent infringement, and it was this clause in the contract which resulted in White’s

� nancial ruin, when he found himself effectively forced to � ght Smith & Wesson’s patent battles for them. In the Bill which White placed before the US Congress when trying to extend his patent, he claimed to have received only $71,000 for the rights to his invention, most of which he had spent in lawyer’s fees on behalf of Smith & Wesson, while he claimed the company had made over a million dollars from his idea.

Quite unprepared for White’s readiness to begin litigation, a small group of gun manufacturers, which included Ethan Allen, had earlier ignored his patent and produced revolvers of their own with breech-loading cylinders. This group included companies such as the Bacon Manufacturing Co. and the Manhattan Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, although it was Allen who seems to have made the real pro� ts out of his infringement of White’s patent.

ALLEN & WHEELOCK CARTRIDGE REVOLVERSAllen & Wheelock began manufacturing their � rst cartridge revolver, chambered in .22 calibre rim-� re, in 1858, and it was not until � ve years later, in 1863, that White’s � rst deposition against Allen and the others for patent infringement was heard before the Massachusetts District Circuit Court. Despite the court � nding in White’s favour, these Allen & Wheelock rim-� re revolvers only bear stamps signifying that they were made under Allen’s patents, although presumably Allen and his numerous partners paid royalties to White until his patent expired in

ABOVE: .32 calibre Allan & Wheelock rim-� re revolver, with ivory butt plates. Unlike some contemporary manufacturers, Allen & Wheelock’s .32 calibre rim� re revolver was not a copy of Smith & Wesson’s Model No 2. (Courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fair� eld, Maine.)

LEFT: Detail from cylinder of Allen & Wheelock .32 rim-

� re revolver, showing roller engraving of woodland scene. Engraving is faint but still discernible, a condition quite

commonly encountered in

these arms. (Courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fair� eld, Maine.)

9 Prescott.indd 9 13/03/2014 10:03

ALLEN & WHEELOCK CARTRIDGE REVOLVERS


1867. They were certainly still being made in 1871 and perhaps even later than that, because some examples bear the stamp of Forehand and Wadsworth, Allen’s sons-in-law, who assumed control of the business after Allen’s death in that year.

Lip-� re revolver production began after the � rst appearance of the rim-� re revolvers, contemporary with Allen & Wheelock’s percussion centre-hammer Models, and it is usually suggested that production was discontinued after White’s successful prosecution of his patent infringement suit. If that is the case, it is at least curious that Allen should have continued his production of the small calibre rim-� re pistols, presumably paying White royalties for the privilege, but did not come to the same arrangement for the lip-� re revolvers, which, being larger calibre, would have presumably been a better product for the military men involved then in the war between the states. There might conceivably have been another reason for the halt in production, perhaps because the specialised cartridge was proving dif� cult or overly expensive to supply to customers. This does seem quite possible, especially considering that many owners must have been military men. The lip-� re cartridge was not standard issue for either side during the Civil War and was also probably not easy to obtain through normal retail outlets during that period.

FRAME AND SERIAL NUMBERSIn common with the percussion revolvers, Allen & Wheelock cartridge pistols have die-stamped frame numbers, which are usually considered to be batch numbers, rather than unique serial numbers.

ALLEN & WHEELOCK RIM-FIRE REVOLVERS CASE EJECTORSThese revolvers were apparently loaded by removing the cylinder, inserting the required number of cartridges (probably � ve, since no safety bolt is � tted) and then re-assembling the weapon. It has proved dif� cult to obtain a clear opinion about how a stuck case was ejected, since no device speci� cally designed for this purpose was � tted. The consensus amongst the several experts consulted is that a stuck case was removed by using the cylinder arbor, which must have been removed from the revolver when carrying out this procedure.

SIDE-HAMMER RIM-FIRE POCKET REVOLVER (.32 CALIBRE)Production: Total production estimated at approximately 1,000, from 1859 to 1862.

Solid frame, single-action revolvers, .32 calibre, with spur triggers and octagonal barrels, between 3 and 5 inches in length. Cylinders are un� uted, with six chambers and may be decorated, although many authentic examples were plain. Cylinder arbors enter the forward, breech section of the frame and are secured by a screw which passed through the bottom of the frame and bears on the arbor. Frames are usually of iron, although there was also a brass-framed variation. All metal parts are blued and the two-piece butt plates are most frequently walnut.

Barrels are usually marked, on the left side:

ALLEN & WHEELOCK, WORCESTER, MASS.U.S.

ALLEN’S PT’S SEPT. 7, NOV. 9. 1858.

Most examples made after 1860 were also stamped on the breech in the following form:

JULY 3, 1860 Collectors recognise a number of variations of these revolvers, differentiated mainly by slight changes in butt and cylinder arbor conformation and the presence or otherwise of the JULY 3 1860 breech stamp.

Later examples of what collectors term the ‘Third’ Model have barrel addresses stamped:

ETHAN ALLEN & COALLEN’S PT’S SEPT. 7,

NOV. 9. 1858.This was the company name Allen used after Thomas Wheelock died in 1864, so these revolvers were all made after 1865.ValueNRA ‘Good’ – $300-$700 NRA ‘Fine’ – $750-$1,000

SIDE-HAMMER RIM-FIRE POCKET REVOLVER (.22 CALIBRE)Production: Total production approximately 1,500, from 1859 to 1862.

Solid frame, single-action .22 calibre revolvers with spur triggers and octagonal barrels between 2¼ and 4 inches in length, although examples are known in which barrels are round after the breech section. Cylinders are un� uted, with seven chambers and usually decorated with Allen & Wheelock’s characteristic, roll-engraved scenes. Cylinder arbors in most Models enter the forward, breech section and are secured by a screw through the bottom of the frame, although there is a scarce type, known to collectors as the ‘Third Issue’, in which the

ABOVE: Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolver and a contemporary cartridge box. This revolver was a good design and much copied by American and European makers, including Webley & Sons, who made them under license. Incidentally, these cartridge boxes sometimes fetch more at auction than the revolvers!(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

BELOW: Magni� ed view of cylinder, showing recesses for lip � re cartridges. The cartridges were similar in operation to a rim-� re round, except the priming material was localised in a protrusion from the base of the case. (Courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fair� eld, Maine.)

9 Prescott.indd 10 13/03/2014 10:03


arbor enters the rear of the frame. Frames are predominantly of iron, although, in common with the .32 calibre arm, there was also a brass-framed variation. All metal parts are blued and the two-piece butt plates are walnut, although the use of ivory and other materials is recorded.




Several variations of this address are also recorded, taking the following forms:

ALLEN & WHEELOCK, WORCESTER, MASS.U.S.ALLEN’S PAT’S SEPT. 7,

NOV. 9. 1858. and

ALLEN & WHEELOCK, WORCESTER, MS.U.S.ALLEN’S PAT’S SEPT. 7,

NOV. 9. 1858. Most examples made after 1860 were also stamped on the breech:

JULY 3, 1860Collectors recognise a number of variations of these revolvers, differentiated mainly by slight changes in butt, cylinder arbor and rearsight conformation and the presence or otherwise of the ‘JULY 3 1860’ breech stamp.

Later examples, especially what collectors term the ‘Seventh’ and ‘Eighth’ issues, may have barrel addresses stamped:

ETHAN ALLEN & CO.ALLEN’S PT’S SEPT. 7,

NOV. 9. 1858.although variations to the patent

information on the lower line probably occur.

‘Ethan Allen & Co.’ was the company name Allen used after Thomas Wheelock died in 1864, so these revolvers, in common with

(in common with the case ejectors on most of these ‘gate-loading’ arms), rather than into the chamber lowest in the frame, as it does in Allen & Wheelock’s percussion centre-hammer revolver.

SIDE-HAMMER LIP-FIRE POCKET REVOLVER ( AKA 1ST MODEL LIP-FIRE REVOLVER)Production: Production begun sometime between 1860 and 1863, estimated in the low hundreds, but clear evidence is not currently available. Batch numbers often present.

Single-action, solid-framed, side-hammer revolver, with a spur trigger, in .32 calibre. Barrels octagonal and found in 4, 5 or 6 inch lengths. Cylinders have six chambers, with notches in the rear, outer wall of each chamber to accommodate the protrusion on the rim of the cartridge which accounts for its name. Cartridge ejector and loading gate are not � tted, so ejection, if it should have proved necessary, was probably effected by using the cylinder arbor. Finish is blue overall, although not usually well preserved and butt plates are two-piece, most frequently in walnut.




Several other variations of this address are also recorded, taking the following forms:


NOV. 9. 1858. and


NOV. 9. 1858. Later examples have barrel addresses stamped in the following form:

TOP: One form of the barrel address found stamped on Allen & Wheelock’s cartridge revolvers. (Courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fair� eld, Maine.)

ABOVE: Case ejector from an Allen & Wheeelock lip-� re revolver. A modi� cation of the loading lever � tted to the percussion centre-� re revolvers, the head of the ejector was driven into the cylinder by a rack and pinion system.(Courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fair� eld, Maine.)

LEFT: .22 calibre short rim-� re cartridge. Originally developed in 1857 for the Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolver, with an

original loading of 4 grains (260mgs) of black powder and a 29 or 30 grain bullet.

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

the larger, .32 calibre weapons, will all have been made some time after 1865. Eighth issue revolvers, the only Allen & Wheelock rim-� re revolvers made with a ‘bird’s -head’ butt, were also produced by Forehand and Wadsworth, placing their date of manufacture even later, sometime after 1871. ValueNRA ‘Good’ – $300-$700 NRA ‘Fine’ – $ 750-$1,000

ALLEN & WHEELOCK LIP-FIRE REVOLVERSTHE CASE EJECTORLip-� re revolvers are loaded in the conventional manner for a gate-loading arm, in that the cartridges are inserted into the cylinder via a depression in the recoil shield, which is covered by the gate when loading is � nished. There is a slight complication when loading a lip-� re cartridge in that the lip of the cartridge must be positioned in the slot provided in the outer rim of the cylinder, in order that the hammer may strike it. The case ejector � tted to these revolvers is a modi� cation of the loading lever � tted to the original percussion revolvers, although the two types are thought to have been produced in parallel and the lip-� re was certainly not a conversion from percussion, as has been previously supposed. It differs from its muzzle-loading contemporary, in that, what was the rammer head is now operated by a rack and pinion mechanism which moves it into the chamber in front of the loading gate,

9 Prescott.indd 11 13/03/2014 10:04

ALLEN & WHEELOCK CARTRIDGE REVOLVERS


ETHAN ALLEN & COALLEN’S PT’S SEPT. 7,

NOV. 9. 1858. Barrel addresses may also be found which include ‘ JULY, 3, 1860’ at the end of the second line. ValueNRA ‘Good’ – $400 NRA ‘Fine’ – $1,200

CENTRE-HAMMER LIP-FIRE POCKET REVOLVER (AKA 4TH MODEL LIP-FIRE) Production: Made between 1861 and 1863, total production estimated in the very low hundreds, but clear evidence is not currently available. Batch numbers often present.

Single-action, solid-framed, centre-hammer revolver, with a spur trigger, in .25 calibre. Barrels octagonal, only found in 3 inch variation. Cylinder has seven chambers, with usual notches in the rear, outer wall of each chamber and is removed from frame for loading, so both loading gate and characteristic trigger-guard case ejector are absent with the cylinder arbor probably used for ejection. Finish is blue overall, although frequently not well preserved and butt plates are two-piece, usually in walnut.

Weapons are unmarked on any component.ValueVery rare but this is not re� ected in auction values;NRA ‘Good’ – $400 NRA ‘Fine’ – $1,000

CENTRE-HAMMER LIP-FIRE NAVY REVOLVER (3RD MODEL LIP-FIRE)Production: Production begun sometime between 1860 and 1863, estimated in the low hundreds, but clear evidence is not currently available, although their frequency at auction indicates that more weapons were produced than previously estimated. Batch numbers often present.

Single-action, solid-framed, centre-hammer revolver, with conventional trigger guard, in .36 calibre. Barrels octagonal and found in 4, 5, 6, 7½ and 8 inch lengths. Cylinders are plain with six chambers and the usual notches in the rear, outer wall of each chamber. Allen & Wheelock’s characteristic trigger guard is � tted along with a loading gate, hinged at the

BibliographyNorm Flayderman, Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms ... and their values,Krause Publications, Iola, Wisc., (several editions).Paul Henry, Ethan Allen and Allen & Wheelock: Their Guns and Their Legacy, Andrew Mowbray IncR. Bruce McDowell, A Study of Colt Conversion and Other Percussion Revolvers, Krause Publications, Iola, Wisc.

WebsiteCartridge corner.www.cartridge-corner.com

bottom. Finish is blue overall, with case-hardened hammer and trigger guard, although this is frequently not well preserved. Butt plates are two-piece, most often in walnut.

Barrels are usually stamped, on the left side:



Several other variations of this address are also recorded, taking the following forms:


NOV. 9. 1858. and


NOV. 9. 1858.ValueNRA ‘Good’ – $1,200 NRA ‘Fine’ – $2,000These weapons are sometimes found converted to use .38 calibre rim-� re cartridges. No factory conversions are currently recorded, so values for such guns will depend upon the quality of conversion, which was all carried out by individual private gunsmiths.

CENTRE-HAMMER LIP-FIRE ARMY NAVY REVOLVER (2ND MODEL LIP-FIRE)Production: Production begun sometime between 1860 and 1863, estimated in the very low hundreds, but, as with the smaller calibre Navy Model, clear evidence is not currently available. Army Model revolvers do, however, appear less frequently for sale than the Navy. Frame numbers are often present, although these are now thought to represent batch numbers rather than unique serial numbers.

Single-action, solid-framed, centre-hammer revolver, in .44 calibre. Barrels are octagonal at breech, then round to muzzle and only found as the 7½ inch variation. Cylinders are plain with six chambers and the

usual notches in the rear, outer wall of each chamber. Allen & Wheelock’s characteristic trigger guard is � tted along with a loading gate, which is hinged at the top in the Early Model and the bottom in the later variation. Finish is blue overall, with case-hardened hammer and trigger guard, although, as is usual with all Allen & Wheelock revolvers, this is frequently not well preserved. Butt plates are two piece, most often in walnut. They occur as two variations, the most commonly encountered ‘narrow’ grip and a much rarer, ‘� ared’ variation which is expanded in the lower portion of the butt to give it a bell shape. Barrel addresses show the same variation as the Navy Model.ValueEarly Model (loading gate hinged at top)Narrow grip: NRA ‘Good’ – $850-$1,000 NRA ‘Fine’ – $2,500-$3,000Flared grip:NRA ‘Good’ – $1,000-$1,200 NRA ‘Fine’ – $3,500-$4,000

Later Model (loading gate hinged at bottom)Narrow grip:NRA ‘Good’ – $700-$ 900 NRA ‘Fine’ – $1,500-$2,000Flared grip:NRA ‘Good’ – $850-$1,000 NRA ‘Fine’ – $2,000-$2,500

In common with the smaller Navy Model, these weapons are sometimes found converted to use rim-� re cartridges, this time in .44 calibre. No factory conversions are currently recorded for this Model either, so, once again, values will depend upon the quality of conversion.

ABOVE: Allen & Wheelock lip-� re Army Model revolver, showing recesses in the cylinder cut to take the specially manufactured cartridges and the characteristic barrel with the octagonal section at the breech end.(Courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fair� eld, Maine.)

BELOW: Cartridge for .36 lip-� re revolver, showing th characteristic protrusion or lip containing the material which � res the cartridge.(Courtesy of Curtis Steinhauer: www.cartridge-corner.com)

9 Prescott.indd 12 13/03/2014 10:04

MAUSER RIFLES


In Part I we discussed the development of Paul Mauser’s revolutionary charger (stripper clip) loaded magazine and his � rst small bore, smokeless

powder ri� e. Adopted by Belgium as the Fusil d’Infanterie Modèle in 1889 its superiority over its contemporaries such as the Mannlicher, Lebel and Murata was so evident that it was quickly taken into service by the Ottoman Empire.

However, Mauser’s new ri� e was to achieve it greatest popularity among the armies of Latin America. In the 1890s orders came from Argentina, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. The Argentine contract alone called for 180,000 ri� es and 30,000 carbines. Due to the size of these and the ongoing Turkish contracts, most of the Argentine ri� es were produced by Ludwig Loewe Company of Berlin

(later known as Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionfabriken - DWM) who, in 1887, had become the corporate owners of Mauser Waffenfabrik.

The Fusil Mauser Modelo Argentino 1891 was almost identical to the Turkish Tüfek 1890 except for a rotating catch in front of the magazine housing, which prevented it from inadvertently being released from the ri� e. In 1891 Spain ordered several thousand Argentine-pattern ri� es and carbines for trials, some of which were still in service with troops in Cuba at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War (1898).

It should be noted that the 1889/1891 style charger differed from later Mauser designs in that the sides of the charger body do not have lugs to hold it in the charger guides. Instead an upward extension of the bolt stop applies sideways pressure holding

the clip in place while the rounds are pushed down into the magazine. Mo. 1891 ri� es were stocked in walnut and � tted with either a long or short handguard. The former ran from the front of the rearsight base to the barrel band, while the latter was about half that length.

All of the Turkish 1890 and Latin American 1891 ri� es were chambered for the 7.65x53 cartridge which was known in Argentine service as the Cartucho Cal. 7.65mm para Mauser.

A full stocked cavalry carbine was produced for the cavalry, artillery, alpine and police units. All were similar in appearance except that some of those issued to the artillery and mountain troops were later retro� tted with lugs to accept a modi� ed

HERR PAUL’S FIRST SMOKELESS POWDER RIFLES

� e 1889/1890/1891 Mauser Rifl es, Part II

By Paul ScarlataPhotos by: Paul Budde, James Walters and Becky Leavitt

ABOVE: Two Argentine soldiers equipped with Mo. 1891 Mausers, on manoeuvres near Buenos Aires c.1910. Note those nifty white gaiters! (courtesy of Eduardo Fontenla)

RIGHT: A WWI German soldier armed with a captured Belgian Modèle 1889 Mauser. (Drake Goodman collection)

14 Scarlata.indd 14 13/03/2014 10:04


Remington Rolling Block bayonet.Most of the other Latin American

contract ri� es duplicated the Argentine Mo. 1891 pattern. The only one that varied to any degree was the Peruvian Mo. 1891 which, in 1912, was retro� tted with a Lange- Vizier rearsight, similar to that on the German Infanteriegewehr 98, when the Peruvian army adopted the Type S cartridge (see below).

Model 1889/1890/1891 Mausers saw considerable combat service. It was the standard ri� e of the Belgian army during the Great War, and after that small country was overrun by the Germans the Belgian government in exile established a factory in Birmingham, England, to produce the Modèle 1889 ri� e and Modèle 1916 carbine, while additional orders were placed in the USA with Hopkins & Allen of Norwich, Connecticut. After the war manufacture resumed at FN until 1927; approximately 275,000 units were produced.

During the war, German occupation troops were issued with various Belgian Mauser ri� es and carbines, some of which were

converted to � re the German issue 7.9mm Patrone S.

The post-WWI Belgian army continued to use the Modèle 1889 until a 98-type Mauser short ri� e – the Fusil d’Infanterie Modèle 1935 – was adopted in 1935. The following year, a rebuilding programme was instituted and many serviceable 1889 ri� es had the tubular barrel jackets removed, new barrels and sights installed and the bolts modi� ed in order to cock on opening. The resulting Fusil d’Infanterie Modèle 1889/36 saw service with Belgian army reserves until the country was overrun (again!) by the Germans in 1940. Many remained in service with the Force Publique – the European-of� cered military gendarmerie in the Belgian Congo – well into the 1960s

The Cartouche Balle 7.65mm Modèle 30 used a 174 gr. FMJ, boattail spitzer bullet traveling at 2380 fps.

During WWII the Wehrmacht once again issued Modèle 1889, 1889/36 and 1916 Mausers captured from the defeated Belgian army as the 7.65mm Gewehr 261(b), Gewehr 263(b) and

ABOVE LEFT: An Argentine Mo. 1891 alpine/artillery carbine made by DWM. Note that it has been retro-� tted with lugs for a bayonet.

ABOVE RIGHT: This close up of a Mo. 1891 receiver shows the single column box magazine and the rotating catch in front of it.

