French WWII Trench Periscope

Comprising a hoop with scrolled ornament on the carinated edge and triangular plaque with foliage motifs. 9.14 grams, 34.97 mm overall, 21.22 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X 1/2, USA 11 3/4, Europe 26.92, Japan 25)



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

With a broad tapering blade, the wide and shallow fullers with inlaid decoration to both sides comprising a Greek cross within a circle, a cross potent and a wheel; long, straight guard and a short grip with a plain Brazil nut pommel. 1.31 kg, 101 cm



Ing Peter Till collection, Austria 1990s. UK collection, 2000s. Property of an East Sussex, UK, teacher. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The sword is of Oakeshott Type Xa or XI and Petersen Type X. According to Oakeshott (1960, p.204) the swords of type X were a development of Viking sword type VIII with slight modifications. Oakeshott describes such swords as common in the late Viking age (late 10th century) and remaining in use until the first quarter of the 13th century.

Comprising four tanged arrowheads, having large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, rectangular section stem with handle for the shaft, barbed shoulders and convex or squared sides. 161 grams total, 13-17 cm



From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK, 1969-1999; thence by descent.

These arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A and C according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes A and C of type V are larger arrow heads with barbed shoulders and triangular heads. These types of arrowheads were commonly used in Anatolia and Mesopotamia from the 2nd millennium B.C., but apparently their employment began earlier in this area, where types like these occur alongside the non-barbed, predominantly ribbed and tanged types.