Arms Cavalcade Edition 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 ISSN 1325-779X

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Contents The Winchester Model 1900 Series Samuel Evans Gunsmith

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Art and Design in Japanese Sword Fittings Part 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Korean War 1950-53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Selection of NSW Colonial Police Arms Warren Anderson

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An Over and Under Flintlock Pistol A Beringer Pistol Keris Hilt

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The Revolvers of John Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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OFFICE BEARERS

EDITOR’S NOTE

Chairman Harvey Facer Secretary Terry Hartmann Treasurer Harvey Facer

REGISTERED OFFICE This is the year of Covid-19. Life for collectors has changed, no meetings, no gun shows and no inspecting items before auctions.

Australian Arms Auctions in Melbourne have just announced a “Live Virtual” auction on 10 and 11 October 2020.

The articles cover a range of topics, Japanese Sword Fittings, NSW Colonial Police Arms, John Adams Revolvers, Winchester M 1900, English flintlock pistols, a special Berenger pistol, a Keris Hilt and The Korean War. Collectors are cleaning and oiling their collections more often, and are probably spending time in their library, or online doing research. Your favourite bookseller has become your best friend.

When visiting the Wallace Collection website recently I was impressed that they had organised a meeting on Zoom for arms collectors. Unfortunately, I was unable to log in, though the meeting would have been interesting, with collectors from all over the world joining in.

The Anarchy, the book on The East India Company, by William Dalrymple is fascinating. When the EIC was engaged in battle with the Indians in 1750s the idea of Captain Cook’s trip to the South Pacific was still a dream.

My thanks to the authors, photographer and the design team.

C/- Hartmann & Associates 135 Macquarie St Sydney NSW 2000

EDITORS Paul Duffy Bill Taylor Mike Smith

COMMITTEE Paul Duffy Mitch Frost Bill Newbold Dominic Hassett Ken Buxton David Rasko Geoff Pogson Rick Jones Andrew Gryta

PHOTOGRAPHY Ivan Fitz-Gerald

Visit our website at: www.antiquearmssociety.org.au

DESIGN © No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the editor or authors.

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Scribbly Bark Design

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The Winchester Model 1900 Series “A BOY’S FIRST RIFLE”

By Geoff Pogson

Winchester Model 1904

I

was fortunate enough to be introduced to this series of small, cheap and handy little rifles, designed by the master John Moses Browning, when I purchased a model 1904 from an advertisement in the Manly Daily back in the late sixties. The owner, a Mr Ron Blades, was then a retired staff member of one of the Sydney Radio stations, who was downsizing his collection at the time. In answer to my phone enquiry, Ron suggested that I should drop over to his Seaforth address and have a look at what he was selling.

A few days later I visited Ron and he showed me the subject rifle, which was in very fine condition.

He had converted a tennis racquet case, to house the rifle, stored in a taken down condition, with the cleaning gear and a couple of cartons of .22 long ammunition. Also included was the cleaning rod, a factory formed length of 8-gauge fence wire, with a slotted end to take the patch, that came with it at the original purchase, and the shipping note, indicating the date of shipment.

I was astounded at the condition of the little rifle, and having made the decision when I began

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collecting, to choose rarity over condition, I thought that this was both in exceptionally fine condition and exceptionally rare in that condition which made the price, $100, well worth paying, if Ron would only agree to let me pay it off using my drip feed technique.

Luckily Ron agreed, and I paid him out and eventually owned a fine Winchester 1904 rifle. On checking the ammunition, I found one of the packets had been opened and one round was missing, so I think it is fair to assume that one of the owners prior to Ron Blades, and tried a shot with it. The conclusion of this transaction also got me into Adams revolvers too, when Ron showed me an 1851 model, also costing $100, paid for in the same fashion.

Having acquired this handsome little rifle, I found myself taking more notice of the similar ones that cropped up at gun shows. I noticed that there were some designated as Model 04, some as 04A, and the 1902 model with its corresponding 02 and 02A, and, being also a stamp collector, the thought of collecting a set of these guns came pretty naturally. So I got started in my quest

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Winchester Model 1904 One good thing about this subject of collection, many of them are very cheap, with a few odd variations adding spice as they are quite rare and often anything but cheap. None of these small single shot rifles were given a serial number, so any serials found on them now are due to registration regulations of the places in which they are found.

I gradually bought an example of each of the easier ones to find and then picked up the occasional variation of the scarcer items as they turned up, I have

also always been on the lookout for better specimens of the common ones and have improved on much of the general condition of the collection over the years Now to the subject of the story, the Winchester Boys rifles. It all began with Browning’s patent of 1899 and Winchester’s purchase of the patent to produce their Model 1900, a small calibre, light weight, short, cheap rifle that they sold for under $5 US, which were then 4 or 5 to the pound Sterling.

My how things change.

Winchester Model 1904 The Model 1900 The Model 1900 was made as simply as possible, with receiver and barrel all in one piece. The 18inch barrel was tapered and has the normal blade foresight and an open rear sight. The stock was made of gum wood, or sometimes poor-quality walnut, there was no butt-plate, but they did somehow roll a sort of serrated pattern onto the butt end. The trigger guard was a simple shape like a pipe saddle fixed to the stock by a screw at each end. The rifle was chambered for black powder rim fire cartridges in calibres 22 Short and Long. This dual usage may have been no great hazard with black powder but has unfortunately led to some severe problems

with chambers burnt out due to continued use of short cartridges, as escaping gases, scoured out a ring in the chamber that prevents the use of long cartridges, as they are difficult to extract after firing. According to George Madis, there were 105,000 of this model made in two years between 1900 and 1902, when they were discontinued, and production of a new model began. I did briefly own one example of the 1900, marked “The Stinger” and bought at a high price, I traded it for an old 3rd model Tranter that I might have restored but didn’t.

I should have hung on to the 1900, as I have never caught another.

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The Winchester Model 1900 Series

Model 1902

The main improvements included in this rifle were the slightly more ornate trigger guard, which had a simulated pistol grip. This time the guard is held on by three small screws. There was a butt-plate fitted, Bakelite was the standard but some early ones have a flat steel butt plate. The barrel was still 18 inches long and tapered, with the 17/32” muzzle diameter. It is thought that they were unused model 1900 barrels left over from that previous model. The sighting was generally the same, but in rifles fitted with the steel butt-plate, an aperture, or peep sight, was fitted, though these are now often found butchered into an open sight, thus making rifles with an intact peep sight a little harder to come by. These first pattern

examples were similarly chambered for black powder rimfire cartridges in the same calibres as the 1900 Model, 22 Short and Long After about 70,000 of the non-serially numbered single shot rifles were made, the barrel muzzle diameter was increased to 19/32”, to reduce the “whip” in the previously slimmer barrels, and barrel inscriptions changed slightly. Some rifles are chambered in 22 Short, Long and a new loading, the Extra Long, cartridges, still using Black powder propellant. With the addition of the new round the model designation was changed to Model 02 with some other small changes to the barrel inscription and knurling coarseness on the cocking piece.

Model 02A

This model in virtually the same as the preceding model 02, but the longer cartridge is now stamped as a “Long Rifle” rather than “Extra Long”. Although it was still a black powder load. The position of the open rear sight is also changed on some rifles with this designation, being moved forward about three inches.

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Thumb Trigger Model

This little rifle is, in most respects, the model 02 without a trigger or trigger guard and the stocks do not have an opening for the trigger cut into them. The bolt works the same as in rifles with normal triggers, but in this case, the weapon is discharged by pressure on the rear of a catch located below the rear end of the barrel. It was a novel design, though I don’t yet know to whom the credit for its invention should go.

Having tried shooting with one of these old rifles, I found the thumb trigger a good idea and quite liked it but it did not meet much popularity in the US and most of them seem to have been shipped to Australia and South America , from whence there was little chance of them being returned, should a purchaser

be dissatisfied. So, with no home market interest, this model produced from 1902, to 1923, and most of the 73000 produced sold abroad. These little rifles tend to be quite desirable and highly sort after by collectors in the US, Sadly, many of these boys single shot rifles, were cast aside when the boys became young men and graduated to repeaters and many were left to rust and rot in old barns so that they are rarely found in anything like “good� condition, though they had made their user into a rifleman, when beginners were given one round to go and get a rabbit for the pot. A miss would leave them hungry so, one round at a time they learned to shoot with accuracy.