RIGHT: A Peruvian sailor, c.1925, armed with a Mo. 1891 Mauser.

BOTTOM RIGHT: A Peruvian soldier armed with a Mo. 1891 Mauser.

LEFT: Congo, 1963. Civilian volunteers during the Katangese Civil War armed with Modèle 1889/36 ri� es.

BELOW: The Argentine Mo. 1891’s bayonet had a 15.5 inch blade and curved quillon. (Dennis Ottobre photo)

14 Scarlata.indd 15 13/03/2014 10:04

MAUSER RIFLES


Karabiner 451(b). They were used by German occupation troops, support units and at training depots while some showed up in the hands of the Volkssturm in the last desperate days of the Third Reich.

Tüfekli 1890 saw combat with Turkish troops during the Italo-Turkish War (1911-12), the First and Second Balkan Wars (1912-13) and later equipped a large percentage of the Turkish army during WWI. After the war the Turks provided many as war reparations and they were used by Greece, Yugoslavia and other Balkan armies. They were used by both sides in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-22) when the Greeks embarked upon a doomed effort to capture the Hellenic speaking regions of Anatolia.

In the 1930s, the Yugoslavians –and the Turks – converted most of them to � re the 7.9x57 cartridge. Converted ri� es, known as the Kratka Puska 90T by the Yugoslavs, had their barrels shortened to approximately 24 inches and new sights were installed. Many were used by the Yugoslavian army and partisan forces through to the end of World War II while others showed up in the hands of Communist forces during the

Greek Civil War (1946-49).While most South American

Modelo 1891s had their service limited to “internal political readjustments” (a.k.a.: civil wars and revolutions) numbers saw action with the Paraguayan and Bolivian armies during a bloody Gran Chaco War (1932 - 1935).

During the con� ict, the Argentines surreptitiously supplied their neighbour Paraguay with weapons, including some Modelo 1891 ri� es. Inevitably, when ri� es with Argentine crests were captured by the Bolivians, it led to a diplomatic crisis between the two nations. One result of this ‘misunderstanding’ was an Argentine law requiring that all surplus military weapons sold outside the country have the national crest removed.

In 1909 the Argentines adopted a 98-type Mauser and upgraded their service cartridge to use the new German-designed spitzer bullet. The Cartucho Cal. 7.65mm Tipo S cartridge was loaded with a 154gr.

FMJ spitzer bullet at a velocity of 2755 fps and many Modelo 1891 ri� es and carbines had their sights recalibrated for the S cartridge.

In the mid-1960s, Argentina began replacing their 7.65mm Mausers with the Belgian-designed FN-FAL ri� e cartridge and shortly afterwards the surplus market was � ooded with Mo. 1891 and Mo. 1909 ri� es and carbines, which are still fairly easy to � nd today.

FIRING THE MO. 1891 MAUSERFor test � ring purposes my good friend Vince DiNardi provided me with a

ABOVE: The Argentine Mo. 1891 was typical of a whole series of ri� es sold to Turkey and a number of Latin-American armies. It did away with the Modèle 1889’s cumbersome metal barrel jacket.

RIGHT: A Belgian issue Cartouche Balle 7,65mm Modèle 30. Note the label is written in both Walloon (French) and Flemish (Dutch), the country’s two of� cial languages, and it is clearly marked for use in Modèle 1935 and 1936 ri� es.

BELOW: Soldiers of the Force Publique in the Belgian Congo armed with Modèle 1889/36 Mauser ri� es.

Speci� cations: Fusil Mauser Argentino Modelo 1891 Calibre Cartucho Cal. 7.65mm para Mauser

Overall length 48.6 in.

Barrel length 29.1 in.

Weight 8.8 lbs.

Magazine 5 round, charger loaded, single column box

Sights front: inverted V bladerear: V notch � xed for 300 meters. Fold up leaf adjustable from 400 to 2000 metres

Bayonet 15.5 in. Single-edged blade

Speci� cations: Carabina Mauser Argentino Modelo 1891 Calibre Cartucho Cal. 7.65mm Mauser

Overall length 37 in.


Weight 7.2 lbs.


Sights front: inverted V bladerear: V notch � xed for 300 meters. Fold up leaf adjustable from 400to 1400 metres

Bayonet none

14 Scarlata.indd 16 13/03/2014 10:04


Speci� cations: Fusil d’Infanterie Modèle 1889/36 Calibre Cartouche Balle 7,65mm Modèle 30

Overall length 43.1 in.


Weight 8.3 lbs.


Sights front: inverted V bladerear: V notch adj. by tangent 100 to 2000 metres

Bayonet 10 in. Single-edged blade

ABOVE: In the late 1930s the Belgian army upgraded older Mausers with shorter barrels andnew sights, and modi� ed the bolt to cock on opening. The result was the Fusil d’Infanterie Modèle 1889/36. (John Wall photo)

RIGHT TOP: 1924. Greek police equipped with ex-Turkish Tüfek 1890 Mauser ri� es. (courtesy of Evangelos Constantinidis)

RIGHT: Berlin, 1945. An elderly member of the German Volkssturm armed with an ex-Belgian Modèle 1889 ri� e waits for the Russians in the ruins of Berlin.

LEFT TOP: 1944. Four winsome Russian partisans. The woman � ghter in the centre of the photo is armed with a Belgian Modèle 1916 carbine. I wonder how that ended up in the USSR.

LEFT: Test � ring was conducted from a Caldwell Lead Sled at 75 yards.

Belgian Modèle 1916 carbine; the serial number indicated it was one of those converted from an early production Modèle 1889 ri� e. Despite its age, and showing a fair bit of external wear, the bore was clean and bright and it had a rather decent trigger.

Grafs & Sons provided me with 7.65mm Argentine ammunition manufactured by Hornady and Prvi Partizan loaded, respectively, with 150 and 174gr. bullets.

Continuing torrential rains this summer had washed away parts of my club’s 100-yard backstop so testing consisted of � ring a series of � ve shot groups on the 75-yard range using a Caldwell Lead Sled to ameliorate the effects of recoil.

Loading the magazine with chargers required a good thrust with the thumb and while the bolt worked smoothly it required a � rm shove to get each

round moving out of the magazine. Typical of its time of manufacture, the sights left much to be desired and aligning the wide inverted V front blade with a rather � ne notch of the rearsight required considerable concentration on my part.

As the sights were regulated for the Cartouche Balle 7,65mm Mle. 1889, at 75 yards the Belgian carbine was printing about 12 inches high but once I worked out where to hold it I was able to produce some decent groups in the 3-inch range. I apparently did everything just right one time and produced a nicely centred 2.25-inch group with the Hornady ammo.

Like all FN products, the Modèle 1916 I � red was a well-made, � ne-handling carbine. At one time this type of ri� e represented the cutting edge of military technology and set the stage for the development of the most successful series of bolt action military ri� es in history.

AcknowledgementsI would like to thank Vince DiNardi, John Rasalov, Jeff Knowles, Senor Eduardo Fontenla, Evangelos Constantinidis, John Wall, John P. Sheehan, Branko Bogdanovic, Drake Goodman, Dennis Ottobre, George Wylie, Stuart Mowbray, Patrick DeWolf and Graf & Sons (www.grafs.com) for supplying materials used to prepare this article. For those who would like more information I would like to suggest Colin Webster’s excellent book Argentine Mauser Ri� es - ISBN-13: 9780764318689: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2007.

14 Scarlata.indd 17 13/03/2014 10:05

H E R M A N N H I S T O R I C AIn

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Hermann Historica oHG ✦ Linprunstr. 16 ✦ D-80335 Munich ✦ Phone +49-89-54726490Fax +49-89-547264999 ✦ E-mail: [email protected]

Herzog Ernst August v. Sachsen Weimar-Eisenach – a pair of German flintlock pistols, Eisenach ca. 1740

A cavalry musketoon, Arcelin system 1856, one of 108 issued rare experimental weapons

N E x T Au C T I O N :

5 - 15 May 2014Antiquities, Antique Arms & Armour, Fine Antique & Modern Firearms,Orders and Military Collectibles

All catalogues and further information online:

www.hermann-historica.com

A Borchardt C 93 in its case, a Mauser C 96 “Early Transitional Large Ring Hammer” and a double-barrelled signal flare pistol, Imperial German Navy

A silver-inlaid Polish karabela, ca. 1700

Pour le Mérite, Prussia, end of the 18th century Selection from our offer of Russian swords e.g. a Russian sword M 1798 for

officers of the Russian infantry, Master Hatchatur 1801 - 1824

A Maximilian fluted armet, ca. 1520

A British Victorian state dress helmet for a member of The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, ca. 1890 - 1901

A Guycot Chain Rifle, ca. 1878

A three-barrel with hammers and spare barrel double rifle drilling, Kuchenreuther Cham

An Enfield (SMLE) Rifle Mark I*, Cal. .303 Brit.

ClassicArms_1p_4c_A68.indd 1 06.03.2014 17:53:50 Uhrp18_caamAprMay14.indd 1 11/03/2014 12:31


Above: Fig.1. French ‘soldiers of the guard’ socket bayonet, from a design of 28th November 1703, dredged from the River Scheldt in 1960. (J-L. Legens - Musée d’archéologie et d’histoire locale, Denain [Md’a. et d’h. l., D])

Below left: Fig.2. Part of a ‘Plan Des Retranchemens et du Camp Denain ou est marque Le Pasage de L’Armee du Roy a Neuville sur L’Escout...’ showing the Battle of Denain. (Nicolas De Fer 1715)

Below right: Fig.3. Part of a well-known painting of the Battle of Denain by Jean Alaux (1839) on a French chocolate box label. This shows the assault on the entrenchments. Inset is an image of Charles de Villars. (Chocolat des Gourmets Trébucien)

BAYONET BYTES No.8Bayonets in context: � e Battle of Denain, 14 July 1712 by Graham Priest

newsagent, which had been written by fellow enthusiast Jean-Louis Legens (GdesA:9/2013:36). I then recalled that he had previously sent me photographs of the bayonets illustrated prior to an earlier paper composed to mark the 300th

anniversary of the event in 2012 (GdesA:10/2012:34). The � rst article disclosed that the weapons had been dredged from the River Scheldt (Escaut), near Ponts Denain and Prouvy, in the 1960s. They are now housed in the Musée d’archéologie et d’histoire locale at Denain (Fig.1). Surprisingly well preserved by the anaerobic conditions beneath the river silt, some distorted (by the dredger or the original owners) they offered a fascinating insight into the early history of the socket bayonet. As the con� ict involved combatants from several nations, different styles were evident. What was of extreme importance was the context: archaeological proof that a particular design of blade was in service on 14 July 1712. Normally this poorly documented period required historians to guess which weapons and equipment were in use at the time.

Before an examination of the bayonets is made a brief description of the battle itself is relevant. The Battle of Denain, located near Valenciennes on the French/Belgian border (in the centre of the Great War battle� elds), was almost the last action of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14) (Fig.2). British readers often

On the odd occasion a relative or acquaintance, with little interest in military matters, asks me why I collect

weapons of war (or ‘those horrible things!’). Apart from justifying my love of acquiring and recording things, I always respond that the artefacts themselves are, to me, windows on the past. As I examine them I ponder on the people who designed, manufactured and ultimately owned a particular object. What were the thought processes, skills and experiences that went into each one? Where have they been and why are they as they are today? What triumphs, trials or tribulations did each user undergo? Very rarely a particular individual might be connected to a blade. In the past it was possible to uncover that Private George Bailes carried New Land Pattern bayonet ‘10’ in the

Light Company of the Coldstream at Hougemont in the Battle of Waterloo 1815 (M.I.:10/1990:33). What happened to the soldier of the 1st/24th Regiment who discarded his Martini-Henry bayonet scabbard and frog at Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879? (Guns Review:5/1989:377). A visit to see some of the Rosensteel Collection in the stores of Gettysburg Military National Park disclosed the sheer range of bayonets left on the battle� eld in July 1863 (Skirmish:6/2004:14). Excavations at Fort Ligonier, Pennsylvania, uncovered numerous bayonets and related items deposited with the rubbish from 1758 to 1766 (CAAM:1/1998:20). All such personal experiences continue to feed a hunger for more of the same.

During a recent visit to the French city of Autun in Burgundy, I was excited to notice an article on the Battle of Denain, for sale by a

Fig.1

Fig. 3

Fig. 2

19 Graham Priest.indd 19 13/03/2014 10:05

BAYONET BYTES


learn about John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough and the famous battles of Blenheim (13 August 1704), Ramillies (23 May 1706), Oudenarde (11 July 1708) and Malplaquet (11 September 1709), but not the French victory of Denain. For the outcome of the war a parallel can be made with the present one in Afghanistan intended to destroy Teleban in� uence. The political differences between allies have caused the original intention, with expenditure of much blood and treasure, not to be achieved.After eleven years of strife the French Bourbon protégé became King of Spain, as Philip V, despite all the efforts of ‘Grand Alliance’ opponents to prevent this. One cause was the withdrawal of British troops from active campaigning prior to the battle.

The War of the Spanish Succession was fought over who should succeed King Charles II as ruler in Spain (Smith:1965:231). France, initially supported by the Electorate of Bavaria, obviously favoured Philip of Anjou, a grandson of Louis XIV, as this would ensure that the two allied countries would dominate Europe. Britain, the Dutch Republic, Duchy of Savoy, the Holy Roman Empire and Portugal proposed the Habsburg Archduke Charles instead (Smith:1965:235/6). Warfare in north/central Europe, Spain and North America continued the arrangements of the ‘Grand Alliance’ (League of Augsburg) that had fought two wars against France since 1686. After initial successes against France and Bavaria, many led by John Churchill up to 1709,

the mutual bloodbath of Malplaquet fed the London palace intrigues and Whig/Tory parliamentary divisions which began to sap political resolve in Britain. John Churchill was in the middle of all this. His unmoderated steadfast views about the suitability of Archduke Charles � ew in the face of Queen Anne’s desire to end the war at any cost. A change of government from Whig to Tory fostered a movement to sack him, and, through corruption charges laid earlier in the year, his role as Captain-General ceased on 29 December 1711. Secret discussions about peace between Britain and France began before this. The Duke of Ormonde, Churchill’s replacement, arrived in The Hague with instructions that his soldiers were not to engage the French. On 25 June he received orders that his forces (40 battalions and squadrons), plus the ‘subsidy troops’ purchased as mercenaries, should withdraw to Dunkirk, just surrendered by the French. The latter refused to obey despite a loss of pay.

In 1712 it was therefore an army of some 100,000 Frenchmen under Churchill’s previously defeated antagonist, Claude de Villars, that faced Dutch troops with the Earl of Albemarle and mixed Dutch, Hessian, Holstein, Savoyard, Wurttemburg

and Palatine forces with Eugene of Savoy, a total of around 120,000 men (M.H.:2/1995) The latter began to besiege Landrecies. Good intelligence of the area around Valenciennes suggested to Villars that an attack on Denain might relieve the siege. Albemarle had invested serious effort in over eight miles of entrenchments between there and Marchiennes, but hard soil and a lack of men to defend the entire forti� cation weakened the position. Dutch General Berckhoffer had been sent to reinforce the latter and two pontoon bridges were � xed across the Scheldt to Denain. Eugene posted six Imperial and Palatinate battalions at a forti� cation to hold the outer end of the pontoons on the opposite bank to Denain. When one temporary bridge was recalled to Landrecies a new span was begun. French cavalry then surreptitiously seized the crossings of the River Selle that joined the Scheldt at Denain. More French troops occupied a mill at Haspres to block another river traverse. Under cover of darkness Gallic infantry approached Eugene’s troops at Landrecies. Eugene therefore withdrew the pontoon force, together with supply wagons, to reinforce the garrison there. This weakened Albemarle’s forces holding Denain.

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 4

Fig.4

Fig.4. Another image of the battle with bayonets to the fore. (Le Petit Journal, Supplement Illustre, 28 July 1912)

Fig.5.A typical French fusil ordi-naire of the style that predated the regu-lation modèle 1717 musket. (Bouchard, R., Les fusils de Tull en Nouvelle - France 1691-1741, Quebec, Canada, 1980)

Fig.6. A long French style bayonet with shoulder details (inset) that were adopted after 1717. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.7. A British or Dutch style ‘Colonel’s purchase’ type bayonet with � imsy shank that may have been a variant ‘troupes de la marine’ issue. . (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.8. Another ‘Colo-nel’s purchase’ type bayonet, probably of Dutch or British origin. The slanted muzzle is very dis-tinctive. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.9. The slanted muzzle of the above bayonet. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.10. A � at-bladed ‘split-socket’ bayonet similar to known ex-amples used by the Knights of St John in Malta. The langet is part of the forging. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)



In early morning the French reached Neuville-sur-Escaut and began to capture the bridges across the Scheldt. Albemarle warned Eugene who entered Denain brie� y but then joined the forces outside.

Despite some uncertainty about the outcome, Villars altered the attack point of his troops (hidden by the Selle) by almost 180 degrees to assault Denain in several columns. The advance struck the Denain to Marchiennes ramparts where the Van Welderen, Fechenbach, Douglas, Isselbach and Efferen battalions opposed them (M.H.:2/1995) (Fig.3). With French sappers to the fore, and under heavy � re, French infantry used bayonet and sword to capture Denain (Fig.4). As losses mounted the defenders � ed back to the Abbey of Denain. Confused combatants then tried to � ee across the pontoon bridge but this had been destabilised by the heavy baggage wagons and collapsed. Some refugees tried to swim across the Scheldt and many were drowned. Eugene’s troops made valiant attempts to force the

Scheldt at Prouvy to relieve Denain, but Prince de Tingry’s French units held the bridge against repeated Austrian attacks. Eventually the span was destroyed to ensure there was no relief. Eugene of Savoy was then on the wrong bank of the Scheldt and so could not counterattack. Meanwhile Albemarle, his staff together with 2,330 troops, became prisoners of the French. The defence force of about 8,500 men lost 2,000 killed, half by drowning. French casualties were 880 men killed and 1,186 wounded.

The bayonets must have entered the Scheldt during combat or � ight circumstances during the engagement. Whether any were deliberately damaged and discarded by Grand Alliance troops as they surrendered is unknown.

One of the bayonets was of a well-documented French design, three less certain, but another six came from the opposition. Readers of ‘Bayonet Bytes 7’ in the previous edition of CAAM will recognise the � rst model as a French type illustrated on 28 November 1703 (CAAM:1/2013:51).

It was designated for use by ‘soldiers of the guard’ and probably � tted a fusil ordinaire that predated the regulation modèle 1717 musket (Fig.5).

A foresight � tted common socket with triangular blade section presaged the future French issue of 1728/35 (Adam, Méry, Renoux:2005:35) (Fig.6). The 80mm tube had an ‘L’ mortise and the rounded shank blended into a 458mm long triangular blade. Slightly recurved shoulders and deep outer fullers were of a Continental form that was to survive until the 1840s. The later issue was much shorter with a 372mm blade. The extra length could indicate use by another nationality but equally attachment to a shorter carbine. Most published authorities record that the French War Department did not attempt to establish a standard infantry musket bayonet until after 1717 so, like Britain, a variety of innovative issues were made prior to this time.

Even more problematic was another over-foresight artefact with a three-step mortise (Fig.7). This was also long for a French weapon of the period with a 78mm socket and 460mm blade. The rectangular sectioned shank mated with a triangular blade fullered on each side. An elegant shoulder solution lacked any type of scabbard

Fig.11.The second ‘split-socket’ bayonet similar to Austrian models used on the ‘ordinäre � inte’ M.1722. The langet is missing. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D) Fig.12. One of the ‘split-socket’ bayonets used by the Knights of St.John in Malta. (Grand Master’s Palace, Malta, PAS 1009)

Fig.13. A similar Austrian type ‘split-socket’ bayonet with riveted langet. (Jeff Hayes)

Fig.14. A Würzburg ‘scythe’ type bayonet rented to the Holy Roman Empire. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.15. Two similar bayonets. (Thierbach, M., 1886, Fig.189 and Priest)

Fig.16. The coat of arms of Johann Philipp von Greiffenclau zu Vollraths, Fürstbischof von Würzburg from 1699 to 1719 on one bayonet. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.17. The coat of arms of Johann Philipp von Greiffenclau zu Vollraths. (Bistum Würzburg)

Figs.11

Figs.12

Figs.13

Figs.14

Figs.15

Figs.16

Figs.17


BAYONET BYTES


ledge. Except for the blade pro� le, here triangular but usually lozenge, the bayonet resembled ‘Colonels’ purchase’ examples used in Britain up to 1722 (Goldstein:2000:18). The Board of Ordnance stipulated a ‘pattern’ after this time that was to become the ‘Brown Bess’. Each regimental colonel could equip his troops with any form of weapon he chose and from 1703 to 1720 only some 23,000 of these were of British manufacture (Goldstein:2000:37). One similar recorded example could be dated between 1701 and 1714 as the related musket was built by London gun maker John Williams (MaA:4/2009:32). Legens proposed that this � tted a ‘troupe de la marine’ fusil carried at the battle by the ‘Royale des Vaisseaux’ brigade. (GdesA:10/2012:38). Twenty thousand ‘old’ bayonets were bought from Delft by Britain in 1715 so perhaps the design was of Dutch origin.

