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Walter McCracken
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Sat 21 Jun, 2008 12:57 am Post subject: Father's Sword Collection |
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A female friend of mine recently had her father pass away and he was an avid sword collector, starting back in the 1940's.
She now has possession of his sword collection and wants to dispose of it but she doesn't want to play Santa and mistakenly give away a sword that may be worth a lot.
What is the best way to find out what the value of her swords might be? Is it possible to post some pics on the forum and get some of them ID'd and at least get a ball-park appraisal? If so, what size should the pics be for posting so as to not eat up bandwidth?
Thanks, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Walter
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Sat 21 Jun, 2008 1:23 am Post subject: |
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Click info in the menu bar and you will find an explanation about posting pics and the size of files that will work here.
You can attach up to 8 pics per post.
Here is a little help in finding the above info: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/faq.php?mode=attach
I'm no expert at what swords are worth financially but just saying " swords " makes it very very broad as the value can vary greatly from scrap metal value to priceless and the expertise can be specialized: An expert in Japanese weapons won't help you very much for European swords and vice versa. Expertise can be by period, culture, region etc .....
Well, if you do post some pics you should at least be able to get some identifications of swords as to what they are or supposed to be if authentic " antiques " or modern reproductions that in some cases can also be very valuable.
Trying to dispose of everything quickly is one good way to loose money if one doesn't do some serious research i.e. don't rush it and try to sell everything in one batch just to get rid of the problem.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Ed Toton
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| Posted: Sat 21 Jun, 2008 7:37 am Post subject: |
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I'm sure people here can probably help with some general identification, but if some of the swords are real antiques (that is, period originals or 19th century reproductions), you may need to go to a professional antique appraiser, or something along those lines. Establishing the provenance of antiques could be difficult if they're not accompanied by documentation. On the other hand, if they're all modern, it'll be a lot easier to get rough estimates, IMHO.
-Ed T. Toton III
ed.toton.org | ModernChivalry.org
My armor photos on facebook
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Walter McCracken
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sun 22 Jun, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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This is one of his swords. The card attached to it says "German Calvary Sabre" The length of the sword is 40 1/2". The blade is 34 5/8". The blade is curved, single edged with a false edge slightly over 11" long. There is a heavy rib at the top of the blade which extends to where the false edge begins. The blade tapers very gradually to about 2 1/2" from the tip and then curves to a point.
The hilt is comprised of a bowl guard, handle, and a top nut.
The guard is stamped out of a piece of heavy gauge steel and formed into a bowl shape.
The handle is made in one piece of a heavy composition material, knurled and ridged to provide a firm grip.It is black in color and riveted t the tang in two places.
There is also ma large, oval shaped cartouche on the blade that some Philistine partially removed part of with what looks like a grinders markings.
The above info is from the card he had attached to the sword...
I am attaching a few pics I took BEFORE my digital camera decided to cease functioning. I'll get another this week and try to get better pics.
I hope the pics show up. If they do not, I'll give it another try next week after I get a new camera. Sorry guys. If the pics are too large, please let me know so that I can do better next time.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time and efforts,
Walter
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Sean Flynt
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Andreas M.
Location: Innsbruck Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Tue 24 Jun, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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Unfortunately I can't help with the ID directly, but I know the maker of these swords.
Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie (Abbr. WKC) are a renowned supplier of military goods in Solingen, Germany.
If they really made the saber, then I think there's a good chance they can help you out.
Here's the link to their internet presence:
http://www.wkc-solingen.de
Maybe you can squeeze some info out of them 
Hope I could help.
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Sean Flynt
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Tue 24 Jun, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Sean Flynt wrote: | | I would suggest moving this thread to the "Historical Arms Talk" forum. More folks will see it, and I think you'll have a positive ID very quickly. |
The thread was originally there, but was moved here because they were just asking about how to handle the situation. By itself, that's off-topic. I figured that they would post the items in Historical Arms Talk (where they belong), rather than in this "what do I do with the collection?" thread. I'll move it back.
In the future, messaging a moderator is the best way to deal with something if you think it needs to be moved.
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Glen A Cleeton
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| Posted: Tue 24 Jun, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Walter,
As I indicated at Netsword, an 1889 cavalry sabre. When you get a chance, do put up a good shot of the arms, as that may narrow the location of use some more. I see you do have pictures of some of the other numbers and markings here. Hopefully someone can make sense of some of them, I am not well versed in these at all. It is sad to see that grinding on the blade and have to wonder if it was a common to dimilitarize these in this manner. I know it often was done with some arms from South America and now having seen this other marking have to wonder if it was from the stores of a Spanish speaking country or Portugal. Also as mentioned elsewhere, these were used by several European countries and individual states of Prussia. If the arms on the basket have nee obliterated as well, I have a hunch it may well have been Argentina or perhaps Chile. Just a hunch
Cheers
GC aka Hotspur
Ha, answering my own questions here. Yes, the obliterated bit on the blade was the coat of arms for Argentina. I do not have a timeline for use of these swords there.
