Talk about your best buy in Ethnic weaponary!

Atlantia · 7th July 2008, 12:05 AM

What has been your best bargain buy?
The one piece in your ethnic weapons collection that stands out and makes you think "Yeah, that was a lucky find".

Post with pics and story!

Rick · 7th July 2008, 12:45 AM

But if I told how much it cost no one would pay me what it's worth !!!

Lew · 7th July 2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

But if I told how much it cost no one would pay me what it's worth !!!

Rick

What you paid and what it is worth are two different things

Ok I have had a few African best buys but the Sudanese dagger at the top cost me about $16 on ebay the wire was unraveled but I restored it back the best I could. Here a few more very good buys

Lew

Atlantia · 7th July 2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Rick

What you paid and what it is worth are two different things

Ok I have had a few African best buys but the Sudanese dagger at the top cost me about $16 on ebay the wire was unraveled but I restored it back the best I could. Here a few more very good buys

Lew

Lovely pieces Lew! Really top drawer, very rare to see pieces as nice as those these days!

Come-on everyone else! A little collection pride and bragging never hurt ;-)

Rick · 7th July 2008, 03:32 PM

This one is the only one I will post , $60.00 US .

Other better scores have been sold; some to members here; those I will not list .

Atlantia · 7th July 2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

This one is the only one I will post , $60.00 US .

Other better scores have been sold; some to members here; those I will not list .

Yeah, thats a sweet deal! £30ish mmmm and you say "I'll take it" then "Do you have any more?"

Norman McCormick · 7th July 2008, 06:34 PM

Hi Guys,
If you mean cost versus value then I've been quite fortunate in some of my purchases over the past wee while. The Kukri was about 8 GBP (16 USD) bought with one other, the shield 10 GBP (20 USD) and the small Dha about 12 GBP (24 USD) all from E-Bay and all misdescribed. Using the same criteria ie., cost versus value my best ever purchase was my first sword in the early 60's, a beautifully maintained 17th Century Katana with an even earlier bronze Tsuba the rest being in the usual WW2 mounts, cost me the grand sum of one pound and ten shillings, about 3 USD, even in the early 60's that was a bargain. Needless to say it has long gone the money gained spent, probably, on cigarettes and whisky and wild wild women.
Regards,
Norman.

Atlantia · 7th July 2008, 07:03 PM

Wow, you guys do get lucky on ebay!!!

Lovely Dhal Norman
I prefer the distinctly Indian chiseled steel designs to the more persian influenced.

I guess my best buy (that I still have) is this good 19thC Pesh-Kabz.
The usual Jadeite scales etc, but a nice complete one with no damage/chips or loss to the blade tip. It is 35cm not including the swivel decoration. It was £23 (about $50) at a car boot sale.

Jim McDougall · 7th July 2008, 09:41 PM

My first weapon was a Moro kris, which was hanging in a guys garage....this was about 1961. He gave it to me for helping sand down a frame on an old Ford Model A he was putting together.....hot rod heaven!
Wish I still had it, but as always it probably was no big deal as far as what it really was...but for me, it was Excalibur! I've been addicted to studying weapons ever since, but in those days went into regulation swords first.
It got traded off probably 20 years later.

TVV · 7th July 2008, 09:56 PM

It is an interesting topic and the main question is, what constitutes a good buy? I am sure every single one of us has had a few good bargains from auction sites or garage sales, but I do not consider them my best buys, just my best deals. My best buys tend to be the ones from other fellow collectors. I have bought items from other members of this forum and they have always been really nice items, and on top of that the whole transaction experience has been very good.
Also, along the lines of what Jim wrote, some of the first items I ever acquired, almost all of which were wallhangers with no real collecting value, are still my most memorable purchases, because they were what got me into this hobby.
Regards,
Teodor

