Old sword or fake?

JamesKelly · 1st November 2014, 11:51 PM

those four holes near top of the hilt look very neat, like they had been drilled by a modern steel bit.

M ELEY · 2nd November 2014, 01:08 AM

My guess is that yours is a Victorian copy of an original. As you may know, during the 19th c., it was quite the fad to have old weapons to line one's library with. The demand became so high that armorers created copies of original pieces, some with more embellishments. Sometimes, the blades might be original or the whole piece was fabricated. Acid was used to artificially age the pieces, but in that they were from the 19th c., some developed their own patina over the years. The blade could be original?, but the grip on the hilt looks more decorative/ flimsy(i.e. Victorian copy) to me. Hard to tell and I'll wait to hear what the others say. Perhaps it's a real 17th c. broadsword-

If not, the 19th c. pieces still command good prices, just not what the original ones might bring. Theater companies seem to naturally attract the Victorian types, as they were donated for plays and productions.
Mark

fernando · 2nd November 2014, 11:30 AM

Yes, these things are so cared of, that can easily blind you.
James made a good point on the 'pommel' pits.
The blade looks fine, though. Maybe more pictures of it could help figure out.

1st November 2014, 11:51 PM	#1
JamesKelly Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Michigan, U.S.A. Posts: 108	those four holes near top of the hilt look very neat, like they had been drilled by a modern steel bit.

2nd November 2014, 01:08 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,087	My guess is that yours is a Victorian copy of an original. As you may know, during the 19th c., it was quite the fad to have old weapons to line one's library with. The demand became so high that armorers created copies of original pieces, some with more embellishments. Sometimes, the blades might be original or the whole piece was fabricated. Acid was used to artificially age the pieces, but in that they were from the 19th c., some developed their own patina over the years. The blade could be original?, but the grip on the hilt looks more decorative/ flimsy(i.e. Victorian copy) to me. Hard to tell and I'll wait to hear what the others say. Perhaps it's a real 17th c. broadsword- If not, the 19th c. pieces still command good prices, just not what the original ones might bring. Theater companies seem to naturally attract the Victorian types, as they were donated for plays and productions. Mark

2nd November 2014, 11:30 AM	#3
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Yes, these things are so cared of, that can easily blind you. James made a good point on the 'pommel' pits. The blade looks fine, though. Maybe more pictures of it could help figure out.