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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It was nearly Napoleon Blownapart: pistols he once ‘intended to use on himself’ sell in French auction

05 August 2024

A pair of pistols Napoleon Bonaparte supposedly intended to use on himself after defeat sold for €1.69m (£1.4m) including buyer’s premium at auction house Osenat in Fontainebleau, France.

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Arms and armour: A selection of swords in play at auction

05 August 2024

Edged weapons have been a strong feature of the market recently and involve a wide range of ages, styles and countries

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Pick of the Week: Hong Kong fire helmet in demand

05 August 2024

The building frenzy that followed the British arrival in Hong Kong in 1841 brought added fire risk. Any long spell of dry, windy weather could – and periodically did – prove disastrous.

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Cannon barrels point to date around time of Ottoman invasion and Siege of Vienna

05 August 2024

On July 2, Vienna auction house Tiberius (27% buyer’s premium) sold the inventory of Laudon Castle, a privately owned, moated baroque residence on the outskirts of the Austrian capital.

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Highland highlight: badge collection for sale

05 August 2024

A private collection of militaria and weapons belonging to a proud Scotsman, Douglas Anderson, comes for sale at Anderson & Garland in Newcastle in the autumn.

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Victoria Cross and George Cross both sell for six figures as part of superb naval medal collection

27 July 2024

The sold-out auction of a remarkable collection of medals spanning more than 200 years of naval history included fine examples of a Victoria Cross and a George Cross.

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Catalogue of Churchill memorabilia spells V for valuable

26 July 2024

From unpublished writings to a clothes brush from his valet, collection marks the 150th anniversary year of Sir Winston Churchill’s birth

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James II silver medal commemorating a 1687 shipwreck recovery is buoyant at auction

19 July 2024

A rare James II and Queen Mary of Modena silver medal by George Bowers, commemorating a Spanish shipwreck recovered in 1687 was auctioned at Toovey's in West Sussex 'Coins, Medallions & Banknotes' auction on July 17.

White Star Line notice

Titanic interest: Rare White Star Line notice to Olympic passengers and a Carpathia bronze medal steam ahead at auction

18 July 2024

Duke's Summer Auction in Dorchester featured a remarkable notice issued by the White Star Line to passengers on board the RMS Olympic after the sinking of its sister ship, the Titanic.

A musket ball embedded in a piece of a wall

Musket ball from Battle of Waterloo aims for auction glory

17 July 2024

Bidders are already fired up for this intriguing relic

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Top stories this week including news of a rusty sword selling for over 500 times estimate

14 July 2024

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of a lengthy bidding contest coming for an Indian tulwar sword after bidders identified the importance of the hilt decoration.

The Battle of Loos painting

Artillery museum shells out at auction to secure First World War battle scene

10 July 2024

The Royal Artillery Museum has emerged as the winning bidder for a rare eyewitness view of a First World War battle sold at a recent auction in Farnham.

Napoleon Pistol

Pistols Napoleon wanted to use on himself make £1.4m

09 July 2024

The pistols were presented by Napoleon to his friend and Grand Ecuyer Armand de Caulaincourt to thank him for his loyalty

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Tulwar sword hilt with tiger stripes reveals Tipu tempter

08 July 2024

With a rusty blade and seemingly anonymous scabbard, an ornate hilt was the key as to why an Indian tulwar sword estimated at £100-200 instead sold for a huge hammer price of £109,500 (plus 22% buyer’s premium).

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Medals from an Anzac war hero take 30 times top estimate at auction

04 July 2024

How the personal story of an Anzac war hero boosted the value of a common group of medals offered at auction to 30 times the top estimate.

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First naval Victoria Cross of the First World War comes to London saleroom

02 July 2024

The first naval Victoria Cross of the First World War is coming to auction as part of an extensive collection on offer at London saleroom Noonans on July 23.

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Wheellock from French king’s famed collection comes to US saleroom

01 July 2024

A wheellock sporting arm from the renowned Cabinet d’Armes of King Louis XIII (1601-43) is for sale at Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC) from August 23-25.

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Bidders fired up for exceptional flintlock

01 July 2024

A flintlock duck gun hailed as exceptional by Olympia Auctions fully lived up to its billing when it shot past an estimate of £60,000-80,000 to hammer down at £380,000 on June 26.

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Elaborate Italian Renaissance armour emerges for public auction

28 June 2024

Elaborate Italian Renaissance armour emerges for public auction

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Photo and badges reveal little known but vital work of the Second World War Lumberjills female forestry workers

28 June 2024

While the work of British women on the home front in both world wars is now widely recognised in a wider sense, many of the specific units set up remain obscure and largely forgotten.

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