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A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century
The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons
A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century
A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English Late 16th Century Or Later
FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.late 20th century.
THREE CARVED COCONUT ITEMS.18th/19th century.
A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION POWDER FLASKS AND RELATED SPORTING ITEMS.
THREE VICTORIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS.
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A Fine Regency Naval Presentation Sabre image 1
A Fine Regency Naval Presentation Sabre image 2
Lot 244*

A Fine Regency Naval Presentation Sabre
Retailed By Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, London, Dated 1814

Antique Arms and Armour and Modern Sporting Guns
27 July 2006, 10:30 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £9,360 inc. premium

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A Fine Regency Naval Presentation Sabre
Retailed By Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, London, Dated 1814

With curved single-edged blade (worn) double-edged towards the point and etched, blued and gilt over half its length on one side with converging blued lines entwined with laurel above an anchor with entwined dolphins and a panel of blued geometric designs against a whorled gilt ground at the forte, and along the other with the presentation inscription (hardly legible in places) between blued martial trophies, the hilt entirely of cast and chased ormolu and comprising shield-shaped langets each with a fouled anchor against a stippled ground, downscrolled rear quillon and knuckle-guard formed of oak foliage, and lion-head pommel and rounded grip in one piece, the latter engraved with foliate designs on a finely stippled ground and with an oval medallion on each side framing a seated figure of Neptune and a trophy of arms respectively, in its original wooden scabbard covered in blackened shagreen (some damage, open along each side) with large ormolu locket, chape and suspension mount decorated en suite with the hilt, the medallions each against a martial trophy and framing respectively a naked male figure tethering a leopard to an anchor, Hercules with the Hydra, and the Nemean Lion, the locket signed on one side, two engraved rings for suspension, and most of its original gilding
73.3 cm. blade

Footnotes

The presentation inscription reads: 'Presented By The Passangers On Board The Malborough Packet To Mr. Will.m, Macdonnell Master As A Token Of Their Admiration Of His Conduct In Gallently Seconding His Brave Commander In The Action Fought With The Primrose S.W. On The XIIth March MACCCXIV'

In his A History of the Royal Navy, published in 1900, William Laird Clowes writes 'An exceedingly painful incident occurred in March. On the 12th, near the mouth of the Bay of Biscay, the Primrose, 18, Commander Charles George Rodney Phillot, and the Falmouth packet Duke of Marlborough, John Bull, master, bound for Lisbon, mistook one another for enemies. The error was facilitated by the smallness of the flags supplied to the packet, by the end on position of the two vessels when the Duke of Marlborough hosted the private signal, and by the rather slovenly manner in which the packet sailed when first sighted.

The Primrose fired the first shot at 6.50pm; but nothing approaching to an engagement began until 7.55, ere which time the packet had attempted to make the private night signal, though it is probable that she did not make it correctly. At 8.15, a close action commenced, the Primrose's repeated hails not having been answered. Not until Phillott had hailed an obviously beaten ship, did the unfortunate truth come out. The packet had 2 passengers killed and 9 or 10 men wounded and was in an almost sinking state. The Primrose had 1 man killed and 14 people (2 fatally) wounded, including Master Andrew Leech, and Master's Mate Peter Belches.'

For more detailed accounts of this fascinating encounter see William James, The Naval History of Great Britain, 1847; and Arthur H. Norway, The History of the Post Office Packet Service, 1895

Facsimile copies of the references given above and further research into the incident are offered with the lot

Additional information

Bid now on these items

A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century
The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons
A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century
A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English Late 16th Century Or Later
FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.late 20th century.
THREE CARVED COCONUT ITEMS.18th/19th century.
A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION POWDER FLASKS AND RELATED SPORTING ITEMS.
THREE VICTORIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS.