The Achievement of Arms

The Coat of Arms, hand painted into record at the College of Arms was nearly as you see above. The golden shield was exactly as above, and not the more ornate version seen on what we have been using. The feathers were also absent in the register but are noted in the description. As is the helmet itself, though the wreath and scimitar were present. These omissions in the painting were only because of a lack of space in the register. We were not permitted to take a photograph inside the College of Arms but Monty took down detailed notes of the differences.

Absent entirely from the College of Arms were the canons, banners, and other armaments that surround the shield. These are as Prof. Williams aptly described ‘a confection’ have now been confirmed as much.

On a subsequent visit to create photography for the Proof House website Monty identified that our actual coat of arms was already on display on the left hand side of the letters patent in the Court Room at the London Proof House.

The image above, and the arms we are now using as a working logo, is a photograph of the letters patent version in the Court room at the Proof House. You’ll notice that feathers and gold frame have a slightly washed-out appearance towards the bottom. This is where it was otherwise impossible to remove the influence of light on the glass over the letters when they were photographed.

We think you’ll agree it is an exceptional reproduction, at no-cost, that scales up and down brilliantly for use on our formal written material like proposer and sponsor forms. Most importantly it forms the basis of our soon to be launched new website. Where this coat of arms will become our new logo, and where its colours and form will influence the visual identity of the Company for years to come.

It’s our ultimate intention to use the Achievement of Arms as recorded at the College of Arms as our working logo, and that our ornate logo will continue to be used for ceremonial purposes.

The formal description of our Coat of Arms:

Argent two flintlock muskets crossed in saltire between in chief the monograms GP and in base V both royally crowned to the dexter a barrel of gunpower to the sinister three round shot all proper.

Crest on a wreath argent and gules a panache of ostrich feathers argent issuant therefrom a dexter arm in armour sable garnished or embowed the hand holding a scimitar proper

The mantling argent a gules.