A little bit of luck !!

[Maj-Biffy Snodgrass]

Around a year ago I purchased this little Somalian not so old Billao knife from a high end London auction at the cost of £40 uk pounds plus postage, buyers premium not included, it owed me around £65 all in tops, after buying it I thought, fool you paid to much for that.
I must admit that from the pics I had an idea it may be a gold alloy just by its look and colour so took a chance on it, but when a friend looked at it and said I think its solid gold I'll get it tested for you I agreed and the outcome was very very good.
I was very surprised when the mounts turned out to be solid 14c gold, obviously the knife was worth no more than I paid without the gold mounts and likely less, but, the gold landed me £1300 quid and I still have the silver fish eaten blonde horn hilt and blade in scabbard left, the description is below.
As Wayne recently said here on the forum, never trust an auction, truth is they are more than often wrong when it comes to antique edged weapons and this time they truly were, luck or sacrilege, that is the question. Snody

The description of the Billao is below.

An Islamic dagger, 20th century, the resin handle with yellow metal pommel and cross guard, the leather and vellum sheath with wire embroidery, 32.6cm long
The handle with several losses, some fraying wire to the sheath.