Arms, Armour & Militaria

Arms and armour stretches from ancient times to modern conflicts, with weapons ranging from swords and clubs to firearms, armour including helmets and shields, and militaria such as medals, uniforms, flags and ephemera.

Medals and militaria are often sold at auction as specialised categories, with arms and armour sales also held.


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American flag from the War of 1812

18 April 2013

This 15-star American War Naval Jack used in the Anglo-American War of 1812, is thought to be the first of its kind to be offered at auction.

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Pope’s gun sells at Italian auction

02 April 2013

This exceptional Spanish flintlock sporting gun is dated 1739, but both the gun and case bear the arms of Pope Pius VII, whose papacy was dominated by the Vatican’s troubled relationship with France during the Napoleonic period nearly a century later.

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Louis XV carbine with a right royal pedigree

04 March 2013

At the end of the Second World War, this 18th century flintlock repeating carbine was thrown onto a huge heap of weapons confiscated from German citizens.

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Olympic and War medals in Bedford

25 January 2013

Medals and other material relating to George William Hutson, a British athlete who served in the First World War, will be offered for sale at Peacocks on February 1 in Bedford.

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The sword of Catherine the Great’s bodyguard

30 November 2012

A gold sword that belonged to the bodyguard of Empress Catherine II of Russia is estimated at £40,000-60,000 in Thomas Del Mar’s December 5 Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria sale in West Kensington, London.

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First V.C. awarded to a Sikh regiment

16 November 2012

Spink are to offer the Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross awarded to Sergeant Major (later Lieutenant) Peter Gill of the Loodiana Regiment for saving the life of an officer and his family at Benares and seeing off 27 mutinous Sepoys with only his sergeant’s sword, on June 4, 1857.

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Spitfire pilot’s medal group

16 November 2012

This DFC medal group of a British Spitfire pilot who survived the war despite crashing and being given up for dead by his colleagues has an estimate of £8000-10,000 in Plymouth Auction Rooms’ November 21 sale.

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Wartime relic with special connection to Nantwich

08 November 2012

Nantwich, Cheshire auctioneers Peter Wilson are selling this item, believed to be from the engine of a fighter plan which was steered away from houses in the town into the River Weaver by a heroic American pilot.

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Guns with a right royal heritage

11 October 2012

Fine and unusual English guns made for Indian princes formed the most lucrative sub-section of Holt’s latest London sale.

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Russian order provides £40,000 result

05 October 2012

This Russian military medal demolished an estimate of £10,000-15,000 at a recent sale held at Bonhams Knightsbridge.

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Hero’s medals still missing after theft

28 August 2012

Medals awarded to one of Britain’s greatest military heroes are still missing after being stolen from the Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum in Eastbourne.

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American rarity at Silverwoods

22 August 2012

One of the noted rarities among 19th century American firearms will be on offer in Lancashire on August 30 when Silverwoods of Clitheroe sell this John Walch Navy Model 12-shot percussion revolver.

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Big game rifles – a short history

18 August 2012

An interesting sporting gun found its way into Wallis & Wallis’s (17.5% buyer's premium) predominantly militaria sale in Lewes on June 12.

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The not-so-humble airgun

18 August 2012

To most people air guns are the low-powered toys that little boys play about with in the back garden, but the air rifle has a surprisingly long history and at one time they were among the most feared weapons on the battlefield.

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Dettingen battle standard is remarkable survivor

12 June 2012

A remarkable survivor from a landmark battle in British military history is coming up for sale at Thomas Del Mar in West Kensington on June 27.

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Unique Falklands CGM sets record at £95,000

23 April 2012

A UNIQUE Falklands War medal marking the ‘phenomenally brave’ work of a bomb disposal expert has sold for what is believed to be a record price at auction.

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Falklands War battle trophy for sale

10 April 2012

WHEN the Royal Navy seized an enemy patrol boat in the Falklands War the name of it must have given particular satisfaction at the capture.

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Islamic bounty in London to follow New York’s Prospero success

05 March 2012

FRESH from their multi-million dollar Prospero triumph in New York, Baldwin’s are preparing to offer an outstanding selection of Islamic rarities as part of London Islamic Week in April.

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Tiffany rarities show designer’s versatility

27 February 2012

THE two Tiffany works of art that gave strong performances within days of each other in recent US sales were not the usual lamps, glassware or table silver.

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Preparing for bidding battles as iconic US Naval flags come to auction

20 February 2012

ON April 30, Philadelphia auctioneers Freeman’s will sell flags from the U.S. Navy’s most revered ship, the Constitution.

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