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Japanese armour or domaru, Nambu, Japan, 16th century

The armour was presented to King James VI and I in 1613 as a gift from the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada, by Captain Saris of the East India Company.

Elephant armour or bargustavan-i-pil, South Asia, 17th to 18th century

This armour was probably made around the 17th century, but it is difficult to say exactly where or for whom. The plate and mail structure was most widely used in northern and central India, particularly in Muslim states. However, the peacock, lotus bloom and fish motifs embossed on the larger panels may indicate it was made or used in an area which maintained at least some frameworks of Hindu belief and reference.

Portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V by Peter Paul Rubens, Belgium 1603-5

The portrait was probably painted in about 1603-5 during Rubens's first visit to the Spanish Court of King Phillip II, son of Charles and his successor to the Spanish throne.

Burgonet, Augsburg, Germany, about 1600

The helmet's delicate decoration of embossed designs featuring bunches of fruit and flowers, interspersed with birds and insects and fire-gilded copper panels in the form of a variety of Classical figures and trophies of arms, made it unsuitable to be worn on the battlefield. Instead it was designed for parades and other ceremonial occasions where its beauty proclaimed the power, wealth and culture of the wearer.

Armour for a boy, probably Henry Prince of Wales, Netherlands, about 1607

The armour is decorated with the story of the campaigns of Alexander the Great, and was presented as a gift in 1608 to the eldest son of James I, Prince Henry, who died in 1612 at the age of 18.

Ge or dagger axe and scabbard, China, about 4th century BC

An axe head of bronze with a lacquered wooden scabbard painted with swirling, smoke-like depictions of running animals, birds, and men armed with spears. From the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC).

Smith & Wesson Centrefire six-shot revolver model 29, USA, about 1989

Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver was commissioned by the Royal Armouries from Tiffany & Co. in the late 1980s. It took more than 400 hours of craftsmanship to complete. Tiffany & Co. of New York were renowned for their creation of arms, swords and pistols decorated in the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau styles.

Hunting spear, France or Italy, about 1610

A French or Italian hunting spear with silver, gold, and copper decoration possibly by the Florentine goldsmith Gasparo Mola.

Centrefire automatic rifle, Kalashnikov AK,  Russia, 1953

This assault rifle was captured by US Army Captain Gregory P. Dillon of '1/7' Air Cavalry, during the Battle of Bong Son in 1966. Realising that it might be commandeered for other purposes, he cut his name and unit designation into the rifle's butt-stock. Indeed, some time later the weapon was taken from him for use in a special operation. It was not until 2012 that the weapon's significance was rediscovered and contact made with Greg Dillon. The retired Colonel was amazed - he had not seen the rifle in more than 40 years.

‘Mortuary’ Sword, Britain, mid-17th century

This example is of special interest as it is associated with Oliver Cromwell, being reputedly carried by him during the notorious storming of Drogheda in September 1649. It bears marks from, supposedly, two musket balls and several nicks to the edge of the blade, said to be acquired during the assault on the town. The sword was donated to the Royal United Service Museum by a relative of Cromwell at some point in or before 1848, and acquired by the Royal Armouries in 1963.