Mervyn Mitton

The only difference for the Metropolitan Police was a darkened Helmet Plate. This avoided reflections - the Rose on the crown of the helmet was already darkened. For Provincial Forces it often meant changing the top decoration and sometimes, the band around the helmet could be chromed and have to be darkened. Interesting addition to Brian's excellent post on Police Helmets ? Mervyn

Realitycheck - welcome to GMIC. I will have to leave this to one of the WW1 experts - and, it may be worth posting the question also on the weapons section. Whatever the answer, I'm sure our elephants were very pleased to see them go ! I have a reprinted book from the daily score of Selous - the famous big game hunter. The sheer slaughter of so many animals was quite inexcusable - and in many cases has made species vulnerable. Mervyn

One other point to consider - you say they came from a costume department - then perhaps they are costume for something like HMS. Pinafore, the famous Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera about the Royal Navy - 1870's. Very often the costumiers would obtain real uniforms - the famous company in London - whose name escapes me - used to have original police uniforms from the 1850's - unfortunately, I was away when they were all sold off. Should this be their origin tthen there are two possibilities - made-up or, genuine. Meervyn

Thankou - that's good for the future. Pity this one was sold.

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The recent informative posts on Taureg and West African and Sahel weaponry has reminded me that I found pictures of this sword in shop files a few weeks ago. Ethiopea - or, Abysinnia as it used to be, is on the opposite side from West Africa - and is a far older culture. This culture included a number of Nobility titles - under the Emperor, the highest being a Duke. This was a Roman rank - and if I remember rightly, meant a war leader - Dux. The Nobles had financial means to have good weaponry and although it followed a localised pattern, they often had important swords made with blades forged overseas. The British firm of Wilkinson was known to regularly send quite large shipments of blades. They also ordered from Italian sword makers and particularly like damascened blades (ones where the metal was repeatedly folded to give strength and make a pattern in the steel. I only found these few pictures - the sword came-in about 15 years ago and sold quickly. The blade was curved and as you can see was finely decorated. The scabbard was camel skin - again, finely embossed. The handle is probably Rhino Horn. The Forte mark shows the Lion of Abysinnia with the Emperor's Crown above. The name will be the Italian armourer. The foreign blades were always finished with a locally made hilt and scabbard. Age wise, it could have well been taken by the British during the Abysinnian War of 1868 - although as to when it was made is a different matter. With the style of naming , perhaps 18th Century ? http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-73141100-1375283028.jpgclick

Iain - very interesting and your knowledge on this weaponry is obviously far greater than mine. When you have time, it would be nice to hear more from you on the subject. I can't promise you a large viewership - but we will be interested. Mervyn Ian - I suppose they had to use the metal that was most common for them. Also, since this weaponry is really historic in origin, it is possible that it had age. Mervyn

Freiwillige - some unusual and very collectable frames. We will look forward to seeing others in your collection. Have you researched each item or, are they just part of the collection ? I am thinking particularly of the arrow heads - each head shape is for a specific pupose. Some maybe for game - smaller ones for birds. Others for piercing armour etc. Have you been able to trace the different countries of origin. Items such as these are one of the main reasons this non-miliatria forum was set-up. Mervyn

ISPN - did we welcome you to GMIC ? You may well be right about the Tauregs - however, the person who brought it to the shop said he obtained it in Iraq. Arm daggers are well known throughout the desert Arab world - you see them particularly on the herd boys - always worn upside down on the upper arm, ready for a quick downward draw. What I think is unusual is to find it part of the scabbard for this sword. Mervyn

This is a useful ref. picture for collectors. It shows the 14th/20th Hussars in Egypt in 1933. Specifically 'B' Sq. I counted 67 men in total. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-79637200-1375019244.jpgclick

Sometimes very difficult to be accurate with Oriental weapons - I would say that this has strong US influences in the style of a Bowie knife - although no upturned point. Perhaps the writing is a commemorative one - particularly if there is a WW2 link ? This will be interesting to find the meaning and I hope a Chinese speaker will be able to help. Mervyn

With Rick's excellent help, you would be wise to hold-on to this medal and see what you can add. British nurses from WW1 are valuable. Mervyn

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There are others - however, I'll finish off with this one (my fingers are getting tired) . A Farthing - when I was a boy - was the lowest denomination British coin - 4 of them were worth 1 penny. Going back much further, they used to have a Groat - this was worth a 1/4 of a farthing. The coin shown here is a double Groat - worth 1/2 of a Farthing. How our coinage has been debased and devalued. You could actually buy something with this little coin a 150 years ago................... http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-86402700-1374852831.jpgclick

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These are early - the top two are for King George 2nd. a Florin or, 2/- piece - dated 1758. The second one is also for George 2nd. and is dated 1757. The tird one is for King George 3rd - who reigned from 1760 to 1820. This is dated 1762 - so, early in his Reign. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-34643800-1374852382.jpgclick

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This has to be a rare coin. a 1/2 penny for the Island of St. Helena. Tiny population - until Napoleon was exiled there, it was mainly a water stop for ships. LOOK AT THE DATE - Napoleon died on St. Helena on May 5th. 1821. So, just a small number would have been minted for that year. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-57542400-1374851911.jpgclick

What does this mean ? http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-45245100-1374851096.jpgclick

This lovely coin is Russian and dated 1854. I can see the number '30' - so perhaps 30 Roubles ? http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-12948100-1374850879.jpgclick

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This is a South African 5/- commemorating the 50th year of the Union of all Provinces to form South Africa. The Building is the Government Building in Pretoria. Parliament is in Capetown. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-6209-0-08343200-1374850391.jpgclick

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