ANTIQUES INFO - September/October 14

T W Gaze of Diss, Norfolk featured its second 2014

dedicated auction of militaria in its specialist sale on 28th

June. With a focus on the eighteenth - twentieth centuries, the

room was packed with a large crowd and the sale also

attracted interest from national and international buyers.

Some of the most striking lots were in the headwear and

uniform category and spanned the nineteenth century to post

Second World War. Lot 8236, a Second World War British battle-

dress jacket with trousers and belt to RAMC sparked interest

going for £260. Lot 8314, an Edwardian home service pattern

helmet fared well at £300. The uniforms included a number of lots

relating to the same serviceman. A highlight was Lot 8005, a First

World War RAMC Captain’s service dress jacket and trousers with

belt. In a well preserved condition this lot sold for an impressive

£500. More exciting still was an accompanying lot from the same

serviceman, Lot 8004, a British Army Type I ‘Tommy’ helmet.

With its original liner intact and a rarely seen canvas drawstring

cover, it sold for a stunning £420 plus premium. Serving in Egypt

during the First World War, the RAMC Captain collection included

Lot 8008, the hot climate clothing worn during service. This group

included cap with removable neck cover reached £320. Victorian

uniforms included Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers pieces. The

hammer went down on a barrack dress jacket with peaked hats,

(Lot 8002) for £460 with its accompanying parade / ceremonial

dress jacket and trousers (Lot 8009) faring well at £380. Third

Reich items were also featured, with a German M40 pattern

helmet with decal reaching £360. This (Lot 8173) had its original

liner and chinstrap.

The vintage arms section saw some strong results, with Lot

8241, a Tower short flintlock sea service pistol firing away at

£900. Lot 8241, a c1800 D. Egg of London Light Dragoon pistol

made a fair £550; and Lot 8150B, a c1850 muzzle loading rifle

reached £380. Lot 8150C A Play Fair shotgun, despite needing

restoration, fetched £340. The biggest result of the firearms section

was a surprise. Three unassuming looking pistols, Lot 8242, with

elements missing including hammers and ramrods, and in need of

complete repair and renovation ‘shot’ up to a startling £1,300.

The sale saw a good collection of edged weaponry including

daggers, swords and bayonets from the Orient, Indonesia and

Europe. A notable lot was the far-eastern tanto, Lot 8106. With its

foliate design brass scabbard and handle, this exceeded expecta-

tions, with the hammer falling at £380. It is destined to return to

the far-east. European weaponry included a First World War

Belgian Army trench knife. This model, designed and made by

Britain during the war made £220. British swords maintained their

dominance in the English market, with some strong results. A

seldom seen 1821 Pattern Light Cavalry sword, Lot 8144, made a

strong £340; with its evolved (87 years younger) 1908 pattern

cavalry sword (Lot 8145) reaching £320.

Despite their size, with the right award, rarity, regiment, naming,

condition and provenance a medal can fare well. Although this

particular sale had a focus on edged weaponry and uniforms, we

saw some positive results involving medals. Lot 8274, a Punjab

Medal with Chilianwala and Goojerat clasps flew out at £440.

Despite being in a worn condition, its rarity carried it to a strong

price. Lot 8280A, a First World War British medal trio with

Military Medal awarded to an ASC Private made £300, repre-

senting its market value for a comparatively less desirable Corps.

Amongst other good results was a Marine Chronometer by

Thomas Mercer, with chain driven fusee movement, Lot 8080.

This twentieth century example sold for £800, exceeding the

estimate. In the optical section, Lot 8162, a pair of Carl Zeiss

Third Reich binoculars fared well at £360.

Landmark anniversaries of war in 2014 have put modern

military history in the forefront of people’s minds. Documentaries,

publications and the re-telling of the terror contrast with the

romanticism of victory against the odds and this is inspiring

collectors to look beyond the stories and seek artefacts to own for

themselves. This growth of interest has noticeably enhanced the

sale potential of original wartime militaria. With the definition of

the word antique being “A collectable object that has a high value

because of its age and quality”, I draw the conclusion that as most

World War items are now over 70 years old, they are fast gaining

an ‘antique’ status; so when fused with this growing enthusiasm,

you have the basis for growing value and thus a growing market.

