Karabela :-)

[ariel]

Just ended.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150380746612&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_720wt_1167
Well, the Ottoman blade is good. The handle is a recent garage job, and the crossguard is from a Sudanese Kaskara.
Expensive dog's breakfast....
Question: does the blade alone justify the price?

[Lew]

Nope too much money for a composite sword.

[Bryan.H]

Although I like the blade, I don't pay mugs prices for edged weapons. If I wanted to fork out that kind of cash, I'd go to an antique/ militaria dealer that charges over inflated prices! But I rarely buy from dealers, and pick up edged weapons from sellers who have either no idea what they are selling, or antique dealers who are out of their depth with edged weapons and under-price their goods. For that price, in U.S. dollars, I'd pick up 5 or six swords of better quality over a 12 - 18 month period. :)

e.g I recently picked up a good 18th Century Kyber knife, excellent condition (However the Scabbard was original but very worn, missing chape), for $60.00 AUD. More modern examples go for $1200 US +. It's amazing what you can find if you spend a bit of time looking! I got it cheap because the seller spelt Khyber as 'Kaiba', so it didn't show up in search engines or alphabetically in the printed auction catalogue.

[Jeff D]

I vote nope!

The blade is a altered medium grade mass produced tulwar blade. The hilt is as stated, a mess.

Jeff

[ariel]

I vote nope!

The blade is a altered medium grade mass produced tulwar blade. The hilt is as stated, a mess.

Jeff

It is wootz, though...

[stephen wood]

...that's where the kaskara crossguards go ;)

[Jeff D]

It is wootz, though...

The quality is not up to the wootz persian trade blades, but, better than the run of the mill mechanical blades. I suspect the spine of the blade has been ground off to accentuate the yelman.


Jeff

[ariel]

Picky, picky... :-)
I think the wootz is quite good and the blade was not altered. The rest, though, as we say.... Ugh!
As to where kaskara crossguards go, I am wondering where do kilij crossguards go? I am still looking for one...

[Jeff D]

Maybe I am getting too paranoid, but, the lines of the blade look off to me? Here are some of the images for the record.

Jeff

[Atlantia]

Just echoing everyones sentiments really.
Blade looks reprofiled, overall an uncomfortable marriage at a premium price.