Jambiya for Identification

Jim McDougall · 17th November 2011, 11:58 PM

OK guys

so Im a romantic !!

It sounded like a good story, maybe I could write movies.

I still say Stan I like your style !!!

Best,
Jim

Stan S. · 18th November 2011, 01:54 AM

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the input but I can not help it to be angry at myself and question my ability to tell genuine indo persian weapons from fakes. I thought that I was pretty good at it but alas

At least I am smart enough to stay away from all India-engraved blades, lionhead kukries, modern mechanical damascus replicas and the like.

Interestingly enough my 2 newest aquisitions (that turned out to be tourist pieces) are said to be made in the 70s-80s. Perhaps the reason I am so easily fooled is because the 80s found me in my pre- and early teens, which is well before I developed interest in collecting and did not have access to the sources that would help me educate myself. Oh well, live and learn...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th November 2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan S.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the input but I can not help it to be angry at myself and question my ability to tell genuine indo persian weapons from fakes. I thought that I was pretty good at it but alas

At least I am smart enough to stay away from all India-engraved blades, lionhead kukries, modern mechanical damascus replicas and the like.

Interestingly enough my 2 newest aquisitions (that turned out to be tourist pieces) are said to be made in the 70s-80s. Perhaps the reason I am so easily fooled is because the 80s found me in my pre- and early teens, which is well before I developed interest in collecting and did not have access to the sources that would help me educate myself. Oh well, live and learn...

Salaams Stan~ Ok so the dagger isn't from the Ark but it doesn't matter... the great thing is you got stuck in and had a good look at it and it does have some nice interesting markings which are difficult even for people who know to get their heads round... I sat and watched a superb craftsman make a new dagger in the same region and it looked every inch like 200 years old. While we all try to avoid fakes they are even in their own right part of the story; after all, how many swords do we encounter with fake stamps? In Afghanistan and surrounding areas they still knock out almost passable Martini Henrys and Lee Enfields. I bet this forum could field quite a few fakes into a rogues gallery !

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Dom · 18th November 2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

even for people who know to get their heads round... I sat and watched a

Salam Aleikum
Ibrahiim you are fully right ... I have been caught ... and I will be ... again

now, I refuse to buy when pictures are too dark, and the seller make difficulties,
to provide good pic's, and i'm laughing when I saw some offers ...
no shame to have been screwed, that's arrived to the best expert

à +

Dom

Jim McDougall · 18th November 2011, 07:30 PM

Stan, dont feel too badly...trust me, everybody here has been through thier own stings!!! The main thing is you learn, and I would like to thank you for being a great sport in sharing the experience. It takes a considerable courage to openly share such fragile and delicate matters here, as can be seen by the huge volume who post as opposed to those who simply view. Most fear they will look silly or be criticized, but as you have shown, that is not the case.

Nicely done Stan,
All the best,
Jim

Atlantia · 18th November 2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Stan, dont feel too badly...trust me, everybody here has been through thier own stings!!! The main thing is you learn, and I would like to thank you for being a great sport in sharing the experience. It takes a considerable courage to openly share such fragile and delicate matters here, as can be seen by the huge volume who post as opposed to those who simply view. Most fear they will look silly or be criticized, but as you have shown, that is not the case.

Nicely done Stan,
All the best,
Jim

Absolutely right my friend!

Stan,
At least is IS a knife!
I recently bought a #*%!!@# Laundry Bat thinking it was some sort of club!
I never worry about looking foolish!

...... Good job probobly.

kahnjar1 · 18th November 2011, 08:20 PM

Hi Stan,
I agree with those above who say that even those who have collected for many years, still get stung sometimes. There are those out there who are turning out extremely good modern made items and asking silly prices for what is, actually only a replica. Personally I detest that sort of thing and if I DO get stung from one of those sources, then there is no way I would ever deal with it again.
An old collector friend of mine once said to me that if an item does not look quite right, then it probably isn't......and I am sure he was right about that.
Pictures unfortunately can hide many things, and IMHO the only way to be sure, is to physically hold the item in your hand before buying. With internet selling of course it is impossible to do that, BUT you can ask questions thru the system and if a seller has not told the truth, there are usually ways to retrieve your $, provided you keep a "paper trail". Also as DOM said, be very suspect of poor quality photos.
Regards Stu

Stan S. · 18th November 2011, 10:15 PM

Thank you gentlemen for the kind words of encouragement. I am not afraid to look foolish (sometimes all it takes is a good look in the mirror to know that one can’t hide the truth

). While I may not have been collecting as long and as extensively as some of the members here, I too have had my experiences both with getting duped and finding terrific bargains from uneducated folks who don’t know or don’t care about the value of what they are selling. In fact, I have to admit that I have a few handmade, good quality replicas in my collection that I bought on a whim and never regret doing so.

