Ian Cummins Collection - Antique Arms, Vintage Watche

Lot 3973    Session 15 (7.30pm Thursday 24 November)    Ian Cummins Collection - Antique Arms, Vintage Watches

Estimate $60,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

PRESENTATION SWORD AND SCABBARD TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM RADCLIFFE, a unique and extremely important sabre with silver hilt and handle, 79cm blade by Wilkinson, London, HW stamped and recessed with a six-pointed star, etched with scrolls and Queen Victoria crown, initials VR outside hilt, inside hilt design features the Southern Cross in blue enamel with PRO.ARIS.ET.FOCIS in red enamel around, emus and kangaroos in high relief to side, the figure of Britannia standing, holding a shield forms the handle; silver scabbard with elaborate scroll overlays and suspension rings, base impressed 'W.Edwards/Manufacturer/Melbourne/1862', emu to left, kangaroo to right, engraved, 'Presented to/Captain William Radcliffe/by the/Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Privates/of the/Carlton Rifles/Melbourne, Victoria/September 1864' (Radcliffe's original sword blade was used); together with Victorian Rifle Association, gold medal (32mm, 13.8g) with loop mount, suspender bars and ribbon, obverse inscribed, 'Victorian Rifle Association 1st Jany.1861' and on reverse, 'Grand Match/between the thirty best/Victorian Volunteers/shooting at the match/10 rounds each 600 yards/Prize won by/Captain Radcliffe/Carlton Rifles/7 points', in Walsh & Sons, Melbourne case of issue, outside of case gold blocked, 'Gold Medal/of the/Victorian Rifle Association First Meeting'; also included is Radcliffe's Whitworth target rifle, 1864, straight bore barrel (83cm), 57cal bore, iron sights mounted on front with screw adjuster, rear iron sights adjustable for 500-1000 yards, checked pattern around trigger and under barrel, ram rod with hole to take cleaning patches, brass cap under muzzle end of fore grip, checked pattern impressed in trigger guard rear, metal butt plate, cap receptacle inside stock on right hand side, Whitworth maker's mark on lock plate under and behind percussion hammer, hallmarks on left hand side on base of barrel, Birmingham proof and view marks (in very good condition). Fine - very fine and of great historical colonial Australian significance. (4)

Captain William Radcliffe, born 1831, was the first unit commander of the Carlton Rifles in 1860. In December the same year he won the Governor Barkly prize at an intercompany rifle shooting competition. When the Victorian Rifle Association held its first shooting match at Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) in 1861 he won the gold medal against the thirty best Victorian Volunteers. He was unit commander of the Carlton Rifles as a major 1870-1874. William Radcliffe died in Christchurch, New Zealand on 3 March 1879.

William Edwards, a manufacturing gold and silversmith by descent, was born in England and arrived in Australia aboard the 'Blanche Moore' in July 1857. He is first listed in the business directories at 129 Collins Street, Melbourne in 1859. He exhibited at the International Exhibition Melbourne of 1861 and the International Colonial Exhibition Melbourne in 1866, went into partnership with Alexander Kaul in 1873, opening retail premises as Edwards & Kaul, 1874 to c1890, and manufacturing premises at 5 Collins Street West in 1876.

Please note: If you wish to view or purchase this item you will be required to produce a current gun or driver's licence to staff.

No mail out for this lot, collection only from the Sydney Office.