Fake Viking sword had me doubting, then X-ray proved me wrong

I almost walked away from a rusty blade at a flea market in Des Moines last month, figured it was a decorative repro. The seller wanted $400, I offered $50, but he let me take it to the local uni for a quick X-ray fluorescence test. Turns out the alloy matches 10th century Norse patterns, and now I'm kicking myself for not trusting the patina. Anyone else ever had a find pass a skeptical eye only after lab confirmation?

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fisher.diana7d ago

That line about kicking yourself for not trusting the patina really gets me. I passed on a beat up brass compass at an estate sale years ago because the glass was cracked and it looked cheap, and a guy I know who collects that stuff told me later it was Civil War era. Still bothers me when I think about it. Good on you for actually getting the test done instead of just walking away, that is more than most folks would bother with.

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