Fake Knives

[OLDE CUTLER]

Since I have joined AAPK 3 1/2 years ago I have read with great interest and tried to learn from the posts on fake knives that people try to pass off as genuine. One thing I have always wondered about is this and I am going to pose it as a hypothetical question to all you readers. Lets say I buy a real nice old knife from a seller at a gunshow. I examine the knife thoroughly in hand and even use a loupe to examine every detail of the knife. I give the seller $500 in cash. I take the knife, he takes the cash and we split, never to be seen again. Once I get it home I post pictures on AAPK of my new purchase and almost immediately there are questions raised about certain aspects of the knife. After more and more expert collectors view my pictures and ask questions, it is determined that the knife I bought for $500 has a blade from brand A restamped and put into a frame from brand B. Therefore the knife is virtually worthless. My question is what happens next? What would you readers do with such a knife?
1. Try to sell it to some one, any one and not tell them about the facts.
2. Try to sell it to some one, any one and fully disclose that the knife is a fake.
3. Try to sell it to some one who collects fakes and disclose what is is.
4. Keep the knife forever and not say anything about it.
5. Destroy the knife, even if it means I am out the $500.
6. Other option I have not considered.

After considering this I would opt for a variant of #5, I would disassemble the knife, cut the faked blade into pieces with a chopsaw and discard, and hope I could sell or use the frame for parts. I am interested in what others would do.

[Beavertail]

Personally I would keep it.
I've got a few knives that I got burned by.
I don't keep them hid and keep them with my other knives.
Anyone that collects knives will eventually get took.
I consider them part of my education on collecting knives.

[dlr110]

I've got taken before and I just list them in my inventory as fakes, why and show the value as $0.00 and store them away.
There was one fake that was so well done I carried it for awhile and didn't care if I lost it, because it had no more value
to me.

[knfpkr15]

Speaking from experience, I would, before jumping to any conclusions, consider the source of the "expert" opinions. If after consulting with people whose opinions I respect, I come to my own conclusion that the knife Is probably not what I thought it was, I first would try to replace the feeling of being ripped off with the idea that this was a learning experience that goes with the territory of knife collecting and resolve to try to not let it happen again. As to what to do with the knife, I would never resell the knife without explaining to the buyer what my opinion of the knife is and why. This may result in some education for the perspective buyer and some additional education for me. I don't think options 4 and 5 are good choices, but if either was your personal choice I could understand why.

[kennedy knives]

I think that most if not all seasoned knife collectors have paid there dues of buying a fake knife . Not a easy pill to take when we all have pride involved . Looks like you have come to deal with it and now can take the next step .
(1) You could take pictures and show why you think it's fake to help other collectors identify the difference
(2) keep it incase you find the dealer & confront him on it
(3) take a file to the stamp so no one else will get taken

I'm sure there will be more ideas just my 2 cents

[samb1955]

I'd put it in my pocket and use it as if I found it laying on the ground. It may not have any collector value but it would work as a beater.

[tongueriver]

I'd put it in my pocket and use it as if I found it laying on the ground. It may not have any collector value but it would work as a beater.

That would be an option that I would consider, myself. If I paid $500 for a knife it must have had a lot of charm that it should still have, at least partially. Maybe 'bittersweet' charm, but charm nonetheless. The only knives I would consider deliberately destroying would be from an Asian country or two that I shall not name.

[Mumbleypeg]

I have a couple that I got stung on, I keep them around to remind me to be vigilant. They’re clearly marked as fakes and I’ve shown them to my sons and grandchildren, and explained why they are counterfeits. They’re pretty good teaching aids.

I’ve posted them on other threads of this nature. One of them has a good story but the dealer that sold it to me is long ago deceased, and telling the story of how I obtained it would likely allow many to guess his name, so I don’t tell about it. My mother always told me to never speak ill of the dead.

Ken

[btrwtr]

Keep it and try not to make the same mistake again.

[hardman]

First, I would mentally beat myself up quite a bit for making the error. Taking a $50 risk is one thing, but taking a $500 flyer that proves bad is something altogether different. I am sure that I would give it a special place in my collection, not because it deserved it based on quality or authenticity, but rather as my own constant reminder to do my homework better.

I would not sell it, under any circumstances.