A very distinctive top-stud bayonet, with angled front to socket and slight triangular blade was also of a style used in Britain and elsewhere (Fig.8). A three-stage slot on the 90mm socket lay behind the strangely slanted muzzle (Fig.9). The round cornered rectangular shank, smoothly blended into the

Fig.18. Fürstbischof Johann Philipp von Greiffenclau zu Vollraths. (Georg Franz Mika -1673-1749)

Fig.19. The distorted Würzburg bayonet with the coat of arms. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.20. Two Dutch/Germanic type socket bayonets with triangular blades. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

Fig.21. The sockets of the above bayonets. Notice the distinct scabbard ledges at the blade bases. (J-L. Legens - Md’a. et d’h. l., D)

485mm fullered tri-sided blade, appeared to be an extension of the tube. Again both British and Dutch examples appeared to be contemporary (Goldstein:2000:26). Innovations during the William and Mary period (1689-1702) were often shared between Britain and the Dutch Stadtholder area.

Two � at-bladed ‘split-socket’ bayonets were similar to known examples used by the Knights of St John in Malta and on the later Austrian ‘ordinäre � inte’ M.1722 (Figs.10 and 11) (Priest:2008:27 and DWJ:2/1991:248). Both must have been related to Holy Roman Empire troops in the battle. One version had the langet forged as part of the blade but two holes remained on the other where this had been riveted to the shoulder (Figs.12 and 13). The notable feature of these designs was the open seam of the tube that allowed adjustment of � t to a variety of barrel diameters. Until the mid-19th century interchangeability of parts continued to exercise the abilities of engineers.

Two other very distinctive ‘scythe’ bladed bayonets were the most clearly identi� ed (Thierbach:1975:9). Each

had a c.120mm long collared socket formed with a three-step mortise to engage a foresight on the musket (Figs.14 and 15). The kitchen knife style blade was attached to the muzzle with a bifurcated shank that created another front collar. The long squared shank suddenly swelled on the outer face to make a sharp cutting blade, whereas the inner one continued as a � at spine until it was sharpened into a false edge. Shallow fullers ran for the full length. The reach was approximately 440mm. Deeply engraved on one example was the coat of arms of Johann Philipp von Greiffenclau zu Vollraths, Fürstbischof von Würzburg from 1699 to 1719 (Figs.16-19). His of� cial, Johannes Gallus Jacob, was known to have rented troops from Würzburg, between 1710 and 1720, to the Reichsarmee under Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740). The outcome was his promotion to Hofkammerdirektor (Finance Minister) and a knighthood. Charles was the other contender for the Spanish throne. Similar bayonets can now be associated with the Würzburg region.

22

round cornered rectangular shank, smoothly blended into the

Figs.18

Figs.19

Figs.20

Figs.21



Figs.22

Figs.23

Figs.24

Figs.23

Figs.22

The last pair of bayonets were of a distinct Dutch/Germanic type that may have in� uenced the future British ‘Brown Bess’ (Figs.20 and 21). The uncollared sockets (72-75mm) had ‘L’ or (barely) triple slots to match foresights on the musket. Rounded shanks, one long and the other short, met enlarged scabbard ledges at the base of the triangular blades. These features prevented the latter from penetrating the simple leather sheaths too deeply and helped to reduce the ingress of water and foreign matter. The c.428mm blades were only fullered on the outer faces. Similar models were in the armouries of British regiments, purchased by colonels. (Goldstein:2000:36) From 1715 onwards many examples with � attened multi-faceted or lenticular blades were purchased from Holland to supplement British shortages and many were used by mercenary troops in North America (Goldstein:2000:86) (Figs.22 and 23).

These historic artefacts were almost certainly once possessed by mainly Dutch troops commanded by the Earl of Albemarle in Denain. Some may have been ex British ‘subsidy troops’ abandoned by Ormonde (Fig.24). Mixed in during the � ight across the

Scheldt were Holy Roman Empire soldiers, at least two mercenaries from Würzburg, but others from Austria. One French ‘soldier of the guard’ dropped his blade in the water and others, perhaps a cavalryman, dragoon or marine with carbine or fusil, did the same.

Not long after the debacle of Denain, on 11/12 April 1713, treaties were signed between France, the Dutch Republic, Britain, Portugal, Prussia and Savoy. Holland was devastated by the whole affair. Emperor Charles VI refused to join in but on 7 March 1714 the Treaty of Rastatt ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Britain gained Gibraltar, Minorca and the slave trade ‘asiento’ from Spain, but that is another story!

Fig.22. A typical Dutch/German � at bladed bayonet of the style used by mercenary troops in British service. Note the scabbard ledge. (Priest)

Fig.23. The socket of the above bayonet arranged for a sub-barrel stud on the musket. (Priest)

Fig.24. A view of the Battle of Denain on a French advertisement. (Chocolat Guerin Boutron)

Further readingAdam, G., Méry, C., Renoux, P., Les baïonnettes militaires françaises, Crépin-Leblond, France, 2005.

Priest, G., Classic Arms and Militaria, ‘Beneath the Great Union Part 1’, Jan./Feb. 1998, p.20-23.

Deutches Waffen Journal, Schuy, J., ‘Österreichische Infanterie-Bajonette von 1700 bis 1867’, February 1991, pp.246-49.

Gazette des Armes, Legen, J-L., ‘La bataille de Denain ... il y a 300 ans’, No.446, October 2012, pp. 34-39.

Gazette des Armes, Legen, J-L., ‘Les baïonnettes de la bataille de Denain (1712)’, No.456, Sept. 2013, pp. 36-41.

Goldstein, E., The Bayonet in New France 1665-1760, Historical Arms Series No.35, Museum Restoration Service, Bloom� eld, Canada, 1997.

Goldstein, E., The Socket Bayonet in the British Army 1687-1783, Andrew Mowbray Inc., Lincoln, USA, 2000.

Priest, G., Guns Review, ‘Picked up on the Battle� eld’, Vol. 29 No. 5, May 1989, pp. 377-80.

Priest, G., Man-at-Arms, ‘An Early Bayonet Piece’, April 2009, pp.30-38.

Military History, Nimwegen, O.v., ‘War of the Spanish Succession: Battle of Denain’, February 1995, Historynet.com.

Priest, G., Military Illustrated, ‘Private Marks of Distinction’, No. 29, Oct.1990, pp.33-38.

Priest, G., The Bayonets of the Grand Master’s Palace in Malta, Uppem Publications, England, 2008.

Priest, G., Skirmish, ‘Gettysburg Revisited’, No. 31, June/July 2004, pp.14-16.

Smith, R.M., Spain: A Modern History, University of Michigan Press, USA, 1965.

Thierbach, M., Die Geschichtliche Entwickelung der Handfeurewaffen, Akademische Druk, Austria (1886) 1975.

AcknowledgementsProfound thanks to Jean-Louis Legens for permission to use the photographs and general support. Appreciation to Sebastian Thiem for the identi� cation of the coat of arms. Also to Pierre Renoux, Jeff Hayes, Erik Goldstein and the late Michael Bird for their input. Finally to the Musée d’archéologie et d’histoire locale at Denain and the other organisations that are captioned.


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M/41B PRICKSKYTTEGEVÄR


For a� cionados of Sweden’s military Mauser system* there exists a wide variety of accessories. Carbines and ri� es are generally

in superb condition** at affordable prices. The target shooter is also well catered for, as the ri� e, with its small calibre, is inherently accurate, with the option of special sight arrangements and light recoil. In this article the authors will examine the ultimate of Sweden’s Mausers, a Gevär m/41B 6∙5mm sniper ri� e, in some depth. *Swedish Mauser is a generic term, and was never used by the Swedish military. **Sweden remained nominally neutral, which meant that wartime production shortcuts were not taken, unlike the military ri� es of the main combatants.

The Gevär m/96 was adopted on 20 March 1896 after the introduction of the Karbin m/1894 on 7 August 1894. The m/96 is essentially a modi� ed Spanish M/93 Mauser system* which had introduced several features: a new small 7mm calibre, a long non-rotating extractor and a staggered magazine, � ush with the bottom of the stock. Three manufacturers were involved in the production of the Swedish Mauser:


By Guy and Leonard A-R-West FHBSA

Waffenfabrik Mauser, Carl Gustav and Husqvarna. *Used with devastating results by the Boers and Spanish.

HISTORYIn common with the Swiss, the Swedish military system rests on the militia structure; furthermore, like the Swiss,* Sweden’s neutrality is well over a century old. After the end of World War I Sweden’s armed forces were allowed to descend to a very low period of preparedness. By 1924, conscription was reduced to four months and only elevated again

in 1936 following in� ammation of international tension. During April 1940, Sweden’s entire force of 400,000 men was put on full alert. A newly formed national government was formed, conscription was increased and the armed forces strength boosted to 600,000 men, not including civilians who were formed into home guard, aircraft observer and various auxiliary units. *One of Sweden’s mottoes was ‘Neutrality through strength’.

A SNIPER RIFLE SYSTEM IS ADOPTEDAs Sweden was not involved in the Great War, it saw little requirement for equipping its forces with a new breed of soldier – the sniper! Having avoided static trench warfare, Sweden was not fully aware of the sniper as an effective and psychological weapon – the invisible and stealthy sniper who dominated No Man’s Land and the forward zones. However, by 1940, observing the devastating impact of the numerically smaller Finnish and Norwegian forces in� icted on superior numbers, forced the jittery Swedish government to bring into service a sniper system based logically on their accurate Gevär m/96 in the ef� cient 6.5mm calibre.

Although Sweden had � rst-rate optical companies, they did not

a

b c

d

e

ABOVE: Review Gevär m/41B and some collectable accessories.

BELOW: a) Leather protective ocular and objective lens covers.b) Breech view with ‘scope attached.c) Eye view of the highly effective German postd) Top view of micrometer m/55 rear sight.e) Standard rear sight of M/96 long ri� e for comparison.

26 Guy West.indd 26 13/03/2014 10:07


Commencing in 1955, Sweden decided to reinstate the excellent Ajack scope in modi� ed form to their venerable m/96 ri� e.

REVIEW GEVÄR M/41B DESCRIBEDThe m/41B, introduced in 1955, featured several re� nements compared to its predecessor. It remained in service with the regular army and home guard until 1991, until it was � nally replaced by the PSG90 7∙62 x 54mm sniper ri� e.

The neat one-piece stock, the classic ‘straight-hand’ butt and integral � ush magazine provides for aesthetically pleasing lines. A handguard runs from the front of the receiver covering the rearsight base to just forward of the lower band. To facilitate a good grip a grasping groove runs forward of the receiver. The upper band/nose cap has an unconventional bayonet lug adopted in place of the rugged Mauser ’98 style lug. A clearing/cleaning rod lies beneath the muzzle and can act to pile the arm. The � nish of the metalwork is a lustrous polished blue of the highest quality which is re� ected in the workmanship.

MARKINGS M/41BThe receiver ring is stamped ‘CARL GUSTAFS STADS GEVÄRSFAKTORI’ – Carl Gustafs city factory, Eskilstuna, Sweden and dated 1900.* The stock wrist underside bears two crowns, one above the other, indicating inspection and a crown over ‘S’ denoting

a

b

produce hunting or military scopes; as a result a contract was hurriedly established with Germany* to provide scopes complete with their mounts and accessories. The Berlin � rm of Adolph Jackenroll Optische Anstalt G.m.b.H, furnished both requirements. In Germany, the short side-rail system � tted to the Karabiner ’98 had been re� ned, mounting either 4-power Ajack, Zeiss, Hensoldt, Kaba or Kahles hunting scopes, and being recently combat-proven by the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS, provided by default an excellent choice for � tting to selected m/96 Mauser ri� es. *They in return required Swedish iron ore.

Ri� es selected for their inherent accuracy were gauged by a similar method to that used by the Wehrmacht, which were submitted for further use with a scope. Stocks were checked for binding and trigger tested for pull and, if required, reworked. The rear sight leaf was retained and modi� ed (identi� ed by a ‘T’ indicating calibration for Torped stamped on sight leaf base) for the

new m/41 cartridge. Deliveries commenced in 1941; around 4,000 scopes were received, � tted and serialised thus: 1 to 2,000 dated 1941 and 2,000 to 4,000 dated 1942. Sweden’s � rst sniping weapons system was designated Gevär m/41 med Kikare Ajack m/41, ri� e m/41 with scope Ajack m/41. When � rst issued, six m/41 sniper ri� es were supplied per company of infantry. Besides providing scopes for the military and Waffen SS the Ajack scope was advertised in the late 1930s commercially. However, after 1941, German citizens were forbidden to purchase them as all available war materials were required for con� ict on the Eastern Front.

By 1942, with the enlargement of the Swedish army, the need to replace the Ajack scope arose and an indigenous mount and scope sought. Of the several optical companies, AGA was chosen, and the result was the introduction of the AGA 42 3x65 system, with the same short side-rail mount. Nonetheless, the rush in which the AGA 42 was introduced revealed it had shortcomings – a limited � eld of view and not water resistant – and two years later the AGA 44 3x65 was introduced. It featured a turret for easier range manipulation, larger ocular and objective lenses and was easier to produce. The AGA scopes were reliable and remained in service until 1955. Carl Gustav selected and modi� ed 5,300 ri� es for sniping between 1941 and 1945.

TOP: a) Right view of the postwar � tted ‘AJACK 4x90’ x 4 power ‘scope with captive rubber boot removed to show the focus ring. b) Left view showing prominent locking lever. The saddle is marked with serial number, date and Swedish Crown ‘Nr. 3590/1942B’. The ‘B’ was added in 1955 denoting retro� tting and blooming of ocular and object lens. The ‘90’ denotes the scale of luminosity.

ABOVE LEFT: Fixed m/96 knife bayonet.

LEFT: A Swedish sniper armed with a m/41. The Swedish sniper inured to the harsh sub-Artic climate and equipped with the rugged Mauser system made a formidable combination. He is wearing an m/39 uniform, m/10 � ve-pouch cartridge belt holding 100 cartridges and wearing an m/37 helmet. Illustration was created from information on uniforms provided by The National Swedish History Museum Stockholm.

26 Guy West.indd 27 13/03/2014 10:07



reworking at Tygstation workshop, Stockholm. *The early date signi� ed the enduring quality of this ri� e which not only served in its original infantry capacity but was adopted as an of� cial sniper ri� e until 1991.

The right side of the stock has an inletted 30∙1mm diameter brass disc providing data on the measurements and condition of the bore.

There were two single screw brass stock discs: ‘Type-1’ and ‘Type-2’. The review ri� e is � tted with the ‘Type-2’ disc which is divided into three segments. The smallest segment denotes bore condition with an inverted triangle stamp: ‘∇ over 1’ pitting in the grooves;‘∇ over 2’ pitting in the grooves and on the sides of the lands; ‘∇ over 3’*, signi� es pitting in the entire bore – but still serviceable. *A number ‘3’ bore will still shoot very well. However, when the bore was unserviceable, the disc was removed and the cut-out � lled with red wax until the barrel was replaced.

The review Gevär m/41B disc is marked ‘∇’ over ‘1’ in the smallest segment denoting that pitting has been detected. The middle segment ‘0’ (dead on target at 100m). The largest segment inner group speci� es actual bore diameter: ‘∇’ over ‘0’ denotes a 6∙50mm bore diameter. The Swedish Mauser sights are calibrated in metres and the sighting correction on the discs is marked in strecks. Streck, literally means ‘line’. One streck is 0∙1m @ 100m.

BOLTIn the main, bolts of the Gevär m/41B were blued; on the other hand a few bolts left ‘in the white’ have been noted by the authors and applies to the review ri� e.* There is a single narrow groove cut into the bolt body that

aligns with a projection connected to the sear;** only when the bolt is completely closed and the two front locking lugs fully engaged, can the sear be released by the trigger. There is provision to vent gas in the event of a ruptured case head or primer, a 2∙30mm gas vent hole drilled at 45º, 24∙90mm from the front of the bolt head to vent gas harmlessly away. An improvement over the Spanish M/93 is that the bolt body has a rib guide to prevent bolt binding. The bolt cocks on closing and has a long cocking piece with an upright projection or lug at the end with its top chequered for bolt dismantling. Dry � ring was allowed as long as a piece of leather or wood was placed between the lug and bolt. *The review ri� e has been owned by the authors for well over a decade and has not been assembled as a counterfeit rig. All serial numbers match. **The mechanism linked to the trigger which engages the cocking-piece.

RECEIVERThe receiver is a one-piece forging of the ‘solid bridge’ type and the � rst Mauser to embody a thumb cut-out

to aid charger loading. The cut-out performed another function: it allowed for the venting of escaping gases. The cut-out does slightly weaken the left receiver wall and very rarely can crack if very roughly treated.

BARRELMauser-system ‘stepped barrel’ allowing for the barrel diameter to expand evenly without binding in the stock. The four groove ri� ing is cut to a fast 1:200mm twist to stabilise the long 10∙1gm m/94 Skarp Patron.

SAFETYThe neat and effective safety ‘wing’ introduced on the Mauser M/71 was to become a feature of the Mauser system which is retained to this day. There are three positions:1. To the left disengaged.2. When cocked, turning 90° to the

intermediate position locks the cocking-piece back and the bolt can be opened and closed and cycled to empty the magazine.* The arm, although perfectly safe, should not be carried in a vertical

ABOVE: a) Under side view of an m/41B showing attachment of check piece (courtesy of Johan Landgren of the National Swedish History Museum Stockholm).b) An early m/41, note standard rear sight (courtesy of Johan Landgren of the National Swedish History Museum Stockholm).

RIGHT: Review bench rested Mauser m/41B with early morning sun glinting off the bolt ready for the rigors of a day’s ballistic evaluation at the Short Siberia, Bisley.

BELOW: a) All steel m/96 knife bayonet.b) Scabbard. NCOs leather frog.

a

b

26 Guy West.indd 28 13/03/2014 10:08


position with the safety at 90°, as a slight upwards push on the bolt knob is suf� cient to open the bolt and automatically eject a cartridge.

3. When cocked, for safe carriage turned 180°, the safety locks both the cocking-piece back and the bolt closed. However, with the review ri� e, to engage 180°, the cocking-piece required pulling back.

*The magazine can also be emptied by removing the � oor plate by pushing a bullet’s ogive onto the � oor plate catch.

ACTIONThe neat staggered-column magazine feeds to alternate sides, aided by a rimless case, permitting an ef� cient and smooth cartridge supply. There is no hold-open device when the magazine is empty.

STOCKRather than design a sniper ri� e completely from scratch, which possibly may have had a stock with cheek piece or less drop at the comb, the Swedish military shrewdly chose to retain the existing one for sniper use as it required only adding a scope to an inherently accurate ri� e.

The review ri� e’s stock is made from quality beech and is a replacement. The numbers ‘273.94’ painted in white are applied to the left-side near the toe of the butt – possibly the � rst three digits denote

rack number and the last two the year of mustering out of service? The left side of the stock was relieved for the scope mount, leaving the stock in front of the charger thumb cut-out intact. The stock was possibly replaced by Husqvarna, due to a tilted crown on the butt plate tang; furthermore, serial numbers are in a different font.

Two types of wood pistol grip (Pistolgrepp) attachment were developed for use with target ri� es and m/41B: a bolt-on and bonded-on. To reduce craning of the neck, a leather strap-on cheek piece attachment was made for the m/41B, but never of� cially adopted.

