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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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Steve Grisetti
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 Posted: Sun 25 Feb, 2007 11:53 am Post subject: |
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| Thomas McDonald wrote: | | Vince tipped me off about this signed John Allan baskethilt that is currently up for grabs on ebay ! .... Wish I had the dough, Mac |
You and me both, brother! That sword looks to be in beautiful condition from a top maker.
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Sun 25 Feb, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Steve Grisetti wrote: | | Thomas McDonald wrote: | | Vince tipped me off about this signed John Allan baskethilt that is currently up for grabs on ebay ! .... Wish I had the dough, Mac |
You and me both, brother! That sword looks to be in beautiful condition from a top maker. |
Yup, although given that pommel (and possibly the grip ?) leads me to believe it's a composite piece !
The guards on that style basket would have most assuredly gone into a pommel that was grooved to accept them (see last pic for an example)
Signed pieces like these should always have some traceable provenance provided as well, least I'd hope so !
It will be interesting to see what the final price turns out to be !
Mac
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'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
Last edited by Thomas McDonald on Sun 25 Feb, 2007 1:44 pm; edited 3 times in total
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Sun 25 Feb, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Thomas McDonald wrote: | | ... although given that pommel (and possibly the grip ?) leads me to believe it's a composite piece ! .... |
Hmmm. Good point - that pommel doesn't look right, does it. I'd still like to have it, though!
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Mon 26 Feb, 2007 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| Steve Grisetti wrote: | | Thomas McDonald wrote: | | ... although given that pommel (and possibly the grip ?) leads me to believe it's a composite piece ! .... |
Hmmm. Good point - that pommel doesn't look right, does it. I'd still like to have it, though! |
Guess the seller didn't care for what the bidders were offering and removed it?
I'm sure we'll see it again at some point, unless he accepted a private offer ! Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Mon 26 Feb, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Thomas McDonald wrote: | ... Guess the seller didn't care for what the bidders were offering and removed it?
I'm sure we'll see it again at some point, unless he accepted a private offer ! Mac |
The seller had another relatively high value antique sword up for auction, and that is gone, too. I vaguely recall a statement in his offering to the effect that he reserved the right to withdraw the items if there was no response.
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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E.B. Erickson
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Tue 27 Feb, 2007 5:54 am Post subject: |
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Hi Thomas (and everyone else as well),
I don't know of you remember this, but maybe 5 years ago this sword showed up for the first time on eBay. It was offered by a Belgian dealer who didn't know much about swords. Myself and an SFI member informed him that the sword was an obvious composite, so he withdrew it from eBay. He then asked if I'd be interested in buying it anyway, and we arrived at an agreement (I really only wanted the hilt!). However, two days later he changed his mind and backed out of the deal. The sword disappeared....
Now here it shows up again, cleaned, and with fluting added to the pommel ( the pommel originally had no fluting), and hey, it's even from Belgium!
I guess I shouldn't be too positive about this being the same sword; after all, I'm just looking at photos. But if it's not, then it's the virtual twin to the one from 5 years ago.
--ElJay
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Tue 27 Feb, 2007 7:13 am Post subject: |
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Hi Eljay
Thanks for that information, I'd missed this one first time around !
Wish you'd been able to get this one, a signed JAS basket would have been quite the score !
(I'd be curious to know what he'd originally agreed to, pricewise, before backing out on the deal ?)
I'm always suspicious when a seller of something important uses ebay to move it, sets all these pull-out blurbs, than removes it ? Why not just set your reserve at the price you seek and stop playing the greedy-mystery game ?
The fact that they've played with the pommel, if it is the same piece, makes me wonder, too !
Still its fun to see things like this come up !
Thanks, Eljay ! Mac
| E.B. Erickson wrote: | Hi Thomas (and everyone else as well),
I don't know of you remember this, but maybe 5 years ago this sword showed up for the first time on eBay. It was offered by a Belgian dealer who didn't know much about swords. Myself and an SFI member informed him that the sword was an obvious composite, so he withdrew it from eBay. He then asked if I'd be interested in buying it anyway, and we arrived at an agreement (I really only wanted the hilt!). However, two days later he changed his mind and backed out of the deal. The sword disappeared....
