Best place to buy swords?

ariel · 13th April 2007, 04:18 AM

Several years ago, I did quite well in Budapest: they have a slew of antique shops near Kalman Imre street . There were nice old Hungarian swords, tons of yataghans, kilijes etc.
The prices were ~ half of the then-prevailing e-bay prices and many sellers had no idea what they were talking about ( every buyer's dream!).
It must have changed since.....

Detroit Gun and Knife shows used to be good, but going to Detroit is like roaming around Waziristan and waving Stars and Stripes

Yannis · 13th April 2007, 08:21 AM

Ah, Ariel, why you remind me Budapest! I was there a dozen years ago and I had found some excellent swords but I had no knowledge and I was not so addicted like today, so I didn’t get them.

Later a lot of times I am thinking of these swords. Now you open again an old wound.
Also I still dream the fine shamshir I didn’t get the same era from Istanbul. Today I could kill for that. BTW Istanbul now has triple prices than London.

ariel · 22nd April 2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yannis

Ah, Ariel, why you remind me Budapest! I was there a dozen years ago and I had found some excellent swords but I had no knowledge and I was not so addicted like today, so I didn’t get them.

Later a lot of times I am thinking of these swords. Now you open again an old wound.
Also I still dream the fine shamshir I didn’t get the same era from Istanbul. Today I could kill for that. BTW Istanbul now has triple prices than London.

About 4 years ago I was in Istanbul, at the Market. Went to the antique weapons section: about 10 stores, all filled with expensive fakes, even more expensive "combination" and " reworked" pieces , some atrocities (shashka with soft iron blade embellished with a panoply of bizarre symbols), and awfully expensive low to middle-class authentic pieces. A rusty shamshir ( non-Damascus) with semi-intact scabbard was offered for $12,000.
Budapest...... I share your depression about not splurging there... A yataghan with a karabela handle for $300, a Hungarian Kilij for $600... I got there something, no doubt

and my only justification for not getting more was the size of our luggage. Come to think of it, I could have bought another suitcase or used mail service... Moron

13th April 2007, 04:18 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Several years ago, I did quite well in Budapest: they have a slew of antique shops near Kalman Imre street . There were nice old Hungarian swords, tons of yataghans, kilijes etc. The prices were ~ half of the then-prevailing e-bay prices and many sellers had no idea what they were talking about ( every buyer's dream!). It must have changed since..... Detroit Gun and Knife shows used to be good, but going to Detroit is like roaming around Waziristan and waving Stars and Stripes

13th April 2007, 08:21 AM	#2
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Ah, Ariel, why you remind me Budapest! I was there a dozen years ago and I had found some excellent swords but I had no knowledge and I was not so addicted like today, so I didn’t get them. Later a lot of times I am thinking of these swords. Now you open again an old wound. Also I still dream the fine shamshir I didn’t get the same era from Istanbul. Today I could kill for that. BTW Istanbul now has triple prices than London.