Hi all, I'm a newbie to the site and its been 1 week since I last bought a collectible. I have been collecting all sorts of militaria for many years and only in the last few years I decided to keep to one theme mainly WWI.
But the question I ask to others is when is that item a fake or a restoration project. In the time I have been collecting I have only been caught buying a fake twice, luckily enough I had not paid the price, basically the price for a replica so I'm happy to have them in my collection as the real deal is so scarce, that is until know.
Recently I have bought my first pickelhaube a M1895 with a Oldenburg Wappen, something I have always wanted to own and hopefully many more. After going over many well informed websites I came to a conclusion that my picklehaube is either a total fake or a partly restored pickelhaube using new parts. The leather shell, visor trim, spine, spike, and one chin strap stud all seem genuine. The chin strap and buckles are definetly new, the one chin strap stud does not match the other and seems crudely made and finally the Wappen (Oldenburg IR 91) is not original in my eyes. Although it is made of stamped brass, the final finish is fairly rough.
The liner shows age but the interior and visor trims has been painted at some point, either to give it an old look or for protection. The spike has 4 holes only. There are no visible makers mark or stamps.
I would appreciate anyones comments and put me out of my misery.
http://community.webshots.com/album/568944004sWwMoK
Many thanks
Bill
But the question I ask to others is when is that item a fake or a restoration project. In the time I have been collecting I have only been caught buying a fake twice, luckily enough I had not paid the price, basically the price for a replica so I'm happy to have them in my collection as the real deal is so scarce, that is until know.
Recently I have bought my first pickelhaube a M1895 with a Oldenburg Wappen, something I have always wanted to own and hopefully many more. After going over many well informed websites I came to a conclusion that my picklehaube is either a total fake or a partly restored pickelhaube using new parts. The leather shell, visor trim, spine, spike, and one chin strap stud all seem genuine. The chin strap and buckles are definetly new, the one chin strap stud does not match the other and seems crudely made and finally the Wappen (Oldenburg IR 91) is not original in my eyes. Although it is made of stamped brass, the final finish is fairly rough.
The liner shows age but the interior and visor trims has been painted at some point, either to give it an old look or for protection. The spike has 4 holes only. There are no visible makers mark or stamps.
I would appreciate anyones comments and put me out of my misery.
http://community.webshots.com/album/568944004sWwMoK
Many thanks
Bill
