Moro Kris on Pawn Stars TV show

Dimasalang · 28th June 2010, 11:23 PM

Anybody catch this episode last week?
Pawn Stars is a popular reality TV show which is based on a pawn shop located in Las Vegas Nevada. They feature many different items ordinary people bring in to sell or pawn. These items are then appraised by outside experts called in by the show for authenticity, afterwords they negotiate a deal on the item.
Last week they featured a Moro Kris. Looked beat. Blade looked real but in not so good shape(looked grinded down and polished, and was already rusting). The handle was obviously not original...it was dated 1901 but had what looked like a cheaply carved serpent head.

The expert quickly pointed that out. In the end, it went for a measly $100.

The seller was happy...he said his mother picked it up at a Church sale for $5. Either way, pretty cool to see a Moro Kris on a popular TV show.

Rick · 28th June 2010, 11:36 PM

Yeah, I like that show .
Didn't see that episode yet .

Battara · 29th June 2010, 12:27 AM

I'm with Rick. Love the show - missed the episode.

OO, OO, but it is on the History Channel tonight as a repeat at 8:00 pm!

Berkley · 29th June 2010, 01:07 AM

Cool show.

The episode is online here.

laEspadaAncha · 29th June 2010, 03:32 AM

I happen to know Sean. He's based out of the San Diego region (the History Channel flies him in for the show and puts him up on in a hotel for a week while they line up a bunch of "visits"). He has a ridiculous collection of European arms and armor (the finest privately-owned pieces I've ever seen are his, and they have a price tag to match!), and does a brisk business. He supplied Disney with the edged weps for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (which were all real, BTW)... But IMO, he undervalues ethnographic weapons.

Battara · 29th June 2010, 04:00 AM

Which one is Sean? Are you saying the show is rigged?

laEspadaAncha · 29th June 2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Which one is Sean? Are you saying the show is rigged?

Not at all... Sean is just (one of) the antique arms and armor experts the Shop consults with to determine an item's value. However, as it's not cost feasible for the HC to keep a production crew on location 24/7, they simply have a process in place to have people come back with the really cool stuff so they can coordinate their visits with appraisals by their experts for our collective viewing pleasure.

So they line up a week's worth of visits, and a certain arms and armor expert gets a free paid vacay to Lost Wages.

ThePepperSkull · 29th June 2010, 10:07 AM

I love this show. Informative to those casually interested in antiques of various kinds.

the employees/owners are amusing enough as well. Though I'm not very fond of Big Hoss' attitude somtimes. "Old Man" is always great though.

Ferguson · 29th June 2010, 02:23 PM

It looked like a separate gangya, so probably early 1900's. The "expert" said it was 18th century, so 1700's? I doubt it. But I would have paid $100 for the blade.

Love the show.

Steve

laEspadaAncha · 29th June 2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

It looked like a separate gangya, so probably early 1900's. The "expert" said it was 18th century, so 1700's? I doubt it. But I would have paid $100 for the blade.

Love the show.

Steve

Hi Steve,

I forgot about the (likely erroneous) age attribution. Nonetheless, I wouldn't go as far as to put "expert" in quotes... Sean performed weapons restoration at the Smithsonian while working on his postgrad - I would most definitely consider him an expert in antique arms and armor. However, most of us have areas of specialization that supersede our expertise in other areas, and I think he is no exception - I would say his knowledge of SE Asian and Oceanic arms and armor is not nearly as deep as his knowledge of European arms and armor from the Middle Ages through the mid-19th C.

Dimasalang · 29th June 2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

I happen to know Sean. He's based out of the San Diego region (the History Channel flies him in for the show and puts him up on in a hotel for a week while they line up a bunch of "visits"). He has a ridiculous collection of European arms and armor (the finest privately-owned pieces I've ever seen are his, and they have a price tag to match!), and does a brisk business. He supplied Disney with the edged weps for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (which were all real, BTW)... But IMO, he undervalues ethnographic weapons.

