The 4 letter "B"-word

[laEspadaAncha]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Personally, in my collecting days even though my budget certainly limited my horizons in what I could attain as far as types of weapons, I actually preferred the worn and often battered examples which the upper hierarchy of collectors termed derisively 'dogs dinner'. To me, these worn and battered old warriors had stories to tell that the 'museum quality' decorated and festooned items usually did not. The great book by Tony Tirri which I consider a goldmine for collectors is just that because it beautifully illustrates and classifies these very kinds of weapons in the types and condition in which they typically are found by collectors

Hi Jim...

While I have been fortunate one one or two occasions to acquire a presentation-grade example of a given weapon form, as a "regular guy" who collects on a modest budget, I wholeheartedly appreciate the value attached to these workman's examples by their original owners...

While more flashy, 'blingy' examples may look much, much richer and command a far greater price in the marketplace, the 'average' guy probably appreciated that one 'worker' knife or sword far more than the wealthiest man who could commission or purchase another piece on a whim, as it was likely to be the only one he had...

Best Regards,

Chris