"The Niemann" - Edition 3

[don-zamo]

That is a very nice cross i must say, its strange how something this small is worth so much money, it would take me a good decade to properly save for something like that, its crazy, but thats what makes this hobby what it is. Thats just my opinion anyway

James M

[don-zamo]

Theres me saying I should order one, and its just turned up at my door! How freaky is that

[Militaria-Berlin]

Still, it would be nice to ask for permission

Ive never bought one of these, I think I should. Could someone tell me more about the russian market and what you mean by it?

Are the russians having a spending spree and buying up all the 3rd reich militaria?

James M

Hi James,

Yes, of course I agree, it would be nice to ask but I think Hr. Niemann, like myself, doesn´t mind people posting pictures from the website to have them discussed and checked by collectors. Imagine how many extra mails you would have to answer just to allow it.

I think most dealers would agree that a large part of TR militaria is now moving eastwards instead of westwards.

Markus

[mbberlin]

Are the russians having a spending spree and buying up all the 3rd reich militaria?

Yes, they are buying like crazy. But they love also imperial russian and rare sowjet stuff. And they have a lot of money.

A lot of dealers and auctions have a focus at imperial russian and sowjet items now.

They want to purchase culture or what they are thinking historic culture should be because they don't have real own culture now or dont like it.

There is finally no big difference between Russians and US-Americans in that way.

[don-zamo]

Im trying to get as much westwards as possible, but theres plenty to go around. Do you think at any point it will get to a stage where 3rd reich items are scarce?

James M

[Steiner63]

I have the 2nd edition and suspect that it is the Knights Cross I now own that provided the reverse picture for an Juncker unmarked non magentic KC..at least in that edition, I'd be curious to check out the updated KC prices in the new one but I dont think I will be ordering one any time soon since I'm saving to eventually get myself a nice set of Oakleaves.

Regards
Steiner63

[Militaria-Berlin]

Im trying to get as much westwards as possible, but theres plenty to go around. Do you think at any point it will get to a stage where 3rd reich items are scarce?

James M

Dear James,

if you are a variant war badge collector some badges are already scarce or indeed rare. There maybe only one or two examples known worldwide (over the internet anyway). These items hardly ever turn up for sale.

I think in the world of Iron Crosses and KCs you can get just about everything if you are prepared to lay down big money. It is certainly no problem to get most of the makers in good condition over a year or so.

For my money a buntmetal gold CCC with rivet and tophook is far more desirable than a KC. Thats just my opinion of course.

Markus

[don-zamo]

Ive just realised who you are markus, sorry

In my opinion, a KC would be the pride of my collection, I made a big mistake selling mine, as I am still young, im stupid etc.

If I ever got my hands on another KC id never let it go, Id give up my entire collection just to own one, and start from scratch again with everything else.

A message to all western collectors, buy everything you can, dont let the reds get it all haha, just joking Its a good hobby, and should be shared by all.

James M

[Don D.]

They want to purchase culture or what they are thinking historic culture should be because they don't have real own culture now or dont like it.

There is finally no big difference between Russians and US-Americans in that way.

I can't help but feel a little insulted with this. For a people with no culture we sure have the rest of the world wearing our jeans, eating our fast food, watching our movies and listening to our music for starters. Sure, we have no Bach, or Beethoven but I don't think we have einsatz.... Never mind, I won't go there.

[don-zamo]

I agree don.

There are differences between americans and russians, culture is in every country, wether its good or bad, the only big difference is the people that run the countries.

Is this eastern spending spree a recent thing?

James M

[Don D.]

Actually my point is that just below the surface we are all pretty much the same. That thin veneer of "culture" is what allows us to look down our noses at others. Every country has been a "****hole" at one time or another. Most people forget that Europe used to have wars every 20-30 years until 1945.

[Robin Lumsden]

I'm not an EK buff, so this may be a stupid question.

If it is, I apologise.

I'm just wondering..................how do we know WHEN these L/21 marks were applied?

Are we sure they were applied pre-1945?

[Ludwig]

I'm not an EK buff, so this may be a stupid question.

If it is, I apologise.

I'm just wondering..................how do we know WHEN these L/21 marks were applied?

Are we sure they were applied pre-1945?

IMO it´s very hard to believe, that someone takes an original KC and an original OL and punches L/21 into them. Why? To make them more interesting? Hardly. I bet Niemann will have difficulties selling this set, because most collectors will be too scared to buy it. If it had been unmarked, it would have been sold already, I dare to say. IMO this is an OK set.

[Robin Lumsden]

Thanks Ludwig.

I'm not questioning the originality...............

But the marks do seem to elevate the piece to a 'unique' status, with a bigger 'asking price'.

It seems that an 'unusual' mark, combined with a theory about why it might be there, can make for big bucks.

I've always been very wary of silver marks since I saw a little silver plate stamped with all sorts of fake Nazi maker and silver marks back in the 1980s.

As I say, I'm not questioning the authenticity of the piece, but I find the stamps, and the reason for them being there, odd. That's all.