Arms, Armour & Militaria

It was with dazzling exhibition pieces that Joseph Rodgers & Sons made its reputation as Sheffield’s foremost knifemaker.

Decorative Highland dirks from the late 19th century, often mounted in silver and set with cairngorms, appear for sale with some frequency.

A rare 17th century Chinese bronze naval cannon guided at £30,000-50,000 made £165,000 in a Somerset saleroom.

The Tarleton helmet was named after the dashing but ruthless Sir Banastre Tarleton (1754-1833), who commanded the British Legion during the American War of Independence.

Stellar English, Indian and Turkish pieces are promised at Olympia Auctions on December 6 in west London.

A childhood in Wiltshire partly spent picking up ammunition lying around as a result of the Allied preparations for D-Day helped to spark Alexander Jeremy Peckover Penrose’s (known as Jerry) interest in firearms.

On November 29 Christie’s will offer Ombersley Court: The Collection of Lord and Lady Sandys – a historic collection of an English aristocratic family spanning five centuries.

Pictured here are the plates from a 12th or 13th century klivanion (Byzantine armour).

This Russian 1881/1908 pattern dragoon officer’s shaska is estimated at £2600-3200 among a wide array of militaria on offer at Lawrences of Crewkerne on November 22.

Key and pistol combination stands out in a comprehensive firearms collection offered during a dedicated sale staged on home turf

An intriguing inscription on a sword presented to a British army officer by the Sultan of Morocco helped to achieve a hammer price nearly 10 times the top estimate.

In November 1915, Captain Wilton John Rix of the 6th Bedfordshire Regiment wrote from France to the East Suffolk Gazette with an understated and moving plea for a relief from the war’s monotony.

Only 155 Arctic Medals 1875-76 were issued, with 59 of those being to HMS Discovery.

Airborne forces memorabilia is usually a winner at auction but especially when it’s an early example

Originally Roman, Portchester Castle near Portsmouth was first used to house captured enemy soldiers in 1665, when England was at war with the Netherlands.

The front page of ATG No 2558 featured a Second World War nurse’s cape decorated with an array of cloth regimental badges that sold at Essex auction house Sworders in August last year.

Among recent paratrooper items that impressed at auction, this Polish badge with combat wreath doubled the top estimate at Bosleys to take £4000 from a UK online private buyer.

One of the best performers against estimate at Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) Militaria & Ethnographica sale on September 20 was a fascinating collection of photographs and ephemera relating to a French Second World War hero.