Viking Iron Fighting Broad Axehead

A solid half-basket-hilt with folding guard, engraved 'J.S. Eaton, R.N.' in copperplate; lion-head pommel with knuckle-bow entering through the lion's mouth, 'ray-skin' grip and retaining wires; sword-knot tied through slot in the knuckle-bow (now in protective velvet pouch); pipe-backed single-edged blade with etched crown-and-anchor design to one face and heraldic helm to the other, ricasso with reserved six-pointed star and inset gold disc with blackletter 'D'; black leather scabbard with three brass fittings (locket, middle and chape) and two suspension rings; suspension cord with decorative braided banded keepers. 1.31 kg, 95 cm



Believed to have been owned by James Eaton, famed for serving at the battle of Trafalgar, and in later life, Commander. Ex Newbury antique emporium. Property of a Berkshire, UK, gentleman collector. Accompanied by copies of various online biographical research information. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13157-246979.

The sword is believed to have belonged to Eaton in later life, when he had been promoted to the rank of Commander. The Trafalgar Roll (p.53) and other sources record his career in some detail. James Eaton was born in London in 1783 and entered service in the Royal Navy in 1799, aged 16, aboard the Quebec stationed in the West Indies, and in 1800 he was appointed Midshipman to the vessel La Prompte. He was in the mizentop of the Hannibal in the action off Algeciras, Spain, in 1801 when she was obliged to surrender, having sustained losses of 81 men killed and 62 wounded; he was then in an exchange of prisoners and returned to Britain aboard the San Antonio which had been captured from the Spanish in battle at Cadiz. As a midshipman in 1803, he served on the Atalante intercepting enemy smuggling and supply vessels near St. Gildas in the bay of Quiberon, Brittany. Eaton was the Signal Midshipman of the Téméraire at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and was the first signal officer to repeat Nelson's famous message 'England expects that every man will do his duty' to the rest of the fleet, an illustrious and important achievement: J.M.W. Turner created a magnificent painting of the Téméraire which is now featured on United Kingdom £20 notes. This ship took part in the thick of the action at Trafalgar - she came alongside and was lashed to the French ships Fougeux and Redoutable, the crew of which was about to board Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory until a broadside was delivered which caused a huge loss of life and saved Nelson's vessel from the hands of the French. He was promoted to lieutenant the following year and appointed to the Lion where he served for six years. He sustained wounds in an action aboard the Lion while escorting a convoy to China and took part in 1811 in the invasion of Java mounted against the Dutch East India Company. In 1813, he was aboard the Beaver when she rescued the crew of a Swedish merchant vessel and received a distinction for his part in the action. He retired in 1842 with the rank of Commander with the Naval General Service Medal and two clasps in recognition of his distinguished career. He finally settled in West Bromwich; he died fifteen years later. Less glorious, perhaps, is his nickname 'Snotty' Eaton - the normal term in those days used to describe any midshipman. The vendor has been told by Will Heppa, curator at the Royal Navy Museum, that there appears to be only one 'J Eaton' in the records of the appropriate period; there is thus every reason to accept that the sword did belong to the Eaton of Trafalgar fame.

A British trooper's backsword comprising a slightly curved single-edged blade with a deep fuller to each face, iron hilt with D-shaped pierced guard, leather-covered grip and bulb pommel; stamped on one face of the blade at the ricasso with 'WD' and broad arrow, crown over 'S12', crown over 'E12 YC' and to the other face '/86' over 'Baum & Co. [Sol]ingen'; scabbard with cast frog with securing srewws and stamped '/88 WD' and arrow; integral reinforced chape. 1.76 kg, 103.5 cm



From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Longsword of Oakeshott's Type XVa, cross style 8, bronze pommel style J (recessed); strongly tapering, pointed blade of ‘flattened diamond’ section, cross style tapering gradually outward to sharply downturned tips; long grip with slight taper, disc pommel with chamfered edges and a potent cross in the centre surrounded by an inscription (on both sides) '+ IH SU + AAWM'. 1.25 kg, 113 cm



From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany mid 20th century. 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.13034-24799.

Some wheel pommels of this date have engraved, or inset roundels with armorial or devotional emblems, and a number of sword blades of this date bear religious inscriptions in the form of a prayer. The inscription on the pommel between the two potent crosses is intriguing. The letters 'IH SU' are a clear reference to the name of the Saviour, and can be translated as Ihesu-Jesus, or also Ihesu Merci (Jesus have mercy), a simple prayer for the person carrying the sword. The letters 'A.A. W.M.' could refer to the name of the owner of the sword (WM = Wilhelm) or the maker of the weapon. It is difficult to consider the letters as an abbreviation of the prayer ‘Ave Maria’, usually shortened in the German medieval inscriptions as A.M.