On the subject of fakes...

[Nrthfce]

Do you tell the person?

I am not talking about a knife you're thinking of purchasing. I am talking about the knife/watch/sunglasses your buddy shows you. Do you call him/her out on it? What if in your line of questioning it origin, they reply, "My Grandpa gave it to me."? Do you still tell them? At what age would you start telling them? (I work with kids, and often run across counterfeits and kids bragging them up)... Pull them aside?

I know that's a lot of questions, but I have an aching in my heart when I don't tell them.

I, for one, would want to be told.

After a discussion with my friend who is an avid watch collector... he said, "This is an all time great question. There are obviously many fakes in the world, but there are but two types of people. Those who know enough/care enough to know the difference between a real and fake and those who don't. I personally think it's best to let in play out. One of two things will happen: 1. They never know the difference and ignorance is bliss. 2. They'll find out that it's fake as a result of their touting it as authentic. I view this as justice. If you're are proud enough to brag about a piece, you should be interested enough to do your research. If you only care about half of the equation, you're gonna get burned and rightfully so."

 

[socom1970]

I would want to be told.

I have a visceral dislike for anything fake/artificial. It is repulsive to me. I would rather know than be ignorant.

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

I would want to be told.

I have a visceral dislike for anything fake/artificial. It is repulsive to me. I would rather know than be ignorant.

^^^ This. I'd especially want to know if I'd just gotten the item and had a crack at returning it for a refund.

 

[Nrthfce]

I would want to be told.

I have a visceral dislike for anything fake/artificial. It is repulsive to me. I would rather know than be ignorant.

Some things that are fake are not all bad...

I guess to be completely transparent, just recently I have a two experiences and said nothing... I probably refrained because in both cases it was in front of their peers and they weren't being flamboyant or being a braggart about their new belongings. One was a fake Strider knife that I was asked to sharpen and clean up and the other was a fake Rolex I was asked to hold onto while they resumed in an activity for a few seconds. In both circumstances, I knew within 5 seconds what I had in my hand was fake. In both cases, I asked upon returning the item I asked where they were acquired and both said they were given to them by a family member. (Strider came from a deployed military Uncle, and Folex was from grandpa).

I guess that led me to start this thread. What's even weirder? I don't have a personal attachment to Strider's or Rolex's or a passion for those items, but if it was a fake CRK, I don't think I would've hesitated calling out "Fake!"

 

[Ajack60]

For the sake of not offending someone's pride, I tend not to throw my opinion in unless I'm asked. I have looked at knives that were heirlooms and was asked if there was any value to them. I give an honest evaluation and remind them it's not about a monetary value, but something to hold on to because for them it's priceless.
I've offended people before blurting out that they have a fake.
If folks know you're a knife nut, they'll expect a true answer.

 

[TripleF100]

I might asked them if they have had it appraised. And certainly if they asked me if I thought it was real I would definitely give them my honest opinion. If I wasn't asked I'm not sure that I would tell them what I think.

 

[CSTLandscapes]

I'm pretty sure it's entirely situational and there is no blanket "correct" answer. Feel the situation out and use good judgement? Try to get a read on the person? I wouldn't just spout off their stuff is fake if I felt it would break their heart. Yet, If they struck me as somebody who genuinely cares. Like say they just bought it and there is some kind of recourse for rectifying the situation, I would absolutely tell them.

If somebody just walked up to me and started showing me their "Sebenza" and I had doubts about its authenticity, I can assure you the first words out of my mouth wouldn't be, "it's a fake." Not without feeling some things out first and exercising a little bit of couth.