.32RF Remington Rider Pocket Revolver, c.1870
A very good Remington Rider Double Action Pocket Revolver with the scarce short barrel. The revolver made c.1870, retains much of its original nickel finish.

Presented in full working order, this lovely .32RF calibre revolver represents one of the earliest double-action cartridge pistols to become available to the commercial market - Today, this cartridge is deemed as an "Obsolete Calibre" under UK Law.

Overall a very crisp Remington Rider with some thinning to the finish but otherwise retaining much original finish as well as; sharp profiles, clear barrel address, perfect gutta-percha grips, decent screws, bore, and a nickel silver trigger guard.

A collector grade example.

Code: 51149Price: 520.00 GBP

Starr M1858 .36 Navy Percussion Revolver
Selling on Consignment: A rare .36 calibre Starr "Navy" percussion revolver of 1858.

A total of 23,000 Army revolvers were manufactured by Starr as part of their martial contract with the US Government, however, in a bid to make more sales, Starr also offered to supply 3,000 smaller calibre "Navy" revolvers, submitting a number for approval - At this time all were declined. This meant that Starr had to be content selling their Navy revolvers on the commercial market but, with threat of Civil War looming, the government had a change of mind and soon after they purchased all the remaining .36 revolvers from from the company - This amounted to a further 2,003 pieces be added to the military arsenal. However, as these were now not part of the typical military contract, due to them being sourced through the gun trade, the opportunity for the Army to inspect the Starr Navy double-action (assisted-cocking) revolvers had been bypassed, and with that there was no opportunity to place martial marks on the grips in the accepted fashion.

Whilst the brief history of Starr's Navy production revolvers accounts for their lack of inspector's stamps, this example has been stamped with the initials, "*CWH*" on both sides of the frame.

Overall this is a an attractive and rare revolver, often missing from American Civil War collections. It is complete although showing signs of an active service life. The action has strong springs but cylinder rotation often requires a little assistance. Nevertheless the hammer cocks by means of the trigger and holds for the single-action shot. Some fettling will likley improve the action, which has strong working springs.

Code: 51148Price: 1520.00 GBP

French M1853 Minie Rifle & Bayonet, c.1855
A very good military rifle manufactured at the French Government arsenal at Chatellerault. The Modelé 1853 was issued during the Crimean War and is dated "1855", used to fire the formidable Minie bullet through a rifled barrel.

Presented in crisp condition, the action is fully working with clear inspection and issue marks throughout. The wood furniture is undamaged and the ironwork has an even light mottled appearance.

All in all, a lovely rifle with a good bore, offered with an equally good and correct bayonet, all with matching numbers to the scabbard.

Code: 51147Price: 975.00 GBP

Silver Royal Artillery Issue Pocket Watch, c.1895
A fine and rare watch made by Adam Burdess in Coventry and issued to the Royal Artillery. These pocket watches are among the earliest British Army issue timepieces to be issued to soldiers, with this example being silver hallmarked for 1895.

At first, the Army's procurement of key-wound fusee pocket watches might seem questionable, after all, "keyless" watches were in plentiful supply from Swiss and American companies that had invested in a programme of industrial modernisation; however, it was not the same in Britain. Here, good watches were not mass-produced and if you needed a quality robust timepiece then it would be largely handbuilt to a proven (some would say "antiquated") design. In this instance, the watch was made in Coventry, one of England's important industrial centres.

Adam Burdess himself was an innovative watchmaker who developed his own "Pump" winding system for his watches that did not use a key, nor a crown. Burdess supplied these watches at a time when the face of modern warfare was rapidly changing. Technology in the form of improved transport, weapons and communication brought about advances and in turn new military tactics needed to be devised. Rather than leave strategies to develop at their own pace, use of synchronisation and timing became a necessity for the armed forces.

Just a few years later the Royal Artillery would see action in the Boer War where telegraphy was to be used for the first time in battle. To promote better communication watches were needed by the telegraphers (see item #50967). On this occasion however, the War Department with just short notice obtained Swiss keyless watches, albeit supplied via the British jewellery trade. One can only believe that the RA brought along their prized watches too, as they would have been privy to the communications directing their synchronised fire. Their watches would originally have the Regiment a substantial sum.

This Adam Burdess watch is in superb condition and excellent running order, keeping time as it also benefits from a recent service by the previous owner. The double-bottomed silver case shows only the slightest sign of service wear and features a beautifully hand-engraved broad arrow as well as Regimental markings - Worthy of research. Inside the bright gilt movement is also beautifully hand engraved in the English tradition, with floral and scroll swirls. The porcelain dial is likewise excellent but as is typical of a watch that has hands set from the front, there are slight marks on the porcelain dial. Nevertheless, the watch remains a useable example for the collector and historian.

