Persian shamshir destroyed by USPS!!!

[A. G. Maisey]

This sword is out of my area of study, however, I do have a background in knife & sword making and I have straightened badly bent blades. My work has always been forge work, not stock removal.

In my opinion this blade should be dismounted and given to a competent and appropriate sword-smith to repair.

[ariel]

As it is now, the sword may be covered by the insurance. If it is not returned, the insurance is void. And, if the attempt of straightening fails, the buyer will be left with a broken sword and no money.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by ariel

As it is now, the sword may be covered by the insurance. If it is not returned, the insurance is void. And, if the attempt of straightening fails, the buyer will be left with a broken sword and no money.

Yes of course, he has to send it back.
Plus the scabbard is damaged too...

[GePi]

Umm, it seems the sword has come back to live.

Perhaps the listing got reposted automatically, but perhaps someone should contact the seller...

I too would like to add my condolences. Literally the same week I was delivered a shamshir (the package simply dumped in front of my apartment door without me being present) with the point literally sticking 2 inches outside of the package! Luckily no damage to the blade and no blood spurts in the surrounding area, so it seems I dodged a bullet there. Exceptionally bad packaging, from a reputable acution house no less...

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by GePi

Umm, it seems the sword has come back to live.

Yes and the pictures appear to be the exact same ones from the old listing, before the damage...very strange???

[estcrh]

Another near miss, this Egyptian rolling block bayonet was shipped to me from Europe, see how it arrived, fortunately is does not seem to have been damaged.

[kronckew]

lucky.

me too,

my UK CG sabre arrived by courier this morning, box had been torn across by an impact midway down the length on 3 sides of the box. it was saved by the multiple layers of bubble wrap and a surfeit of packing tape over that and the one remaining box side.

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, all true, my thoughts were directed at preservation, not remuneration.

[silberschatzimsee]

That tip with the plastic pipe is very good. With smaller diameterpipes i trsnsport my fishing rods in the plane.

[Helleri]

I like using cardboard edge/corner reinforcement for objects that are significantly heavier and hard than a box they would be shipped or moved in.

[Nathaniel]

Estcrh,

Sorry to see the shipping tragedy. It reminds me of a similar USPS incident I had a couple years ago when I bought a pole arm from a respected forum member.

Note before:

[Nathaniel]

And imagine my shock and horror when the postal worker brought this out to the counter for me to sign for!!! I told the postal worker are you serious you want me to sign for this!?!? And they just shrugged and said my best bet was to fill out a damage claim form Luckily this was fully insured! But still would have rather had a straight pole arm! Because the post paid the claim USPS keeps the pole arm!

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

And image that sinking feeling when the postal worker brought this out to the counter for me to sign for!!!

Nathaniel, thanks for posting your pictures, I know exactly how you feel, even though I will get the money I paid returned it hurts to see this happen to any antique. The damage to your naginata looks just like what happened to my shamshir.

As I mentioned earlier, I just shipped a naginata much like yours in order to get some missing fittings replaced (habaki and tsuba), Tim Pepin the owner of Samuraisword.com just messaged me that it arrived safely but after what happened to the shamshir I kept thinking about how I could have done a better job of packing, I did not add any wood strips etc which would have greatly increased the chance of avoiding any damage to the blade or shaft, next time I will do that just as added protection.


Below is a picture that Artzi of Oriental Arms just sent me showing how he has reinforced for shipping the Chinese bow I just purchased. A great example that I intend to copy in the future.

[estcrh]

Once is one thing, but seeing this other very similar extreme damage example has really opened my eyes, I do not think I will simply rely on luck anymore when I ship any kind of weapon in the future.

[Pieje]

Several months ago I've sent a naginata from Europe to the USA using DHL.
I bought a 2m long plastic tube to be sure it arrived safely, off course it did.

[Nathaniel]

Originally Posted by Pieje

Several months ago I've sent a naginata from Europe to the USA using DHL.
I bought a 2m long plastic tube to be sure it arrived safely, off course it did.

I would agree with,Pieje. Thank you for bringing this up! These plastic tubes are a good option however you have to make sure that the plastic some flex and is not brittle. I have had a plastic tube crack apart before.