Thumb Trigger Model

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The Winchester Model 1900 Series

Model 36 Single Shot, 9mm shotgun

In 1904 a new rifle in the series came along bearing that year as its designation. It was basically the same as the 1902 and its variations, but with a heavier 21 inch barrel. Still a single shot 22 rimfire calibre, but with a longer heavier stock, the butt was adorned with the crescent butt-plate seen on earlier rifles of heavier calibre and the trigger guard, though a similar shape and style of the 1902, was of a heavier grade steel. It was a more man-sized gun overall, and this is the one that got me started on this strand of interest. They were in production until 1931 by which time some 300,000 rifles of this model were made. When about 89,000 of these still un-serially numbered rifles were made, the straight, hard rubber butt-plate became standard and the crescent plate was discontinued. The rifle had a series of changes as had occurred with the Models 1902, ’02 and ‘02A, using similar chamberings of Rimfire Cartridges, the 1904, 22 Short & Long. The ’04 22 Short, Long & Extra Long, and finally in the 02A, 22 Short, Long & Long Rifle.

The Model 36 Single Shot, 9mm shotgun This is another variation on the 1900 series arms, this time a boys shotgun, similar in many ways to the 1902 rifles, Model 36 has a smooth bore chambered for Short and Long, 9mm shot or ball cartridges.

The action and bolt are both slightly longer than the rifle actions, and these are among the rarer types available, with only about 26,000 produced from about 1919, when they were tried out on the South American market, before being given to US dealers in 1920. Again, there was little interest in the US, but the little gun did well in South America and probably Australia, until they were discontinued in 1927.

As with the other guns in this series, they were used to train young shooters how to provide meat for the table. In bad times in the bush, many cheap single shot rifles of many brands, were used by people carrying their swags on country roads in search of work and living rough on the way. To get meat to sustain them In the depression of 1898 and the later big one of 1929, many men toiled in the inland rivers

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Model 58

and creeks, scratching out a bit of gold or tin or a few sapphires or garnets to get money for their families while living off what they could shoot, be it rabbit, wallaby, possum or kangaroo and mostly with cheap rifles and rim fire ammunition

The Model 58 In the middle twenties, Winchester became aware that they were not competing in the small cheap single shot niche in the market, so the dear old 1900 series was dragged out of retirement to fill the gap. The model 58 is in most ways identical with the earlier 1902 group of arms, and this rifle with slight differences was issued in 1927, to try to regain the part of the market being accommodated by European imports. By 1931 fractionally over 36,500 were made with a further 5,000 completed by the end of the depression years in the late thirties. Chambering, as in the earlier guns of the series, was in 22 Short, Long & Long Rifle, rimfire with Black Powder propellent loads, though as long as there has been HV long rifle ammunition they have been loaded

with it. Once again, a rare gun and if they were made for the American market, I doubt if many might have come down-under. I have only ever seen the one I own, though who knows how many more there might be.

Now, sadly, I have to divest myself of this collection, my last inspection seemed to indicate to the Powers That Be that I am too old to keep them and I must reduce my registered arms, so if any interested party just starting out wants to contact me the collection will be for sale. I would rather give a new starter a helping hand to a wonderful and interesting pastime and sell them at a reasonable price, knowing they had a chance of going to someone who might appreciate the subject, so enquiries are welcome.

General information, dates and details gleaned from the Winchester Book by George Madis which confirmed or corrected some preconceived theories or opinions of my own. Much grammatical assistance was provided by y my y valued friend and advisor, John Newton.

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Samuel Evans Gunsmith Samuel Evans was apprenticed to John Jenkins of Bristol on 9th June 1755, and admitted as a Burgess (Freeman) on 1 October 1774, and operated as a gunsmith at St Nicolas, Bristol from 1774 until after 1784.

By Paul Duffy

I

acquired this brass barrelled, flintlock blunderbuss pistol some years go. A well-made pistol, with a spring bayonet and cross sceptred proof marks.

The name S Evans is engraved on the lock, which is fitted with a half cock safety catch.

I had searched Der Neue Stockel, Howard Blackmore’s list of London Gunmakers, and other sources, and couldn’t find a reference to S Evans.

Recently I bought the book, Bristol Gunmakers from the 16th to the 20th Century, by Brian Godwin. This book self-published in 2012, is excellent.

Brian Godwin lists Samuel Evans as a Bristol gunsmith. Evans was apprenticed to John Jenkins of Bristol on 9th June 1755, and admitted as a Burgess (Freeman) on 1 October 1774, and operated as a gunsmith at St Nicolas, Bristol from 1774 until after 1784. These dates come from the Repository B&NES Record Office. The St Nicholas area of Bristol is near where the Bristol Bridge crosses the Cumberland Basin. An old part of Bristol, where the ships had been tying up for centuries. The first church on this site was

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built in the 12th Century, next to Bristol bridge, from where the name Bristol, originates, (Brigstowe – ‘place of the bridge’). The 14th Century medieval crypt, which formed part of the Old City wall remains to this day.

The current church was built in 1769.

The main body of the church was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1940. The church was re-opened in 2018 as a centre of worship.

This pistol is not an ordnance one. Samuel Evans made it for someone who could afford to pay a good price. The pistol has a blunderbuss barrel so I assume it was intended for close range personal protection.

A great coat pistol, or a coach pistol, it is fitted with a spring bayonet 3.5 inches in length, which is attached to the muzzle by a hinge, and normally lies along the top of the barrel, being held in position by a thumb catch. The bayonet is released by pulling back the catch. The bayonet is rather a “novelty”, designed to attract the attention of the prospective buyer, than, a weapon of any real value, being no longer than the blade of an ordinary penknife, and better calculated to irritate than to injure anyone.

From the earliest times in Bristol, metal working played a large part of its trade. Smiths, iron founders and braziers produced a variety of goods to the easily accessible supplies of iron and charcoal from the nearby Forest of Dean. The production of weapons and military equipment was unquestionably part of this commerce.

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The English Civil Wars (1641-1652) were a time of great upheaval for Bristol. As the second principal city next to London, Bristol was seen as a major prize that both sides in the conflicts struggled to possess.

It began as a Parliamentarian stronghold, until it was besieged and taken by the Royalist in 1643, and finally recaptured by Parliament in 1645.

By 1700 the population of Bristol had increased to 25,000. The city became one of the key ports in the “triangular” route of the slave trade. British goods were first exported from Bristol, the ships then exchanging their goods for African slaves, who were taken to the West Indies where they were exchanged for raw goods such as sugar, tobacco and cotton.

This cargo, with some slaves, was then brought back to Bristol for sale. As a result, the population of Bristol grew rapidly, bringing trade and prosperity to Bristol’s gunmakers.

Despite Bristol’s growth at the beginning of the Century as England’s second largest port, it was not to last and by the end of the 18th Century the

importance of Bristol had been surpassed by other places, such as Liverpool. The slave trade declined after 1740, so did Bristol, with Manchester and Birmingham taking over the position Bristol had previously held, as a major manufacturer and processor of imported goods.

Members may recall reading the informative article by Bill Taylor in an earlier edition titled The Slave Trader’s Pistol, about a flintlock pistol by John Parr of Liverpool, and the article of Tony Wood in the 2013 edition titled “A Slaver’s Sword”. Both authors mention the slave tr trade ra in 18th Century Liverpool and Bristol.

References 1. Bristol Gunsmiths from the 16th to 20th Century by Brian Godwin 2. English Pistol and Revolvers by J.N. George

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ART AND DESIGN IN JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS Part 2 The history of Japanese sword making extends for well over a thousand years. They have always been highly prized in Japan, and a surprising number of the swords produced over that millennium exist today in collections in many countries.

By W T L Taylor tsuba

kurigata

menuki

kashira

fuchi

kogai (kozuka on opposite side)

kojiri

The first of these articles examined the significance of Japanese art in tsubas (hand guards).

