1957 Simon & Leonhardt Forestry Tunic

[Jan Klaassen]

Good afternoon gents and ladies!

This jacket found it's way into my hands and, even though I think it looks really attractive, it's neither military nor East German, and therefore completely out of my comfort zone. So, yes, I am interested in basic things like: are these collectible? What is the value? And so on.

However, I'm also very intrigued by other things: is this jacket complete as it sits, what is the rank on it, what would've been this mans tasks? What medal would've been on his left breast pocket?

Any information is very welcome!


Real French cuffs, very nice.


Sown in boards, very thick shoulder padding! Collar piped in silver, all the rest in dark green.




Dagger hanger, pinstriped sleeves, sabre slit (?)...


Tunic made in september 1957, to a certain "F. Anw. Heil".


His left breast pocket.



Thanks for looking! Looking forward to your comments!

[Collectinsteve]

Nice! I don't collect these, but I really like the way the Forst uniforms are trimmed.

As for them being collectable or not... I'm sure there are people that collect these sorts of things, but it is no doubt a small group compared to the availability of examples. I see them come up for sale on ebay.de fairly frequently and have not noticed much competition for them. I could be wrong since I don't specifically follow them.

Steve

[Gordon Craig]

Jan,

A very nice early post war Forestry service dress tunic. While there was no official dagger for the forestry service following the war there were numerous designs available for private purchase and they were worn. Usually the one that was very close to the TR style. I confirmed this through emails with a retired forester in the BDR. I own all of his uniforms now.
The design of the forestry uniforms in the BRD was the same as those adopted by the German Forestry service in 1935 and they were worn up to the late 90s. The badges/ribbons worn on these uniforms would have been the same as those worn by the Bundeswehr.
The majority of the German states wore a sleeve badge indicating what state forestry organization they served in. There were however, private foresters in post war Germany just as there had been in the previous years. I have to run out the door right now so no chance to look at my rank charts but they were very close to the TR ones. Same acorns were used.

Regards,

Gordon

[Klaus1989]

The pocket loops could be for DSB sport badge (or less likely other sport badges). Seem to be come badge on uniforms of non-military organisations in earlier years. Collar tabs would have been already abolished in BRD by 1954, if I remember correct, so before your uniform made. Without acorns signify Forstinspektor z.A., but this style was worn up to Forstamtsrat/-oberamtsrat I think, so should check for signs of insignia.

Regards
Klaus

[Jan Klaassen]

Thanks a bunch for the infos so far! Could someone perhaps give me a rough value on these jackets - what would be a fair price to offer one of these on the market for?

[Collectinsteve]

I don't know the value of something like this (not very high, I suspect), but you might want to watch this Forst uniform auction to see how it goes:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Originale-Uni...3D231644364813

Steve