Ending Shamshir Listing

derek · 7th April 2007, 03:44 PM

Just to clarify,

I didn't mention this thread to debate whether the sword has been reworked. That's obvious. A blade of that quality with those kind of fittings would be like Michelangelo taking a dump on his "David" to put the finishing touch on it.

And I'm not criticizing the seller. Most sellers don't have that much information on an item's provenance to give details, so you have to let the pictures tell the story. The pics were very good and did that well. I've got over 400 (all positive) feedback on Ebay and that's how I buy and sell.

What I started this thread I was just noting that a sword like this would not have sold for more than $350 just a year ago. Now it's not unusual to see items like this hit close to $1000. That's great for sellers (including me). Not so great for buyers (including me).

No one should read anything more into the reason I started this thread. I don't know why any responses were deleted.

-d

Rick · 7th April 2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek

Just to clarify,

I didn't mention this thread to debate whether the sword has been reworked. That's obvious. A blade of that quality with those kind of fittings would be like Michelangelo taking a dump on his "David" to put the finishing touch on it.

And I'm not criticizing the seller. Most sellers don't have that much information on an item's provenance to give details, so you have to let the pictures tell the story. The pics were very good and did that well. I've got over 400 (all positive) feedback on Ebay and that's how I buy and sell.

What I started this thread I was just noting that a sword like this would not have sold for more than $350 just a year ago. Now it's not unusual to see items like this hit close to $1000. That's great for sellers (including me). Not so great for buyers (including me).

No one should read anything more into the reason I started this thread. I don't know why any responses were deleted.

-d

That was what I understood your post to be Derek.
It's a statement/lament about the current market; nothing more.

Spunjer · 7th April 2007, 07:58 PM

derek,

i'm with you on your assessment; but to be clear, i wasn't responding or making a comment on your original post.

again, if there's any doubt, why not just ask the seller, who happens to be a member here, if he has any idea on the background of this specific sword. that would leave all the guesswork whether it was a rework or not. that is all...

FenrisWolf · 7th April 2007, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek

Just to clarify,

What I started this thread I was just noting that a sword like this would not have sold for more than $350 just a year ago. Now it's not unusual to see items like this hit close to $1000. That's great for sellers (including me). Not so great for buyers (including me).

No one should read anything more into the reason I started this thread. I don't know why any responses were deleted.

-d

All it takes is one or two new collectors with deep pockets and not much knowledge to skew the sales on a specific item, especially if you have buyers who want to start collecting edged weapons but don't want to take the sort of plunge necessary to get involved with, say, high-end japanese swords. One can acquire beautiful, museum-quality yataghans for a fraction of the price one would pay for a comparable katana....

Yannis · 8th April 2007, 10:07 AM

I met an old collector lately. His is stockbroker. His opinion is that prices are gone very high last years because there is cash available (not in my pocket

). If something goes wrong with the market, he said, nobody will give a dollar for our fancy blades.

We agreed that collecting like investment is good profit but also high risk. It works only in shiny days and there is no umbrella for the rainy days. So, once again... CAVEAT EMPTOR

Tim Simmons · 8th April 2007, 11:36 AM

I am always puzzled at how fickle prices can be and how high some rather questionable pieces can go. Judgements of completeness, concepts of quality and rarity seem to have no relation some of the time. It does make me wonder how versed some of these buyers are, or do their hearts take over their eyes, minds and money. It can happen to us all

.

Rick · 8th April 2007, 03:43 PM

I think one has to also remember that there is an emerging middle class in countries that never really had one before .
Some of these people will be collectors and are joining the consumer base for antique edged weapons; particularly from their own culture/s .

ALEX · 8th April 2007, 05:12 PM

Just my 2 cents: If we'll think of antique edged weapons as of any other category of antique, we'll realize that it WILL appreciate with time. Anything of good quality and old WILL increase in value, and there Always be a market for it. There are no exceptions, and there Always be money for an original, well preserved and of good quality item. Period:-)

Also, Ariel: I do not see any Turkish Ribbon pattern on this blade. It's quite undefined.

