Terrified to purchase a Tassel!!!

[dwmc]

Yes, it's true! I am afraid to buy a sword tassel unless it shows considerable wear and has a bit of damage here or there indicating it is from WWll era. Especially when considering a higher priced field grade tassel let alone a general's tassel. What a racket, many of these reproduction tassels are getting so good it's terrifying to spend big money only to find it is a well-made reproduction. 

As collectors, I suspect most of us want the nicest looking item we can find, there it is, nicely folded pristine in a box, have to have it only to discover its a well-made reproduction.  They get your money, then sellers claim...not know fake, not know fake, your fault you judge.

 

John (psnshogun) has made much appreciated attempt to help with how to properly identify fake from real but I still find it difficult to confidently tell the difference in many cases. Particularly in photos as it is impossible to have the tassel in hand. John has mentioned he is preparing a guideline as how to identify real from reproduction. Hopefully, he will share it soon..,

 

 

Dave

 

[ChrisW]

You could always talk to Bill Rannow! He knows his stuff about tassels and has a lot of them for sale, many new in box that he bought years and years ago.

[Conway S]

I’m in the same boat with you. I know some people here feel a gunto is incomplete without the tassel or knot, but I try to avoid purchasing these unless I find them in-person. It's hard to shop for tassels by pictures alone.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Thank you for the vote of confidence, however the purposed tassel treatise has fallen way, way, way by the wayside. Will dust off the draft and see what can be salvaged.