Down the Cellar 29.5 - Upon Closer Inspection

Just a quick update to DtC 29.
If you have a question, comment, complaint, or criticism, or would like to share (or sell) your collection, please feel free to write Tom at:
[e-mail]
An email is the best way to get your question answered, because while Tom most definitely reads your comments he hasn't quite gotten the hang of replying to them in the comment section.
You may also want to check out our website: www.wwiidaggers...

[@johncraig2684]

the forgers will love this video...great tips for their next fake but i'm sure Tom will find something else they get wrong....but it's scary how good they are getting

[@davidthompson62]

It’s difficult for forgers to get anything of high value past Mr. Whitman because most fakes lack the high quality that the original versions have. Most fakes get snuffed out by their tangs as forgers lack the skill of the real craftsman who originally worked them. The filing of the tang mmediately dropped this one in the trash bucket.

[@shitsgiggles2314]

Thanks a lot Tom. I've learned so much from you over the years videos like these help me and other collectors save tens of thousands in other words this video is priceless

[@steelrolex]

Mr Wittman is the number one when it comes to German edged weapons

[@Nighthawk1966]

Love it all Tom, the cellar, the stories, all of it ! Keep em coming my friend !!

[@joeguzman3558]

Thank you Mr.tom for taking your time and helping us all whit your knowledge , that's why is very important to watch your videos.

[@jimrutherford2773]

Thank you for the follow up video. It was a learning experience. There are so many nuances to the fakery in collecting of all kinds.

[@themergeparanormal8837]

The chicken in box I think is due to what Tom said in unboxing number 5 “For all I know there could be a dead chicken in one of these boxes”.

[@joshuastroyer9662]

The first thing I noticed was the cross grain on the original is absolutely gorgeous.

[@militaryquest4147]

Great information Tom ! Great video ! Thank you

[@tomstreet5266]

Tom I love this kind of video. To show the fakes next to the real thing is the best you can do for the hobby. I'd love an episode of nothing but fakes. I learn by watching and listening.

[@davidthompson62]

Tom’s been doing it so long he can almost sniff a phony from the real deal. The key is not get overwhelmed by the piece for what it could be but is the piece what it claims to be. If you have a funny feeling looking at a dagger don’t ignore the warning!!! If it don’t seem right don’t purchase it until you have a trained eye, like Tom, look at it. Of course the seller will pressure you saying “I have other people interested” or “I can’t hold it” ect. Ect. Don’t fall for the pressure sales tactics! Especially if your at a big show, an honest dealer will give you some time to get someone over the table to give a second opinion.

[@themergeparanormal8837]

It would break my heart to love and cherish an item that I thought was of such financial, and historical value, only to find out it was a fake the whole time.

[@t.jjohnson6317]

Thanks Tom..for the update..Your right small things can be giant in this hobby.

[@alexnaisteter4615]

Thank you very much, Mr. Wittmann.

[@carlcookson9693]

I bought an SS Officers Dagger from a very reputable dealer here in the U.K. , I will not mention his name , however on closer inspection it was a really convincing copy , I contacted him and said that I was un happy with the piece and would like to return it to him and to receive a full refund . well without writing a novel about this I eventually got a refund and I pointed out to him that this was not a one off, he sold a fake Narvik Shield to me some years before which also had to be returned, All I can say is that certain dealers say that they are beyond reproach but are far from it. I just wanted to share this and say ,Buyer Beware,

[@olelarsen3357]

You saw it coming. Damn, you are the best Mr. W. Respect from a big fan.

[@ronmanzer6279]

Great video thanks for the education definitely an eye opener especially for new collectors

[@leonardjanda6181]

As said the camera work is great 👍 I can listen to you talk all day , knowledgeable in the collection world 🌎

[@victorstrozier929]

I think the "upon further inspection" videos are as important as the "cellar dweller" videos. We have all gotten fooled. It is so expensive and frustrating. I have two bad pieces sitting in my closet of shame away from my main collection.

[@frederikdemoor8172]

Really Nice video! Thx for shaming youre expertiece with us. Really helpfull! Grts from Belgium

[@connorfulkerson127]

I appreciate the financial assistance Tom, in saving people numerous thousands of dollars.

[@jakebeck4389]

Wow that's heartbreaking for that poor guy..thanks for the valuable information ouch!

[@xkmendlt4290]

Great education on the counterfeit dagger Mr.W. Unfortunately, counterfeits have made their way into way to many collectables hobby’s. I know it has affected the collectables I deal with. A good friend and expert on sports collectables tells me that about 50% of what’s on the market in that hobby is counterfeit! Coins, currency, art, toys have all been negatively affected and many new collectors have been burned. Be carful and when in doubt for a high dollar item have a true professional check it out.

