Gorgeous Shamshir with... bad feeling

[M.carter]

Originally Posted by ariel

Here it is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1
The blade is wootz, no doubt about it. The silverwork is intact. But... bidder IDs are hidden. And the scabbard/handle are too intact and the design is pretty simple. There is a small dent at the upper part of the scabbard, but it does not affect any repousse.
I asked the seller a question and he assured me that the entire ensemble was genuine.
And then I saw this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1
Also a genuine wootz blade and also a very intact (too intact?) scabbard and handle. The joint between the blade and the handle is strange: the blade looks "burned" as if affected by soldering. And the silverwork is quite primiitive for that kind of blade.
I have bad feelings about both of these weapons.
I almost think that they may be coming from a single or, at the very least, related workshops somewhere in Syria or nearby. I am sure they can get all kind of old blades and then......
Any opinions? Please prove me wrong, I'll be the first one to cheer ( even though I was not the buyer).

The sword probably has a Persian blade.

They do seem to be "refurbished" a bit, but still, the newer Syrian work, isnt anything like the old. From what I examined, newly made Syrian scabbards are quite bulgy, big and heavy, unlike the old work, which this scabbard looks like. Perhaps all parts are original, only polished?

As for the wootz, its a strange steel, almost magical. If cared for, it looks new, even if it was over 300 years old, and used, which this sword has probably seen alot of.

Anyhow, that sword is beautiful, if I had the money, I wouldnt have hesitated to bid on it.