Karabela :-)

ariel · 24th October 2009, 09:19 PM

Just ended.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_720wt_1167
Well, the Ottoman blade is good. The handle is a recent garage job, and the crossguard is from a Sudanese Kaskara.
Expensive dog's breakfast....
Question: does the blade alone justify the price?

Lew · 24th October 2009, 11:06 PM

Nope too much money for a composite sword.

Bryan.H · 24th October 2009, 11:24 PM

Although I like the blade, I don't pay mugs prices for edged weapons. If I wanted to fork out that kind of cash, I'd go to an antique/ militaria dealer that charges over inflated prices! But I rarely buy from dealers, and pick up edged weapons from sellers who have either no idea what they are selling, or antique dealers who are out of their depth with edged weapons and under-price their goods. For that price, in U.S. dollars, I'd pick up 5 or six swords of better quality over a 12 - 18 month period.

e.g I recently picked up a good 18th Century Kyber knife, excellent condition (However the Scabbard was original but very worn, missing chape), for $60.00 AUD. More modern examples go for $1200 US +. It's amazing what you can find if you spend a bit of time looking! I got it cheap because the seller spelt Khyber as 'Kaiba', so it didn't show up in search engines or alphabetically in the printed auction catalogue.

Jeff D · 24th October 2009, 11:43 PM

I vote nope!

The blade is a altered medium grade mass produced tulwar blade. The hilt is as stated, a mess.

Jeff

ariel · 25th October 2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff D

I vote nope!

The blade is a altered medium grade mass produced tulwar blade. The hilt is as stated, a mess.

Jeff

It is wootz, though...

stephen wood · 25th October 2009, 12:53 AM

...that's where the kaskara crossguards go

Jeff D · 25th October 2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

It is wootz, though...

The quality is not up to the wootz persian trade blades, but, better than the run of the mill mechanical blades. I suspect the spine of the blade has been ground off to accentuate the yelman.

Jeff

ariel · 25th October 2009, 04:17 AM

Picky, picky... :-)
I think the wootz is quite good and the blade was not altered. The rest, though, as we say.... Ugh!
As to where kaskara crossguards go, I am wondering where do kilij crossguards go? I am still looking for one...

Jeff D · 25th October 2009, 05:11 PM

Maybe I am getting too paranoid, but, the lines of the blade look off to me? Here are some of the images for the record.

Jeff

Atlantia · 25th October 2009, 07:08 PM

Just echoing everyones sentiments really.
Blade looks reprofiled, overall an uncomfortable marriage at a premium price.

24th October 2009, 09:19 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Karabela :-) Just ended. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_720wt_1167 Well, the Ottoman blade is good. The handle is a recent garage job, and the crossguard is from a Sudanese Kaskara. Expensive dog's breakfast.... Question: does the blade alone justify the price?

24th October 2009, 11:24 PM	#3
Bryan.H Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 51	Not for me! Although I like the blade, I don't pay mugs prices for edged weapons. If I wanted to fork out that kind of cash, I'd go to an antique/ militaria dealer that charges over inflated prices! But I rarely buy from dealers, and pick up edged weapons from sellers who have either no idea what they are selling, or antique dealers who are out of their depth with edged weapons and under-price their goods. For that price, in U.S. dollars, I'd pick up 5 or six swords of better quality over a 12 - 18 month period. e.g I recently picked up a good 18th Century Kyber knife, excellent condition (However the Scabbard was original but very worn, missing chape), for $60.00 AUD. More modern examples go for $1200 US +. It's amazing what you can find if you spend a bit of time looking! I got it cheap because the seller spelt Khyber as 'Kaiba', so it didn't show up in search engines or alphabetically in the printed auction catalogue. Last edited by Bryan.H; 24th October 2009 at 11:36 PM.

25th October 2009, 05:11 PM	#9
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Maybe I am getting too paranoid, but, the lines of the blade look off to me? Here are some of the images for the record. Jeff Attached Images

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24th October 2009, 11:06 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Nope too much money for a composite sword.

24th October 2009, 11:43 PM	#4
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	I vote nope! The blade is a altered medium grade mass produced tulwar blade. The hilt is as stated, a mess. Jeff

25th October 2009, 12:53 AM	#6
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...that's where the kaskara crossguards go

25th October 2009, 04:17 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Picky, picky... :-) I think the wootz is quite good and the blade was not altered. The rest, though, as we say.... Ugh! As to where kaskara crossguards go, I am wondering where do kilij crossguards go? I am still looking for one...

25th October 2009, 07:08 PM	#10
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Just echoing everyones sentiments really. Blade looks reprofiled, overall an uncomfortable marriage at a premium price.