FAKE ( COPY ) YANONE ..... example

[watsonmil]

I recently purchased a supposedly genuine yanone of a somewhat rare type from an antique web site. Upon receipt, ... I noticed it was NOT exactly as pictured on the site. Now for someone to have more than one of a rare type is quite possible, ... but to have two heads exactly the same ( virtually impossible ) and still retaining their bamboo shafts, slight differences only, ....... not a bloody chance. If I had not noticed the slight difference in the " pictured " example from the one I received, ... I would NOT have suspected anything wrong. THAT IS DAMNEDABLE good work when a suspicious old collector can be fooled. I gently wiggled the projectile head, and pulled. It came free of the shaft without difficulty. Here's what I found:

1. The tang had minute traces of what appeared to be model glue.

2. The opening on the arrow shaft where the tang enters was ROUND instead of square ( one finds this on TARGET ARROW shafts that have had the cup shaped target head removed, and a drill bit inserted into the bamboo to make an opening in which to insert an yanone tang ) The forger rarely takes the time to make a square opening, but rather forces the square tang into the round opening.

3. The yanone tang was crisp ( like new ), ... no sign of rust, ... and the edges absolutely sharp as if made yesterday which it probably was.

4. The tang still had that frosty look of new steel.

 

Now then, .... I had paid via PayPal, ... and promptly filed a complaint. I reported to PayPal the reason I did not want the item, ... and asked them to investigate. In due course I received my monies back, ... but as far as any punitive action, .... I see the same item available again. This is an example of where the unwary will add A VERY GOOD COPY ( partially original in that the shaft is old ) to their collection. I ALMOST did, .... and I have some experience. I cannot say that the dealer in this case is dis-honest in any way. He may well have been duped into buying what he believed to be genuine items. I attach a couple of photos I took to illustrate. ...... Ron Watson

 

NOTE: I HAVE TRIED TO ADD PHOTOS, ... BUT AM FOR SOME REASON UNABLE .... My apologies.

[estcrh]

I recently purchased a supposedly genuine yanone of a somewhat rare type from an antique web site Upon receipt, ... I noticed it was NOT exactly as pictured on the site. Now for someone to have more than one of a rare type is quite possible, ... but to have two heads exactly the same ( virtually impossible ) and still retaining their bamboo shafts, slight differences only, ....... not a bloody chance. If I had not noticed the slight difference in the " pictured " example from the one I received, ... I would have NOT have suspected anything wrong. THAT IS DAMNEDABLE good work when a suspicious old collector can be fooled. I gently wiggled the projectile head, and pulled. It came free of the shaft without difficulty. Here's what I found:

1. The tang had minute traces of what appeared to be model glue.

2. The opening on the arrow shaft where the tang enters was ROUND instead of square ( one finds this on TARGET ARROW shafts that have had the cup shaped target head removed, and a drill bit inserted into the bamboo to make an opening in which to insert an yanone tang ) The forger rarely takes the time to make a square opening, but rather forces the square tang into the round opening.

3. The yanone tang was crisp ( like new ), ... no sign of rust, ... and the edges absolutely sharp as if made yesterday which it probably was.

4. The tang still had that frosty look of new steel.

 

Now then, .... I had paid via PayPal, ... and promptly filed a complaint. I reported to PayPal the reason I did not want the item, ... and asked them to investigate. In due course I received my monies back, ... but as far as any punitive action, .... I see the same item available again. This is an example of where the unwary will add A VERY GOOD COPY ( partially original in that the shaft is old ) to their collection. I ALMOST did, .... and I have some experience. I cannot say that the dealer in this case is dis-honest in any way. He may well have been duped into buying what he believed to be genuine items. I attach a couple of photos I took to illustrate. ...... Ron Watson

 

NOTE: I HAVE TRIED TO ADD PHOTOS, ... BUT AM FOR SOME REASON UNABLE .... My apologies.

If you can figure out how to post some pictures I would really like to see them, thanks for the info...

[watsonmil]

FINALLY, ...... I hope these come out clear enough.

 

In photograph 1, ..... NOTE the round hole in the bamboo shaft on the faked specimen.

 

In photograph 2, ..... NOTE ( the Nakago ) .. the sharpness and lack of patina on the fake example to the right. Also NOTE the bits of model glue still adhering to the tang ( white stuff ) on the right hand example's tang.

 

...... Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

Many thanks for the heads up and the detailed follow-up.

 

There are Yanone fakes doing the rounds of the antiques markets in Japan. Some are there solely to deceive, and others are pretty objects for someone's collection, pretty and in some cases very expensive, but... of no great age. All this means trouble for the serious collector.