Sword 12/13 century or not?

serdar · 4th November 2025, 04:32 PM

One collector from neighbour country has this sword, i like it very much, it has a great balance in the hand, but it is, or it is not, that is the question, an artefact or piece of trash, if someone could help.

Ed · 5th November 2025, 02:19 PM

It looks OK to me but but but fakers are fakers because they fake.

Any idea as to provenance?

corrado26 · 5th November 2025, 04:03 PM

I'm not an expert on edged weapons, but the piece just looks too good for me! An iron object that is said to be 700 or 800 years old will certainly look different in terms of surface structure. My opinion.

Radboud · 5th November 2025, 09:35 PM

Too many fakers out there to risk it I'm afraid.

This one has a couple of red flags to me, not least that the corrosion looks too consistent and 'fresh'.

I would give it a wide bearth personally.

serdar · 17th November 2025, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed

It looks OK to me but but but fakers are fakers because they fake.

Any idea as to provenance?

Provenance, curent owner got it after old owner died, he got it fromriver near their town it was in a mud in the river.

As he stated.

serdar · 17th November 2025, 11:45 PM

It handles wery well in the hand, i was 50/50 on its originality, so i didnt take it.

But will examine it further on xrf and then i will compare with similar specimen allso localy found that is in museum.

Bob A · 20th November 2025, 07:19 PM

The uniformity of corrosion, and the apparent lack of actual use, push me to suspect its bona fides.

On the other hand, if it is offered at a reasonable price, a handsome, well-balanced fake has its own interest.

I don't know if analysis of the metal would be informative, but I suspect that it would tell the tale.

Will M · Yesterday, 10:46 PM

We have two problems here, one is we tend to assume it's fake and secondly using digital photos online cannot tell us everything one needs to make a good assessment. Corrosion levels are dependent on a number of factors and we don't know this either. Expert research may be required.

4th November 2025, 04:32 PM	#1
serdar Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 201	Sword 12/13 century or not? One collector from neighbour country has this sword, i like it very much, it has a great balance in the hand, but it is, or it is not, that is the question, an artefact or piece of trash, if someone could help. Attached Images

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5th November 2025, 02:19 PM	#2
Ed Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 288	It looks OK to me but but but fakers are fakers because they fake. Any idea as to provenance?

5th November 2025, 04:03 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,243	I'm not an expert on edged weapons, but the piece just looks too good for me! An iron object that is said to be 700 or 800 years old will certainly look different in terms of surface structure. My opinion.

5th November 2025, 09:35 PM	#4
Radboud Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: New Zealand Posts: 299	Too many fakers out there to risk it I'm afraid. This one has a couple of red flags to me, not least that the corrosion looks too consistent and 'fresh'. I would give it a wide bearth personally.

17th November 2025, 11:45 PM	#6
serdar Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 201	It handles wery well in the hand, i was 50/50 on its originality, so i didnt take it. But will examine it further on xrf and then i will compare with similar specimen allso localy found that is in museum.

20th November 2025, 07:19 PM	#7
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 451	The uniformity of corrosion, and the apparent lack of actual use, push me to suspect its bona fides. On the other hand, if it is offered at a reasonable price, a handsome, well-balanced fake has its own interest. I don't know if analysis of the metal would be informative, but I suspect that it would tell the tale.

Yesterday, 10:46 PM	#8
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 410	We have two problems here, one is we tend to assume it's fake and secondly using digital photos online cannot tell us everything one needs to make a good assessment. Corrosion levels are dependent on a number of factors and we don't know this either. Expert research may be required.