Inspection Stamp Quiz

[pmac]

I too look forward to the answer.... They all look suspect to me.

[Rick B]

On to #10,, FAKE again. Notice the comparisons where the EMcF stamp on the Fake is larger than the real one and the cannons are smaller next to the same sized photos compared to the real one. They did a good job on the EMcF part but horrible with the cannons. Rick B

[Wullie]

Get 'em while they're hot......
http://shop.ebay.com/terrybaier/m.ht...1&_from=&_ipg=

Got lots of counterfieters in the old pocket knife "bidness" too.

PS; Not my stuff, not my auction, nor am I interested in such stuff.

If the link has been posted before, I apologize.

[snapperm1c]

Get 'em while they're hot......
http://shop.ebay.com/terrybaier/m.ht...1&_from=&_ipg=

Got lots of counterfieters in the old pocket knife "bidness" too.

PS; Not my stuff, not my auction, nor am I interested in such stuff.

If the link has been posted before, I apologize.

Not bad... the E.McF. looks very good, same with GAW.

They're getting better...

SN1

[bphealey]

Are we going to discuss #11?

What about the SA/GAW types?

[Rick B]

Sorry for the delay, I have been very busy readying two homes to sell and move towards the country. My job was finally forced to lift the residency requirement they illegally imposed 27 years ago. I was lucky enough to have started 26 years ago right after they imposed this.

Ok # 11 and the final stamp is a real stamp. So of all the stamps I posted only one was real. I have many other fake stampings and in all cases they will show to many difference to be real. I was also lucky enough to have started recording information before the fakes became so rampant.
I have had enough stocks with real history behind them to prove the real ones that all are the same with very small differences when you find a second stamp from that period. Yes they made more than one stamp but they never used a different set of crossed cannons and the different stamps together if this makes sense? Point being if you see a set of cannons and the commanders stamp that are different from know originals you know it is fake.

The key to telling forgeries is a close look and if you feel it is fake go with you gut. A few other notes that are false is any way to tell a fake by dirt, depth of stamp, double strike and many more B.S ways. The only way to tell is by a comparison of the stampings themselves. In all the years I have done this I have seen real stampings with a deep stamp, Brand spanking new, double struck heavily and triple struck, no dirt in the lines and perfectly clean, upside down, sideways and cannons stamped on the left to name a few.

The worst thing is for a person who has no experience with markings to blurt out it is fake or real for many of these reasons when they have handled only a few stocks. I have seen some who handled a considerable amount of stocks use these falsehoods also and that is a shame. I have handled thousands and have one of the largest data bases known to exist. I still do not have all of the oddities and am still learning. I treat each stock like a child and can see differences in all. I love wood because of this and really get exited over a new find or a different grained piece. People stop in my shop and are in awe that I can figure out whose stuffs is who's. Each piece tells a story when I work on it and would be like a parent who can tell their twins apart Each has their own characteristics. I have been working with wood since I was around 8 years old. My father was always working in the shop on something and my Granddad worked in a hardware store most of his life. They were both fixing things all the time and I enjoyed making things. I Aced wood shop and was the teachers helper due to how well I picked up on making things. This was at age 13 and I built my family many things that they still have around their homes like grandfather clocks and chess boards that have drawers. I always paid attention to detail which in some cases got me in trouble especially being able to guess gifts. It became a game with some to see if I could guess and I usually was right.

Again key is comparison to known correct stampings. I hate to say this but some folks cannot pick up on details and it is just one of those things. It just means you need to have someone help if making a expensive purchase and I am always will to help here at home or by emails.

Happy collecting.
Rick B

[RBruce]

Whew, I got the last one right - but only after changing my answer based on your first two answers and explanations.Now I'm wondering if I sold a Garand or two in the past that had fake inspection stamps. I hope not.

[islandhopper]

To be honest, some of the more blatant forgeries stood out so that I only had 3 wrong of the 11. But of those three, I still can't really see THAT much of a difference, and I NEVER would be able to pick out those differences without a known good example to compare in person. And even then, I still might not get it. Sooooooo, if I ever do buy something with an inspecter's cartouche again (thank you for past assistances, it was always greatly appreciated), I will be in contact - per your gracious invitation. Thanks for all you do!

[zaugau]

Sweet, I got em all right! I had some good comparisons to go by, but that last one almost threw me with the double stamping. Only thing is it's easier being able to compare with pics on the computer like this, but its hard at a gunshow where you can't take pics and the light isn't good. I might have to print some of these out to take with me to shows. Thanks for this informative thread, Rick.

[Eugene Onegin]

How about original stocks that have been restamped ?