forum policy regarding ebay kukri fakes?

spiral · 21st April 2005, 06:06 PM

Thanks for the quick response Ian,

Well they are modern, the are sold for $5 in India, $20 - $50 in the states & £35 in England by majour arms reproduction companys.

They are all dated 1917. & have 37 on them.

The are copys of mk.2 kukris.

Which never had Brass bolsters & buttplate.

They are poor quality.

I have no idea how many of the sellers know the truth about them & whether they were duped themselves.

They often reach £150 on ebay. {nearly every other week.}

If you ask any kukri expert they will tell you they are fake. They reasemble true kukri in the manner the chinese reproductions resembe Ninhonto.

But I understand what you say about the potential diffuculties,as this is such a grey area, I will just say let the buyer beware!

cheers,
Spiral

Battara · 21st April 2005, 06:58 PM

And once again, the word research comes to mind.

Mark · 21st April 2005, 09:37 PM

One of the biggest problems that I have with posting specific information on how to spot a fake, is that it is likely to educate fakers as much as collectors. This has been seen in the nihon-to and Chinese sword (jian, dao) area, where the fakes have gotten a good deal more sophisticated, I am sure in part due to critiques and comparisons made on forums like these.

A difficult question.

As for posting fraud alerts in a special thread, as Ian said, this also poses some problems. We will get back to you.

sirupate · 23rd April 2005, 02:42 PM

Hello Everyone,

I fully undestand where Spiral is comming from and the kukri he is talking about is definately a replica being sold as a genuine WWI kukri, which under British Law is breaking The Trade Descriptions Act, and can result in a heavy fine, so they may be the best course of action. Also ebay themselves might under British Law have some resbonsibility, but not entirely sure on that one, providing the advert is based in the UK, and for UK customers.

By the way for those that don't know Spiral is one of the Worlds top authorities on Antique type kukri, so if he says its not genuine, you can bet it is not genuine

For me the question is how to get ebay to deal with false claims? Anybody got any ideas?

Cheers Simon

Rick · 23rd April 2005, 03:50 PM

I hope this is not slander : ( Mark , Andrew? )

I view eBay as a kind of panderer (of merchandise) ; now if you buy the (kukri) in the red dress and it has a social disease (counterfeit) ..... well that's your problem . They still get their percentage .

Look at all the Chinese junk being openly misrepresented there . Have they done squat about that !?

I think this is a serious problem with the venue and the ONLY way to protect oneself is to be educated .

Caveat Emptor wins the day gentlemen .

You can lead a fool to knowledge ,
But you can't make him think .

nechesh · 23rd April 2005, 04:27 PM

Hey Rick, i always thought it was, " You can lead a whore to culture. but you can't make her think." Dorothy Parker.
Sorta ties in with your red dress and social disease analogy.

Rick · 23rd April 2005, 04:57 PM

Poetic licentiousness my friend .

I think I misspelled knowledge , fool that I am .

ps / love her stuff .
The Algonquin bunch were awesome .

23rd April 2005, 03:50 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Fakes I hope this is not slander : ( Mark , Andrew? ) I view eBay as a kind of panderer (of merchandise) ; now if you buy the (kukri) in the red dress and it has a social disease (counterfeit) ..... well that's your problem . They still get their percentage . Look at all the Chinese junk being openly misrepresented there . Have they done squat about that !? I think this is a serious problem with the venue and the ONLY way to protect oneself is to be educated . Caveat Emptor wins the day gentlemen . You can lead a fool to knowledge , But you can't make him think .

21st April 2005, 06:06 PM	#1
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thanks for the quick response Ian, Well they are modern, the are sold for $5 in India, $20 - $50 in the states & £35 in England by majour arms reproduction companys. They are all dated 1917. & have 37 on them. The are copys of mk.2 kukris. Which never had Brass bolsters & buttplate. They are poor quality. I have no idea how many of the sellers know the truth about them & whether they were duped themselves. They often reach £150 on ebay. {nearly every other week.} If you ask any kukri expert they will tell you they are fake. They reasemble true kukri in the manner the chinese reproductions resembe Ninhonto. But I understand what you say about the potential diffuculties,as this is such a grey area, I will just say let the buyer beware! cheers, Spiral

21st April 2005, 06:58 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	And once again, the word research comes to mind.

21st April 2005, 09:37 PM	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	One of the biggest problems that I have with posting specific information on how to spot a fake, is that it is likely to educate fakers as much as collectors. This has been seen in the nihon-to and Chinese sword (jian, dao) area, where the fakes have gotten a good deal more sophisticated, I am sure in part due to critiques and comparisons made on forums like these. A difficult question. As for posting fraud alerts in a special thread, as Ian said, this also poses some problems. We will get back to you.

23rd April 2005, 02:42 PM	#4
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Hello Everyone, I fully undestand where Spiral is comming from and the kukri he is talking about is definately a replica being sold as a genuine WWI kukri, which under British Law is breaking The Trade Descriptions Act, and can result in a heavy fine, so they may be the best course of action. Also ebay themselves might under British Law have some resbonsibility, but not entirely sure on that one, providing the advert is based in the UK, and for UK customers. By the way for those that don't know Spiral is one of the Worlds top authorities on Antique type kukri, so if he says its not genuine, you can bet it is not genuine For me the question is how to get ebay to deal with false claims? Anybody got any ideas? Cheers Simon

23rd April 2005, 04:27 PM	#6
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hey Rick, i always thought it was, " You can lead a whore to culture. but you can't make her think." Dorothy Parker. Sorta ties in with your red dress and social disease analogy.

23rd April 2005, 04:57 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Poetic licentiousness my friend . I think I misspelled knowledge , fool that I am . ps / love her stuff . The Algonquin bunch were awesome .