Propstore auction - Tomenosuke Retail, not really a Tomenosuke, right?

[eethan]

Hi there,
going from one auction to another this past few days it seems, and seeing issues everywhere!

On the latest Propstore auction, there is a Blade Runner blaster described as:
A light-up Tomenosuke retail edition replica of Rick Deckard's (Harrison Ford) blaster with dummy rounds from Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. In the film, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) used his signature blaster - an otherworldly firearm constructed from parts of a Steyr Mannlicher .222 Model SLs and Charter Arms Bulldog revolver by Independent Studio Services (ISS) with metal details and side covers added to appear futuristic - to retire replicants.

Japanese toy company Tomenosuke manufactured a limited run of blasters with fully operational firing mechanisms. This blaster features translucent amber resin grips, multicolor LED lights, and five replica silver- and brass-color bullets. This replica is the retailer edition, signified by the panhead screw on the right side of the blaster. This lot exhibits mild scuffing to the edges of the textured grips. Dimensions: 12" x 8" x 3" (30.5 cm x 20.5 cm x 7.75 cm)

https://propstoreauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/479/lot/168310/Lot-459-Tomenosuke-Retail-Edition-Rick-Deckard-s-Harrison-Ford-Light-Up-Pistol-Replica-BLADE-RUNNER-1982?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F479%3Fpage%3D19

I personally see a lot of details that would tell me it's a Coyle replica, or a recast of one, not a Tomen! I have never seen a Tomen with that slanted look on the front ammo clip, something very distinctive from the coyle replica. The two triggers, the quality of the casts, nothing looks like a Tomen.

Please let me know what you feel, but I think Propstore will need to edit this.

Why are there so many issues with current prop auctions?

 

[dcast]

Hi there,
going from one auction to another this past few days it seems, and seeing issues everywhere!

On the latest Propstore auction, there is a Blade Runner blaster described as:
A light-up Tomenosuke retail edition replica of Rick Deckard's (Harrison Ford) blaster with dummy rounds from Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. In the film, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) used his signature blaster - an otherworldly firearm constructed from parts of a Steyr Mannlicher .222 Model SLs and Charter Arms Bulldog revolver by Independent Studio Services (ISS) with metal details and side covers added to appear futuristic - to retire replicants.

Japanese toy company Tomenosuke manufactured a limited run of blasters with fully operational firing mechanisms. This blaster features translucent amber resin grips, multicolor LED lights, and five replica silver- and brass-color bullets. This replica is the retailer edition, signified by the panhead screw on the right side of the blaster. This lot exhibits mild scuffing to the edges of the textured grips. Dimensions: 12" x 8" x 3" (30.5 cm x 20.5 cm x 7.75 cm)

https://propstoreauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/479/lot/168310/Lot-459-Tomenosuke-Retail-Edition-Rick-Deckard-s-Harrison-Ford-Light-Up-Pistol-Replica-BLADE-RUNNER-1982?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F479%3Fpage%3D19

View attachment 1947556
I personally see a lot of details that would tell me it's a Coyle replica, or a recast of one, not a Tomen! I have never seen a Tomen with that slanted look on the front ammo clip, something very distinctive from the coyle replica. The two triggers, the quality of the casts, nothing looks like a Tomen.

Please let me know what you feel, but I think Propstore will need to edit this.

Why are there so many issues with current prop auctions?

Agreed, this is definitely a Coyle...the triggers and the angle they sit, the ammo clip slant vs the Tomen straight clip, the barrel appears to be aluminum, also like Coyle. Also the frame is metal vs composite ....I attached a photo of a Tomen and you notice pretty quickly it's NOT a Tomenosuke.

 

[joberg]

^^
Yes, as dcast said, it's a Coyle! Too many tells are leading into that direction (first trigger angle/position) slanted upper barrel.
Someone should tell the Propstore

 

[eethan]

Thank you for confirming. The Coyle blaster is pretty recognizable by community members, it's weird they missed this.
Email has been sent

 

[eethan]

Answer:
We will investigate this for you and if required, make the changes

 

[Tommy]

Why are there so many issues with current prop auctions?