Atlantia · 7th July 2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

It is an interesting topic and the main question is, what constitutes a good buy? I am sure every single one of us has had a few good bargains from auction sites or garage sales, but I do not consider them my best buys, just my best deals. My best buys tend to be the ones from other fellow collectors. I have bought items from other members of this forum and they have always been really nice items, and on top of that the whole transaction experience has been very good.
Also, along the lines of what Jim wrote, some of the first items I ever acquired, almost all of which were wallhangers with no real collecting value, are still my most memorable purchases, because they were what got me into this hobby.
Regards,
Teodor

I quite agree Teodor,

Please share a particularly memorable acquisition which has given you a lot of pleasure and post some pics of course ;-)

Regards
Gene

Bill M · 11th July 2008, 03:47 PM

I have only been collecting since 2002. First it was Chinese swords, then Javanese and Balinese keris.

In March of 2004 a good friend called me and aid that he was having a "garage sale" and that among the items was a "wavy bladed sword." He knew that I collected "wavy bladed knives" and thought that I might be interested.

He had two swords and a dagger. I had never seen swords like these before. He said his relative had collected these pieces when he was stationed in the Philippine in the late 1800s, but neither he, nor I had any idea where they were made.

The quality was evident, so I bought all three for a total of $600.

The "wavy blade" was a huge, by Javanese standards, kris. I fell instantly in love with this big powerful sword that happened to be a double fuller twist core with original scabbard.

Turned out to be not only my first Moro piece, but as time has gone by, one of my favorites.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=garage+sale

The dagger looked European and truthfully I really did not like it all that much, so I posted it on this forum to find out more.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=garage+sale

I like it a LOT more now. There is a strong likelihood that this dagger belonged to Philippine Katipunan General Leandro Fullon. I have promised it to a deserving forumite who traces his linage back to Fullon.

The third piece was a Kampilan. Also an exceptional piece. Will dig out my pictures and post them later.

katana · 11th July 2008, 08:58 PM

Hi Kronckew,
I don't know if you already know the correct name for your 'odd shaped machete' but, just in case, it is a A Javanese kudi, a very old
talismanic weapon.

http://www.kerisattosanaji.com/weaponsindexlist53.html

Regards David

kronckew · 11th July 2008, 10:49 PM

yes, depending on which side of jawa you come from, the western sundanese call it a 'kujang', kudi being the eastern name. the 'older' kujang have 3 holes, based on hinduism (brahma,shiva, vishnu), while the 'newer' ones have five, a sign of the five pillars of islam signifying the more recent replacement of the pantheistic elder faith by that religion. they are strange and mysterious items of power. interesting article is HERE

katana · 11th July 2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

yes, depending on which side of jawa you come from, the western sundanese call it a 'kujang', kudi being the eastern name. the 'older' kujang have 3 holes, based on hinduism (brahma,shiva, vishnu), while the 'newer' ones have five, a sign of the five pillars of islam signifying the more recent replacement of the pantheistic elder faith by that religion. they are strange and mysterious items of power. interesting article is HERE

Thanks Kronck

Ferguson · 12th July 2008, 11:53 PM

My medieval bayonet from Ebay.

Steve

7th July 2008, 12:05 AM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Talk about your best buy in Ethnic weaponary! What has been your best bargain buy? The one piece in your ethnic weapons collection that stands out and makes you think "Yeah, that* was a lucky find"*. Post with pics and story!

7th July 2008, 03:32 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	There Have Been Quite A Few This one is the only one I will post , $60.00 US . Other better scores have been sold; some to members here; those I will not list . Attached Images

7th July 2008, 06:34 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Hi Guys, If you mean cost versus value then I've been quite fortunate in some of my purchases over the past wee while. The Kukri was about 8 GBP (16 USD) bought with one other, the shield 10 GBP (20 USD) and the small Dha about 12 GBP (24 USD) all from E-Bay and all misdescribed. Using the same criteria ie., cost versus value my best ever purchase was my first sword in the early 60's, a beautifully maintained 17th Century Katana with an even earlier bronze Tsuba the rest being in the usual WW2 mounts, cost me the grand sum of one pound and ten shillings, about 3 USD, even in the early 60's that was a bargain. Needless to say it has long gone the money gained spent, probably, on cigarettes and whisky and wild wild women. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

