I have had this blade a while and there are things about it that are puzzling. The tang is correct. The steel is of high quality and the finish, including the crossgraining, show expert craftmanship. The overall shape is correct. The etching appears to be proper and the background in it is the matte gray type. I would appreciate observations and opinions on it.

I will note the previous photo does not do the etching justice, The scan makes it look a bit "shaky" and uneven in places. Such is not the case. Also, the striations seen in the photos are not present on the blade.

Motto

Perhaps a better shot of the inscription

Grumpy, do you hav a straight-on shot of the maker mark? The inscription looks accurate to me...

Red

Here's a better shot of the left side of the mark. Hope this helps. Thanks.

Well, that didnt come out so well. Let me try, again.

Grumpy,
Let's see if you can get a large and clear detailed photo of the maker mark? That is where I usually find a problem on a "Hammesfahr" SS if it's fake.

I see two details that I don't like but need a better photo to be sure.

-serge-

Bear with me, please. I'm trying.

Rats! Again.

Another

Grumpy, this is a tough call IMO. There is obviously something you picked up about this blade that is worrying you... I'm really not sure on this one, I think it looks more right than wrong to me, but its hard to tell from these pics alone.

There are 3 main signs of a fake maker mark for GH

1. The ovals on the copies are too perfect and precisely parallel. The original has slightly irregular ovals with detectable "bumps". Ovals were really tough things to draw perfectly.

2. The letters have more space to the ovals on fakes, originals are tightly spaced to both oval borders.

3. Both the pyramid and "plus" symbol are noticeably smaller on fakes. The plus symbol is also smaller within the pyramid.

Take a good look through a loupe and let us know. What have you picked up that causes you to doubt the blade?

Fake TM is on the left...

Red

More pics of fake maker marks...

Good makers marks.

The motto seems to be one of the accepted patterns for GH, compare to the bottom motto which is a CZ fake.

BTW, these are only my opinions, everyone should make their own minds up and draw their own conclusions, as always.

Red

Thanks, Red. Two things concern me about my blade. The first is the second "A" in "Hammesfahr." Notice the "crossbar" is situated lower than usually seen. I don't consider this "proof postive" it's a fake, but I have not seen another trademark with this trait. This concern was posted here some time ago. The second concern is the placement of the Rohm inscription in relation to the trademark. The inscription is much closer to the trademark than normally seen. This is something I just recently caught, as obvious as it is. Other than these two factors, I can't see much wrong with the blade. The big question is whether the blade is a "variant," perhaps made by a subcontractor, of earlier production, etc., or whether it is a very well done fake. Like you, Red, it's a tough call for me. The blade has been seen by a very knowledgeable and well-known collector-dealer, who says the blade looks "right." However, the above two anomalies continue to be troublesome to me.