Recently, while channel surfing, I came across the "Antiques Road Show". Someone had brought in a very distressed looking sword, to see if it was of any value. I don't remeber all the details, but the expert pointed out a number of ways to tell this was not an original piece. There had been an attempt to "age" the piece, which he also pointed out. The advice to the owner was to "hang it on the wall", as it had no collector value. I have seen such caveats on the board before, and just thought this was interesting. Buyer beware! Stan