Military Officer - January 2006 - (Page 59)

As you begin to explore all of these options for learning about edged weapons, you’ll ﬁnd the more knowledgeable you are, the more rewarding your experience will be. Samurai’s Sword: “Samurai” is the word for a Japanese warrior class that existed as early as the 9th century. In the 13th century, the Samurai fighting style became primarily on foot as opposed to fighting on horseback with bows and arrows. Their swords became more important, which led to the sharper, curved blade that we still recognize today. Purchasing Once you have a good idea of what you want, work toward making a purchase. You should continue your research throughout the process. As you explore pieces to purchase, consider the condition of the weapon. Some collectors only want pieces in top shape. Others are ﬁne with a piece showing use and age. Prices should reﬂect condition accordingly. Do you care who owned the piece? If you want a weapon with provenance, you probably will pay considerably more than for just an anonymous person’s blade. Provenance is ironclad proof of the ownership history of an item — supported by photos or written documentation. A simple declaration that someone’s great-grandfather used the sword at Gettysburg is not sufﬁcient. Cammaroto emphasizes the distinction between authentic and original. An original piece is original to its period. Authentic pieces may be true to form, but they could have been manufactured last year. Beware of the term “authentic,” and press the dealer for more information. As you continue through the purchasing process, be aware that even reputable dealers make mistakes, and a few less-than-perfect dealers are out there. Some good reproductions of popular models are on the market. Reproductions, bought and sold as such, are legitimate areas of collection. Reproductions bought and sold as originals, however, are fakes. Areas where fakes are most prevalent include Civil War swords, Third Reich daggers, and Napoleonic swords and sabers. Good fakes can fool even top experts on occasion. Once you become a collector, you are likely to make a mistake. You PHOTO: THE ART ARCHIVE/GUNSHOTS Consider making your ﬁrst purchases from reputable dealers, who are often at shows. Reputable dealers normally will guarantee their weapons and should allow you to return a piece after a reasonable period if you are not pleased. Dealers want their customers to be happy. Your relationship with some dealers may continue for your entire collecting career. You can make some great ﬁnds at auctions and estate sales once you’re an experienced collector. This is where research, handling, inspecting, and experience can prove invaluable. The Internet is good for research, but online auctions and other Internet sales venues are not recommended because you typically cannot handle and inspect the pieces. Remain ﬂexible Over time, you might change your collecting goals. According to Paul Sinor, the collector of Confederate memorabilia, if you have bought well, you can sell or trade pieces from your collection for those you’d rather have. Also, if you see an odd piece that you know is a good value and item of interest, go ahead and buy it. You can always sell or trade it later. No matter your interests, no matter your budget, there is an edged weapon for you. Remember RHIP. Have fun, and happy collecting. MO JANUARY 2006 may not buy a fake, but you may miss something on a blade you wish you had caught, for example. Mistakes are not a bad thing, because collectors rarely make the same mistake twice — you’ll learn quite a bit from the simplest of errors. Accept that you will make mistakes. They will make you a better collector — and they make for great stories. MILITARY OFFICER 59

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - January 2006

Contents Features Departments From the Editor Chairman's Page Board of Directors Nominations Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Member Books Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: On the Edge Storm Stories Our Brilliant, Bloody Future eXtreme Seniors Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - January 2006

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