11th July 2008, 08:58 PM	#13
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Kronckew, I don't know if you already know the correct name for your 'odd shaped machete' but, just in case, it is a A Javanese kudi, a very old talismanic weapon. http://www.kerisattosanaji.com/weaponsindexlist53.html Regards David Attached Images

11th July 2008, 10:49 PM	#14
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	yes, depending on which side of jawa you come from, the western sundanese call it a 'kujang', kudi being the eastern name. the 'older' kujang have 3 holes, based on hinduism (brahma,shiva, vishnu), while the 'newer' ones have five, a sign of the five pillars of islam signifying the more recent replacement of the pantheistic elder faith by that religion. they are strange and mysterious items of power. interesting article is HERE Last edited by kronckew; 11th July 2008 at 11:04 PM.

7th July 2008, 12:45 AM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	But if I told how much it cost no one would pay me what it's worth !!!

7th July 2008, 07:03 PM	#8
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Wow, you guys do get lucky on ebay!!! Lovely Dhal Norman I prefer the distinctly Indian chiseled steel designs to the more persian influenced. I guess my best buy (that I still have) is this good 19thC Pesh-Kabz. The usual Jadeite scales etc, but a nice complete one with no damage/chips or loss to the blade tip. It is 35cm not including the swivel decoration. It was £23 (about $50) at a car boot sale.

7th July 2008, 09:41 PM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,940	My first weapon was a Moro kris, which was hanging in a guys garage....this was about 1961. He gave it to me for helping sand down a frame on an old Ford Model A he was putting together.....hot rod heaven! Wish I still had it, but as always it probably was no big deal as far as what it really was...but for me, it was Excalibur! I've been addicted to studying weapons ever since, but in those days went into regulation swords first. It got traded off probably 20 years later.

7th July 2008, 09:56 PM	#10
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	It is an interesting topic and the main question is, what constitutes a good buy? I am sure every single one of us has had a few good bargains from auction sites or garage sales, but I do not consider them my best buys, just my best deals. My best buys tend to be the ones from other fellow collectors. I have bought items from other members of this forum and they have always been really nice items, and on top of that the whole transaction experience has been very good. Also, along the lines of what Jim wrote, some of the first items I ever acquired, almost all of which were wallhangers with no real collecting value, are still my most memorable purchases, because they were what got me into this hobby. Regards, Teodor

11th July 2008, 03:47 PM	#12
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	I have only been collecting since 2002. First it was Chinese swords, then Javanese and Balinese keris. In March of 2004 a good friend called me and aid that he was having a "garage sale" and that among the items was a "wavy bladed sword." He knew that I collected "wavy bladed knives" and thought that I might be interested. He had two swords and a dagger. I had never seen swords like these before. He said his relative had collected these pieces when he was stationed in the Philippine in the late 1800s, but neither he, nor I had any idea where they were made. The quality was evident, so I bought all three for a total of $600. The "wavy blade" was a huge, by Javanese standards, kris. I fell instantly in love with this big powerful sword that happened to be a double fuller twist core with original scabbard. Turned out to be not only my first Moro piece, but as time has gone by, one of my favorites. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=garage+sale The dagger looked European and truthfully I really did not like it all that much, so I posted it on this forum to find out more. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=garage+sale I like it a LOT more now. There is a strong likelihood that this dagger belonged to Philippine Katipunan General Leandro Fullon. I have promised it to a deserving forumite who traces his linage back to Fullon. The third piece was a Kampilan. Also an exceptional piece. Will dig out my pictures and post them later.

12th July 2008, 11:53 PM	#16
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	My medieval bayonet from Ebay. Steve Attached Images