This second article offers a brief survey of the miniature art to be found in other main fittings on a typical antique Japanese sword.

As with tsubas, the smaller sword fittings are also canvases for Japanese art and design. They should complement each other on a sword, but other than the matched pair that makes up the hilt end cap and the base collar, do not have to be made by the same craftsman. What is more important is that all the fittings on any sword work together in accordance with Japanese taste.

Fuchi and kashira The hilt of a sword has an oval cap (kashira) on the end and a collar (fuchi) at the tsuba end. Both pieces are made by the same craftsman as a matching set.

The design on a fuchi and and its kashira is oriented so it is properly appreciated when the sword is being worn. For fuchi, the main design is always located on the side facing out from the wearer.

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This eighteenth century signed set is in shakudo (deep black patinated alloy of gold and copper), with high relief inlaid silver cherry blossoms with gold leaves and a finely detailed pheasant in gold, silver, copper and shakudo. Cherry blossoms and pheasants are a common theme in Japanese art.

The moon is a theme that occurs often in Japanese art. This signed set is a scene from the fairy story the Taketori Monogatari, about a humble bamboo cutter who one night found a baby girl in the moonlight and took her home. He and his wife named her Kaguyahime, and she grew to be so famous for her ethereal beauty that she attracted noble samurai, for whom she set impossible quests. The story goes that she ultimately rejected all of them and left to live with her people on the moon.

Her discovery by the bamboo cutter is alluded to on the fittings: the kashira shows his discarded round hat, with a digging tool. The fuchi shows on the front side the startled bamboo cutter tying up a bundle of bamboo cuttings.

The back of the fuchi shows the moon, partially obscured by clouds. There is no sign of the baby – this very oblique way of referencing a well-known legend is typically Japanese.

In striking contrast, this signed set is made of shibuichi (a silver grey alloy of silver and copper).

The maker used deep engraving to depict bamboo with a narrow crescent of waning moon behind it, inlaid in gold.

Nature is a popular theme in Japanese sword fittings. These spiny lobsters are in very high relief and fine detail: they were admired by samurai because they are hardy and aggressive. The shakudo base is finished in nanako – tiny, hand punched domes.

The sophistication of Japanese design is evident in this shakudo and gold inlaid set. Gold leaves of the rice plant are finely inlaid into lustrous black shakudo, with the rice set proud of the polished surface. As samurai landowners counted their wealth in the number of bags of rice they produced each year, rice in this example refers to wealth.

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Japanese Sword Fittings Fuchi and kashira

This is a small fuchi kashira set made for mounting on a tanto. It has an egret and fish trap design, unsigned, in shakudo with fine nanako with gold and silver highlights.

Concluding this brief sample of fuchi/kashira types is a set by a master craftsman from late in the sword wearing period. It is of very fine quality. The set is in shakudo, gold, silver and copper. Its detailed high relief depicts five of the household gods that often appear in Japanese art.

On the kashira is Jurojin with his fan and a long tailed tortoise, and on the front of the fuchi Fukurokuju, Ebisu, and Daikoku with his hammer, with Hotei with his sack on the back. Each of the tiny domes on which the figures are set has been individually punched by hand.

Orphans This set depicts Daruma (Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism) with his traditional glaring face. He is usually depicted with wide open, staring eyes because according to legend, he once became so angry with himself for falling asleep during meditation that he had his eyelids removed. The fuchi has a bowl (in which people would place food) and a flywhisk to keep the flies away from his eyes.

Bodhidharma was a mysterious figure who lived during the 5th or 6th century. He is traditionally credited with being the transmitter of Chan Buddhism from India to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch.

When kashira and fuchi become separated, single pieces (nick-named ‘orphans’ by Western collectors) appear on the market at a fraction of the price their original complete set would be worth, as it is virtually impossible to find the missing piece.

That makes it possible to put together a pleasing collection of orphaned fuchi or kashira like these single pieces. All of the following are of master craftsman quality and can be enjoyed just as miniature artworks.

Kashira

Sets made in iron were found on swords set up for hard use in the field. This set is made of iron onto which a delicate gold pattern has been fixed, depicting a pattern of snow crystals and tendrils. Iron fittings are harder to find in good condition because they are more susceptible to rust.

Fuchi

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Menuki

This set in shakudo overlaid with gold shows Japanese nightingales amongst plum blossoms – another favoured theme. They illustrate the rule that almost all pairs of menuki were different to each other. Like the menuki above these appear image reversed at first glance, but are different in detail. The only menuki that were identical were those depicting family crests (mons).

Under the wrapping of a sword hilt is mounted a small pair of fittings called menuki. They are always offset on each side of the hilt in order to assist the swordsman’s grip. n It is typical of Japanese attention to detail that even though the menuki are largely obscured under the wrapping, they are often as finely made as the other sword fittings.

This set shows two typically cheerful household gods – Ebisu with a large fish, and Daikoku with his hammer. Made in silver and gold, they are very finely finished (their inlaid gold eyes are only 0.5mm).

Another fine quality set in shakudo depicts pairs of gambolling water buffalo. The workmanship is excellent. Note that although obviously a pair, they are not mirror images.

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Japanese Sword Fittings

Kozuka Antique swords often have a narrow slot on the inwards facing side of the scabbard to house a thin knife blade – called a kogatana - mounted in a rectangular flat handle called a kozuka. Kozuka are collected individually and are fitted with a blade only when they are to be mounted on a sword. The small blades are tempered like their larger cousins and are often inscribed with a signature or a good luck saying.

This 17th century small blade is inscribed with the maker’s name and location. The kozuka is in shakudo with fine nanako and gold highlights, depicting Raijin the thunder god with his drums, and is unsigned. It is mounted on an older sword whose blade is signed and dated 1428.

Another shakudo based piece from the Goto family, depicting swirling waves with an anchor and glass fishing buoys covered in ropework. The gold and silver work is very detailed.

An iron kozuka with a raised dragon in high relief, finely chiselled, with gold highlights with attractive dark patination. Dragons were greatly favoured in sword design.

A shakudo kozuka of a fan with flying ribbons, all inlaid gold, silver and shibuichi, highly polished.

A shakudo kozuka made by the famous Goto family, which had a monopoly for generations on the supply of formal fittings for swords worn at court, showing a peony flower with a lion dog. It is unsigned but the Goto style is unmistakable.

A signed Goto family piece, alluding to the old story of a wise man (Chokwaro Sennin) who kept a magic horse in miniature in a gourd, which he released when he needed to travel. The horse would grow to full size for the journey, and afterwards would be magically reduced to go back into the gourd. On this kozuka the Chokwaro story is referenced by the horse being shown in miniature relative to the flowers and p plants around it.

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This lustrous black shakudo kozuka is finely inlaid with gold and silver grape vines, butterflies and a grasshopper.

A shibuichi kozuka with finely inlaid gold and silver spirals. Half of its back is a diagonal layer of solid silver: this is a remarkably modern looking design, but dates from the 1800s.

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Kogai Swords may have another slot on the other side of the saya, facing outwards. It is usually for a kogai, a skewer like object which sometimes is split lengthways to form chopsticks.

Edo period kogai of the Goto school unsigned, in shakudo with a single silver and gold camellia design.

Another shakudo with fine relief inlays in gold and silver flowers and grasses on a fine nanako base.

When a kogai is split along its length, it is called a wari-bashi. This design inlaid in fine gold shows cranes flying from a reedbed. There are debates about the use of the wari-bashi: they could have been hairpins for the samurai’s long hair, or chopsticks.

Other Fittings There are several other fittings found on antique swords, such as the throat of the scabbard, the raised piece (kurigata) on the outer side for fixing a silk holding band, a cap (kojiri) on the bottom of the scabbard and other small pieces. They are most commonly made of polished black horn. However on some swords there will be a full matching set made of shakudo, shibuichi, copper or iron. Such swords attract a premium amongst collectors.

