A Warning about 'plug bayonets'

katana · 25th February 2012, 02:37 PM

It seems that the repro guard has been used on a similar bayonet ....interestingly the 'lot' was passed

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8233756

Matchlock · 25th February 2012, 04:13 PM

Hi David,

Thank you so much for pointing out this bad trend of faking plug bayonets, it just had to be said!

Over the years, I have noticed remarkably many dubious - to say the least - samples of that group coming into the market, both the later, and more decorative kind used for hunting, and the earlier, plain 'military' late 17th c. types. Not only are they found in internet sales but also in established auction houses.

So we are well advised to keep our eyes open and at the same time train them on the 'real' stuff.

Best,
Michael

laEspadaAncha · 25th February 2012, 04:58 PM

Thanks, David... just going by the photos in the listing, I would have been hard-pressed to not take a chance on this piece if the price was right...

I guess in this case, forewarned is not to be fore armed?

I have seen the same thing at regional (auction) houses here, with newly made pieces having mountings switched in an attempt to hide the forged aging. Sadly, repro houses (e.g. a certain cutlery house that can be found in the home of the Braves) are more-or-less facilitating this, muddying the waters even worse by flooding the market with newly made (and reasonably authentic) "blank canvasses" on which forgers attempt to work their black magic.

Best,

Chris

spiral · 27th February 2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Thanks, David... just going by the photos in the listing, I would have been hard-pressed to not take a chance on this piece if the price was right...

I guess in this case, forewarned is not to be fore armed?

I have seen the same thing at regional (auction) houses here, with newly made pieces having mountings switched in an attempt to hide the forged aging. Sadly, repro houses (e.g. a certain cutlery house that can be found in the home of the Braves) are more-or-less facilitating this, muddying the waters even worse by flooding the market with newly made (and reasonably authentic) "blank canvasses" on which forgers attempt to work their black magic.

Best,

Chris

As Matchlock points out & Ive observed Even the top famous originaly just English based auction houses regularily sell miss identified pieces & down right fakes... After all there smallprint excuses such over sites.

Cheers for the heads up Katana

spiral

25th February 2012, 02:37 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	It seems that the repro guard has been used on a similar bayonet ....interestingly the 'lot' was passed http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8233756

25th February 2012, 04:13 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi David, Thank you so much for pointing out this bad trend of faking plug bayonets, it just had to be said! Over the years, I have noticed remarkably many dubious - to say the least - samples of that group coming into the market, both the later, and more decorative kind used for hunting, and the earlier, plain 'military' late 17th c. types. Not only are they found in internet sales but also in established auction houses. So we are well advised to keep our eyes open and at the same time train them on the 'real' stuff. Best, Michael

25th February 2012, 04:58 PM	#3
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thanks, David... just going by the photos in the listing, I would have been hard-pressed to not take a chance on this piece if the price was right... I guess in this case, forewarned is not to be fore armed? I have seen the same thing at regional (auction) houses here, with newly made pieces having mountings switched in an attempt to hide the forged aging. Sadly, repro houses (e.g. a certain cutlery house that can be found in the home of the Braves) are more-or-less facilitating this, muddying the waters even worse by flooding the market with newly made (and reasonably authentic) "blank canvasses" on which forgers attempt to work their black magic. Best, Chris