Collier Reproductions and Fakes - Who and Why?

"Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers of Elisha Collier and Artemas Wheeler" is available right now for preorder on Kickstarter:

Today I'm again joined by Professor Ben Nicholson, author of the newest Headstamp Publishing book, Clockwork Basilisk. We are discussing the different sorts of fake and reproduction Collier revolvers, although the subject is pertinent to many other highly desirable antiques. A few of the points considered:

- Fraud for profit vs reproduction homage
- Value of fakes
- Faking pre- and post-internet
- Provenance and its importance

[rob]

Honestly I wouldn't mind having a fake C96 Broomhandle if it functioned fine. I wouldn't want to pay for, or ruin, an original. So I get it.

[Stephetheon]

Professor Nicholson's flavorful wordchoice and his propensity for romanticism regarding even the life of a forger's Collier leaves me with a stronger appreciation for the gunsmithing craft. I can only imagine the magic he conjures in his book.

[GCCRACER]

Mr. Nicholson reminds me of the Director of the Tank Museum, UK. Such a well-spoken and intelligent academic humor, he's nice to have on here.

[marvindebot]

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.

[richardelliott]

A Collier repro at a BUG match, the possibilities, yes!

[tomf.]

The collection at the MET is amazing. When we worked in midtown sometimes I’d get out early just to head up and walk around there and the Egypt exibit

[paulancill]

Great Visio, the Shuttleworth collection has a Sopwith pup that they had built as a replica in the 1980s or 90s Tommy Sopwith was still alive at the time and inspected it he signed it off as a “late production “ plane!

[Jesses]

I think it would be rather neat to have a working replica of a Collier. Like, modern machine screws, cast parts, ext, but the same design, so someone like me can get a feel of how these weapons worked without our life savings.

[richardelliott]

For several years, my ultimate gun fantasy has been a pair of Volcanic pistols for dual wielding at cowboy action matches. Over the last couple of weeks, that seems to be fading, being replaced by a brace of

[tomhalla]

Maybe one of the Kyber Pass gunsmiths could do a Collier copy, given that their tech is sometimes early 19th Century?

[johnfisk]

I am reminded of a racing car maker and renovator who said to me that, of 85
Lotus 31’s made, only 128 now exist.

[cphrpunk]

“There is no such thing as a bad piece of truth”. Wow. Excellent words.

There are those that could argue by publishing these books you’re providing the best info possible to forgers. Likely the same people that claim offensive security tooling shouldn’t be released so defenders can build defenses against them.

[higgydufrane]

Thanks to both of you for a very interesting and informative video. Happy New Year!

[blairroth]

I could listen to you two for hours. Bravo thanks

[spondulixtanstaafl]

Thanks Ian I find myself drawn further and further into firearm history. Fascinating.

[Nobody-Nowhere-USA]

I find reproductions or fakes extremely interesting! Almost as interesting as any original but always has a story of interest to me, as an old tool&die man I have spent much of my life in manufacturing so how someone with more limited resources reproduces a known firearm is fascinating!

[potetstappa]

i will be 22 mins late for work today,

[wleebraz]

Great interview. I learned and laughed all the way through. Thoroughly enjoyed you two speculating on creating a copy of this rare and intricate gun.

[universeconsciouscitizensc]

I did not realize I would find this so interesting. Thanks, Ian!

[d.unterreiner]

Y'all need to get C&Rsenal to write a book on double action revolvers with how much research they have done recently.