Sold Gallery
These pages display a number of the rare items that I have had the pleasure of selling. To view more details and a larger photograph please click on the thumbnail picture.
RFC Officer's side cap.
A good used example of a WW1 RFC officer's side cap. Quilted lining with large silk tailor's label for a London outfitters with RFC buttons and a bronzed O/R's style die stamped cap badge. All insignia appears to be original to the cap with good patina and impressions left in the whipcord material. Minor mothing in five places with a slightly grubby, used interior. A good, honest example
WW1 No.36 MkI Grenade with gas check.
A fine condition British, WW1, No.36M MkI Hand Grenade with base plate (gas check Mk2 ) for use in the cup discharger as fitted to the SMLE rifle. Manufactured by J.C.Co in 1917, both the body and baseplug share the same manufacturer. The gas check shares the same date with a different maker. The grenade is fully strippable and is in excellent, original condition. INERT
1930's/early WW2 Novelty Guardsman sweet container
Unusual and scarce novelty sweet container. One of a series of papier-mache figures ( including ' Old Bill ' ) produced for ' Walters' Palm Toffee ' , ' Sam & His Musket ' is a rare survivor especially with it's paper tag. Circa late 1930's/early wartime this example is in excellent, bright condition.
WW1 No.36 MkI Grenade with gas check.
A fine condition British, WW1, No.36M MkI Hand Grenade with base plate (gas check Mk2 ) for use in the cup discharger as fitted to the SMLE rifle. Manufactured by J.C.Co in 1917, both the body and baseplug share the same manufacturer. The gas check shares the same date with a different maker. The grenade is fully strippable and is in excellent, original condition. INERT
WW1 British RFC pilot's wing.
WWI British issue RFC pilot's wing. Embroidered silky cotton on dark blue, typical WW1 RFC flat wing. In excellent, clean condition, unfaded with clear evidence of having been removed from a uniform.
WW2 RAF Pathfinder log book grouping.
Logbook and ephemera to Sgt.J.R.Powell an aircrew signaller with 7 Squadron accompanied by research.Powell previously served with the RAF in a ground role including service in Africa before remustering as aircrew. Logbook records air gunner training from September 1943, navigation with No.8 (O)A.F.U. and then wireless training with 28 OTU. Joined No.7 Squadron at Oakington flying Lancaster IIIs flying his first operation, a daylight mission to Nordstern on 13/9/44. Powell went onto fly 25 night and 13 day operations completing his operational flying with food drops over Holland in Operation Manna, POW repatriation and cooks tours. Logbook is accompanied by a colour tinted photograph showing Powell wearing his pathfinder badge which is endorsed by the original award certificate signed by AVM Bennett. Also Powell's Signaller's brevet and his modified cap badge used as a Pathfinder's badge. Also comes with a small amount of research mainly concerning 7 Sqn's activities. Would reward further personal research concerning Powell. All items in clean condition,
WW1 British trench cooker.
Forerunner of the hexamine stove, this folding tin stove was fuelled by solid fuel tablets and retailed under the name 'Anglo's Trench Fires'. Contained in it's original card box with the slogan ' a boon for dugouts, tents and trenches' this cooker is a scarce survivor of the WW1 Tommy's equipment. Box in stained and slightly fragile condition with some loss to one corner, but with all of it's original contents.
1st Pattern Fairburn-Sykes Fighting Knife .
An example of the classic 1st Pattern Fairburn-Sykes Fighting Knife, as produced by Wilkinson Sword from 1941. Nickel-plate on brass and steel with ' Wilkinson Sword ' and ' F-S Fighting Knife ' etch to both sides. This example in sleepy ' just found ' condition with staining, very small areas of rust and general wear. The major failing of the knife is the broken tip. Clear signs of sharpening. The scabbard is intact, dusty and dirty. Two small holes and a cut to the top of the scabbard appear to have been done to accomodate a button and a stitch possibly to provide more secure attachment. This is a good, solid, honest example of a 1st pattern that has been used and would clean well but I have not had the heart as it seems sacrilegious. Priced accordingly.
Beaded and Ribbed F.S. fighting knife.
Brass handled Fairburn Sykes fighting knife, the handle featuring the so called 'beaded and ribbed' finish to aid grip. The handle also features an inspection mark close to the crossguard, which comprises an arrow over either a 1 or 4, difficult to distinguish. The blued, machine ground blade is in good condition with evidence of sharpening and use. The tip is slightly rounded and there are two knicks to the blade, to the right looking down the blade. The handle is good with some minor dents and abrasions. Comes with a good condition scabbard, the type often associated with Wilkinson production with a flattened chape. A good condition, used example of an increasing uncommon F.S. variant. MR11
No.1 Commando insignia grouping.
A grouping of insignia from No.1 Commando's service in Burma and the Far East. Starting with a cast brass ' Commando ' shoulder title with typically Far Eastern wire loops, probably worn on the epaulette. A hand embroidered cotton on wool ' S.E.A.C.' shoulder title with an issue machine embroidered Commando Group sleeve badge. All the cloth insignia shows clear signs of having been removed from a tunic and was found with another identical set. I would suggest that this insignia dates from 1945 and was probably mounted on a ' going home battledress ' which were invariably heavily ornamented. In good, clean condition. Uncommon.