Medieval Socketted Iron Crossbow Bolt Head with Amphora Maker's Mark

With triangular section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, lateral flanges to the socket. 758 grams, 18.5 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

The axe belongs to a category of bearded axes. The skeggöks (bearded axes) had a long edge, designed to split tree-trunks into planks and beams. Usually the beard was at the bottom end of the blade, but some axes did sometimes have extra long blades.

Piriform body with lattice to upper body and impressed bands to shoulder, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 644 grams, 12.8 cm



From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

Hollow-formed with a collared socket; two rows of tear-shaped bosses to the bulbous body. 205 grams, 61 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.