I recently watched a commercial for a new show called "Auction Kings."  I guess with "Pawn Stars" grabbing some ratings, similar shows will take a stab at the pie.  And speaking of stabbing…

What drew my attention to this show, that starts next Tuesday, was a glimpse of a Vampire Killing Kit.  As fate may have it…their website shows a clip of one so everyone here can check it out:

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/auction-kings-vampire-killing-kit.html

Wanting to find out more, I found this article.  It's nice and short and also provides many links to other examples of kits.  You can find that HERE.

Do I believe that these kits are authentic?  I lean towards no.  I haven't researched them so I'm just guessing.  I'm not saying that the items are fake, they are probably from the time period.  I'm just doubting that these kits were put together and sold in the late 1800's.

However, would I buy one?  You better believe I would…if the price was right.  I love old technology and old science gear (having bought an astrolabe earlier this summer…my pride and joy).  Anyway, from the article, they are reaching into the thousands.  At high end, $12,000 to $20,000.  That…is a bunch of crazy.  Sure, having a period piece pistol or small crossbow would be great, but certainly not for that price.  The article mentioned one being sold for $4500.  Even that seems high to me but its getting closer.  I mean they do come with a couple of silver period piece knives as well.

Anyway, with Halloween closing in on us and if you're still trying to find that perfect gift for me…well…get your auction cards ready…(I'd prefer a kit with a crossbow over a pistol…). 

Orion said: "I've known about these for a long time…"

That's just it.  How long is a long time?  I'm thinking that I've been aware of them in only this past decade or so.  But…I don't remember them while growing up and that strikes me as odd.  I used to read everything known to man on Vampires back then…and I don't remember these kits.

It also strikes me as odd that so many seem to be sold now…but have they been sold regularly throughout the past century?  Can they be traced back to their creation?

Hmmm…there's something not right about these kits.  I have to really set some time aside to take a good look at this.  

Orion said:

  I never bought into silver as a vampire weapon much though.. thought that was for werewolves.

Well it is, I just thought it might serve as a two in one multi-purpose weapon if tipped onto a crossbow bolt to save carrying all that extra heavy gear around. Not that my theory can be field tested for accuracy lol.

Wow…a great deal to respond to…

Learjet asked: "If I drink colloidal silver will it make the werewolf sick and die if it bites me? Will I still turn into a werewolf?"

One…we have no evidence that you are not already a werewolf.  Two…one would have to ingest a lethal dosage of colloidal silver to prevent lycanthropy so it will kill you before the werewolf (note – I am not a doctor but I play one on the net).  Three…if I were a werewolf I would ask all sorts of questions about silver as well, which further supports the new theory that you, Learjet, are indeed a werewolf.  Four…I would suggest to everyone to load up on those fancy-schmancy silver nitrate rounds of ammunition as seen in "Underworld" before visiting Australia because it has just now been proven beyond fact that Learjet is a werewolf.

Orion said: "Of course, any truly modern VKK would have a powerful UV light, ala Blade. ;)  I never bought into silver as a vampire weapon much though.. thought that was for werewolves."

Hmmm…I would bypass both the UV light and the silver.  I like explosives.  Give me some C4 and a few remote detonators and something tells me that I'd become a very formidable vampire killer.  And speaking of that….one cannot really "kill" a vampire, can he?  I mean, vampires are already dead…or undead.  I would be a Vampire Destroyer…with my Vampire Destroying Kit…with C4. 

@ BSHistorian/Big Les -

Very nice work, my friend.  And welcome to the site.  You know, the more I thought about those kits, the less and less that I believed that they were "real."  I am so glad that you stopped by and posted.  As I said, I was about to invest a great deal of time researching these things.  No reason to re-invent the wheel when you did such a nice job on it and a far better job than I could have done.

And for the record, I'm still not against them, in theory.  What I mean is the Vampire Killing Kit is a great idea.  It's a fantastic prop, a talking point, and just plain cool…as long as it's on the up and up and regarded as something newly created and not passed off as something old.  I'd even be interested in a modern version with Orion's UV light idea, stake and mallet (even if it's a Hollywood invention), so on and so on.  It would still be fun to have.  But these "old" ones…I'm just not seeing how they are going to auction without authentication.

Wallydraigle said: "You would be amazed at how much stuff pointy objects made of silver will kill."

In the eternal struggle of Rock/Paper/Scissors…C4 trumps both Pointy Objects and Silver.