Is his collection in San Diego also? Im in San Diego...would be cool to check out his vast collection of weapons.

laEspadaAncha · 29th June 2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dimasalang

Is his collection in San Diego also? Im in San Diego...would be cool to check out his vast collection of weapons.

Another San Diegan forumate? Let's get together and have a couple drinks and talk about All Things Sharp & Pointy...

Anyway, if you want to see some of his collection, he puts a lot of his items on consignment up at Guy Stuff in Carlsbad.

David · 29th June 2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

It looked like a separate gangya, so probably early 1900's. The "expert" said it was 18th century, so 1700's? I doubt it. But I would have paid $100 for the blade.

Love the show.

Steve

Keep in mind Steve that they pay $100 so that they can sell it for $300-400.

David · 29th June 2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

It looked like a separate gangya, so probably early 1900's. The "expert" said it was 18th century, so 1700's? I doubt it. But I would have paid $100 for the blade.

As has been pointed out, their "expert" was not extremely familiar with Moro kris. Firstly this style is not unique to the area as we all know that there are Malay Sundangs. I think he also confused a bit or "kris" info with Indo "keris" when is mentions that they were carried every day by the common man since as far as i can figure the Moro kris is more a weapon of war, not something for everyday person self defense. The Indo keris OTOH, is carried daily by average people. His take on the "good luck/bad luck" hilts also didn't make much sense to me and i don't think this is a tourist hilt, just one that doesn't belong to this form of blade. It's actually a pretty cool hilt and i am wondering if it might be made from horn.

Lew · 29th June 2010, 09:05 PM

The kris looked a bit off to me. The was pretty thin down by at the base I think this was tourist stuff and would not have touched it.

Lew · 29th June 2010, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Keep in mind Steve that they pay $100 so that they can sell it for $300-400.

And as the owner says in 5 years he will wonder why he bought it in the first place.

Rick · 29th June 2010, 09:55 PM

Yeah, I think he took a real flyer on that piece expecting to reap $300 .

sabertasche · 30th June 2010, 12:57 AM

I watch the series on a regular basis. My wife hates it and mentioned that this show is really an antique show for rednecks". Not a very nice thing to say but.....well, pretty true. The show really represents an American flavour as there are always guns on the show as well as a desire to fire the guns bought by the pawnshop.

Others who attend the local gunshow say that much of what you see is really set up by the producers to make the show interesting and that the Chumly guy is really an actor. Whatever

It's a better waste of time then watching Cosmo Channel.

Greg

Dimasalang · 30th June 2010, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Another San Diegan forumate? Let's get together and have a couple drinks and talk about All Things Sharp & Pointy...

Anyway, if you want to see some of his collection, he puts a lot of his items on consignment up at Guy Stuff in Carlsbad.

Yes Ive been in SD since 79.

Let me know when you'd like to hang out sometime.

Never been to Guy Stuff...I'll stop by there sometime.

David · 30th June 2010, 09:18 PM

I would like to think that Chumlee is an actor because he's a pretty large waste of good oxygen otherwise. Sheesh!

What i don't really understand about this show, considering that most people are selling with no intention of returning to claim a piece, is why they don't just sell the stuff on ebay. These guys only offer them a third of the value at best. If they needed a quick sale i might understand, but in order to get this stuff set up time must be involved, so they could probably get more money on ebay in the same time.

Battara · 1st July 2010, 12:07 AM

Yea I see your point - low amount.

Just saw this episode and think that the expert is wrong - I would date it more in the early to mid 1800s.

Dmitry · 1st July 2010, 12:25 AM

The Pawn Stars is staged, in a pretty obvious way. It is entertaining, though. Saw a couple of episodes, but couldn't stand that fat kid. He's just annoying.

apolaki · 1st July 2010, 04:06 AM

The Pawn Stars is staged, in a pretty obvious way. It is entertaining, though. Saw a couple of episodes, but couldn't stand that fat kid. He's just annoying.[/QUOTE]

Thanks,

apolaki

laEspadaAncha · 1st July 2010, 05:59 PM

Kris. Pawn Stars.

