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23rd February 2008, 12:57 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kernersville, NC, USA
Posts: 793
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Agree that it's a fake wallhanger. The blade also looks like it has been welde just above the tang. The blade is way too thin, and the tang is way too small. Hilt is bone. That stinks. Sorry Bill. Chalk this one up to experience, and ding the seller with bad feedback if he won't refund your money.
Steve |
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23rd February 2008, 02:21 PM
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#2 |
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(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Bill
The hilt is bone without a doubt the blade at the hilt seems so thin I do not understand how it supported that massive blade. The break seems too far down to have been welded back in place. Was the box it came in damaged? It is definately a wall hanger  live and learn. I myself fell into the old trap recently of not asking shipping cost from a UK seller and was hit with a $70 plus shipping fee for a 32 inch long 2lb item.Lew |
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23rd February 2008, 02:31 PM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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What I would like is for the seller to admit this is a wall hanger, refund the rest of my money and let me return this thing.
I also feel that in this case, since it is an obvious wall hanger and was misrepresented, or at least silent to the blade thickness, that the seller should also refund shipping both ways. This seller has had a good reputation in the past. I don't understand how this happened. |
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23rd February 2008, 02:59 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Posts: 301
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The dealer does say...
"A SPECTACULAR WALLHANGER" and in the earlier description... "Material: Steel, bone & brass" Later, he mentions "Elephant tusk"... so which is it? It definitely looks like bone to me- and if an elephant tried to swing that thing around, with the thinness of the tang there's no doubt that it would break. Perhaps a ceremonial piece? Pretty cool looking, though... but if you're looking for functionality and 'elephant tusk' I would definitely ask for my money back. |
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23rd February 2008, 07:07 PM
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#5 | |
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 87
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Quote:
He also stated it dates: 1700-1800 and the values at:Est.: $1500-2000 I feel bad for you Bill , Collecting is great fun.  , but ethical values in dealers are as hard to find as.....an authentic elephant sword!Don't get mad get EVEN!  negative feedback all the way!  and what goes around comes around, hopefully a beautiful Wootz steel sword originally owned by a King will find its way to you for under $100 best of luck next time 
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23rd February 2008, 03:09 PM
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#6 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,658
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Quote:
surely this was misrepresented in more ways......stating that bone was ivory ...is the main one IMHO ....any piece that has a substantial hilt composing of Elephant Ivory would almost certainly be a 'quality item'.... Secondly, anyone who sells, handles or buys bladed weapons would DEFINATELY know such a puny blade would not be functional. (and I quote....."A fearsome blade" )Certainly the blade at the forte should be relatively thick to strenghen the area of the blade that undergoes extreme stresses when striking the target ....this 'sword' did not. . I have seen a number of eBay sellers who originally sold quality items ....now selling 'dross' ...misrepresenting many of their items.....getting over inflated prices for them....and getting away with it. I think the increasing interest in Ethnographic items, and some buyers lack of knowledge has made this situation worse. Even if you place negative feedback....it is likely 'he' will do the same for you with some 'made up' excuse. A sort of 'feedback blackmail'. Ebay is not the great marketplace it used to be......its a real shame. All the best David |
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23rd February 2008, 04:04 PM
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#7 |
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(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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As far as real elephant swords go I saw something on Discovery channel or history channel two months ago about the Mughals and the elephants were fitted on there tusks with some type nasty sword object I really can't see a sword being swung by the trunk in that way.
http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Empire.../dp/B000H5U5SU Lew Btw The seller states. According to an expert in the SE arms & armor this is an elephants sword made for an elephant. So in this statement he has laid claim to it's authenticity. |
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23rd February 2008, 05:24 PM
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#8 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,658
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Quote:
Hi Lew, I tend to agree, whilst researching the use of Elephants in Warfare I never found a reference to a 'trunk wielded' sword .....spikes strapped to the trunk, sometimes. More info about the tusk 'swords' (and pic) on this thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=Ceylon+spear Regards David |
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23rd February 2008, 05:36 PM
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#9 |
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Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,339
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Bill , was there no postal insurance on this sword ?
I would assume that the piece having arrived broken would be considered a total loss . 
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23rd February 2008, 04:43 PM
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#10 | |
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Posts: 222
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Quote:
http://pages.ebay.com/services/forum/new.html Of course, there are a lot of reasons a seller could legitimately leave negative feedback, but this change does fix the 'blackmail' problem... Sadly, it won't help in this situation though, but there's always Karma... --Radleigh |
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23rd February 2008, 07:38 PM
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#11 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,658
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Quote:
Hi Radleigh, interesting......but I have reservations....one sided feedback could cause problems for sellers. Buyers could threaten to leave negative to get a reduction in the price, etc ....so legit sellers could be open to abuse. Theoretically, a bidder could overbid to win the auction....then for a non legitimate reason could demand a partial refund, or threaten to leave negative feedback. I think eBay should find a fairer independant service to assess claims of this nature. Also, I have noticed some 'power sellers' seem to operate fraudently (misrepresentation etc) and yet, even though there are continual complaints from buyers eBay seem reluctant to remove the 'power' status  eBay seem keen to leave the onus and responsibility of transactions to the buyer and seller ...saving them any legal or moral obligation. I feel with more and more eBay horror stories that, eBay should take more responsibillity......afterall it is in their interests as more and more eBayers are losing faith in the present 'set-up'.What is also interesting is this on the listing..... "Authenticity Guaranteed: Senatus Consulto fully guarantees all artifacts and coins to be genuine in every aspect. Any detail regarding an antiquity that is not known to us, will be noted as such. All artifacts and collectibles are accompanied by an invoice which also function as a Lifetime Certificate of Authenticity. Any item significantly deviating from the information provided by us regarding culture and dating, may be returned for a promp refund excluding shipping and handling." .........perhaps it would be better just to send it back and swallow the postage charges ...however, how do you define 'significantly deviating ' ...personally I think it is ....authentic 'stated'... but I feel, overwhelmingly agreed (on this forum) to be 'not authentic'........ Two complete opposites....I think that 'significantly deviating'....don't you ? Last edited by katana; 23rd February 2008 at 07:50 PM. |
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24th February 2008, 04:40 PM
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#12 |
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
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I, of course, agree with Mark's assessment of this weapon. Several similar swords have appeared on the market in recent years. The first was obtained by a member here and brought to Timonium a few years ago where we handled and discussed it. That example was rather fine with nice silver koft and an ivory handle.
I, too, doubt these are elephant swords. Rather, they are likely ceremonial, decorative or "bearing" swords. The plate the seller used is the only such example I have ever seen showing an elephant holding a sword in its trunk. As Mark noted, it is a fantastical scene and you can see other animorphic characters holding weapons. Frankly, the thought of an elephant wielding a gigantic sword is such a terrifying vision that, if it were accurate, I would expect we'd see it depicted in art much more frequently. With regard to editorial comments about a seller, well, I see no problem if one simply reports accurate facts. The reader is free to draw whatever conclusion they like. This Website, and the Staff, are not responsible for the posts of any member: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4 |
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