Flintknappers Can Spot Fakes & Reproductions

[jackcrafty]

Yes, flintknappers can make fakes but we can also spot them. I'm a flintknapper. I'm also a collector. In other words, lots of people don't like me...heheh.

I want to share with you some observations that allow me to spot fakes and modern reproductions. I have read a couple good books on the subject of artifact recognition, written by experienced collectors, but there are some characteristics that an experienced knapper can spot more easily than others can.

I will post pictures here and ask if you can spot the modern reproductions and why. I don't have much time right now, so I will not go into depth on this subject with this first post. I will post regularly, when I get the chance, and share my observations with you. I'm hoping there will be interest in this thread and a lot of back-and-forth discussion.

Here are a couple pictures. Sorry for the grainy close-up. I will use my wife's camera to take clearer pictures in upcoming posts.

[rokdok]

Pics are fuzzy, but i'll take a shot. First picture;Large left-fake,Top row:first and third-fake Bottom row:fourth and fifth-fake.Hard to evaluta from these pics, but that's my first impression.

[flintseeker]

I'm no expert, but my guess is that they are ALL modern reproductions.

Great topic! I'm eager to learn from it!

[jackcrafty]

I like the answer that ALL are fake. It tells me you would not buy an artifact based on a fuzzy picture.

The large one on the left is fake. Good observation. I'll wait for a few more replies before I spill the beans.

[zachMA]

Second from the right on the top row looks modern, but i know very little about telling the difference lol. Just started making my first attempts at knapping, figured it would help me recognize debris and worked material more easily. It's pretty fun,i like your work.

[John G. Scoggins]

My guess is that the four damaged ones on the bottom row and the point on the far right of the top row are authentic.

[joshuaream]

In the first picture the top row is bogus. The bottom row the one in the middle and Perdiz are bogus. And the big one.

Not to say that the other ones are good, just that I see something I don't like about the ones I pointed out.

[jackcrafty]

Well, I can't hold it in any longer.

I do NOT know which ones are 100% real but I DO know which ones are 100% fake.

The entire top row in the first picture is fake. I know this because I made them.

The entire bottom row are bird points I purchased from 3 separate but reputable dealers. They look 99% real to me, with my limited experience (5 yrs collecting).

The large one was given to me by a friend and I know that one is fake. It was made by a well known knapper.

How did you do? I will take closer, clearer pictures on these soon. I will also show both sides and a side view of each one. I will then give you my observations. Right now, my luch break is over...heheh

[jackcrafty]

Josh, tell me what you didn't like about the ones you pointed out.

[drdave514]

Out of my range on types and material but based on the photos the top row fake is fake and the bottom row real in the first pic.

Edit: Never mind, I see you already said it. At least I got it right. Nice stuff.