Fakes

I noticed a few of these on the auction site also. I wondered were he was finding them. From an estate collection? Sure makes one wonder.
I never thought that they may be fakes. But, what do I know. Does the technology to engrave them exist?

Tom
 
They look original to me. Hard to fake patina like that, or the way you can see the two separate steels or hardening of the bit. New handle though. It may be a long time collector liquidating. He wants a lot of money for them, 10 times what nice embossed axes were worth just a few years ago.
 
They are complete Bullsh!t. Run don't walk.
The only claim he makes is vintage, which leaves it wide open. Old plain Jane heads. Look through all the previous sales. There is one in there that you can see a cleaned up poll and a near perfect stamp. The poll took the bluing different.
Cleaned up bits with perfect stamps. No way guy's.
They have no patina in my opinion.
 
I still believe they are original. Overcleaned and maybe the polls and edges smoothed sure and maybe even the faces, but I don't think there is any way to put embossing like that on an old head. Make the die exactly like the original embossing and get a press strong enough without deforming the eye? Engraved with a Dremel? Those are old heads you can see the lamination or heat treat line. Over-priced for sure.
 
halfaxe said:
I still believe they are original. Overcleaned and maybe the polls and edges smoothed sure and maybe even the faces, but I don't think there is any way to put embossing like that on an old head. Make the die exactly like the original embossing and get a press strong enough without deforming the eye? Engraved with a Dremel? Those are old heads you can see the lamination or heat treat line. Over-priced for sure.
Click to expand...

Those are all etched not stamped. Coincidence?
You could even get your name in a Plumb back in the day.
 
I don't know guys. If you say so. The J M Warren looks exactly like mine except it's overcleaned. The Sager, Vaughan and the Cleancut look original and stamped. I don't know how to etch but I imagine making the depth variable like that with sharp edges would take a lot of effort and skill, not to mention producing the templates.
 
Here is my J M Warren axe I bought locally for $20 many years ago so I know it's authentic. If you guys that think the sellers axe is modern reproduction etch could point out the difference between this and the ebay sellers JM Warren, I'd appreciate it. I can't tell a difference.

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I have no idea, but I don't like that all those listings have been hit with a bluing process. That by itself makes me wonder what's up.
 
I actually like to use super blue then oil my axes after i refurbish them. Idk id these are real or not. But god darnit there good fakes if they are. Ive heard of people having massive collections but none that are all in the condition of these embossed axes online now
 
The variety of makers lends some credibility to these auctions. Counterfeiters usually make multiple copies of the same thing. Much less work that way.
 
Just found this thread while browsing and I've been a little suspicious as well. There is another guy with the same kind of axes, but not as many, check him out here http://www.ebay.com/sch/rich.james/m.html?item=111320565360&hash=item19eb390670&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc

If you want to see an example of fake axes, check out this guy, he's been doing it for years... it's pretty easy to spot the fake ones among the legitimate ones. They also brought in insane prices. http://www.ebay.com/sch/athomefun/m.html?item=271454269221&hash=item3f33ef6f25&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc
 
There are fake axes out there. The athomefun guy got me on one. Have to be careful, and buying online is tough. Have to be wary.
 
I think a lot of the reason the original posters axes look fake is the over cleaning and smoothing as well as the weird bluing. Some people go overboard with cleaning. I once went to an old tool show where there was a guy selling old axes shined up like chrome. Like that guy on ebay that does it and adds a multi-colored laminated handle. I like original condition or honest use.

athomefun's axes posted by Lum you can see the rough border edges and poor symmetry in the etching. His black raven is laughable. I would imagine doing a good job faking a black raven would be very difficult. Sad that axes have gotten so expensive that some people do that.
 
In my opinion they are all good fakes or reproductions. Not a mark on them... way to clean to many different logos on almost the same axe. I have cleaned up quite a few but to get them this clean the person must be exceptional. I have bought a fake hatchet head and damn they even try to mark up butt but it is done with a small hammer and you can see the patina. I have a friend that is a bronze sculptor and he can make any patina you want. I am very skeptical and to have so many at the high prices. I think you can do just about anything with cnc equipment these days. I am having a machinist making some parts for me and he will machine my small intricate logo in it for me. I can always stand to be corrected but at these prices you cant be to trusting these days in the antique market.
 
I'm not an expert by any means, but I've viewed the dozen or so axes that this person currently has listed on Ebay. They all have the same color patina, and every axe head has perfect edges. They look like older heads that have been reconditioned with new or enhanced stamps.
 
That black raven he has posted.....if it is from American fork and hoe it should probably say True Temper on the other side. Close up look at the imprint and it does look worn to a degree. I don't know about that one - tough call.
 
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