Ebay Embossed Fake - Sportsman

B

Blue Sasquatch

Joined
Nov 30, 2012
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83
dBKXZODl.jpg


Up to $500 on Ebay, hopefully no one here is winning that bid, I've a 99% suspicion that it is not an original factory etch.

Why you ask? Well I've never seen a catalog image or collector with one yet. The Duck and the Dog were mass produced and while "rare" we have all seen dozens of them for sale on ebay or other groups, each year. Also when compared side by side, the duck and dog have more of their bodies etched into the head, with details and lines raised, where this deer has the opposite - bodies raised and detailed lines etched into the head. I have etched about a dozen axes myself and find it to be quite a design challenge to match the factory axes, it is much easier to etch the detailed lines into the head, as shown with the Deer.

The Bear is rare and hardly seen you may say, but that bear was made for a different company, with a different font. This one is marked with the Shapleigh Diamond and carries the same font as the Duck and Dog.

I could be wrong, and this could be legitimate, but I've heard another mention this seller sold them a lemon at one point. It's easy to look at the volume of axes this person is selling, and assume that all of the embossed/etched axes are the real factory deal, but it also makes it easier to pass a fake off as real. None of the others currently listed however, feel like fakes to me.

And If you need further proof, the axe in the listing is a full sized axe, while sportsmen hatchets, only came in hatchet sizes.
 
Blue Sasquatch said:
dBKXZODl.jpg


Up to $500 on Ebay, hopefully no one here is winning that bid, I've a 99% suspicion that it is not an original factory etch.

Why you ask? Well I've never seen a catalog image or collector with one yet. The Duck and the Dog were mass produced and while "rare" we have all seen dozens of them for sale on ebay or other groups, each year. Also when compared side by side, the duck and dog have more of their bodies etched into the head, with details and lines raised, where this deer has the opposite - bodies raised and detailed lines etched into the head. I have etched about a dozen axes myself and find it to be quite a design challenge to match the factory axes, it is much easier to etch the detailed lines into the head, as shown with the Deer.

The Bear is rare and hardly seen you may say, but that bear was made for a different company, with a different font. This one is marked with the Shapleigh Diamond and carries the same font as the Duck and Dog.

I could be wrong, and this could be legitimate, but I've heard another mention this seller sold them a lemon at one point. It's easy to look at the volume of axes this person is selling, and assume that all of the embossed/etched axes are the real factory deal, but it also makes it easier to pass a fake off as real. None of the others currently listed however, feel like fakes to me.

And If you need further proof, the axe in the listing is a full sized axe, while sportsmen hatchets, only came in hatchet sizes.
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Just want to throw out a thanks and appreciation for your knowledge, experience and input.

...and thanks for the heads up to anyone who may have been interested and or bidding.
It's better to present any doubt now and ask questions than to just step into it blind:thumbsup:
 
Rick, I was thinking of you and that Raven when I made this post, feel free to shoot me a message with photos of any etched axe you're uncertain of and I'll give you my 2 cents.

I've had well over 200 etched axes, most of which can be seen if you search BerensAxeHouse on Instagram. When I come across an etch that I haven't seen before, I try to do some research and then save a digital copy of it in an album, to look up later if I get the chance to buy one, or if someone has a question about one, makes identifying easier.

It's a great day for me when a new etched/embossed axe is discovered, and the amount out there of etched axes is quite vast, but one always has to be a bit cautious around a "newly discovered" etch, as without seeing examples of more than one, it's hard to confirm as a factory axe. I know three people who have etched axes with great skill, and I have etched about a dozen myself. I'm a firm believer of following some rules when creating new-etches to help deter any notion of "reproduction" but it has helped me learn to spot similar heads.

I also think people are a bit quick to call some of these Ravens on ebay as fake, having seen many in various conditions, and various states of restoration.
 
Blue Sasquatch said:
dBKXZODl.jpg


Up to $500 on Ebay, hopefully no one here is winning that bid, I've a 99% suspicion that it is not an original factory etch.

Why you ask? Well I've never seen a catalog image or collector with one yet. The Duck and the Dog were mass produced and while "rare" we have all seen dozens of them for sale on ebay or other groups, each year. Also when compared side by side, the duck and dog have more of their bodies etched into the head, with details and lines raised, where this deer has the opposite - bodies raised and detailed lines etched into the head. I have etched about a dozen axes myself and find it to be quite a design challenge to match the factory axes, it is much easier to etch the detailed lines into the head, as shown with the Deer.

