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SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 3:22 pm
by racuda00
My Dragonfly has a standard type face for Seki-City, but the Police that I got today looks weird and hand done. It's definitely not a legitimate font. It came in a perfect box with correct foam and in a bubble wrap sleeve. Fit and finish are impeccable. It is super sharp and had protective film attached to the scales.
It was sold and shipped by Amazon.
Real or no?
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:40 am
by Chris_P_Bacon
If I had to guess, someone bought a legit model from them, used their liberal return policy, and sent back a fake. Then Amazon put that fake into inventory.
And you were the unfortunate soul that received it.
If it were me, I'd take advantage of that liberal return policy and send it back.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:44 am
by wrdwrght
Send it back. When it smells counterfeit, it is.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:50 am
by bearfacedkiller
Seki has been sending out knives with wonky font like that for a while now. That alone does not signify a fake in my opinion.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:57 am
by araneae
First I've seen one like that.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:18 pm
by Mushroom
There were a number of VTOKU 2 Delicas that had the same messy lettering. (I have one) I agree with Darby, this alone isn't enough to call it a fake.
Thread on VTOKU knives lettering -
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76780&start=180
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:41 pm
by SG89
Need more pictures
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:57 pm
by Accutron
It's definitely a known factory variation. Whatever method they're using to do that engraving, it's being done in a repeatable fashion. All of the little deviations appear to be substantially identical across multiple examples. I'd say it absolutely authenticates your Police.

Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:00 pm
by JuPaul
I purchased a delica zdp-189 from Amazon and it had the same issue. Sent it back and ordered a new one from BHQ to be safe, and it had the same issue. I actually posted about it here like 2 weeks ago, and was told that this issue is not uncommon from recent Seki City models, especially with harder steels. Even Sal chimed in on that thread and said it looked legit. Some folks said the stamps could be wearing out, but Sal pointed out that the etching is more difficult on harder steels. So wonky etching alone does not a counterfeit make.
Photo of my delica zdp.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:06 pm
by The Meat man
bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:50 am
Seki has been sending out knives with wonky font like that for a while now. That alone does not signify a fake in my opinion.
Yes, this is not the first time the issue has come up.
The etching alone does not mean your knife is fake.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:10 pm
by steelcity16
The Meat man wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:06 pm
bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:50 am
Seki has been sending out knives with wonky font like that for a while now. That alone does not signify a fake in my opinion.
Yes, this is not the first time the issue has come up.
The etching alone does not mean your knife is fake.
Yes, if anything I would say that it means your knife is genuine. I doubt the Chinese are copying a wonky script variation. This same exact lettering was seen on many of the V-Toku knives, which were obviously not fakes.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:13 pm
by wrdwrght
Accutron wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:57 pm
It's definitely a known factory variation. Whatever method they're using to do that engraving, it's being done in a repeatable fashion. All of the little deviations appear to be substantially identical across multiple examples. I'd say it absolutely authenticates your Police.
If we’re looking at three different blades and the etching is the same, then I’m eating crow and agreeing with Darby and others that the etching is not enough to declare a counterfeit.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:23 pm
by Wartstein
I think all said above makes quite clear that the knife is genuine.
That being said: Especially hard steel can't be the main reason for the wonky edging, given that obviously many V Toku 2 blades have it... not exactly the hardest in the world, right?
Looks cool, btw, that edging...
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:56 pm
by Accutron
wrdwrght wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:13 pm
If we’re looking at three different blades and the etching is the same, then I’m eating crow and agreeing with Darby and others that the etching is not enough to declare a counterfeit.
Yes it's three different blades. From the top: the OP's Police, JuPaul's ZDP Delica and Sharp Guy's V-Toku2 Delica.
There are other examples shown in this thread, and they're all the same...
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76780&start=180
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:59 pm
by SF Native
The seki City wonky text era has begun. Years from now we will all reminisce and search high and low to relive the glory of the wonky text.
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:01 pm
by DOUBLE D
Wartstein wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:23 pm
I think all said above makes quite clear that the knife is genuine.
That being said: Especially hard steel can't be the main reason for the wonky edging, given that obviously many V Toku 2 blades have it... not exactly the hardest in the world, right?
Looks cool, btw, that edging...
Especially since the etching on the v-toku2 run is not even on v-toku2 but on sus410
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:01 pm
by DOUBLE D
Messed up and double posted
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:02 pm
by The Meat man
SF Native wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:59 pm
The seki City wonky text era has begun. Years from now we will all reminisce and search high and low to relive the glory of the wonky text.
Yeah how long will it be before they become highly sought after collector's pieces? :p :D
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:05 pm
by Sharp Guy
Yep! I have a Delica that was engraved on bring your kid to work day haha I like it! :)
Re: SEKI-CITY JAPAN looks hand etched
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:05 pm
by Wartstein
The Meat man wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:02 pm
SF Native wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2019 1:59 pm
The seki City wonky text era has begun. Years from now we will all reminisce and search high and low to relive the glory of the wonky text.
Yeah how long will it be before they become highly sought after collector's pieces? :p :D
So: Bad luck, that my latest Seki-knife, the Endela, just has the boring, perfect edging... :p :p