Buying a mounted antique sword As you would expect, the most critical part of a Japanese sword is the blade. Because this article deliberately does not address antique blades (a huge topic), the following comments are directed at examining the mounts only. It is worth noting however that if a blade is pitted with rust, has been chipped, bent, or the tip broken, it is best left – unless the mounts are of such high quality and condition that they are separately valuable.

When experienced collectors examine a mounted sword for sale, after assessing the blade they look for these points in the mounts: ● Are any parts loose? Tsubas in particular are prone to be replaced on antique swords, sometimes fitted so poorly that they rattle. You can be assured that no Japanese sword owner would wear a sword on which any mount was not carefully and exactly fitted. ● Are all the mounts of similar quality? Finely made fuchi kashira would never be fitted to a sword with a poor quality tsuba. ● Do the fuchi kashira match? They should be clearly made by the same artisan with a theme common to both items. If they don’t match, the sword should be avoided. The only exception is when a nice fuchi has been deliberately matched with a smooth polished horn kashira on a formal court sword. ● Do the menuki match? They should not be identical, but should have the same theme and be made by the same person. If they look totally different, one is a replacement.

Novice collectors would be wise to ask experienced collectors for advice, and to handle as many swords as possible.

References 1. The Baur Collection, Japanese Sword-Fittings and Associated Metalwork, B.W. Robinson, 1980 2. Legend in Japanese Art, Henri L. Joly, first published 1908, reprinted subsequently 3. Japanese Art and Handicraft, Henri L. Joly and Kumasaku Tomita, first published 1916, reprinted subsequently 4. The Arts of the Japanese Sword, B. W. Robinson, first published 1961, reprinted subsequently 5. Bonhams London sales catalogues, Fine Japanese Art 6. The Japanese Sword, Kanzan Sato, Kodansha, 1983 7. Lethal Elegance, the art of Japanese sword fittings, Joe Earle, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2010

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The Korean War 1950-53 Australia’s Role

By Brad Manera, Senior Historian / Curator Anzac Memorial

Ships Crest from HMAS Bataan

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United Nations and Royal Australian Regiment

ollywood and the American media may have called the Korean War forgotten but for 17,000 Australians and their families it was terrifying and bloody.

The Korean War erupted on 25 June 1951 when tanks and infantry of the North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) crossed the 38th parallel and swept the Army of the Republic of South Korea (RoK) and token US forces before them. A report by two Australian military officers serving with the United Nations (UN) Commission on Korea enabled the UN to declare the North Korean invasion an act of aggression and commit forces to defend the south. With Australian army, naval and air forces in nearby Japan Australia was well-placed to assist.

Within a week Australian fighters from No.77 Squadron RAAF were providing fighter escort to US bombers cutting NKPA supply lines. Warships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) operating out of Kure in Japan were placed at the disposal of the Royal Navy’s Far East fleet. The last battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) was preparing to return to Australia from the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan. Instead they were warned to ready themselves for war in Korea.

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Aircrew Survival Handbook

Back in Australia a recruiting program called K-Force was created to provide volunteers for the RAR. For the domestic population, with memories of attacks by the Japanese still fresh, the invasion fueled a growing fear of communism. Australians were aware of the intensifying struggle with Chinese Communist bandits in Malaya since 1948 and the fall of mainland China to the Communists in 1949.

The initial offensive by the NKPA drove RoK and US army units back to a small perimeter around the southern port of Pusan (modern Busan). In a daring landing by US Marines at Inchon the tide turned in favour of the UN and an Australian unit, 3RAR, arrived on the peninsula in time for a pursuit that drove the NKPA north all the way to the Chinese frontier.

The recently established Communist Chinese were startled by the UN threat to their border and retaliated by reinforcing the NKPA. Their massive numbers and logistic support drove the UN back down the Korean Peninsula until US reinforcements and other UN forces countered them with men and technology. By late 1951 this war of offensive and counteroffensive had bogged down to one of stalemate in which the opponents faced each other across no man’s land fighting from deep bunkers connected by trenches.

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Belt Equipment and Owen Gun Bayonet

A US Arctic Pile Cap

In the air east and west got to test new technologies. Jet fighters replaced Second World War surplus propeller-driven aircraft.

At sea UN warships were largely uncontested.

Naval aviators provided close air support from aircraft carriers off the coast. The RAN earned a reputation for gallantry and daring during inshore operations.

The Korean War was the first test of the great powers using smaller nations to fight by proxy. While soldiers fought and died on battlefields, often frozen, across some of the most rugged terrain on earth peace talks made little progress at Pan Mun Jom. By the middle of 1953 both sides were war weary.

Eventually an armistice was agreed. On 27 July 1953 a ceasefire came into effect creating a demilitarized zone along the 38th parallel very close to the original demarcation line across which the war had begun three years earlier.

Although the armistice remains, no official peace treaty has been signed. The two Koreas are still at war, the longest in modern history.

For Australia the Korean War was frequently in the newspapers but rarely in the headlines. By the time the armistice came into effect 339 Australian service personnel had been killed or died on active service, over 1,500 had been wounded and many more would bear mental scars for the rest of their lives. After the armistice Australian soldiers from the RAR and signals units remained on garrison duty for several years.

RAN warships continued to patrol Korean waters.

Today a handful of Australian Defence Force personnel continue to play a vital role in the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission ensuring the ceasefire of July 1953 continues to be respected until an enduring in ng pe pea peace is finally restored to the Korean peninsula.

Ships Crest from HMAS Bataan. One of the first RAN destroyers to deploy to the Korean War HMAS Bataan’s company and a reputation for courage and daring taking their ship close inshore to bombard North Korean shore batteries and lines of supply.

United Nations and Royal Australian Regiment. Patches worn on the sleeve of a member of 3RAR. The gold edged, blue rectangle is the US Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the battalion for their legendary defence of the Kapyong Valley on the eve of Anzac Day 1951.

Aircrew Survival Handbook. Carried by Naval Airman Mechanic ‘Ric’ Hammond, a helicopter crewmen aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney and Korean waters in 1951. Korea was the first war in which helicopters played a major role.

Belt Equipment and Owen Gun Bayonet. This 1944 pattern belt equipment and bayonet was carried by Cpl. Ray Parry during his heroic defence of the ridge above the Kapyong Valley, bravery for which he was awarded the Military Medal.

US Arctic Pile Cap. The Royal Australian Regiment was ill-prepared for the bitter Korean winters so US and Canadian cold weather clothing was purchased borrowed or stolen at every opportunity.

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A SELECTION of NSW COLONIAL POLICE ARMS

By Mal Southwell & John Newton

SPENCER CARBINE Civil War Model, aka the Model of 1860 – lever action .52 calibre (56-56 rim-fire) seven shot repeating cavalry carbine.

The illustrated arm is one of four known surviving NSW Police Spencer carbines. This particular carbine, marked NSWP over 7 on the LHS of the butt, is serial no. 41804, and is most likely one of 20 included in the second batch of carbines smuggled to Australia in contravention of a ban on the export of arms and munitions from the US during the American Civil War. The sailing ship Warrior arrived at Port Melbourne on 7/5/1865 carrying the carbines (and 8000 cartridges) in four crates marked “hardware”. The NSW Police had purchased the entire shipment after earlier acquiring five carbines from the first shipment of about 50 smuggled carbines, which had arrived in Melbourne on the Lady Dufferin in September 1864 in crates labelled “castings”.

The importer of the carbines, Maguire and Co of Melbourne, sold 25 from the first shipment to the Victoria Police.

In agreeing to sell the carbines to Maguire, the Spencer Co had violated not only the US ban on the export of arms and munitions, but also an agreement to sell its entire production to the US government. The first two acquired by NSW were on-sold by the Victoria Police to enable assessment by the NSW force, who at the time were seeking weapons for use in the hunt for the Hall/Gilbert gang of bushrangers.

Although most of the carbines arrived too late to be deployed against Hall and Gilbert they were extensively issued for escort and other special duties. At least one was issued to special constables hunting the Clarke gang in 1867.

It appears that about 40 carbines were purchased in total - other surviving carbines known to date are serial nos.

28359 (unmarked), 43532 (NSWP 17) and 50297 (NSWP 13). The highest recorded police no. is “33”. At least one carbine was unmarked.

