LONDON ARMS FAIR

Royston · 23rd September 2010, 05:19 PM

Anyone going to the L.A.F tomorrow ?

I'll be there and just to make it easy to avoid me I will be wearing a demin jacket and a black hat ( Yes, I know, stuck in the 60's !! )

Regards
Roy

VANDOO · 23rd September 2010, 05:28 PM

WISH I COULD BE THERE

GOOD HUNTING

RDGAC · 23rd September 2010, 07:19 PM

Well, had I known about it I might have booked a day off... and not spent so much money this month... still, good hunting!

Dmitry · 23rd September 2010, 07:20 PM

Good luck finding something to your[and your wallet's] liking!
I've heard a lot about this show. Is photography allowed?

Royston · 23rd September 2010, 09:25 PM

I am taking a camera, so lets see

Roy

Nathaniel · 24th September 2010, 03:42 AM

Wish I could be there! Looking forward to seeing pics :P

Royston · 26th September 2010, 02:39 PM

The fair had a lot of good quality items, unfortunately for me there was a lot of firearms and European swords which although I enjoyed viewing, I do not collect. Having said that I did come away with a Dayak shield and a nice Parang nabur ( can't spell the proper name !! )
Prices were very high but everyone I spoke to was very polite and friendly. Not one of the dealers said no when I asked to take photos.
Here are some of them.

Roy

Royston · 26th September 2010, 02:47 PM

More photos

Roy

Henk · 26th September 2010, 03:53 PM

My oh my!! Just lovely. Wished i was there.

scotchleaf · 26th September 2010, 04:06 PM

Given the attitude towards knives etc in Britain, did you have any concerns about leaving the fair with your purchases?

Tim Simmons · 26th September 2010, 05:42 PM

I am sure it was fun but looks very much expensive standard fare except this piece "no price visable"

stephen wood · 26th September 2010, 06:13 PM

...think I saw Royston melt into the crowd at some point

...it gets more ethnographic every time

While I was looking at a kaskara (there were quite a few there), the dealer asked me if I wanted it "for the blade". Shorty after I saw a kaskara blade quite convincingly mounted in a katzbalger hilt for £1400...

VANDOO · 26th September 2010, 07:45 PM

AT LAST THE LONDON ARMS FAIR IS NO LONGER A MYSTERY AS I HAVE NOW SEEN PICTURES. IT LOOKS TO BE A GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE DAY, I WOULD HAVE SURELY ENJOYED A GOOD ROMP THRU THERE.

THANKS FOR THE PICTURES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PICTURES OF YOUR NEW TREASURES.

asomotif · 26th September 2010, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the pictures !
What a wonderfull way to spend the day, even when most of the objects are military.And still end up with a dayak shield and a parang nabur (seems the right spelling to me)

Looking forward to pictures of the shield and parang nabur if possible

Also interesting to see absolutely no 1908 cavalry swords around.
Are they getting scarce ?

And a lot of wonderfull mameluke swords. they are so tempting.

Thanks !

Dmitry · 26th September 2010, 10:41 PM

Thank you for the photos!
To be brutally honest, I didn't see anything on the photos that would make me go WOW. Looks like it was great esoteric fun, though!

Gavin Nugent · 27th September 2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

Thank you for the photos!
To be brutally honest, I didn't see anything on the photos that would make me go WOW. Looks like it was great esoteric fun, though!

Thank you for sharing images Roy.
It looked like interesting viewing but I tend to agree with Dmitry, though saying that I did see a few pieces that made me go hhhmmmmmmmm niiice.
Nice to know you picked up a couple of good pieces for yourself too.

Gav

laEspadaAncha · 27th September 2010, 01:38 AM

Stunning sword porn...

This thread should have had a disclaimer so I would have known to get a drool shield for my keyboard before opening it.

Royston · 27th September 2010, 09:44 AM

Asomotif,
I was trying to write Beladah Belabang but always have a problem remembering both words after calling these swords Parang Nabor for years. Also P.N is a lot easier to say

Scotchleaf,
The sword was so wrapped up no one could have known what it was.
My only concern was a possible stroke while negotiating the streets, London Underground, Train stations and rail system to get home !!

