Best find of the year so far!

Dane Jensen said:
I found something, there was a tag tucked into the liner,

Chas W. Kuhnle

Pvt. 77 INF REG
1918
Click to expand...

Dane, I’m afraid to say that the camo is 100% post war applied with tooling marks on the paint to give the impression of age and wear. Do yourself a favor and return for a refund. You want a one looker with no issues.

Tags tucked into liners are classic dealer added decoys to add to the air of authenticity with many a fake helmet.

Camo helmets are an absolute minefield. German Helmet Walhalla is a great place to post for further opinions.
 
Doug B said:
Dane, I’m afraid to say that the camo is 100% post war applied with tooling marks on the paint to give the impression of age and wear. Do yourself a favor and return for a refund. You want a one looker with no issues.

Tags tucked into liners are classic dealer added decoys to add to the air of authenticity with many a fake helmet.

Camo helmets are an absolute minefield. German Helmet Walhalla is a great place to post for further opinions.
Click to expand...
Aye aye, I’ll head in Wednesday and get that refund then, y’all have been a huge help!
 
Dane Jensen said:
Aye aye, I’ll head in Wednesday and get that refund then, y’all have been a huge help!
Click to expand...

Dane my friend that's a blessing that you are able to get a full refund. (y)

I'm never happy and certainly take no pleasure in telling a fellow collector their prized possession is a reproduction. I always try to be gentle as it's a painful feeling. I'm sure every single collector on this forum has their own horror story about buying some sort of reproduction I know I got hit when a young collector. So don't let it get you down.

I get really pissed when I see them sell almost daily on ebay because once they are into the collector's market, they are impossible to follow and pop up sometimes many years later over and over again.

Like I said there are 100's maybe 1000's of reproductions to every real one and they don't just fool new collectors I'm positive many collectors have them in their collections and don't even know it.

They have been painting feldgrau helmets in camo patterns since the day the war ended in 1918. First smart famers and local workers saw a huge market with selling them to US veterans as souvenirs and so it goes until this very day.

Newer helmet books by the late Micheal Baldwin as well as Oliver Locks "Stahlshutzhelme" and of course Johan Somers wonderful books are all worth having and still in print. They all make great effort to take great close-up pictures which really will help you learn about what to look for in originals. The paint textures, the flaking of the paint as well as the way it wears naturally ect ect.

A great education is your best defense, and the books cost will pay for themselves over and over again.

Sorry to go on a bit but we need young collectors to continue to enter the Hobby and stay there. All the best and happy collecting (y)
 
Austrian flight badges are heavily faked as well! The helmet looks like it had something written on the front. But it didnt look right. Rob
 
Bobted said:
Austrian flight badges are heavily faked as well! The helmet looks like it had something written on the front. But it didnt look right. Rob
Click to expand...
Aye, the pilots badge is a mini, not full size. I wouldn’t touch a large one unless it had a certificate 😂
 
Hi Dane, hate to bring it up but could ya take a photo of the reverse of your latest finds I'm having that terrible feeling again. :oops:

Just want to be sure. (y)
 
In the past I had an original camo helmet of 14 18, I had bought this 30 years ago, it was good, but now that these days they come out of the ground like toadstols, I know that there were not that many in those beautiful camo drawings, most were dark green bluish, that is why I now say, I should not have them anymore, because who dares to buy one in this day and age, from dealers, even the dealers I'm not sure anymore, it's enough to say how much rubbish there is among us, it's a shame
I also posted one here a few weeks ago that I strongly doubted and unfortunately also fake, pff
 
Hi Dean,
I really feel bad and don't want you or anyone else to feel like I'm beating up your latest purchases, but I also don't like to see anyone taken advantage of or spend hard earned money on bad items especially young collectors.

So, I feel I have to say something. The bayonet has been almost ruined by removing the catch, which is how it is attached it to the rifle, as well as the harsh sharpening of the blade and having the cracked grip with no scabbard.

