Sold Gallery
These pages display a number of the rare items that I have had the pleasure of selling. To view more details and a larger photograph please click on the thumbnail picture.
WWII MKIII Helmet, with Canadian Two Tone Net and
A nice example of the famous tortoise shell helmet worn on D-Day by many Canadian units. It has the correct high set rivet and the proper khaki chinstrap. The liner and its anchor screw are also correct to the period and dated 1944. The maker stamp in the helmet itself cannot be found. Th rough surface paint is 97% with some minor marring. The net is complete with draw string and the large first aid pouch is war time dated in good condition. The complete set ready to dress a mannequin or adorn a shelf and complete the helmet collection.
Royal Canadian Regiment Drum Major Baldric Sash
Offered is a rare RCR Baldric that dates to the pre WWI era. I deduce the age by the battle honors on the sash. It has an Edwardian Crown putting it post 1902. The first battle honors were actually stitches into the sash when it was originally made. Post WWI you can see the WWI battle honors were made on a separate cloth backing and added in the 1920s when the honors were officially granted. The white ground is not a common colour for these baldric and really stands out on a scarlet or khaki uniform. The backing of the baldric is Moroccan red leather still in good condition. Some of the bullion and felt backings show wear that is expected on a piece with this much service. There are 3 loops on a diagonal just below the Crown placed to carry the Drum Major\'s medals. About the right size for a WWI trio. Overall a beautiful rare piece. There was only one Drum Major to a unit and so this was worn by many of the Regiment\'s best. The photo that is attached to this profile is off a Drum Major of the regiment probably taken in the early 1960s. It is not clear when this Baldric was retired, but it obviously stayed in service many decades. This Baldric was in my collection about 20 years and was carefully cared for boxed under glass and hung on the wall out of sunlight. It is in good condition, just as I bought it. It is time to let it go and I hope an avid RCR collector picks this up. Unfortunately I cannot ship the glass box, but can provide it for free to a good home to a local buyer. Those outside of the province I will ship the Baldric alone, without the box.
WWI 6th Dragoon Officer Sword Pattern 1912
A beautiful Regimentally marked 1912 Pattern Officer Cavalry Sword in great condition with its scabbard and sword knot. The Scabbard is in fine condition with very little wear. The hilt is in great condition with a tight shark skin wire wrapped grip. The Blade is brilliant and in very good condition with GRV cypher etched on one side and the regimental marking to the 6th Dragoons and the Inniskilling castle on the other. There is minor pitting on the sword tip. A fine example of this sword. Most from this period are plain making this a very desirable sword. Marked Wilkinson Sword.
1881 Canadian Militia Officer Scarlet Uniform C.18
Offered is the standard pattern Infantry Officer Tunic c.1881 to a Lieutenant. These uniforms are still the pattern of choice to this day for line infantry units who continue to wear full dress. The decorative cuffs were introduced with the 1869 tunic, but were simplified in the 1881 cut. They were still decorated in a manner that distinguishes the officers as either subalterns or field officer rank with more embellishments for the senior. The rank was moved from the collar to the shoulders in 1881 and the collars were simplified and left blank. The rank structure identification changed as a consequence of the move to the bullion shoulder boards. The uniform skirt was slightly shorter and the fit tighter to give a more tailored appearance, in tune with the attire of the day. The buttons on this tunic are Victorian and the collar dogs are not present, dating the uniform to the pre 1900 era. However, there are two cuts in the collar to receive collar dogs, probably done at a later date and showing no signs of being pierced without signs of any wear. Possibly done by a collector who did not understand that collars were not applied prior to 1901. There are no moth holes and the tunic is in overall good condition, including the liner. A nice example of a tunic pattern that was used during the 1885 rebellion. These uniforms were worn with gilt and crimson sword slings slung from a web belt under the tunic skirt with a crimson sash about the waist. These additional accoutrements can be found offered on this site if you want to complete the uniform for display. The white universal or blue home service pattern, 4 or 6 panel pith helmet was worn with this uniform. With the tunic having generic Militia buttons and no collar devices it can be attributed to any of the line infantry units, including grenadiers, light infantry and regiments of the line.
