Thread: Counterfeit Solingens

I have it on good authority that this 260515120357 is fake.

I understand from a pro restorer that it may be pakastani. It will not take an edge. This is from Altima55, or Bob Keyes. He was able to get his money back...Here's his email:

Check this out, 260515120357, In case you don't know about these. These and others are flooding the market now. Quite good looking, but definitely counterfeits, all marked with German printing or made in Germany, etc.. I bought one of these exactly like it along with another different German fake from pita_60.

I honed them up, or at least tried to and they acted like any other Paki sh**. they wouldn't get even the slightest bit shave ready. When I asked pita_60, who is Livia and Cesar Aguillon in Oak Forest, Indiana for a refund, they gave me one with not too much trouble.

In conversing with Livia, she said they had sold lots of these. On this particular one in this auction, the F.W.E., she said they had 20 more to sell. I put this razor on an ebay search and sure enough they are selling them. They also have other fake German look alikes they're selling, and at very good prices.

Not the usual Paki stuff an experienced eye can detect right off, but in an ebay auction pic, good enough to create bidding. There is no end to these con artists and they're getting better at reproducing their sh**. Some other sellers like this one are also selling them.

Just thought I'd send out a heads up on these, Bob Keyes

Thanks for the info. Even as a newbie, I found that a German blade in new condition be auctioned with at starting bid of $20 seems a bit "fishy". But also as a newbie, I would have been fooled as well.

What a shame!

The starting bid has nothing to do with it. You can start them at .99. Once the bidding starts, it'll invariably continue. I've seen items started at say £30 attract no bids. When the seller re-lists at a far lower start the item goes for way above the previous listing price.

Oh, & thank you very much Zib!

I've won a razor from pita_60 a couple of months ago. It was listed as probably never used & minty.
When it arrived it had no hone wear, but was loose in the scales.
I fixed that, honed it up & gave it a go. It's sharp as hell & has remained so ever since! Not sure if i was just lucky or what, but it's a good blade.

They do seem to be able to find NOS blades with surprising ease though.

Maybe if the counterfeiters keep improving their counterfeits eventually they'll stumble upon how to make a good razor by pure chance?

Wow thats disturbing...anything to make a buck!

Thanks for the info!

Could it just be a poorly tempered German blade? Maybe they just messed that one up? Because looking at that blade, it would cost a LOT to counterfeit, I think...And why counterfeit an Engels? Why not a Fillie?

I just picked up some "Souvenir of Solingen" I hope these are legit. I'll post up in few days. Some rust but I hope they're not counterfeits.

The souvenir of Solingens are quite common as 7 day sets. I've never heard anything bad said about them. That would be really making the effort to counterfeit if they go as far as rusting them too!

While it seems hard to believe that someone would counterfeit an FWE after taking a look at 5 of that brand that I have I notice none of them have jimps. The FWE Special stamp is unique to that model. The Leader, Warren 28 and Engels Wedge all have their own unique Engles stampings. They also have unique scales with the model embossed in the mark side or the decorated ends that came on the Special and the Leaders.

Had Rich not pointed out this being a knock off I wouldn't have taken a closer look and noticed the jimps. All of my FWEs regardless of the model have a blade that is reminiscent of a dubl duck. They are sort of delicate and again, no jimps.

Anyone can have a stamp made to copy an existing marque. FWE isn't around to sue them for copyright or brand infringement. Check the seller's other items and he has a 'buy it now' auction for the same razor @ $88.00 with 2 available. Looks like a carbon copy of the one in the other auction with the same generic Solingen scales.

Maybe the people at the source have gotten hold of some stamped blade blanks ? That is another possibility. All I can say is know what you are buying in the area of NOS vintage razors. IOW, know the characteristics of the real McCoy before you plunk down your hard earned $$.

I saw the same phenomenon with high dollar vintage pocket knives in the early '70s. Case Tested trappers and whittlers being the most frequent at that time along with Remington Bullets.

This is interesting. Jimmy can you post picture of your same razor's i wanna see. Please.