The Hamburg Veterans Honor Cross is a reproduction, my first impression is the medal looks good, but the ribbon looks to be a replacement. (not 100% sure)

I had to pull out a nice reference book to look into the Austrian Pilots Miniature Badge but the thing to look at closely is the quality of the materials used in manufacture. Here is something for you to check out the size, it should not be any larger then 35mm by 35mm. My first impression is the enamel looks more like paint and the strike details are not that crisp.

Pilot badges are another land mine for collectors. I hate to sound like a downer, but I would really try to pump the brakes a bit on buying items and buy some good reference books it's the best and safest way to build a collection. I know it's not what a young collector who is on fire wants to hear.

There are two ways to get a good education in collecting one is with good books the other is by getting burned for thousands with reproduction items. I'm just trying to save you from the horror of finding out later on down the road. It's a terrible feeling.

I've been collecting for over 50 years and I'm still learning all the time that's why I can't tell you enough how important a library of fine reference books is. I've saved myself tens and tens of thousands of dollars over the years just by having the right books.

I'm willing to give your seller the benefit of the doubt and don't think they are purposely trying to deceive you. Sadly it happens all the time and to older collectors as well. I always trust but verify until there comes a time when it happens way too often. jj
 
Dane I would also recommend focusing on just one genre when starting out - medals, helmets, edged weapons, Pickelhaubes, uniforms, etc. Pick one you like the most. Then you don’t need a library of reference books covering all genres which can get expensive, and that focus allows you to really dial in knowledge quicker on that genre rather than trying to “learn it all” which quite frankly is impossible.

It can be near impossible to have that discipline (@Tony without Kaiser will laugh when he reads me type that) as you have the fire and enthusiasm and as collectors we tend to “want it all” - but patience and time are your friend.

Pick 1 genre, buy the top reference books in that genre and then work on acquisitions within the genre to build up confidence and expertise before adding another genre. Believe me, the “stuff” will always be out there. And once you get a collection of authentic items in the genre you get a better feel of what is original and what might not be.

Before making trades or purchases I’d recommend taking good photos and posting them before committing to the trade or purchase to avoid the frustration. Many a young / new collector dives in with both feet only to get repeatedly burned and in frustration just leave the hobby which is littered with fakes. Those opinions from learned collectors willing to share their hard won experience is invaluable to new collectors and saves you precious time and money.

I’d also recommend saving and spending more on rarer, in demand items targeting top condition than a collection of mediocre everyday items in mediocre condition. A small but stellar collection of harder to find top condition items is easier to trade and sell later (as much as we think we will, nobody keeps things forever) than a large collection of everyday items that might be difficult to move later unless at a substantial loss.

Of course you buy what speaks to you, but being focused and disciplined can allow you to avoid mistakes, channel those hard earned dollars into more valuable rarer and top condition items and bring more enjoyment to the hobby as nobody likes to lose money especially when starting out. Also don’t buy items as an investment - that is another big mistake new collectors make.

Just some (very) hard won experience that I pass along to many young collectors I meet which has helped me over the years.
 
@John Josef @Doug B

Aye, I appreciate the help and advice!

Luckily these items were trades, I traded a hate belt for all of it, I’ve been avoiding spending to much since I’m freshly home so definitely I’ll be sure of that!

I’ve been planning on investing into some new reference books, the Feldzug book collection has been on my Radar for some time now. As well as some medal reference books. I’ve wanted to expand my library for some time, I just haven’t found these books anywhere.

I believe a good collector needs a library to back it up!

Mr. Trawnik was kind enough to gift me some research material a few months back and has been detrimental to my collection, even helping me weed out some repros.

My collection is helmet and medal focused but I like to sprinkle in other things as I’m very fascinated by the era, I also strangely prefer the more average style items. I.e regular infantry Pickelhauben or more common steel helmets.

Not sure why, I just do I suppose 😅

Don’t get me wrong, I love having rare pieces, I would love to add more. I have a general list of the items I search for and only ever stray from it when I find something I feel would make a cool addition.

