EKII Ribbon?

[schinkel2]

Hi,

Do any of you guys out there know how to tell original ek ribbon from the modern stuff and how the original stuff came?
A friend of mine has a roll of so called original ribbon that I want to buy of him, were talking a good few meters and it looks good to me.
But is there any definite way of telling before I part with hard cash and is original ek ribbon really so hard to come by?

Thanks

Dan

[CMSgt]

Ribbon

Black lite test, if it shines (glows) it is new.

[George Stimson]

Another test is to remove a bit of loose ribbon thread and burn it. If it bubbles up into a blob -- like it's made out of some kind of synthetic material -- it's a bad sign. If it turns into flaky ash, it's a better sign.

[schinkel2]

I know about the burn test and the black light but is that all you can do apart from feel and the way it looks and I suppose gut instinct!!

[George Stimson]

Is that all one can do?

"is that all you can do apart from feel and the way it looks and I suppose gut instinct!!"

As far as I know, yes.

[GELIS44]

For me it is a matter of look and feel. If it is an obvious fake I don't want it on any of my crosses. I would rather focus on the cross and let the ribbon be an afterthought. Just so you know, I have replaced "bad" ribbons in the past. I have seen rolls at shows that appear correct being sold with other rolls for Ost, and west wall. I have serious doubts these were produced during the war.