A receipt. Other than that, it's easy for a competent shop (drum shop, metal shop, etc) to drill holes which are indistinguishable from "factory" ones.

Unless somebody else has a scientific method I haven't heard of yet...

But that begs the question:

Why does it matter?

MANY questions on this site could beg that question! :D

It is a topic I've never heard addressed before, and was wondering if anybody on this fine site where we congregate to discuss the minor details of the instruments we love had any info.

usually the pattern and patina will b the telltale sign i have a factory 70's pang with rivets .....bought new it came with a ss kit i had

A few clues I would think to look for:

1. Are the holes evenly spaced and clean?

2. How far are the holes in from the outer edge (Zildjian factory is 1.5"-at least on non-Pang/Chinas). It's possible that an after market shop did them the same distance away from the edge, but if its not 1.5", then you know they are not factory.

3. Are "official" Zildjian rivets currently in the holes? What I mean by this is are the rivets the kind that look like an asterisk at the bottom? No other place I know of is able to flange the rivets out in the asterisk shape like Zildjian (or Sabian) does. Even with "official" Zildjian rivets, most professional shops either crimp the edges or flange them out slightly, not in the asterisk shape.

Hope this helps,

V

Sometimes the wear under the rivets can tell you if they have been there a long time

That's cool. I never knew the Pangs came with rivets.

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. Yes

Thank you for your help! :D

No problem good sir!

My guess is that they are probably original then, caddy.

Let those things dance up a storm!