David · 1st July 2010, 07:24 PM

Anyway it's about Pawn Stars and a particular Moro sword, which makes it relevant to this forum. Let's stick to the topic.

David · 1st July 2010, 08:07 PM

Dmitry, you had a bad experience with one set of "experts". If there was another problem on the show in the past with some other arms appraisers it would seem that it ran it's course and their scam was revealed. You have made an accusation of suspected shilling for which you have no proof. Even if this were the case this does not translate into "many, if not most" &*% experts being scam artists. I am not surprised however that their "experts" are not well versed on every kind of edged weapon or firearm that crosses their path, but i see no malice in that. It is to be expected. It should also be noted the the vast majority of what shows up on the show is NOT weapons related at all and that many of the folks that show up have no intention of selling their "treasures" so i hardly think that dealers are "filling the catalogs for the auctions they run" from this show.
This discussion is now waaaaay off topic. I strongly suggest it ends here and we get back to discussing this kris. If you have an axe to grind i would suggest you do it elsewhere.

Dmitry · 1st July 2010, 11:25 PM

The proverbial American fear of getting sued. Why not delete my posts? That'd be the easiest way to remedy this, I think, and totally understood.

Lew · 2nd July 2010, 05:16 AM

This is really getting out of hand here. Dimitry the forum is not a sounding board for bashing establisments that you may have had an unpleasant experience with. In the future if you have a gripe against certain appraisers or auction houses please use the PM option. I have deleted all references to the said show. Please stick to the topic of the kris.

Thanks

Lew

28th June 2010, 11:23 PM	#1
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Moro Kris on Pawn Stars TV show Anybody catch this episode last week? Pawn Stars is a popular reality TV show which is based on a pawn shop located in Las Vegas Nevada. They feature many different items ordinary people bring in to sell or pawn. These items are then appraised by outside experts called in by the show for authenticity, afterwords they negotiate a deal on the item. Last week they featured a Moro Kris. Looked beat. Blade looked real but in not so good shape(looked grinded down and polished, and was already rusting). The handle was obviously not original...it was dated 1901 but had what looked like a cheaply carved serpent head. The expert quickly pointed that out. In the end, it went for a measly $100. The seller was happy...he said his mother picked it up at a Church sale for $5. Either way, pretty cool to see a Moro Kris on a popular TV show.

29th June 2010, 12:27 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I'm with Rick. Love the show - missed the episode. OO, OO, but it is on the History Channel tonight as a repeat at 8:00 pm! Last edited by Battara; 29th June 2010 at 12:38 AM.

30th June 2010, 12:57 AM	#18
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	I watch the series on a regular basis. My wife hates it and mentioned that this show is really an antique show for rednecks". Not a very nice thing to say but.....well, pretty true. The show really represents an American flavour as there are always guns on the show as well as a desire to fire the guns bought by the pawnshop. Others who attend the local gunshow say that much of what you see is really set up by the producers to make the show interesting and that the Chumly guy is really an actor. Whatever It's a better waste of time then watching Cosmo Channel. Greg Last edited by Lew; 2nd July 2010 at 05:21 AM.

1st July 2010, 12:25 AM	#22
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	The Pawn Stars is staged, in a pretty obvious way. It is entertaining, though. Saw a couple of episodes, but couldn't stand that fat kid. He's just annoying. Last edited by Lew; 2nd July 2010 at 05:21 AM.

1st July 2010, 04:06 AM	#23
apolaki Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 160	The Pawn Stars is staged, in a pretty obvious way. It is entertaining, though. Saw a couple of episodes, but couldn't stand that fat kid. He's just annoying.[/QUOTE] Thanks, apolaki Last edited by Lew; 2nd July 2010 at 04:55 AM.

28th June 2010, 11:36 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Yeah, I like that show . Didn't see that episode yet .

