Quote Originally Posted by Badger View Post
I think I agree with you, but with the exception of the venue type, aren't we actually saying the same thing.

Just so I'm clear ...

You're saying that the way to handle it is for a novice buyer to post good enough quality pics of a rifle with markings that they want to buy, so that other members (presumably more expert), can view them and say the rifle is faked or not? If the answer is yes it's authentic, then aren't the pics posted to get the answer now available to potential fakers anyway, along with a lot of of detailed commentary from members authenticating them?

Wouldn't it be better to completely ban posting any pics of correct pieces in any forums, if your point is to attempt to hide the authentic material from fakers, so that they never know what the real thing looks like? With all due respect, isn't this similar to an argument that says let's ban guns and we'll prevent gun murders?

Am I missing something....

Also, isn't relying upon the good graces of the right experts being available at the time the member is seeking the information a bit hit and miss, especially if the member is wanting to bid on an auction which may be closing soon?

BTW, here's something I said in another thread on the subject of fakes and collecting...



So, in my opinion for what it's worth, having been there and done that with a different collecting field, you are not going to stop fakers by thinking that hiding legitimate pieces from their view or banning their appearance anywhere, will stop their fraudulent ventures. It's about enforcement and exposing the pieces that they've gone to great lengths to fake, so they are publicly available for viewing to the masses, young and old. Hence, my thoughts that a "Counterfeits Forum" has more of a valid place in our gun collecting world, exposing the fake pieces and fakery oriented vendors, then relying on hiding our collections from them.

I'm willing to reconsider my opinion on this subject with an open mind. So, I'm listening if there's a better way to handle this problem, which I think will simply continue to grow as these collectibles get more expensive. My only concern is protecting new collectors from making expensive mistakes in their journey to becoming knowledgeable, so for me, it's about good solid reference materials, whether they be in the form of books, original manuals, magazine articles, electronic on-line articles and gun specific forums in order to interact with other collectors.

Just my two cents ..

Regards,
Badger
Badger,

Here is a fake USMC MC-1 mount on Ebay with a fake base. There is no mention of being a copy as of now:

120475633683

I'm not about to post an authentic detailed photo or elaborate why it's a fake, it's not difficult to correct. This auction was already posted on Garanditis forum. There are avenues and people to contact before bidding but this item may easily be a $2,000 "whoops" before the auction ends unless bidders are reading this or the Garanditis post. I don't know what the solution is but stating "Buying above one's knowledge" is certainly appropriate.