Morning Gentlemen,
I have a few thoughts on my experience of attending a large show (the SOS) for the first time that I thought I'd share.
I lobbed into Louisville to achieve 2 objectives: 1. To pick up and return safe hand to NZ a handful,of daggers pre purchased from Bill Shae. 2. Meet some of the big names in the dealer field, and eyeball a couple of very rare and expensive high end blades being offered for sale.
What did I learn?
Well, the first lesson is don't show people what you've purchased.
Being a New Zealander, and therefore naturally gregarious, when I met people and we swapped info about what we had respectively purchased, and was asked to show my 'beauties', I was happy to do so. I enjoy the social side of this collecting 'disease' a d like to see what other guys have purchased, hear about the piece, and hopefully learn a thing or two about 'stuff'. Alas, this seems not to be a good idea...
In a number of cases, people cast their eye over the inscribed blades and airily declared them to be either fake, or misrepresented in some way. A Russian 'expert' in inscriptions poured over one blade and declared that the inscription was inconsistent with the runner markings. And on this basis - it was bogus. He didn't know, and I didn't enlighten him, that the blade had started life as a Full Rohm, subsequently ground, with a Furth School inscription added post grinding - so the original runner marks WOULD be 'beneath' the inscription. None the less, as soon as he had made his judgement call - that became 'gospel' with his Russian comrades. The Rooskies love nothing more than sticking it to Yank dealers.....
Another quite drunk American, having confessed no expertise in the dagger field called 'BS' on my Himmler Inscription on the basis of a slight asymmetrical shrinkage of the grip. During the course of my and a friendly Australian (our natural best friends AND mortal enemies) rebuttal of his argument learned that this bloke didn't know what ebony was....a wood. He then went on to slander EVERY dealers name that I put to him as 'good' dealers. Apparently, every top dealer is a crook in this blokes universe.
We also pointed out to him that all these blades are depicted in the 'bibles' - either Wittman or Johnson's reference works. This made no impression on him, as apparently the books are mostly wrong...
Long story short - when I suggested that he A. Stand in front of Bill and Jason B and call BS on their products to their faces, or B. get busy and re write the reference works so that the rest of us ignoramuses could profit from his stupendous expertise - he didn't want a bar of it, but did enjoy regaling others in the vicinity with his story of 'how he had educated the dumb Kiwi about the perils of the collecting game'....
The issue I have, post this unpleasant experience is this - having shown the blades, there will now be a 'Chinese whisper' chain casting aspersions over their authenticity. I'm sure that 5 years from now, if I mention or sell these blades, that there will be some guy saying "yeah, I remember that Kiwi 'whale' brought some blades - heard they were no good - such and such called BS over some issue" etc etc.....
Who needs that?
So, in future, I think I will follow the long standing collectors mantra of discretion - keep the 'mystique' of the high end pieces by NOT cheerfully showing them to dick heads.
I have to say that this experience put a slight 'crimp' in what was otherwise an enjoyable experience.
However, in summary, I am happy with the blades I purchased. Bill Shae is a 'good' dealer. Jason B is recognized expert and the overwhelming body of opinion from other 'names' that I met at the show give him the thumbs up.
The blades are photo referenced in the 'bibles' and have had a great many eyes cast over them during their lifespan in the market. If they were dodgy, we'd know by now - and not because some drunk minor dealer trying to show off in front of 2 guys from Down Under says so...
Hope that's been helpful to any newbies thinking about attending one of the big shows. By all means ask for opinions - just be selective about whose opinion you canvas. There are a lot of small potatoe 'experts' out there trying to man-up, as well as the professionally jealous dealers who want to 'stick it' to the big boys.
That is all...as you were..
Cheers
Ted
P.S congratulation to the Aussie for starting drinking with me at 11.oo pm and still being there drinking with me at 6.00 am the following morning. I to.d you the Yanks can't drink....
I have a few thoughts on my experience of attending a large show (the SOS) for the first time that I thought I'd share.
I lobbed into Louisville to achieve 2 objectives: 1. To pick up and return safe hand to NZ a handful,of daggers pre purchased from Bill Shae. 2. Meet some of the big names in the dealer field, and eyeball a couple of very rare and expensive high end blades being offered for sale.
What did I learn?
Well, the first lesson is don't show people what you've purchased.
Being a New Zealander, and therefore naturally gregarious, when I met people and we swapped info about what we had respectively purchased, and was asked to show my 'beauties', I was happy to do so. I enjoy the social side of this collecting 'disease' a d like to see what other guys have purchased, hear about the piece, and hopefully learn a thing or two about 'stuff'. Alas, this seems not to be a good idea...
In a number of cases, people cast their eye over the inscribed blades and airily declared them to be either fake, or misrepresented in some way. A Russian 'expert' in inscriptions poured over one blade and declared that the inscription was inconsistent with the runner markings. And on this basis - it was bogus. He didn't know, and I didn't enlighten him, that the blade had started life as a Full Rohm, subsequently ground, with a Furth School inscription added post grinding - so the original runner marks WOULD be 'beneath' the inscription. None the less, as soon as he had made his judgement call - that became 'gospel' with his Russian comrades. The Rooskies love nothing more than sticking it to Yank dealers.....
Another quite drunk American, having confessed no expertise in the dagger field called 'BS' on my Himmler Inscription on the basis of a slight asymmetrical shrinkage of the grip. During the course of my and a friendly Australian (our natural best friends AND mortal enemies) rebuttal of his argument learned that this bloke didn't know what ebony was....a wood. He then went on to slander EVERY dealers name that I put to him as 'good' dealers. Apparently, every top dealer is a crook in this blokes universe.
We also pointed out to him that all these blades are depicted in the 'bibles' - either Wittman or Johnson's reference works. This made no impression on him, as apparently the books are mostly wrong...
Long story short - when I suggested that he A. Stand in front of Bill and Jason B and call BS on their products to their faces, or B. get busy and re write the reference works so that the rest of us ignoramuses could profit from his stupendous expertise - he didn't want a bar of it, but did enjoy regaling others in the vicinity with his story of 'how he had educated the dumb Kiwi about the perils of the collecting game'....
The issue I have, post this unpleasant experience is this - having shown the blades, there will now be a 'Chinese whisper' chain casting aspersions over their authenticity. I'm sure that 5 years from now, if I mention or sell these blades, that there will be some guy saying "yeah, I remember that Kiwi 'whale' brought some blades - heard they were no good - such and such called BS over some issue" etc etc.....
Who needs that?
So, in future, I think I will follow the long standing collectors mantra of discretion - keep the 'mystique' of the high end pieces by NOT cheerfully showing them to dick heads.
I have to say that this experience put a slight 'crimp' in what was otherwise an enjoyable experience.
However, in summary, I am happy with the blades I purchased. Bill Shae is a 'good' dealer. Jason B is recognized expert and the overwhelming body of opinion from other 'names' that I met at the show give him the thumbs up.
The blades are photo referenced in the 'bibles' and have had a great many eyes cast over them during their lifespan in the market. If they were dodgy, we'd know by now - and not because some drunk minor dealer trying to show off in front of 2 guys from Down Under says so...
Hope that's been helpful to any newbies thinking about attending one of the big shows. By all means ask for opinions - just be selective about whose opinion you canvas. There are a lot of small potatoe 'experts' out there trying to man-up, as well as the professionally jealous dealers who want to 'stick it' to the big boys.
That is all...as you were..
Cheers
Ted
P.S congratulation to the Aussie for starting drinking with me at 11.oo pm and still being there drinking with me at 6.00 am the following morning. I to.d you the Yanks can't drink....
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