FAKE BLADES!
Suggested reference books on blades:
(There are many other books not listed)
Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers, by John Thillmann
The American Sword, by Harold L. Peterson
Confederate Edged Weapons, by William A. Albaugh
Confederate Arms, by William A. Albaugh & Edward N. Simmons
Historic American Swords, by Howard Crouch
Handbook of Confederate Swords, by William A. Albaugh & Richard D. Steuart
American Socket Bayonets & Scabbards, by Robert M. Reilly
The American Eagle Pommel Sword, by E. Andrew Mowbray
The Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide, by Lee Hadaway
This is typical fake junk. Look at the gasoline-dipped blade and the crude, crappy stamps applied one at a time by what appears to be a drunk monkey.
This type of knife is dangerous because the knife itself is probably Civil War period. Where the fakery begins is where the goober that owned it used a modern die stamp to stamp CSA and 1861 on the wood grip. The stampings are fresh, and Confederates didn't stamp the grips of their knives. It is a shame that enterprising conmen deface history this way, but some folks do ANYTHING for money. This seller had a bogus letter of authentication saying it was worth $14,000!!!! PUH-LEASE!!!!! But this seller was and is one of the most slimy and vile purveyors of fake and misrepresented items I have ever seen. A total waste-of-life and a disgrace to the human race.
Yet another version of the fake blade stamp.
This 100% fake Ames sword has the 100% junk stamps and overdone patina.
This is a fake AMES saber. The grip, pommel cap, and letter stamps are all wrong.
This is a 100% fake, junk Confederate bowie knife. Note the usual cruddy stamping, and the moron-inscribed grip.
This is a fake Confederate "McElroy" bowie knife. The pictures are cruddy, but you can see that the stamping is crap.
This is a fake Sheffield knife. These British-made blades are very common to see reproduced. Note the modern letter stamps.
Another fake with a tell-tale gasoline dipped blade and a typical fake stamp.
Just in case you were blind or curious, THIS IS AS FAKE AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This fake Confederate knife is not badly made, but it is still as fake as a six-dollar bill.
Fake knife with a fake stamp. The knife is made by Atlanta Cutlery.
Fake "Macon Arsenal" naval cutlass. Typical fake stamping and crummy age job.
Total junque Confederate sword. Fake stamps, fake patina, fake everything.
This is a very typical style repro D-guard bowie knife. A decent age job was done by the crook, but the knife is as fake as can be.
This knife should not fool anyone collecting for over a month. Fake stamps, fake aging, total junque.