Bosleys’ Arms and Armour

Lots of classic weaponry and armour in the July auction at Bosleys’. For these, we are listing hammer prices as the room/ telephone Buyer’s Premium is different from the online commission, at 26.4% and

28.8% respectively. So, first of all, a 17th century European semi-cup Hilt rapier with a 31 3/4in, double edged narrow blade. Short central fuller marked to both sides with ‘Solingen’.

Steel, part cup guard with engraved crowned coat of arms. It hammered for £240.

A nice looking basket hilt sword next. It was an 1831 Pattern Victorian Duke of Albany Highlanders Scottish broadsword with a 32 1/4in, double edged blade. Etched foliage scrolls, Duke of Albany Highlanders and battle honour scrolls. Forte with retailer ‘Meyer & Mortimer Conduit St London’. Featuring a nice steel basket hilt with heart pierced panels, steel dome pommel, shagreen covered grip with twist wire binding. It hammered for £520.

From Scotland to Japan with a signed Katana sword with 24in, single edged blade. Double holed tang with signature to both sides. Lined gilt habaki. Steel tsuba with seven hole, circle design. Blackened and gilt dragonfly design fuchi and kabuto-gane. Contained in its brown lacquered scabbard. This one went for £440.

There were lots of bayonets on offer and here we had a scarce No. 4 MKI cruciform spike bayonet with 8in blade. Featuring a blackened socket, stamped ‘GR’ with central crown over ‘No 4 MKI’ and ‘S.M’". Contained in its correct tubular steel scabbard. Complete with 1937 Pattern frog dated ‘1942’. Clean condition. It sold for £140.

Now, we covered a Commando raid last month and 2nd Pattern Fairbairn Sykes Commando knives are one thing but the 1st Pattern go for five times as much. Here was one such WWII 1st Pattern knife, the hilt with nickel grip of chequered design. Double edged, spear point blade, the ricasso with etched panel ‘Wilkinson Sword

Ltd. London’, the reverse side the ‘F-S Fighting Knife’ (part missing). Blade length 17cm. It hammered for a hefty £2,600.

For an eye catching display you can’t beat Japanese Samurai armour and here was a full suit of Edo-period armour. The lot consisted of a black lacquered Kabuto helmet with crinkle lacquer central ridge. Four tier lacquered neck guard (hinenojikord) with green lacing, a black lacquered (mempo) face guard with two tier neck guard, lacquered breast and back plates, matching shoulder (side) panels, leg and thigh (Haidate and Kasazuri) panels, silk-backed arm and hand (kote and tekko) panels with chain mail joining the small armoured sections. All joined with green cord and horn toggles. It sold for £3,200. ■