SERIAL NUMBERSThe serial number’s last three digits are repeated on the barrel bands, scope base, magazine � oor plate, butt plate tang, clearing/cleaning rod, bolt knob, cocking-piece, bolt stop release and safety wing.

IRON SIGHTS GEVÄR M/41BThe left side face of foresight bed is stamped ‘0’. The partridge-type (Stolpkorn) foresight’s height measures 7∙68mm and is marked 275 on the right top � at; and ‘+’ (point of aim) on the left top � at measures 3∙05mm at the top of the sight and 4∙01mm at base. The bed is formed on a tube underneath which � ts round and is screwed and soldered to the barrel. This method forms a � rm attachment for the sight, preventing loosening. The foresight is dovetailed to its bed and marked to its setting on the front face of the bed.

The later rearsight arrangement was calibrated for the m/41 cartridge, has a micrometer dial and is marked ‘SM, sikte, F-ram, m/55’, which is the model designation. The rearsight consists of a leaf with a shallow ‘V’ notch,* pivoted to the front of its bed. The dial representing increments of 50 metres of elevation marked from 1 – 6 anti-clockwise, adjustable by a special peg key (Caffelmejsel). As the Ajack scope has a large objective lens, which sits directly over the rearsight, the crown of the sight leaf is low to provide clearance, and a higher foresight has been added to compensate. *De� nitely a ‘V’ and not ‘U’ notch.

SCOPEAs the task of the sniper does not involve much rapid or sustained � re, where the bolt would need to be worked fast, so the close clearances of the turned-down bolt and scope were probably not seen as a detriment. Due to the narrow clearance a charger could not be used (the German � rm of J.P. Sauer experimented with scoped ri� es for charger feeding, by machining the receiver bridge with a 45º guide).

Three scopes were issued:In chronological order: German ‘Kikare’ Ajack 4x90 m/41; Swedish ‘Kikare’ AGA m/42 and ‘Kikare’ m/44,*

a

b

c

d

ABOVE: Top, Gevär m/41B. Below, Gevär m/96.

BELOW LEFT: Short-side rail ‘scope base mounts. The top-mount only � tted matched base-mount. Each base was meticulously hand � tted to the ri� e.a) First type mount for m/41 featuring curved front. Note off-set locking set-screws.b) As above but squared. c) Second type. Note 900 stop add-on for m/41B with simpli� ed but unsightly method of upsetting mount screws by peening screw heads with a centre punch into vacant holes.d) Variation of review m/41B with no screw ‘punch upsetting’.

TOP LEFT: Raised leather cheek piece that locates over the comb and straps around sling swivel point.

LEFT: Both groups are well within the German criteria for determining accuracy of the ‘98K for sniping which required all three shots within a 70 mm diameter and all � ve with 105 mm diameter.a) Accuracy was as expected, a 12∙7 mm bench rested group achieved with carefully hand loaded ammunition.b) A 31∙75 mm group achieved with Nobel powder.

26 Guy West.indd 29 13/03/2014 10:25



to ‘a side-rail type receiver’), and played a part in the evolution of the ‘long-rail’ system. The dovetailed ‘U-shape’ top mount is made from high-grade material with a single lever (Spännarm) situated on the front of the base for locking. Windage/lateral adjustment is made by 3∙5mm screws located both sides to the rear of the dovetailed mount and pivot-screw located at the base of the front. After removing the scope, and loosening all the aforesaid screws very slightly, the scope is remounted and horizontal adjustment made by the two screws located on both sides of the mount. Once adjustment has been ascertained, the scope is removed and the pivot-screw tightened.

The base-mount left face is marked with the ri� e’s full serial number* and secured to the receiver by three browned screws and two tapered pins as an added precaution. Due to inertia experienced with the m/41 after recoil, that forced the scope to jam forward, making it dif� cult to dismount. To alleviate this problem, the base-mount was modi� ed by the addition of a 90º adjustable stop. Surprisingly, the � nish of the base-mount is not up to the usual standard and the serial numbers applied in a haphazard way (possibly the surface � ats were heavily ground after welding adjustable stop?). With the base-mount in place, a � rm push on the lever locked the scope in place and each time the ri� e is � red, the recoil increased the forward tightening action. *The practice with earlier mounts was to stamp the unit’s serial number on the lower front face of the mount.

When not in use, the scope was placed in a sheet metal container (Fodral) painted dark green (Mörk Grön), with an adjustable leather strap for shoulder carriage. The container was partially lined with leather and the lid displayed the ri� e’s serial number. A set of russet leather scope lens covers (Linsskydd), connected with a strap, protected ocular and object lenses when attached to the ri� e.

CLEARING/CLEANING RODThe steel emergency clearing/cleaning rod is 699mm long with straight knurling and slotted for a strip of cloth or screwdriver* blade, threaded at the other end to hold it in place and to take an extension as the rod does not reach through the barrel’s entire length. To clean from the muzzle, a case-hardened rod guide was used to prevent damage to the crown. *If the bore cleaning brush jammed onto the rod a screwdriver blade could be inserted into the slot to provide increased leverage.

BARREL BANDSNeat in appearance, the front barrel-band and stunted bayonet attachment is an unusual design. Bayonet attachment is not a particularly robust arrangement and would have most likely proved this in combat. The transverse hole in the front barrel-band was intended for � tting a monopod, but was never of� cially adopted; it can be used to stack three ri� es with a clearing rod. The middle band with sling swivel* and front band are retained by underside band springs and the bands marked on the left side with the last three digits of the ri� e’s serial number and crown inspection stamp. *The review ri� e’s front swivel has been deliberately forced to the left at 70º so the sling is angled better to the left for ease of use. • To be continued.

both latter types made by Svenska Akkumulatoraktiebolaget junger, designed to replace the Ajack. *The AGA 3x magni� cation was inadequate over 600m.

AJACK M/41B SCOPE*The m/41 scope is calibrated for the m/41 139 grain bullet. Internal elevation is made by the straight knurled turret (internal adjustment is made by removing the two top screws on the cover plate). A simple straight knurled screw for locking elevation is mounted on the front of the low pro� le saddle. Turret bevelled surface marked from 1-8 and in 50 m from 1-6. The saddle is stamped with the maker’s name and power: ‘AJACK 4x90’ on right side, and on the left serial number and date and a Swedish Crown ‘Nr. 3590/1942B’. The ‘B’ was added in 1955, denoting retro� tting and blooming of ocular and object lens. The ‘90’ denotes the scale of luminosity. A covered external knurled collar with diopter scale graduated -3, 2, 1, 0 to 1, 2, 3 +. When the focus was adjusted and set to the particular requirement of the shooter, the captive rubber boot was rolled back over to secure it and render it waterproof. The German post provides a consistent and sharp picture and is similar to a blade foresight. Furthermore, it is conspicuous in poor light. The scope came with high-quality russet leather lens protectors (Linsskydd). Eye relief of the review ri� e is 76∙2mm, and this can vary slightly depending on the positioning of the scope. *Ajack scopes with similar mounts have been noted on SS short side rail Karabiner ’98s.

MOUNT AND BASE-MOUNT (SHORT-SIDE RAIL), M/41BThe German company of J.P. Sauer was possibly the � rm which developed the ‘short-rail’ (incidentally, commonly referred

ABOVE: Cartridge collage: a 10 round box of m/94 cartridges manufactured by Karlsborg on 12 April 1923, using ‘ri� e powder III. The cartridge to the right of the m/94 Skarp Patron is hand loaded to sharpshooters Torped m/41 (Prickskytte) speci� cation by the authors for ballistic testing. Cartridges in charger are commercial loading. The hand loaded cartridges provided best accuracy for the review ri� e.

LEFT: a) Side view of ‘auxiliary low light’ foresight for m/96, m/38 and m/41B with foresight protector removed.b) Front view. c) Fitted to an m/96.d) Leatherette holder.e) Rear sight side view.f) Front view.g) Fitted to a rear sight calibrated for m/41 Torped bullet.

a

b

c

d

ef

g

26 Guy West.indd 30 13/03/2014 10:08


Cased C1860 .38 bore Transitional Revolver, Deane Adams London.Lairds Pat ...£1475.001870 12mm Pinfire Military Revolver, lanyard Ring, Foliate Engraving. .................£495.001870 9mm Pinfire, Overcoat Revolver, Folding Trigger, Octagonal Barrel ...............£395.001894 Martini Henry 577 x 450 Mk II, Mac Gibbon Glasgow -, Webley & Scott .......£895.00Military Vetterli Model 1878 .41 RF Bolt Action Rifle by Waffenfabric Bern ............£875.001887 MK IV Martini Henry .577 x 450 Long Lvery Service Rifle. All Original ..........£895.00C 1823 Bunce of Wantage Flintlock Pocket Pistol with .47 bore turn-off Barrel .....£575.00Winchester Model 1894 .32-40 Lever Action Repeating Rifle dates to 1925 .......£2200.001886 Marlin Model 1881 40-60 Lever Action Rifle, Octagonal 28 inch barrel ......£1975.00C 1860 Manton Percussion Shotgun, Damascus barrel & German silver mounts ..£495.001888 M 1871 / 84 Mauser 11mm Military Rifle, tube magazine, Regt Marked ......£895.001853 Patt 3 band .577 Enfield Rifle, dated 1856 to Royal 1st Warwickshire Regt .£975.00Sharps 1859 Patent .30 RF, 4 barrel brass framed derringer. All original. ..............£845.00Mortimer Gunmaker to the King .60 Dueling Pistol Flintlock conv to perc............£1575.00 Durs Egg London Post 1772 Duelling Pistol Flintlock conv to Percussion............£1175.00Corrie Hitchin 10 bore Perc Fowling Piece, walnut stock, Damascus barrel ...........£875.001860-65 Reeves London Webley Bentley .41” 5x shot Percussion Revolver ..........£975.00Westley Richards No2Musket 500/450 Cape Rifle, Hollis & Sons Birmingham ....£1350.00Tranter’s Pat. Cogswell & Harrison London .38 RF Military / Police Revolver........£1850.001886 Marlin Model 1881 40-60 Lever Action Rifle, Octagonal 28 inch barrel. .....£1975.00Dooley Liverpool 1836-64 .90” cal 6 shot bar hammer Pepperbox, silver frame .£1195.001850 Henry Nock London Pair Fluted Barreled Percussion Pocket Pistols ...........£1200.001845 White & Bates London Transitional Bar Hammer .32 bore 6 shot Revolver ...£675.001863 Imperial Russian Crimea Brunswick Rifle for Sharp Shooters Excellent ......£4750.00Allen & Thurber Worcester Self Cocking Pepperbox Revolver. .31 cal, 6 shot .........£795.00C 1850 12mm Pinfire Military Revolver, ‘Unschuld Ede Pesen’. Decorated ...........£495.00

OVER 500 DEACTIVATED GUNS AVAILABLE1918 Luger & Holster, All Matching Incl Mag & Holster, Stripping Tool .................£1650.00Old Spec 1928A1 Thompson SMG, British Issue, Fore Grip & 30 Rnd Mag .........£1695.00WW1 Canadian Ross Straight Pull Model 1910 Rifle, Regimentally Marked ...........£975.00Hembrug 1921 Dutch Mannlicher Cavalry Carbine & Model 1895 Bayonet ...........£750.00WW2 Vickers HMG and Stand, Ammo Belt, inert Ammo. Excellent Cond ..............£2750.00Argentinian Model 1891 Rifle by Loewe Berlin & Original Weyersberg Bayonet. ....£575.001918 Lithgow No 1 MK III .303 Rifle with Patt 07 Bayonet, Scabbard & Sling ........£795.001914 Colt 1911 .45 ACP Pistol, Converted to 1911A1 WW2, Excellent Example .£1395.00 Rare 1943 German Zinc Alloy 27mm Signal Pistol by Carl Walther. VGC. ...............£475.00Boer War British Trench Flare Pistol by James Pain & Sons. Brass Framed ...........£395.00Suez Capture Old Spec Egyptian Hakim Semi Auto Rifle and Bayonet. VGC. ..........£745.001917 SMLE .303 Calibre Rifle & Sling, original wood work, very good cond. .........£475.00HK 41 Old Spec Heckler & Koch G3 Varient Assault Rifle and Scope. ...................£1450.001971-88 Model 59 S & W Double Action 9mm Pistol, Military & Police. .................£595.001917 Imperial German G98 Amberg Arsenal Service Rifle, original wood. ............£795.00No5 Jungle Carbine ROF (F) .303 with sling. All original parts & Wood. ..................£675.001942 Australian Cane Sugar Factory Sydney MK III* Brass Flare / Signal Pistol .....£375.00Sig Sauer P225 Swiss 9mm Pistol, original box, JP Sauer & Sohn. Excellent. ........£795.00Old Spec HK 41 Heckler & Koch Assault Rifle, Scope & Mounts, Limited Prod .....£1450.00PpSh 41 Old Spec Chinese early 1950’s French Indo China / Viet Nam. ................£675.00Long Lee Enfield .303 Rifles Boer War Period, Charger & non Charger Loading.....£795.00Old Spec M 1918 BAR Browning Automatic Rifle, Royal Typewriter Co. ...............£1850.00S&W Model 10 Military & Police .38 spl Revolver , near mint condition. ............. £475.00Boxed Astra .357 Mag, ‘Highway Patrolman’ Stainless Steel, impressive. .............£495.00

ANTIQUE & OBSOLETE CALIBRE DEACTIVATED GUNS

Wide-ranging collection of Prussian arms “from the crowbar to the firing pin-defensio rifle”, over 500 edged weapons of the 16th to 20 Century., thereby swords, cutlasses, sabers, broadswords, military. Cutlasses, bayonets and daggers with greatest rarities, many Damastwaffen. Superb range of over 100 Helmets. General uniforms, cuirasses, pieces of equipment. Orders and decorations German and foreign states. An extensive collection of rare children’s uniforms from 1880 to 1935. High-quality historical uniform plants and military history. Lineol and Elastolinsoldaten. Reservists jugs and pipes. Varia, spare parts and time history of the 20th Century. Paintings, prints and bronzes.

The rich in colour illustrated catalogue published on 9 April, Shipping after payment 20 - EUR, catalogue sheets on our website.

126 AUCTION – 3 MAY 2014 – 12 CLOCK Ancient Weapons – Militaria – Medal – History


THE GUNMAKERS OF OXFORD


INTRODUCTION

In our previous article we examined the development and growth of gunmaking in Oxford during the 17th and 18th centuries. In terms of activity

and the number of people involved, it appears that the gun trade continued to � ourish in Oxford throughout the 19th and into the early part of the 20th

century. A total of 27 names are listed but these are concentrated mainly in three or four businesses, often involving more than one generation of the same family. Other names appear brie� y and then disappear from view. The main sources of information are the registers of apprentices and freemen but the trade directories, such as those published by Pigot, yield some useful information about the locations of their premises. Generally, these were in the centre of the city.

THE BROWN FAMILY (SOMETIMES SPELT BROWNE)This dynasty spanned a period of nearly 100 years. The � rst Martin Brown, son of John Brown, barber of Oxford University, was apprenticed to

Thomas Barnett in 1766 and made free in 1773/4. Subsequent generations of the family followed in the business until 1868. All these are recorded as trading in the High Street.• Martin Brown, High Street, 1804, & son 1823-52 • Martin Brown (eldest son of Martin Brown), apprenticed in 1794, free in 1799 • Martin Brown, Senior and Junior, St Peter’s in the East (1802 Freemans Poll)• Richard Brown (second son of Martin Brown), free in 1806• Brown & Son (gunmakers) High Street (Underhill’s Directory 1816)• Richard Brown, 68 High Street (Pigot’s Directory 1823 -1830, Robson’s Commercial Directory 1839, Vincent’s Oxford Directory 1835 and Hunt & Co’s Oxford Directory 1846)• William Brown (eldest son of Martin Brown Junior), free in 1826• John Brown (second son of Martin Brown Junior), free in 1826• Charles Brown (third son of Martin Brown Junior), free in 1826• Turner Crockett Brown (eldest son

of Richard Brown), free in 1830• Henry Brown (sixth son of Richard Brown) free in 1868• Richard Brown, gunmaker, St Peters in the East (1802 Freemans Poll and 1834 HFO)

THE SYKES FAMILY Several Sykes gunmakers are recorded as working in Oxford in the 19th century, spanning two or three generations; they were active from 1804 to 1830. Samuel Sykes is listed in 1804, but it is not clear what his relationship was to James Sykes, who succeeded him. James was trading in the High Street from 1810 to 1816 and as James Sykes & Son from 1823 to 1830, according to the Trade Directory (James Sykes, gunsmith, St Mary the Virgin -1802 Freemans Poll).

James Sykes Junior was apprenticed to his father in 1817. James Sykes Senior died and his will was proved in 1824. Pigot’s New Commercial Directory for 1823 and 1830 lists James Sykes in the High Street. The Oriel Plan of Oxford for 1814 shows No 94 High Street as ‘being occupied by a Mr Sykes’. The business continued at least until 1839, when James Sykes, gunmaker, is mentioned in a lease.

EXAMPLES OF SYKES’S WORKTrade label of Sykes, gunmaker, High Street, Oxford. See Fig.1

Fig 1

THE GUNMAKERS OF OXFORD Part 2

By John Evans and Brian Godwin

Peter’s in the East (1802 Freemans Poll)• Richard Brown (second son of Martin Brown), free in 1806• Brown & Son (gunmakers) High Street (Underhill’s Directory 1816)

Oxford Directory 1835 and Hunt & Co’s Oxford Directory 1846)• William Brown (eldest son of

Fig 2

32 Evans and Godwin.indd 32 13/03/2014 10:08


A three-barrelled tap action pistol with brass body and barrels, 7⅜’ overall with muzzles cut for a key, signed Sykes, Oxford, c.1800 (US auction sale). See Fig.2

A cased pair of half-stocked � intlock duelling pistols with octagonal 22 bore barrels signed Sykes, Oxford in gold and struck with Irish registration marks DC 4909 & 4910 for Dublin City, signed locks with French cocks, roller frizzens and waterproof pans (courtesy of Dominic Vincent of Garth Vincent, also illustrated in Guns Review July 1991). See Figs.3-4

An 18 bore � intlock pistol with folding bayonet, c.1815, half-stocked, octagonal barrel with gold line and platinum touch-hole, signed Oxford, detented lock signed Sykes with rainproof pan and roller frizzen,

Birmingham proof marks (Bonhams 18 April 2012, lot 232). See Fig.5

A pair of ‘top-hat’ percussion pistols of � ne quality, iron frames signed Sykes, Oxford, c.1825, each nipple with sprung cap retainer, � nely chequered grips with silver lion-mask butt caps, Birmingham proof marks (courtesy of Scotney Castle, National Trust). See Figs.6-8

THOMAS BECKLEYThomas Beckley, who was apprenticed to James Sykes, was made free in 1831 and had a shop in the High Street in 1835 (Vincent’s Oxford Directory 1835). He may have taken over the Sykes premises. Thomas Beckley, gunmaker, St Peters in the East (Householders and Freemen of Oxford 1834).

Trade label of Beckley, High St, Oxford (courtesy of Henry Krank). See Fig.9

JOHN AND JAMES FORREST• James Forrest is listed in the High Street, 1804-16, Magpie Lane 1823 (Pigot) and Oriel Lane in 1829-30 (Pigot)• James Forrest, gunsmith, St Peter-le-Bailey (1802 Freemans Poll) • John Forrest, Senior, gunmaker, Holywell (1802 Freemans Poll and 1834 HFO)• John Forrest was involved in a trial in 1803 (said to be living at the same address as John Collis Junior and William Dupe).• John Forrest had three sons made free in 1818, 1820 and 1841. All were identi� ed as ‘son of John Forrest, gunsmith’.• James Forrest had four sons made free, one in 1830 and three in 1850.

with rainproof pan and roller frizzen, Trade label of Beckley, High St, Oxford (courtesy of Henry Krank). See Fig.9

free, one in 1830 and three in 1850.

