Comments by "Marvin De Bot" (@marvindebot3264) on "Collier Reproductions and Fakes - Who and Why?" video.

As someone who deals in detecting fakes on a daily basis, I can say it is not that hard to add dirt, even aged dirt. Never mistake dirt for patina (which is much harder). Dirt (as in crud) can be collected and added if the genuine piece is expensive enough to be worth the effort of faking well.
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Question, is there an owner who actually takes his (or hers) out and fires it now and again? OK, my question was kinda answered. Seriously tho, if you can't shoot it, why own it?
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@markfergerson2145 Believe me, it can be and in fact, is done. I can't think of a time we have sent the crud off for DNA testing or a pollen ID however as other indicators usually stand out first. With mechanical times this old it's as OD says, screws. All screws were handmade back then and little or no standards existed so if the screws conform to a known thread standard and yet the item supposedly predates it then it's a fake. Checking for pre-Manhatten steel is also quite common for pre-war objects. Mind you if it's an expensive object the forgers will use pre-war steel and hand-cut threads at the top end of the forging game the same way they will use old timber, parchment, pigments and even glass.
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