Sentinel v3, real or fake?

[solotippr]

Hey guys and gals I'm trying to figure out how you can tell the difference between a real v3 sentinel from a fake.i know they started copying the engraving and the silver coated contacts,so its really hard to tell now a days.i did a trade and want to know if its real or not.my trade was real so I would expect the same.can anyone take their's apart and show me the contacts? Would really appreciate it,also any info to would be great.thanks in advance.

 

[vapo jam]

the only thing i can think of would be to make sure the center pin floats, as i've heard most fakes don't have this, but if they're doing the silver plating now i don't know if this would be a sure way to tell...

 

[the4thpower3]

I haven't seen a fake with silver plated contacts.

Looking at pictures... it's almost impossible to tell.
Real one should come with a decent velvet (like) pouch with a GV logo on it.
Ask for pics of the pouch.

The hcigar has a sprung top center pin.
Some use a just a floating pin (they are usually very tightly fitted)
This fake was made by hcigar and has their logo on the switch contact and reads Sentinel on the button.
But I know there are other fakes (like EHpro) that has GV logo with a serial #
and other models are using the orange o-rings

 

[solotippr]

Here are some pics of it.

 

[solotippr]

 

[vapo jam]

that looks legit to me - the top and bottom caps look the same as the ones on my m16.

 

[solotippr]

that looks legit to me - the top and bottom caps look the same as the ones on my m16.

Oh ok thanks for reasureing me, I feel better about it now.

 

[vapo jam]

no problem! hope you like your sentinel as much as i like mine, i think the only real difference between the v3 and the m16 is the design and possibly the material (aircraft grade aluminum vs ss).

while i'm here, anyone have any recommendations for polishing up the brass bits? i've been using the ketchup method, but it hasn't been working as well recently...

also, according to gv's facebook page, the v4 is now available! just not in the us yet looks really sweet tho...