The Bear is rare and hardly seen you may say, but that bear was made for a different company, with a different font. This one is marked with the Shapleigh Diamond and carries the same font as the Duck and Dog.

I could be wrong, and this could be legitimate, but I've heard another mention this seller sold them a lemon at one point. It's easy to look at the volume of axes this person is selling, and assume that all of the embossed/etched axes are the real factory deal, but it also makes it easier to pass a fake off as real. None of the others currently listed however, feel like fakes to me.

And If you need further proof, the axe in the listing is a full sized axe, while sportsmen hatchets, only came in hatchet sizes.
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As everyone else has said thanks for the heads up! It totally had me fooled. I only had a casual interest though. If I'd been bidding I'd have looked into it first for sure. This forum is the perfect place to post up ones we're unsure of because we've got people like you! That knowledge is much appreciated! Thanks again.
 
This kind of info will get the wife excited about me selling some more of my axes. (I have very mixed feelings about selling) When I actually sell, I have decided to include a signed first edition of "An Ax To Grind" with each axe. Lets see, what do you think the Black Raven cruiser, that my grandfather gave me 60 yrs ago, with original factory haft and a lot of original paint will bring?
 
Old Axeman said:
This kind of info will get the wife excited about me selling some more of my axes. (I have very mixed feelings about selling) When I actually sell, I have decided to include a signed first edition of "An Ax To Grind" with each axe. Lets see, what do you think the Black Raven cruiser, that my grandfather gave me 60 yrs ago, with original factory haft and a lot of original paint will bring?
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With that provenance and your name attached, $2000 would not surprise me. But it would be real and as represented. The buyer would know exactly what he was buying and where it came from.
 
A question for you guys that know about selling these embossed axes. My Black Raven I talked about is really nice except it needs to be sharpened. When I was much younger I loaned it to a friend, and he was not careful with the edge. Profile is still fine, but it needs a good sharpening. Something way back then told me I should not use this axe anymore, and I had other cruisers for use any way. So I put it in one of my axe boxes where it has remained for almost 60 years. My question is this- If I do decide to sell it, should I sharpen it or leave it as it is?
 
Would need a photograph to give you a useful opinion.

You always hear "Don't touch it, lowers the collector value" but I have found that to not be the case, if you know what you're doing. A true collector with deep pockets wants near-mint items, if you're considering restoring yours then chances are it's not anywhere near mint, so the odds of effecting the value are lower.
I've restored and sold 14 black ravens, have used most of them prior to selling or sending them back too, don't swing at the ground or in a gravel pit. Search Berens Axe House on Instagram or Etsy if you want to see any of my work.
 
Old Axeman said:
A question for you guys that know about selling these embossed axes. My Black Raven I talked about is really nice except it needs to be sharpened. When I was much younger I loaned it to a friend, and he was not careful with the edge. Profile is still fine, but it needs a good sharpening. Something way back then told me I should not use this axe anymore, and I had other cruisers for use any way. So I put it in one of my axe boxes where it has remained for almost 60 years. My question is this- If I do decide to sell it, should I sharpen it or leave it as it is?
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Heck yeah I’d have you sharpen it! Please contact me when you are ready to sell!

Edited: after waking up.
 
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Would LOVE to see a photo of your cruiser O Old Axeman ! And considering it has original handle and the history of coming from you I'd say that would fetch an easy 25 all day!
 
I think that for you the old adage about leaving it alone may not be the whole story. In fact, being sharpened by the guy who literally wrote the book on it may be a selling point! I

I were in a financial situation where I could ask you to sharpen it and sell it to me... I would offer you an incredible amount of money. Maybe I have time to win the lottery before you sell!
 
In general I would personally choose to clean it but otherwise leave it as is. This isn't true for most high quality vintage axes, but more so for the true high value collector pieces. There are many guys that do truly nice restorations now. I'm sure that you are on par with any of them (and better than me), but the real value in that axe is that it is a nice Black Raven cruiser and it's known history as well as the name attached to it. Less so who sharpened it. As Square Peg said, anyone that will pay what it will end up being worth isn't going to be swinging it frequently.
 
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