THE WORKMANSHIP IS NICE, THE TWO FANCY SILVER FITTINGS ON THE HANDLE AND THE FANCY BRASS OR GOLD EYE ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE USUAL OLD KAMPILLIAN DECORATIONS. I HAD BID ON ONE WITH A FANCY ENGRAVED DESIGN ON A METAL PLATE ON ITS GAURD ON EBAY WITHIN THE LAST YEAR BUT FAILED TO GET IT. ANOTHER MEMBER GOT IT PERHAPS HE WILL ENLIGHTEN US AS TO IF IT IS NEW OR OLD. I HAVE SEEN THAT TYPE OF DAMMAGE ON ANTIQUED BLADES FROM BORNEO, THEY WERE TREATED WITH STRONG ACID WHICH RUINS A NICE BLADE WEATHER OLD OR NEW. IF YOU AQUIRE ONE IN FUTURE YOU MIGHT TRY SOME LITMUS PAPER ON IT BEFORE YOU CLEAN IT(PUT A LITTLE WATER ON A CRUDDY SPOT AND MIX IT AROUND WITH A BRUSH AND THEN APPLY THE PAPER). IF THE LITMUS TURNS FAST YOU CAN BE PRETTY SURE ACID WAS USED. YOU STILL MIGHT TRY IT JUST IN CASE SOME ACID REMAINS. THE ART OF ANTIQUING SWORDS AND OTHER ARTEFACTS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD IS VERY GOOD AND OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT TO DETECT. THE MUSEUMS USED TO LOOK ON WOODCARVINGS AND WICKER WORK FROM NEW GUINEA AND OTHER REGIONS FOR THE SHELLS OF A CERTIAN TYPE OF BUG TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS AUTHENTIC. THE PRODUCERS FOUND OUT SO STARTED MAKEING SURE TO LEAVE THEIR WORK IN A SUITABLE ENVIORNMENT FOR A SUFFICENT TIME TO ALLOW THE BUGS TO DO THEIR WORK. CARVEINGS ARE ALSO SMOKED STAINED WITH VARIOUS CONCOCTIONS AND BURIED, MOST ANYTHING ORGANIC CAN BE EASILY ANTIQUED IF YOU KNOW HOW. THE CHINESE ARE THE MOST ADEPT AT MAKEING PATINAS ON BRONZE AND BRASS ITEMS.
I LIKE KAMPILLIANS AND DON'T MIND GETTING A MORE RECENT WELL MADE ONE IF ITS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I HAVE BUT WOULD PREFER TO HAVE ITS CORRECT AGE AND A UNDAMMAGED BLADE.
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