As we've reported, the top lot at George Kidner's Arms, Armour and Militaria auction is likely to be an interesting group of four early 19th Century miniature swivel guns.

These have multi-stage bronze cannon barrels 11 inches long including cascobels, with reinforcing rings and swollen muzzles, and are expected to bring £4,000 - £5,000 (around $8,100).

However, collectors who are more interested in the purer, more honourable associations of the sword are also in luck.

Basket hilted sword

A 17th Century English basket hilted sword is on offer with a slender single edged blade 33 inches long of asymmetric cross-section. The convex side has two small fullers marked 'Andrea Ferara', an orb and cross mark, and another mark stamped close to the hilt.

The flat side has a running wolf mark whilst the basket hilt is formed of flattened section bars with a bulbous pommel and replacement grip.

It goes into the auction on March 17^th with a £700- £1,000 ($1,600) listing, but is probably worth more, as is a George VI Military Cross which is cased and bears a later inscription to Lieutenant G.R. Miles, which if it sells for the expected few hundred pounds will be an excellent investment.