Ebay Items
 

Was anyone watching or bidding on these items besides me?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=STRK :MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
This is amazing. I wonder if it was anyone one the forum that won these?

Robert

Robert

No offense but the selling prices are nuts whoever bought these two pieces got carried away big time. :shrug: I should try and see if these two bidders want my stuff and maybe I can retire and pay for college all at once :D At best they are worth half of what they went for and that is pushing it.

Lew

Someone has taken things to a new level . :rolleyes:

Haha...this is not the only funny thing this ebay seller has up for sale....check it out...some interesting fusion pieces....

I was noticing the tak, but I already have one. I have heard that the northern PI pieces were going up since Moro is so hot, but did not know that the tak would go for so much. Crazy. :confused:

We have all seen it before.
 

We all know it and we all have seen it before...all supply and demand and it will never end as the worlds population is not shrinking....

Gav

Also, every now and then a new collector appears carrying a heavy wallet and an unquenchable thirst . :rolleyes:

Now, Sellers love that stuff; us long time collectors ?

Not so much . :(

It's all good. Perhaps someone watching will say "Wow if they got that much for that; then maybe I can get more for the stuff in GrandMa's basement!!!" And woo-la some good forgotten stuff hits the streets, er airwaves um cyberspace oh heck ebay!!! :D

Jose, I am wondering if some of the interest in this piece was its length. At over 33" long, it is one of the longest ones I have ever seen and with a nice original scabbard as well.

I don't know about any body else but that was exactly why I was watching it and planned on bidding. It was almost seven inches longer than my longest one and as you said had its original scabbard.

Robert

I guess size does count? :D ;) Still you can pick up these swords at gun shows and for a lot less $$$$. The buyer has deep pockets but this trend I think will pass quickly once he acquires a few nice pieces.

"I guess size does count?" Yes, In this case it does. :D Finding one with this length of blade is like finding a barong with a 24 inch or longer blade. I surely had no idea of bidding on it though after the bidding started climbing like it did.

Robert

Extraordinary I have to agree with Lew. Okay one is rather long but both are not rare, every day things really and poor, very poor like some of the bad African stuff {sadly a have to admit there are some} I do not think it is a good thing. Rather like very common and nothing special or rare or craftsmanship kaskara, Kukri, dha, talwar and so many others just turn out to be a waste of money. perhaps I am just a sad old man. :shrug:

No Tim

You are a realist and a savy collector :) I just picked up that real nice Luzon bolo with silver fittings and I would consider that a special item due to the overall quality of the bolo and rarity of the silver. I paid half of what these more common(less rare)types went for and I still thought I overpaid. :shrug: Like I said before someone with a lot of cash and not too much experience in the collecting field I think? He will learn fast and realize not to throw his money away so easily.

Oh Louie, either post it or bring it to Baltimore. :D

I noticed the seller put "worldwide" for the listing. I am taking a wild guess here, but I am assuming the buyers of these weapons don't have gun shows or trade shows in their areas that have these common swords readily available. Which would drive the price "in their region" as opposed to stuff we can get here in the US. I notice prices on Moro weapons are higher in Europe compared to here as well.
:shrug:

Although these pieces did go for ridiculously higher than they should have been, I must say that Matulis is absolutely wonderful! The recurve on the blade is semi-reminiscent of a yataghan blade. (I'm not suggesting at all that this is the case, of course. Just noting that the shape of the blade is lovely)

In a semi-related issue, I would like to ask a question to the Luzon-area bolo knowledgables. I'm wondering about the use of woods for the handles. Were they exclusive to kamagong, or have any of you seen cases of Bahi/Palm wood used for hilts? It just occured to me, I've been seeing the use of Bahi escrima sticks more and more recently (with good reason, as kamagong is becoming more and more scarce. I bought a Bahi set myself once my Kamagong set broke) and was wondering if this is just because of the relative scarcity of Kamagong or if it was used for such purposes beforehand?

Here the pictures of the first one for later research.

And some more of the first sword.

And here the pictures of the second sword.