LightNews LightNews
banner
matthewforde.bsky.social
@matthewforde.bsky.social
120 followers 84 following 51 posts
⚔️Historical arms and armour writer.
📖Author of La Sciabola: 19th Century Italian Swords.
👇Educational articles, free guides and more.
Www.fordemilitaryantiques.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted
aicarms.bsky.social
Sword Hanger https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117046/
George F. Harding Collection
September 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
Another original Wilkinson Sword print. Support the work on Patreon and unlock a large archive of guides, tips, reviews and articles.
www.patreon.com/matthewforde

Visit the website for free resources:
www.fordemilitaryantiques.com

#antiques #history #heritage #swords #skystorians #swordtember #🗃️
September 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted
aicarms.bsky.social
Shirt of Mail https://www.artic.edu/artworks/118545/
This European Shirt of Mail is a short sleeved shirt of mail, of iron links, formed of fairly small riveted rings throughout; the shirt is open down the front for its entire length; at the back is a slit from the bottom almost up to the center; clean with some losses at edges, the mail lacks its collar. George F. Harding Collection
August 31, 2025 at 6:49 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A Scottish claymore presentation sword, from an original illustration by Wilkinson Sword.

🗃️ #swordtember #swords #history #britishhistory #heritage #metalwork #weaponry
A vintage or antique illustration of a Scottish sword hilt and scabbard. The silvered guard has a red material liner and the scabbard has gold mounts.
August 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted
shipwreckspod.bsky.social
New episode! The Sinking of the Lusitania - Part 1. The beautiful luxury ship of the Cunard Line was torpedoed by German submarine U-20 in 1915, in the midst of World War I. Part 1 of a 2 part series.

www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com/84

#history #maritimehistory #skystorians #Lusitania #podcast
The Sinking of RMS Lusitania - Part 1
The Lusitania was a luxury passenger liner of the Cunard Line, launched in Scotland in 1906. She was torpedoed by German submarine U-20 in 1915.
www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com
August 26, 2025 at 12:01 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A special presentation sword by Wilkinson.

Join Patreon to unlock an archive of guides, reviews and articles. www.patreon.com/matthewforde

Visit the website for free resources:
www.fordemilitaryantiques.com

#antiques #history #heritage #royalcollection #museum #historical #swords #coronation
August 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted
patrickkapty.bsky.social
Helmet with vajra sword crest
Japan
17th century

#samurai #helmet #vajra #Japan #japaneseantiques
#17thcentury #antique #art #metalsmithing #metalart #metalcraft #japanesearts
July 31, 2025 at 1:31 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A close-up of the bowl-shaped guard of a British cavalry officer's sword. Pattern 1912.

#militaryhistory #swords #britishhistory #cavalry #antique #henrywilkinson
A sword guard, up close. The guard is steel and the handle is shagreen, in grey.
August 23, 2025 at 4:42 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
Some of the sentences and crimes of inmates in Beaumaris Gaol. Harsh or fair?

#historians #historical
August 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
Shares appreciated!

My first FREE article has just been published on my Patreon! The Dark History of Beaumaris Gaol explores a 19th century prison on the ancient isle of Anglesey.

www.patreon.com/matthewforde

Visit the website:
www.fordemilitaryantiques.com
#history #heritage #museum #historical
A 19th century prison entrance. Thick stone and iron bars. Looking down, cast iron stairs and tight walkways. Outside, the Gaol looks rather pleasant: green grass and clean brickwork. The whipping room!
August 19, 2025 at 9:06 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
New article available for patrons - Nino Bixio: Italy's Angriest Swordfighter.

Www.patreon.com/matthewforde

#history #swords #storia #risorgimento #sabre #garibaldi #bixio #imille
A sepia portrait of an Italian general named Bixio - he leans against a pillar and wears military uniform.
August 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
Check out the exceptional, stormy pattern-welded blade on the antique sword I just posted in this video.

Support the work on Patreon and access the large archive of articles:
www.patreon.com/matthewforde

Visit the website for free resources:
www.fordemilitaryantiques.com

#swords #weapons #history
July 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A nice example of a proper Indian fighter's historical sword, probably from the 1700s. A simple, but well made hilt, coupled with a beautifully pattern-welded blade.