Outstanding.

Code: 51146Price: 590.00 GBP

1940 Air Ministry Escape Whistle in Issue Box
This is an outstanding and totally original, mint in box RAF aircrew escape whistle. Please note, this is NOT a modern reproduction Thunderer but a genuine wartime, "sterile" whistle: If you don't know, wartime whistles differed from the modern repros as the originals did not have Hudsons' details on the mouthpiece - Repros do.

Cosmetically this escape whistle is as new, with no dings, dents, or loss of chrome finish. It is perfect and comes in the equally original Air Ministry, 1940 dated carton.

Code: 51145Price: 120.00 GBP

CHANGE OF VENUE - Kempton Park Arms Fair @ SANDOWN PARK
CHANGE OF VENUE: The Kempton Arms Fair is now being held at Sandown Park - KT10 9AJ

We will be attending the Kempton Classic Arms Fair of the 4th October. Although the main event will be held indoors, our stall will be situated outside. Hope to see our regular customers as well as meeting new ones.

Keep safe and let's look out for each other.

Ziggy

Code: 51144Price: On Request

Royal Navy Issue Lemania ASDIC Stop Watch, c.1969
This is a new old stock Lemania Stop Watch made for the Royal Navy in 1969 and sold by the MOD at the end of the Cold War era. The watch comes fully marked with NATO stock numbers and is in near immaculate and unused condition. Only the crystal has a slight stress crack but otherwise, it still remains fully serviceable.

Used in conjunction with other anti-submarine detection devices, these stopwatches are capable of recording time intervals of up to 6 seconds, which equates to distances calibrated in yards.

A quality stopwatch with all its original finish that would be unaffected by any EMP in the event of Nuclear War - Now declared obsolete thanks to more modern electronic measuring devices.

Code: 51143Price:

WW2 Royal Navy HS⩚5 Survey Vessel's Pocket Watch
In 1939, the Royal Navy appears to have had in service, 9 Survey Vessels, but by 1943 only four of the ships remained; HMS Challenger, Franklin, Scott and White Bear, with most having been lost in the first year of action.

The Survey Ships' work involved the preparation of nautical charts, which included the position plotting of sea-mines. However, between 1943-44 the Hydrographic Survey was very much involved in the mapping of the French coastline, which helped to determine the best D-Day beeches and locations for the harbours that were to be erected.

This particular watch, with its HS⩚5 reference, was specifically for the issue to one of the RN's Survey Vessel and as such, it is a rare timepiece. Amazingly it is in excellent condition, with no damage - just minor service wear.

Unlike the more common RN navigational deck watches, these timepieces have more of a utility function about them. Nevertheless, the 15 jewel Swiss movement is of more robust quality, as is the hermetic case and thick crystal. Presented in working order and keeping time, this watch is a difficult example for the collector to find, especially in a condition as fine as this.

A Premium Service watch facility is available with 12 month warranty.

Code: 51142Price: 245.00 GBP

LMS Railway Guard's Pocket Watch c.1925
This is a genuine example of a London, Midland & Scottish railway guard's pocket watch. Originally created in 1923, the LMS was an amalgamation of smaller rail networks that served virtually the length of Great Britain.

Presented in original condition, this pocket watch shows the signs of life on the LMS but the watch is in a much better condition than seen with other railway watches. Life on the railway would prove hard on timepieces, which is why railway watches needed to be robust. This example uses a nickel silver hermetic case to prevent the ingress of dirt from corrosive smoke and steam. For soot that will inevitably penetrate the watch's barriers, the porcelain dial will be better able to withstand the soiling, as well as offering good legibility. Typically, the dial has some light lines but there is no loss to the enamel and the hairlines are not immediately visible.

Offered in full working order, the watch appears to have been well maintained, keeping good time. It is also free from additional signs of inappropriate handling, other than the cosmetic service wear of a careful railway guard.

A good example to collect and use.

Code: 51141Price: 175.00 GBP

WW2 Era Longines Military Grade Wristwatch, c.1945
A very good Longines watch dating from the war years, featuring the same quality 12.68N movement with centre seconds, clear Arabic dial and snapback steel case as used in the production of RAF, USAAF and Red Army aviator's watches. However, this example does not have any issue markings.

Presented in full working order, this Longines is a good looking watch that runs well and keeps time. The previous owner states that he had it serviced recently but that does not translate to any guarantee. Cosmetically the dial and hands are original and similar to the COSD pattern, with the dial having a light age patina. The watch measures 33mm, excluding the crown.

A lovely military-grade Longines on a USAAF pattern canvas strap.

Code: 51140Price: 420.00 GBP