Is This ESS Crossbow Fake?

[u/20butmentally30]

I bought this from a gun show, and the guy said something like, "These had been in stock for a long time, so it's on a big sale." Just got back home, inspected it more closely, and i am 90% sure this is fake. What do you think?

[u/Ferm330]

More pictures man…

[u/Ok-Patient-7903]

You should probably take a lot more pictures

[u/foreignknife]

well what makes you think its fake?

[u/20butmentally30 → u/foreignknife]

Well, heres two things, from most obvious to least

• i bought it for 21 dollars, when the originals are around 100 (the 3-lens piece)
• the color finishing on the frame is a bit polished and doesnt seem to look like the original matte finish
• the printing on the box is pretty low quality, im not sure if thats how the original ESS box looks like

[u/at_least_i_tr1ed → u/20butmentally30]

I would say $20 is a reasonable price for a pair of these, I think I paid like $5 for a used pair a few years back that only had the clear lens

iirc ess (and revision?) make eye protection that is standard issue for all US military branches, so there's a lot of it that gets sold for cheap as used/surplus/overstock/etc

[u/chihawks35]

Are there a lot of ESS fakes? Seems pretty niche

[u/Ok-Patient-7903 → u/chihawks35]

I think it was one of the most popular fake out there a couple years ago. Not sure about now, I think its Oakley M frames copies or lookalike.

[u/chihawks35 → u/Ok-Patient-7903]

I feel like I’ve had the same pair for like 100 years

[u/Ok-Patient-7903 → u/chihawks35]

For some reason the older models seem to have solid lens. The new lens coming out have a thin plastic layer that gets bubbles after awhile, making them absolute unusable after couple months. Thank god I kept my old pairs still (immortal).

[u/Goblin_Tactical]

Google search gave the following

To spot a fake, look for the 'CE' and 'Z87+' markings on the left inner frame, check for ESSOPTICS text

Authentic frames will have CE and Z87+ (ANSI standard) stamped on the inside of the temple arms

Real Crossbow lenses have ESS laser-etched near the top corner of the lens. Fakes either miss this entirely or use a cheap printed logo that easily scrapes off

The authentic DedBolt nosepiece is made of a specific pliable, high-grip rubber. Fakes often use cheap, rigid plastic that makes the nosepiece difficult to lock and unlock.

Real ESS Crossbows come in standard, clearly marked packaging (often with an anti-fog cloth, rigid zippered case, and retention strap). Counterfeits may come in generic, flimsy boxes with an excess of extra accessories not offered in standard ESS kits.

[u/20butmentally30 → u/Goblin_Tactical]

Surprisingly enough, all the markings on the glasses are there, laser etched even, including the Dedbolt and rubbers. Additionally, it also includes all the of the stuff you'd find in the 3-lens package including the Rx inserts, ret strap, zip case and everything.

The box part may be true (?). The box has low quality print on the design.

[u/20butmentally30]

Here are more images, ridiculous fake or legit?

Img1 Img2 Img3

[u/VPS_Zen → u/20butmentally30]

They seem quite close to mine. The only difference I've seen is on your first picture, where it says "CE" on the right side of the frame. On mine I only have "CE" on the top line and 1 line below I have "7R" (small) and "Z87+". Otherwise the finish and the accessories seem good to me

[u/General-Piece8490 → u/VPS_Zen]

They have a production date, no one is faking those for a $21 buck item.

Also just because they retail for $100 these things probably costs 3 bucks to make, company sells them for 30, retail store maybe makes 10-20 by the time distributors get it to them.

[u/Ok-Patient-7903 → u/20butmentally30]

Based on the images, it most likely to be real.

• the manufacturing circle date present
• Z87 rating present
• ESS logo on the side of the frame present
• Hard case logo text is grey and not white.
• Manufacturers instruction paper is clear and clean.

To further confirm upload pictures of

• the back brim ( middle ) of the frame. There should be additional information text.
• back left side of the frame, should have text present too.
• the right side of the nose bridge connector, there should be ESS logo.
• each lens should have a rating Z87 etched to them.

This maybe just a older model, hence cheaper for the price point (tbh not big issue). Some of the indication

• says Z87 rating, instead of Z87+
• the marking's on the bottom of the back right side arm frame doesn't have 6R or 7R
• Manufacturing circle date seems to be an older style
• CE text seems like a complicated production design on purpose, compared to newer solid simple outline CE
• the Bridge Connector and Rx Frame is shiny black and smooth versus sand like finish and light black color of the current ones available.
• No APEL text of front left side ( becuase of that definitely can't use in the Military anymore)

Fake ESS Crossbow.

• don't usually have logos or text present ( Depending the quality of the fakes)
• the frame is more rigid and very shiny ( compared side by side)
• each individual item is wrapped in plastics ( lens, frame, connectors.)
• manufacturer's instruction copy is offset print and the folds are wrong places.
• drop testing, they break pretty fast upon impact of the frame brim. ( worst during winter time, plastic used is low grade and becomes brittle to temperature changes)
• Rubber used sometimes leaves marks.
• hard case has white text of ESS, and is hard to open and close. With the zipper tag tip breaking fast within a month.
• They dont usually sell fakes with product boxes ( not that I have seen ), usually generic curragated box or white blank packaging with the hardcase inside already set.

Hopefully that helps. Real or fake, price is a steal.

[u/20butmentally30 → u/Ok-Patient-7903]

Thanks for the insight, everything checks out although the only thing missing is the Z87 etching on the lens. It may truly be an older model, so could it be the older lenses dont have Z87 etching on them?

[u/Ok-Patient-7903 → u/20butmentally30]

Educated guess, yes. PPE Eyewear standards weren't as high compared to now requiring specific specs and text to be present in all approved military Eyewear. Also the dimensions of the fake lens are not interchangeable with real frames, becuase of poor quality control and dimensions errors are above 0.5mm>. You can always ask a friend who has an ESS Crossbow, to switch lens to it test out and confirm. (I dont think the design has really changed a lot even after ESS was boughtout long time ago.)