Fig 4

Fig 5

Fig 7

Fig 8

Fig 3

Fig 6




All were identi� ed as ‘son of James Forrest, gunsmith’.• James Charles Forrest, gunmaker, Oriel Lane (Vincent’s Oxford Directory 1835) and Magpie Lane (1834 HCO)

WILLIAM DUPE, ST ALDATES, 1810-33. William Dupe was rather different from his peers since he came to Oxford already established as a gunmaker and inventor. He appears to have led a particularly eventful and somewhat troubled life. Born in Somerset in 1749, he � rst came to notice in the gun trade in London in July 1798 when he patented a

became a Freeman of the city in 1805, thus being allowed to set up his own business. In 1812 he was declared bankrupt and imprisoned. However, undeterred, he continued in business and Underhill’s Directory for 1816 records him as trading at St Aldates. Pigot’s New Commercial Directory for 1823 and 1830 show him at the same address.

His business apparently prospered and he took on an apprentice, William Pether, who became free in 1827. Dupe was granted a patent in 1831, together with William Bingham, ‘for certain improvements to � rearms of different descriptions’. Another invention was advertised in the Oxford Journal of 1833 for ‘a newly invented gunlock so constructed as to prevent the possibility of all accidents whatever’. H i s

address was given as St Clements. According to an article in the Gentleman’s Magazine at the time of his death at the age of 95 years in 1843,

he was involved in many other aspects

of 19th c e n t u r y

activities, such as ballooning, railways and the Temperance

movement.

Numerous examples of Dupe’s work have been recorded, the best known of which is the 14-barrelled gun for Colonel Thornton (see Blackmore p. 85). In the early 19th century he used Birmingham barrels struck with the ‘tombstone’ mark. It was suggested (wrongly) by Pollard, and others, that this was Dupe’s own personal mark, an error which is continually cited today (see B. Godwin and J. Evans, ‘Why the Tombstone? – unusual marks on Birmingham guns’, Classic Arms & Militaria 2011).

EXAMPLES OF DUPE’S WORKA � intlock duelling pistol, c.1810, with octagonal Damascus twist barrel signed Wm Dupe in an oval gold cartouche, engraved bolted lock with roller frizzen, engraved iron furniture and set trigger, full-stocked with silver ovals to the barrel wedges and ramrod with powder charger. (Private Collection). See Figs.10 - 11

A cased pair of 32 bore percussion duelling pistols, c.1829, octagonal barrels signed in gold on the top � at and Birmingham proof marks, detented signed locks and silver furniture hallmarked for 1829 by Freeth & Jones (Bonhams 30 November 2011, Lot 530). See Fig.12

THE BECKHUSONSFrederick Rudolph Beckhuson, son of Frederick Rudolph and Sarah Beckhusen, sugar re� ner, was baptised on 27 April 1817 at the church of St James in Bristol. He set up in business at 6 St Aldate Street, Oxford in 1841, later going into partnership with his brother, William Alfred Beckhuson in 1846 (Hunt & Co’s Oxford Directory 1846). The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in 1849. Frederick Beckhuson remained in business until 1852.

LEFT: Fig 9

RIGHT: Fig 12

invented gunlock so constructed as to prevent the possibility of all accidents whatever’. H i s

address was given as St Clements. According to an article in the Gentleman’s Magazine at the time of his death at the age of 95 years in 1843,

he was involved in many other new method of manufac tur ing iron and steel for

gun barrels. This venture soon failed,

massive debts accumulated and an announcement in The London Gazette con� rmed the dissolution of his partnership with Henry Peter Stacy by mutual consent.

By 1803 he had moved to Oxford and is mentioned in an account of a trial at the Oxford Quarter Sessions together with John Collis Junior and James Forrest (see above). He

Fig 10

of 19th

c e n t u r y activities, such as ballooning,

railways and the Temperance

he was involved in many other aspects

Fig 11



EXAMPLES OF BECKHUSON’S WORKA cased pair of percussion overcoat or travelling pistols (courtesy of John Slough of London). These are boxlock, side-hammer pistols, � tted with spring

bayonets and cast silver butt caps, complete with a full set of accessories. See Fig.13-14

A pair of target or duelling pistols (courtesy of West Street Antiques). These are half stocked, with raked butts and no provision for ramrods, very much in the style of Purdey. See Fig.15

THE VENABLES FAMILYJohn Venables was at 21 St Aldates from

1846 to 1853 (Hunt & Co’s Oxford Directory 1846), and in partnership with his son (Sidney?) in 1868. The company traded as Venables & Son at 99, St Aldates Street until 1985 when the business closed. According to the Oxford Record Of� ce, the business began in 1790. An article in the Oxford Journal, c.1960, quoted a member of the Venables family as saying that ‘his grandfather had founded the business’.

EXAMPLES OF VENABLES’S WORK

A cased pair of percussion pocket pistols, c.1840, Birmingham proved and signed by Venables

of Oxford but almost certainly made in Birmingham (Rock Island Auctions USA December 2010, Lot 27). See Fig.16

EXAMPLES OF OTHER OXFORD GUNSMITHS AND RETAILERS WORK

FIELD A percussion pocket pistol with folding bayonet c.1840, Birmingham proved and signed by Field of Oxford (Skinner Auctions USA 2008). See Fig.17

PETHERA pair of percussion pocket pistols, c.1840, turn-off Birmingham proved barrels signed Pether, Oxford, bag shaped grips with silver oval escutcheons (courtesy of Gun & Sports Shop, Exeter). See Fig.18

WEBB A cased revolver in .32 RF calibre c.1865, nickel plated and engraved frame, blued barrel and cylinder with Birmingham proof marks, the case label with the name and address of George Webb, Oxford (courtesy of James Francis Antiques, USA). See Fig.19

For a list of other 19th-century makers see Appendix 1.

CONCLUSIONThe city of Oxford continued to grow and � ourish in the 19th century, with the development of canal and rail communications, local industries such as printing and, of course, the prestige and in� uence of the University. With the resulting increase in trade and wealth in the city, it is not surprising that the local gunsmiths shared in

bayonets and cast silver butt caps, complete with a full set of accessories. See Fig.13-14

A pair of target or duelling pistols

1846 to 1853 (Hunt & Co’s Oxford Directory 1846), and in partnership with his son (Sidney?) in 1868. The company traded as Venables & Son at 99, St Aldates Street until 1985 when the business closed. According to the Oxford Record Of� ce, the business began in 1790. An article in the c.1960, quoted a member of the Venables family as saying that ‘his grandfather had founded the business’.

EXAMPLES OF VENABLES’S WORK

A cased pair of

LEFT: Fig 13RIGHT: Fig 14

Fig 15

Fig 16




SourcesBailey, D. W. & Nie, D, English Gunmakers, London, 1978.Blackmore, Howard, Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350-1850, London, 1986.Brown, Nigel, British Gunmakers Volume 2, Shrewsbury, 2005.Craft Guilds – a History of the County of Oxford Volume 4, 1979The Gentleman’s Magazine 1843 – article by Sylvanus Urban on the life of William Dupe Householders & Freemen of Oxford 1834 (HFO 1834)

AcknowledgementsScotney Castle (National Trust); Oxford Archives; Oxford History Centre; The London Gazette; The National Archives; Stan Cook; Dave Stroud of Ramrod Antiques; John Slough of London; Dominic Vincent of Garth Vincent; Henry Krank; David Williams and Bonhams of London; Rock Island Auctions; Bill Baldock.

this prosperity. However, the gun trade was concentrated in a few families, located mainly in the commercial centre. An admittedly limited examination of some of their surviving products suggests that the emphasis had shifted from bespoke production for relatively wealthy clients in the 17th and 18th centuries to a broadening of the market and the � nishing, retailing and repairing of guns and pistols that originated for the most part in Birmingham.

Some of the examples seen are of high quality but this is re� ected

more in the degree of � nishing applied to a fairly standardised range of products rather than in the ‘house style’ of the gunmaker. This is particularly marked in the case of pocket pistols, which appear to follow a few basic formats; these were embellished or re� ned to suit the needs and pocket of the customer, e.g. the quality and extent of the engraving or the inclusion of special features such as safety catches, spring bayonets, decorative butt caps etc.

The transition from � intlock to percussion meant that serviceable arms could be produced more


more in the degree of � nishing more in the degree of � nishing

LEFT: Fig 17

RIGHT: Fig 18

Fig 19

• W.& S. Rooke, gunmakers 1831; bill of sale advertising carbines, cartridge boxes and police swords

• William Field, Bear Lane, 1841-44 (Robson’s Commercial Directory 1839)

• Thomas Sayer, gunsmith, St Peter-le-Bailey, 1802 Freemans Poll

• Thomas Sawyer, gunsmith, Queen Street, Oxford, will proved in 1831

• Thomas Sides, St Aldates Street 1829, listed in Pigot’s 1830 Directory, also William Sides

• William Pether, apprenticed to William Dupe, free in 1826, at St Aldates Street, 1829-52 (Vincent’s Oxford Directory 1835, Robson’s Commercial Directory

1839 and Hunt & Co’s Oxford Directory 1846)

• George Metcalfe, Headington, Oxford • William Fidler, gunsmith 1856,

declaration of £50 mortgage payment • George Walter Webb, 19 High Street,

1862-69 and at 16 High Street c.1870 to c1886 (then moved to Hull). Frank Edward Webb (probably his son) continued at the same address until c.1897

• Charles Quinn Hamshaw, 15 Grove Street, c.1878

• Robert Scragg, is listed in the 1881 census as a ‘gunmaker’, born 1817

• Joseph Titley Palmer, gunmaker, Pembroke Street, St Ebbes (1834 HFO)

APPENDIX 1 - OTHER 19th CENTURY GUNMAKERSIN OXFORD

cheaply since the skills requirement was reduced. In the second half of the century, the demand for single and double-barrelled pistols declined rapidly with the availability of percussion and later breech-loading revolvers, manufactured by a few specialised British makers, e.g. Adams, Tranter, Webley or copies of American arms such as Smith & Wesson. These, of course, were signed with the name of the ‘gunsmith’ or rather the retailer who had placed the order. Thus, the individual distinctive touches of the earlier makers had given way to the need to supply a reliable product at a competitive price. Indeed, this was typical of the development and eventual decline of the British gun trade as a whole in provincial centres in the 19th and early 20th centuries.



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The year 2014 is the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. Whilst it is remembered for many aspects

– pioneering military aviation, artillery barrages, dreadnought battleships etc. – it is the horror of trench warfare which shapes the remembrance of that great con� ict in the imaginations of many people. The proximity of the combatants in such a form of warfare led to the development of all types of close-quarter weapon, especially the hand grenade.

Grenades were used quite extensively during the English Civil War especially during sieges. As they were made mainly from cast iron, their fragments were dangerous at long ranges restricting their use to defensive actions. Some were made from ceramics and were intended as incendiaries which would break upon impact, scattering their burning contents.

From the late 17th century onwards, armies concentrated upon the development of grenadier companies in infantry battalions. They were composed of tall, picked men whose function was to throw grenades in support of other troops. Again the ballistic performance of grenades made them as hazardous to the thrower as to the enemy when used in the open � eld. Consequently, the grenadier companies metamorphosed into elite shock troops and several companies from different regiments were brigaded together.

During the 18th century, the infantry’s attention was focussed on the light companies’ role and the grenadiers remained as the battalion’s shock troops. Grenades were used extensively during naval warfare where they proved useful in boarding actions. It is said that during the battle of Flamborough Head

in 1779, a grenade may have helped to decide the action in the US Navy’s favour. It is said that one was was thrown down the hatch of HMS Seraphis from the US Navy’s Bonnehomme Richard and the resulting explosion set off a pile of ready-use cartridges, wounding many men and dismounting � ve guns.

The � uid nature of warfare during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars restricted the use of grenades to sieges. Sometimes defending troops rolled ignited mortar shells down glacis slopes to impede their attackers. In fact, it is often hard to tell whether a hollow cast iron sphere is a large hand grenade or a small mortar bomb.

The American Civil War (1861-65) saw a revival in the use of hand grenades with several patent types in use. Scott’s Military Dictionary of 1865 de� ned a hand grenade as ‘a small shell about 2 ½“ in diameter which being set on � re by means of a short fuze and cast among the enemy’s troops causes great damage by its explosion.’ The Federal attack on Port Hudson in June 1864 was based on two waves of assault troops. The � rst was to act as

skirmishers and the second – three paces to their rear – carried grenades to be thrown into the Confederate

works. This was not very successful and many grenades either failed to explode or were thrown back. The assault failed with heavy losses.

The Adams grenade – US Patent 45806

of 5 January 1865 – had a friction igniter attached to

a strap secured to the wrist. When the grenade was thrown, the strap caused the friction igniter to set off the grenade’s time fuse. This was a precursor to the French 1914 grenade of World War I. The Ketchum grenade – US Patent 33089 of 20 August 1861 – resembled a large dart with cardboard � ns. It was generally ineffective and dif� cult to use. The Hanes Excelsior grenade – US Patent 36295 of 26 August 1862 – was an iron sphere � tted with 14 musket nipples each with a cap. It was contained in a spherical outer case and when thrown the impact caused one percussion cap to set off the powder charge. Unsurprisingly, it was dangerous to handle and few were made. At Vicksburg the Confederates � lled bottles with gunpowder and musket balls to make improvised grenades.

HAND GRENADESCollecting

By Bill Harriman

British ri� e launched grenades. No. 68 Anti Tank, No 36 Mills and Kynoch .303 blank launching cartridges.

LEFT: German Model 1917 stick grenade.

RIGHT: British No 69 Bakelite grenade with replacement tape activated fuze.

39 Bill.indd 39 13/03/2014 10:09

COLLECTING HAND GRENADES


Grenades were used during the Russo-Japanese War and really paved the way for their proli� c use during World War I. Between 1914 and 1918 the British produced some 47 different grenades – fragmentation, offensive, defensive, smoke, incendiary, ri� e launched and a � edgling anti-tank. The Mills bomb was � rst developed and went on to become an iconic grenade which was still in service in the 1970s.

World War I alone is a major, highly rewarding period of study in grenade history. The Germans had both blast grenades as well as fragmentation ones and ri� e grenades. The French too were well found in the grenade department and had the excellent Viven-Bessières grenade that was launched from a cup – known as a tromblon – on a ri� e. The VB was revolutionary because of its through bullet design. The bullet passed through a tube in the grenade’s centre. In so doing it hit a small striker which ignited the time fuse. The gas from the cartridge propelled the grenade some 200 yards. The Americans used the VB as well, � red from their Spring� eld M1903 and P17 ri� es. Both the French and Americans combined groups of VB grenadiers with Chauchat automatic ri� es to form highly effective machine gun hunter teams. Hand grenades were dropped from aircraft as small aerial bombs. World War I is a highly rewarding period of study in grenade history.

The Second World war saw major grenade developments with some 30 different types, including effective anti-tank grenades. More plastics were used, e.g. the No 69 grenade, both for ease of manufacture and lightness. By this time the difference between offensive and defensive grenades was well understood. An offensive grenade can be thrown in the open as its fragments are not dangerous past the throwing range. Its aim is to disorientate the enemy so that he can be attacked with the bayonet as the thrower runs into the blast from his grenade. The fragments of an offensive grenade are dangerous at much greater ranges than it can be thrown so it must always be thrown from cover.

After the war, the nature of grenades changed and they generally

became smaller. Instead of producing a small number of large fragments, designers aimed to produce a large number of small ones. Whilst a fragment would probably not be lethal in itself, dealing with several small wounds ties up surgeons and lowers morale. The notched spring shrapnel generator in the British L2A1 grenade illustrates this principle. The same applies to plastics which are not detectable by X-rays. The introduction of the Energa anti-tank grenade, the spigot projector of which � tted � rst onto the No 4 ri� e and then onto the FN SLR, was intended to give every infantryman an anti-tank capability. The 58 Pattern webbing utility pouch had a special side holder for the Energa projector. In reality, this was more often used for those most vital of military implements, the knife, fork and spoon.

The bullet trap ri� e grenade allowed the soldier to launch his grenade without using a blank cartridge. The grenade tail has layers which allow the bullet from a Ball cartridge to use most of its energy to propel the grenade whilst holding it within the tail assembly. The US M1979 Grenade launcher was a speci� c grenade launching ‘gun’ which allowed the grenadier ,or ‘Thump Gunner’ as he was known, to engage targets with more accuracy than a thrown or ri� e launched grenade. In time, it became the under slung grenade launcher � tted to many of the world’s assault ri� es.

Grenades have been military weapons as long as gunpowder � rearms have existed, making them one of the oldest weapons in history still in use today. For all that

warfare is becoming increasingly impersonal, with drones, guided rockets and smart artillery, the only soldier who can take and hold ground is the infantryman; and he is still armed with bayonet and grenades to ful� l that task.

As I said earlier, a study of grenades is very rewarding. There are some excellent books of which Grenade – British and Commonwealth Hand and Ri� e Grenades by Rick Landers, Norman Bonney and Gary Oakley is probably the best. A skim through specialist booksellers’ catalogues will produce other titles.

Google Patents will turn up earlier US Patent grenades from the Civil War period. In British Patent law, grenade speci� cations are found in Class 9 Ammunition. The internet has hundreds of good sites which deal with grenades.

Collecting inert grenades is quite lawful and most militaria dealers have assorted types in stock. As ever thematic collections are preferable but budget and availability will dictate most collectors’ efforts. Some people simply prefer to have a grenade or two as a complementary item for other objects in their collection. For example, a Lee En� eld No 4 ri� e with its accoutrements and accessories is beautifully complemented by a No 36 Mills bomb.

Grenade launching cups and spigot launchers have uncertain legal status. Some aver they are grenade launchers in their own right and thus caught by Section 5 of the Firearms Act as prohibited weapons. I have another view. In my opinion they are accessories to a � rearm. The only � rearm accessories that are licensed are sound moderators or � ash hiders. Ipso facto, grenade launching cups and spigots are not covered by the

LEFT: British No 3 Hales rodded grenade

RIGHT: Post WW2 Grenades including lime coloured “Limonka”

French WW 1 Viven Bessieres grenade with restored paintwork

39 Bill.indd 40 13/03/2014 10:09


Firearms Act. I know of one man who was convicted of possessing an Energa launcher for a No 4 ri� e. Conversely, I know of another who was acquitted of possessing a cup launcher for an SMLE. Both of these are only � rst instance decisions and create no precedent. By way of expanding the argument, any ri� e will discharge a rodded grenade using a suitable blank. Does that make every ri� e a grenade launcher? No, it does not and it would be legally unsustainable to say so. I’m happy to say that grenade launching blank cartridges are not caught by the Firearms Act.

Some grenades are not in the best of condition and this raises the issue

of restoration. My view is that it is better to have a cosmetically sound grenade where the level of original � nish has degenerated to the degree that it has become unattractive. For example, I had a VB grenade that someone had painted navy blue. As far as I can ascertain, they were either black or black with a red top. I opted for the latter. My pal Peter Cormack recommended matt oil paint as this can be buffed up to simulate age when dry. The results look great.

A trip to Halfords or to a model

shop will often produce a can of spray paint that is a good match for the original. Stencilled lettering can be cut out of clear sticky-backed plastic and used as an adhesive stencil with spray paint. Spare parts or good modern reproductions can

be found at militaria fairs or even on eBay.

Grenades take up very little display space and look good

en masse. Spherical ones and others with projections on their base look good on the turned wooden bases

used for model soldiers. I’ve found that the Russian MiniArt

70mm brown plastic bases for � gures make attractive and

inexpensive display s t a n d s . If you want more stability, � ll the base with plaster of Paris and � nish with some sticky-backed baize.

Grenade collecting is a very absorbing part of militaria collecting. It can be as cheap or expensive as your means will allow. Be warned, however; it is highly addictive and one grenade is never enough.

Rare British No 1 Mk II stick grenade c. 1914

British WW1 No 19 stick grenade

19th century cast iron hand grenade and WW2 Japanese ceramic grenade.

est. 1995

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39 Bill.indd 41 13/03/2014 10:10

NEZAM ARMY


Abbas Mirza (a Persian Crown Prince and Governor of the Persian province of Azerbaijan, 1789-

1833), admiring the military reforms of the neighbouring Ottoman Sultan Selim III, is credited historically as an early moderniser of the Persian Army. He organised the � rst modern

Persian Army, calling it the Nezam, along European lines (the same as the Ottoman New Model Army, in the same period). Doing so, he attracted French, then British, instructors

(mainly from India), and also sent Persian students abroad to study modern military affairs.