Now here it shows up again, cleaned, and with fluting added to the pommel ( the pommel originally had no fluting), and hey, it's even from Belgium!
I guess I shouldn't be too positive about this being the same sword; after all, I'm just looking at photos. But if it's not, then it's the virtual twin to the one from 5 years ago. --ElJay |
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Todd Salazar
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| Posted: Tue 27 Feb, 2007 10:14 am Post subject: |
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Hi guys,
This is Todd and I was actually the winning bidder on this sword on ebay. It ended up going for approximately $8100 but ebay removed the listing and all this sellers other auctions before I could purchase the sword. I sent ebay an email to find out what happened and they stated that somebody slipped past ebay security measures and attempted to take over this sellers account. I guess what could've happened is that I would have received the information on a criminals bank account and then I would've done a wire transfer to an account that was not the sellers account. Anyway, he said that ebay has restored his selling rights and he is going to relist it as a but it now at my last bid before I won it for me to repurchase it. One thing is for sure, I don't want to lose this money! Do you guys think that this JAS basket is worth it? Anyway, let me know what you think. 
Thanks,
Todd
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Tue 27 Feb, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Todd Salazar wrote: | Hi guys,
This is Todd and I was actually the winning bidder on this sword on ebay. It ended up going for approximately $8100 but ebay removed the listing and all this sellers other auctions before I could purchase the sword. I sent ebay an email to find out what happened and they stated that somebody slipped past ebay security measures and attempted to take over this sellers account. I guess what could've happened is that I would have received the information on a criminals bank account and then I would've done a wire transfer to an account that was not the sellers account. Anyway, he said that ebay has restored his selling rights and he is going to relist it as a but it now at my last bid before I won it for me to repurchase it. One thing is for sure, I don't want to lose this money! Do you guys think that this JAS basket is worth it? Anyway, let me know what you think. Thanks, Todd |
Hi Todd
Interesting story, albeit a scary one !
Glad this crook was stopped, and that no one got burned here ! Let's hope his next auction is incident free and that luck is one your side, Todd !
As far as your high bid is concerned ....
I think (my opinion only) that an authentic signed JAS or WAS basket is worth that money easily !
Considering the cost of any good (ie: average) Scottish baskethilt broadsword/backsword these days, say $3k-6k, a piece made by one of the greats is easily worth that figure, regardless if it's just the basket !
I know I'd rather own a piece by one of the greats, incomplete or not, than a horde of the ordinary ones .... but that's me !
Best of luck, Todd ... keep us posted, Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
Last edited by Thomas McDonald on Thu 01 Mar, 2007 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
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GG Osborne
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| Posted: Tue 27 Feb, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Todd...get in contact with Donnie Shearer and feel him out on the subject of price. He is one of the few I personally know who buys, sells and trades "big boy" basket hilts on a regular basis. I would value his opinion a great deal if I were competing with one on the sale. The fact that, perhaps, Donnie didn't participate would send up a red flag as well. Best....George
"Those who live by the sword...will usually die with a huge, unpaid credit card balance!"
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Jonathan Hopkins
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| Posted: Wed 28 Feb, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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I came across this hilt by Allan in Leslie Southwick's The Price Guide to Antique Edged Weapons. Not only does it make we wish that I had been in on the antiques market at the age of four, but it illustrates that baskets by known makers commanded high prices 25 years ago. (See attachment)
Jonathan
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Todd Salazar
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| Posted: Wed 28 Feb, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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Hi guys,
Thanks for the good advice George. I will contact Donnie Shearer and get his opinion of the sword. I will update you guys as to what he says. Unfortunately, I don't know who the other bidders were as the bidder ids were kept private. Perhaps he already knows about it. I don't know but I will find out. 
