What were they smoking?

Lew · 14th July 2010, 11:12 PM

I was watching this on ebay. An old Omani khanjar with a rhino horn hilt but the blade is completely rusted away and the scabbard needs much restoration

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEDWX:IT

ariel · 15th July 2010, 01:40 AM

Nothing wrong with trying to sell it, but ...36 bids from 7 idiots is a sight worth cherishing!

Atlantia · 15th July 2010, 02:04 AM

Any chance the higher bidders were simply buying the Rhino horn for the Asian market?

laEspadaAncha · 15th July 2010, 02:12 AM

Remember, all it takes for an auction to be a successful one is two bidders...

On the flip side, when I attend brick-and-mortar auctions, I usually work with the couple guys I'll know to decide who's going to bid on what. This ensures we don't unnecessarily drive the price up on items. Sucks for the auction house, but works for us!

Rick · 15th July 2010, 02:27 AM

Is that 'ringing' ?

laEspadaAncha · 15th July 2010, 02:37 AM

I had to look up the term, and yep... that's "ringing!"

The couple auction houses on the regional circuit I hit up with these guys don't seem to pay it much mind. Maybe it's due to the business we bring at/to their auctions, maybe it's due to the horse trading we conduct with these guys out of auction, but either way, it works for us.

Now, with that in mind, there are other auction houses that get pissed if their customers so much as conduct business with each other after the auction. I guess the trick is knowing how each auction goes about their business, as each is different.

As far as those couple who do tolerate "ringing," there's still no accounting for the loose cannon "X" factor who will pay whatever they have to if something is purdy and shiny enough.

Lew · 15th July 2010, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Any chance the higher bidders were simply buying the Rhino horn for the Asian market?

Rhino horn has to be fresh they would not use a 100 year old piece in eastern medicine.

Emanuel · 15th July 2010, 04:06 AM

It could also have been bought to mate the hilt with a new blade and fittings for the Yemeni/Saudi high-end jambiya markets. I've read of jambiyas fetching much more than this, when loaded with enough bling and with the right attributed provenance.

Rick · 15th July 2010, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emanuel

It could also have been bought to mate the hilt with a new blade and fittings for the Yemeni/Saudi high-end jambiya markets. I've read of jambiyas fetching much more than this, when loaded with enough bling and with the right attributed provenance.

This is exactly what I am thinking due to the question asked of the Dealer .

Bet it went home for restoration and a new blade .

14th July 2010, 11:12 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	What were they smoking? I was watching this on ebay. An old Omani khanjar with a rhino horn hilt but the blade is completely rusted away and the scabbard needs much restoration http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEDWX:IT

15th July 2010, 01:40 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Nothing wrong with trying to sell it, but ...36 bids from 7 idiots is a sight worth cherishing!

15th July 2010, 02:04 AM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Any chance the higher bidders were simply buying the Rhino horn for the Asian market?

15th July 2010, 02:12 AM	#4
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Remember, all it takes for an auction to be a successful one is two bidders... On the flip side, when I attend brick-and-mortar auctions, I usually work with the couple guys I'll know to decide who's going to bid on what. This ensures we don't unnecessarily drive the price up on items. Sucks for the auction house, but works for us!

15th July 2010, 02:27 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Is that 'ringing' ?

15th July 2010, 02:37 AM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	I had to look up the term, and yep... that's "ringing!" The couple auction houses on the regional circuit I hit up with these guys don't seem to pay it much mind. Maybe it's due to the business we bring at/to their auctions, maybe it's due to the horse trading we conduct with these guys out of auction, but either way, it works for us. Now, with that in mind, there are other auction houses that get pissed if their customers so much as conduct business with each other after the auction. I guess the trick is knowing how each auction goes about their business, as each is different. As far as those couple who do tolerate "ringing," there's still no accounting for the loose cannon "X" factor who will pay whatever they have to if something is purdy and shiny enough.

15th July 2010, 04:06 AM	#8
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	It could also have been bought to mate the hilt with a new blade and fittings for the Yemeni/Saudi high-end jambiya markets. I've read of jambiyas fetching much more than this, when loaded with enough bling and with the right attributed provenance.