suggest a good handheld n where u can find 1 n how much it is.

@baddogno, thanks for the heads up on the used Collectors set. It's actually one of my preferred sets that I've been looking at on HoS!

The seller says that there's no Certificate of Authenticity with that HoS Collectors Luxury set thats up on ebay. HoS site says that the set does come with one. Any other way to know whether the set is legitimately HoS?

The knights don't look right for an Imperial Collector.

I'd want good pics of all the pieces too. Only 7 feedback is not so trust-inspiring.

I see some risk here.

Oh, and the cuts in the bishops are too narrow.

They don't look the Imperial Collector knights but they do look like the standard Collector knights I think. Still, would feel better if it included the CoA.

Not like the regular Collector either with down-tipped snout and the flowing mane.

You're right. The ears on the Collector knights are flatter to the head than the ebay set as well it appears. Thanks for the assist goldendog.

Np. Glad to help here.

tell me where i can get a decent handheld n how much to?

Yeah, you guys are right.  That's not a collector set, although the brass hinged box certainly looks HOS.  Obviously the seller doesn't know what he has and it can be tough to figure out the exact model on older HOS sets because they do have so many discontinued sets.  Oh well.....

Could well be the Hastings.

I concur - pretty sure it's a Hastings.

Hey, for those still following. Care to throw out some chess dealers online that you've enjoyed using due to quality and customer service? In my searching I've mostly looked through House of Staunton, ebay, Chess Bazaar, and House of Chess. Liking some of Chess Bazaar's offering but have no idea what their customer service would be.

Throw me some more sites if you have any to recommend please. Thanks all!

Wholesale Chess has been good to me. Try USCF website also.

Just had one online dealer explain that since this was for a gift I should steer clear of ebony and go with rosewood. Due to ebony being prone to chipping and cracking. Anyone concur? This was Chess Baron by the way, anyone use them?

Just updating. Waited for a good HoS deal but they've only been offering the same few sets over the past few weeks so I ended up going with Chess Bazaar, direct from their site. Bought a 4" ebony/boxwood set for a very good price. Vik, the fellow I was in contact with there was very friendly and helpful. After receiving the initial set I was unhappy with 9 pieces and was being pretty picky I suppose. He had promised my satisfaction via email communication prior to the order and he lived up to it. The pieces were being shipped direct from India so offered a few bucks to help cover shipping of replacement pieces and he was grateful. I just received the replacement pieces and am very pleased. As I said earlier, having never looked at or handled a nice wooden set, I'm pretty blown away at just how nice the set is.

I picked up a nice storage box from Wholesale Chess and I'm equally impressed with it. Very nice. Also grabbed a veneer board from them and though it was very affordable, it's a pretty nice board.

So it was a long search, I learned a great deal, and am quite happy. Thanks to all who have helped along the way!