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.
![img_14-4.jpg](/media/88145/img_14-4.jpg?rxy=0.58096828046744575,0.31856899488926749&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133189479780000000)
Poignant reminder of home front perils in the Second World War
23 January 2023A rare Second World War helmet worn by members of a little-known unit of the UK home front comes for sale at Sworders on February 7.
![img_13-5.jpg](/media/88137/img_13-5.jpg?rxy=0.49281314168377821,0.414050822122571&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133189478270000000)
Sussex militaria makes strong showing in auction on home turf
23 January 2023A selection of militaria with solid Sussex interest appeared at Lewes saleroom Wallis & Wallis (22% buyer’s premium).
![img_13-1.jpg](/media/88133/img_13-1.jpg?rxy=0.31051752921535891,0.40209790209790208&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133189477040000000)
Arms and armour: Personal touch gives 'warts and all' weapons the auction edge
23 January 2023Specialist buyers turn out in force to bid for rusty ‘warts and all’ weapons amassed by dealer-collector
![img_24-3.jpg](/media/86673/img_24-3.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141100770000000)
High-tech early breech loaders broke new ground
28 November 2022At first glance this early 18th century British-made sporting flintlock is nothing particularly out of the ordinary, despite being impressively engraved and relief carved.
![img_26-3.jpg](/media/86682/img_26-3.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141104690000000)
Buckler purchase from Portobello
28 November 2022Once thought to have been made in antiquity, bucklers are now understood to have been late medieval or Tudor small shields.
![img_25-1.jpg](/media/86674/img_25-1.jpg?rxy=0.49192100538599642,0.35473340587595215&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141102100000000)
Get your two hands on a mighty sword
28 November 2022Top result from the October 26 arms and armour auction at Munich saleroom Hermann Historica (25% buyer’s premium) was a 5ft 6in (1.67m) two-hand sword made by the acclaimed bladesmith Wolfgang Stantler II of Passau, c.1580.
![img_21-7.jpg](/media/86666/img_21-7.jpg?rxy=0.88330341113105926,0.26940639269406391&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141098920000000)
Set sail and roll out the seven barrels
28 November 2022On account of its extraordinary appearance, the Nock seven-barrelled flintlock volley gun has become something of an icon of warfare in the Age of Sail.
![img_25-3.jpg](/media/86676/img_25-3.jpg?rxy=0.4584139264990329,0.36516129032258066&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141103580000000)
Coin purse gives you bang for your buck
28 November 2022This Victorian purse gun was designed by Oscar Frankenau from Nuremberg and patented in both the UK and the US in 1876.
![img_58-1.jpg](/media/86784/img_58-1.jpg?rxy=0.62542955326460481,0.28445747800586513&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141036080000000)
Outside move kept classic arms fair on the map
28 November 2022‘Zero profit’ but event got through Covid and has 220 stands at the next event
![img_22-1.jpg](/media/86667/img_22-1.jpg?rxy=0.47755834829443444,0.67293233082706772&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141099510000000)
Stroud pepperbox adds spice on home soil
28 November 2022The Stroud engineer Edwin Beard Budding (1796-1846) is considered the inventor of the lawnmower (1830) and the adjustable spanner (1842).
![img_24-1.jpg](/media/86671/img_24-1.jpg?rxy=0.48730964467005078,0.40594059405940597&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141100240000000)
British pistols owned by American patriot
28 November 2022A pair of ornate presentation flintlock pistols made in London and later owned by an American patriot sold for $55,000 (£46,200) at a US saleroom.
![img_25-2.jpg](/media/86675/img_25-2.jpg?rxy=0.49371633752244165,0.65506329113924056&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141102380000000)
Abijah’s powder horn shows Ranger value
28 November 2022A ‘Siege of Louisbourg’ powder horn belonging to one Ranger Abijah Smith sold for $17,500 (£15,200) at Bonhams Skinner in an auction on September 28 in Massachusetts.
![img_26-1.jpg](/media/86680/img_26-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133139334710000000)
Case for the defence
28 November 2022Estimated at just £60-90, this English Civil War-era mortuary sword sold for £2300 at Unique Auctions (22.5% buyer’s premium) in Lincoln on October 22.
![img_21-1.jpg](/media/86660/img_21-1.jpg?rxy=0.33213644524236985,0.29565217391304349&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141098130000000)
Arms & armour: A pick of Purdey
28 November 2022Chris Wynne dedicated his collecting energies to early guns by a London maker that became an international brand
![img_27-6.jpg](/media/86189/img_27-6.jpg?rxy=0.39679715302491103,0.4059590316573557&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133129040150000000)
Gunbus could be an auction high flyer
14 November 2022This fine First World War silver presentation model of the Vickers FB5 or Gunbus was made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company (London 1916).
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Top stories this week – including news of an export block placed on a record breaking RAF Victoria Cross medal
13 November 2022The most popular stories on this website over the last week included news of an export block issued on a Victoria Cross medal in the hope a UK buyer will emerge.
![Major John Wiseman’s SAS cap](/media/86030/img_8-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133122879610000000)
Pick of the week: Cap owned by an SAS ‘rogue hero’ takes five figure sum at auction
07 November 2022Militaria related to the SAS has never been short of eager collectors wanting to splash out for items connected with the British special forces unit.
![2567NE Edit SAS Cap Wiseman](/media/85786/2567ne-edit-sas-cap-wiseman.jpg?rxy=0.67904509283819625,0.2723735408560311&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133117034100000000)
Cap owned by a real SAS 'rogue hero' takes £16,000 at Kent auction
03 November 2022The SAS has never been short of eager collectors wanting to splash out for militaria connected with the British special forces unit.
![Squadron Leader Scarf](/media/85788/scarf.jpg?rxy=0.53024911032028466,0.29947916666666669&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133119362990000000)
UK buyer sought for record breaking RAF Victoria Cross medal
01 November 2022An export block has been issued on a Victoria Cross medal in the hope a UK buyer will emerge.
![img_28-1.jpg](/media/85650/img_28-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133116875890000000)
Medals and militaria: The Grimsby exiles
31 October 2022Despite their sterling service with the Allies, a large number of Polish soldiers could not return home when the fighting ended, as a fascinating archive reveals.
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