Fritz Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Many copies available such as these caps, tunics, trousers and many other items are also now being copied on a mass scale, they are getting better than ever. Such as this M.34 infantry sidecap with M.38 insignia, however the bottom ends of the soutache are rather ragged. An officer side cap, just needs the right insignia... This M43 cap could be rigged to deceive. Watch out for the Erel and Robt.Lübstein marks! Copy LW sidecap, can be fitted with insignia to go... here the eagle insignia is not too good, also the sloppy applied insignia is an obvious hint, could be improved on. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Some of these copies could be passed as originals! Another type going around, aluminium, all aluminium buckles of this type should have a pebbled surface, also the catch at the rear looks strange and has an RZM mark. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 Just arrived! Have been looking at these copies for so long now, that I ordered a couple to go with the copies previously ordered. The quality of the fieldgrey cloth is superb - only a chemical analysis would determine the age and composition difference to the original, the woven insignia is not as well done as the originals, a markedly different style of weave, but the same principle as the original technique. The grey lining is also similar to the original, but the construction has flaws, too many creases and wrinkles, not neatly put together. Size 55 stamp similar to originals. A Hohenstaufen cuff title - closer examination will differ from original examples, also the neatness and spacing of the silver woven edges. The lettering is also not quite identical, a good forgery. But for the price when compared to originals - a cap would go for 2500 - 3000 Euros including moth holes and badly worn almost destroyed insignia. Good for rehearsals and re-enactments, or simple display. A few alterations and corrections with a needle and the right thread could improve these items immensely. I had already put an SS Panzer jacket for a Hauptscharführer together, was thinking of adding this cuff title, or just keeping it as it is. My Panzer M.43 cap still has no insignia and is well worn by now, however, it had a construction flaw, the brow is much too low for the right insignia and the side flaps are too big and wide in proportion to the top of the cap, could be more of a civilian type of cap. Somehow, the copies are not quite as neat and "schneidig" as the originals, see book photo Ohne "Schneid" - Panzer M.43 cap, brow is too low to fit full insignia. Wearable. Buttons are black painted brass. Brass was never used. "Hauptscharführer", without cuff-title The shoulder buttons on this jacket are period originals, everything else copy. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 Footnote to copies: I remember in the early 70s, there was a WW2 Polish veteran, Wiktor Tutlewski, who travelled around Germany for next to nothing, having worked for the Port of London Authority, he could get a free boattrip to Hamburg on his days off, and then travel round using a cheap rail ticket. He would also stay with his brother Alex in Braunschweig, visiting dealers in and around there. . He would also pay 10 marks a night for a police cell as a cheap hotel, and also used to trade jars of UK purchased Nescafé for militaria, etc! He would then buy up everything that collectors cherished. He used to then sell to well known dealers in London, etc., his best customer was probably Chris Farlowe! He was very handy, and could make excellent repairs on leather hardware and uniforms. He could also turn a fireservice helmet into an SS-helmet, which looked at the time very convincing, the decals were perfectly hand done and then baked in the oven. Another amazing talent of his was producing fieldgrey SS sidecaps, these were so good, hard to make and cost time, that they cost a little more, he had a few rolls of original fieldgrey cloth and other materials, he would then sell the finished items to renowned London dealers, who would then get them fitted with insignia. I don't know whether these were sold as originals or not... The Polish chap then decided around Summer 1974 to move with his family to New Zealand. Never heard from him since. He told me, "If you visit me brudda Alex in Braunschweig, Don't tell him I've moved to NZ!" I was rather bluffed. Alex was apparently a bit of an alco fan anyway. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 Nice Fritz, panzer tunics don't show up very often, and they can be quite expensive for originals, and the side caps as well. Sometimes reproductions are the best way to go. I recently saw a German army version of the panzer tunic go for $6000. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Here are the latest copies of the MKII British Brodie helmets from China hitting the market there are also repro MKII chinstraps from India and Germany. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 They look quite well done. But I think nobody needs to buy a copy Brodie, there must be enough good ones still around. But the copies are ideal for film and theatre, where originals should not be worn! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted January 18, 2020 Author Share Posted January 18, 2020 More new copies being offered, regiment can be made to order! Too rigid for an Ulan Shoddy, the Knebel buttons never had holes through. The tunic has no waist, braid is very poor, lacking in proportions Made in E. Germany, this material looks identical to the cloth used in NVA uniforms! The breeches lack the original quality and designer creativity, just a grey version of the NVA type, I would say, a complete flop, the buttons are poor. They might even be surplus DDR MdI issue, with some buttons changed, as they wore grey. Reproduction M.43 trousers for around 70-90 pounds Reproduction M.40 trousers, offered from around 70 to 90 pounds 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted February 7, 2020 Author Share Posted February 7, 2020 Attention! Some of these NVA Volksmarine naval badges are almost identical to 3rd Reich pattern, and could emerge on the market as such! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 More copies available This Württemberg Infantry Officer Degen and many other historical edged weapons are now being offered by the WKC manufacturer There are obviously some slight differences in appearance and materials used. The brass parts are 24 ct gold plated, the gilding looks very different from originals. The original type gilding can hardly be achieved any more using today's methods. Plastic is often used instead of leather, many blades offered are of stainless steel. This one costs 495 Euro, you can get an original for around that price. Available for around 100 Euros This one for 7 Euros 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted October 16, 2020 Author Share Posted October 16, 2020 On 25/12/2019 at 15:07, Gildwiller1918 said: Nice Fritz, panzer tunics don't show up very often, and they can be quite expensive for originals, and the side caps as well. Sometimes reproductions are the best way to go. I recently saw a German army version of the panzer tunic go for $6000. The Panzer tunic would, quite honestly, need complete re-tailoring, you should see an example and compare it with an original! Then you would agree - however, the cloth is very good. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 These copies just arrived from Italy, they are inexpensive and good enough for re-enactment, they have an artificial patination, which is easily scratched off, a bit overdone. A cap button that was worn on the front of the early fieldgrey overseas cap and a standard buckle. The buckle is much thicker and heavier than the original, and the catch deviates, also different metals used. The copies in the 1960s and 70s were much nicer. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 4, 2022 Author Share Posted December 4, 2022 https://www.pixwox.com/nl/profile/elsenaumilitaria/ More copies on the market, they are so exact, you can hardly tell. Using partly original materials, and dissecting original uniforms and caps for the patterns. Original specimen dissected and copied 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 That's quite worrying 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 19, 2022 Author Share Posted December 19, 2022 Just got this Akrikakorps cuffband for 8 Euros. Not bad for the price, quite well made, just the silver is a bit too shiny. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 23, 2022 Author Share Posted December 23, 2022 One of my earliest copies, "Großdeutschland" in Sutterlinschrift 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted February 12, 2023 Author Share Posted February 12, 2023 https://www.olx.pl/d/oferta/pikelhauba-helm-pruski-niemiecki-CID767-IDT6wTe.html?fbclid=IwAR1ohcs98ICWxD37Ged1oA5nxESf0aYJtvX-bK08npTWrfivlhaQyv2xPIw Copies like this from Poland are flooding the market, beginners might be fooled. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted February 12, 2023 Share Posted February 12, 2023 Wow, I can see why it might fool a new collector. the leather parts have been roughed up to give the appearance of wear, but it looks very sloppy. There are ways to age the leather and make the wear look more authentic, but it takes time and skill. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted December 19, 2023 Author Share Posted December 19, 2023 Copies like this are now coming from the former city of Posen, now Poland. They are extremely well made, and not distinguishable from originals. Some fantastic pictures and re-enactment at the same time! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 Yes, I have been seeing a lot more reproduction patches, uniforms and headgear coming out, and like Fritz said much better quality. It helps to do research on the items, but usually if it seems too good to be true... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 Another good copy on the Market: RAD Weibliche Jugend, Brosche, somewhat heavier than the original, which were usually aluminium, the pin is the first giveaway, much too small and wrong style of pin. It was not expressively declared as a copy, but the price of 19 euro is just too little. Normal price is 70 euro 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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