Mark · 9th April 2007, 04:04 PM

Spunjer and mavi1970: I refer you to the following paragraph in the "Posting Guidelines" sticky thread:

Quote:

Discussion of auctions should never include editorial comments about the seller. Please take those discussions to private e-mail.

I also refer you to the following paragraphs in the same post, and the highlighted passages in particular:

Quote:

9. VIKINGSWORD STAFF

The Vikingsword Staff is comprised of Site/Forum Administrators, Forum Moderators and Technical Advisors. Decisions made by Vikingsword Staff are not subject to public debate. Please utilize the board's Private Message function, or e-mail, if you wish to discuss a situation with a moderator.

Quote:

Although this forum does not and cannot review the messages posted and is not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we at this forum reserve the right to delete any message for any or no reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless this forum, vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises, Ltd. (the makers of the bulletin board software), the forum administrators, Staff, moderators and their agents with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s).

spiral · 9th April 2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

Just my 2 cents: If we'll think of antique edged weapons as of any other category of antique, we'll realize that it WILL appreciate with time. Anything of good quality and old WILL increase in value, and there Always be a market for it. There are no exceptions, and there Always be money for an original, well preserved and of good quality item. Period:-)
.

Commodes? Carving knives?

Both probably worth considerably less than they did 100 years if one takes acount of inflation.

Spiral

7th April 2007, 03:44 PM	#1
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Just to clarify, I didn't mention this thread to debate whether the sword has been reworked. That's obvious. A blade of that quality with those kind of fittings would be like Michelangelo taking a dump on his "David" to put the finishing touch on it. And I'm not criticizing the seller. Most sellers don't have that much information on an item's provenance to give details, so you have to let the pictures tell the story. The pics were very good and did that well. I've got over 400 (all positive) feedback on Ebay and that's how I buy and sell. What I started this thread I was just noting that a sword like this would not have sold for more than $350 just a year ago. Now it's not unusual to see items like this hit close to $1000. That's great for sellers (including me). Not so great for buyers (including me). No one should read anything more into the reason I started this thread. I don't know why any responses were deleted. -d

7th April 2007, 07:58 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	derek, i'm with you on your assessment; but to be clear, i wasn't responding or making a comment on your original post. again, if there's any doubt, why not just ask the seller, who happens to be a member here, if he has any idea on the background of this specific sword. that would leave all the guesswork whether it was a rework or not. that is all...

8th April 2007, 10:07 AM	#5
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	I met an old collector lately. His is stockbroker. His opinion is that prices are gone very high last years because there is cash available (not in my pocket ). If something goes wrong with the market, he said, nobody will give a dollar for our fancy blades. We agreed that collecting like investment is good profit but also high risk. It works only in shiny days and there is no umbrella for the rainy days. So, once again... CAVEAT EMPTOR

8th April 2007, 11:36 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,922	I am always puzzled at how fickle prices can be and how high some rather questionable pieces can go. Judgements of completeness, concepts of quality and rarity seem to have no relation some of the time. It does make me wonder how versed some of these buyers are, or do their hearts take over their eyes, minds and money. It can happen to us all .

8th April 2007, 03:43 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	I think one has to also remember that there is an emerging middle class in countries that never really had one before . Some of these people will be collectors and are joining the consumer base for antique edged weapons; particularly from their own culture/s .

8th April 2007, 05:12 PM	#8
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Just my 2 cents: If we'll think of antique edged weapons as of any other category of antique, we'll realize that it WILL appreciate with time. Anything of good quality and old WILL increase in value, and there Always be a market for it. There are no exceptions, and there Always be money for an original, well preserved and of good quality item. Period:-) Also, Ariel: I do not see any Turkish Ribbon pattern on this blade. It's quite undefined.