RESEARCH is KEY

HatEnjoyer

HatEnjoyer

Well-known member
I was just on a militaria collecting community on reddit because I was curious as to what other collectors were up to when I stumbled upon a post that was quite concerning. Some poor soul paid $500 for this monstrosity before asking for advice:
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This is just a reminder to new collectors that RESEARCH and consulting other collectors is KEY when collecting any items of high value. Though this was definitely the result of a few poor choices, I hope this burn doesn’t discourage the buyer, or any newer collector for that matter, so much that he quits on his dream of collecting pickelhauben, or collecting in general.
 
Its a shame, because that's not even a remotely good fake, one look and you can easily tell that it is fake.
Research is key, and I am doing mine, because I'm scared of the fakes that ARE good.

I also find it interesting how almost every one of these bad Indian fakes has that Green corrosion, like 'Green Death" on leather, its a very poor attempt at aging in my opinion.
 
Kaiser Wilhelm II said:
Its a shame, because that's not even a remotely good fake, one look and you can easily tell that it is fake.
Research is key, and I am doing mine, because I'm scared of the fakes that ARE good.

I also find it interesting how almost every one of these bad Indian fakes has that Green corrosion, like 'Green Death" on leather, its a very poor attempt at aging in my opinion.
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I agree, and its quite unfortunate. As for “aging” it is without a doubt an extremely poor attempt. It appears to be green paint that someone watered down and then splotched all over the metal bits. I’ve also seen an Indian fake badly dressed up as a “salty” M15 with gray painted fittings and the entire helmet lightly airbrushed with brown paint. The people making these fakes are definitely not aiming for those experienced in the field of collecting pickelhaube but rather the younger collectors who probably watched a YouTube video about pickelhauben and decided they were gonna buy one off the internet with the cash they’ve been saving.
 
CLOVIS 57 said:
In this case, the reproduction is not faithful, and therefore easily detectable. On the other hand, there's a great deal of danger when it comes to fine craftsmanship from the former Eastern Bloc countries (or almost.)

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I just can't be mad at whomever made this one it's just too beautiful and I'm sure it was originally sold as a quality reproduction. It the guys selling it as an original we need to be mad at.

Weitze has a great thing going and some beautiful items for sure but since Steve called them out on that Waffenrock for a 1-year volunteer of the KFGGR # 2 and the Kaiser's shooting prize. Then they just cut it off and sold both separately I'm really looking much more closely and with much more of a critical eye.

Certainly not a Weitze hater by a long shot but much more critical for sure, and let's be Honest he charges a serious premium and with those prices there should be no doubts at all and items they are selling should be vetted to the highest level before going up for sale.
 
John Josef said:
I just can't be mad at whomever made this one it's just too beautiful and I'm sure it was originally sold as a quality reproduction. It the guys selling it as an original we need to be mad at.

Weitze has a great thing going and some beautiful items for sure but since Steve called them out on that Waffenrock for a 1-year volunteer of the KFGGR # 2 and the Kaiser's shooting prize. Then they just cut it off and sold both separately I'm really looking much more closely and with much more of a critical eye.

Certainly not a Weitze hater by a long shot but much more critical for sure, and let's be Honest he charges a serious premium and with those prices there should be no doubts at all and items they are selling should be vetted to the highest level before going up for sale.
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I agree. I think the I R 92 from memory was offered as a reproduction?
I can see missing the clues on the KFGGR#2 Waffenrock. At least they did end up removing
the Kaiser prize and the shooting cord. The Waffenrock was then offered in it's correct form.
The Kaiser Prize was offered on it's own. I didn't look for the shooting cord, but I guess
it was also offered.
Steve
 
This beautiful helmet in post #7 is not a reproduction in my opinion. Helmets, headgear, everything were made as Verien (associations). They look perfect as they were made in the 1920-1930s by German manufacturers. But different. One helmet that’s identical is the helmet of the husband Ernst August von Hannover (III) Herzog von Braunschweig 1887-1953.
 
Tony without Kaiser said:
This beautiful helmet in post #7 is not a reproduction in my opinion. Helmets, headgear, everything were made as Verien (associations). They look perfect as they were made in the 1920-1930s by German manufacturers. But different. One helmet that’s identical is the helmet of the husband Ernst August von Hannover (III) Herzog von Braunschweig 1887-1953.
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It's possible Tony. Weitze offered it as a reproduction at a really good price. As for the almost-identical Kaiserzeit helmets made by the former manufacturers, I know Colbacks from the 20s and 30s...and how to tell them apart...from the authentic ones from the Kaiser era.
 
It's a slippery slope and certainly not the first time a war time manufacture made items after the war for various reasons.

I remember years ago the publishing of books on the Wiking Division ect.. that came with a cufftitle. They looked almost identical to the originals and were sold as such for years. (Wrong forum sorry). Medals have a similar story; it all adds up to the collectors having to know way more to feel save about making what are becoming very expensive decisions.
 
Tony without Kaiser said:
This beautiful helmet in post #7 is not a reproduction in my opinion. Helmets, headgear, everything were made as Verien (associations). They look perfect as they were made in the 1920-1930s by German manufacturers. But different. One helmet that’s identical is the helmet of the husband Ernst August von Hannover (III) Herzog von Braunschweig 1887-1953.
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I learn something new almost every time I view this forum, and Tony's post is just one example that provides more ammo in my belt, or arrows in my quiver when I am on the hunt for something new for my collection.
Best regards,
John
 
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