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Post by TheNewDavout on Apr 3, 2013 1:54:13 GMT
Trolling ebay recently, I came across this: cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... ink:top:en I'm curious, what are some good ways to spot fake antiques, or by the same token, real ones? This is one area of sword-nerdness that I'm not very knowledgeable on, and I would love to hear from the collectors and experts of this board. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2013 14:55:22 GMT
Hello good sir,
That one looks very legit, An IX for officers were not under strict regulations so there are many different types of them, with some subtleties on the guard and fittings like this one. What's worse is that the model was also copied by Dutch, Italian, German and Russian sword makers even after the Nap wars.
The one thing that triggers my attention is why the outer langet is cut by one of the branches. Peculiar stuff that...makes me wonder if this might be one of those made by and for the German states but definitely not French.
Still The overall quality and shape may indicate it is a real one or a very very well made copy worth its share of gold.
Some tips to spot fakes:
Blade: check for the quality of the blade, engravings patterns, shape of the tip and of ricasso.
Scabbard: the shape of the drag
Handle and guard: quality and finish of the fittings. The cruder they look, the faker they are.
Always good to ask for the dimensions, POB and weight. A Napoleonic sword, for example, with a 9-10’’ POB and weighting 2000gr would be just a total fake.
I submitted a review some time ago of an Indiamart made AN IX for officers. Study the different type of engraving on the blade, leather quality and wire pattern of that sword; usually that is the standard model that gets around as the fake.
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Post by TheNewDavout on Apr 3, 2013 19:06:28 GMT
Thanks for the advice, sadly, I'm not in a position to purchase this one, but it sparked some curiosity.
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