(Another) Leather tassel question.

[John C]

Hello:

I'm trying to determine if the tassel on the patrolman sword is in original condition. In researching other threads, the consensus seems to be the ones with the "collar" at the top (see pic 2 for reference) are original, which the one on the sword does not have.

Were there actually leather tassel variants or are the "variants" I'm seeing fake?

If the tassel on the sword is legit, is it a variant or just missing the "collar" that would go around the top?

 

Thank you for taking a look,

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

Waiting for John, @PNSSHOGUN, and I'm away from home for a bit, so don't have my tassels to compare.  But here is Type 32 diagram that seems to show the upper band.  The one you are looking at appears legit to me, so it's a variation, or the upper band simply went missing over time.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Unfortunately my knowledge of the NCO tassels is pretty dismal. Can't offer anything of value as this isn't an area that particularly interests me. @Stegel & @Shamsy are the experts on such matters.  

[Scogg]

I have also not focused on these. But I’ve read a little bit on them, and there was a style change. The earlier versions of the knot had the leather tightly wound in the end, and it was time consuming. If I am interpreting the following thread correctly, the later version of the knot had the end filled with a punched out stacked leather plug, which was a faster method. Read carefully below for your own interpretation as I often question my own :

 

https://www.warrelic...uction-1930s-788442/

 

So there were changes. Also there’s the versions with buckles on the strap, and the versions without. I have not handled enough examples, or read enough about them, to know about the “collar” feature at the source of your question.

 

I will say, I have one with, and one without that feature... I believe both my knots are genuine, but I cannot be certain. One has what I believe to be a replacement strap. 
 

All I can say is that, If either of those are repro’s in your original post, they are good looking one’s

[Scogg]

Here’s the information screenshotted from that thread. Followed by both my examples.
 

My knot with what appears to be the tightly wound and glued end has the collar (orange background). My knot with what appears to be the punched out end does not (green background). 
 

It’s really a tragedy that Nick Komiya is no longer with us. He continues to teach me much, even if it takes me a while to absorb the vastness of it. 

Cheers,

-Sam 

 

[John C]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

don't have my tassels to compare.

I'll help you out, Bruce. I read a post where you showed a picture of your tassels. They all had the "collar" on the top (which is what prompted my question, actually). 

12 minutes ago, Scogg said:

Nick Komiya

Thanks for the pic, Sam. I read through Nick's stuff and didn't see that document. I too have his "Master List" of articles bookmarked.

 

John C.

p.s. as a leather worker, I can replace the collar at the top and make it look original, if necessary.

[Scogg]

I don’t mind much as that one is just there to look the part. It’s on a sword I’ll keep forever and maybe someday will switch out the tassel. 
 

My other one, with the collar, I’d say is in “relic” condition and I don’t think is salvageable beyond leaving as-is. I’ll PM you about it 

[Kotetsu1959]

     John Plimpton's book illustrates about ten variations of leather sword knots in the first appendix, some of which do not have a collar at the top.