I don't have a great sense of internal auction house economics, profit margins, or risk assessments.

But it feels more and more lately as though most of the prop majors are understaffed for both the rapidly-increased volume they're offering, and the gradually-increased risk of dishonest consignments in a world where the status of props as valuable commodities is further breaking into mainstream (and opportunistic crew) consciousness while professional investigative journalism remains ignorant on the sidelines.

Combine this with a sense that a few in particular seem to have undergone turnover resulting in entertainment / pop culture "specialists" who may be perfectly knowledgeable when it comes to, say, antiques... but who are frankly out of their depth as generalists in this ultra-niche, still-developing market. Absurd attributions or totally-irrelevant screenshots demonstrating that whoever assembled a description clearly hasn't seen the film; nonsensical use of the few standardized terms we have like "hero" and "screen-match;" etc.

Absent (in my opinion) a true "gold-standard" / "grade A+" / "no downsides" vendor, I still consider Propstore on-balance among the better ones - and sadly a lot better than certain alternatives that frustrated consignors have, I think short-sightedly, flocked to in recent years.

In any case, glad they replied promptly. I just received an at-least-mostly satisfactory response to a potential concern I sent.

 

[eethan]

Title is still the same but description has beenedited now:

"This high-quality replica was designed by Hollywood propmaker and RacProps founder Richard A. Coyle. It features translucent amber resin grips, an aluminum barrel, curved dual triggers, multicolor LED lights, and five replica silver- and brass-color dummy bullets. The pistol exhibits scuffing to the edges of its textured grips. Dimensions: 12" x 8" x 3" (30.5 cm x 20.5 cm x 7.75 cm)"

 

[dcast]

SMH, Hoping that the title gets corrected.....that is kind of on the miss-leading side of things....."well we put the correct details in the description." It's not that hard to understand the difference. I know it's one mistake,but it's a definitely a pretty sizeable one (IMO) for a business that is preents the optics that details matter to them for items they are selling. The stuff they are selling is not cheap. I know it's only an item in an auction but Coyle and Tomenosuke are very proud of their work and BR collectors are particular about details so....hate to mix franchises here....but "Don't cross the streams!"

 

[eethan]

SMH, Hoping that the title gets corrected.....that is kind of on the miss-leading side of things....."well we put the correct details in the description." It's not that hard to understand the difference. I know it's one mistake,but it's a definitely a pretty sizeable one ( IMO). Especially since Coyle and Tomenosuke are very proud of their work....hate to mix franchises here....but "Don't cross the streams!"

I'm guessing they can't edit the title for referencing purposes, especially since there are already bids on that item. But yeah, it's annoying they made the mistake in the first place anyways, very recognizable item in this case. Really begs the question how many other mistakes have been made for things that are harder to check.
It has really discouraged me lately with real props auctions as I already spotted 3 wrong items in the last 3 weeks for 3 different auctions, and I spent 10 minutes on each auction just browsing through the catalogues, a bit scary! Still waiting on an answer for the Goldin auction one by the way.

 

[dcast]

I'm guessing they can't edit the title for referencing purposes, especially since there are already bids on that item. But yeah, it's annoying they made the mistake in the first place anyways, very recognizable item in this case. Really begs the question how many other mistakes have been made for things that are harder to check.
It has really discouraged me lately with real props auctions as I already spotted 3 wrong items in the last 3 weeks for 3 different auctions, and I spent 10 minutes on each auction just browsing through the catalogues, a bit scary! Still waiting on an answer for the Goldin auction one by the way.

It definitely makes one hesitant on using an auction house these days. I'm guessing the vetting process for replicas is not nearly as in-depth as the process to do determine a hero prop's lineage and authenticity. Ultimately, it falls on the person buying the prop replicas to do their research, to be informed and attentive to details before purchasing a replica prop....even from an auction house. One can hope that auction houses will do their diligence and present items accurately.

 

[dcast]

Just wanted to follow up on this and looks like they updated the title also....so "top marks" to Propstore for their follow through on details to make it right! :0)