Civil War Starr Percussion 1858 Army Revolver

Comprising mainly tanged arrowheads including various types of leaf-shaped heads with midribs. 225 grams total, 12-18.5 cm



Acquired 1990s. From the collection of a late Japanese weaponry collector.

Including MK 9 flying suit coveralls (for height 162-172cm, weight greater than 72.64 kg, size 4) with insignia to 825 Squadron (Fleet Air Arm) on shoulder and sewn cleaning and user instruction labels to the interior, shoulders with Flt Lieutenant Officer rank slides; MK3C flying helmet with clear and smoked visors, pig skin and blue velvet lining with electrical headset and adjustable microphone with radio lead and plug; Air Ministry label to interior reading 'Serial number 26396 Large Mk 3C' and AM 'crow's foot'. 2.9 kg, 29 cm



Acquired from J C Militaria, UK. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of JCM listing details and brief squadron research.

825 Squadron was originally formed in 1934 and served during WWII; it was reformed on the outbreak of the Falklands War in 1982 and equipped with ten Sea King helicopters; the squadron was disbanded in September 1982.

Iron fronted with visor, nasal guard bar and front and back gorget plates, the lifting visor marked with parallel lines; the front and back plates secured with a single hook. 2.25 kg, 34.5 cm high



Acquired on the UK art market. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no. 11766-203985.

During the latter half of the 16th century, the heavy 'knightly' lance gradually fell out of use, possibly because of the widespread adoption of the infantry pike. Also, the lance required a great amount of practice to perfect its use, whilst proficiency in the use of firearms was considerably more easily acquired. The lancer or demi-lancer, when he had abandoned his lance, became the pistol-armed cuirassier or reiter. The adoption of the pistol as the primary weapon led to the development of the stately caracole tactic, where cuirassiers fired their pistols at the enemy, then retired to reload whilst their comrades advanced in turn to maintain firing. Following some initial successes, this tactic proved to be extremely ineffective, as infantry, with superior firearms and numbers, could easily outgun the cuirassiers. The change from cavalry being reliant on firearms, to shock-capable close combat cavalry, reliant mainly on the sword, was attributed to Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in the 1620s and 1630s, but was actually already widely practiced throughout Europe since the invention of pistol-armed heavy cavalrymen in the late 16th century.