Nadezhda Golubeva Jul 12, 2013:

Dear Russel, as for "The real McCoy" - I know that this surname was used in one popular american movie once, however, as an american slang it means "good sort of drink (or even drug)" (taken from the Dictionary of American Idioms) as well as some high evaluation of a subject. That's why, I keep suggesting on using the first version "Это вещь!" that may mean "a piece of art" or "a genuine article" (not counterfeit or forgery).

Russell Phillips (asker) Jul 11, 2013:

Answer to Gaskell Thanks for your input. McCoy is not the name of a beer, but a Scottish surname, which is the origin of the phrase. Your suggestions are interesting, but add the notion of восхищение whereas the focus of this phrase is exclusively on the genuineness.
In context I want to describe how there is real religious faith and there is counterfeit religiosity. However the phrase I am looking forward could be used outside of this narrow context.
I am thinking maybe there is something from the realm of money-printing/forgery which might be suitable here.

Nadezhda Golubeva Jul 11, 2013:

May be this will suit you: Это настоящий шедевр! Чистейшей воды бриллиант! By the way, if you extend the content of the phrase to show what it is all about , it will be much easier to propose anything of the kind. As far as I know, "the real McCoy" may correspond to the assessment of some alcohol.

Russell Phillips (asker) Jul 11, 2013:

Somewhat different connotation to that proposed The idea I want to get across is not восхищение ("вещь!") but genuineness, the fact that this is not a counterfeit, not second-best but the genuine article.

http://dic.your-english.ru/word/real

Tatiana Pelipeiko Jul 4, 2013:

Вообще-то, скорее - "настоящая МакКой".
(Фильм с Ким Бэсингер)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_McCoy_(film)