Nice Old Congo Sword For Comment

Lew · 23rd August 2006, 05:44 PM

Hi All

The sword arrived today and there is a problem I am facing. It seems that the sword has a weld where that rust line is center of the blade it seems to have been broken in half and repaired it is a good clean tight weld. Does this ruin the sword's value as far as you Congo weapons collectors know? Should I return the sword to the seller?

Lew

katana · 23rd August 2006, 06:01 PM

Hi Lew,
do you think that the repair is 'forge welded', or a modern weld?
Personally, I would feel that the repair detracts from its value. Seems strange how the blade was snapped...I cannot see signs of damage to suggest how it occured.
If the weld is a forged weld, perhaps it occured when first made, or soon after...... if this is the case IMHO then the value is only slightly diminished...... a modern weld.....well I know what I would do.

Tim Simmons · 23rd August 2006, 08:06 PM

Lew, a good close up would be nice. I have to say I do not recall ever seeing repairs as you show us. The fact that rust has formed on the weld suggests a relatively recent job and not forge welded . You have my sympathies with regard to how disappointing such a discovery must be on what would have been a very nice addition to your collection. I think if the seller purports to be at all knowledgeable about such items, and I suspect they do as the photographs did not show the clear join on the other side of the blade. Then you may have grounds for a dispute. Rather you than me. I have had this problem before luckily on an item that I was fortunately able to consider cheap enough to bare. It could so easily be very different and more painful. Thats ebay

Congoblades · 23rd August 2006, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Hi All

The sword arrived today and there is a problem I am facing. It seems that the sword has a weld where that rust line is center of the blade it seems to have been broken in half and repaired it is a good clean tight weld. Does this ruin the sword's value as far as you Congo weapons collectors know? Should I return the sword to the seller?

Lew

It's very nice, but I should return it to the seller. For me it's unacceptable if the seller didn't mensioned this repair

Flavio · 23rd August 2006, 08:35 PM

Lew, it's a shame

!!! Now you have to think first if the price that you have paid is still good for such a repair and second if you are able to find a sword nice as this one, because it's anyway a beautiful piece

!

Luc LEFEBVRE · 23rd August 2006, 09:59 PM

If the weld is well "tribally" done, it's not a problem for me.Look at this one:
http://lulef.free.fr/html/tk_gbaya_4.html
It has a big repair with a piece of metal and that does not ruin the value to my eyes.It's one of my favorite knife in my collection.
Give us some pics of the weld.
Of course it's depend on the price you paid for it...but Flavio is right this kind of piece is rare, and will you be able to find another one ?
Luc

Lew · 24th August 2006, 02:02 AM

Here is the close up of the weld.

Mapico1 · 24th August 2006, 09:16 AM

Hi Lew,
weld is not so bad but the area round the weld is done with acid to hide the weld(intensional for sure)
Luc,
yours is not only repaired but has a handle of an other trowing knife.....a Mbanja handle on a Ngbaka top.Piece of metal was to forge both pieces together and to give support...
Danny

katana · 24th August 2006, 11:11 AM

Hi Lew,
I agree with Mapico, the 'repair' isn't too bad, the use of acid to camoflage the join was surely intentional, unfortunately as the acid has attacked the 'softer' areas of steel and removed the stabilised surface patina, it has created pitting, and encouraged 'new' rust......hence the discoloured 'band' surrounding the weld. Still a nice item, I suppose it 'boils down' to how much it cost, as to whether you seek 'compensation' from the seller......perhaps a reduction in price would be an easier course of action....bearing in mind we are assuming the seller is honest and ethical.

23rd August 2006, 05:44 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi All The sword arrived today and there is a problem I am facing. It seems that the sword has a weld where that rust line is center of the blade it seems to have been broken in half and repaired it is a good clean tight weld. Does this ruin the sword's value as far as you Congo weapons collectors know? Should I return the sword to the seller? Lew Attached Images

24th August 2006, 02:02 AM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Here is the close up of the weld. Attached Images

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23rd August 2006, 06:01 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Lew, do you think that the repair is 'forge welded', or a modern weld? Personally, I would feel that the repair detracts from its value. Seems strange how the blade was snapped...I cannot see signs of damage to suggest how it occured. If the weld is a forged weld, perhaps it occured when first made, or soon after...... if this is the case IMHO then the value is only slightly diminished...... a modern weld.....well I know what I would do.

23rd August 2006, 08:06 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Lew, a good close up would be nice. I have to say I do not recall ever seeing repairs as you show us. The fact that rust has formed on the weld suggests a relatively recent job and not forge welded . You have my sympathies with regard to how disappointing such a discovery must be on what would have been a very nice addition to your collection. I think if the seller purports to be at all knowledgeable about such items, and I suspect they do as the photographs did not show the clear join on the other side of the blade. Then you may have grounds for a dispute. Rather you than me. I have had this problem before luckily on an item that I was fortunately able to consider cheap enough to bare. It could so easily be very different and more painful. Thats ebay

23rd August 2006, 08:35 PM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Lew, it's a shame !!! Now you have to think first if the price that you have paid is still good for such a repair and second if you are able to find a sword nice as this one, because it's anyway a beautiful piece !

23rd August 2006, 09:59 PM	#6
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	If the weld is well "tribally" done, it's not a problem for me.Look at this one: http://lulef.free.fr/html/tk_gbaya_4.html It has a big repair with a piece of metal and that does not ruin the value to my eyes.It's one of my favorite knife in my collection. Give us some pics of the weld. Of course it's depend on the price you paid for it...but Flavio is right this kind of piece is rare, and will you be able to find another one ? Luc

24th August 2006, 09:16 AM	#8
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Hi Lew, weld is not so bad but the area round the weld is done with acid to hide the weld(intensional for sure) Luc, yours is not only repaired but has a handle of an other trowing knife.....a Mbanja handle on a Ngbaka top.Piece of metal was to forge both pieces together and to give support... Danny

24th August 2006, 11:11 AM	#9
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Lew, I agree with Mapico, the 'repair' isn't too bad, the use of acid to camoflage the join was surely intentional, unfortunately as the acid has attacked the 'softer' areas of steel and removed the stabilised surface patina, it has created pitting, and encouraged 'new' rust......hence the discoloured 'band' surrounding the weld. Still a nice item, I suppose it 'boils down' to how much it cost, as to whether you seek 'compensation' from the seller......perhaps a reduction in price would be an easier course of action....bearing in mind we are assuming the seller is honest and ethical.