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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Steele shows his mettle in the North West Mounted Police

01 April 2024

This North West Mounted Police hat badge caught the attention when Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (25% buyer’s premium) of Exeter sold the remaining personal effects of Canadian soldier and policeman Major General Sir Samuel Benfield Steele KCMG CB MVO (1848-1919) on March 19.

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Victoria Cross awarded eventually ‘by vote of his brother officers’

01 April 2024

Among six-figure successes in the medals market, last year Spink sold the ‘Operation Chastise’ Distinguished Flying Cross group of five given to Dambuster Flt Lt Edward ‘Johnnie’ Johnson for £105,000.

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Personal touch on board: the ditty box

01 April 2024

With space and privacy at a premium on board ships, sailors used ditty boxes to store their most treasured possessions plus personal necessities and everyday items such as sewing kit.

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Medals & militaria: String of six-figure successes in Mayfair

01 April 2024

Mayfair auction house builds on an excellent performance last year with stand-out results at the start of 2024

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Signs to show how Brits fought back at the flying bombs

01 April 2024

The Germans began firing V1 flying bombs at Britain in June 1944 and V2 rockets followed that September.

War recruitment poster

Pick of the week: Poster recruiting Jewish women to the war effort triples estimate at auction

18 March 2024

Second World War posters recruiting British and American women to the war effort are a familiar sight at auction.

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Good Korea move: Joseon helmet soars to £20,500

11 March 2024

It may have been catalogued as requiring restoration but a “scarce” 19th century Korean helmet still managed to sell for 82 times its low estimate at Hansons (26% buyer’s premium).

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Watches: How military precision massively influenced design

11 March 2024

The wristwatch, which began to replace the pocket watch in the First World War, really came into its own with the production of bespoke ‘tool’ watches for submariners and airmen later in the century

Parker Fine Art Auctions PV01A

Previews: issue 2633

04 March 2024

Our selection of lots from 12 upcoming UK auctions

Ethiopian shield

Ethiopian shield taken from battle of Maqdala withdrawn from auction

01 March 2024

The owner of an 19th century Ethiopian shield has decided to withdraw it from auction at Anderson & Garland.

WEB Johnson Hansons 2

Museum buys fragment thought to be from trail blazing pilot Amy Johnson's crashed plane

28 February 2024

Kent Battle of Britain Museum has bought a fragment of wreckage believed to be from the last plane flown by pioneering British aviator Amy Johnson in 1941.

Livery buttons

Huge button collection heads to Gloucestershire auction

27 February 2024

Sufferers of koumpounophobia, look away now. Thousands of buttons will be offered at Dominic Winter Auctioneers next month.

WEB Harper Field Scott 1

Medals of SAS hero who fought alongside the legendary Paddy Mayne in a 'suicidal' rescue mission make £41,000

13 February 2024

Renowned SAS commander 'Paddy' Mayne was so courageous (and hard as nails) he won not one but four Distinguished Service Order awards during the Second World War.

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Noonans takes top coins and medals spot

12 February 2024

Noonans was the dominant player in the London coins and medals auction market in 2023 with a market share of almost 32%, ATG’s exclusive annual special report reveals.

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Gallantry top-seller: Crimean War naval VC

12 February 2024

The best-selling gallantry medal of 2023 was offered at Noonans late in the year on December 6. The Naval Victoria Cross awarded to Seaman James Gorman at the Battle of Inkerman sold for a hammer price of £320,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium) and now forms part of a private collection of Crimean War medals.

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Deluxe rifle ‘belonged to Napoleon’

12 February 2024

A hunting rifle believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte when he ruled as emperor of France led the line at Alexander Historical Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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Coins & medals: Stable currency but market is far from static

12 February 2024

Total sales across London coin and medals auctions were £61.6m in 2023, just a fraction down on 2022’s record aggregate

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London arms fair finds new venue in Woodford Green

12 February 2024

The organiser of The London Antique Arms Fair had been searching for a new venue in which to hold the event throughout 2023.

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Dambuster scored a direct hit using bombsight he designed

12 February 2024

The Distinguished Flying Cross group of five given to Flt Lt Edward ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, who flew during Operation Chastise – the Dambusters – was sold for £105,000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) at Spink on November 29.

George Mitchell VC Obverse

London Scottish Regimental Trust to sell Victoria Cross to fund upkeep of Westminster home

09 February 2024

The London Scottish Regimental Trust is putting up for auction one of the three Victoria Crosses that it holds.

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