They keep getting closer and closer

SkipperJohn

Well-known member
This is getting pretty close:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/b0065-WW-1-Prussian-Helmet-Plate-for-Spiked-Helmet-brass-Pickelhaube-GD19/351736959738?hash=item51e52812fa:g:c4wAAOSwX0Fa3z9l

We have always told new collectors that the plate should be stamped, equally detailed front and rear, and the solder should look messy and old. I could see someone mistaking this one.

John [-X
 
From my point of view the edges are not as hard as from the original plate. It‘s good to see if you compare it with an original one beside of it.
029DC079-19A5-40E0-B765-D740FD8B884E.jpeg
Think the „FR“ of the repro is more rounded as the original, for example.
 
They've also been stamping out these things:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/b5700-Prussian-Army-Hussar-Husaren-Regiment-1-2-GD21/352337787897?hash=item5208f7fbf9:g:lwAAAOSwKhta30Ta

and other parts, too...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/a0130-WW-1-German-Saxon-Helmet-Plate-for-Spiked-Helmet-Pickelhaube-GD18/381717677634?hash=item58e0258642:g:oh4AAOSwsA5a3zwY

https://www.ebay.com/itm/b1669-WW-1-German-Army-Scroll-Husaren-Regiment-Nr-17-Braunschweigisches-GD20/381581477367?hash=item58d80745f7:g:5yMAAOxyQj9RIpRD

https://www.ebay.com/itm/b0032-WW1-German-Army-EM-Enlisted-Man-plate-Baden-Picklehaube-GD17/382095503069?hash=item58f6aaaedd:g:4uEAAOSwsxJa3zRE

The stampings are better than the ones coming out of Rudyard Kipling's old stomping grounds, but fortunately still lack the details of originals.
 
Jaap Verduijn said:
Methinks Arran has a good point.

I agree. I have original Wappen's that are so crisp that you can see the lice under the eagles feathers, but I also have originals that are not nearly as crisply stamped. Whether it was a manufacturers variation or a worn out die is uncertain. The lack of detail on some original Wappen's (mostly those on M95's and M15's) is not a sole determining factor in verifying authenticity. Thankfully this reproduction has several additional flaws, like the lack of a void between the wings and legs and the "fat" tail feathers. I am very tempted to buy one and spend a little time with my Dremel tool just to see how many people I could fool.

John :)
 
"(...) I am very tempted to buy one and spend a little time with my Dremel tool just to see how many people I could fool (...)"

You're evil, John, evil (wide and amused grin)!

The interesting though somewhat difficult issue with new plates stamped with old dies, is that (at least to my mind) they are original - though not contemporary. In that sense I would prefer such a plate, even when not very sharp, over a very sharp galvano copy.
 
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