Thanks,
Todd
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Thu 01 Mar, 2007 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| Jonathan Hopkins wrote: | | I came across this hilt by Allan in Leslie Southwick's The Price Guide to Antique Edged Weapons. Not only does it make we wish that I had been in on the antiques market at the age of four, but it illustrates that baskets by known makers commanded high prices 25 years ago. (See attachment) Jonathan |
LA 157 - Detached basket, inlaid throughout with strapwork, stars and pellets of brass. Signed on the thumb loops "JOHN ALLAN" and "STIRLING FECIT 1731", also neas the backguard JA over S. The two rivets which fasten the bar bearing the scrolled wrist-guard to the basket can be clearly seen, one between the letters J&A, the other below the S. The dovetail of this bar into the basket can also be seen above the initials J&A. (this is the item which appears to disprove the theroy, put forward by Charles Whitelaw, that the JAS mark was used exclusively by John Allan's son, John Allan Jr., as he was not admitted burgess of Stirling until 1741.) - Residing at the Museum of Scotland. -- Also listed in Cyril Mazansky's book 'British Basket Hilted Swords'(2005)as F15g(JA), page 115.
Photos: From The 17th Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue, via Christies.
Vince, Grace, and I got to handle, study, and extensively photograph this magnificent piece, on our last trip to the MOS, Edinburgh., and It was a real trill to hold such a special piece by this incredible artist.
Mac
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'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Jonathan Hopkins
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| Posted: Thu 01 Mar, 2007 7:58 am Post subject: |
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I should have recognized it from Mazansky. Oh well. I guess I thought it was interesting to see a price estimate for such a fine piece. You were lucky to get to handle it, Mac!
Jonathan
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Lin Robinson
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| Posted: Thu 01 Mar, 2007 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| Todd Salazar wrote: | Hi guys,
Thanks for the good advice George. I will contact Donnie Shearer and get his opinion of the sword. I will update you guys as to what he says. Unfortunately, I don't know who the other bidders were as the bidder ids were kept private. Perhaps he already knows about it. I don't know but I will find out.
Thanks,
Todd |
Todd...
Definitely contact Donnie. He is one of the most knowledgeable folks around and will not steer you wrong. If the sword is a genunine John Allan, then your bid is certainly reasonable.
Lin Robinson
"The best thing in life is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women." Conan the Barbarian, 1982
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Fri 02 Mar, 2007 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| Jonathan Hopkins wrote: | | I should have recognized it from Mazansky. Oh well. I guess I thought it was interesting to see a price estimate for such a fine piece. You were lucky to get to handle it, Mac! Jonathan |
Hi Jonathan
Thank you for posting that auction estimate .... it is very interesting to know what Christies thought the piece might fetch, back than ! (now I gotta research around to find out what the realized price was ? :-)
Obviously the Museum of Scotland was the winning bidder, back in 1974 (which the hilt is marked with), and I'm sure it was money well spent to have this in their collection !
Thanks, again, Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Todd Salazar
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| Posted: Sat 21 Apr, 2007 7:57 am Post subject: |
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Hi guys,
Well, I did it. I bought it and have had it restored. I had Donnie Shearer rehilt it to an authentic early 18th century Andrea Ferara blade and a newly antiqued pommel. It now looks as it should. Unfortunately, it has all cost quite a bit but in the end I feel that it has all been worth it. In addition, the pommel is a bit large but I feel that this was necessary because the tang was too long for the basket and Donnie didn't want to shorten it. Anyway, I'm pleased with the results. Let me know what you think of it. I'll have more pictures soon. Also, Donnie did believe that it was authentic. He will be doing more research for me this coming May on his trip back to Scotland.
Thanks,
Todd
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Last edited by Todd Salazar on Sun 22 Apr, 2007 8:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Sat 21 Apr, 2007 8:37 am Post subject: |
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Wow! Congratulations, Todd. Please give us more pictures when you get a chance!
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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