[mrerick]

After reading about the book "The Art of the Faker" on this forum, I found a used copy a few months ago and have been reading it.

It's focused on all types of faking. Art, antiques, etc... and discusses some of the psychology and motivation behind faking.

Clearly financial gain is usually one of the reasons the faker engages in their craft. But it's been found that it's often much more.

Some take pleasure in "besting" the expert. It's a dominant trait, often born in the frustration of not being a success in a field, then taking them for a "ride"...

Many are serious students of history with some finely developed skills. The faking is an outlet. These are usually the ones that border on obsession, and they often create the most difficult fakes to detect. I think the fakes we deal with are often the outlet of an obsessive and skilled frustrated person. Multiple skills lead to additional provenance like packaging, capture paper and more.

Of course it's just as likely that they take pleasure in being outright cheats...

Except for the assembly line style of faker (WaffenFabrik USA), the obsessive must pour more hours into their "craft" than it's often worth financially.

So, it looks like our only protection is the data we collect and share, and reliance on experience to judge the gun and not buy the story.

If we're "taken" and end up educated in the process, is it just "tuition" in the end after the emotions subside?

These are beautiful guns, even if they prove inauthentic.

Marc