All of the pieces in my CW collection-- except three---have been acquired in Canada.
(The weaker Canadian Dollars has a lot do with that.)
----------------------------------------------
-On December 5 1991 I purchased a martial '51 Colt Navy from a dealer the U.S. On a $1550 USD purchase price it ended up costing $1824.90 Canadian on American Express.
--------------------------------------------------
-On June 24 2001 I bought a M1860 Colt Army from a very nice dealer from New York at the Gettysburg Civil War Show.
He very kindly accepted part of the $1500 USD purchase price ($1000) in cash and took my personal cheque for the balance.
Sometime later I received a letter from him saying that his bank returned it because it was a Canadian cheque ---charged him $25 because it was a Canadian cheque---he was charged $95 to cash the cheque.
Bottom line he only received $380 out of $500---and could I send a money order for $120 in U.S. funds----which I promptly did.
I did not go to the show thinking that I was going to purchase anything---but rather to check out U.S. values on some of the items in my collection and to visit the battlefield early in the morning before the show started.
Coming back to Canada after the show on the 1000 Islands Bridge I ran into Canadian Customs officials that knew nothing about antique firearms -----I ended up paying $60 Cdn Federal sales tax and spent one and a half hours chasing around the Duty Free shops looking for a tiny lock to put on my suitcase in the trunk of my car-- because that is how guns are supposed to be stored.(In a locked secure container)
---------------------------------------------------------------
-On December 30 2010 I sent a U.S. money order for $1175 ($1211.31 Cdn) to a dealer in North Carolina for a M1840 Ames cavalry sword.
I had been talking to a dealer/collector in Ottawa, Canada about a Tiffany saber that he was selling on consignment for an estate.
The Tiffany saber.
I knew nothing about values and reached out to John Thillmann for some advice.
I sent him the photos of the Tiffany and mentioned the price that the dealer was asking.
He said way too high based on the condition and mentioned this M1840 Ames saber dated 1845---the first year that Ames started producing this model. He had seen the sword and recommended it.
The dealer's photos of the M184 Ames.
John also recommended that I send the saber to Jim Brown in WI. to do a little of his magic on the blade and scabbard.
The dealer in North Carolina sent the sword to Jim Brown in WI. and Jim did a superb job.
After Jim's work.
The two mystery 'P' markings.
I looked at the scabbard again today the 'P' does 'not appear' anywhere else on the scabbard i.e.---drag--ring bands etc.
-----------------------------------------
Comment from John Thillmann back in January 2011.
"the P on your pommel is the same stamp that I have seen on the suspension ring bands and is an Ames stamp, not a sub-inspectors stamp. I haven't noticed it on a pommel brim before"
-------------------------------------
Comment from the dealer that had the sword.
I noticed the 'P' myself and don't recall seeing it on another example. I'm sure it is some sort of proof mark, but it must have been discontinued almost as soon as it started.
----------------------------------------------------
Comment from Jim.
It's just the standard proof mark for inspecting the scabbard ...carried over from the way they inspected the 1813 Starr sabers.
Why they went through such an elaborate inspection on the 1833's is the real question!
When it came time for the sword to be sent back to Canada I suggested that it be declared as sword repairs for $100---as well as theatrical piece.
Unfortunately it was given an insured value of $1500 USD ----based on that amount the Canadian Customs charged $211.84 Cdn for Federal and Provincial taxes.
Jim later sent me a revised bill for $90 but I never went back to the Canadian Customs to try a re-coup part of the taxes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been very lucky in reaching out to the 'guys that write the books' over the years----they have been extremely helpful to me.
-Bruce Canfield-- before I purchased a Winchester M97 Trench Gun.
-Jan Still-- as I was purchasing a very interesting 'unit marked' Artillery Luger.
(The weaker Canadian Dollars has a lot do with that.)
----------------------------------------------
-On December 5 1991 I purchased a martial '51 Colt Navy from a dealer the U.S. On a $1550 USD purchase price it ended up costing $1824.90 Canadian on American Express.
--------------------------------------------------
-On June 24 2001 I bought a M1860 Colt Army from a very nice dealer from New York at the Gettysburg Civil War Show.
He very kindly accepted part of the $1500 USD purchase price ($1000) in cash and took my personal cheque for the balance.
Sometime later I received a letter from him saying that his bank returned it because it was a Canadian cheque ---charged him $25 because it was a Canadian cheque---he was charged $95 to cash the cheque.
Bottom line he only received $380 out of $500---and could I send a money order for $120 in U.S. funds----which I promptly did.
I did not go to the show thinking that I was going to purchase anything---but rather to check out U.S. values on some of the items in my collection and to visit the battlefield early in the morning before the show started.
Coming back to Canada after the show on the 1000 Islands Bridge I ran into Canadian Customs officials that knew nothing about antique firearms -----I ended up paying $60 Cdn Federal sales tax and spent one and a half hours chasing around the Duty Free shops looking for a tiny lock to put on my suitcase in the trunk of my car-- because that is how guns are supposed to be stored.(In a locked secure container)
---------------------------------------------------------------
-On December 30 2010 I sent a U.S. money order for $1175 ($1211.31 Cdn) to a dealer in North Carolina for a M1840 Ames cavalry sword.
I had been talking to a dealer/collector in Ottawa, Canada about a Tiffany saber that he was selling on consignment for an estate.
The Tiffany saber.
I knew nothing about values and reached out to John Thillmann for some advice.
I sent him the photos of the Tiffany and mentioned the price that the dealer was asking.
He said way too high based on the condition and mentioned this M1840 Ames saber dated 1845---the first year that Ames started producing this model. He had seen the sword and recommended it.
The dealer's photos of the M184 Ames.
John also recommended that I send the saber to Jim Brown in WI. to do a little of his magic on the blade and scabbard.
The dealer in North Carolina sent the sword to Jim Brown in WI. and Jim did a superb job.
After Jim's work.
The two mystery 'P' markings.
I looked at the scabbard again today the 'P' does 'not appear' anywhere else on the scabbard i.e.---drag--ring bands etc.
-----------------------------------------
Comment from John Thillmann back in January 2011.
"the P on your pommel is the same stamp that I have seen on the suspension ring bands and is an Ames stamp, not a sub-inspectors stamp. I haven't noticed it on a pommel brim before"
-------------------------------------
Comment from the dealer that had the sword.
I noticed the 'P' myself and don't recall seeing it on another example. I'm sure it is some sort of proof mark, but it must have been discontinued almost as soon as it started.
----------------------------------------------------
Comment from Jim.
It's just the standard proof mark for inspecting the scabbard ...carried over from the way they inspected the 1813 Starr sabers.
Why they went through such an elaborate inspection on the 1833's is the real question!
When it came time for the sword to be sent back to Canada I suggested that it be declared as sword repairs for $100---as well as theatrical piece.
Unfortunately it was given an insured value of $1500 USD ----based on that amount the Canadian Customs charged $211.84 Cdn for Federal and Provincial taxes.
Jim later sent me a revised bill for $90 but I never went back to the Canadian Customs to try a re-coup part of the taxes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been very lucky in reaching out to the 'guys that write the books' over the years----they have been extremely helpful to me.
-Bruce Canfield-- before I purchased a Winchester M97 Trench Gun.
-Jan Still-- as I was purchasing a very interesting 'unit marked' Artillery Luger.
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