Category: Articles

by

Harvey J S Withers

ONLY AVAILABLE FROM www.militariahub.com

Over 2000 full colour photographs

The book contains over 2000 full colour photographs, the majority of which have never been seen in print before.  Each listing includes full colour photographs, a concise description and the current market value in both $US and £Sterling.

Sample Pages below

Please take the time to look at the sample pages below – each page contains many full colour photographs, including a wealth of detailed information aimed specifically at the collector of antique military swords. The swords featured in this book are the kind of pieces that the collector will regularly encounter at Arms Shows and auctions.

An essential aid in identifying and valuing antique swords

There are also comprehensive sections detailing the historical background for particular sword types and essential tips for collecting. Categories include:

Infantry Swords

Cavalry Swords

Naval Swords

Hunting Swords

Smallswords

Japanese Swords

Care and Preservation of Antique Swords

Sword Bibliography

Foreword is by the late Professor Richard Holmes – renowned British military historian, TV presenter and author of numerous military titles.

Book length is 296 pages.

Don’t miss this opportunity to acquire the most up-to-date and informative price guide for collectors of antique military swords. There has not been a comparative work produced in many years.

READ THE REVIEWS!

“This beautifully produced volume…wide-ranging and eclectic work cataloguing a large selection of swords dating from medieval times to the demise of the sword as a combat weapon…gives the generalist the knowledge and confidence to identify and know the value of any commonly encountered sword…”

Classic Arms and Militaria Magazine

“Almost 300 pages of colourful photographs and informative text…is an entry level guide which also serves as a source of reference to the more experienced collector…”

The Armourer Magazine

“I am delighted to write the Foreword…because it gives a broad introduction to the types of swords that one might might find in the marketplace…”

Professor Richard Holmes

SEE THE SAMPLE PAGES BELOW:

© All Images – Harvey Withers 2021

Here is another posting in a series of articles looking at some of my favourite antique swords…

Over the years, I have come across thousands of unusual and interesting swords and I thought that it would be good to share with you some of the best.  They don’t come in any particular order of merit but check back often as I will be adding more on a regular basis.

Background

This is a very interesting example of a La Tene culture Celtic warrior’s sword.  The La Tene culture is named as such from the site of La Tene near Lake Neuchatel, in Switzerland, where in 1857, a large hoard of Celtic artifacts was found, including many swords.

The Sword

This sword is quite typical of many La Tene culture warrior’s broadswords and consists of a bronze, antenna-type pommel, with a wide, double-edged blade with a distinctive rib that runs the length of the blade.

The Scabbard

The sword comes complete with its original iron scabbard although the blade cannot be sheathed – I never tried to force it into the scabbard so it might have been possible – it certainly is the right length for the blade.

© Musings on my Favourite Antique Swords article #3 by Harvey Withers – harveywithers.com

DO YOU COLLECT ANTIQUE SWORDS?

IF SO, YOU WILL NEED THESE BOOKS!

JUST CLICK ON THE BOOKS FOR MORE DETAILS

Here is another posting in a series of articles looking at some of my favourite antique swords…

Over the years, I have come across thousands of unusual and interesting swords and I thought that it would be good to share with you some of the best.  They don’t come in any particular order of merit but check back often as I will be adding more on a regular basis.

Background

This is a very attractive late-17th Century English silver-hilted hanger and is typical of a type that came into vague towards the end of the century and was carried by both infantry and naval officers.  In recent years, it has been most associated with English naval officers as we see a number of these swords depicted in contemporary paintings of English naval officers.

Hilt style

The hallmarked silver hilt has a D-guard knucklebow that is decorated with baroque style figures.  The pommel is heavily decorated with chrubic heads and this theme is continued at the quillon finials.

Blade

The blade is flat-backed, slightly curved and with no fuller(s).  It is also heavily impressed to both sides with a half moon armourer’s stamp.  It is likely that the blade is German (Solingen) in origin as many blades were imported into England at this time where they would have been attached to English-made hilts.

© Musings on my Favourite Antique Swords #2 article by Harvey Withers – harveywithers.com

DO YOU COLLECT ANTIQUE SWORDS?

IF SO, YOU WILL NEED THESE BOOKS!

JUST CLICK ON THE BOOKS FOR MORE DETAILS

Here is the first of a series of articles looking at some of my favourite antique swords…

Over the years, I have come across thousands of unusual and interesting antique swords and I thought that it would be good to share with you some of the best.  They don’t come in any particular order of merit but check back often as I will be adding more on a regular basis.

Background

This interesting ordinary seaman’s naval cutlass was produced in large quantities for the Dutch East India Company (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_East_India_Company) in the late-18th Century and is of a type that was manufactured in Solingen, Germany from the early 1700’s right through to the 19th Century.

It is a pretty scarce sword and I have only come across a few examples in many years.  It is of very simple construction and consists of an  iron double shell-guard and open knuckle bow, faceted pommel and turned wooden grip.  The blade is slightly curved and single-edged (double-edged towards the end of the blade) and single-fullered.   The blade is stamped with the VOC company motif and the date of 1787.  The VOC stands for Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC – United East India Company – and is found on many of their swords.

Handling the Cutlass

When I first handled the cutlass I was surprised at how light it was and also skeptical as to its effectiveness in battle as the iron shell guards do appear to be quite thin and against a heavy edged weapon, I would not fancy my chances.  Saying that, it was probably a useful weapon if wielded against comparable cutlasses and would also have been light and flexible during an onboard melee.

Pleasing Patina

What I like about this cutlass is the simplicity of design and also the pleasing patina to both hilt and blade – thankfully, it has not been attacked by any abrasives and has retained a great age colour – this is how you want to find original antique swords but unfortunately, most have been cleaned and polished over the years – I don’t blame the original owners – swords, particularly examples with brass fittings, were rarely left alone and if it was a family sword, you wanted to keep it shiny and attractive as a mark of respect and appreciation.

© Musings on my Favourite Antique Swords article #1 by Harvey Withers – harveywithers.com

 DO YOU COLLECT ANTIQUE SWORDS?

IF SO, YOU WILL NEED THESE BOOKS!

JUST CLICK ON THE BOOKS FOR MORE DETAILS