A bronze spearhead with long blade and broad midrib with incised decoration to each side, rectangular-section bent tang, reinforced shaft with ribbed horizontal bands interspersed with bands of geometric motifs. 329 grams, 32.7 cm

Ex S. Motamed collection.
with Bellman's Auctions, 20th-26th June 2015, lot 2482.
Property of a London gentleman.

Cf. Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran - The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, p.633, cat.286, for similar type.

In this category (Type II of the Khorasani typology) the shaft has a tang with a bend towards the end. The blade has three fullers, and the shaft is usually engraved with diagonal lines. Similar pieces were excavated by Dr Negahban in Marlik.

A bronze cylindrical mace head or cudgel with collared stem and flanged rim, the upper body with alternating vertical ribs and chevrons. 510 grams, 23 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 56.102.1, for similar.

A hand-forged iron axehead with triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, socket with lateral flanges and rectangular panel to the rear. 422 grams, 15.2 cm

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

Cf. Thunmark-Nylén, L., Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands I.: Abbildungen der Graubfunde, Stockholm, 1992, plate 13, item 14.

The axe appears to belong to the typology of Viking side axes of Wheeler type B (Wheeler III / Rygh 559). Usually these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams, or heads during the battle. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx, the neck on such 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter.

A group of three short iron spearheads with lentoid-section lanceolate blade, short neck and tapering circular socket with forge-welded split, single hole for attachment pin; remains of wood inside one of the shafts. 578 grams total, 24.5-28.5 cm

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

See Hjardar, K. and Vike, V., Vikings at war, Oxford-Philadelphia, 2016, pp.175 and 178, type A spear.

The spears belong to the type A of the first main group of Viking spears, the so-called Frankish spearheads, which occur between 750 and 950 A.D., but mainly in the 8th and 9th centuries. The Mediterranean influence is still evident on the foliate shape of the blade.

An iron sword with leaf-shaped blade decorated with a simple punched line punched and zig-zag ornament; the hilt partially covered with leather with stitched junctions, twisted iron wire 'cage' and elongated iron pommel; accompanied by a fragmentary wooden leather-covered sheath with spatulate end. 684 grams, 70 cm long

Acquired locally by donation.
Property of Sense Charity, Cambridgeshire, UK.

Cf. Spring, C., African Arms and Armour, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993, p.65.

The Yaka are an African ethnic group found in the south-west of the DRC, with the Angolan border to their west. The Yaka people were historically known for their excellent diplomatic and military abilities which enabled them to found the Yaka kingdom in the 17th century. One of their distinctive weapons was a long, straight sabre which developed into an increasingly elaborate style during the 19th and 20th centuries A.D.

A Colt .41 calibre single action rimfire single-shot derringer pocket pistol, the barrel top marked 'COLT' and the left frame '41 CAL'; with nickel-plated brass frame and steel rifled barrel (swivel to load) and bird's beak butt with plain wood grips; the pistol contained in an original case formed from a hollowed out leather-bound book Pratique du Sacrament de Penitence ou Methode pour L'Administrer Utilement, published Paris, 1714, the compartment lined with marbled paper with section for spare bullets; action in working order. 450 grams total, book 17 x 10 cm

Acquired Holts Auction, 2020, lot 899.
Property of a Kent collector.

Accompanied by lot ticket.

Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age.

An iron single-edged sabre with slightly curving blade showing battle nicks, evidence of a possible iron extension together with a tongue to the side of the blade, beneath the straight guard. 725 grams, 89 cmFine condition.

Acquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.

Accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. similar specimens in Харламов, П.В., ‘Weapons complex of the Nomadic tribes of the Volga-Ural Region in the 9th -11th Centuries (in Russian)’ in Archaeology of the Eurasian Steppes, Vol. I, Kazan, 2017, pp.364-379, esp.figs.6, 14; Lebedinsky, I., De l’epée scythe au sabre mongol, Paris, 2008, pp.172ff.; for discussion on the sabres see Pletneva, S.A., Antiquities of black hoods (in Russian) SAI. Issue, E1-19, Moscow, 1973; Evglevsky, A.V., Potemkina, T.M., ‘Eastern European late nomadic sabers’ in Evglevsky, A.V., European Steppes in the Middle Ages, Vol.1, Donetsk, 2002, pp.291-336.

Various sabres of similar typology were found in a complex of medieval nomad weapons in archaeological excavations in the steppe and forest-steppe zone of the Volga-Ural region; chronologically, they were dated to the 9th-11th centuries.

A pair of smooth-bore flintlock pistols of about 5mm bore formed as a knife and fork (two tines) set; with steel blades (the knife with a profile bust maker's mark) with the pistols contained within the brass foliate engraved handles, firing to the rear; each fitted with finely made steel single action flintlock mechanism to sides; contained in the original velvet-lined mahogany case with hinged lid and brass catches; actions in working order. 1.31 kg total, case 30 x 13 cm

Acquired Peter Wilson Auction, 2020, lot 13.
Property of a Kent collector.

Accompanied by lot ticket.

Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age.

An iron catapult dart formed with a tapering cylindrical socket and rectangular-section neck with barbs, barbed triangular head with full-length medial rib to both faces. 83 grams, 25 cm

Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

A mixed group of bronze bladed weapons including arrowheads; dagger believed to be a reproduction. 374 grams total, 11.4-26.5 cm

Acquired 1970s-1990s.
Ex Rabi Gallery, Mayfair, London, U.K.
From a specialist collection of pottery.

A slender leaf-shaped copper-alloy arrowhead with rectangular-section tang, bent over forming a loop; Phoenician letter stamped to one face of the head. 10.1 grams. 90 mm

Acquired 1969-1999.
London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent.

A heavy bronze spearhead comprising an oval blade with gently curved shoulders and strong midrib, flat rectangular-section tang tapering to a curved end. 432 grams, 45.8 cmFine condition.

Ex Abelita family collection, 1980-2015.

See similar spearhead in Khorasani M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, item 270, for type and p.241.

The spearhead belongs to the type V of the heavy spearheads, similar to the ones excavated by Dr. Negahban in Tomb 47 (Trench XXIIE) of the Marlik necropolis. The heavy spearheads, cast in one piece, usually have an oval blade with rounded gently curved shoulders and a rounded midrib near the tang.