This one is for Bill Marsh: what is it?

[DaveS]

Ben: I have to agree, that at that price it is probably a newer piece. However the low price sometimes dosn't mean too much as sometimes people really don't know what they might have. Pictures sometimes fool even know-ledgeable collectors. I told Bill and Ann a story of what happened at a knife show that Cecil Querino and i were doing years ago. A fellow came to my table with pictures of what was an Indonesian klewang. It had hair on the pommel and all the other trimmings that we sometimes see. Upon looking at the pictures, Cecil and i calmly and confidently told the man that this was a gaudy tourist sword, not worth much. The man thank us and went on his way. A year later at the same show this same man came back to my table, this time with piece in hand. When Cecil and i saw it in person we were completly and totaly shocked! This was ABSOLUTELY NOT a tourist piece. It was the real deal, and both of us felt a little bit humbled by the experience. What i learned was not to jump to snap judgements when evaluating a sword from pictures, even good ones because they can be very decieving. I really believe that pictures tell us NOTHING about age, or even condition, as some very old pieces might have been very well kept and not used very much, but old nevertheless. This is why i also think that there are some pieces on ebay that often get passed over as new, when they really are not. I just don't trust making an evaluation as to age anymore based on pictures. Oh well, just my ramblings.............Dave