[TheForge] Historical blacksmithing

[Hoss McGregor]

It is possible that many of the Norsemen of the time were illiterate, but that doesn't really explain the variation in the branding. 
Counterfeit items usually have subtle variations in the label. The example that comes to mind is Cohiba cigars. 
Cuban Cohibas are among the most faked cigars. The counterfeit cigars have a slightly different band. While the fakes say Cohiba, and it's spelled correctly the checking on the top of the band is a little different and the color is always wrong. 
Cuban Cohibas have a reputation for being a good and somewhat pricey cigar. It's also one of the more well known brands, not only of Cubans but in general. Part of that is due to the fact the Cohiba family fled Cuba and set up shop in the Dominican Republic, and have been very successful, even if less informed people automatically think Cuba. Over the years, it has become a sort of status symbol, something to impress your friends with.


Considering the fakes were actually spelled correctly, and the difference was where the cross was, I think much the same think was going on then as now.  A woman wants to show off, but can't afford a real Coach purse so she knowingly buys a fake because it's cheap. A guy who wants to impress his buddies, but doesn't know what to look for buys a counterfeit box of Cuba Cohibas and pays close to the price of real one.  










Anyone even remotely interesting is mad
in some way or another. 


	-Anon



 
> Funny at the end they documentary... they note some same time period but 
> "fake" / false super swords,  where the commentator suspected both the 
> people making false swords and the people buying the false "name brand"
> swords were thought to be illiterate.