Sword

Edged weapons such as swords and daggers are on a ‘hot streak’ as one saleroom puts it. Here we look at the latest highlights

Sword linked to former emperor is one of the highlights at London sale held by maritime specialist

A sword presented to one of only three Jewish winners of the Victoria Cross in the Second World War has sold for a hammer price of £7200 at Plymouth saleroom Eldreds (20% buyer’s premium).

The recipient of this George III period shamshir was once described by military historian Sir John Fortescue as “the bravest man to ever wear a red coat”.

An Irish presentation ormolu-mounted and enamelled sabre came for sale at a recent auction at Bonhams Knightsbridge (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium).

The Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund was formed at a meeting of merchants and underwriters at the Lloyd’s Coffee House in London in July 1803, to reward those who had displayed significant valour in the defence of Britain. The funds came via public subscription.

A pair of pistols that were presented by Napoleon just six weeks after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo hammered at £30,000 in Thomas Del Mar’s sale of Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria held at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

The semi-precious stones adorning the hilts and scabbards of many of the best Ottoman swords held talismanic significance.

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

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).

A number of strong performers stood out in a variety of individual pieces offered in Bamfords’ (24.75% buyer’s premium) large four-day auction

Antique arms and armour dealers and auctioneers have come together to lobby against couriers restricting delivery of antique examples.

An antique arms and armour dealer is leading a campaign to stop couriers from restricting the delivery of antique examples.

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.

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.

Two previously unrecorded swords from the Tiger of Mysore are among the stand-out lots on offer in upcoming auctions and from dealers