Chinese repro East German Uniforms

[Flugzeugfuhrer]

Copied from Gowens page:

Monday, October 9, 2006

The Chinese are coming, but not to Gowen Militaria. We have it on good authority – in fact, the best of authority – that reproduction East German clothing and insignia are being made under contract in the People’s Republic of China for sale as collectibles on the internet. No matter how skillfully such items are made, they are not authentic, and serious collectors need to beware.
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Has anyone else heard this? Might explain the large rash of certain uniforms flooding ebay.

Only a matter of time.

[torstenbel]

I would certainly also be interested to know, what if anything there is to find out how to recognise these...I am sure that in good time we will figure it out on this forum... Cheers, Torsten.

[ehrentitle]

I'd take Gowen's comments with a grain of salt until some concrete proof is offered. This comment might be true for older harder to get uniforms, but I can't imagine there is profit in repro of low end uniforms.

[David H]

Yep, Mr Gowen is correct, it's true, unfortunately one more place to add to the growing list. We already have:
Germany: repro uniforms KVP, early NVA, Generals, medals and documents
Poland: repro generals uniforms
India: repro badges & insignia (imported into Germany)

and these are only some of the positively I.D'd items

China: It would seem insignia is appearing from here, the quality will be reasonable, but still not up to an original. The worrying thing is the speed they work...If you place an order it only take ten minit!!

[Mike G.]

Czech Republic = Repro Dark Collar era Visor Hats.

[grenzpolizei]

do they have one left for a side where these things are offered, or from where they have it to know?
best regards

[Mikhealc]

Good Authority

I always wonder who these good authorities are, why no one names them, why no one gives the name of actual companies doing this. My guess is because some dealers pass the info on but also intend to use the repro items. This is just my paranoia in this crazy world but "good authority" and unnamed sources are just BS and coverup.

[chinesecowboy]

I'm a Chinese collecter. I collect DDR/NVA items since 2000,but I and all the Chinese collecter I know never seen even never know the NVA Uniforms repro in China.

and some Chinese collect BBS had discuss this, but till now no one had seen or knew this. to funny , first time Chinese people receive this message just from dev.wehrmacht-awards.com ,from this page.

[Mike G.]

Just speculation,

But I would think despite the vast size of China and its enormous population, the number of people actually engaged in the collecting of DDR Memorabilia to be miniscule. Consequently I would think any manufacture and/or production of counterfeit DDR/NVA clothing would be for export to Europe, and possibly the United States.

[81REDSTAR]

I wonder about those repro uniforms..Are they actually produced in the factory or just converted from originall tunic/uniform......

[Mike G.]

I haven't heard too much about what is happening in China.

I have heard that in the case of the reproduction Dark Collar era Visor Hats that are being reproduced in the Czech Republic, rolls of the original NVA cloth / material are being used. Even the vulcanized bill is being reproduced. However, the embroidered boullion insignia is still very much inferior, and is the best way to tell the counterfeit from the original. If a seller suddenly has several "Mint" (Unworn - no service) Dark Collar Visor Hats for sale, then I would be suspect. I think there would be very few of these that survived (Mint condition).

Of course that does not mean that they won't eventually start subjecting these items to various aging processes to make them look worn.

Also, if the hat is new, but there is no sweat shield (ie - seller says it is missing) then that would give cause for concern too, I would think.

[Kozlov]

Nothing would surprise me - Soviet stuff is being made, particularly General's hats. I've ever seen several reputable dealers selling them...

[chinesecowboy]

Even the best copies should have some different from original ones. maybe that will be very small but should be have. till now I have never seen suspect NVA uniforms. I don't believe that uniforms are being reproduced in China.

who have particular picture of the uniforms? show~~~

[Mike G.]

Even the best copies should have some different from original ones. maybe that will be very small but should be have. till now I have never seen suspect NVA uniforms. I don't believe that uniforms are being reproduced in China.

who have particular picture of the uniforms? show~~~

Lots of various clothing items sold in the United States are produced in China. What's to prevent an enterprising businessman in American from making a business deal with a clothing producer in China, for the production and shipment of replicated DDR Military Clothing items to the US, which then are sold through a Military Surplus store for example?
I can think of many different scenarios, about which you, and fellow collectors in China of DDR memorabilia, would know nothing about, even though you live in China.

[Rob Brown]

I just can't believe that finally DDR Militaria is going to be faked in mass production. Well Im going to stick with Nico for buying uniforms etc as he has the real deal!