Stitching thru inner sleeve lining

[redjames2004]

Hi There, While trying to sell my DDR parade tunics on eBay,I got a email via eBay from a WAF member regarding the stitching of the metal cuff bars thru the sleeve lining. I told him to check out on my other Ebay auction picture that show the turned up one of the sleeve that dont show the sewing thru lining. I once saw the tunic( I cant remember what specific branch of DDR military) with cuff bars attached onto the cuff sleeve sewn all way to the inner lining. I dont see many tunics with cuff bars sewn all the way to inner lining. Most of DDR tunics with metal cuff bars I owns are professionally sewn onto the outer sleeve before the inner lining are sewn to outer sleeve. They are done at state factories before going out to officers and soldiers. Any additional information on the cuff bar stitiching will be appreciated! Thanks! James

[Capt. R]

parade Cuff bars

I started what became a lengthy thread about this very subject in around Feb. 2008 with Mike Gallagher and Rev462 contributing some exceptional insight into the subject. As I remember, it was concluded that sewn cuff bars were OK because, among other things, the uniforms had to be drycleaned without the cuffs on and were later re-applied. Further, at a minimum, the date of the jacket should match to within the window when such insignia was applied. And finally, it is a judgment call to the individual collector when he holds it in his hands to judge all factors and the totality of the piece and decide for himself.

In my opinion, if the date code on the jacket matches the wear period for cuff bars, having them on there is a plus, since they are somewhat scarce, esp. officer's, and also because more collector's are holding onto them lately - not selling onto the market. But that is, again, only my opinion.