Although there is great interest in Iran (one of the world oldest surviving states and oldest surviving militaries) by a growing

number of enthusiasts and collectors, little is known about the � rst modern Persian Army, beginning in 1807. There are some early accounts (from 1812-13) that state:The uniform consists of

a green cloth coat with red collar and cuffs, yellow buttons,

wide pants of cotton, and boots. In addition, in winter each man is given a kind of short cloak of very thick woollen material, the outside of which is a shaggy � eece like a goat’s. ... (Georgians and Circassians call this a ‘burka’, and the Persians - an ‘yepanchei’) ... All leather equipment is white; the majority of muskets are English.’ (Aleksandr Kibovskii and

Vadim Yegorov [Translated by Mark Conrad, 1998]. The Persian Regular Army of the First Half of the 19th Century. Part 1, Tseikhgauz [Zeughaus], No. 5, 1996, pp. 20-25. ISSN 0868-801 X).

From the beginning, the Persian Army adopted a unique uniform style fusing Persian with European fashions, as can be seen in Fig.1. Later in the period (probably from the 1880s), this remarkable Iranian ‘spiked-shako’ is part of the Turkish National Army Museum’s collection and illustrates this fusion. The development of the � rst European-based uniform fashions adopted by the Persian Nezam Infantry (1807-48), can be traced to the 1807 ‘� rst French mission’, and involves only one item of clothing: soldiers adopted a blue (faded to light blue) French army buttoned shell-jacket (Figs.2: A, and 3: L-M). This garment typically had red collars and cuffs. Other shell-jacket colours – yellow, dark green, dark blue and red – have been noted (Fig.3: H-J-K), for each battalion; the collar and cuffs remained a different colour from the shell-jacket (Kibovskii and Yegorov). This illustrates that the Persians were also in� uenced by Ottoman New Model Army uniforms of the same

NEZAM ARMY 180748

� e Persian (Iran)

By Chris Flaherty

LEFT: Figure 1

BELOW: Figure 2

Dr Chris Flaherty 11 February 2014

42 Chris Flaherty.indd 42 13/03/2014 10:10


period, where each regiment had a distinctive uniform colour.

These shell-jackets remained in service for nearly 50 more years. It was only in the 1830s that senior of� cers’ frock coats appeared usually red, with ‘Russian’ gold embroidery (Fig.2: F-G), and these were not adopted by soldiers until the 1850s.

Soldiers, like the Ottomans in the same period, wore broad cloth waistbands, which were typically red (Figs.3: M). However, white has also been noted.

PERSIAN BLACK SHEEPSKIN HATFrom the beginning, the early Persian Army was distinctive in adapting the traditional tall Persian black sheepskin hat (called a Telpek). This was shaped like a tall truncated cone. Modern research states these were about 30cm/12inches high (Kibovskii and Yegorov). However, period illustrations show versions much higher than this, and clearly crumpled over, indicating that there was little internal framing other than the wool lining shown at the top of the hat (this was generally red, though white was also used). Comparatively, a British grenadier’s cap, from the base of the hat to the highest point is 43cm (17in).

PERSIAN SHOULDER INSIGNIAFig.3: L shows another uniquely Persian version of military insignia – a cloth shoulder-strap that ended in a large diamond, with a fringe, and

which draped over the shoulder. By 1830, large red fabric (French-style) epaulettes were used (Figs.2: E, and 4: Q). In 1817, shoulder wings, or rolls, appeared (introduced by the British) and these were worn probably till 1830 (Fig.3: M).

Full-metal epaulettes were also ultimately developed by the Persians. Made completely from metal (including the simulated epaulette fringe), these are unique to the Iranian 19th-century military uniforms. More senior of� cers wore versions set with precious gemstones and rock-cut crystal. These probably developed from of� cers � rst using gold epaulets of British, and later Russian, origin.

BRITISH INTRODUCED UNIFORM RANK INSIGNIAFrom 1810-13, the British mission, appear to have introduced:

• Of� cers wore British Army waist sashes (Figs.2: A-F).

• British-pattern yellow NCO sleeve chevrons (discussed below).

• The use of wide chest tape-stripes (Figs.2: E and 4: Q-S).

POST-1830 PERSIAN NEZAM INFANTRY

In the 1830s, the Nezam Infantry in Azerbaijan consisted of 12,000 infantry, divided into ten Iranian and two Russian regiments. The Russian regiments were composed of deserters and came mainly from the Russian army in Georgia. The Russian

soldiers, who went into Persian service, were well paid, and regarded as expert warriors.

RUSSIAN INFANTRY IN PERSIAN SERVICE (1835-37)In the 1830s, the two Russian regiments in Persian service were described as guard regiments. In 1837, they were uniformed with red coats with light blue facing colour (Fig.3: H), a row of buttons on the breast, and dark green trousers with red side-stripes. The Russian infantry ‘wore a red KIVER (Russian) shako, with high green plumes’ (Kibovskii and Yegorov).

Little is known about these shakos; however, Fig.1 gives a general impression of the badge type used. Persian soldiers were largely expected to manufacture their own uniforms in the � rst half of the 19th century, and the Russian infantry of the time was no different, when it came to uniform maintenance; many collectors have noted expert repair work to period uniforms in Russia. It can be expected that the Russian infantry themselves modi� ed 1830s’ Russian KIVER shakos, re-covering these in red cloth and � tting them with cast Persian lion and sun badges (Fig.3: I), and green wool shako ‘pom-pom’ plumes.

THE MUSIC CORPSThe Music Corps wore red coats (Fig.2: E), as well as:

• Rows of yellow lace chevrons up the sleeves.


ABOVE: Figure 3


NEZAM ARMY


• White cap cords.• Drums were painted yellow

(or may have been made from brass). And red drum-hoops are sometimes illustrated (and these may have also remained brass).

In 1817, the musicians were also seen dressed in yellow jackets, with lace on the seams and arms and white cords on their caps, with a tassel hanging over the right shoulder (Kibovskii and Yegorov).

PERSIAN NEZAM ARTILLERY (1807-48)In 1812-13, the artillerymen’s uniforms consisted of a dark-blue (Prussian) dolman with red collar and lapels (which is a mistranslation and should be the cuffs) with yellow cords (Fig.4: P). This was described as similar to a British Royal Horse Artillery dolman (used in the same period). However, period illustrations also show a brown dolman, with wide chest tape-stripes in gold tape (Fig.4: Q-S). Period illustrations also show:

• A red wool shako ‘pom-pom’ plume � tted to the top of the traditional tall Persian black sheepskin hat (Telpek).

• The top-row tape decoration on the dolman collar has many small buttons attached running along the tape (Fig.4: O). The same button/tape is used on the cuff decoration, with a heavy wide gilt tape chevron. These may indicate the NCO rank (see discussion below).

The Nezam Artillery incorporated the traditional Persian camel-

mounted artillery, which was armed with the ‘zanburak’; there were two main types:

• A falconet-sized swivel cannon, � ring a 1/2-pound ball. This was mounted/attached to a camel’s pack-saddle, and taken off, for � ring from the ground.

• Zamburek of very small calibre, and � tted with a heavy wooden stock (like a wall gun), were simply � xed to the fork-rest and not taken off the camels, which during � ring were put on their knees. The saddle arch for such a falconet was bound in iron to withstand the recoil of � ring.

The Shah always had some 400 zambureks, and each prince ruling a province had about 200. Period illustrations show that a crew consisted of four gunners (three of whom walked), and one camel rider with a cannon, which indicates a force of 50 guns in a provincial unit of zambureks. As well, some

illustrations show at least two of the walking crew carrying the zamburek/wall-guns, in addition to the cannon.

Introduced by the British from India in 1810-13, was the addition of Congreve Rocket Batteries (Khorasani, Maouchehr, Mosthagh (2009), ‘Persian Firepower: Artillery’ Classic Arms & Militaria, Volume XVII Issue 2, p. 21). The British also introduced six-pounder � eld guns (single trail) from India in 1810-13 (although these had probably arrived as early as 1806 from the Bengal East Indian Company). These guns and crews/batteries are illustrated in the 1815-16 painting of ‘Persian Military Review with Fath Ali Shah and Abbas Mirza’, and the gun carriages are painted black (Fig.4: N). This force was organised as horse artillery, along British lines; it appears that the gunners’ horses had black shabracks, and the of� cers’ had red with gold embroidery and gold fringes (Fig.4: R).

ABOVE: Figure 4

BELOW: Figure 5





PERSIAN NEZAM CAVALRY (1817)The military reforms of the early Persian army included the organisation of one regular cavalry regiment/brigade, called the NIZAM-ATLI. This was largely a lancer regiment – four squadrons armed with lances, and one squadron armed with carbines.

Fig.5: T-V: the uniform of the lancers consisted of a light-blue cloth coat with red collar and cuffs. The lance was carried with a little scarlet � ag (not unlike the Ottoman lancer regiment also � rst organised during the military reforms). The cavalry shabracks, if used at all, are not as yet known; however, these were probably the same as those used by Persian irregular cavalry in this period (Fig.5: U).

PERSIAN NEZAM ARMY FLAGS (1813)In 1812-13 the � rst regimental � ags were adopted by the Persian Nezam Army:

Fig.5: V: a guidon for the regular cavalry regiment. It was the same as infantry � ags, but on light-blue cloth, and with a pole � nished with a sharp gilt spearhead.

Fig.2: G: the Nezam infantry regiment’s standard, in red with a gold lion couchant beside a rising sun, with the legend ‘SOLTAN EBN SOLTAN FATH – ALI SHAH QAJAR’ (and what appears to be a date/number 122). This was ornamented with silken white streamers and golden fringes. It had a silver hand � nial, signifying the hand of the Shah (this was used till around 1850).

PERSIAN NEZAM ARMY RANK SYSTEM (1807)Early in their military reforms the Persians adopted a simpli� ed rank system, based on European models, but which also included many Persian military traditions. Very little in the way of rank insignia was actually used, except for the wearing of gold epaulettes, and the company-grade

of� cers were distinguished from soldiers by a thin crimson silk sash (based on British Army patterns).

Fig.2: B-C-D, shows the relatively simple NCO ranks in 1817:

• VEKILS (Sergeants): Three yellow cloth chevrons on their sleeves.

• MUBASHIRS (Supply NCO): Two chevrons.

• DAKHBASHS (Corporal): One chevron.

Historically, these NCO ranks corresponded to the traditional Persian rank of DAH-BASI, who was a ‘Commander of 10 men’. Above these ranks, there were only four levels of of� cers (apart from the Generals/Princes who commanded the Persian armies), which also very much re� ected traditional Persian military organisation.

PRE-1807 POST-1807MIN-BASI: Commander of 1,000 men SARHANG: Colonel - Commanded

a regiment (1,000 men)

PANSAD-BASI: Commander of 500 men YAVAR: Major

YUZ-BASI: Commander of 100 men SOLTAN: Captain

PANJAH-BASI: Commander of 50 men NAIB: Lieutenant

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HIGHLAND SWORDSMANSHIP


The Scottish Highlanders of yore, through the Middle Ages and up to the mid-18th century, were renowned for being

heavily armed with hefty swords that could remove an arm or head with one swipe. But how good were they as swordsmen? Did they follow an established school of fencing as men in the more settled parts of Britain did? Or did they just seize their sword and slash about them till their clan enemy had lost too many limbs to continue the � ght?

That is what I am going to consider. The Highland clan era, when every man was his own policeman, judge and executioner, lasted for 600 years from the 13th-18th centuries. It was an oral society, so we have no Gaelic manuals of Highland sword � ghting. But all is not lost in the mists of time. We do have pictorial evidence.

We start with the 13th century because in it we have the earliest pictures of Highland swords engraved on tombstones from the islands of the Inner Hebrides. They show that in those early days, just after the Viking invasions of that area had faded into history, armed Highlanders carried Highland versions of the medieval

knights’ arming sword. Their hilts were copied, with differences, from Viking swords with which men fought with a slashing sword in the right hand and a round shield in the left. And it is arguable that the early Highlanders followed Viking methods of sword � ghting as much as they did Viking sword design.

When reading accounts of sword � ghts in the Icelandic sagas, it is noticeable that there is a high incidence of cuts to the leg. For 18th-century and later fencers, who used a single sword without a shield and the weapon itself is used to parry an incoming attack, the old sword and shield � ghting was regarded as primitive. Making a cut to the leg was very dangerous for them as it left the attacker’s upper body unprotected, but it was not if he had a shield.

When the attacker cuts below his shield he can move his shield simultaneously up higher to block a counter-attack, something that he cannot do with a single sword. This sword and shield way of � ghting continued in the Highlands till 1746. It is subtle and needs great co-ordination. Only a skilled swordsman can do it; Highland swordsmen must have been skilled.

Then, in the late Middle Ages, about 1370, an additional weapon, the hand-and-a-half sword, known variously as the longsword or the bastard sword, appeared. In southern Scotland it was called the hal� ang sword. We do not know its Gaelic name, if it had a speci� c one. It was

like the existing arming sword, which was still used, but slightly larger; it

could be used with two hands by a foot soldier and in one hand by a mounted one. In England and the Continent it was soon � tted with a � ne tapering blade that could be

slid into the joints of the new plate armour. But the Highlanders never fought on horseback and even the aristocracy were too poor to afford plate armour. So the Highland version of it retained the broad slashing blade of the early Middle Ages that was so effective against mail armour.

There were two published methods of how to use the longsword, the German and the Italian. They differed from each other mainly in their attitude to the use of the sword. The German was more aggressive and with it the sword was handled mostly at head height, while the Italian was rather more subtle with the sword blade at medium height. The Highlanders had close employment links as traders and mercenaries with Prussia and Central Europe, and none with Italy. So it is reasonable to conclude that they followed the teaching of the Germans Johannes Licchtenauer and Sigmund Ringeck when they used this sword, as the Highland Macleans of Duart did at Bannockburn in 1314.

The Highland two-handed sword appeared in the 16th century. The two-handed sword was a popular battle weapon in the � fteenth and sixteenth centuries, particularly on the Continent. With its blade of 45-51 inches (114-130 cms) and weight of 6-7 pounds (3-3.5 kilograms) it was slow in use and � ghting with it demanded great judgement. The Highland version was a lighter weapon.


� e Scottish Highlanders were famous for being armed to the teeth. But how good were they as swordsmen? Duncan Noble examines

the evidence and suggests answers

ABOVE: A replica of a Highland basket hilted broadsword with a Glasgow pattern of hilt by Armour Class of Yoker, Glasgow. This is the best generally known type of basket hilt and is the one used on present day British army claymores. The modern army claymores differ from clan-era broadswords, and this replica, in having a blade only one inch wide, in fact a rapier blade, instead of a 2 inches wide thin lethal slashing blade.

LEFT: Replica, from an engraving on a grave stone, of a 14th century Highland single handed sword by The Claymore Armoury, Ayrshire. No originals of this type of sword survive.

46 Duncan Noble.indd 46 13/03/2014 10:11


The Highland two-handed sword had a shorter blade than the English and European versions with on average a 39 inches (1 metre) blade which made it a faster weapon. It was the principal blade weapon in clan feuds and cattle ‘lifting’ raids till the end of the 17th century. It would appear to have been adopted by the Highlanders early in the 16th century, at a time when the two-handed sword was beginning to lose its popularity on the Continent. The last recorded use of it by Highlanders in battle was at Killiecrankie in 1689, when Viscount Dundee’s Highland army, supporting James II, cut to pieces a force supporting William of Orange.

No printed manual on how to use a two-handed sword survives but, allowing for its greater weight, the method of � ghting with it cannot have been very different from those in the several surviving texts on fencing with the longsword.

Then, towards the end of the 17th century, the Highland two-handed sword gave way to the basket hilted broadsword. The blades of many two-handed swords were cut down to broadsword length.

The two principal centres of hilt fabrication were Glasgow and Stirling. The Glasgow hilt has become the commonest one and is the style still found on modern British army Highland regiment of� cers’ broadswords. The Stirling hilt is more � amboyant and varies greatly in style, and the principal feature is wavy ornamental bars instead of the square junction plates pierced with round holes or heart shapes on Glasgo.

Most 18th-century Highland broadsword blades were two-edged, although single-edged back sword blades are found, as are even rarer curved ones. The back sword blades are usually � tted with Stirling hilts from 1700 onwards and were much favoured by Jacobite of� cers and of� cers of British army Highland regiments after 1745. Possibly of� cers followed the general European style

of fencing with single sword � ghting rather than the old Highland method of � ghting with broadsword in combination with targe and dirk. So they did not have the same need for a double-edged sword.

The clan swordsmen had broadswords in their right hands and on their left arms a targe, a 20-inches (51 cms) diameter round shield of two thin layers of wood covered with leather and decorated with brass nails and plates. Some had a 10-inches (25 cms) spike protruding from the central boss. In the left hand, the clansmen held their dirk, with an 18-inches (46 cms) blade that projected down below the targe.

A Lowland adventurer, The Chevalier de Johnstone, left an account of the ’45. He describes how the Highlanders were instructed that, should they face cavalry, they should strike not at the rider but at the horse’s nose; stampeding, wounded horses would immediately disrupt a cavalry force. So the Highlanders must have already had some training in sword � ghting.

The effective range of a smooth bore musket � ring at an individual was 60 yards. The British soldiers could keep up a steady � re of two rounds a minute. This took long, highly drilled training that was beyond the capability of the hastily raised Jacobite army and the Highland Charge was invented late in the 17th century as the best possible counter to controlled musket � re. It was supremely successful at Killiecrankie against an army that had not taught bayonet � ghting.

In the Highland Charge the Jacobite troops advanced to within 50 or 60 yards of the enemy and � red their muskets. The immediate effect was to produce an impenetrable white smokescreen before the front rank. The Jacobites threw down their empty muskets, drew their swords and charged through the smokescreen.

Historians have often criticised the Highlanders for

throwing down their muskets preparatory to a charge. But the clansmen were not about to stand and � ddle about with reloading and be mown down by rolling musket � re when they could charge out of the smoke and attack the enemy within seconds. The clansman regarded himself as a gentleman and insisted on being treated as such. He saw no disgrace in throwing down an empty useless weapon after one volley had been � red. A British soldier who cast aside his government property weapon would have been � ogged for it.

Much has been made in modern analyses of the Battle of Culloden of Cumberland’s order that soldiers should counter the Highland Charge by thrusting with their � xed bayonets not at the enemy in front of them, but at the one on the right. So the Highlander would be stabbed under his raised sword arm. However, a sketch in Laurie and Whittle’s The Battle of Culloden, published in 1747, shows a Highlander who has passed his target under his right arm to protect his armpit. A skilled swordsman is trained to react without conscious thought in a � ght and it is not inconceivable that at least some Highlanders managed to beat the new bayonet drill in this way.

The question of how many of the Highlanders actually had broadswords has often been asked. Now we are some way towards answering that. The last battle of a Highland army, at Culloden on 16 April 1746, is the one for which we have fairly reliable statistics. About 3,800 men fought for Prince Charles in the front line, with 2,500 in the second line. Around 1,000 were killed or left wounded on the � eld.

The British Army’s pick up of Jacobite weapons left on the � eld was 2,320 muskets, and 190 broadswords. Conceivably a family broadsword was more likely to be retained than a recently issued musket

ABOVE. A replica by Armour Class, of Yoker, Glasgow, of a 13th or 14th century English or Continental longsword. The cross is Oakeshott’s style 6, dated to 1100-1350. At 2 lbs 14 ½ ozs it is 3 lbs 10 ozs lighter than the Highland equivalent which was never intended for use on horseback. This is a very handy sword which I use on foot and on horseback, employing the sword � ghting doctrines of Johannes Liechtenauer that the Highlanders followed.

BELOW: Replica, from a 14th century engraving on a grave stone, of a Highland Hal� ang Longsword by the Claymore Armoury, Ayrshire. It has a wider cutting blade, 36 inches long, than do the English or Continental ones as unlike them with its 5 lbs 3 ozs weight it was designed for smashing through mail, not for thrusting at the joints in plate armour. Originals of this type of sword are extremely rare.




TOP: A modern interpretation by the Claymore Armoury of Ayrshire of a Stirling hilted basket hilted sword with a back blade. This contains Scottish saltires which are a feature on several Stirling hilts.

LEFT: The hilt of a replica by The Claymore Armoury, Ayrshire, of a Highland two-handed Great Sword, the claymore, now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The blade is 41 1/2 inches long and the sword weighs 6 lbs 8 ½ ozs.

