Authenticity of FJ gas mask and jump bag

[Galacnor]

Hello!
I recently purchased a Fallschirmjäger gas mask "set" if you will. Consisting of the mask itself (GM-38), the bag, filter with plug and a set of the anti-fog inserts.
I am mainly a chemical warfare collector, although I'm getting more into Third Reich era 78RPM recordings (Shoutout to Ivan Z. for all the great information)
The chemical warfare aspect of things being my specialty, I did do a-lot of research before deciding I'd like to go hard for this particular set, and it seems very authentic, however I do have some reservations and would appreciate very much a few second opinions. I would like to note that I already jumped on the mask while I could, and its already on its way, but the seller does take returns and I'm of course covered by E-bays super bias returns policy, so if it ends up being a fake I can always send the thing right back.



















I've been told that the Zipper ( Marked D.R.P) and PRYM snaps are a very good indicator of an original item, however I am a little concerned about the green boarder around the edges of the bag being a little too vibrant for their age, and also the clip that secures the strap to the eyelet, as it is a little different than some others I've seen.

The late Johannes Muller had a bag just like this, down to the kind of clip used to secure the bags strap to the eyelett, and his was an appraised original, altough he is obviously not around anymore to ask for advice from, he did tell me what to look for when looking for a real one, and this one seemed to match pretty well.

A member on another form told me it should have a drain plug.
Is that thing stuffed into the filter the drain plug? Or are there two rubber plugs?
I have not recieved it yet, but I will provide better pictures when I get it.
He also told me that its code says it was made in westfalia but he does not know the specific manufacturer.

Probably just me being paranoid, but I know these are very rare bags, and that they are often faked.

Please give me your opinions!
If anyone is interested I also have an original WWII Gasschutzhaube I could post pictures of, and a nearly complete collection of the WW1 model masks.

Thanks a ton!
Alex

[Alfred.R]

looks like reproduction for me.

[Pierre]

It's a fake. No doubt.

Pierre

[Willi Z.]

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry, but it certainly looks like a fake. I would like to see some photos of the inside, snaps, straps, fittings, etc, for the sake of curiousity.

[John Hodgin]

I would like to see some photos, of the inside, snaps, straps, fittings, etc, for the sake of curiousity.

So would I, especially the snaps and zipp. This bag is a very interesting development.

[Galacnor]

Not a problem.

I will have more pictures when the bloody thing arrives.
I can tell you now that the Zipper is marked D.R.P and all the snaps are marked P.R.Y.M

It does indeed have the plug thing, which is currently stuffed into the filter for some reason.

Does anyone know if its intended to keep the filter sealed during a water landing is my guess, and that its inserted into the wrong hole on the filter.

The filter would be screwed onto the mask and the self sealing valve would keep water from entering the filter from the mask end and that plug would go into the smaller bottom hole of the filter, correct?

From what I can tell all the hardware is correct, it is the silly fabric that is of an interesting color, correct weave though from what I've been told.

[clint-magnum]

Everything is correct for a fake

[Galacnor]

What are the things that are making it look fake? This is the only forum so far where the overwhelming majority say they dont trust. Everyone else has been very suspicious of the coloring but says after that there is very little reason to doubt it any more than any other. I'm not saying that I disagree, but there have been plenty of these in crazy colours that the community originally denounced as fakes but now accepts as legitimate.

[Willi Z.]

Where is this bag being accepted? What collecting community now accepts certain bags once declared to be fake? Am baffled by both comments.

It is not just the color of the bag, but the features. This snaps are trying to appear to be early Prym snaps. The ones on the flap on too small (from the cover side) and the one on the inside pouch is too large. More photos will undoubtedly reveal more fake components. The rubber plug, the piece sewn to protect the bottom of the filter, etc.

We are only trying to help.....

You mention early on that they are rare and faked.

[Galacnor]

Willi
My apologies if I came off as doubting your guy's opinions on it.
I'm not trying to be snippy or cause problems, in-fact I rather agree with you, it looks rather suspicious, that is afterall, why I came seeking help.

I was just confused by people's reluctance to tell me what was actually wrong with it, everyone so far that I've asked across multiple forums has just told me either "yes it looks real" or "no its a fake", with no justification for either answer.

As far as people who have thought it real so far.

Everyone I've asked so far within my own little bunch of chemical warfare collectors seem to think it is an original. Although I will be the first to say that we as a community do not deal with very much in the way of fabricated items like other collectors do, so we definitely don't have the experience of being very skeptical of every piece of equipment that we come across. Gas masks and filters and sundry other N.B.C. equipment is substantially more difficult to fabricate in any sort of convincing manner.

The guys at warrelics vary from very weary but unsure to one that believes it is an original.

Then there are the multiple people I have contacted over email about it. Most again are very weary but don't have any idea. And then theres a few that are confident it is an original.

My only point was that this seems to be the only place where I've encountered 100% resistance to it. But that is perhaps because you guys have the most experience in dealing with them.

Should I even bother letting him ship the thing to me for further pictures?
Or should I wait for it to get here, take pictures and let you guys make a final call on it?

The mask and filter are obvious originals, but obviously not worth what I paid for the set.

Thanks
Alex

[Willi Z.]

Alex, no need to apologize. I understand.

Here is the same fake snap when they first came out in 2008 (according to an earlier discussion we had here).

[Galacnor]

Alright.
Appreciated
So I guess my question is are we all 100% sure?
Because I think at this point he still hasn't shipped it, should I just ask for a refund or wait for it to get here for some better pictures and final "sentencing"?
Either way, like I said it will be easy for me to get my money back, whether he likes it or not, in my experience ebay handles fakes pretty sternly, I may end up getting to keep the wretched thing if ebay just pays out of pocket for it (Something they've done before on more expensive things for some reason)

The leather piece and bung are both visible in the auction pictures I put up with the original post if that would help you make a final call on it.

Disappointing, I thought I finally had one of the few remaining missing pieces to my WWII German chemical warfare collection.

[HAF]

100% bad, ask for refund and dont waste your money on shipping back.

[GAMS1]

100% modern copy with old+modern components , no doubts about that !
Nick

[oberjaeger]

now available on german epay

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Gasmaskenbeut...item35db05d7fd