what is your view on reproductions?

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by chevalier

i own 2 reproductions (a filipino sansibar sword and a 1796 LCS)

i was just curious about an antique collector's view on repros.


i would think for some swords such as the various viking swords, repros would be the only way to go if you wanted something you could use, (ive never seen an original viking sword in very good condition)


anyways im just curious as to what the majority of people here think about them.

Well, I like indo-perisan stuff especially the armour and helmets, and to be brutally honest 9 out of 10 of the helmets I see on ebay are late 20thC but are stilll described as '18th/19th century' this goes for a fair percentage of the daggers and axes and even a few of the swords etc.
My view is that if you can buy a modern or modern-ish weapon which is produced in the same way as the originals for a quarter of the price a reasonable antique one would cost (if you can even find an original) then great, and I'm happy to have a mixture of old and 'new' in my collection. I just wish people would be a little more honest when selling as I still see far too many inexperienced collectors getting the shaft.
So, authentic reproductions are great, as long as you know what you're getting.