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NSW 1st MODEL CONSTABULARY PISTOL The ordnance Pattern 1842 pistol was produced in various configurations, principally those known to collectors as sea service pistols (.577 cal, belt hook, lanyard ring), and customs and coast guard pistols. The constabulary pistol is an example of the latter - carbine bore (.65 inch) with lanyard swivel. NSW examples have been noted with locks dated 1843 and 1846.

The illustrated pistol, marked MP 67, was one of those issued to replace the flintlock pistols carried by mounted police troopers up until 1845. Each trooper carried two pistols retained in holsters strapped either side of their saddles.

Marked examples are quite rare.

CALISHER AND TERRY CARBINE Capping breech loader, bolt action, 30 bore. Along with Colt Navy revolvers and light cavalry swords, these carbines were acquired in 1862 for issue to mounted officers in the NSW “new police”. The New Police, constituted that year, were formed by combining the existing policing forces of the colony – the Sydney Metropolitan Police, the Sydney Mounted Patrol, the Sydney Water Police, the Detective force, Country Police, Native Police, Gold Police, Escort Police, and Mounted Road Patrols.

The illustrated carbine is one of at least 1000 acquired for the police. A much smaller number were allocated to the Gaols and other authorities - these are believed to be those marked “NSWG” on the trigger guard bow.

Police carbines have a range of markings: most are engraved “NSW” on the trigger guard bow; many are stamped “NSW POLICE’ and/or “P” on the stock; some are stamped on the stock with the mark of London retailer “HEBBERT & CO”; and they had various alpha-numeric police marks engraved on the butt plate tang identifying the individual arm. Many are also stamped “NSW” above a rack no. on the stock.

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NSW Colonial Police Arms

ALEXANDER HENRY CARBINES Between 1871 and 1881 the NSW government acquired thousands of falling breech block Alexander Henry arms for the military, gaols and police. They included long rifles, short rifles, artillery carbines, and two models of police carbine. The 1st model police carbine was chambered for the centre fire 450 straight case short chamber Henry cartridge, and the 2nd was chambered for the 577/450 Martini Henry cartridge. Unlike the 1st model, the 2nd model has a barrel band.

The illustrated 1st model carbine, (above) police no. 26, is one of 100 acquired. They were received in 1874 and distributed to the various police districts. It was intended that one would be issued to each district head station, and one to each sergeant in charge of a gold escort – District Superintendents could “suggest the number desirable for use in their districts, and the purpose for which required”. No.26 was one of nine despatched to the Superintendent of the Western District at Bathurst for distribution as he saw fit.

The 2nd model carbine illustrated, (below) police no 349, is one of 600 acquired between 1878 and 1881 for general issue to mounted police. This carbine was issued to the North Western Police District on 11th December 1881.

Confusion caused by the issue of similar carbines chambered for different ammunition resulted in the withdrawal from service of 1st model carbines in 1885.

The variety of arms issued to police in the 1870s is demonstrated by the arms carried by Murray District officers engaged against Captain Moonlight and his gang at Wantabadgery in 1879. They included: 1st model Alexander Henry carbines; 2nd model Alexander Henry carbines; Calisher and Terry carbines; an Alexander Henry rifle; Adams centrefire revolvers; Colt Navy percussion revolvers; and Deane & Adams percussion revolvers.

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SHARPS CARBINE, “BRITISH” MODEL OF 1855 Falling block capping breech loader, 577 cal, Maynard patent tape primer, 19 inch barrel. Butt plate tang marked to the Kings Dragoon Guards Regiment, rack no. 187.

This carbine is one of several with British regimental markings in Australian collections which were part of a Sharps Co. contract to supply 6000 carbines to Britain. Delivered from 1856 to 1858, they were issued to five cavalry regiments which saw service in India following the Mutiny of 1857. Superseded by Westley Richards and Snider Enfield carbines, the majority had been withdrawn from service by 1864, the remainder by 1868. They are rarely encountered today.

Sharps carbines reportedly in the Police Armoury in 1872 may have been surplus “British” carbines, possibly acquired during the bushranger crisis of the 1860s.

The generally worn condition of examples in Australian collections is indicative of hard use in harsh conditions. Of the four examples known to the author, one has an Australian provenance dating back to the 1800s, another, in the same family for four generations, is believed by the family to have been issued to a native tracker at Forbes, and a third, catalogued in the Powerhouse (MAAS) Museum collection as police issue, has a defaced marking, possibly a police mark, on the butt.

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NSW Colonial Police Arms

COLT REVOLVING RIFLE Colt 56 calibre percussion military rifle, five shot cylinder, iron furniture. The fore-end of the illustrated example has been cut off at the first barrel band and the barrel has been shortened to 24Âź inches.

This rifle, serial no. 3017, is NSW police no. 13. Returned to the police armoury on Dec 20 1872 from Braidwood, it may have been used there by gold escorts and by troopers hunting miscreants such as the notorious Clarke gang. Another district Colt rifle, serial no. 3189, was taken from Araluen police by the Clarkes in 1866.

A ban on the export of arms and munitions during the American Civil War was relaxed in August 1863 to allow the return of imported arms to their places of origin. By this time Union demand for Colt arms had collapsed as ordnance department preference shifted to cheaper, solid frame Remington revolvers. Demand for Colt revolving rifles had also declined, largely due to the risk of forearm injuries caused by hot gases and solid particles escaping from the cylinder gap. With local sales in decline, Colts took advantage of the relaxed export rules to send back hundreds of arms which they had imported from their London agency early in the war.

The NSW government welcomed the renewed availability of Colt arms in London and purchased hundreds of Navy revolvers, principally for police and gaol issue. They also ordered fifty revolving carbines for the police, who were disappointed to receive instead fifty rifles (plus bayonets), which were considered too heavy and unwieldy for bush work – it appears that many were later shortened to carbine length by police armourers.

Received in Feb 1864 they remained in store until November, when an escort officer was killed by Johnny Gilbert at Jugiong. They were then issued for escort and special service. Arms carried by the police party that killed Ben Hall included three Colt rifles.

Only four police marked survivors are currently known to the author-the highest rack number is 28. There is an unmarked rifle in the Police and Justice Museum which might also be ex-police.

Contemporary photos of police rifles show that some fore-ends were removed, presumably to encourage users to grip the trigger guard with the leading hand when firing, thus avoiding injuries to the forearm.

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MARTINI HENRY CARBINE 450/577 cal lever action single shot cavalry carbine manufactured by the Henry Rifled Barrel Engineering and Small Arms Co, London. Unlike other ordnance pattern Martini Henrys, the action body is marked on the left hand side with the royal cypher, manufacturer’s name (HRB Co), and date (1893). A police rack no, “21”, is also on the LHS, with “NSW POLICE” marked to the RHS. This carbine is one of 100 ordered from London in 1891, and delivered to the police in 1894.

At the time the order was placed NSW was racked by industrial disputes and economic depression. The maritime workers’ strike of 1890, which paralysed the docks, was followed by the shearers’ strike of 1891 and the Broken Hill miners’ strike of 1892. The government called up the military and swore in special volunteer constables to help police confront rioting workers. Other measures taken by the government included the purchase of all commercially available revolvers in Sydney (about 2000) to keep them out of the hands of the striking workers, and to order the 100 Martini Henry carbines for the police.

On at least one occasion, squatters drove wool carts from the metropolitan railhead to the Sydney docks in defiance of a union blockade - they were protected from stone-throwing rioters by hundreds of police and special constables. The special police included mounted men, who provided their own horses and carried police swords, and foot men, who carried police batons - all wore police uniforms and many carried personal revolvers.

The HRB Co Martini Henrys arrived too late to be deployed against the strikers and the generally excellent condition of surviving carbines suggests that they saw little, if any, police service.

Martini Henry Artillery Carbine NSW Gaols Issue / Rack 39

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NSW Colonial Police Arms MARTINI HENRY CARBINES

Martini Henry Cavalry Carbine, NSW Gaols Issue / Original Sling

Martini Henry Artillery Carbine, NSW Gaols Issue / Rack 38

Martini Henry Artillery Carbine, NSW Police Issue

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MARTINI HENRY CARBINES

Martini Henry Artillery Carbine, NSW Schools & Police Issue

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2.