The seller of this dagger did not make any representations in regards to its age other than saying that is is old, which is a relative term. I saw the item and judged it to be from the early 20th century (WW1 era). Few things looked a bit suspicious to me but I took the risk. Despite this alledgedly being a tourist piece it does not appear to be cheaply made, and as such will find its rightful place on my wall. Of course I will be able to better judge what I have once the item reaches me by mail. In any case, my mistake only sets me back $65, so not a tremendous loss and it is still a pretty cool looking dagger.

Thanks again to all who replied. I look forward to learning more from this forum and from each of you.

18th November 2011, 01:54 AM	#2
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the input but I can not help it to be angry at myself and question my ability to tell genuine indo persian weapons from fakes. I thought that I was pretty good at it but alas At least I am smart enough to stay away from all India-engraved blades, lionhead kukries, modern mechanical damascus replicas and the like. Interestingly enough my 2 newest aquisitions (that turned out to be tourist pieces) are said to be made in the 70s-80s. Perhaps the reason I am so easily fooled is because the 80s found me in my pre- and early teens, which is well before I developed interest in collecting and did not have access to the sources that would help me educate myself. Oh well, live and learn... Last edited by Stan S.; 18th November 2011 at 01:49 PM.

17th November 2011, 11:58 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	OK guys so Im a romantic !! It sounded like a good story, maybe I could write movies. I still say Stan I like your style !!! Best, Jim

18th November 2011, 07:30 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Stan, dont feel too badly...trust me, everybody here has been through thier own stings!!! The main thing is you learn, and I would like to thank you for being a great sport in sharing the experience. It takes a considerable courage to openly share such fragile and delicate matters here, as can be seen by the huge volume who post as opposed to those who simply view. Most fear they will look silly or be criticized, but as you have shown, that is not the case. Nicely done Stan, All the best, Jim

18th November 2011, 08:20 PM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,786	Hi Stan, I agree with those above who say that even those who have collected for many years, still get stung sometimes. There are those out there who are turning out extremely good modern made items and asking silly prices for what is, actually only a replica. Personally I detest that sort of thing and if I DO get stung from one of those sources, then there is no way I would ever deal with it again. An old collector friend of mine once said to me that if an item does not look quite right, then it probably isn't......and I am sure he was right about that. Pictures unfortunately can hide many things, and IMHO the only way to be sure, is to physically hold the item in your hand before buying. With internet selling of course it is impossible to do that, BUT you can ask questions thru the system and if a seller has not told the truth, there are usually ways to retrieve your $, provided you keep a "paper trail". Also as DOM said, be very suspect of poor quality photos. Regards Stu

18th November 2011, 10:15 PM	#8
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Thank you gentlemen for the kind words of encouragement. I am not afraid to look foolish (sometimes all it takes is a good look in the mirror to know that one can’t hide the truth ). While I may not have been collecting as long and as extensively as some of the members here, I too have had my experiences both with getting duped and finding terrific bargains from uneducated folks who don’t know or don’t care about the value of what they are selling. In fact, I have to admit that I have a few handmade, good quality replicas in my collection that I bought on a whim and never regret doing so. The seller of this dagger did not make any representations in regards to its age other than saying that is is old, which is a relative term. I saw the item and judged it to be from the early 20th century (WW1 era). Few things looked a bit suspicious to me but I took the risk. Despite this alledgedly being a tourist piece it does not appear to be cheaply made, and as such will find its rightful place on my wall. Of course I will be able to better judge what I have once the item reaches me by mail. In any case, my mistake only sets me back $65, so not a tremendous loss and it is still a pretty cool looking dagger. Thanks again to all who replied. I look forward to learning more from this forum and from each of you.