The tassel test

[Ontario_Archaeology]

After a few years of collecting I have a few tassels now, and despite all the threads I still have issues spotting real vs fake sometimes. I think the best way forward for me is to post my tassels with what I think is real vs fake and someone who knows better than I check my answers.

 

1) Fake, paperish stuff, mis coloured?

 

2) Fake, mis coloured?

 

3) Fake, just a feeling

 

4) real

 

5) real

 

6) real

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Matt, the General's tassel will need closer photos but it has some good patina. The rest are real.

[16k]

They look real to me too though not too sure on the general's as the red looks pretty red.
The last one is a deluxe version.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Here is a close up of the general tassel from the auction I got it from.... I will take more pictures if needed.

Another closer shot

Thank you

[PNSSHOGUN]

Was the tassel separate from the sword or sold with the sword?

[Ontario_Archaeology]

The tassel was sold with the sword

[george trotter]

I too think the tassel on the kai gunto is correct...the navy brown seem to be a bit more 'dark chocolate' colour than the gunzoku type sometimes seen on army gunto, which is usually the same lighter brown seen with the blue or red tassels...please correct me if I am mistaken.

Regards,

[Ontario_Archaeology]

My collection has grown, a few months ago I decided to find a second general which will allow me to compare the first one too. Side by side shots will come eventually.....

 

The tassel also came with this..... Anyone have any ideas? I think that is a family Mon, but don't know the purpose.

 

Thanks!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Nice early generals Tassel you got there, however it does look like it has become brittle and stiff with age. I have a similar one, I don't dare remove it again as I'm nervous it will break/fray even more.

[Austo1]

From the pic. The first generals tassel looks bad to me. The crowns look too loose and the red colour doesn't look right. The red in all the repro's that i have seen, tends to have a pinky red shade to them.

The red colour can vary on different genuine tassels however the colour of the repro's in incorrect compared to the genuine type they are copied from. (Pink/Red Shade is my best way to try and describe the incorrect colour)

The difference is clearly seen when laid beside an original.

Kind Regards

Doug

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Nice early generals Tassel you got there, however it does look like it has become brittle and stiff with age. I have a similar one, I don't dare remove it again as I'm nervous it will break/fray even more.

What exactly do you mean by early? Did they change a bit over time?

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Side by side shots. The first one I posted is on the left, most recent one that came out of the box on the right. I'm pretty sure the left one is a repo

 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Yes Matt, the one on the left is a repro. Oh well, the sword is a nice one at least.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Yup, and I've learned a thing or two haha. Thanks for all your help

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Hello again,

 

I have another tassel that I would like a second opinion on. After comparing it to known repos I think it looks alright

Thanks!

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Authentic and in mint condition. Get your wallet ready because I will be bidding as well

[Itomagoi]

Hello,
I'd also like to hear your opinion on this tassel.

I cut a small piece of the thread and set it on fire to check if it is silk. It is, but that doesn't mean anything. A good reproduction can also be made of silk.

Thank you.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

I'd side on real. When the brown and blue stripe is reversed on the edges, I have seen it called a "premium" version of the tassel and I have not seen that on any repos. A similar pattern can see on picture 5 on the first post

[Itomagoi]

Thanks a lot, Matt. I was insecure, because the condition of the tassel is much too good :-)

[Bruce Pennington]

A good number of unused tassels made it into the collecting world from the war. I recently bought an unused Field grade tassel, still folded, rubber-banded, in it's original box.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Nice score Bruce, I'd love some pics for my treatise on tassels.

[Bruce Pennington]

Nice score Bruce, I'd love some pics for my treatise on tassels.

Here ya go John! I've long since lost the little rubber band that was binding the tassel.

 

Maybe you should submit your treatise to the JSSUS newsletter. They're looking for articles.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

What a find!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Here ya go John! I've long since lost the little rubber band that was binding the tassel.

 

Maybe you should submit your treatise to the JSSUS newsletter. They're looking for articles.

Great score Bruce, the boxes are perhaps rarer than the tassel in many ways. Thank you for the JSSUS recommendation as well, when it is near to completion I will submit it.

[Bruce Pennington]

Not to side-track your topic Matt, but thought this picture was interesting.  A young woman in 1906.  I think the tassel is hanging off the end of a fan, but it's hard to tell.  Just found it interesting that tasseled cords were a thing before the military started using them.  Might even explain some strange tassels that show up on bring-home swords.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Interesting, hard to tell really. But it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to assume maybe some family members used the tassels as a status symbol while their fathers or husbands were fighting the war. Maybe those whos family members died fighting were able to wear them with their regular dress. It is an interesting route to go down. 

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Recently on buyee I saw two sets of tassels go up. It would be cool if they were genuine, but I have my doubts,especially about the general tassels. 

Set 1

Set two

[Ontario_Archaeology]

To go along the lines of my post in the General Tassels thread, I have done the same for the other tassels, hopefully this will help when determine real vs fake.