1. A rare photograph of an armed party of New South Wales Mounted Troopers. The arms carried are a mixed lot of Calisher and Terry carbines and both models of the Henry carbine.

Photograph courtesy “In Defence of Lives and Property” Edgar Penzig.

2. Circa 1880 Mounted Troopers. The native tracker is holding a second model Alexander Henry carbine.

References 1. Ron Cook, NSW colonial arms, unpublished research.

2. Gordon Byrne, Spencer carbines in Australia, unpublished research 3. John McLean, Australian Heritage Colt Percussion Firearms 4. Phil Patterson, NSW Police Armoury 5. Mal Southwell, Arms of the NSW Police 1862-1900 6. Damian McDonald M.A.A.S 7. Penzig. Edgar “In Defence of Lives and Property

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Warren Anderson Samuel Colt Collection W arren Anderson (born 1942) is an Australian businessman and speculative investor, he was born in Perth. He was a principal in major developments in Perth, Darwin and Melbourne, especially supermarkets for Coles and K Mart. He loved collecting objects d’art, classical period furniture and he collected firearms.

Fine firearms, throughout history, have been coveted by monarchs, presidents, noblemen and gentry. Their mechanical intricacies and elaborate ornamentation which encompassed the crafts of most skilled artisans, bring antique firearms into the highest echelons of the decorative arts and human ingenuity.

This coupled with their historic associations, make them worthy of the most serious study.

In 1992 Warren Anderson chose to sell his arms collection through Butterfield and Butterfield in San Francisco.

Of outstanding importance in this collection were the firearms by Colt, one of the supreme marques in American gun collecting. This included the impressive Hartley & Graham display board and several lavish presentation models. This was a rare window of opportunity to select from a profusion of pieces o off museum quality. The sale brought record prices.

Warren Anderson

These are some of the highlights from the auction: Lot 1333 Unique Colt Factory Display Board List Part I Lot 4003

Deluxe Engraved Cased Pair M 1860 Army Percussion Revolvers

Sold $US286,000

Lot 4023

Historic Colt Whitneyville Walker M1847 Dragoon Revolver

Sold $US275,000

Lot 4027

Colt Factory Engraved Single Action

Sold $US19,800

Lot 4061

Cased Pair of Engraved Colt Presentation Revolvers (M1851 Navy and M1855 Roots model).

Sold $US605,000

Lot 4062

Cased Colt Paterson Belt model Revolver

Sold $US770,000

Unique Colt Factory Display Board, made for Hartley & Graham New York c1877

Sold $US1,045,000

List Part II Lot 1333

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Lot 4023 Historic Colt Whitneyville Walker M1847 Dragoon Revolver

Lot 4027 Colt Factory Engraved Single Action Revolver

Lot 4061 Cased Pair of Engraved Colt Presentation Revolvers

Lot 4062 Cased Colt Paterson Belt model Revolver

Lot 4003 Delux Engraved Cased Pair Colt model 1860

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Samuel Colt 1814-1862

Literature 1. The Warren Anderson Collection of Premier American and European Antique Firearms Parts 1 March 23, 1992.

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An Over & Under Flintlock Pistol

BY DURS EGG, LONDON Durs Egg was born in 1748 in Oberbuchsiten, Switzerland, baptised as Urs Christian.

After a short stay in Paris he came to London and worked for John Twigg at 132 Strand.

By Tony Wood

T

his is an elegant flintlock over and under officer’s belt pistol with twist octagonal barrels, the upper barrel signed in gold with two gold lines at the breech, gold lined touch holes, engraved case-hardened tang, signed and engraved case-hardened tang, signed and engraved casehardened detented bevelled locks, each with a roller, semi-rain proof pan and engraved safety catch also locking the steel. On the chequered figured walnut stock is a gold baronet’s escutcheon.

The iron butt cap and trigger guard are each engraved with a martial trophy foliage; original iron ramrod with a chequered tip. There are no proof marks.

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Durs Egg was born in 1748 in Oberbuchsiten, Switzerland, baptised as Urs Christian. After a short stay in Paris he came to London and worked for John Twigg at 132 Strand. He set up his own business in London and moved to several locations in the Haymarket, The Strand, near Somerset House, Pall Colonnade, Kensington and Knightsbridge Green.

Egg was a contractor to the Ordnance, was granted several patents, was appointed gunmaker to George IV, the Duke of York.

Unfortunately, he became blind in 1822, and in his last years engaged in various law suits and quarrels with his wife and children. He died in 1831.

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Hawker described him as “One of the most extraordinary mechanics in England… He died like a man of genius, in other words, with his balance on the shady side of the book.”

J.N. George in English Pistols and Revolvers refers to an over-and-under type of pistol by Durs Egg which is similar to the one in this article. “The lock action is of a peculiar form invented by this maker, in which both locks are discharged by means of a single trigger, the left-hand lock, communicating with the lower barrel, firing first. The barrels are 8.5 in long, of No 16 bore, and are provided with the usual platinum vents.

This pistol is fitted with a belt hook.” The pistol in this article does not have a belt hook, and the right -hand

lock fires first, if both are at full cock.

The concept of mounting the two barrels of a double pistol under and over instead of side-by-side is European rather than English in origin.

This is noted in the description of a pair of English Under & Over Flintlock pistols by Joseph Egg, London, No 2426, circa 1820, in the 2003 catalogue from Peter Finer, St. James, London. The description reads.

“As the two barrels are mounted directly one above the other, without any breech block, it may well be that Durs Egg, who worked with John Twigg before setting up his own account in 1778, was responsible for the incorporation of the European influences in his employer’s work during this period.”

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An Over & Under Flintlock Pistol

Interestingly, evidence, even if anecdotal, suggests that the single trigger mechanism took a while to perfect. This pair of pistols by Joseph Egg confirm that he brought the single trigger mechanisms to perfection. The right-hand lock will fire first if both locks are at full cock, but the left lock will fire if the right lock was been fired or is at halfcock. These pistols would have been for personal protection of their owner, whether at home, when travelling or in battle. The advantage of the single trigger for both speed and efficiency is undeniable, and when linked to the compact configuration of the under and over barrel arrangement, once out of their case these pistols could be carried discreetly, ready when required.”

A photo of these pistols shows a singular difference. They have the steel spring mounted externally, on the lock plate.

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3.

In 1778 when Durs Egg set up on his own account, George III was King and London was starting to enjoy the benefits of the colonial empire. Trade with Africa and India was fruitful, the dark days of the Commonwealth interregnum were history. Gunmakers had government contracts, and private sales of guns produced good income. Piccadilly was no longer a country road leading to the little village of Kensington, and on into the west country.

The gunmakers of London were designing and making sophisticated handguns and long guns for private sale. Writing in 1811 Louis Simond says “rich houses have what are called water closets; a cistern in the upper storey, filled with rain water, communicates by a pipe and cock to a vessel of earthenware, which it constantly washes.” The houses were sophisticated too.

My thanks to Paul Duffy for his assistance in writing this article.

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6.

References 1. English Pistols & Revolvers by J N George.

2. Christies catalogue Sale W, Keith Neall Collection 8/11/1995.

3. Peter Finer Catalogue MMIII-Lot 42.

4. Gunmakers of London. Supplement 1350 – 1850 by Howard Blackmore.

5. Heer De Neue Stockel.

6. London Homes by Ralph Dutton

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A Beringer Pistol Beatus Beringer was born in 1801 in Hangenbieten in the Bas-Rin department or region of North Eastern France. He worked in Paris and St Etienne 1835-1869. At an early age of shooting and designing, he sought to remedy hunters’ complaints.

By Harvey Facer

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ometime ago I was offered this pistol and as a collector of firearms unusual, different or just curious looking, couldn’t resist.

The seller had little idea of its origin and described the weapon as “an internal action percussion gun”.

It looked like an oversized parlour pistol, probably of European origin, even though sporting a set of sights.

