Studying antique arms and armour connects us to the people and events that shaped today’s world and, even though they are now obsolete, they retain powerful symbolism and, often, great artistic merit. This website aims to help educate those who wish to expand their knowledge regarding arms and armour, avoid forgeries, and learn how to care for and identify items.

I had a dream of being a dealer, but disability has prevented that, so I have converted this website into an educational one - if it proves useful then please consider supporting the work on Patreon or buying merchandise to help offset my costs.

You can read free articles here or connect with me on Instagram where I run @antique_steel. I’m proud to say that, over ten years, I authored the only English language source for Italian swords of the 1800s, so if you are interested in that fascinating part of sword history check out La Sciabola.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy your stay.

Latest Free Articles

Patreon

Helping the historical arms and armour community is a passion of mine, with this website growing over the years to reflect this. I’m proud that it now hosts many important free resources for beginners and veterans alike. Sadly, the hosting costs, the writing and researching of articles, the source-buying, and the illustration-making all require a lot of time and money, which, as a disabled person, can be hard to come by, so I recently established a Patreon to help out. On Patreon, supporters can play a vital role in communities that are otherwise overlooked, like this one. To become a patron head over to Patreon.

By becoming my patron and adding your support you get access to a growing archive of articles, interviews, case studies, competitions and guides. You can help out from as little as £1 (or $1) and there is no commitment involved. Your support will make a difference. For more details, and a full list of what’s currently in the archive, see here.

Highlights from the archive:

  • The Khanjarli Dagger: Why is it so Weird?

  • The Turbulent Story of Sword-Maker Charles Reeves

  • The Swords of Robert Mole and Sons of Birmingham

  • On Medieval Falchions by James Elmslie and Andy Johnston

  • Genuine or Forgery? A Collector's Guide to Chinese Swords by Andy Johnston

  • Case Study: Adding Value to an Antique Tulwar

  • Italian Gun-Swords: Colombo and Micheloni

  • The 1803 Pattern Sabre: The Best Sword Ever?

  • Case Study: Restoration of an Antique Jezail

  • The 1803 Pattern Sabre: The Best Sword Ever?

  • Exploring the Swords of Master and Commander

  • The Sword Patterns of the Honourable Artillery Company

  • The Firangi: a Sword Forged in Empires

  • Case Study: Cleaning an Antique Indian Sword

  • The Bosun’s Cosh: Hitting with Style in the Royal Navy

  • The 1908 Pattern and the 1912 Pattern Swords: The Best Cavalry Swords Ever Made?

  • Joseph Rodgers: The Best Fighting and Hunting Knives

  • Colt 1851 Navy Revolvers and British Service

  • The Infamous 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry Sabre

  • Arnachellum and the Mysterious Anglo-Indian Dagger Makers

  • British Weapons in the American Civil War

  • The Historical Use of Swords by the British Police

  • Antique Sword Collecting for Beginners: Tips and Secrets

  • Repairing Antique Sword Handles

  • Identifying African Swords

  • How to Etch Wootz Steel

  • Identifying Indian Daggers

Vertical Display Brackets

The perfect bracket for displaying a sword is invisible, cheap, and easy to use.

A heavy 19th century gladius, held by two brackets.

How Do They Work?

It’s simple! The bracket takes the sword’s weight, while the magnetic pull keeps it in place and allows the item to be removed and returned with ease.

A single bracket can hold some antique swords by itself, however, I recommend using at least two to ensure a secure attachment, and also because the sword will be held parallel to the wall, which is rather nice for aesthetic reasons!

Available designs:

  • Single. The most popular choice. These have a height of 45mm and come with 4 magnets. (£10 each.)

  • Double. An excellent solution for heavier items or wider blades. These have a height of 45mm and come with 8 magnets. (£18 each.)

  • Quad. An even more robust bracket, perfect for katars, pieces of armour, and so on. These are 19mm high, with deep recesses to accommodate medial ridges and lenticular blades. (£20 each.)

From left to right: Single, Double, Quad.

The brackets are 3D-printed and, if you don’t want to drill holes in your walls, then Command Strips can be used as a substitute. All colours are available. To see the brackets in action, please see the gallery, and the video review by Dlatrex on YouTube.

UK postage is free and global postage is available at cost price.

If you would like to make a purchase, simply send me a message via the contact form or hit the button below.

Gallery

A kind video review of the early form of bracket, from the Dlatrex YouTube channel.

The Obligatory Health and Safety Warning

Neodymium magnets can cause injuries if ingested. Keep them out of reach of children and pets and always keep them at least 15cm away from any item that can be damaged by the forces of magnetism such as, but not limited to, electrical goods, watches, medical items (for example, pacemakers) and things like credit cards. It is your responsibility to research the safe usage of magnets and to follow the safety rules for them. Please note that some airports de-magnetise items during importation so you might need to replace the magnets that are included. I recommend using these as they fit the brackets’ rear apertures of 10.5mm by 10.5mm and can be stacked for extra strength. In the unlikely event that you’re allergic to polylactic acid or the nickel that coats the magnets then please use these brackets with caution or not at all. The brackets are designed to display items vertically only. Ensure you use enough brackets to safely retain any item displayed.