[Jim McDougall]

Interesting discussion of course, and most familiar, all views quite valid.

While I prefer to be optimistic, obviously there is more likelihood of weapons being presented as of this kind of antiquity being modern 'representations', and if an example is seriously being considered it is expected that expertise is required to properly authenticate.

One of the most common reasons noted by many dealers, experts in withholding descriptive detail here is of course that this information becomes important instruction to those engaged in deceptively intended examples.
This makes good sense, although it is good to bring awareness to those who may be exposed to fraudulent examples.

One thing I notice is, when these questionable examples are presented, seldom does the presenter offer observations on why the example should be deemed authentic. In other words, what research have they done to support authenticity, what sources, what comparative examples, what arguments FOR the authenticity of the example?

One of the most apparent characteristic features of genuinely excavated examples seems to me (very much a non expert) that they are almost invariably very rough with many inconsistent areas of decomposition, corrosion, and various areas missing.

The 'found in a river' apocrypha often employed comes from the case that many genuine examples have indeed been found in river beds, and well publicized. Many of these fortunately remain in recognized institutions and important collections after authentication by experts and scientific processes.
These are usually available through minimal research and seem like reasonable sources to properly evaluate examples in question.
It does not seem that the details given in these scientifically oriented reports have much benefitted the 'fakers', judging from the items they continue to produce and present.


First photo of a 13th century sword found in 1980s in a cave in Beckbury, Shropshire U.K. and authenticated through expert sources.

second, of the Linschoten sword in Netherlands from 1050-1150 and indeed found in a river bed.

It seems to me that the metals and impurities that existed in those days would be notably different than modern processing would produce and harmonize, and the chemical reactions that would occur based on the physical contexts in which the item was found would present dramatic inconsistencies especially over hundreds, nearly a thousand years.