UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons German Sword & Miniatures Forum "Police" Sword With Etched Blade on Ebay????

This sword is being currently offered on Ebay with some prominent names attached to it. I have an opinion. What's yours??
Jim

Jim,

OK, I will bite. I don't like anything about this sword. Having said that, you also have the issue of an unknown new seller that actually has negative total feedback. More negative feedback than positive! I did not even know that was possible. I would not buy this sword from this guy for $2.00 cash money. Heck, I would not buy his motorbike after reading the comments. The shill bidding is just a bit over the top as well don't you think?

George

Im with George, if you bid on that im afraid your just going to end up with a headache.

A former buyer says in negative feedback he never received the item, although he sent a cashier's check by certified mail. Can you trust this seller? The description reads like it was written by Pappy Yokum. The "freckling" on the hilt is not characteristic of Muller swords. The Muller trademark is weird, too. Could be real, but it is not usually associated with Muller markings. It may have been made by Muller, but when? I suppose you could chalk up the latter observations to the sword being a "presentation" or "custom" piece, but it's too much of a stretch for me. Too many gut-wrenches there.

Just for the record: has anyone tried to find this jewel pictured in Wittmanns book? I stayed non-committal so you guys could discover the shill bidding and the,get this negative feedback number! I too didn't know this was possible. This has to be a poster child for an item not to bid on!!
Jim

If you check the photo, you can see where the top of the plate that covers the wires in the groove appears to be loose and is not tucked in as it should be. The grip, in fact, appears to be loose and not tightened down. Looks like there has been recent disassembly. Looking for gold or replacing parts?

Just for the record; the blade appears to be very similiar to a post war etch SS degen I owned at one time. Frederick Stephans identified it as a batch made up in Europe in the 60s. These swords were assembled from partially new and partially period components.
Jim

The seller's statement there are only three photos available is also a red flag. If this thing so so rare and so valuable, there should be numerous detailed photos available. I wouldn't be surprised if the etch is a little "ragged" around the edges. He quotes a high appraisal, yet he sets no comparable reserve. It looks like he's trying to unload it and the bidding history driving it up to the $500 range is suspicious.

I was waiting for someone to bring this piece to the fore. I don't anything about this piece, starting with seller's number of negative feedbacks and the content thereof. I was looking at the ricasso picture showing the alleged M�ller logo. Does the etch template seem to be slightly off center or is it me? I'm not pretending to be an expert on SS swords but there's a few things that just leave one to wonder about the legitimacy of such a piece.

Therein lies the rub. Three photos, none of them as nearly as clear as they should be. No real detail can be made out. No additional photos available. What about the front of the grip, the ball on the portepee, the lower scabbard fitting and clear shots of the blade etch? The scabbard appears to have new paint or it has been carefully preserved. It does not look like it goes with the hilt of the sword. If someone wants a curio or a parts piece, I believe that's what the buyer will get. I hope I am wrong and I wish the ultimate winner well. Then, there's the question of whether the seller will send it and when.

Sold for over $1200.

Well, all I can say is good luck to the buyer. As P.T.Barnum (I believe) once said, "A fool and his money are soon parted."

I tried repeatedly to get addl. pics. so we could at least see what this started out as but to no avail.
Jim

Early on, I emailed a past customer of that seller. Following an extended period of non-delivery and non-reimbursement, after several phone calls, he finally received a check from the seller and is hoping it won't bounce. Needless to say, he does not recommend the seller.

So far in my collecting I have only seen one etched Police Degen that was good and that belong to Craig.

My goodness...50% negitive feedback!? HOW CAN THAT BE? Maybe if they spent less time worrying about offending the overly sensitive, they could free up the resources needed to weed out villains like this.

Interestingly, this guy lives within 30 miles from me. I thought I knew all the collectors in my area, but I've never heard of him.

Not too long ago, I bought several really nice items at an estate auction in Walkerton and had noone seriously bidding against me. Kinda strange if this guy is there because Walkerton is just a wide spot in the road.

Hey Denny:
That is kinda strange, to say the least. Usually the shadowy types will feign ignorance about militaria, to avoid specific questions about the item. Other than misspelling the word portepee, this guy talks like an experienced collector. Maybe he had some crooked collector friend of his write the description.