Not long ago ( early September 1999 ) this ad appeared on E-Bay Auction:
This is a beautiful full suit of Armor including chain mail, approximatly 150 to 200 years old,and is a duplication of 14th to 15th century we think English with some Spanish thrown in. It could fit someone between 5'10" and and about 6' 2". was made to wear and not so much for decoration, (however it is beautiful) Everything that has a hinge works, one could put it on and Joust tomorrow. The leather might have been replaced once,and is in fairly good shape except the 4 straps holding the front skirt pieces on have let go. The armor has been blued all over, I suspect it was done the old fashioned way of heating and dipping, because the bluing is on both sides of the metal. As you can see the metal is all hand hammered including the axes. I can see no evidence of new world welding anywhere except that the helmet is a new relacement, it is done very well, but it is a recent item. The old helmet is here in town somewhere and if we advertise perhaps we can still buy it from the person who has "aquired" it. I would then pass it along to the buyer at the same price I paid. Overall the armor has some light rust but it only adds to the old world look. The Chain Mail is a recent addition and not a antique. The markings on one ax shows a anvil and the letter k, the other looks like it might be a duplication of the original, however it has been done for a long time, and the handle has been broke off of that one. The whole suit is on an articulated wooden mannequin, that sits on a heavy wooden base and is stained a dark colour.Im my opinion and the opinion of the authenticator, this is an excellent set. Shipping would be at your cost and could easily go UPS. We are not a store for this type of antiques but we have the ability to take all credit cards. Thank for your bid, this is my first time on E-Bay.
Kirby contacted the seller, who immediately posted the following:
On 09/12/99 at 08:28:58 PDT, seller added the following information:
I have just recieved e-mail that says they have identified the origin of the armour. I'm dissapointed that it might not be as old as the appraiser thought, however it might even be more valuable being that the Famous Mr, Kirby Wise made it. copy of email as sent to me:
Reply-To: From: "kirbywise" To: Subject: Armour on the eBay website/Kirby D.Wise Arms and Armour Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 02:18:56 -0700 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail 4.70.1161
Hello! A friend just sent us an email about the 200 year old armour on auction at eBay you have there and having recognized the work with the description of the Armour's mark of a "k over an anvil" as being an early work of Kirby's. The "k over the anvil" has been the mark of Kirby D. Wise Arms and Armour workshop since 1962. I just showed him the site/armour and he recognized it as having made that in 1967 with the stand and Lochaber axes for a "Sir George's Resturant" that he was decorating at the time in the Phoenix area. The owner decided not to take it and Kirby sold it to a Lou Carr, who had a gunshop at the time, for $750 and some trade.
Kirby has only made eight full suits of Armour during his 45 years of being an historical Armourer. Among the others being a full suit of Milanese Gothic with Barbute, a 3/4 suit of English Civil War (1600s) with Closed Burgonet, a couple of Bascinet armours, a suit of 15th century armour for the Tilt w/"frogface" Great Bascinet. He has made other partial suits and individual pieces but mostly it has been his handforged swords and other weaponry that he is known for.
We have a website at http://members.tripod.com/~kirbywise/ where you can see his work and veiw his mark. The shop is in Bouse Arizona. The background webpages are taken from our old catalog and the drawings were done by a well known artist in the Wargaming magazine field back in the early 1970s. Some of the pieces drawn were taken from actual items, Kirby had on hand at the time. Kirby does hold a warrant from the late 17th Lord Lovat, Simon Fraser, 24th Chief of the Clan Fraser and that was renewed by his grandson, the present 18th Lord Lovat, in August 1998. The first such for a Scottish Clan since the Rising of 1745. As said before, Kirby had been making Arms and Armour using the hammer,anvil and forge in a traditional Blacksmith shop for the past 45 years. This contact was just to let you know where the armour actually came from and who made it. To see it on the web, like this, and to learn that it was considered as old as first thought was thought rather like a compliment to the quality craftsmanship of his work.
Sincerely, Laurie Wise
Kirby D.Wise Arms and Armour
http://members.tripod.com/~kirbywise/Incidentally, the suit sold for close to $3400.00 ....... with a large price rise -after- the update was posted!
This html created by Joe Bethancourt.
