Authentic? 13th c sword on eBay

Halfdan · Post by **Halfdan** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 2:42 pm

Just wondering if this looks legit. Like I have 6,000 etra bucks laying around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2193574643&category=1552

Jehan de Pelham · Post by **Jehan de Pelham** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 2:56 pm

Already been attacked on Swordforum. Opinion is that this is a fake.

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24809

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Jehan de Pelham

Brotherhood of the Gauntlet
"Ultima Ratio Regem"
http://www.brotherhoodofthegauntlet.org/index.html

Raibeart Lok De la Haye · Tue Sep 30, 2003 11:45 pm

I don't doupt that your friends on the sword forum know what the're talking about, but how does one authenticate from a pic on ebay? Without a metalurgical analysis how could you<= unless you were privy to who was involved with the dig, etc.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:25 am

If it looks and smells fishy?

I think it is in pretty good shape to have absolutely none of the grip left.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 6:44 am

It is foolish to make pronouncements from pictures without seeing the object in person. That said, I am doubtful of this particular piece - I'm not qualified to authenticate a sword, but the people I know who are would not stake their reputation on a picture without an examination.

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Bob R.

Jasper · Post by **Jasper** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 7:22 am

let see I have never heard of the museum.
What is a museuem doing selling on EBay.
No offer of supporting documentation.
Exactly where was it dug up, when,
What is the name of private collection

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 8:53 am

Guys, particularly Chef: one thing to consider is that EFTIS has a long history of this sort of thing. Obvious and egregious fakes. And they all seem to be rusted the exact same way...

13th c.?? Wow, and I had no idea that the blades in the palace at Visegrad had been dates so badly... I guess the Hungarians were just a couple hundred years behind on sword design...

Ned Chaney · Post by **Ned Chaney** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 10:45 am

This isn't the right shape for 13th C. More like LATE 14th C. This looks more like a hand and a half sword, or Bastard sword, or Long Sword, or Riding sword etc of the late 14th and into the 15th C to me. It also looks to be in too good a shape even with the rust. The rust hasn't eaten into the metal to the point where the blade has become notched.

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Quid Curone

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:21 pm

That's the problem with EFTIS... with all the time they spend producing fakes, they clearly are capable of making first-class originals of their own...

Thomas H · Post by **Thomas H** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 4:09 pm

doesn't medieval iron tend to have a darker colour when it rusts. i think it does anyway. just my 2cents

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coelum non solum(heaven not earth)
www.cafeshops.com/hayman

Raibeart Lok De la Haye · Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:55 pm

Come to think of it, yes, thats true. Without having the said blade in hand, one would be a fool to even bid on it.

J.K. Vernier · Post by **J.K. Vernier** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 6:13 pm

Actually, the color of the rust doesn't have to do with the age of the iron as much as with the age of the rust. Bright yellow rust has less oxygen in it and represents very new, active corrosion, and it will darken over time, even over a few months under the right conditions, as the iron obsorbs more oxygen and the red rust converts gradually to black oxide. If I found a sword in this condition, all bright and red right out of the ground, I would take immediate steps to stabilize the rust. The fact that the rust is so bright suggests that it was not dug up decades ago, as the dealer claims, unless it has been badly neglected ever since.