I’ll definitely start posting more photos before purchases though, I should have done that way before 😅

This community has been such a blessing to me and I’m so grateful for all of you, genuinely y’all have made my collection better and I’m so grateful for that! ❤️

I am fairly confident in the pilots badge though, I checked and it does meet the 35, 35 mark, the enamel also feels, and looks genuine in person, I’ve compared it to some other enamel photos and references and nothing seems off.

Either way, it’s not a loss as all of it was free off a trade so no harm done thank goodness! 😮‍💨
 
Dane Jensen said:
@John Josef @Doug B

Aye, I appreciate the help and advice!

Luckily these items were trades, I traded a hate belt for all of it, I’ve been avoiding spending to much since I’m freshly home so definitely I’ll be sure of that!

I’ve been planning on investing into some new reference books, the Feldzug book collection has been on my Radar for some time now. As well as some medal reference books. I’ve wanted to expand my library for some time, I just haven’t found these books anywhere.

I believe a good collector needs a library to back it up!

Mr. Trawnik was kind enough to gift me some research material a few months back and has been detrimental to my collection, even helping me weed out some repros.

My collection is helmet and medal focused but I like to sprinkle in other things as I’m very fascinated by the era, I also strangely prefer the more average style items. I.e regular infantry Pickelhauben or more common steel helmets.

Not sure why, I just do I suppose 😅

Don’t get me wrong, I love having rare pieces, I would love to add more. I have a general list of the items I search for and only ever stray from it when I find something I feel would make a cool addition.

I’ll definitely start posting more photos before purchases though, I should have done that way before 😅

This community has been such a blessing to me and I’m so grateful for all of you, genuinely y’all have made my collection better and I’m so grateful for that! ❤️

I am fairly confident in the pilots badge though, I checked and it does meet the 35, 35 mark, the enamel also feels, and looks genuine in person, I’ve compared it to some other enamel photos and references and nothing seems off.

Either way, it’s not a loss as all of it was free off a trade so no harm done thank goodness! 😮‍💨
Click to expand...

Hi Dane, and please do not get me wrong, an everyday item is just as good as a rare item, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I should have clarified that I was more referencing the bayonet which is in poor condition and they can be found almost anywhere with just a casual search or via networking with other collectors.

Cheers and continued good luck on your collecting!

Doug
 
Well Dane, when I started collecting, I made the same mistakes. Nothing to be ashamed of, you just learn from them. Being a member of this forum helped me out a lot, just like the membership will help you out too. Since I started collecting, I amassed a quite big library of reference books, which help me too. I collect for quite a few years now, but still think something is legit, and then found out it isn't. Which is why I alway's ask things here first. Just to be sure. If my reference books show it's the real thing I do not.
But you do the right thing in asking if an item is the real deal or not, here on the forum. It can help you out a lot, instead of getting burned.
All collectors here will help you out. You know, I have been collecting for about 45 years now, first WW2, and then after several years only WW1.
Nobody has all the knowledge, but collectively we all do.
 
Dane Jensen said:
I am fairly confident in the pilots badge though, I checked and it does meet the 35, 35 mark, the enamel also feels, and looks genuine in person, I’ve compared it to some other enamel photos and references and nothing seems off.

Either way, it’s not a loss as all of it was free off a trade so no harm done thank goodness! 😮‍💨
Click to expand...

Hi Dane,
I had already made a few pictures for you from the reference book, so I thought I'd share them so you can see where my thoughts were coming from regarding the quality of materials, enamel used, and the details of the stamping. With medals the devil is in the details. Notice the enamel work and its shine especially around the crowns and leaves. :devilish:

Photos are from Robert S Pandis's Volume II of Imperial German Flight Badges which also covers The Central Powers.

In the end we have to be happy with our purchases. All the best (y)

ap4.jpeg
ap2.jpeg

ap3.jpeg

ap1.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top