How to Spot a Fake

[Musashi]

Ok, I've noticed that a lot of guys here point out fake gloves on Ebay. I wish I was that good, but honestly, I don't think I've got the "eye".

In going with the educational goal of the forum, I think it'd make an awesome thread if some of the experts out there can teach us how to spot fakes. I for one would love to see some pictures (maybe showing side-by-side comparisons of a fake and the real deal), along with a step-by-step walk-through and analysis. In short, teach us how to train our eyes by showing us what exactly what we should be looking for (and why).

Maybe somebody can start by posting pictures from some of the old "fake glove" threads off the forum, and pointing out the details that give it away as a fake... And if this thread gets enough good content, maybe Brett could "sticky" the thread and make it a great research tool we can use whenever we think a glove is questionable.

[Musashi]

Wow. Lots of people looking, but no posts. Ok then, I'll start:

This one seems pretty easy - this particular glove was an Ebay offering a while back, and in one of the forum's earlier posts, a member suggested that this glove was a fake. So what's the consensus - real or fake (and why)? What specific details (or other facts) about the glove convinced you either way?

From a beginner's point of view, here's my opinion: it's a fake; the "Holdster" and "Fastback" are Rawlings features, and the patch looks like a blacked-out Rawlings. However, the pic of the palm seems ok to me...almost like the palm and back shots are of two different, but similar gloves.

My biggest question with this (assuming that the pictures all show a single glove) is WHY somebody would go through all that trouble?

[quaz95]

Larry,
Thanks for the trade, i like the pro tb. ok the only way i know to tell a fake is to see that the Wilson circle patch has made in Korea. No gloves by wilson where ever made there. Plus like the one you posted just cardboard looking, or even rubbery. I only know cause of the korea patch.

Hope this helps.

John

[bs]

Regarding this glove.

It has a flat basket web, generally low end gloves get flat webs while higher end gloves will get looped basket webs. Flat web designs use much less leather.

The binding is a different color from the glove which probably means it is vinyl.

[Musashi]

Though I think I know what you mean, could you tell us the difference between a flat web and a looped web? For reference, here's a pic of a Rawlings PROS26BFB:

[bs]

Musashi,

This Rawlings picture shows a looped web. The web has numerous loops that the lace goes through. The looped web uses about an extra inch of the leather around the perimeter of the web but it is much stronger than the flat web.

The Wilson is just a flat where the lace is going through, it is not even double thickness. The dual hinged web that Wilson often uses is a flat web but they use 2 thickness of leather for the lace holes.

[Hrking4675]

-Rest of thread is great and educational - no need for antagonistic comments - Overprotective moderator

[Musashi]

So bs, is the flat web, or the lack of loops on a basket web one of the dead giveaways for a fake top-tier glove?

[Hrking4675]

In most cases yes. I think Clemens used a flat one a while back though.

[Musashi]

So what else do we look for? Does anyone out there have a picture of a KNOWN fake? Hey John, do you have a pic of the Wilson circle with the "Made in Korea" that we can look at?

[GloveGypsy]

Larry,

I think that there lots of fakes out there......and many knock off gloves, too.

Hey, maybe this will eventually be the "FOW" thread......you know, "Fake of the Week" and I think that you could get some of our board members to contribute.

[Musashi]

Great idea! I think if we can keep the thread objective, and really approach this as trying to educate ourselves in glove identification/authentication, this could really be a great resource for everyone.

And then (hopefully), when these Ebay sellers catch on that they're dealing with much better-informed clientele, maybe we can force the bad ones out in some way by just not buying their products.

[bs]

Clemens was using mesh back, $40.00 retail glove. It should have had a flat web.

I have never really looked for fake gloves. But the flat web is a sign of a lower end glove. Nokona uses flat webs at times but at least they double up the leather where the lace goes.

I seems that 90%+ of the problems with fake gloves are the Korean made Wilson gloves.

[Musashi]

I've noticed that too - that most (if not all) of the gloves that people think are fake happen to be a "Wilson". Is there any particular reason for that? Why aren't there fake Rawlings or Mizunos? If I were a counterfeiter, I'd think that the money lies in the HOHs, PPs, or even plain vanilla Gold Gloves - why just Wilson?

[Hrking4675]

Well, the example above would have made a better fake Rawlings than wilson. Gotta love the "Finest in The Field," "Basket-Web," (With the Circle R) "Arch," "Fastback," and Hol D Ster" markings. They are all registered by Rawlings. You couldnt even pass this one saying you swapped the web out with a cheap Rawlings one.