Volga Bulgar Bronze Lion Belt Mount Group

Napoleonic era with 30cm (12") round smooth bore barrel of .56" bore with London proof marks, the lock with 'TOWER', 'crown-over-GR' and 'crown-over-broad-arrow' marks fitted with brass-tipped wood ramrod and wood full stock and butt with brass butt cap, trigger guard, side plate and ferrule with steel belt hook; action working to half and full cock. 1.40 kg, 49 cm



Acquired from Andrew Bottomley, UK. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the Bottomley listing. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.204079.

Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.

Pear-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 594 grams, 12 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

Type III, made under contract by Nathan Starr of Middletown, CT; with .69 calibre, 107 cm (42”) browned barrel with side lock marked with Starr’s earlier style of 'US / (ornate sunburst) / N. STARR' ahead of the cock and 'MIDDTN / CONN / 1832 / (rosette)' to the rear with 'US / JM' over a raised 'P' in sunken circular cartouche to top of breech, with various inspection and other small marks, fitted with sling swivels (upper possibly a replacement), steel ramrod with flared tip, full wood stock with steel butt plate, trigger guard, side-plate, barrel rings and fore-end, lock with brass pan; action in good working order. 4.10 kg, 148 cm



Acquired from M J Noble Ltd, UK, 2015. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by the Noble purchase invoice and listing.

Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.