The pistol has a heavy octagonal barrel, around 11 bore by 25cm long, a dark walnut butt, metal butt cap, a slender thumb hammer and a latched under-lever.

There is considerable floral engraving embellishment and geometric pattern on the butt cap.

The hammer activates an internal sliding pin and has half and full catch positions.

Unlatching the lever and pushing it to the side rotates a vertical turret block by 90 deg. The block has a horizontal cylindrical hole through it, open at one end and having a spoked boss at the other.

As a whole, the pistol appears well used, with light impact damage and wear, and crisp engraving.

Coincidentally, as I was researching, another member saw a gun with an identical action, in a deceased estate sale. He had no idea of its identity and also couldn’t resist. This was a long arm and not a pistol.

Initial investigations revealed little, although I found one was sold in a London auction house some years before. Sold as unidentified. One observer thought it looked similar to mine. One was sold by an Australian dealer at a Bendigo show a little time after, again without identification but he felt it was the same gun.

People assumed that the turret accepted only a small waxed or paper combustible cartridge. The barrel weight seemed disproportionate to its bore size.

Many theories had been put up to its design or origin, noting there are no markings or proofing. French or Dutch being the most popular origin. I thought the pistol was French. There was no English proof or view marks.

History shows Casimer Lefaucheaux took over management of Jean Samuel Pauly’s gun works in Paris in the 1820s. It left Pauly with plenty of time to play with his invention endeavours. Apart from the Pauly system

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A Beringer Pistol

“a pair of Beringer pistols”

“loading percussion rifle by Karl Haberda”

and the Pinfire system, many strange developments evolved. Only enhanced by the inclusion to the group

by Johann Nikolous von Dreyse and the development of his needle fire system.

Completely diverse creations emerged, not just limited to firearms, - monospan bridges, airships and self-contained cartridges just some.

My early belief was that this pistol or pistol’s action could have come from this eccentric trio consortium from 1820 to 1850, loosely corresponding to the appearance of my treasured enigma.

Then by chance, “a pair of Beringer pistols” were listed in an Italian auction house. Their action looking remarkably like mine.

They were described as rare, made by Frenchman Beatus Beringer, 7mm smoothbore, 15cm octagonal barrels with gilt markings of “Canon a Ruban D’Acier”.

Probably French made circa 1850.

Another surfaced around the same time with the gilt marking “Crespi a Pavie Beringer”.

In 2017 in another auction at Czerny’s in Italy a Beringer System Breech loading percussion rifle by Karl Haberda was sold. The rifle was described as octagonal, micro rifled, 8 mm cal. barrel signed in silver “KARL HABERDA IN KRUMAU”, provided with a chiselled, iron rear sight, and silver and iron front sight; iron frame engraved with floral motif, provided with a revolving powder chamber which, when rotated in a transverse position, allows rifle loading.

The stock was in two parts with a micro-checkered grip, iron mounts engraved en-suite, tang and trigger guard (which also serves as an opening lever of the power chamber) chiselled with bas-relief steinbock and wild boar and an iron ramrod. Johann Haberda in Krumau, was a gunsmith of Price Schwarzenberg, and probably a relative.

The photo from the Czerny’s catalogue is illustrated. The rifle was described as from Bohemia, in the third quarter of the 19th Century.

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My redirected research, found Beatus Beringer was born in 1801 in Hangenbieten in the Bas-Rhin department or region of North Eastern France. He worked in Paris and St Etienne 1835-1869.

At an early age of shooting and designing, he sought to remedy hunters’ complaints of “inconveniences” of the early gun locks and studied the nature of fulminating powders. In 1832 he patented his gun action charged with fulminating powder. The powder being encapsulated in a small moulded, red copper, flexible capsule.

The ball did not need sealing against the powder as previously was the case.

The design prevented gas escape and protected the chamber from destructive corrosion.

The design principle was not lost on many other gun makers, including Pauly, Lefaucheaux and Dreyse.

Beatus Beringe at some stage joined the Pauly group and the experimental group became four.

With this connection it is not hard to see why Beringer also worked at refining examples of the pinfire system. In fact, it was Beringer’s pinfire, not Lefaucheaux’s model which was bought by John Blanch in 1855. This was improved in London, and later became Eley’s model.

The Dreyse needlefire system invention was plagued with gas leakage problems. Beringer employed the needlefire design with his capsule inside the rotating turret action. First with a powder only capsule and separate ball, then with an allinclusive ball and powder capsule.

The firing needle, or “quill”, being retracted by its connection to a dummy hammer, giving the gun the appearance of a standard percussion fired device.

Although the Beatus Beringer system was around for only a short period and in very limited production, it is recognised as a forerunner to our modern centre fire system.

References 1. Neue Stockel 2. Czernys

1.

2.

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Keris Hilt The statue has been carved from a piece of wood, and rubbed or painted with a black paint. Details of the seat have been picked out in yellow gold.

By Paul Duffy and Wazeem Johnston

Indonesian archipelago

T

his is a small statue of a chubby male figure sitting on a Tumpal Throne, he is smiling, looks peaceful, in a relaxed position with his right arm behind his back holding his left elbow. He is holding something in his right hand.

The “tumpal” motif is the triangular motif you can see around the throne. It is an ancient and very important motif in Archipelago culture. This relates to the Hindu concept of “three”, everything comes in threes.

The statue has been carved from a piece of wood, and rubbed or painted with a black paint. Details of the seat have been picked out in yellow gold.

This was probably an ebonised figure sitting on a yellow throne and with the “stones” in the selut painted red, these three colours (yellow, black and red) represent the Hindu Trinity.

This statue is the hilt of a keris, probably from Bali or Lombok. The hilt was on a keris from an old, local collection. The fellow had been collecting over 30 years and this keris and other edged weapons had been hanging on the wall for a long time. The keris blade was not of great interest.

However, this hilt has been well made.

The carving of the hilt, arms, legs and body have been well conceived and executed. When I pick up the statute, as a hilt, with the head in the palm of my right hand, it sits comfortably. I have to remember that a keris is a weapon, and an item of dress in Bali.

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I have illustrated another hilt. A small statue of a nude boy with a smiling, cheerful face. This is made of ivory. The seat the boy is sitting on is also probably a Tumpal Throne, although the position of the arms is different. This hilt is illustrated in The Beauty of Kris Hilt, from The Collection of Aswin Wirjadi.

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These naked boy figures can be understood as either Sang Hyang Rare Kumara who was Siwa’s son, adopted, or as Dewa Rare Angon, who is an aspect of Siwa himself.

Keris hilts come in many forms, Gods, priests, demons, animals and forms from nature. In our western culture when we see a figure carved as something that resembles a God, priest, demon or whatever, we expect to be able to give it a name.

In Balinese culture the hilt or statue only exists to personify the invisible force, the world we cannot see. Perhaps all the statues do is personify them for people who do not yet have the ability to conjure them without a point of focus.

There is a wayang story that involves Dewa Rare Kumara (ie Sang Hyang Rare Kumara), ultimately escaping danger, so Dewa Rare Kumara is regarded as the God of children, who protects children.

I find my wooden keris hilt fascinating, well carved.

I won’t place a name on it.

The figural Balinese hilts are called “totogan”.

They are always protective in nature. The figure is the representative of an unseen spiritual force that permits an ordinary person to focus on that idea, this also applies in mainstream Hindu faith.

The major thing to understand is that they are always protective.

References 1. The Keris and the Naga, Alan Maisey. Arms Cavalcade 2000.

2. Ethnographic Arms & Armour Forum.

3. www.kerisattosanji.com website of Alan Maisey.

4. Understanding Balinese Keris. An Insider’s Perpsective by Pande Wayan Suteja Neka.

5. The Art and Culture of Bali, Museum der Kulturen Basel.

6. The Beauty of the Keris Hilt, by Aswin Wirjadi.

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6.

