Medieval islamic sword on ebay

Tim Simmons · 13th October 2006, 09:38 PM

I do not know much about these swords but the pommel alarms me then the guard. The biggest thing that gets me is,- If I had a genuine medieval sword or anything truely rare I would not be selling it on ebay. I think the answer must lay near there.

Jens Nordlunde · 13th October 2006, 09:57 PM

Yes Tim, This also made me wonder

.

Lee · 14th October 2006, 05:15 PM

Note that the seller closed the auction without selling the sword, owing to "an error in the listing." For sure. If this is genuine, it is worth large money and the seller probably realized he was in the wrong venue. There is presently a serious problem with fake medieval swords and one really must examine these swords up close and in person to separate treasure from trash.

Alex's question:
Also, how one can tell of authenticity of a sword like this without physically seeing it (unless it's wootz, of course)? Is it even possible?

My answer:
Very, very rarely one can see a picture and 'know' something is right. I was sent pictures of the Alexandria arsenal sword that came up improperly described at Waddington's in Toronto last year (but with no details on where and when the sale was being held) for my opinion and I was sure enough it was right that I would have have risked significant money on it. But 99% of the time, you must examine up close and in person.

B.I · 14th October 2006, 11:19 PM

a friend of mine examined the sword before the owner decided to list it on ebay. he was of the opinion that it was 19thC. i dont know whether his assessment was right, but i am convincing myself that he was correct and the sword was not early. the alternative is too distressing! the sword looks right, but as lee says, there is no way of knowing unless you hold it yourself. the inscriptions seem a little light, and i would have expected it to be deeper, but that is speculation and me looking for fault.
you can sleep easy on the waddington sword, lee. it was genuine, and fetched a high price at auction, and resold afterwards for even more. it was a sleeper, but enough people were aware of it so the price fetched under hammer was in the right ball-park.

eftihis · 1st February 2007, 07:59 AM

Does anyone kept the photo of this sword? I think that i may have an answer.
If somebody has, post it as a photo (the ebay link has deleted the photo)

13th October 2006, 09:57 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Yes Tim, This also made me wonder.

13th October 2006, 09:38 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	I do not know much about these swords but the pommel alarms me then the guard. The biggest thing that gets me is,- If I had a genuine medieval sword or anything truely rare I would not be selling it on ebay. I think the answer must lay near there.

14th October 2006, 05:15 PM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Note that the seller closed the auction without selling the sword, owing to "an error in the listing." For sure. If this is genuine, it is worth large money and the seller probably realized he was in the wrong venue. There is presently a serious problem with fake medieval swords and one really must examine these swords up close and in person to separate treasure from trash. Alex's question: Also, how one can tell of authenticity of a sword like this without physically seeing it (unless it's wootz, of course)? Is it even possible? My answer: Very, very rarely one can see a picture and 'know' something is right. I was sent pictures of the Alexandria arsenal sword that came up improperly described at Waddington's in Toronto last year (but with no details on where and when the sale was being held) for my opinion and I was sure enough it was right that I would have have risked significant money on it. But 99% of the time, you must examine up close and in person.

14th October 2006, 11:19 PM	#4
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	a friend of mine examined the sword before the owner decided to list it on ebay. he was of the opinion that it was 19thC. i dont know whether his assessment was right, but i am convincing myself that he was correct and the sword was not early. the alternative is too distressing! the sword looks right, but as lee says, there is no way of knowing unless you hold it yourself. the inscriptions seem a little light, and i would have expected it to be deeper, but that is speculation and me looking for fault. you can sleep easy on the waddington sword, lee. it was genuine, and fetched a high price at auction, and resold afterwards for even more. it was a sleeper, but enough people were aware of it so the price fetched under hammer was in the right ball-park.

1st February 2007, 07:59 AM	#5
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 511	Does anyone kept the photo of this sword? I think that i may have an answer. If somebody has, post it as a photo (the ebay link has deleted the photo)