#1 • A Remarkable And Historic Siege Weight English Civil War Period Blackened And Painted Burgonet

Part of The Ray Howser Firearms Collection, 1931-2026 (timed auction by Lewis & Grant Auctions)

Starting at $1,500.00

Status: Available

Live bidding starts Nov 20, 2026 10:00 AM EST

One Piece Skull Burgonet. Weight: 12.5 pounds. The well formed skull in one piece. The rivets with possibly period gold paint. The apex of the skull with gold star. Both earflaps are original to the burgonet. Rolled brim and neck lame. Of very good quality throughout. The Interior with 19th century paper label identifying the burgonet as “FROM APETHORPE HALL (PALACE) , NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SAID TO HAVE BEEN WORN BY CAPTAIN SPENCER (ACTUALLY THOMAS?) STANDISH KILLED IN MANCHESTER 1642”. There is some confusion about Captain Standish’s first name and a 19th century misunderstanding is not unusual. The fact that Apethorpe is referred to as a “Hall” rather than the “Palace” it has been since owned by King Henry VIII increases the probability that the label’s author made an error. Captain Standish was at the siege of Manchester deployed with Royalist forces neat Salford Bridge when he was shot dead by a Parliamentary sniper on the top of Manchester Collegiate Church in September of 1642, This wonderful helmet is in untouched condition and whether it was Captain Standish’s or not, remains a superb relic of the English Civil War.