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The Revolvers of John Adams 1857-1872

By Geoff Pogson

John Adams Revolver 1857

I

have mentioned, in some previous efforts, the name of Robert Adams, inventor of the first of a line of successful British revolvers, both hand held and long arm, together with his cousin John Adams. Robert was a factory manager with the firm of Deane & Son, but was taken as a partner when he patented his successful pistol. The firm was renamed Deane, Adams & Deane. Also working in the company with Robert Adams, was his cousin John Adams who was interested in manufacturing developments in the use of machine tools in firearms production.

John had taken a patent on a rifle sight and was developing his ideas in connection with the new revolver he was imagining.

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It was recorded that John was in the party at the ceremony of the presentation of the Deane, Adams & Deane Revolver to HRH Prince Albert in 1851. At this event, John and James Kerr, another cousin, had both demonstrated the loading and firing of Robert’s revolver at targets, each of which were signed by the other The Deane, Adams & Deane partnership continued with the production and evolutionary changes to the Adams revolvers until. in late 1856, a new business, the “London Armoury Co” was established with R. Adams, J. Deane Snr, F. E. Beaumont, W. Harding and J. Kerr as the major shareholders, all from the gun industry.

There were other share holders in attendance from the financial circles.

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John Adams Revolver 1866

Robert Adams was overseer of the rifle making section while James Kerr ran the production of handguns. James Kerr and John Adams were simultaneously working on separate, new revolver designs, at the LAC works at this time. It seems that John may have been learning the gun trade in the early fifties, though there is not much recorded about his exploits until just after Robert split away from the “London Armoury Company”, in late 1856, when John went with him to premises at 46 King William Street where they were said to be working on a new revolver. This may have been the pistol patented in John Adams name, credited to him in the Adams Revolver book as the Adams Model 1857, though the pistol I own has the name and address of R. Adams at the address above. Perhaps this indicates possible interest or collaboration

by Robert.

This model of John’s is a five shot 54 bore percussion revolver, and is, in part, similar in

silhouette to a Beaumont Adams. Unlike the Robert Adams invention, the body of this pistol is constructed from two parts, one containing the barrel, top strap and recoil shield, and at the same time holding both ends of the cylinder arbor in the one piece of metal. The second frame unit holds the lock work and butt attachment features. Also pivoting on this frame is the under-barrel rammer, not unlike the Colt rammers of the day, but which also secures the arbor when the rammer is at rest.

The barrel inscription on this revolver, featured in a previous article, reads R. Adams. 46 King William St London, though the patent was taken out by John Adams. With a serial number 40014, it is one of a small number of known survivors, some un-numbered, the rest in this 40000 range. This pistol, though well made, was not as successful as might have been expected, perhaps due to growth in development and improving efficiency in breech loaders and ammunition.

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The Revolvers of John Adams

John Adams Revolver 1867

John Adams must have decided that having developed a better pistol, he would follow the line and the result was the quite excellent Model 1866.

A six chambered percussion revolver, also a twopiece construction, though much improved on the 1857 model. It still used the under-barrel rammer, which, in both revolvers, doubled as the Arbor pin retaining device. Some of these pistols were taken for trials by the War Department and they were the last percussion types taken into government service, soon to be replaced by a series of successful John Adams breech loading pistols.

John also took on the conversion of the Beaumont Adams revolvers held in government stores. This work required new cylinders to take five .450 CF cartridges; an extraction device to replace the rammer and a loading gate to be fitted behind the cylinder on the right-hand side of the frame. This conversion project, begun in 1868,

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lasted well into the 1870’s, the finished product earning the title “Pistol Adams CF Conversion Mk I. My own example of this rare pistol is still a work in progress, I have been slowly restoring for some years. I would like to own a good one sometime soon.

Simultaneously, John Adams was proceeding with work on a new design for a six chambered .450 C F revolver with the aim of stirring government interest, It was, on completion not unlike the Beaumont Adams, in silhouette, but used a modified two piece frame construction that he had tried out in the preceding percussion model 1866.

The new model, patented in 1867, was in production in 1868 The main differences, apart from the obvious use of cartridges over cap and ball, were the arbor locking and ejector rod were controlled by a three position “tap” like revolving switch, and the provision of an upward opening loading gate behind

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John Adams Revolver 1868

the right-hand side of the cylinder. When the “tap” was in the horizontal, both ejector rod and Arbor were locked in place. To use the ejector, the “tap” is turned down by 45 degrees, with the arbor still locked, and to remove the arbor and cylinder the tap was turned a further 45 degrees. Though sometimes deemed to be complicated it was an efficient way to arrange the security of the arbor and the good operation of the extraction system. This pistol became known as the Revolver Adams Mk II Finally John Adams produced a third cartridge revolver, the Mk III, with an ejector rod housed inside the arbor, which, when withdrawn from the arbor, pivoted on a moving bracket to line up with a fired chamber, the gate was opened and the rod used to expel the fired cases. The cylinder was revolved by hand to clear other empty cases. It was a system already in use with other makers and soon became the accepted method for many solid frame pistols.

This Model of 1872 was the last Adams Revolver to be used in Military service, and though superceded by later revolvers of heavier calibre and different extraction systems, it was still in service with reserve units well into the Great War of 1914. They were issued to many Colonial Forces in Canada, New Zealand and most of the Australian states, and in many other places wherein the Colonial Office representatives managed the Administration of Government and Civil Service.

I have included a second, rather timeworn, Adams Mk III, displayed in a recently acquired leather bound Campaign case the sort used by officers travelling to the numerous African small wars of the late 1800’s.

What tales might they tell?

Over the many years I have been collecting I have been fortunate enough to acquire all of the revolvers I have described in this article, and although some might be rather ordinary examples, there are still a

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The Revolvers of John Adams

John Adams Revolver 1872

couple of quite scarce ones yet to come within my reach but this only whets the appetite for the search.

There is always that “One of these days” feeling that might, with luck, come true. I’m just glad that I still have “The Bug” which stirs the need to keep on with the search I am again, very grateful to the many great publications of Mr Chamberlain and Mr Taylerson.

This time I have used “The Adams Revolver”, “ W. D. Revolvers of the British Services” and “The Revolver 1865-1888.” to aid my memory, I have also had thoughtful and experienced advice from fellow collectors who share my interest, and some of whom parted with some of the featured examples, recently added to my collection, for which I thank them again. So too to John Newton who has made this readable.

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Contributors HARVEY FACER A Beringer Pistol Collecting firearms to me started as a “one of everything” concept, heavily leaning to the Martini. Later changing to the older eras, Percussion, Flintlock, Pinfire and a fascination with the American Civil War history. But always having a passion for the “unusual”.

PAUL DUFFY Keris Hilt & Samuel Evans Gunsmith I started with British military and sporting arms, as they were available, especially those with colonial markings. But I became fascinated with the art of the gunmaker and the complexity and culture of Islamic and Javanese weapons. Working with metal.

BRAD MANERA The Korean War 1950-53 Growing up in my grandparents’ home inspired an interest in objects with stories. The piano and mantelpiece were lined with sepia photos of young men in ill-fitting uniforms, slouch hats and puttees.

After 40 years working in museums I’m still facinated researching great objects and their stories.

JOHN NEWTON A Selection of NSW Colonial Police Arms Over the past fifty plus years I have spent many rewarding hours researching colonial Australian arms, particularly police and gaols firearms, and the lives of those who used them. I also attend trap shooting competitions where the goal is to use vintage shotguns manufactured in the Victorian era.

GEOFF POGSON The Winchester Model 1900 Series & Revolvers of John Adams In 1968 a lucky find in the Chatswood White Elephant Store spurred me to add collecting to my shooting interests. I began picking up interesting old guns as well as rabbits, foxes and cats. The book was British Pistols and Revolvers, by J. N. George. From this, my collecting became my main focus.

BILL TAYLOR Art & Design in Japanese Sword Fittings Part 2 Bill Taylor has been collecting antique arms for forty five years in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide.

He specializes in English flintlock pistols, and still enjoys finding something good, hidden under a couple of centuries of grime. He also collects antique Japanese swords and fittings.

TONY WOOD An Over and Under Flintlock Pistol A collector for many years, originally British, Colonial and American arms. I then became fascinated with Islamic arms and armour, especially from India and Persia.

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