Fake Tassels?

[Tensho]

I thought for sure the blue/brown tassel was going to be fake. Condition is way to good. But now I'm questioning my brown tassel that was on a mint condition koshirae.

 

They are both silk(I did a burn test on some loose thread) they both came from Japan(which I guess means nothing either)

 

On the blue/brown tassel I have seen the same pattern on ohmura site. I just don't know enough to judge. 

[Tensho]

[Bruce Pennington]

@PNSSHOGUN

John would be the one to say.  Hopefully he'll take a look.

 

Matt, what type of sword was your brown tassel on?  Can you post a pic of it with nakago shots, too?  I'm starting a survey of the all brown tassel and would appreciate the info.

[Tensho]

7 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

@PNSSHOGUN

John would be the one to say.  Hopefully he'll take a look.

 

Matt, what type of sword was your brown tassel on?  Can you post a pic of it with nakago shots, too?  I'm starting a survey of the all brown tassel and would appreciate the info.

I thought someone would have insight. Maybe to hard to judge in photos. For what its worth, I came across one that was off a gunto, its torn up and ratty but the stitching matches mine completely. I'm not an authority on these though. 

 

The brown tassel is on a Wakizashi bruce. It's a Mumei shinto or shin shinto blade. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

You can check with a UV light, wartime dyes won't light up. 

[Tensho]

9 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

You can check with a UV light, wartime dyes won't light up. 

Thanks for that info, was not aware of that. I checked early this morning with a UV flashlight and I didn't notice anything strange. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Sounds legit, then.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Tassels were made at a variety of koshiere shops so a lot of variation in colour and pattern do exist, but fakes get a few key things wrong. I have not seen a fake that doesn't look "plasticy" or more synthetic. When you rub the fibers together it squeeks almost. Also the blue brown tassel is a "premium" where the brown shows at the ends of the blue and vise versa on the reverse side, I have yet to see a fake do that well where it isn't obvious due to other factors or the overlap is just wrong. 

 

Best of luck with your collection!