What are you sources to find antique weapons ?( internet, shop, places, etc... )

Freddy · 2nd May 2012, 04:34 PM

I live in Belgium, so as far as African weapons are concerned, a lot can still be found at fleamarkets and antique fairs. Problem is that you have to visit them regularly and that you have to go early in the morning. I'm not the only one looking for bargains.
Because the sellers in the Gent weekly antiquemarket know me for years, they sometimes put things aside which they know might interest me. Before putting a certain item up for sale, they show it to me. If I don't have to money to buy something right away, they keep it for some time. Afterwards, I always buy these pieces and pay what I promised. This is based on trust.

From time to time, I get to know a person who sells stuff that came through his family. There, the real bargains can be found. Mostly, these people don't know what they have and only want to get rid of the items. Again, you need to be first

Another good source are secondhand shops. It's the same as above, you have to go there often to find something. My last great find in a secondhand shop was a Mangbetu sickle knife with an ivory handle.

Ebay is also a good source, but most of the time the pieces are too expensive. Add to this the shipping cost.....!
I tried auctions, but these are also very expensive.
It's better to wait and make frequent visits to fleamarkets.

Last and not least is of course this forum. I have found very good pieces through trade with other forum members.

Tim Simmons · 2nd May 2012, 05:00 PM

Look under every stone as Freddy says early and often. The internet is the best way to get your fingers burnt never to see a return of your outlay. However Ebay can be surprisingly good if you are prepared to gamble, best on unfashionable pieces. Only buy whats in vogue if you have got deep pockets. Trade on the forum can be very good indeed.

Sajen · 2nd May 2012, 07:02 PM

What shall I add, nearly all is written in up. I collect weapons from Indonesia and the Philippines and have visited Indonesia many times and have get many good items there but the time is gone that you can still find bargain items there.

Regards,

Detlef

Clubs & Arrows · 3rd May 2012, 12:07 AM

I check the internet a bit, as well as local flea markets, and antique shops.......but I have better luck trading with antique dealers as well as other collectors. By networking and finding pieces that others can use, you can (through a series a trades) eventually end up with the piece or pieces you wanted, but can't afford to buy outright. I did it years ago when I collected old toys and comics, and have found that the logic still applies to ethnographic artifacts and weapons.
I've also found that at times a dealer is the best person to go for information (this does not apply to all dealers by any means), for the simple fact that they are are always hunting for as well as selling certain objects. A lot of specialized dealers also get the chance to see private collections when delivering items to customers or to buy from collectors that are downsizing. As a collector/dealer I must admit that there are a lot of "Snake Oil Salesmen" posing as specialist dealers, so take things that they say with a grain of salt.....and do your own research.

Rick · 4th May 2012, 09:07 PM

For those of you with messages waiting in moderation I would like to say that pieces can be found through networking within this forum and many of the other sources given above .

However, we do not make a practice of touting one dealer or seller or another in our discussion forums .

So, if your post did not clear it is for this reason .

We are here to discuss the items themselves rather than how to acquire them .

4th May 2012, 09:07 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	To Our New Members For those of you with messages waiting in moderation I would like to say that pieces can be found through networking within this forum and many of the other sources given above . However, we do not make a practice of touting one dealer or seller or another in our discussion forums . So, if your post did not clear it is for this reason . We are here to discuss the items themselves rather than how to acquire them .

2nd May 2012, 04:34 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I live in Belgium, so as far as African weapons are concerned, a lot can still be found at fleamarkets and antique fairs. Problem is that you have to visit them regularly and that you have to go early in the morning. I'm not the only one looking for bargains. Because the sellers in the Gent weekly antiquemarket know me for years, they sometimes put things aside which they know might interest me. Before putting a certain item up for sale, they show it to me. If I don't have to money to buy something right away, they keep it for some time. Afterwards, I always buy these pieces and pay what I promised. This is based on trust. From time to time, I get to know a person who sells stuff that came through his family. There, the real bargains can be found. Mostly, these people don't know what they have and only want to get rid of the items. Again, you need to be first Another good source are secondhand shops. It's the same as above, you have to go there often to find something. My last great find in a secondhand shop was a Mangbetu sickle knife with an ivory handle. Ebay is also a good source, but most of the time the pieces are too expensive. Add to this the shipping cost.....! I tried auctions, but these are also very expensive. It's better to wait and make frequent visits to fleamarkets. Last and not least is of course this forum. I have found very good pieces through trade with other forum members.

2nd May 2012, 05:00 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Look under every stone as Freddy says early and often. The internet is the best way to get your fingers burnt never to see a return of your outlay. However Ebay can be surprisingly good if you are prepared to gamble, best on unfashionable pieces. Only buy whats in vogue if you have got deep pockets. Trade on the forum can be very good indeed.

2nd May 2012, 07:02 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	What shall I add, nearly all is written in up. I collect weapons from Indonesia and the Philippines and have visited Indonesia many times and have get many good items there but the time is gone that you can still find bargain items there. Regards, Detlef

3rd May 2012, 12:07 AM	#4
Clubs & Arrows Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Gabriel Foothills, Southern California Posts: 94	I check the internet a bit, as well as local flea markets, and antique shops.......but I have better luck trading with antique dealers as well as other collectors. By networking and finding pieces that others can use, you can (through a series a trades) eventually end up with the piece or pieces you wanted, but can't afford to buy outright. I did it years ago when I collected old toys and comics, and have found that the logic still applies to ethnographic artifacts and weapons. I've also found that at times a dealer is the best person to go for information (this does not apply to all dealers by any means), for the simple fact that they are are always hunting for as well as selling certain objects. A lot of specialized dealers also get the chance to see private collections when delivering items to customers or to buy from collectors that are downsizing. As a collector/dealer I must admit that there are a lot of "Snake Oil Salesmen" posing as specialist dealers, so take things that they say with a grain of salt.....and do your own research.