Stephen,
Interesting to hear that. I have not been since about 94 and remember a lot more tribal from those days. Unfortunately I also remember the prices too
( with fond memories )

Royston

kahnjar1 · 27th September 2010, 11:06 PM

Hi Roy,
Thanks very much for sharing the pics! I note the comments from others about nothing to get real excited about, but in my experience the REALLY
good stuff does not appear at shows like this anyway. It usually ends up in "backroom" deals

Regards Stuart

23rd September 2010, 05:19 PM	#1
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	LONDON ARMS FAIR Anyone going to the L.A.F tomorrow ? I'll be there and just to make it easy to avoid me I will be wearing a demin jacket and a black hat ( Yes, I know, stuck in the 60's !! ) Regards Roy

26th September 2010, 02:39 PM	#7
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	L.A.F Photos The fair had a lot of good quality items, unfortunately for me there was a lot of firearms and European swords which although I enjoyed viewing, I do not collect. Having said that I did come away with a Dayak shield and a nice Parang nabur ( can't spell the proper name !! ) Prices were very high but everyone I spoke to was very polite and friendly. Not one of the dealers said no when I asked to take photos. Here are some of them. Roy Attached Images

26th September 2010, 02:47 PM	#8
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	L.A.F more photos More photos Roy Attached Images

26th September 2010, 05:42 PM	#11
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I am sure it was fun but looks very much expensive standard fare except this piece "no price visable" Attached Images

23rd September 2010, 05:28 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WISH I COULD BE THERE GOOD HUNTING

23rd September 2010, 07:19 PM	#3
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Well, had I known about it I might have booked a day off... and not spent so much money this month... still, good hunting!

23rd September 2010, 07:20 PM	#4
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Good luck finding something to your[and your wallet's] liking! I've heard a lot about this show. Is photography allowed?

23rd September 2010, 09:25 PM	#5
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	I am taking a camera, so lets see Roy

24th September 2010, 03:42 AM	#6
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Wish I could be there! Looking forward to seeing pics :P

26th September 2010, 03:53 PM	#9
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	My oh my!! Just lovely. Wished i was there.

26th September 2010, 04:06 PM	#10
scotchleaf Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 21	Given the attitude towards knives etc in Britain, did you have any concerns about leaving the fair with your purchases?

26th September 2010, 06:13 PM	#12
stephen wood Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 227	...think I saw Royston melt into the crowd at some point ...it gets more ethnographic every time While I was looking at a kaskara (there were quite a few there), the dealer asked me if I wanted it "for the blade". Shorty after I saw a kaskara blade quite convincingly mounted in a katzbalger hilt for £1400...

26th September 2010, 07:45 PM	#13
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	AT LAST THE LONDON ARMS FAIR IS NO LONGER A MYSTERY AS I HAVE NOW SEEN PICTURES. IT LOOKS TO BE A GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE DAY, I WOULD HAVE SURELY ENJOYED A GOOD ROMP THRU THERE. THANKS FOR THE PICTURES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PICTURES OF YOUR NEW TREASURES.

26th September 2010, 08:43 PM	#14
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Thanks for the pictures ! What a wonderfull way to spend the day, even when most of the objects are military.And still end up with a dayak shield and a parang nabur (seems the right spelling to me) Looking forward to pictures of the shield and parang nabur if possible Also interesting to see absolutely no 1908 cavalry swords around. Are they getting scarce ? And a lot of wonderfull mameluke swords. they are so tempting. Thanks !

26th September 2010, 10:41 PM	#15
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Thank you for the photos! To be brutally honest, I didn't see anything on the photos that would make me go WOW. Looks like it was great esoteric fun, though!

27th September 2010, 01:38 AM	#17
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Stunning sword porn... This thread should have had a disclaimer so I would have known to get a drool shield for my keyboard before opening it.

27th September 2010, 09:44 AM	#18
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Asomotif, I was trying to write Beladah Belabang but always have a problem remembering both words after calling these swords Parang Nabor for years. Also P.N is a lot easier to say Scotchleaf, The sword was so wrapped up no one could have known what it was. My only concern was a possible stroke while negotiating the streets, London Underground, Train stations and rail system to get home !! Stephen, Interesting to hear that. I have not been since about 94 and remember a lot more tribal from those days. Unfortunately I also remember the prices too ( with fond memories ) Royston

27th September 2010, 11:06 PM	#19
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	Hi Roy, Thanks very much for sharing the pics! I note the comments from others about nothing to get real excited about, but in my experience the REALLY good stuff does not appear at shows like this anyway. It usually ends up in "backroom" deals Regards Stuart