I think that in the early years Joe Walters had good items. In fact some could probably be considered very good. But in the later years as things dried up he resorted to fakes. His 'basement' (or wherever he kept them) was reported as having large quantities of swords and other items. One was sold. To be replaced by another of the basic same model until the pile was reduced to zero

Years ago I remember a guy who came up to the table with half a dozen swords he said he purchased from Joe Walters. He had owned them for a while and wanted an appraisal. I think he wanted to sell them to buy something else. The one mediocre quality Austrian NCO�s saber was not worth much - but was otherwise OK. Very unfortunately: I had to give him the bad news that the other five swords were all fake. He was not a "happy camper". FP