What is this? Real or Fake?

[bayonet]

Well said @R. Porter. My collecting style has changed as I'm sure it has for all of us with time and knowledge. My first piece was also my first fake piece. My grandfather gave me a fake US buckle and told me it was real so he could gauge how serious I was about starting a civil war collection. It's the centerpiece of all my items for that very reason. I did however go buy my first real buckle immediately after learning about the gifted one.When I was new to it I wanted everything I could get my hands on and jumped all over the place with little focus. A canteen, a buckle, a button, image or identified piece I was frantic that if I didn't buy it I'd never see it again. The rate at which I buy pieces is drastically slower now all these years later. I realize that all the stuff reappears constantly if you look hard enough or long enough. So there's no rush to buy things without the research. If you miss it the first time it'll be back and the person better educated. I was able to find my passion in insignia and boards and so far the record stands at waiting 6 years for a set of boards to reappear and 3 for an officers hardee hat badge to show up again.

Your story sounds familiar to mine in some ways. My Father had a French Charleville M1777 musket he cherished. He had the metal blued which was not correct since they were bright steel. He claimed it was of the Rev War period and a French soldier deserted and married an American girl taking his musket with him. Don't know if he made that up or was told that when he brought it. So he dies and I inherit it. Did my research and come to find out through the markings it was a M1777 made in Belgium after 1811. I disassembled it, placed the metal parts in the bath tub, and used Drano to remove the Bluing. Put it up for auction and down the road brought a M1763 Charleville musket that was no doubt 95% sure was here in the Rev War.
The Internet has become a great place to learn and research that we did not have many years ago. Heck some guy wrote a book in 1970 with many photos. I had a sword on my wall like the one in his book for 25 years. Along comes the internet and he is wrong. Down that sword came and traded away for the correct sword that should of been up on the wall. I've made mistakes in collecting but happily recovered fairly well from all the mistakes.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

I still love collecting despite the past mistakes and all the fakes. I haven't even learned the tip of the iceberg yet, however, the study and research has become a big part of the enjoyment for me. Whether it's on this site, at shows, talking with reputable dealers, or reading the many books on the subjects of ACW collectibles, I think learning about Civil War artifacts is at least half the fun.

I was sort of upset the other week because I stopped in a book store and the "collectibles" section was about four short shelves and was all coin collecting, except for one book on Indian artifacts. I guess it's all online now. Back in the 1990's I used to love going into a big book store, go to the collectibles isles (plural, because there were usually at least two or three whole isles!), where I would pick out three to five books, go sit and look through them and decide which one I wanted most. I loved my Francis A Lord's ACW Collectibles Encyclopedia Volumes 1 & 2. Now you have to go online to find collectibles books and it's nowhere near as fun. I remember back in the 2000's (gee, that sounds funny!) getting excited to see the new addition of John F. Graf's "Warman's Civil War Collectibles." I don't even think there has been a new addition of that book since 2010? That would give me a basic overview and then I could move to the specific books for each type of collectible.

I always considered books to be the starting point, however, because I always liked getting out there to shows, shops, and auctions where you can actually see and feel the items and hopefully learn from the more experienced folks. To me, there is nothing like being able to hold an item in my hands and inspect it. That is just me, though, and I am old fashioned! LOL

 

[Salterr]

I still love collecting despite the past mistakes and all the fakes. I haven't even learned the tip of the iceberg yet, however, the study and research has become a big part of the enjoyment for me. Whether it's on this site, at shows, talking with reputable dealers, or reading the many books on the subjects of ACW collectibles, I think learning about Civil War artifacts is at least half the fun.

I was sort of upset the other week because I stopped in a book store and the "collectibles" section was about four short shelves and was all coin collecting, except for one book on Indian artifacts. I guess it's all online now. Back in the 1990's I used to love going into a big book store, go to the collectibles isles (plural, because there were usually at least two or three whole isles!), where I would pick out three to five books, go sit and look through them and decide which one I wanted most. I loved my Francis A Lord's ACW Collectibles Encyclopedia Volumes 1 & 2. Now you have to go online to find collectibles books and it's nowhere near as fun. I remember back in the 2000's (gee, that sounds funny!) getting excited to see the new addition of John F. Graf's "Warman's Civil War Collectibles." I don't even think there has been a new addition of that book since 2010? That would give me a basic overview and then I could move to the specific books for each type of collectible.

I always considered books to be the starting point, however, because I always liked getting out there to shows, shops, and auctions where you can actually see and feel the items and hopefully learn from the more experienced folks. To me, there is nothing like being able to hold an item in my hands and inspect it. That is just me, though, and I am old fashioned! LOL

Absolutely agree! I really think the research is half the fun. Immersing yourself with other people who share that excitement for the artifacts and getting to hold the real deal stuff is a priceless experience

 

[PowerSpoon]

Sorry for the late reply, Thank you all for the information, I did not pay much for these only $100 per, even though they are altered I do enjoy them for display purposes. Thank you for all the information, however! I have learned so much from reading these replies.

 

[R. Porter]

Sorry for the late reply, Thank you all for the information, I did not pay much for these only $100 per, even though they are altered I do enjoy them for display purposes. Thank you for all the information, however! I have learned so much from reading these replies.

$100.00 each? In my mind you got a great deal that I would have jumped at! I too value the learning part of collecting. I will buy odd things just to figure out what they are. I will buy damaged things just to have real examples of items. I would have bought either of your swords for $100.00 in a heart beat. I would rather have a relic condition real sword than a reproduction. A real sword gives you clues of what to look for when the rare item comes your way. I also tend to collect with no focus until I develop an interest in some narrow question. I would collect more items but a number of other people have found uses for my income and the economy refuses to be kind to me. I may have to work long after I've died because I will still be collecting. As long as I am collecting I'll be making mistakes and learning. I have a job where I work every weekend and don't really get holiday, so I don't really get a chance to go to shows. Mostly I study the few sword books and surf the Internet. I need to adjust my schedule so that I can start visiting museums. After a while you will start to spot where museums and noted dealers have gotten something wrong or traits and facts that will help you answer questions of the day or pose new ones. It looks to me like you've made a good start!

 

[bayonet]

Sorry for the late reply, Thank you all for the information, I did not pay much for these only $100 per, even though they are altered I do enjoy them for display purposes. Thank you for all the information, however! I have learned so much from reading these replies.

Well you dodged a bullet if that's all you paid. Now go sell them for $125 (since some here stated they would easily pay $100 for them) and invest in a original, not altered, undamaged, no fake markings, no mismatched parts ACW Sword