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Walter McCracken
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue 24 Jun, 2008 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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Appreciate the help guys. I'll post some more and, hopefully, better pics in a couple of days when I get my new camera.
Thanks again,
Walter.
BTW, If the Moderator would make sure this post is in the proper area to obtain maximum exposure, it wouild be greatly appreciated. You guys are all great. Thanks
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Walter McCracken
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
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Gabriel Lebec
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Tue 01 Jul, 2008 11:31 am Post subject: |
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| Walter McCracken wrote: | | BTW, If the Moderator would make sure this post is in the proper area to obtain maximum exposure, it wouild be greatly appreciated. You guys are all great. Thanks |
Hello William. I merged your new post (with the pictures) to your old thread, since it's in the Historical Arms Talk forum anyway. Had your old thread remained in the Off-Topic forum it would have made sense to create a new thread (as you did) dealing with the items to be assessed themselves. Sorry if I'm contributing to a "mixed messages" atmosphere; basically I am saying don't worry about it, everything is fine as it is as of this post.
Very strange second piece you've posted. I'll reserve my own opinions on it as the last time I commented on something this far outside of my own experience I (predictably) failed to accurately identify it. Good luck,
-Gabriel L.
"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science." - Albert Einstein
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Walter McCracken
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue 01 Jul, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject: 2nd sword |
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The second sword I posted pics of has to be seen to appreciate the possible age it must be.
When I first saw it, I thought it might be a replica of some sort but on closer inspection the rather crude appearing manufactoring of it makes me think it is authentic because a replica would never have been so crudely forged. It bears no marks of modern toolwork. The scrollwork looks like "this is the best I can do with the technology we possess at this time".
Anyone have an idea from what era or geographical area it could have originated?
Thanks again,
Walter
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Gabriel Lebec
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Tue 01 Jul, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: 2nd sword |
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| Walter McCracken wrote: | | ...the rather crude appearing manufactoring of it makes me think it is authentic because a replica would never have been so crudely forged. |
Sadly I have to tell you that that is not really the case. I have seen plenty of inauthentic junk blades that redefine "abysmal" in incredible ways, and are then sold as genuine "masterpieces" to poor unsuspecting neophytes.
However, I am not saying that that is the case with the sword you posted. To be honest I am not really sure what that sword is supposed to be, or actually is. Looks vaguely southeast Asian but that's just me waffling (as if "SE Asia" was a homogenous geographical and temporal entity, haha...). The flat edge bevel of the guard - if you'd call it that - is sort of odd if you ask me.
I'm not going to be of any real help on this one. Looking forward to someone who at least recognizes the type.
"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science." - Albert Einstein
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Last edited by Gabriel Lebec on Tue 01 Jul, 2008 9:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Tue 01 Jul, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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I am guessing here, so I could be totally wrong, but it sort of looks to me being a Victorian era sword trying to be " Chinese " or
just a Victorian era " fantasy " sword ? Some of the work looks like it could have been turned on a lathe like the pommel ?
There is always the possibility of an original very old blade rehilted in the Victorian era ? A made for the " stage " theatrical sword ?
A Victorian piece, if that is what it is, doesn't mean that it can't also be valuable ? So, I wouldn't put it into a " no value pile " too soon. At least not until someone can actually give it a date or provenance.
This is why this identifying of numerous swords in a legacy shouldn't be a rush project as some may take quite a while to be sure what they are.
( Edited: From the post below I would say that I guessed wrong.  ).
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
Last edited by Jean Thibodeau on Tue 01 Jul, 2008 11:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Jeff Demetrick
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| Posted: Tue 01 Jul, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Walter,
Your second sword is a piece based on the Boabdil Sword. It is thought to be a Moorish Spanish sword. Lots of these came out of Toledo. You can see them on e-bay (different versions). google should find some more.
http://www.loveleaf.net/ts/506.html
All the Best
Jeff
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Gabriel Lebec
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Wed 02 Jul, 2008 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| Jeff Demetrick wrote: | | Your second sword is a piece based on the Boabdil Sword. It is thought to be a Moorish Spanish sword. |
So I was a few thousand miles off, no biggie.  Thank you Jeff.
"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science." - Albert Einstein
________
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Walter McCracken
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Wed 02 Jul, 2008 11:19 pm Post subject: 2nd sword |
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Thanks, really appreciate the help. The second sword had me totally baffled.
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Walter McCracken
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Joined: 21 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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This is a standard topic