Patreon archive:
www.patreon.com/matthewforde

Free resources:
www.fordemilitaryantiques.com

#india #heritage #history #tulwar
A steel Indian sword with a wide pommel can be seen against a wooden floor.
July 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
My first YouTube video! There is still a lot to be refined and learned but, if you love history then hopefully you will enjoy it.

youtu.be/kaJM7Zw3-r4

#history #daggers #hunting #victoriana #militaria #empire #india #salem #arnachellum
A YouTube thumbnail, showing an antique hunting dagger with a steel blade and antler handle.
July 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A Sumatran shield called a peurise teumaga. This is more of a buckler, and likely later in date than some sources claim. It's heavy, cast.

#shields #armsandarmor #swords #history #weaponry #heritage
A brass (copper alloy) shield from Sumatra. It's round with seven bosses circled by star motifs.
May 11, 2025 at 8:16 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
I'm pretty much banned on IG now, so here is a favourite sword from the Royal Armouries - a 1560-dated killic. The fine details and crucible steel blade were beautiful to behold.

Patreon goodies:
www.patreon.com/matthewforde

Free resources:
www.fordemilitaryantiques.com

#swords #history #heritage
An historical gold inlaid sword hilt in a museum cabinet. A scabbard mounting with inlays. Crucible steel patterns, swirling.
May 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
An early basket-hilted backsword, a swept-hilt rapier, a main gauche dagger, and a gorgeous cup-hilted rapier.

Support the work on Patreon and access the large archive of articles:
www.patreon.com/matthewforde

#sword #swords #history #heritage #metasucks #historical
An antique sword on a red background in the Royal Armouries Museum. An antique rapier on a red background in the Royal Armouries Museum. An antique dagger on a red background in the Royal Armouries Museum. An antique sword on a red background in the Royal Armouries Museum.
April 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
Several antique Victorian swords patterns - 1821, 1845, 1857, 1897.

#swords #weaponry #history #heritage #hoplology
Four sword hits in a cabinet, against a white background. Two are gilded brass and two are steel.
April 12, 2025 at 2:10 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
Likely from the 1600s or 1700s, this Indian dagger has a crucible steel wavy blade and an ivory handle with silver flowers.

Support the work on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/matthewforde

#dagger #sword #antiques #armsandarmor #indianhistory #mughal #weaponry #history #antiquities
An unusually shaped dagger-hilt can be seen against a white background. It has a beige handle and silver flower.
March 11, 2025 at 9:43 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A new Patreon article is now available, looking at the famous Birmingham sword maker Charles Reeves. #history #swords #birmingham #englishhistory #heritage

www.patreon.com/matthewforde
A variety of Victorian adverts and images associated with Charles Reeves.
March 5, 2025 at 9:53 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A new display for this original Colt 1851 Pistol. The stand was from an old monitor and I 3D printed a magnetic interface and plaque for it.

#3dprinting #samcolt #heritage #history #gunpowder #historians #museums #revolvers #19thc #victorian
An antique pistol is held up by a black plastic stand.
February 11, 2025 at 9:09 PM
matthewforde.bsky.social
An interesting historical fake, found during my research into Giuseppe Garibaldi's swords. It's meant to be Garibaldi, wounded after the Battle of Aspromonte, and seen with an Austrian sword - but it isn't him, alas, it is an actor. Sources often cite this as genuine.

#history #swords #italy #sabre
An actor, posing as Giuseppe Garibaldi, wounded after the Battle of Aspromonte.
February 7, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Reposted
openculture.bsky.social
A Hypnotic Look at How Japanese Samurai Swords Are Made
A Hypnotic Look at How Japanese Samurai Swords Are Made
Paper, books, wooden joints, tea whisks — Japanese culture has, for seemingly all of its long recorded history, greatly esteemed the making of objects.
www.openculture.com
February 4, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Reposted
aicarms.bsky.social
Gun Shield https://www.artic.edu/artworks/106394/
George F. Harding Collection
January 27, 2025 at 8:40 AM
matthewforde.bsky.social
A fine steel Persian axehead I cleaned up for a collector. Likely from the early 1800s, this showed a facetted shaft, carved blades and an interesting pattern welding to the steel.

#axes #antiques #weapons #history #armsandarmor #heritage #persia #hoplology #axe #ax #antiqueweaponry
A crescent-shaped all-steel axehead, photographed against a blurred background. The head shows carved Arabic script.
January 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM