Tibetan sword: real?????

katana · 9th June 2007, 02:41 PM

I'm not certain...but the blade surface looks slightly 'ripple-ed' . It suggests to me ,assuming this is a fake, that perhaps it was 'acid etched' with areas 'masked off' with wax

Bill M · 9th June 2007, 09:54 PM

Virginia, aren't you a little old to be believing in Chinese fairy tales?

spiral · 9th June 2007, 11:14 PM

Thats a real laminated blade, forging flaws from lack of flux just like the originals, But The Chinese fakers can do that.{they have done it for years, only there poorest & commonest fakes are just etched.} Looks like ithe blades been around a while though.

Its quick ,fast ,rough course lamination, just like the genuine old Tibet work, but just look at handle, scabbard & scabbard stiching, it real low quality junk all round.

I guess theres a 25% chance {IMHO of course.} that its a real old blade with "restored fittings & scabbard" to use western dealers & collecters current parlance.

Spiral

kai · 10th June 2007, 12:56 AM

Quote:

I'm not certain...but the blade surface looks slightly 'ripple-ed' . It suggests to me ,assuming this is a fake, that perhaps it was 'acid etched' with areas 'masked off' with wax

Hmm, just fairy tales? Sure, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this is a 21st century piece. OTOH, the laminations in question look interesting and much better than anything I've seen achieved by wax and acid etching.

http://www.tibet-buddhism.com/buddhist/mrm/b2310-7.JPG
http://www.tibet-buddhism.com/buddhist/mrm/b2310-8.JPG
In these 2 close-ups the blade looks laminated to me: there seem to be forging flaws which may follow the staining pattern. Even the surface rust seems to partially follow the laminations:
http://www.tibet-buddhism.com/buddhist/mrm/b2310-11.JPG

I'd certainly like to see high-rez pics before betting much money though.
If this really happens to be a paint job, I'm going to reetch any wootz blade myself before buying in the future!

BTW, I can't see what's so difficult about the hairpin pattern that it can't be reproduced by the Chinese facilities (or a competent rural blacksmith in the middle of nowhere for that matter) - the Chinese fakers have already been pouring out pretty complex laminated blades for years. Would be much more interesting to verify wether this really has an inserted steel edge with a good hardness...

Regards,
Kai

kai · 10th June 2007, 12:59 AM

Spiral beat me to it...

BTW, is it just me or are others also encountering frequent vikingsword server timeout errors lately?

Rick · 10th June 2007, 02:54 AM

Hello Kai,
Yes the site has been running slowly for me too.
I'm on cable.

Oriental-Arms · 10th June 2007, 07:09 PM

I think it is not a fake. The blade is real and early, 1900 or so. Spiral gave all the good reasons for it. The handle and the scabbard are crudely made but made for use and not for sale to tourists. both are mid 20 C. or a bit earlier. The only suspicious part may be the scabbard tip, but also this IMHO is a crudely made tip to cover a possible damage to the leather.

Bill M · 10th June 2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oriental-Arms

I think it is not a fake. The blade is real and early, 1900 or so. Spiral gave all the good reasons for it. The handle and the scabbard are crudely made but made for use and not for sale to tourists. both are mid 20 C. or a bit earlier. The only suspicious part may be the scabbard tip, but also this IMHO is a crudely made tip to cover a possible damage to the leather.

Suddenly and for some strange reason, I am interested in this sword!

Like I said, I always liked it..........

dennee · 10th June 2007, 07:43 PM

The only thing that bothers me is that this is the third sword I have seen in a week (in photos) with horn grips, something that is not rare but certainly less common among Tibetan swords. One of them had a similar chape although of white metal and a little better quality. The pommels of the other two were different from this one but similar to each other. This pommel is of a southeastern type, seen among the Poba, etc.

Each of the three swords is convincing to a different degree, but it is the coincidence that bothers me. And I do think the scabbard stitching is poor, although the scabbard form is an authentic one.

Bill M · 10th June 2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennee

The only thing that bothers me is that this is the third sword I have seen in a week (in photos) with horn grips, something that is not rare but certainly less common among Tibetan swords. One of them had a similar chape although of white metal and a little better quality. The pommels of the other two were different from this one but similar to each other. This pommel is of a southeastern type, seen among the Poba, etc.

Each of the three swords is convincing to a different degree, but it is the coincidence that bothers me. And I do think the scabbard stitching is poor, although the scabbard form is an authentic one.

True, dennee, you have a point. Hmmm

10th June 2007, 02:54 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Slow Hello Kai, Yes the site has been running slowly for me too. I'm on cable.

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9th June 2007, 02:41 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	I'm not certain...but the blade surface looks slightly 'ripple-ed' . It suggests to me ,assuming this is a fake, that perhaps it was 'acid etched' with areas 'masked off' with wax

9th June 2007, 09:54 PM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Virginia, aren't you a little old to be believing in Chinese fairy tales?

9th June 2007, 11:14 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thats a real laminated blade, forging flaws from lack of flux just like the originals, But The Chinese fakers can do that.{they have done it for years, only there poorest & commonest fakes are just etched.} Looks like ithe blades been around a while though. Its quick ,fast ,rough course lamination, just like the genuine old Tibet work, but just look at handle, scabbard & scabbard stiching, it real low quality junk all round. I guess theres a 25% chance {IMHO of course.} that its a real old blade with "restored fittings & scabbard" to use western dealers & collecters current parlance. Spiral

10th June 2007, 12:59 AM	#5
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Spiral beat me to it... BTW, is it just me or are others also encountering frequent vikingsword server timeout errors lately?

10th June 2007, 07:09 PM	#7
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	I think it is not a fake. The blade is real and early, 1900 or so. Spiral gave all the good reasons for it. The handle and the scabbard are crudely made but made for use and not for sale to tourists. both are mid 20 C. or a bit earlier. The only suspicious part may be the scabbard tip, but also this IMHO is a crudely made tip to cover a possible damage to the leather.

10th June 2007, 07:43 PM	#9
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	The only thing that bothers me is that this is the third sword I have seen in a week (in photos) with horn grips, something that is not rare but certainly less common among Tibetan swords. One of them had a similar chape although of white metal and a little better quality. The pommels of the other two were different from this one but similar to each other. This pommel is of a southeastern type, seen among the Poba, etc. Each of the three swords is convincing to a different degree, but it is the coincidence that bothers me. And I do think the scabbard stitching is poor, although the scabbard form is an authentic one.