Peculiar

[doctorcurly]

A year ago, I found a rapier on eBay that I positively squeed over.

It appears that a rapier identical to it is now up for auction by what appears to be the same auction house--along with a bunch of other rapiers (just search "rapier" on eBay and you'll find it. They appear to be billed as authentic or at least Victorian era reproductions. They'

Comments

[terpsichoros]

It takes them a year to make and "age" each copy?

How can you tell it's the same, when the picture is so awful?

[doctorcurly]

Look at the other pics on the auction

[mischiefmydear]

I also thought that it was likely that it took them a year to reproduce and finish each product. It's not unusual for sellers who reproduce items to use one digital image over and over, rather than take an individual picture for each piece.

(Also to add, I know nothing about weaponry, but I do know a bit about sellers practices, esp. those who are handcrafting items for sale-- both OOAK and limited runs, etc.)

[iarroganti]

I'm not sure.

The guard looks off to me, but it could be a central european style. If so, I'm curiouys when it is dated from because it feels like hybrid of different styles to me.

Then again, my german isn't non-existant, so looking at it I would not be positive that they are claiming that it is an original and not a modern piece. I remember Tri Barti in the Czech Republic used o make beautiful pieces that were aged to look like museum pieces, though they were very open that they were reproductions.

[iarroganti]

That should have been that my german IS non-existant.

[doctorcurly]

I found Christian Fournier's translation and commentary from the earlier auction:

Here's my rough translation:

19th century smallsword, straight thrusting blade, with four thin bands in the hilt. They, and the handguard, are decorated with a pearl motif, and star formation with open-work makes the front guard. The handle is of finely worked iron wire, with an oval, spiral-spun pommel. Quality workmanship. 114 cm (44.9 inches) long.

In other words, a straightforward description of what you see in the pictures. The length is almost certainly the entire piece, tip to pommel. By it's own description, the blade for sale on eBay was made in the 19th century. It makes no claim to being based on any earlier
piece.

So, not really a 16th century rapier, but then, there's a lot of people using things that are not really reproductions of 16th century rapiers... Just want you to understand that this really is a 19th
century smallsword...

XF

[iarroganti]

Oh, in that case, it sounds good, though not to my taste.

I'd say set the money aside so that you can get Darkwood or Arms & Armor to make the Spanish guard from KWAR.

[wadam]

Historismus im Stil des 17.Jhdts

I wouldn't say for sure, but my impression is that this could either mean a 19th century reproduction of a 17th century sword, or it could mean a modern historical reproduction. Historismus was an early 19th century artistic style associated with romanticism, but I suspect that it could also mean historical revival, in the same way that folklorismus means folk revival.

Could be wrong though; my German is very rusty.

[fencert]

Seems more likely that they might have access to a trove of identical swords... they very well might have been making them assembly line style in the 19th century. They could be letting them out one at a time so as not to glut the market for such things...

if they were making fakes, you'd think they'd go for something earlier...

[doctorcurly]

They've got quite a few other blades on the auction block.

[iarroganti]

I SO wish that I had not checked what else they have on auction. I feel so incredubly poor now. I especially want the Turkish Helm, and I think this is a swordbelt.

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/3650-Silberbesetzter-Kinzalguertel_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ28267QQihZ008QQitemZ180224028764QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

sigh.

[jamey1138]

The aforementioned Christian Fournier, here, with more German translation fun

[doctorcurly]

Oh hi! Didn't know you read my LJ.

*looks around for incriminating evidence*
*discreetly pushes a nondescript black box into the closet*

Thanks for popping by and shedding some light.

[jamey1138]

No problem-- I don't normally read yours, actually, but someone else referred me to this thread...