Top 5 most expensive antique weapons

Paul Fraser Collectibles takes a look at the top 5 most expensive antique weapons to have sold at auction

This week, we take a look at the five most expensive antique weapons to have ever sold at auction, from George Washington's pistols to Napoleon's sword...

5) General Ulysses S Grant's Civil War presentation sword - $1.6m

This sword was presented to the future president, General Ulysses S Grant by the citizens of Kentucky in 1864, upon his promotion to "General in Chief of the Armies of the United States".

$1.6m sword presented to Ulysses S Grant

The sword, which features 26 mine cut diamonds composed to form Grant's monogram "U.S.G.", was sold for $1.6m in June 2007.

4) Pair of Nicolas-Noel Boutet pistols owned by Simon Bolivar - $1.76.m

In November 2004, a pair of flintlock pistols made by Nicolas-Noel Boutet sold for $1.76m by Christie's, New York.

Simon Bolivar's pistols sold for $1.76m in 2004

The pistols were once owned by Simon Bolivar (1783-1830), the first president of Venezuela, and one of the most influential politicians in the history of Latin America.

3) Pair of steel-mounted "saddle" pistols owned by George Washington - $1.96m

This pair of pistols, marked by Jacob Walster, were owned by President George Washington during America's War of Independence.

George Washington's $1.96m pistols

The pistols, which were also linked to the Marquis de Lafayette and later, Andrew Jackson, sold for $1.96m at a Christie's auction in New York in 2002.

They were purchased by the Richard King Mellon Foundation and are currently on display at Fort Ligonier in Pennsylvania.

2) Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan's gold dagger - $2.72m

Bonhams in London sold a gold dagger which was owned by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal, for £1.7m ($2.72m) in April 2008.

£1.7m gold dagger owned by Shah Jahan

The dagger, which dates back to 1629-30, came from the collection of Jacques Desenfans, who spent 50 years collecting south-east Asian, Indian and Islamic art.

1) Gold encrusted sword used by Napoleon Bonaparte - $6.5m

The most expensive antique weapon to have ever sold at auction is a gold encrusted sword which was used by Napoleon Bonaparte in battle around 200 years ago.

The sword brought €4.8m ($6.5m) against a €1.2m pre-sale estimate at an auction in Fontainebleau, France in 2007.

It is thought that the sword was used by Napoleon in battle at Marengo in June 1800, before he became emperor.

Recent and related articles

Great Prussian militaria charges into German auctions next month | 7 March 2012

Leonard Reedy rifle shoots to the top of antique firearms auction | 6 March 2012

Ottoman gold-inlaid kard dagger will be a high point of vast spring militaria auction | 3 March 2012

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Images: Heritage Auctions, Christie's, Bonhams