[@octavioaugustoestevesotton3305]

Very good vídeo, importante details.

[@larryburwell8550]

Well it takes a Tom Whittman to know this stuff but once you point out each part and with your own dagger as example everything you point out is obvious. Thank you for the great education. Your the man sir

[@thilgu]

Thanks a lot for this. Such an important video. You could read a book and study images but nothing like a visualisation with a camera. Most people (including myself) have never even seen or held a real Himmler dagger. Then again, I mostly collect cloth insignia.

[@MrPatrick1414]

Thanks Tom, we can all learn from this. I was going to say (as you did) the first red flags for me were the grip and guards. Definitely not Eickhorn

[@csaint6780]

Thanx Tom for the info on BS Fakes!!!

[@madaboutmilitaria3630]

Thanks for the lesson👍

[@martinashton5792]

A real lesson , a real lesson

[@Wolshanze]

Great camera work 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@stephenhowes7542]

Nice spot ! Thanks for explaining

[@simoncooper913]

Wow!! This guys good.

[@miramarmopars4405]

I watch a lot of Tom’s videos, he’s like a professor of Nazi edged weapons. Always wondered if he came across fakes in his unboxing videos. Now I know, great job !

[@silverufo6735]

The camera work is killing me

[@garystump8390]

THANKS for the education Tom,always appeciated. im running into a lot of reproductions here lately in my area,thanks to your education videos i can spot them.

[@roberta.6399]

Nice shirt! 👍

[@raivonraj]

Well done, "quite simply".👀

[@joeguzman3558]

Tom looking like a million dollars, that's class at the highest level.

[@obi1kahnobee549]

Wow Mr Wittman you are the Guru of German edged weapons.

[@sysop007]

Being that you’re seeing these items for the first time it’s hard to not make quick judgement for these videos. But you guys need to do these because (no fault of your own) some junk does come in and it’s your responsibility to call it out and use for demonstration since you should be a walking encyclopedia of knowledge on these. And some of the fakes are very good, but one area that’s majority fake are silverware type items I’m learning. Daggers are a bit harder to pull off. All you have is your rep, keep calling our the 💩! 👏🏼

[@johnjenkins1589]

Glad you called this one out. It’s a horrible copy really. The collector should have known better. I’d also like to see that full Röhm up close. Where there is one bad dagger there will be others in a collection

[@johnjenkins1589]

Anyone can see that it’s a bad fake if your a dagger collector. There are much much better fakes than this out there. Videos like this do nothing to help fakers. They can’t fake age or the effect 80 plus years has on original parts. They will never get the feel right. That’s why it’s so important to know what you buy.

[@michaelsix3644]

I would suggest that possibly the other SS jewels have also some „mistakes“ ???

[@MrMokkeli]

These are really important videos, thank you again. Theres so much fake stuff out there.

[@joshualowe6443]

I’ve been dying to ask….. what kinda lighter does Tom use?!? Thanks again for sharing!

[@bmoreben2665]

When there side by side you can see there not the same I do remember you looking at the fake over n not liking the blade you are a wealth of knowledge thanks for putting out this second video explaining

[@kennethrouse7942]

Very frightening how good, though, that the copies of this and others have gotten. It's a double-edged situation in that as the tips are passed along to the collectors it also gives tips to the bandits on how to better pass their fakes along undetected. My own SS Himmler fake story is this: one of the members at a local Stammtisch I frequented (ca. 30 years ago) proudly showed us the SS Himmler he had purchased for several thousand Deutsch Mark's.. complete with DOUBLE-PROOFED BLADE. I felt bad and tried to explain that he had been cheated and all he did was get angry with me. No good deed, indeed. 👍

[@dnf7778]

Good eye Tom

[@cheapolegunguy]

The fake SS runes kinda looks like a stick pin I used to have as a kid :)

[@whatISwhat68]

it's nice to see why she's not good

[@simoncooper913]

Tom. How did you pass this information back to the seller? That must of been a phone call from hell!

[@synchrome62]

The “St St” crossguards are associated with Robert Klaas (and maybe other firms). I have them on my SS Sport school dagger. That fake etch reminds me very much of the fake Roehm dedications floating around… Expensive mistake.

[@chriskowalsky3993]

what a wake up call 🤣

[@maakjar]

Just sad someone could loose such an investment

[@dennislindenpellinge]

👍

[@radiodalbunker8603]

😉

[@fluxerflixer1]

You need a new cameraman and camera

[@christianblake3997]

I think you need to teach your son how to hold a camera and learn to focus it mate. He’s always out of focus by the time you’ve finished your advice which make the whole point of your advice useless!