Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Battara · 3rd January 2013, 02:55 AM

I once came to a Sulu kris, but the dealer told me it was a Zulu sword brought back from the Boer Wars of South Africa. He mentioned that he got it from the grandson of the officer who once owned it.

I immediately gave him a lesson in what it really was. His partner laughed his head off, having warned the dealer about his stories 10 minutes before and that some one will one day catch him. Guess I was that some one.

On another occassion, I corrected another dealer about his $1000 "African" spear being a Moro spearhead, with documentation.

Moral of the story: story does not mean squat. Their so called expertise also doesn't mean squat. I rarely if ever buy anything unless I have researched it first and have some knowledge. Although this does not guarantee that you won't be scammed, it does lower the odds considerably. I have been burned 3 times in my collecting, all of them because I didn't have my homework done. Also listen to your gut as well.

You did well in the scenario that you described. Keep up the good work.

3rd January 2013, 02:55 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,143	I once came to a Sulu kris, but the dealer told me it was a Zulu sword brought back from the Boer Wars of South Africa. He mentioned that he got it from the grandson of the officer who once owned it. I immediately gave him a lesson in what it really was. His partner laughed his head off, having warned the dealer about his stories 10 minutes before and that some one will one day catch him. Guess I was that some one. On another occassion, I corrected another dealer about his $1000 "African" spear being a Moro spearhead, with documentation. Moral of the story: story does not mean squat. Their so called expertise also doesn't mean squat. I rarely if ever buy anything unless I have researched it first and have some knowledge. Although this does not guarantee that you won't be scammed, it does lower the odds considerably. I have been burned 3 times in my collecting, all of them because I didn't have my homework done. Also listen to your gut as well. You did well in the scenario that you described. Keep up the good work.