When Good Can Be Very Bad

Nice post and collage, Glen. The seller is careful to never say it is an antique, but words the description so that one would assume that it is being sold as an original. He has a few items that appear to be genuine, so psychologically this may suggest to potential buyers that everything the seller is offering is legitimate. Antiques collectors would do well to stay current on the replica market.

He had a fake Wilkinson F-S fighting knife that had reached about $1200 the last time I checked (180335728403). I know next to nothing about F-S knives, but I do know a bit about etching, and how to spell Wilkinson (not "WILKNSON", as on his example).

Beware the purple sheet.

It is used by several seller IDs.

I would not be surprised if shill bidding was used to get the price that high.

Amazing what a little elbow grease and ingenuity will get you; it is as much an art form to hornswoggle as it is to haggle...the process used to make that blade look aged could not have been a single night affair. At least, I wouldn't think so.

I once bought a blade that the seller could not authenticate, but swore that it was in fact, an antique. I have yet to have it appraised simply because even to my untrained eye, it looks like it may have sat out for years and rusted. Maybe I'll post some pics, get some other eyes on it.

eBay may have the occasional rare find but by and large, I see it as a den full of thieves, crooks and wide eyed unsuspecting sheeple. Perfect stomping ground for the coward in wolf's clothing! LOL

I saw this too - and groaned. I have also talked to sellers (individuals) who are unaware what they brought a year or more ago is not real. Best conversation went something like ME: "well have a look at the throat of the sword, do you see the number? SELLER: yes, now I can. ME: Well if this is a repro like I have been telling you the number there will be O 836. SELLER .... ..mmmm ME: is it O 836? SELLER: click (disconnect).

No pretense this time, they'd rather you would just give him $895 plus shipping. This is another that could easily fool the unwary.

180344237221

stores.ebay.com/History-Relics

In my opinion of this example, he has given up even trying to make it difficult to discern the truth. Should have picked up the wet dry after the oxidation, not before

Mebbe I'll try my look with this cutlass.




Cheers

Hotspur; but then, there are some great items and sellers


Just buy this one please and save me from the creditors Yum, yum, yum

thanks hotspur and Odingaard Saebryn for pointing out these sellars it ticks me off that these idiots are allowed to get away this. thats one reason why i joined this forum is because of the people here who do know about bladed weapons and can give you advice about alot of different areas

The seller uses a purple sheet as a background for his photos. I think he may have recently switched to another color--blue, I think(?).

stores.ebay.com/History-Relics

Another newly made (faked) spadroon fecthed $921

180353143605

Another I just saw listed today and perhaps removed or sold was a reproduction Ames cavalry sword. If I chance on it again (ah, here it is), I'll post the auction number. There are several more sold items via selection of such on Ebay. The big thing is to know what you are looking at. Although there have been many 1862 Chicopee Ames reproductions listed as authentic, any that have spent time at all looking at originals should be able to spot the false marks. There is no but the truly gullible that should not see the problems (as with the spadroons). $203 and climbing. Private auctions are also a real caveat but sometimes for a reason meant well. The aging treatment on this fellow are getting even more obvious but if someone is interested in Ames marks, the internet is an open oyster for any wanting to know the truths.

120423796206

If you look at that site's photos and the root of the page hosting them, maybe it will seem more clear. Here is their other seller name.
shop.ebay.com/merchant/historyrelics

Enjoy

Hotspur; I can only truly chuckle but have to sympathize other's easy traps that could be avoided pretty simply

I'd have to say though that it is more a matter of wanting to believe a bargain. As with both the spadroons somewhat endless quantity, the cavalry sword is just horribly and badly marked.

These same truths hold water in regarding the Chinese katana floods. Some will fetch fantastic levels for the same reason of not doing any research, or feeling they might get a bargain.

Fortunately, there are buckets of genuinly antique swords out there. Unfortunately, most will not even broach the possibility of putting the two words "antique swords" into an internet search.

Even good old stuff can smell funny and yet still seem appealing. They are generally priced accordingly due to lack of information or possible reworks. I'm champing at the bit as I type, as UPS is supposed to deliver today. A known problem dagger that I spent for in more serious inquiry I can only investigate in hand. Another fellow remarked just yesterday that he is not sure if he is duped about a piece, yet I mentioned my jealousy at not buying it and having watched it for some months. Sometimes odd old stuff is just neat (subjectively). Wither's has a flock of stuff I watch.
www.britishmilitaryswords.co.uk/swords.html Gimme, gimme, gimme

Still, only those with disposable money and truly unknowing should have bid on some swords I have posted of.

Cheers

Hotspur; yo Jonathan, check out Salter's deal of the day

www.joesalter.com/listings.php?f_qrycat=Swords