Few medals - thoughts on authenticity?

[barryb]

Hi there,
First post for me. I started casually picking up medals and the like about 5 years ago, militaria fairs etc, things which I could find cheap. In the past few weeks I've regained my interest when I found some of the items I bought back then as 'reproductions' turn out now to be genuine. So now I want to add a few more to my collection and came across these on a website by a... shall we say 'hit and miss' seller? Reviews for him on this forum aren't the best but his prices are within my grasp! I won't name them and have removed tags from the images so as to cause no offence to them. I have these three on hold for a few days.

I've not got any of these medals to compare with physically yet so I'm really not sure on them. From what little I know, I believe the Russian Front medal is ok:



Same with the Sudetenland one:



But the wound badge I'm really not sure on. It looks too clean to be real and it's not as sharp as others I've seen...



Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I want to start my collection with genuine examples - especially if I'm paying genuine prices! Any good priced reliable UK sellers anyone is aware of? My budget is low but I'm not wanting expensive items as can be seen from the ones I'm looking at.

Barryb

[Nigel N]

the ostfront & sudetenland medals look fine, i will let the wound badge guys comment on that one!!

[Nigel N]

for lower end stuff, try mw militaria, good prices & money back guarantee!!

[fugpaw]

Barry - welcome to the forum.

As has already been mentioned - the OSTs are fine.

The BWB is also OK.

If you are interested in decently priced items, then check out the e-stand, you will find that many members here vet the items - thus the chances of an item being fake are very small - also there is a strict returns policy on the e-stand.

Enjoy the forum.

Mike

[barryb]

Hi guys, thanks for the quick replies! So far sounds like I've got a good deal here.

I've had a quick look through the e-stand, some good stuff but I'm always a little wary buying like that... There's a lot of US and European sellers there, shame the £ is so pitiful at the moment..!

[fugpaw]

Hi guys, thanks for the quick replies! So far sounds like I've got a good deal here.

I've had a quick look through the e-stand, some good stuff but I'm always a little wary buying like that... There's a lot of US and European sellers there, shame the £ is so pitiful at the moment..!

Barry, don't worry too much about the sellers on the e-stand - most are fine. If you're concerned about an item/seller on e-stand - then do a search in the forums - if there is likely to be a problem you'll find it by searching/researching. Some of the best deals I have got in TR are via the e-stand and via mainland europe and the USA (also Australasia, South America, South East Asia).

Mike

[mrg]

Hi Barry welcome to the forum all medals are original

[fugpaw]

Barry, I've figured out the dealer who is selling these - personally if you're looking for a BWB I'd pick the maker marked 16 or the ESP on his site.

Mike

[barryb]

I was inclined towards the mm 16 as it looks more attractive, but avoided it as I'd not seen that fixing on any other WB... Perhaps if it is indeed genuine I should swap it for that one.
Already in my short time here you guys have been extremely helpful! As I said, I'm just starting out collecting properly now so I want to get a few genuine items so I can gauge the real-life quality and feel of period pieces. It's just a shame my budget will always be so low that anything above an EK2 is out of my limits!

[Nigel N]

I was inclined towards the mm 16 as it looks more attractive, but avoided it as I'd not seen that fixing on any other WB... Perhaps if it is indeed genuine I should swap it for that one.
Already in my short time here you guys have been extremely helpful! As I said, I'm just starting out collecting properly now so I want to get a few genuine items so I can gauge the real-life quality and feel of period pieces. It's just a shame my budget will always be so low that anything above an EK2 is out of my limits!

you might be surprised what you can find for less than the price of an ek2... kvk2, anschluss, 4 year long service, 25 & 40 year faithful service crosses, westwall, theres loads, so keep hunting and good luck!!

[fugpaw]

I was inclined towards the mm 16 as it looks more attractive, but avoided it as I'd not seen that fixing on any other WB... Perhaps if it is indeed genuine I should swap it for that one.
Already in my short time here you guys have been extremely helpful! As I said, I'm just starting out collecting properly now so I want to get a few genuine items so I can gauge the real-life quality and feel of period pieces. It's just a shame my budget will always be so low that anything above an EK2 is out of my limits!

Barry - don't get me wrong - the BWB you have picked is just fine and a very nice WB; I'm a WB collector, so the Alois Rettenmaier would have jumped out at me and said take me home At the end of the day with collecting - it's all about what appeals to you and what you like - go for what appeals to you!

Mike

[barryb]

knockoffnigel - I agree, there's a lot to be had for under £50-ish. I think a West Wall and KVK2 w/o are next on the list..
fugpaw, '16' it is I was only a little dubious due to the fixing!

[Nigel N]

knockoffnigel - I agree, there's a lot to be had for under £50-ish. I think a West Wall and KVK2 w/o are next on the list..
fugpaw, '16' it is I was only a little dubious due to the fixing!

good choices barry, ive seen westwalls with packet for £20, and kvk2s with & without swords plus packet for £35!!

[barryb]

West Wall with packet for £20?!

[Nigel N]

West Wall with packet for £20?!

my mistake barry, its actually £15!! at peter morris coins & medals, kent, the kvks are there too, if hes still got them!!