This was highlighted in the Militaria sale.

www.twgaze.com

Militaria Mania at Norfolk Sale

Three 19thC flintlock pistols a/f.T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14. HP: £1,300.ABP: £1,558.

A c1800 Tower short flintlock seaservice pistol with OrdnanceStorekeeper mark, approx .56 calibre.T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14. HP: £900.ABP: £1,078.

Marine chronometer by ThomasMercer with chain driven fuseemovement, detent escapement andmaintaining power, 24 hour silvereddial, original military case. Chrono-meter certificate, tipsy chronometerkey and two others. T W Gaze, Diss.Jun 14. HP: £800. ABP: £958.

WWI service dress jacket and trouserstogether with lion buckle brownleather belt and sword frog. Belongedto RAMC Captain William OliphantMcKane. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14.HP: £500. ABP: £599.

19thC Major's rifle volunteersbarrack dress jacket together withtwo peaked hats and mortar boardhat. Belonged to Captain J. Coates ofthe Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers 1stBattalion. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14.HP: £460. ABP: £551.

1848-49 Punjab medal with‘Chilianwala’ & ‘Goojerat’ claspsawarded to NELSON MURRELL,29th Foot, ‘Lucknow’ clasp and asterling Lancashire fusilier's badge.(3) T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14. HP:£440. ABP: £527.

WWI British Army type I ‘Tommy’helmet complete with liner, chinstrapand scarce canvas cover, belonged toRAMC Captain William OliphantMcKane. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14.HP: £420. ABP: £503.

19thC Major’s Parade jacket with 3pairs of trousers and Sam Browne.Belonged to Captain J. Coates of theLincolnshire Rifle Volunteers 1stBattalion. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14.HP: £380. ABP: £455.

Far-Eastern carved tanto with brasshandle and scabbard, decorated withintertwined foliage, approx 46cm inlength. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14. HP:£380. ABP: £455.

A c1850 muzzle loading rifle, approx.45 calibre. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14.HP: £380. ABP: £455.

Pair of Carl Zeiss Jena 7x50H binoc-ulars engraved with swastika, 2535numbered. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14.HP: £360. ABP: £431.

German M40 pattern helmet withdecal, liner and chinstrap. T W Gaze,Diss. Jun 14. HP: £360. ABP: £431.

19thC British Light Cavalry Pattern1821 sword, blade 35.5in, steel three-bar guard, wooden grip, steelscabbard marked ‘6.D 36’. T W Gaze,Diss. Jun 14. HP: £340. ABP: £407.

Four items of WWI British Armyclothing for hot climate: peaked capwith removable neck cover, light-weight jacket, linen hat & canvas belt.Belonged to RAMC Captain WilliamOliphant McKane who served inEgypt during WWI. T W Gaze, Diss.Jun 14. HP: £320. ABP: £383.

Early 20thC 1908 pattern cavalryfield service sword with cupped handbasket and painted steel scabbard,Wilkinson, Pall Mall, hardwood grip.T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14. HP: £320.ABP: £383.

WWI 1914-15 trio of medals, Militarymedal & WWII Defence medalawarded to W2-119799 Pte. C. HANKINA.S.C. original box addressed to Mr.C. Hankin. T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14.HP: £300. ABP: £359.

Edwardian Royal Army MedicalCorps home service pattern blackcloth helmet by Herbert & Co. LtdLondon, within tin case. T W Gaze,Diss. Jun 14. HP: £300. ABP: £359.

WWII British Army battledress jacketwith trousers, shirt, shorts, belt etc.Belonged to Major and later 89978Captain T.O McKane RAMC FieldAmbulance Company Commander.T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14. HP: £260.ABP: £311.

19thC percussion boxlock pocketpistol, faceted barrel, brass fittings,no maker, approx .40 calibre.T W Gaze, Diss. Jun 14. HP: £260.ABP: £311.

Two Iron Cross medals, one in thestyle of an original. T W Gaze, Diss.Jun 14. HP: £230. ABP: £275.

WWI Seitengewehr 98/05 sawback‘Butcher’ bayonet, all-steel scabbard,Simson & Co. SUHL. T W Gaze,Diss. Jun 14. HP: £220. ABP: £263.

ANTIQUES INFO - September/October 14