Scraped Marks and the Reversed Washer

My brother appeared at the gates, as audacious as ever, and thrust a brandless candlestick with its hallmarks scraped off into my hands before leaving. He left without explaining his motives, which remain entirely unclear to me.
In my room, I immediately examined the tool marks and specifications. The degradation of the brass, and above all, the joint at the base. There lay a fatal, yet peculiar 'specification'—a washer driven in reverse.
I knew this characteristic. It matched the thirty-year-old appraisal report by my master, which I had unearthed in the Grand Archives. It had noted a 'glaring incongruity of a reversed washer.' Why is it in my hands now?
A cold sweat broke out. Appraisal Code, Article 12: An appraiser must remain objective, recording only the physical evidence. Article 13: Should any doubt arise regarding prior appraisals...
Reciting the articles in my head does nothing to quiet my pulse. Why am I so drawn to this brandless piece of metal? I cannot establish a definitive connection between my master's past error and the candlestick my brother brought. Yet, I feel I have stepped across a line of no return.

Object: Brandless metal candlestick with a reversed washer
Grade: Class C (Subject to further investigation)
Notes: Distinctive tool marks on the base joint. Confirmed match with appraisal records from thirty years ago.