WWI 1908 Web Gear
Offered is a partial set of the 1908 web gear issued to commonwealth forces in WWI. The set includes the waist belt, cross straps, ammo pouches, small pack, mess tins, bayonet frog and bayonet, haft and the haft carrier. All in worn condition, Mostly dated items, not matched in colour and missing the shovel/carrier and canteen/straps. A good start at a complete set. You can find a shovel dated 1918 on this page, offered separately.
WWI poster
A really nice hard to find original WWI Canadian poster framed. Prefer to sell this locally framed to prevent damage. Call about delivery options before purchase.
Brigadier General James Munro Ross CMG, DSO, VD Pe
Offered is a collection of a CEF Brigadier General\'s personal affects from a family estate. BGen JM Ross CMG, DSO and Bar, Started the war as a volunteer from the Canadian Militia, Oxford Rifles and finished the war as the Brigade Commander of the 10th Brigade 4th Div. Originally he was a Maj with a Coy of the 29th Bn, CEF, and later took command of the Bn before his promotion to full Col and then BGen. His appointment as Brigade Commander 5th Brigade, 2nd Div, was 23 July, 1917. Before his promotion he was a Col on the Div Staff during Vimy Ridge. He was wounded in 1918 and reassigned GOC 10th Bde on his recovery. He received the DSO without citation twice as a new year award in 1917 and 1918. His CMG requires further research. Included in the collection is a gifted desk marble pen set with a plaque describing his service, his personal watch engraved with \"Major JM Ross, 29th Bn, 1914\", a standard pattern small pocket type used during the war with its special watch strap, and his various pieces of insignia. The insignia includes his 29th Bn Officers cap badge, maker marked with \"McCully, Vancouver, BC\", his Staff officer rank and cap badge when he served with Brigade staff, his various Brigadier General insignia. The General insignia includes his Generals cap badge, his shoulder rank and gorgets, his frock coat shoulder boards. A well respected and decorated officer who commanded one of the CEF best brigades during the First World War. Note: A Brigadier during the First World War wore general insignia and their rank was denoted by a single cross sword and baton shoulder rank, instead of the Second World War configuration. The set of General Officer gorgets are not shown in the picture, but are period pattern and construction.
Burbon Sword c.1815
Here we offer a beautiful example of a French Army spadroon of the post Napoleonic era. The style imitates the British pattern 1796, and yet has dainty features more common to the pillow sword of the late 18th century. With its simple wire wrapped grip, the steel hilt is provided a folding ornate shell guard featuring a raised grenade in front of the sun burst, the image repeated on the pommel, typical symbols of grenadiers and royalty. Could it have been used by a palace guard? The wire grip is a little loose, but it does not detract from the overall quality of the sword. The blade is in near mint condition with brilliant blue and gilding, highlighting crisp etched ornate decorative floral features along the blade. The scabbard is in very good condition with all of its steel parts, with only minor wear to the leather. A very fine and unique blade of the short-lived Burbon King.
1821 Infantry Sword British Import
During the conflicts in North America during the 19th century many Officers would purchase swords from England. These swords were made by some of England\'s top sword smiths and are always distinguished by the fact they contain none of the embellishments a British Officer would order, such as the hilt and blades containing the cypher of the reigning monarch. These swords also saw service in continental Europe as well, but were more often imported to America. The Confederates were often the biggest customers for these swords. This particular example is typical of an 1821 with its pipe back blade, the standard three bar hilt without a cypher. The hilt has the folding guard and the typical wire bound shark skin grip. The blade is in beautiful condition and is etched with floral and filigree designs. There is no coat of arms or cypher. This is a beautiful sword with an excellent scabbard with a rosette stud for a sword frog, instead of rings for sword slings. This meant the officer carrying the sword would wear a shoulder belt to carry the sword. This was a typical means of wear with US Army uniforms of the 1830s and 40s. I would date this sword of that period and would suggest if it did see American service it would be possibly during the early Indian Wars or the war with Mexico. There is no maker or distributor marks to confirm any of this speculation. A beautiful example.
1914 Equipment for MG Crew
Offered is a set of original 1914 equipment with some rare components, including the water bottle and carrier rig, belt, frog, holster and pistol ammo pouch, both with their integral buckles for the cross strap harness. The cross straps themselves appear to be reproductions. All in great condition, perfect for a British MG crew display.