Preussen Garde Officer star confusion

Tony without Kaiser

Tony without Kaiser

Departed
Staff member
Hello all,
Could anyone show some close-ups of Preussen Garde officer stars, especially fake ones and what to look for?

I’ve been collecting 50 years this year, all for Soldat on campaign. This resulted in limited exposure to Garde officer stars.

Could anyone show some replicas and what to look for? It will help many on our little Forum. Thank you all. Tony
 
Ok, I'll try to explain what I'm paying attention to :unsure:

It could be very difficult to say whether a Guard Star is real or not. But the rings with the braided pattern are a first good indicator for me. I have seen these parts cast on reproductions only, such as this one from www.Spikedhelmets.pl. The small cavities on the surface are clear signs of casting. Although a flawless finish can be achieved with a cast too, manufacturers of reproductions usually want to produce quickly and cost-effectively, which naturally has an impact on quality.
IMG_0816.jpeg
(Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/275203967451)

However, the text „SUUM CUIQUE“ and the eagle in the center of the example from Spikedhelmets.pl differ from the example recently discussed in another post:

That's why I also look at the hatched surface pattern on these letters too and how the letters were cut out. Back then, people were mostly proud of their own craftsmanship. So, if there was a hatched surface pattern (which not all Guard Stars had), this pattern was usually carefully crafted. The spacing between the lines should be similar, as well as the depth of the grooves.
In general, I always become cautious when I see castings that I otherwise only know have been pressed and the components are also of poor manufacturing quality.

Here are some close-ups of Guard Stars that are definitely original in my eyes:
Please note the frosted fire gilding on the 1st Guard Star, which is expensive to produce nowadays and never looks as beautiful when it is produced electroplated.
IMG_0812.jpeg
(posted by Brian L. years ago)

At first glance, the braided rings of this Guard Star seems to have small cavities too, but I think that these are not caused by the manufacturing process, but are impact dents.
IMG_0813.jpeg
(Source: www.weitze.net)

The last Guard Star is particularly beautifully crafted. Look at the sharp edges of the pressing and how cleanly the letters have been cut out. This really is a magnificent work 🤩
IMG_0762.jpeg
(Source: www.alamy.com; Image-ID: T4R3PJ)

There are certainly also authentic Guard Stars that were produced in a somewhat poorer manufacturing quality, but I think that these are more likely to be from wartime. The Guard regiments were elite troops and the officers were certainly very proud of their position. Furthermore, the helmets were expensive custom-made products, and customers were allowed to expect appropriate quality. I therefore doubt that helmets of poor quality were the rule.
 
This is going to be an excellent thread, thanks for starting this T and Sandy for your contribution. As an aside, I have a neusilber Garde officer wappen that needs a star if anyone has an original for sale.
 
Aside from the other observations above, I noticed that all of the original stars have separate small berries in the laurel wreath at the bottom and the reproduction star does not (the red is just dobbed on to simulate the berries). I have a later star from a wartime helmet that is just as meticulously crafted, but no paint at all on the laurel wreath (green and red) and the berries are still there.
 
b.loree said:
Yes indeed, another awesome thread on this forum! My Sony digital is only 6 years old.
Click to expand...
Hmm - what flavor do you have Brian? Your pics always look great. Looking for something good for photographing headgear and stuff, able to handle close-in detail, but not absurdly professional grade. (y)
 
Actually, I use my IPhone 14 now but I had been using a Canon Power Shot Elph 190. I lied about a Sony just to bug James🙂 but my Elph is only 6 years old! I provide some sort of background for the subject and I only shoot on cloudy days or somewhere shady. Bright sunshine creates shadow in your photos ( thanks Tony). I make sure that when I take the photo that I am a fair distance away as if you are too close to the subject the picture is too large for the forum when cropped. If this happens, I have to retake the picture and increase my distance from the subject. We do have a size restriction here.
 
Guys! We have photography Forum!

Please could we some more questionable or outright replica Preussen Garde officer stars. We can only learn by seeing some copies.
 
Some examples from eBay of "museum quality reproductions" (being sold as such, to the vendor's credit). Aside from a certain crudeness to the motto, and a general lack of the elegance seen in the originals, one indicator seems to be the ridged concentric rings going in different directions. All the legit examples in this thread are in matching directions.

Bad Star 1.JPG

Bad Star 2.JPG
 
Could you post a link to that repro star site. I may have to put one on my officer wappen just as a substitute
 
Jeff, could you please post a link to these vendors? These Guard Stars seem to be different from those from spikdedhelmets.pl.
 
Jeff R said:
Some examples from eBay of "museum quality reproductions" (being sold as such, to the vendor's credit). Aside from a certain crudeness to the motto, and a general lack of the elegance seen in the originals, one indicator seems to be the ridged concentric rings going in different directions. All the legit examples in this thread are in matching directions.
Click to expand...

That would fool many. Many thanks to all.
 
Hello everyone, I don't really trust eBay, you can't really see that it is like a photo, I prefer to spend a little more with a loyal dealer, that bargain that is later not worth its money, you always lose good top pieces, not reproduction, I I have been collecting WW2 material for 30 years and now I am starting to make these helmets
 
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