Thread hijacking continues
Do beware, Man in the High Castle is classic Philip K. Dick! I find the cited passages amazingly contemporary and insightful. Perhaps there was a burst of forgeries at the time as this came out towards the start of the U.S. Civil War Centennial in 1962.
Back to modern reality; as a necessity I scan these large shows fairly quickly (ok, perhaps 4 hours does not qualify as quickly) sometimes taking an aisle at full walking speed. In this mode I am drinking in the overall type of the items - i.e. martial long-arm, another, another - but not pausing long enough to look at any marking or other detail. One criterion only - is this what I am looking for today? No? - then not another glance. The sheer quantities of personally uninspected arms and armour must put me in this existential state of mind where I start quoting Philip K. Dick. Oh! to have a set of goggles that would display one color of glow around an out-and-out forgery, with another tint for fakes and a contrasting color for honest repairs and restorations. There were a couple of swords 'in medieval style' on offer above table at Hartford; I did not ask to take them down or even examine them closely, as a quick scan did not inspire much confidence for me in their authenticity.
I was burnt a couple of times when the eastern European fakes started coming out. The first of these, bought on an Internet auction, is pictured below. I have kept it as a reminder, hanging it impressively on a wall. As such things go this is a very proficient piece of work. It fooled me for a while, along with those I showed it to. It has a decent feel in the hand (tip - I have found this criterion to only be valid in the negative and disqualifying sense) and also has 'grain' though, in retrospect, perhaps a bit more of the wrought iron variety. As it ages, the applied conglomerates have started letting loose in sheets as the aging treatment continues to slowly react with the underlying metal.
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