Learn about and understand the items, manufacturers, designers and periods as well as the specialist terms used in describing antiques and collectables. Either click one of the letters below to list the items beginning with that letter, or click on a category on the left side of the screen to list the items under that category.

Brown Bess Musket

The Brown Bess musket was a type of flintlock musket that was widely used by the British military during the 18th and early 19th centuries. It was so named because of its dark brown barrel. The musket was made with a smooth bore barrel and it was designed to fire a round lead ball.

The Brown Bess was used by British soldiers in many conflicts including the American Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. It was a reliable and accurate weapon, and it played a significant role in the British military's success in these conflicts. It was used by the British military for many years, and it was eventually replaced by more advanced weapons in the mid-19th century. The musket was also used by many other countries and colonies, such as the American colonies before the Revolution, and it was also used by the French and Spanish armies.

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Cutlass

A short single edged sword with a flat wide, slightly curved blade. The cutlass is associated with pirates, who used it frequently in their sea raids, during the "Golden Age of Piracy" from around 1650 to 1720. The cutlass was adopted as the standard sword by the English, French, and American armed forces, from 18th century well into first half of 20th century.

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Derringer Pistols

A Derringer pistol is a small, pocket-sized handgun that typically has a single barrel and is designed to hold only one or two rounds of ammunition. The name "Derringer" is often used generically to refer to any small, pocket-sized handgun, but it is most properly used to refer to the specific designs created by the Derringer family of gun makers in the 19th century. Derringer pistols are known for their compact size, making them easy to conceal, but they also have relatively low accuracy and power due to their short barrels.

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Kris

A small kris with pistol grip handle, lacquered snake shaped blade and fine wooden sheath.

A kris is a traditional dagger with a wavy blade, associated with Indonesia, but also found in Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore.

It is considered to be both a weapon and a spiritual object, and krises are often considered to posses magical powers.

The kris has three parts: the handle, the sheath and the blade, and each can possess special characteristics that enhance its value and appeal to collectors.

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Kukri

The kukri is a knife or small sword, with an inward curving blade used by the Nepalese both as a weapon, a tool and in ceremonies. It is the traditional weapon of the Gurkha soldiers. They are usually about 40 cm long, but a sacrificial kukri was sold in Sydney in 2013 that was 73 cm long.

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