RIGHT: A Highlander dressed up, wearing the Jacobite white cockade in his bonnet and armed, prepared for trouble. Andy May’s modern painting of a clansman of the Noble sept of the clan Grant as he would have been in the 18th century.

in a country where the sword had a

near-mystical status. S u b s e q u e n t

surrenders of Jacobite parties produced 248 muskets and 71 broadswords. Taken at face value this would suggest that only between 1 in 3 and 1 in 10 of the Jacobites were armed with broadswords. Many, of course, were Lowlanders not Highlanders and would be less likely to own a broadsword. Most had muskets and the Lochaber axe was the favourite weapon of those without a sword. In battle the front rank of of� cers and tacksmen would have had swords. Our best conclusion is that the better-off Highlanders, chiefs, chieftains and tacksmen owned a sword and knew how to use it.

Secondary sources mention clans having masters at arms who taught sword � ghting and also men practising it with singlesticks. But I have not come across accounts by men who saw these activities or were told about them by clansmen. There were numerous men around the country, often old soldiers, who were willing to teach broadsword � ghting for a fee and I can hazard a guess

that the aristocrats and the tacksmen would have been competent

swordsmen and the others made up for any

lack of the � ner points of skill with their ferocity. It was a warrior society and a man who could not � ght was no good.

We have two possible sources in our search

for information on how Highlanders might have used their broadswords,

one documentary and the other pictorial. The documentary source is two 18th-century Scottish, but not Highland, manuals on backsword and smallsword � ghting. The � rst of these is A New, Short, and Easy Method of Fencing, or the Art of Broad and Small Sword, written in 1707 by Sir William Hope of Balcomie, Baronet, Late Deputy-Governor of Edinburgh Castle. Sir William was a Lowland townsman and, while his book mentions the broadsword, it is in fact a long discourse on the superiority of his preferred method of � ghting, using the hanging guard with a single-edged backsword.

The second documentary source is The Expert Swordsman’s Companion or the True Art of Self-Defence, published in 1728 by a professional soldier, Donald McBane. He was born near Inverness in 1664 and saw much service as a professional soldier. A third of his memoirs deals with his ideas on � ghting with the smallsword, followed by short sections on the Spanish rapier and dagger and the spadroon, a light cut and thrust sword which British of� cers carried. He says nothing on the Highland clansman’s � ghting methods with his traditional weapons.

These books are valuable guides to duelling or the rough and tumble of defending yourself against cut-throats in a narrow 18th-century alley, but they tell us nothing about traditional Highland sword � ghting. Clearly the clansmen learned from practical men, not from books or theorists. When Hope and McBane mention broadsword � ghting they mean the style used in England and the Continent with cut and thrust swords, not traditional Highland � ghting.

The pictorial source of information is in a painting and a collection of

drawings. The painting is An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745, by David Morier, and the drawings are found at Penicuik House in Midlothian which were made at the time that Highlanders passed through Midlothian on their way south in 1745.

There is a tradition that the � gures of the Highlanders in Morier’s painting were those of Jacobite prisoners. Four out of the seven Highlanders in the painting have broadswords. Three of these are held high with the blade pointing backwards behind the head. This is a typical Renaissance High Ward, necessary to give force to a cut through clothes and the leather straps of an opponent’s equipment. The fourth � gure has his broadsword horizontal at waist height in a typical Renaissance Middle Ward. He leads with his left leg and has his dirk out in front of his targe. Cuts in Renaissance cut and thrust sword � ghting, and indeed in 19th-century cavalry sabre � ghting, were made from the shoulder. Cuts delivered from the elbow or the wrist as in modern sport fencing would lack power against a heavily clad opponent.

Of the 50 � gures in the Penicuik drawings eight are armed with broadsword and targe. Most lead with the left foot, and have the targe forward, so that, timing their advance on the enemy to arrive in that posture, they would cut on the pass. This is a medieval and Renaissance sword � ghting method from the 15th-18th centuries. It had gone out of fashion by the 18th century in the more settled parts of Britain and Europe as duelling with small swords came in. The Penicuik Highlanders made much use of an Open Ward or Guard, crouching forward with the targe held up to cover their face or head, and with the sword held with the hilt back beside the shoulder and the blade pointing up and forwards. Such ‘Wards’ were not static guards in the modern fencing sense, but mobile positions from which an attack could be launched.

T w o men in t h e P e n i c u i k drawings can be seen to have their sword held low at



knee level and pointing back and downwards. This Underarm or Low Outside Ward can also be found in Plate 223 (right) of the German Hans Talhoffer’s Fechtbuch of 1467 and was taught in Renaissance cut and thrust sword � ghting 150 years before Culloden. From it a swinging upper cut or a round the head cut are made.

Other � gures illustrate two variants of the Renaissance High Inside Ward. These contrast noticeably with the contemporary 18th-century smallsword � ghting stances. There, apart from Hope’s Hanging Guard, the sword is generally held with the hilt about waist height with the blade pointing up and directly at the opponent. With thrusting swords like the small sword and the light cut and thrust spadroon, the point would always be kept lined up on the opponent. A thrust is dif� cult with a Highland broadsword because the basket hilt prevents the wrist from being straightened. As parrying in Highland sword � ghting was done with the targe, not the blade, it was safe enough to start an attack with the blade pointing away from the foe.

Some slight indication of how deliberately broadswords might have been used by the Highlanders is provided by the lists of wounds suffered by British Army troops at Culloden. Of 51 wounded these show 3 wounds to the head, 13 to the right hand and arm and 12 to the right leg. Eight were to the left hand and arm and 13 to the left leg. These might suggest, contrary to bloodthirsty tales of the effect of broadsword cuts to the top of the head, that it was not the preferred stroke of clan swordsmen. But then few suffered only a wound from a cut to the top of the head. All one can say is that most at least temporarily survivable injuries were to the right side of the body.

By the mid 18th century the sword had become only a duelling weapon in England and the Lowlands of Scotland. Within another 50 years few men in England knew how to handle one in a � ght. In the Highlands of Scotland, however, a sword, the Highland broadsword, was a weapon carried daily, ready for use.

RIGHT: Replica by Armour Class, of Yoker, Glasgow, of the Highland Stirling–hilted sword. The original of this sword, which is in a private collection has, like most Stirling hilted swords, a back blade but the replica here has a thin wide broadsword blade. In this, in my opinion, it is the ideal Highland sword, offering the best of both worlds, combining the intricate beauty of the Stirling hilt with the cutting power of a double-edged blade.

My conclusion is that those 18th-century Highlanders who had broadswords were trained swordsmen who followed an older, medieval and Renaissance style of � ghting which had gone out of fashion in the Lowlands and England.

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Swords from the R.E Brooker Collection


MORE MILITARIA FROM PAST CENTURIES


Collecting military antiquities is not an expensive hobby. If you have a few tens, perhaps hundreds, of pounds

to spend you could bid successfully several times at auction each month and, within a year, become the proud owner of an impressive array of ancient and antique weaponry. Your interests can range over 3,000 years; or you can concentrate on a narrower band – Roman, Byzantine, even Ancient Stone Age, for example – with plenty on offer and low to medium selling prices to match.

This – the fourth feature of the series – brings to 80 the number of selections I have made from TimeLine’s archives during the past year, barely to hint at the vast range of artefacts that come to auction. You can view many more at www.timelineauctions.com where several thousand superb photographs of past lots, as well as lots scheduled for forthcoming auctions, may be closely examined at leisure. Here are my latest selections:1. From 4000-2000 BC, this Neolithic Greenstone polished axe head has a flared blade and square butt. Length 99mm; fine condition with slight abrasions. Sold for £95.

2. This group of teardrop-shaped arrowheads date from c.3000 BC and include bifacial chert arrowheads without barbs or tangs. They were found in North Africa. Sizes range from 26-48mm. Sold for £40.

3. An Elamite cast bronze axe head with slightly waisted tubular socket, flared blade and ram figurine to the rear, modelled in the round. 15cm. It dates from c.2000 BC. Axe heads of this type have sold recently at £200-£300.

4. This Bronze Age palstave axe head with spatulate blade and deep recess to the rear of each face dates from c.1500 BC. It was found by a detectorist near Chingford, Essex. Very fine condition. 15cm. Sold for £200.

5. This Luristan bronze axe head, dating from 1250-650 BC, has a tubular socket with ribbed borders, a scroll to the upper edge and a bulb below. The asymmetrical swept blade has a convex edge. 11cm. Sold for £100.

6. Near-Eastern bronze comb-backed axe head dating from c.1000 BC. It has a tubular socket with horizontal ribs extending to conical spikes to the rear. The blade is triangular and hooked with flanged edges. 21cm. Sold for £90.

7. Another Near-Eastern bronze axe head from c.1000 BC. This cast example has a long tubular socket with a row of 13 conical spikes to the rear. The narrow flat-section blade has a convex edge. 13.5cm. Sold for £170.

8. A Greek stone bifacial mould for casting metal arrowheads. It dates from c.1000 BC and has a recess to one face for a barbed and tanged arrowhead; and to the other a bulb and ball. Length 72mm. Sold for £160.

9. This Near-Eastern bronze short sword dates from 1250-650 BC. It has a triangular blade, rectangular-section midrib, a crescent-shaped guard and a domed pommel. 39cm. Sold for £280.

10. A Bronze Age double-bitted cast axe head; scaphoid in plan, with peltoid edge to each end. Sold for £340.

11. A Late-Bronze Age socketed spearhead dating from 1200-800 BC. It has a narrow lanceolate blade and broad socket tapering to form the midrib. Pierced twice for attachment. Length 16.5cm. Sold for £180.

12. A Roman bronze-hilted military knife with an iron blade. It dates from the 1st-3rd century AD and has a single-edged triangular blade, hexagonal bronze handle with four collars and a domed pommel. 21.5cm. It was found near the ancient city of Viminacium in modern Serbia. Sold for £200.

13. A Roman cast dagger pommel dating from the 1st-2nd century AD. The hexagonal socket has a griffin-

PAST CENTURIESMore Militaria from

by Brett Hammond

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 5

Fig. 4

52 Brett Hammond.indd 52 13/03/2014 10:12


Fig. 8

Fig. 7

Fig. 6

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 13

Fig. 11

Fig. 12

head finial with triangular ears, a crest and a hooked beak. Found by a detectorist in Norfolk. Sold for £200.

14. This Byzantine ceramic Greek Fire hand grenade dates from the 9th-11th century. The greyware missile has incised ribs, a conical top and a thick rim enclosing the narrow mouth. Length 14cm. Sold for £25.

15. A mixed group of 16th-17th century lead musket and pistol shot found on various sites in Suffolk. Diameters range from 11-18cm. Sold for £30.

16. An 18th-century English iron spontoon head; hand-forged with leaf-shaped blade, tubular body, one straight blade, one hooked blade and two languets for attachment. 53mm. Similar examples have sold for £200-£300.

17. A group of two 18th-century flintlock pistols comprising: one larger with smooth-bore barrel, two-part wooden stock with discoid

finial. Lock mechanism and rod absent. The other with octagonal-section barrel, curved stock, cast hammer, trigger and guard. 19 and 27cm. Fair condition. Sold for £50.

18. A 19th-century deactivated .22 rim-fire pocket pistol of German manufacture. Single-shot, single-action, with separately hinged cartridge retainer and extractor. Full cock-only hammer (firing pin removed and barrel plugged for deactivation); fitted with 2½ ins barrel and bird-beak butt with metal grips. Numbered barrel; maker’s mark JGA in oval cartouche to side of frame. Proof mark DDA in crossed swords over number 11. Accompanied by Deactivation Certificate number 101585, issued by the Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House, dated 21/10/2011 (under S.8 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act, 1988).12 mm overall. Fine

Fig. 14

Fig. 15


MORE MILITARIA FROM PAST CENTURIES


Fig. 18

Fig. 17

Fig. 20Fig. 19

Fig. 16condition; the action in working order. Sold for £55.

19. A Japanese 19th-century iron sword with bronze pommel in leather scabbard. The single-edged sword has a slightly curved blade, bronze guard and bulbous, carefully textile-bound hilt; the scabbard with wooden core and leather cover. Fair condition, with some scabbard damage. Sold for £95.

20. A 20th-century Islamic Indian silver-inlaid dagger with scabbard. The dagger has a curved blade and zoomorphic finial to the inlaid bone handle; the blade has inlaid motif to one face. Unsharpened. 25.5cm. Similar daggers have sold for £100-£150.

All images Copyright TimeLine Auctions.

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BOOK REVIEWS


BOOK REVIEWSClassic Arms and Militaria’s editor and panel of experts guide

you through a range of new historical literature

Peter Finer 10th Catalogue Of Important Arms And Armour By Ed Dr Paula TurnerPeter Finer is a long-established arms and armour dealer with an enviable international reputation for dealing in highly-important pieces of the � nest workmanship. This is his tenth catalogue which presents 20 exceptional items supported by scholarly descriptions written by leaders in their � elds, such as Ian Eaves, Nicholas McCullogh, Ian Bottomley and Stuart Pyhrr.

This collection covers a broad � eld and a time spectrum of some some four centuries. The Milanese half armour for the foot tourney c.190-1600 by the ‘Master of the Castle’ has etched bands of strapwork, scrolls and vignettes of Classical and other � gures, enhanced by gilding and blacking. The contrast of rich yellow and black against the silvery whiteness of the steel is stunning. The pair of wheelock pistols of 1596 made in Dresden by Christopher Dresser for the Duke of Saxe-Weimar are both elegant of form and beautifully decorated with small engraved staghorn plates. The same elegance is found in the German swept-hilt rapier c.1620 with its silver-encrusted ornament against a blue ground.

The German hunting sword made in the Fromery workshops of Berlin c.1750 epitomises the rococo style so beloved of Frederick the Great of Prussia. The Berlin enamel hilt is as delicate as a china teacup and a rare survivor. By contrast the great Scottish Highland claymore c.1574 is unadorned except for its pierced quatrefoil quillons. Nonetheless its stark brutality has a deadly beauty of its own. Michele Lorenzoni of Florence built effective repeating � rearms some 160 years before Benjamin Tyler Henry’s ri� e appeared. This � ne example of his work has a beautifully � gured curly walnut stock, a pierced scroll sideplate and engraved � gures of Mercury, Argus, Hercules and Prometheus. Although Matthew Boulton started his career as a toy manufacturer, he is remembered as a giant of the Industrial Revolution with his great factory in Birmingham. One of his innovations was to produce highly polished steel in imitation of brilliants. The cut-steel hilted smallsword in this catalogue is both delicate and beautiful.

This catalogue is a cornucopia of some of the � nest pieces of arms and armour on

the market today. The descriptive essays that accompany each piece are required reading for anyone with an interest in arms and armour. Few may aspire to own its contents but this � ne catalogue allows their enjoyment by a much wider audience.

Casebound. 152 Pages. Numerous high-de� nition colour photographs.£85.00 www.peter� ner.com Tel 0207 839 5666

D P & G TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONSBy D P & G Military PublishersD P & G Military Publishers are extending their series of Technical Publications to encompass material from World War I. Most are printed versions of papers read at the Royal United Service Institution or the Royal Artillery Institutions. They are all important prime source material for the military historian and student of weapons.

This time, our trio has a German Artillery theme.

Notes on German Shells and Fuzes, c. 1916. By Lt C. H. Brittan, RA. 24 Pages 10 plates £10.00 + £1.20 p&p. This was intended to act as a reference to allow the nature of German batteries to be identi� ed from the remains of their shells’ fuses and by early sound ranging. It covers 77mm, 9cm, 10 cm, 105mm, 13cm, 15cm guns and 21 and

28cm mortars. It is a very useful resource for the collector of WWI ammunition.

The German Siege howitzers and Artillery materiel, c. 914. By the RAI Secretary. 24 Pages 10 plates £10.00 + £1.20 p&p. This is an interesting survey of the siege guns used by the Germans to attack the forts at Namur, Liege and Mauberge.

The German Long Range Gun and Organisation of the German Artillery, c.1922. By Lt Co H.W. Miller USA and Maj Gen Sir F.R. Bingham 20 Pages 1 plate £10.00 + £1.20 p&p. This covers a discussion of the so-called Paris Gun which engaged the French capital between

March and August 1918 at 76 miles, killing 256 people and wounding 620. The organisation the German Artillery is discussed in a second paper.

D P & G TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONSPO Box 186, Doncaster DN4 0HN www.military-naval-history.co.uk

56 Books.indd 56 13/03/2014 10:15


CIVIL WAR REVOLVERS – MYTH VS REALITY By Peter Schiff ersThis is the companion volume to the author’s excellent volume on his tests conducted on Civil War cavalry carbines. In this book he tests 20 original Civil War revolvers – both issued and privately purchased – to ascertain why some performed well in combat and others did not. The results were graded according to fouling, sights, robustness, accuracy, rapidity of � re, reliability, weight, stopping power and mechanical weaknesses.

Unsurprisingly, the .44 Remington Army revolver came out top with surprisingly good results for the .32 RF Smith and Wesson No.2 which was only just beaten by the universally popular Colt 1851 Navy. The Allen and Wheelock performed well, as did the little-

known Prescott Navy. The Pettengill, Savage, Joslyn and Manhattan performed execrably with the Brooklyn Slocum being so inaccurate as to be useless at other than contact ranges.

This sort of reconstructive archaeology is very important for understanding � rearms performance and challenging received wisdom. The book contains many original photographs of the men who carried these pistols to war between 1861 and 1862. Highly recommended.

Deluxe soft cover. 184 Pages. Profusely illustrated.Mowbray Publishing US$ 29.99 + p & p. www.gunandwordcollector.com

‘98k’ - BIOGRAPHY OF A RIFLE By Maurice Kanarek

Maurice Kanareck is a long-standing Council member of the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association and keen shooter of historic arms. By profession he is a script writer and it comes as no surprise that he has featured his own Mauser Kar 98k as the central character in a novel about its life and place in history. His � ctional ‘history ‘ starts with the ri� e in 1938 in the hands of a young Wehrmacht conscript, and it moves through WWII to possession by

partisans, as war surplus in 1947, to a kibbutz in Palestine, in the Israeli defence force reserve, in ‘bandit country’ Northern Ireland in 1982 and ending in a London saleroom in 1988. This may be � ctional but it is the best social history of any � rearm that I have ever read as it places wood and metal in human hands. I wish more people would write like this.

Soft cover . 203 Pages. £11.53 from Amazon

THE STORY OF THE DONEGAL SPITFIRE By Jonny McNeeThis is the story of the archaeological dig of Spit� re P8074 which crashed in November 1941 in a peat bog on the Glenshinny Mountain, Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal. It was � own by an American airman, PO Roland ‘Bud’ Wolfe of Nebraska who bailed out before the crash, was interned by the Irish government and eventually released in 1943. The dig was � lmed for ‘Dig WW2’ and broadcast in spring 2011.

This is a fantastic story which culminated in a visit to Derry by the pilot’s two daughters in November 2011. The � ring of a recovered Browning machine gun was particularly interesting. Aviation archaeology and heritage preservation stories do not get any better than this. Soft Cover. 118 Pages. 49 Illustrations. £9.95. [email protected]

A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF THE 20TH CENTURY ROYAL NAVY – VOL 1 ADMIRALS By Alastair Wilson RN

This is not only a very useful bibliography of senior naval of� cers, it is also a de� nitive short history of the Royal Navy’s top echelons and a lexicon of abbreviations. It will be indispensable to

Hardback plus CD. 88 pages. Seaforth Publishing £30.00 www.seaforthpublishing.com

57

anyone researching the career and life of a senior Royal Navy of� cer.

56 Books.indd 57 13/03/2014 10:15


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Treasure Bunker ........................50

West Street Antiques .................51



AUCTION NEWSGEORGE KIDNER 6th MarchThe specialist Arms, Medals and Militaria auctions at George Kidner Auctioneers continue to attract strong competition. Notable in their 6th March sale were a good Japanese dagger (Tanto) that realised a hammer price of £1,200 to a telephone bidder, against competition in the room and on the internet. The medals, which have been a particular strong point with this house, included a group to Deputy Commissioner Anthony S. Keeling O.B.E., Sierra Leone Police, including the Queen’s Police Medal and the Colonial Police Medal, which exceeded its estimate of £700 - £1,000 to reach a hammer price of £1,300. Sporting guns and other live � rearms, including vintage military ri� es, is another � eld that is gaining in strength for this auction house. The latest sale saw a Lee En� eld ri� e sell for £520 (hammer).

