This one is on Ebay, It looks like the real thing. Could be a picture from Records almost. What do you guys think?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem...tegory=355
(picture is a bit too big for me to include)

Unlike most medieval e-bay finds this one does actually look genuine. The inlays on the blade are correct for the general period. I'd really like to see some closer photos of the blade and the other components. Very interesting.

looks good to me. Just wish i had $5,000.00 or what ever it is. :D

Yeah, it looks genuine. The Templar connection sounds a bit contrived, though.

What I suspect is the same sword was previously auctioned, and came under discussion at the Medieval Sword Resource site.

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000084.html

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000089.html

Thanks for posting those links Scott. It certainly makes you feel more speculative about the sword doesn't it?

This is the primary reason why I hate these "Is this sword real?" discussions on the internet. There's so much that can't be determined by simply looking at photographs. (and one of the reasons why I hate e-bay, and never do business there myself)

Since antiques are the focus of the MSRS I'm sure that they have a more discerning eye towards these things, than we replica collectors do.

eBay used to be kind of a cool thing - now it is filled with either junk or suspect merchandise.

That being said - if that sword is a fake, it was a very nice job. But for that price one could have all 4 new Peter Johnson line swords from Albion ... it is nice to be a replica collector.

I agree with Patrick - trying to judge an authentic-looking sword by pics alone is very hard. There are swords that have tell-tale signs of being Victorian repros, but these swords with aging, proper dimensions, etc, are well near impossible to tell without handling them.

The sword looks good and proper to me. The description is a bit colorful ! Seven thousand something is a lot to gamble hoping for the real thing. I think it is what it says but thats alot of money. I think ? it's alot of sword but then I am not buyying it.

Tom