Tibetan sword: real?????

kai · 10th June 2007, 12:56 AM

Quote:

I'm not certain...but the blade surface looks slightly 'ripple-ed' . It suggests to me ,assuming this is a fake, that perhaps it was 'acid etched' with areas 'masked off' with wax

Hmm, just fairy tales? Sure, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this is a 21st century piece. OTOH, the laminations in question look interesting and much better than anything I've seen achieved by wax and acid etching.

http://www.tibet-buddhism.com/buddhist/mrm/b2310-7.JPG
http://www.tibet-buddhism.com/buddhist/mrm/b2310-8.JPG
In these 2 close-ups the blade looks laminated to me: there seem to be forging flaws which may follow the staining pattern. Even the surface rust seems to partially follow the laminations:
http://www.tibet-buddhism.com/buddhist/mrm/b2310-11.JPG

I'd certainly like to see high-rez pics before betting much money though.
If this really happens to be a paint job, I'm going to reetch any wootz blade myself before buying in the future!

BTW, I can't see what's so difficult about the hairpin pattern that it can't be reproduced by the Chinese facilities (or a competent rural blacksmith in the middle of nowhere for that matter) - the Chinese fakers have already been pouring out pretty complex laminated blades for years. Would be much more interesting to verify wether this really has an inserted steel edge with a good hardness...

Regards,
Kai

kai · 10th June 2007, 12:59 AM

Spiral beat me to it...

BTW, is it just me or are others also encountering frequent vikingsword server timeout errors lately?

Rick · 10th June 2007, 02:54 AM

Hello Kai,
Yes the site has been running slowly for me too.
I'm on cable.

Oriental-Arms · 10th June 2007, 07:09 PM

I think it is not a fake. The blade is real and early, 1900 or so. Spiral gave all the good reasons for it. The handle and the scabbard are crudely made but made for use and not for sale to tourists. both are mid 20 C. or a bit earlier. The only suspicious part may be the scabbard tip, but also this IMHO is a crudely made tip to cover a possible damage to the leather.

Bill M · 10th June 2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oriental-Arms

I think it is not a fake. The blade is real and early, 1900 or so. Spiral gave all the good reasons for it. The handle and the scabbard are crudely made but made for use and not for sale to tourists. both are mid 20 C. or a bit earlier. The only suspicious part may be the scabbard tip, but also this IMHO is a crudely made tip to cover a possible damage to the leather.

Suddenly and for some strange reason, I am interested in this sword!

Like I said, I always liked it..........

dennee · 10th June 2007, 07:43 PM

The only thing that bothers me is that this is the third sword I have seen in a week (in photos) with horn grips, something that is not rare but certainly less common among Tibetan swords. One of them had a similar chape although of white metal and a little better quality. The pommels of the other two were different from this one but similar to each other. This pommel is of a southeastern type, seen among the Poba, etc.

Each of the three swords is convincing to a different degree, but it is the coincidence that bothers me. And I do think the scabbard stitching is poor, although the scabbard form is an authentic one.

Bill M · 10th June 2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennee

The only thing that bothers me is that this is the third sword I have seen in a week (in photos) with horn grips, something that is not rare but certainly less common among Tibetan swords. One of them had a similar chape although of white metal and a little better quality. The pommels of the other two were different from this one but similar to each other. This pommel is of a southeastern type, seen among the Poba, etc.

Each of the three swords is convincing to a different degree, but it is the coincidence that bothers me. And I do think the scabbard stitching is poor, although the scabbard form is an authentic one.

True, dennee, you have a point. Hmmm

VANDOO · 10th June 2007, 10:07 PM

THE RED CORAL LOOKS LIKE THE DYED CORAL COMING OUT OF CHINA IN MASS. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GOOD CHINESE FORGERYS CAN BE TAKE A LOOK AT EBAY ITEM 160122843989. THEY ARE MAKEING SOME VERY CONVINCING OLD AMERICAN COINS SO FAR THEY ARE LISTED AS COPYS OR REPLICAS I GUESS TO AVOID BREAKING COUNTERFIT LAWS TO BLATANTLY. I WAS LOOKING AT THE SMALL STONE CARVINGS WHEN I RAN ACROSS THE COINS. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WIDE VARIETY OF COINS BEING MADE SEE THE SELLERS OTHER ITEMS.

10th June 2007, 02:54 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Slow Hello Kai, Yes the site has been running slowly for me too. I'm on cable.

10th June 2007, 10:07 PM	#8
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE RED CORAL LOOKS LIKE THE DYED CORAL COMING OUT OF CHINA IN MASS. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GOOD CHINESE FORGERYS CAN BE TAKE A LOOK AT EBAY ITEM 160122843989. THEY ARE MAKEING SOME VERY CONVINCING OLD AMERICAN COINS SO FAR THEY ARE LISTED AS COPYS OR REPLICAS I GUESS TO AVOID BREAKING COUNTERFIT LAWS TO BLATANTLY. I WAS LOOKING AT THE SMALL STONE CARVINGS WHEN I RAN ACROSS THE COINS. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WIDE VARIETY OF COINS BEING MADE SEE THE SELLERS OTHER ITEMS. Last edited by VANDOO; 10th June 2007 at 10:42 PM.

10th June 2007, 12:59 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Spiral beat me to it... BTW, is it just me or are others also encountering frequent vikingsword server timeout errors lately?

10th June 2007, 07:09 PM	#4
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	I think it is not a fake. The blade is real and early, 1900 or so. Spiral gave all the good reasons for it. The handle and the scabbard are crudely made but made for use and not for sale to tourists. both are mid 20 C. or a bit earlier. The only suspicious part may be the scabbard tip, but also this IMHO is a crudely made tip to cover a possible damage to the leather.

10th June 2007, 07:43 PM	#6
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	The only thing that bothers me is that this is the third sword I have seen in a week (in photos) with horn grips, something that is not rare but certainly less common among Tibetan swords. One of them had a similar chape although of white metal and a little better quality. The pommels of the other two were different from this one but similar to each other. This pommel is of a southeastern type, seen among the Poba, etc. Each of the three swords is convincing to a different degree, but it is the coincidence that bothers me. And I do think the scabbard stitching is poor, although the scabbard form is an authentic one.