As promised: Ottoman Sultan/ Viking sword

iskender · 15th December 2016, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

Iskender, the grip is actually of late 20th century manufacture at the earliest, just like the blade. Ariel is simply having fun with the listing. We need the occasional fun thread at times, it can't be all serious scholarly research

.

Teodor

is that what is called "Trolling" good joke ,i like that!

iskender

TVV · 15th December 2016, 11:42 PM

I would not call it trolling, not at all. Ariel is just sharing with us a seller's listing from the most popular online auction site. There are of course a lot of ridiculous listings there, but some simply stand out, like this particular one. It is also a good reminder that we need to rely on our own knowledge and research, and not on sellers' descriptions. Especially when it comes to ultra rare Viking/Ottoman broadswords.

Teodor

iskender · 16th December 2016, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

I would not call it trolling, not at all. Ariel is just sharing with us a seller's listing from the most popular online auction site. There are of course a lot of ridiculous listings there, but some simply stand out, like this particular one. It is also a good reminder that we need to rely on our own knowledge and research, and not on sellers' descriptions. Especially when it comes to ultra rare Viking/Ottoman broadswords.

Teodor

the word " trolling" was not meant serious !

it was meant somehow in the direction of the " Pigfish "

i just ran in a open knife ! i take this with humor ! we call that " Grundlagenirrtum " ! greetigs and a good day to you ! alexander

ariel · 9th January 2017, 09:35 AM

Just a final note. The seller was obviously disturbed by my question about the authenticity of this sword and wanted to prove that he was right and I was wrong.
Thus, I just got a message from him ( his name removed):

------------------------------

New message from: ...........(73Blue Star)

Two weeks ago I've sent the pictures of this sword to a well known auction house in England and the sword is from the late byzantine period. It is known as Varangian guard sword, were vikings in service for the byzantine empire. One of the historians of the mentioned auction house purchased the sword for $4500 two days ago in ebay. Just wanted you to know it was an ancient sword.

Thanks and
"Happy new year"
----------------------------------

Well, good for him and for the auction house.

See you at Sotheby's or Christie:-)

Lee · 9th January 2017, 09:55 AM

The most frightening thing of all is that the seller's recent message may well be entirely truthful in the detail about an auction house expert buying the sword.

mariusgmioc · 9th January 2017, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

The most frightening thing of all is that the seller's recent message may well be entirely truthful in the detail about an auction house expert buying the sword.

So much about auction houses "experts!"

Anyhow, it wouldn't be a first as I have seen on too many occasions obvious modern replicas selling as genuine antique blades for extortionately high prices... and with reputed auction houses.

Ian · 11th January 2017, 05:13 AM

The information provided here is a perfect set up for a con.

The Virangian were real soldiers in the service of the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire. They were mainly Germanic and Norsemen, with a few Rus thrown in. That all has a factual basis. But the swords of these elite soldiers, what did they really look like? And that's the opening a forger can exploit.

What are the odds that we see more "Virangian swords" coming on the market based on old patterns of Viking, German or Russian swords?

Caveat emptor indeed!!!

9th January 2017, 09:55 AM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Well, good for him... The most frightening thing of all is that the seller's recent message may well be entirely truthful in the detail about an auction house expert buying the sword.

15th December 2016, 11:42 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	I would not call it trolling, not at all. Ariel is just sharing with us a seller's listing from the most popular online auction site. There are of course a lot of ridiculous listings there, but some simply stand out, like this particular one. It is also a good reminder that we need to rely on our own knowledge and research, and not on sellers' descriptions. Especially when it comes to ultra rare Viking/Ottoman broadswords. Teodor

9th January 2017, 09:35 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Just a final note. The seller was obviously disturbed by my question about the authenticity of this sword and wanted to prove that he was right and I was wrong. Thus, I just got a message from him ( his name removed): ------------------------------ New message from: ...........(73Blue Star) Two weeks ago I've sent the pictures of this sword to a well known auction house in England and the sword is from the late byzantine period. It is known as Varangian guard sword, were vikings in service for the byzantine empire. One of the historians of the mentioned auction house purchased the sword for $4500 two days ago in ebay. Just wanted you to know it was an ancient sword. Thanks and "Happy new year" ---------------------------------- Well, good for him and for the auction house. See you at Sotheby's or Christie:-)

11th January 2017, 05:13 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,362	The information provided here is a perfect set up for a con. The Virangian were real soldiers in the service of the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire. They were mainly Germanic and Norsemen, with a few Rus thrown in. That all has a factual basis. But the swords of these elite soldiers, what did they really look like? And that's the opening a forger can exploit. What are the odds that we see more "Virangian swords" coming on the market based on old patterns of Viking, German or Russian swords? Caveat emptor indeed!!!