Those considering the sale of swords and other edged weapons, oriental weaponry including Japanese swords, armour, antique � rearms, medals, militaria or any associated items, should contact specialist auctioneer Edward Cowell at the � rm’s head of� ce in Lymington on 01590 670070 or at [email protected]. The next auction of this type will take place on the 12th June entries are now invited and Edward will be very happy to answer any queries and offer his advice.

Lot 173 – A Japanese dagger (tanto). Sold for £1,200.

February’s Regional Firearms Auction contained a vast assortment of collectables and antiques, from engraved Henry ri� es, World War II � rearms, and militaria, to modern gems such as new in the box shotguns, ri� es, and pistols.

The Charles Best Collection of Iver Johnson � rearms was also quite a hit with collectors! These often unfairly maligned � rearms saw a lot of bid activity and also some very attractive prices. Lot 226, Engraved Iver Johnson Model 1879 Swing Cylinder Revolver sold for $4,312 and lot 1695, Collector’s Lot of three Iver Johnson Air Pistols sold for a surprising $3,737! Lot 1375, Collector’s Lot of Four Harrington & Richardson Revolvers from the Jim Hauff collection commanded $2,300. All three collections performed tremendously on the auction block.

Winchester and Henry � rearms are always a staple in any RIAC auction and nearly 400 were auctioned off with successes like Lot 1, a New Haven Arms Henry lever action ri� e brought in a sale price of $25,875. Lot 1014, a desirable Winchester Model 1866 lever action saddle ring carbine also found a new owner, selling for $6,900. Lot 3613, a Winchester Model 12 slide action trench shotgun with U.S. Marked Receiver, sold for $3,737.50, yet another indicator of the hot trench shotgun market.

There is a sleeper in every auction, and this Regional Auction’s was Lot 1879, a Collector’s Lot of U.S. bayonets and knives. It was an intense back and forth battle, achieving a sale price of $6,900. Military arms were well represented in this auction: Lot 3561, a U.S. Spring� eld Model 1903 bolt action sniper ri� e with Winchester A5 Scope commanded $4,600. Not to be outdone, Lot 552, which contained four En� eld bolt action ri� es, left our doors for $4,025.

Samuel Colt is alive and well in Rock Island with highlights like Lot 100, an engraved gold and silver plated Colt Model 1860 Army percussion revolver with ornate cast grip bringing in an astounding $11,500. Lot 3076, a Colt Model 1862 Police percussion revolver with holster and inscription on the back strap exceeded the estimate by selling for $8,625. Lot 3055, managed to raise a lot of eyebrows and bidder cards with 39 individual bidders vying for the chance to own an extensively engraved, antique, First Generation Colt Single Action Army revolver with factory letter, brought $4,600. Lot 1179, a Colt Model 1855 Revolving Ri� e crossed the block for $4,312.

Other notable highlights include: Lot 1095, Scarce Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Ri� e with Stock and Case sold for $11,500, exceeding the estimate. Lot 1289, Tower Flintlock Carbine went for $5,642. Lot 3618, Two U.S. Bolt Action Ri� es sold for $4,887. For more information please visit www.rockislandauction.com.

ROCK ISLAND February

Lot 234 - A .303 Ri� e. Magazine. Lee En� eld (Long Lee En� eld), Mk II, by B.S.A. & M. Co, dated 1899 with crowned V.R. Sold for £520.

Lot 226

Lot 1095

59 Auctions.indd 59 13/03/2014 10:16


AUCTION NEWS

MARLOW’S 8th May

The next Marlow’s auction will be held on Thursday 8th May 2014

at the Stone House Hotel, Stone, Staffordshire

commencing at 12 noon with viewing from 10a.m

The next full colour catalogue containing over 650 lots will be available from mid

April . Cataloguing is well on target following

the very successful February sale and the May sale already contains many interesting items.

The large Gun category will include many obsolete calibre guns which comprise a rare American civil war period Poultney & Trimble carbine , a scarce Turkish contract Winchester model 1866 “Yellow boy” musket, a rare New South Wales Police marked Henrys patent carbine, a Spencer rolling block action ri� e, a Russian Berdan MKII ri� e, a rare Roberts patent converted breech loading Spring� eld ri� e, a Smith and Wesson model 1½ rim� re revolver, a Smith and Wesson Model 2 rim� re revolver, a pair of mid 19th century continental proofed percussion duelling pistols, an early 19th century � intlock Sea Service Brown Bess

musket and a French Chassepot ri� e complete with bayonet. The deactivated section will include a Japanese type 99/30 Arisaka ri� e, a Model 1931 Swiss Schmidt Rubin carbine complete with bayonet , and a Russian AK 74 Assault ri� e and bayonet

The Sword section comprises an Imperial Russian model 1881 cavalry troopers sword, an 1821 Cavalry Trooper’s sword, an 1853 Cavalry Trooper’s sword, a 1908 pattern Cavalry Trooper’s sword, a Cavalry of� cers 1887 pattern sword , an 1899 Naval cutlass, an 1856 Pioneer’s short sword, a German made Turkish Of� cer’s sword and a Model 1889 German Cavalry Of� cer’s presentation sword, the blade engraved to the 21st Dragoon Regiment.

The Bayonet category has a very good selection of scarce bayonets including an 1859 pattern 2nd type Naval cutlass bayonet, a British 1888 MK1 1st type Lee Metford bayonet with 3 brass rivets to the grip, a 1903 pattern British bayonet, a Lancaster sword bayonet with full length blade and scabbard , a 1907 pattern hook quillon SMLE bayonet, a pattern 1853 socket bayonet in 1st type scabbard, a British 1837 Brunswick sword bayonet, a German K98 presentation bayonet, a Seitengewehr Model 1871 brass gripped sawback bayonet, a Seitengewehr Model 1898 sawback bayonet, a Seitengewehr Model M98/02 sawback bayonet, a German

G98 machine gunner’s bayonet, an Austrian M1873 Werndl sword bayonet, a Belgian Model 1868 Terssen ri� e sawback bayonet, an Italian Model 1870 Vetterli sword bayonet and a Turkish M1903 Mauser sword bayonet.

This sale will also have its normal good selection of badges, medals, head-dress, uniforms and equipment. Consignments are still being taken for this sale and also for future sales.

The auction is at its normal venue at the Stone House Hotel, Stone, Staffordshire and the saleroom manager Kevin King can be contacted on 07789 628030 to help with any of your questions.

Gavin Gardiner Ltd’s � rst auction of 2014 of Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns and Ri� es comprises over 200 lots including a rare pair of 12-bore Hammer Ejector shotguns by London-maker James Purdey & Sons, that were built in 1895 for the Hon. Harry Stonor. Estimated to fetch £20,000-30,000, the guns will be part of the auction, which will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street London.

Sir Harry Stonor was a member of the exclusive Sandringham Set, and shot extensively with the � nest gameshots of his day, notably King Edward VII, King George V, Lord Ripon and Lord Walsingham. He was the Grandson of the 3rd Lord Camoys and spent much of his youth at Sandringham where he developed his capacity for shooting. He became Gentleman Usher to Queen Victoria in 1883, a position he continued to hold under King Edward VII and King

George V. He was deputy master of the King’s Household from 1918 until his retirement. He was placed fourth in the 1903 Bailey’s magazine list of the Twelve best shots in Great Britain, a list headed by The King, and Lords Ripon and Walsingham.

As Gavin Gardiner explains: “Hammer Ejector shotguns are rare, as ejector mechanism’s were not available until after the hammer gun had effectively become obsolete. It was essentially only the very � nest shots of the day who continued to use hammer guns from Purdey in to the 20th century but fully appreciated the advantages that an ejector mechanism offered to allow for more rapid reloading.”

Elsewhere in the sale, which comprises a � ne selection of sporting guns, ri� es and shooting accessories will be pairs and single guns by all of the famous London makers as well as classic sporting ri� es

from Holland & Holland and J. Rigby & Co. For further information please contact 01798 875300 or 07831 645551 or visit www.gavingardiner.com

GAVIN GARDINER 16th April

Continental pair of pistols

Cutlass bayonet

Worcestershire Home Service helmet

59 Auctions.indd 60 13/03/2014 10:16


AUCTIONSAPRIL16 AprilGavin Gardiner LtdAuction at Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond StreetLondon W1A 2AAwww.gavingardiner.com29 & 30 AprilWallis & WallisWest St Auction Galleries, Lewes, Sussex. BN7 2NJT: +44 (0) 1273 480208F: +44 (0) 1273 476562E: [email protected] AprilC & T AuctioneersUnit 43 Space Business Centre,Knight Rd, Rochester, Kent, ME2 2BFE: [email protected]: 01634 29204230 AprilBonhamsKnightsbridge, LondonT: +44 0 20 7393 3807E: [email protected]

MAY7 May 2014Thomas Del Mar Ltd25 Blythe Rd, London W14 0PDE: [email protected]: +44 (0) 20 7602 4805F: +44 (0) 20 7602 5973www.thomasdelmar.com 8 MayMarlow’s Military AuctionsThe Stone House HotelStone, Staffs. ST15 0BQT: 07789 628030E: [email protected] MayWare Militaria AuctionsHertford Heath Village Hall, London Rd, Hertford Heath, Herts SG13 7RHT: 01920 871383E: [email protected]

25 May Laidlaw Auctioneers & ValuersEscott Business Park, Rome Street,Carlisle CA2 5LET: 01228 904905

25 JuneC & T AuctioneersUnit 43 Space Business Centre,Knight Rd, Rochester, Kent, ME2 2BFE: [email protected]: 01634 292042

EVENTSMAY25th MayPreston Arms & Militaria FairSamlesbury Canberra ClubMyerscough Rd, Balderstone,Nr.Blackburn, Lancs BB2 7LFT: 01254 263260 M: 07884 284390www.prestonarmsfair.co.uk8 MayMarlow’s Military AuctionsThe Stone House HotelStone, Staffs. ST15 0BQT: 07789 628030www.marlowsauctions.co.uk11 MayArms & Armourer UKThe Bedford Militaria Fair@StantonburyStantonbury CampusMilton Keynes, MK14 6BNT: 01832 274050E: [email protected]

MILITARY FAIRSMARCH29 MarchShoreham AerojumbleShoreham Airport, Shoreham by Sea, W. Sussex BN43 5FFT: 01424 753356 or 07710 154606E: [email protected] MarchBOLTON Arms, Medal & Militaria FairHorwich Leisure Centre Victoria Road Horwich, Bolton BL6 5PYJunction 6 off M61 motorwayT: 01423 780759 Northern Arms Fairs www.northernarmsfairs.co.uk30 MarchDavid Douglas Militaria FairsThe Community Centre, Bowburn Village, Durham DH6 5ATT: 01668 215571 M: 07796 758974E: david.douglas500@btinternet.comdaviddouglasmilitariafairs.co.uk30th MarchBexley Medals & MilitariaHildenborough Village Hall,Riding Lane, off the B245 Tonbridge Rd,Hildenborough, Kent. TN11 9HYT: Rick on 01322 523531www.bexleymedalsandmilitaria.co.uk

30 March

Watford Arms, Militaria &

Medal Fair

The Bushey Academy, London

Rd, Bushey, Hertfordshire,

WD23 3AA

T: 01438 811657 or 01923

448903

E: [email protected]

30 March

Copdock Medals and Militaria

Fair

Copdock Community Hall, Old

London Rd,

Copdock, Ipswich, IP8 3JD

T: 07749 764937 / 07810

311977

www. copdockmilitariafair.co.uk

APRIL5 April

Bangor Collectors & Militaria

Fairs

First Bangor Presbyterian Church

Halls, Main St, Bangor,

N.Ireland

E: [email protected]

6 April

The Medal Centre

Wakefield Medal Fair

Outwood Memorial Hall, Victoria

St, off Leeds Rd, Outwood, nr.

Wakefield, W.Yorkshire WF1 2NE

T: 01434 609794 or 07950

421704

www.themedalcentre.co.uk

6 April

Bromley Military Collectors

Fair

Civic Centre, Kentish Way,

Bromley, Kent BR1 3UH

T: 0771 409 4009

6 April

Chelmsford Militaria Fair

Marconi Social Club, Beehive

Lane, Chelmsford, Essex

T: James on 07595 511981

E: james@chelmsfordmilitaria.

com

www.chelmsfordmilitaria.com

13 April

Chatham Militaria Fair

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham,

Kent ME4 4TZ

T: James on 07595 511981

E: james@chathammilitariafairs.

co.uk

www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk

13th AprilGIANT LEEDS Arms, Medal & Militaria FairPudsey Civic Hall LS28 5TA(Opposite New Pudsey Railway station on main Leeds to Bradford Ring Road)Tel: 01423 780759 Northern Arms Fairs www.northernarmsfairs.co.uk

13 AprilWolverley Militaria FairsWolverley Memorial Hall, Wolverley, nr. Kidderminster, DY11 5TNT: 01562 851489 / 07816 85387825 & 26 AprilThe 92nd London Antique Arms FairHotel Ibis London Earls Court,47 Lillie Rd, London SW6 1UDT: 07780 663 819www.antiquearmsfairsltd.co.uk27 AprilMark Carter Militaria & Medal FairsThe Princes Hall, Princes Way, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 1NXT: 01753 534777E: [email protected]/dealers/trader/markcarter.htm

MAY 20144 MayCheshunt Military Collectors FairThe Wolsey Hall, Windmill Lane, EN8 9AAT: 0771 409 40094th MayMark Carter Militaria & Medal FairsYate Leisure Centre, Kennedy Way, Yate, nr.Chipping Sodbury, Bristol BS37 4DQT: 01753 534777E: [email protected]/dealers/trader/markcarter.htm4 MayThe Medal CentreWakefield Medal FairOutwood Memorial Hall, Victoria St, off Leeds Rd, Outwood, nr. Wakefield, W.Yorkshire WF1 2NET: 01434 609794 or 07950 421704www.themedalcentre.co.uk

&AUCTIONS EVENTS

61 Calendar.indd 61 13/03/2014 14:03


CALENDAR

Warners Group Publications Ltd, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, England PE10 9PH Tel: +44 (0) 1778 393313 Fax: +44 (0) 1778 425437Editorial email: [email protected]: John GreenwoodProduction Editor: Jayne Thorpe Tel: +44 (0) 1778 392077

ADVERTISINGAdvertising Manager: Bev Machin Tel: +44 (0) 1778 392055Email: [email protected] Sales Executive: Scott JohnsonTel: +44 (0)1778 395002email: [email protected] Production: Pat PriceTel: +44 (0) 1778 391115Email: [email protected] Design: Jayne Thorpe, Amie Carter,Sarah Machin, Anna Machnik, Becky DuffySub Editor: Susan Hibbins

MARKETINGMarketing Executive: Carly [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1778 392440SUBSCRIPTIONSTel: +44 (0) 1778 392476DISTRIBUTIONAndy Perry Tel: +44 (0) 1778 391152ACCOUNTSHelen McNamee Tel: +44 (0) 1778 391025Andy Thorpe Tel: +44 (0) 1778 391142

All material published remains the copyright of Warners Group Publications Plc, no part of this magazine may be published without the prior permission of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily the views of the editor or publisher and the greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for omissions or errors. While we take every care, we cannot accept liability for loss or damage to contributed copy/material and the large volume of enquiries means not all correspondence can be replied to personally. Competition winners’ details are available from the editorial address; please enclose SAE with your enquiry.

While every care is taken when accepting advertisements, we cannot accept responsibility for unsatisfactory transactions. We will however investigate any complaints.Data Protection - Warners Group Publications Plc may lend reputable companies the names & addresses of readers who have responded to offers, services and competitions organised by Classic Arms & Militaria magazine. If you do not wish to receive such mailings, please write to us at the above address or phone us.

Subscribe today for only£22.50for 6 issues!Enjoy all these bene� ts

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Call 01778 392476

5th MayPreston Arms & Militaria FairSamlesbury Canberra ClubMyerscough Rd, Balderstone,Nr.Blackburn, Lancs BB2 7LFT: 01254 263260 M: 07884 284390www.prestonarmsfair.co.uk10 MayStockport Antique Arms, Armour Medals & Militaria FairBritannia Hotel, Dialstone Lane, Offerton, Stockport SK2 6AGT: 0161 624 6211 or 07966 276 033E: [email protected] MayGHQ FairsThe Maltings, off Bridge Sq, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QRT: 01892 730 233www.ghq.uk.com11 MayChatham Militaria FairThe Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TZT: James on 07595 511981E: james@chathammilitariafairs.co.ukwww.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk18 MayWatford Arms, Militaria & Medal FairThe Bushey Academy, London Rd, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 3AAT: 01438 811657 or 01923 448903E: [email protected]

25 MayDavid Douglas Militaria FairsThe Community Centre, Bowburn Village,Durham DH6 5ATT: 01668 215571 M: 07796 758974E: [email protected]

25th MayBromsgrove Militaria Medal and Arms Collectors FairSpadesbourne SuiteThe Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, B60 1AAT: 07980 608211E: [email protected] MayDBG MilitariaAshford Military FairSellindge Village HallTN25 6JYE: [email protected]: 07805 399132www.dbgmilitaria.co.uk

JUNE 1 JuneThe Hertsmere Fine Antique Arms FairThe Holiday Inn London ElstreeWD6 5PUT: 07771 742191 or 07860 782286E: [email protected] JuneThe Medal CentreWake� eld Medal FairOutwood Memorial Hall, Victoria St, off Leeds Rd, Outwood, nr. Wake� eld, W.Yorkshire WF1 2NET: 01434 609794 or 07950 421704www.themedalcentre.co.uk1 JuneChelmsford Militaria FairMarconi Social Club, Beehive Lane, Chelmsford, EssexT: James on 07595 511981E: [email protected]

1 JuneBromley Military Collectors FairCivic Centre, Kentish Way, Bromley, Kent BR1 3UHT: 0771 409 4009

8 JuneChatham Militaria FairThe Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TZT: James on 07595 511981E: james@chathammilitariafairs.co.ukwww.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk22nd JuneMark Carter Militaria & Medal FairsWoking Leisure Centre, Woking Park, King� eld Rd (A247), Woking, Surrey. GU22 9BAT: 01753 534777E: [email protected]/dealers/trader/markcarter.htm29 JuneMark Carter Militaria & Medal FairsStratford Leisure & Visitor Centre, Bridgefoot, Stratford upon Avon, Warks CV37 6YYT: 01753 534777E: [email protected]/dealers/trader/markcarter.htm

OVERSEASAPRIL 12 AprilStauffer Auktionen oHG International AuctioneersKarlstrasse 43 – D-72525,Munsingen,mGermanyT: 0049 (0) 7381 501 007F: 0049 (0) 7381 501 009E: [email protected] AprilArchen AssociesAntique Gun ShowRungis (France), Espace Jean Monnet, 47 Rue des Solets, Parc Silic, 94533 RungisT: 33 (0) 6 15 04 85 15F: (0) 1 70 24 87 30www.archen-associes.com

27 AprilCiney Militaria3 Rue du Marche CouvertB-5590 Ciney BelgiumT: 0032 (0) 83 21 33 94F: 0032 (0) 83 21 18 20E: [email protected] April 2014Cowan’s AuctionsHistoric Firearms & Early Militaria6270 Este Ave,Cincinnati, Ohio 45232E: � [email protected]

MAY 2-4 MayPremiere Firearms AuctionsRock Island Auction Co7819 42nd Street WestRock IslandIL 61201T: 001 309 797 1500E: [email protected] MaySpring AuctionHermann HistoricaLinprunstr.16, D-80335 MunichT: +49 89 54726490F: +49 89 547264999E: [email protected]

JUNE 6-7 JuneMohawk Arms, Inc.Militaria Auction 71PO Box 157, Bouckville, NY13310, USAT: 315-893-7888 F: 315-893-7707 E: Mohawk@militaryrelics.

com27-29 JuneRegional Firearms AuctionsRock Island Auction Co7819 42nd Street WestRock IslandIL 61201T: 001 309 797 1500E: [email protected]

61 Calendar.indd 62 13/03/2014 14:04

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For further details, contact Kevin King 07789 628030 or [email protected]

All the above items in this AuctionMILITARIA AUCTION

The Stone House Hotel, Stone, Staffs , ST15 0BQFuture Dates: 7th August 2014


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