Amarlu Type Bronze Short Sword

Comprising a knife bayonet for use with the Second World War 8 mm Mauser Kar 98k rifle; fitted with resin grip scales and spring release button; scabbard with original throat and chape. 588 grams, 40.5 cm



Property of a Luton, UK gentleman, by inheritance.

The bayonet offered here is an example of the third pattern of bayonet manufactured in 1927-1930 and again in the period 1934-1935, with this specific example having been produced in 1935. In an attempt to keep their identities a secret, the makers of these weapons stamped the blades with a letter/number code, a practice they repeated for the scabbards. This scabbard bears the code for 1943, although it was double struck. Both blade and scabbard in this instance were produced by E. & F. Horster & Co. of Solingen, and the weapon is apparently a pre-war example that was captured and reworked in eastern Europe, likely Yugoslavia. The plastic grips such as those used on our bayonet, and typically found on M1884/98 III bayonets, are made from a phenolic resin. Owing to a shortage of such resin in Germany during WWII a substitute moulding compound known as type 41, which contained a much lower percentage of resin, was adopted in January 1943.

Featuring a circular opening to receive fuse and plug to one face; hollow-formed. 3.9 kg, 11 cm diameter

Fine condition.

Acquired after 2000. Property of a Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman.

The shrapnel shell is named after Lieutenant-General Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), a British officer who devised the hollow, gunpowder-filled ball that was fused to explode either in the air or on the ground with the resulting ball fragments proving to be an effective anti-personnel weapon; later types were filled with lead musket balls and powder to make the weapon even more effective against troops; such projectiles were used both with field artillery cannon and with mortars.

Napoleonic era with 30cm (12") round smooth bore barrel of .56" bore with London proof marks, the lock with 'TOWER', 'crown-over-GR' and 'crown-over-broad-arrow' marks fitted with brass-tipped wood ramrod and wood full stock and butt with brass butt cap, trigger guard, side plate and ferrule with steel belt hook; action working to half and full cock. 1.40 kg, 49 cm



Acquired from Andrew Bottomley, UK. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the Bottomley listing. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.204079.

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. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.