whiskeyman
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Haven't seen this covered yet on the Forum, so figgered I'd bring it up. Back a few years ago, some knowledgeable Western collectors were duped into buying altered pumpkinseed flasks.[/align]The alteration was so well done as to be nearly indetectable. [/align]The perpetrator(s) used mainly plain flasks with the embossed slug plate circles. They made a (possibly) rubber mold from an original embossed flask. They poured clear epoxy-resin in the mold and after it set, they glued it in place within the slug plate circle.[/align]Collectors paid hundreds of dollars for these fakes, believing them to be authentic.[/align]I don't know who discovered that the flasks were an alteration, but there were quite a few irate collectors. I believe most, if not all , got their money back after confronting the perpetrator(s).[/align]The flask below is an example a friend of mine made a few years ago. I imagine he is more adept at it now and that perhaps others have figured out how to do this as well. [/align]The flask pictured is comprised of resin letters on an ABM Warranted Flask , and the letters were later painted with white enamel, a common practice, which also serves to hide their composition - non glass. [/align]The original of this flask is a "Store Bottle"....a BIM rectangular shape and the last one sold for over $125.00.[/align]Any novice collector would be fooled by this example. More knowing collectors would not.[/align]Upon close scrutiny , the edge of the resin can be seen, as there was no slug plate area to enclose it within and thus hide the edge. Additionally- as I stated above - the bottle shape & age itself is wrong.[/align]So, before you purchase that rare bottle for a cheap price...take time to examine it closely....if it's too good to be true - it usually is.[/align]Caveat emptor..."let the buyer beware"[/align]