[Stanwade]

I've made a $200 mistake, once. It was a really high quality knife. It just wasn't what I thought it was. The seller was not at fault, I just jumped on it because it was so cool in my mind and hit "buy" before I really anysised it. I knew my mistake as soon as I had it in hand. I gifted it to my girlfriend's daughter's fiancee. It was in the style of what he collects. I told him the story of how I acuired it. He was very happy to add it to his collection. I learned from that experience to not be so hasty when buying a knife on such a whim, to really vet every purchase. This happened during a period when I was working scads of overtime and was out of control buying way too many knives. Gifting it to him made it all better in my mind, knowing that it would not be sold again.. Just my 2¢ ..

[kootenay joe]

The only responsibility the buyer would have is to try to make sure it does not get sold again as 'all original'. Filing off all tang markings would deter any future collector. Then carry and use it. It is still a knife and not the knife's fault it had a blade replaced so no need to be angry at the knife.
kj

[Reverand]

If #3 option is available, I might do that. But definitely document the knife with pictures and the parts of it that are erroneous. It might help keep someone else from making the same mistake.
Would definitely alter the tang, and would consider using it. I would rather see a counterfeit worn out than to see it destroyed, but - to each his own!

[knife7knut]

Some interesting responses here as well a lot of hypotheticals.
First of all I don't think I have ever bought a fake knife not knowing it was such. I have considered a couple and was told that they were fraudulent and I passed on them. I did buy a couple of supposedly Japanese swords for $250(for the pair)at one time and have been told by some that they are modern Chinese replicas and others they are real.I'm not concerned about whether they are real or not;I like them and they will never be sold in my lifetime.
I did buy a rather large bowie knife once for $300 and I was pretty sure I knew it was a relatively modern replica.Turned out it was a 1960's era Fred James bowie and it was worth what I paid for it.
If I were going to spend $500 on a knife I would first make damn sure it was real before I bought it and if I couldn't I would pass on it.$500 is a LOT of money to me.
If for some reason I did buy a knife that turned out to be fraudulent I would mark it counterfeit all over and keep it. I could not see destroying a knife. Just my thoughts folks,your mileage may vary.

[QTCut5]

...not the knife's fault......so no need to be angry at the knife.
kj

So true, KJ, so true...An yet, it can be difficult to separate the guilt, embarrassment, regret, shame, or whatever you feel towards yourself (for getting duped) from the object of your unpleasant feelings; you can't help but feel anger and resentment toward the knife every time you look at it ever again...for the rest of your life. In many ways it's a lot like having to face up to having made a very large and tragic mistake...and divorce is the only option! Just suck it up, pay the price, learn a lesson, then move on. (A poorer but, hopefully, wiser man. ) Hopefully, the knife is still decent enough that you want to keep it despite having vastly overpaid for it (which, BTW, I have done myself...once or twice ).

Here's a strategy (which may not work for everyone, I understand), that I'm employing with one of the knives in my collection that I'm "suspicious of" (feel may not be 100% original): I'm not showing it to anyone...especially any experts who will only burst my bubble and ruin the "fantasy" I was really buying (or thought I was getting, anyway) when I paid that much for it . As far as I'm concerned, it's legit (with certain yet-to-be-fully-explained irregularities), and that's all that matters...since I'm not planning to sell it. However, if for some reason I did sell it, I would definitely point out any and all 'irregularities' or inconsistencies etc., as well as any other issues or flaws. I certainly don't like getting burned in a transaction and would never want to cause another to feel that way in a transaction with me, either. What the buyer chooses to do with the knife is not my concern...it's his karma that's affected now.

[Mumbleypeg]

This older thread on the same topic, and what others have done with their counterfeits may be of interest to some. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41658

Ken

[edge213]

This older thread on the same topic, and what others have done with their counterfeits may be of interest to some. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41658

Ken

Ken, I'm so glad you posted that. When I read the OP I started thinking about the way Jerry disposes of counterfeit knives.
I had just not found that post yet. I kinda like Jerry's way.

[Mumbleypeg]

This older thread on the same topic, and what others have done with their counterfeits may be of interest to some. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41658

Ken

Ken, I'm so glad you posted that. When I read the OP I started thinking about the way Jerry disposes of counterfeit knives.
I had just not found that post yet. I kinda like Jerry's way.

I had the same thought when I saw the OP. It took me a while to find that older thread. One thing about Jerry’s method - those won’t likely be showing up somewhere for sale again! Which is his intent.

Ken

[OLDE CUTLER]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I had not considered using a .308 rifle, but will include it under #6, other. Also I will include under #6 the suggestions to deface the tang stamp by filing or as I have heard of someone doing, drilling a hole thru the tang stamp with a carbide bit. Fortunately, the price range of knives that I buy makes it unlikely that I will ever purchase a fake but who knows.