YES TO BOTH QUESTIONS.
THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PRODUCTION OF SWORDS AND KNIVES TO SELL TO TOURISTS. SOME ARE AGED TO MAKE THEM LOOK OLD AND SOME ARE NOT. THE EXAMPLE OF A PIRA YOU SHOW IS A MORE RECENT ARTIFICIALLY AGED EXAMPLE WITH A THIN POORLY MADE BLADE. PERHAPS A SERVICIBLE BLADE BUT THIN AND POORLY MADE WHEN COMPARED TO A GOOD OLD EXAMPLE. THE HORN WORK ON THE HANDLES OF THESE CAN BE VERY ORNATE AND THEY CAN DO VERY GOOD WORK. I HAVE BID ON A COUPLE OF FANTASY KAMPILLIANS FROM THE SAME SOURCES THAT WERE VERY ORNATE BUT THEY WENT FAR TOO HIGH FOR WHAT THEY WERE. SO NOW I AM SURE THE MAKER/SELLERS WILL WANT TOO MUCH FOR ANY FUTURE PRODUCTIONS.
THE HIGH DEMAND AND PRICES ON EBAY HAS MADE IT EASIER FOR DEALERS TO BUY OLDER WEAPONS TO SELL AS THEY CAN PAY MORE AND STILL MAKE A LARGE PROFIT. SOME ARE COMPLETE OLD EXAMPLES OTHERS ARE OLD BLADES PUT TOGETHER WITH NEWER AGED HANDLES OR OLDER HANDLES WITH NEWER AGED BLADES. SOME ARE PLAIN EXAMPLES THAT HAVE HAD SILVER, BRASS OR OTHER DECORATIONS ADDED TO MAKE THEM MORE APPEALING TO BUYERS. THESE TYPES OF WEAPONS HAVE BEEN AROUND IN SHOPS ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR A VERY LONG TIME BUT YOU DIDN'T SEE VERY MANY UNLESS YOU TRAVELLED. NOW ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TURN ON THE COMPUTER TO BE OFFERED STUFF FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. OFTEN THE FIRST SHOP TO START SELLING ON EBAY WILL SELL ALL HIS INVENTORY AND THEN GO BUY OUT THE STUFF FROM THE OTHER SHOPS WHO HAVE NO MARKET AND SELL THAT AS WELL. OFTEN THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE FACE BUYING ON EBAY IS WE ONLY HAVE PICTURES TO JUDGE PATINA, CONDITION AND AGE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT AS ARTIFICIALLY AGEING IS OFTEN VERY WELL DONE.
|