29th June 2010, 01:07 AM	#4
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	Cool show. The episode is online here.

29th June 2010, 03:32 AM	#5
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	I happen to know Sean. He's based out of the San Diego region (the History Channel flies him in for the show and puts him up on in a hotel for a week while they line up a bunch of "visits"). He has a ridiculous collection of European arms and armor (the finest privately-owned pieces I've ever seen are his, and they have a price tag to match!), and does a brisk business. He supplied Disney with the edged weps for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (which were all real, BTW)... But IMO, he undervalues ethnographic weapons.

29th June 2010, 04:00 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Which one is Sean? Are you saying the show is rigged?

29th June 2010, 10:07 AM	#8
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	I love this show. Informative to those casually interested in antiques of various kinds. the employees/owners are amusing enough as well. Though I'm not very fond of Big Hoss' attitude somtimes. "Old Man" is always great though.

29th June 2010, 02:23 PM	#9
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	It looked like a separate gangya, so probably early 1900's. The "expert" said it was 18th century, so 1700's? I doubt it. But I would have paid $100 for the blade. Love the show. Steve

29th June 2010, 09:05 PM	#15
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	The kris looked a bit off to me. The was pretty thin down by at the base I think this was tourist stuff and would not have touched it.

29th June 2010, 09:55 PM	#17
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Yeah, I think he took a real flyer on that piece expecting to reap $300 .

30th June 2010, 09:18 PM	#20
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,127	I would like to think that Chumlee is an actor because he's a pretty large waste of good oxygen otherwise. Sheesh! What i don't really understand about this show, considering that most people are selling with no intention of returning to claim a piece, is why they don't just sell the stuff on ebay. These guys only offer them a third of the value at best. If they needed a quick sale i might understand, but in order to get this stuff set up time must be involved, so they could probably get more money on ebay in the same time.

1st July 2010, 12:07 AM	#21
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Yea I see your point - low amount. Just saw this episode and think that the expert is wrong - I would date it more in the early to mid 1800s.

1st July 2010, 05:59 PM	#24
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Kris. Pawn Stars. Last edited by laEspadaAncha; 2nd July 2010 at 06:36 AM. Reason: To retroactively make this post relevant to the thread.

1st July 2010, 07:24 PM	#25
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,127	Anyway it's about Pawn Stars and a particular Moro sword, which makes it relevant to this forum. Let's stick to the topic. Last edited by Lew; 2nd July 2010 at 05:23 AM.

1st July 2010, 08:07 PM	#26
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,127	Dmitry, you had a bad experience with one set of "experts". If there was another problem on the show in the past with some other arms appraisers it would seem that it ran it's course and their scam was revealed. You have made an accusation of suspected shilling for which you have no proof. Even if this were the case this does not translate into "many, if not most" &% experts being scam artists. I am not surprised however that their "experts" are not well versed on every kind of edged weapon or firearm that crosses their path, but i see no malice in that. It is to be expected. It should also be noted the the vast majority of what shows up on the show is NOT weapons related at all and that many of the folks that show up have no intention of selling their "treasures" so i hardly think that dealers are "filling the catalogs for the auctions they run" from this show. This discussion is now waaaaay off topic. I strongly suggest it ends here and we get back to discussing this kris. If you have an axe to grind i would suggest you do it elsewhere. Last edited by Lew; 2nd July 2010 at 05:02 AM.*

1st July 2010, 11:25 PM	#27
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	The proverbial American fear of getting sued. Why not delete my posts? That'd be the easiest way to remedy this, I think, and totally understood. Last edited by Lew; 2nd July 2010 at 05:31 AM.

2nd July 2010, 05:16 AM	#28
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	This is really getting out of hand here. Dimitry the forum is not a sounding board for bashing establisments that you may have had an unpleasant experience with. In the future if you have a gripe against certain appraisers or auction houses please use the PM option. I have deleted all references to the said show. Please stick to the topic of the kris. Thanks Lew