Mexican Iron and Brass Rowel Spur

Comprising tanged arrowheads of various types. 59 grams total, 5-11.6 cm



Acquired before 1972. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.

The projectiles belong to the type 1 of the A. Michalak classification. In Western Europe, especially from the 13th century onwards, arrows were made in various forms including: simple cone-shaped heads, rhomboid heads, hooked heads, heads with various curved barbs, willow-shaped heads, triangular and flat-bladed heads, crescent-shaped heads and sometimes as petal-shaped and battering heads.

Finno-Ugrian with triangular-section blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with spur to the underside, socket with extended lower sleeve. 779 grams, 17.5 cm



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

During their struggles against Germans and Teutonic Knights, deceased pagans were often cremated along with damaged or ceremonially sacrificed weaponry. If swords were generally reserved for the military elite, the side axe was one of the most commonly used weapons.

By Rodgers, with finely shaped 15cm stiletto blade with traces of original black finish tapering to a steel oval guard and fitted with a brass 'beaded and ringed' shaped hilt secured by a copper pommel nut; the hilt bearing the War Department 'broad arrow' and '2' marks near to the guard; with the original leather scabbard fitted with brass rivets and chape, pierced for belt wear and with the side flaps for sewing cut away as commonly seen when belt worn; the dagger showing wear with minor chipping to the blade. 254 grams, 33 cm overall



Property of a Luton, UK gentleman, by inheritance.

In the autumn of 1942, the Rodgers firm produced what many consider to be the best of all the wartime Fairbairn-Sykes knives: the 'Beads and Ridges' model (or 'Beaded and Ringed'); so-called for its distinctive grip pattern to the brass hilt of single rings of tiny beads, interspersed between sections of four to seven plain rings. The blade is delicate and uniform, and the weapon, though light, is well balanced. The blade finish was black (as this example) or nickel. All of this type are considered to be at least scarce. According to both Fredrick Stephens and Leroy Thompson the type was a commercial variant for private purchase; however, there are some rare cases of this type which were officially issued with the War Department broad arrow and number marks, as with this example.