Certificate of authenticity

ariel · 6th July 2008, 02:43 AM

For what it is worth...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320268645767

fernando · 6th July 2008, 03:04 AM

A wooden "cover" and a "metal" blade ?

The certifier must be a hell of an expert

Lew · 6th July 2008, 04:44 AM

Certified junk

Certificate was printed on card stock anyone with a P.C. and photo shop can make one and 5 bucks for a rubber stamp and there you go

Lew

Gavin Nugent · 6th July 2008, 07:32 AM

All good and well, but has anyone asked to see if this dealer stands by his product and product knowledge with a full refund?
As far as government registered valuers go with antiques and jewellry, there are many registered, as far a government registered valuers of edged weaponry, who can suggest a few for insurance purposes and there sure ain't any that I can find within my shores.

Gav

kronckew · 6th July 2008, 11:20 AM

oh, c'mon now, guys, be fair - i am sure the dealer in hong kong is reputable, honest and above board, after all them chinese housecarl swords, japanese, european, and russian swords that have come from there they do have a certain expertise. i saw a very nice german sabre i would have been happy to buy, except for the high shipping costs, it was lovely, especially the 'GERMANY' cast in the brass guard which proved it was real, and i'm sure the government is happy to issue export permits for real antique art treasures. the certificate even seems to say under the stamped siggy that it 'has been given to the best of our knowledge at the time and place of inspection'. how much more can you ask? i note this is also from the hong kong dealers thai branch.

this poor collector guy downsizing his horde of scabbords has had no takers for this fine piece of history. when i looked at the page, under the price it stated 'no interest till 2009' which made me wonder why anyone would be interested in 2009 if not now, but then it scrolled into an advert for mastercard - gotta check my ad blocker. too bad he could not take better pics, i'm sure y'all would be jumping all over this one. did i not see evidence that this was a wootz blade?

Gavin Nugent · 6th July 2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

the certificate even seems to say under the stamped siggy that it 'has been given to the best of our knowledge at the time and place of inspection'. how much more can you ask? i note this is also from the hong kong dealers thai branch.

Well presented kronckew

katana · 6th July 2008, 12:51 PM

The 'strange' thing is the web address (on the 'certificate'

) looks legit...

http://www.antiquetica.com/

Nicely put, Kronckew

David

Atlantia · 6th July 2008, 02:47 PM

What worries me most is when people make excuses for pictures.
As if every PC doesn't have the ability to lighten pictures or they live somewhere without the benefit of daylight.
Especially when they describe themselves as a collector.
Occasionally you see someone selling a sword who's obviously genuinely got no knowledge and just thinks that a general shot of the sword will do, but ANY collector knows what a buyer needs to see.
Blurry or dark doesn't cut it.

Having lightened this one, I really dont like the look of the woodwork, or the mounts, and the blade is quite ordinary.

Gavin Nugent · 8th July 2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

registered valuers of edged weaponry, who can suggest a few for insurance purposes and there sure ain't any that I can find within my shores.

Gav

Any directions?

Mark · 8th July 2008, 06:21 PM

Yeesh, tough crowd.

Not that I'm endorsing the seller or authenticator, but one should not be so quick to judge:

"wooden cover, metal blade" - English likely isn't the writer's first language & translations can come out even goofier than this. For all we know the Chinese character for "scabbard" also means "cover," and the one specificly for iron or steel could refer generically to metal as well.

Bad photos: the guy could be a bad photographer. His choice of a white background made his job even harder. I have had the exact same problem with the contrast using a too-light background.

Certified authentic: it actually could be the real deal - a rather low-quality dha from the late 1800's. The lacquered scabbard & handle are not unheard of, and in any event it could be a later "restoration." However, its very had to get an idea of what the blade (the really critical feature) is like from the photos, so it could be modern junk, too.

Just being difficult for ya.

6th July 2008, 02:43 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Certificate of authenticity For what it is worth... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320268645767

6th July 2008, 07:32 AM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	All good and well All good and well, but has anyone asked to see if this dealer stands by his product and product knowledge with a full refund? As far as government registered valuers go with antiques and jewellry, there are many registered, as far a government registered valuers of edged weaponry, who can suggest a few for insurance purposes and there sure ain't any that I can find within my shores. Gav

6th July 2008, 11:20 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	oh, c'mon now, guys, be fair - i am sure the dealer in hong kong is reputable, honest and above board, after all them chinese housecarl swords, japanese, european, and russian swords that have come from there they do have a certain expertise. i saw a very nice german sabre i would have been happy to buy, except for the high shipping costs, it was lovely, especially the 'GERMANY' cast in the brass guard which proved it was real, and i'm sure the government is happy to issue export permits for real antique art treasures. the certificate even seems to say under the stamped siggy that it 'has been given to the best of our knowledge at the time and place of inspection'. how much more can you ask? i note this is also from the hong kong dealers thai branch. this poor collector guy downsizing his horde of scabbords has had no takers for this fine piece of history. when i looked at the page, under the price it stated 'no interest till 2009' which made me wonder why anyone would be interested in 2009 if not now, but then it scrolled into an advert for mastercard - gotta check my ad blocker. too bad he could not take better pics, i'm sure y'all would be jumping all over this one. did i not see evidence that this was a wootz blade? Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 6th July 2008 at 11:56 AM.

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6th July 2008, 03:04 AM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A wooden "cover" and a "metal" blade ? The certifier must be a hell of an expert

6th July 2008, 04:44 AM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Certified junk Certificate was printed on card stock anyone with a P.C. and photo shop can make one and 5 bucks for a rubber stamp and there you go Lew

6th July 2008, 12:51 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	The 'strange' thing is the web address (on the 'certificate' ) looks legit... http://www.antiquetica.com/ Nicely put, Kronckew David

6th July 2008, 02:47 PM	#8
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	What worries me most is when people make excuses for pictures. As if every PC doesn't have the ability to lighten pictures or they live somewhere without the benefit of daylight. Especially when they describe themselves as a collector. Occasionally you see someone selling a sword who's obviously genuinely got no knowledge and just thinks that a general shot of the sword will do, but ANY collector knows what a buyer needs to see. Blurry or dark doesn't cut it. Having lightened this one, I really dont like the look of the woodwork, or the mounts, and the blade is quite ordinary.

8th July 2008, 06:21 PM	#10
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Yeesh, tough crowd. Not that I'm endorsing the seller or authenticator, but one should not be so quick to judge: "wooden cover, metal blade" - English likely isn't the writer's first language & translations can come out even goofier than this. For all we know the Chinese character for "scabbard" also means "cover," and the one specificly for iron or steel could refer generically to metal as well. Bad photos: the guy could be a bad photographer. His choice of a white background made his job even harder. I have had the exact same problem with the contrast using a too-light background. Certified authentic: it actually could be the real deal - a rather low-quality dha from the late 1800's. The lacquered scabbard & handle are not unheard of, and in any event it could be a later "restoration." However, its very had to get an idea of what the blade (the really critical feature) is like from the photos, so it could be modern junk, too. Just being difficult for ya.