THAT WAS A FUN ROMP THRU THE SWORD SHOPS OF MANILA.
I AGREE THAT THE MAJORITY OF ITEMS APPEAR TO BE OF FAIRLY RECENT MANUFACTURE. NO DOUBT SOME BLADES AND FITTINGS ARE OLD ORIGINALS WITH NEWER ADDITIONS AND SOME MAY EVEN BE ENTIRELY ORIGINAL.
IT IS FUN TO HAGGLE IN SUCH PLACES AND I WOULD BE DISAPOINTED IF THEY DID NOT TRY TO SELL ME A BILL OF GOODS. BUT THE STORIES AND THE OLD THE GOOD STUFF IS IN THE BACK ROOM AND MY CHILDREN ARE STARVING IS ALWAYS FUN AND ADDS TO THE FLAVOR OF DOING BUSINESS IN SUCH SHOPS.
I SAW SOME ITEMS I WOULD HAGGLE FOR EVEN IF THEY WERE NEW.
THE THING TO DO IS
1. LOOK FOR THE QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP OF THE ITEM (NOTE THE FILE WORK ON MOST OF THE KRIS BLADES IS POORLY DONE) THIS DOSEN'T NECESSARLY SAY IT IS NEWLY MADE JUST THAT THE MAKER WAS NOT VERY GOOD AT THAT PART OF THE JOB OR DID NOT CARE.
2. THE PERSONEL APPEAL IT HAS TO YOU REGARDLESS OF IF IT FOLLOWS A TRADITIONAL FORM EXACTLY
3. IS IT A FAIR PRICE
A WELL MADE OLD ORIGINAL KRIS THAT HAS SEEN USE WILL HAVE A GOOD BALANCE AND FEEL IN THE HAND. OFTEN THE BLADE WILL BE SHARP ENOUGH TO SHAVE HAIR OFF YOUR ARM. IF IT HAS BEEN TRICKED OUT WITH A BUNCH OF FANCY NEW FITTINGS OR IS A NEW BLADE THE BALANCE AND FEEL WILL USUALLY BE OFF.
FOR EXAMPLE I RECENTLY LET MY FAVORITE SWORD GO TO A PIRATE MUSEUM OF A FRIEND. IT WAS A 1870 U.S. NAVEL CUTLASS WITH BRASS GAURD AND WAS A DREAM TO HANDLE AND WAVE AROUND.
I MISSED IT AND SAW A NICE LOOKING REPLICA FOR A GOOD PRICE ON EBAY AND WON, IT LOOKS NICE BUT HANDLES LIKE A FIRE PLACE POKER AND IS NO FUN AT ALL.
I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING SOME OF THE NEW VARIATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED BY THE WEAPON MAKERS SOME ARE VERY FUNNY OR GARISH AND SOME QUITE APPEALING. WHILE ITS NICE TO JUST COLLECT GOOD ORIGINAL OLD TRADITIONAL FORMS, THE WELL MADE INOVATIONS ALSO HAVE A NICH AND ARE WORTHY OF COLLECTING IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT.
STORE #3 WOULD MY FIRST STOP