Fake Kindjals

[ariel]

Over the past 3-4 years, there was a proliferation of fake Caucasian Kindjals on e-bay. They were unmistakable, something like that:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2Oth-CENTURY-RUS...QQcmdZViewItem

Now, please look at that:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1
This is also a fake, but look at the improvement:
The blade is really old (overcleaned to the point of getting rid of smaller fullers, but still old).
The handle and the scabbard are machine- stamped but after that they were hand-decorated a bit, with new niello and some silverwork.
Overall, this is not real antique kindjal, but a very clever and not inexpensive semi-imitation.
To give the seller his due, when I asked him, he readily admitted that it was a contemporary job.
What about all those who never thought about asking because the item looked so good?
Caveat emptor...