Para gwl from a serious dealer

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Gentry,

Yes, pretty much all of Staegemeir's fakes are casting of original badges. The ones that aren't are pretty much the same old fakes we've seen for years. The reason Staegemeir's are dangerous is because they are castings of originals, so they pick up the die faults and such we collectors like to look for.

If Staegemeir was gone tomorrow, there would be others that fill his shoes. We can't just "hope" he goes away on his own. The sooner people accept that as a solid truth in this hobby, the sooner they can get on with doing their homework and learning to recognize the good fakes and what sets them apart from originals. Its not hard, but takes dedication and some work. This is a hobby, but the fun of this hobby for me is the challenge of determing good from bad. There is no perfect fake IMO, they will ALWAYS mess something up!

Tom

[Jos L C]

There is no perfect fake IMO, they will ALWAYS mess something up!

Tom

As long as people behave like they're doing now, the perfect fake is close in sight IMO..
It all has to do with investment..
They still make castings of stamped badges, but wait when heavy machines are born to do the job.., matter of time and matter of collector's attitude..
If you want the best, fetish to pay huge prices equal to gold watches and diamonds, drink champagne when purchased a item, sell for triple the price, ....better watch out, one day you'll meet you're perfect fake, funny thing is you'll not know..

There's a sign that they want your money, meaning innovation and it'll happen as long as we behave as millionairs buying old crap.

The most ugly "camo" helmet, overpainted in a ridiculous color is fetching 2K these days..
As a faker I would do my best to fetch 2K every week, easy money, stupid crowd..
Helmet collectors are complaining about the amount of fakes, ... I don't even wonder..

Jos.

[Thomas Durante]

Fair enough Jos. All good and valid concerns.

Lets keep this thread about the badge itself from here on out.

Thanks guys

Tom

[Leroy]

I would hope that, because it is a casting, the weights and measurements would be off from an original. Looks like he's gotten the finish just about perfect.

[RamJet]

I had an GWL para for many years, sold it ten years ago. When I saw this one on the weekly news page, I looked over it briefly and it convinced me ...

[Militaria-Berlin]

Just to let you all know that I have pulled this badge from the site and handed it over to a well known collector for comparision with a piece from his collection.
I am very suprised and quiet shocked at this as the badge came from a very good source with several other things and was in the correct case, maybe this stopped us looking at it quiet as exactly as we should have.
As soon as I have heard more and have some weights, measurements and comparisions I will let you all know more.

Naturally we are always glad to hear concerns from collectors and once again I ask that you contact us immediatly when you see anything suspicious on our site.

Thanks
Markus

[Midas]

Hi guys

Just few another thoughts to this thread - regardless if the badge is authentic or not : I wonder how many collectors or honest top class dealers did not make any mistake in assessment in the past ? ; how many questionable items with COAs from a very reputable dealers are floating around ?
In the past , someone on this forum said something similar to : honesty in dealership is not if mistakes are done but how they are dealt with.

Regards
Midas

[Thomas Durante]

honesty in dealership is not if mistakes are done but how they are dealt with.

Very true and a great quote! I think it is very safe to say that we have all made mistakes, but its how we deal with them that sets good guys apart from the bad. I have also always found Markus Schultze and a few other dealers to be great stand-up guys in our hobby!

Tom

[Eddie]

Hi guys, very interesting thread,i have couple of questions how much can we trust to COA ?
Who and how give permission to dealers issue COA ?
Has anyone ever seen items with Detlev COA being fakes ?
Has anyone ever seen other dealers selling items that fakes but with COA ?

best regards,

eddie

[Marc Garlasco]

I think it is interesting it was with a correct - and perhaps rarer than the badge - case.
Marc

[Thomas Durante]

Badge is of a well known style. Some new (?) features are visible, but still a fake.....same is for the case.

You sure about that Marc, Gerd says the case is a fake too

Tom

[Marc Garlasco]

Well, that's comforting in a very odd way!

[RamJet]

Very true and a great quote! I think it is very safe to say that we have all made mistakes, but its how we deal with them that sets good guys apart from the bad. I have also always found Markus Schultze and a few other dealers to be great stand-up guys in our hobby!

Tom

That's the point.

A dealer has to be fit in as many aspects of our hobby as possible, but he simply cannot be the top specialist in really every field, regardless of his experience. And so mistakes happen ... no problem with me, as long as they handle them like Markus and a few others do it.

[Gerd W.]

I think it is interesting it was with a correct - and perhaps rarer than the badge - case.
Marc

Marc, are you sure? Sadly, haven´t saved the pictures of the case.

The case has the correct style for GWL, but the rear fitting and the construction fabric isn´t a match to the GWL cases I saw before (maybe a variation ).

However, badge is fake and I don´t like the case as well.

Here a "classic" and original GWL case (different IMO). That exact style will come with the normal lock as well.

[redjames2004]

GWL para badge

Most GWL-made para badges have recessed rivet holes. This GWL para badge have screws??? I never see any fake GWL para badges with screws before. Yeah, I agree with Tom that the GWL para badge with screws was casting from original para badge. Thanks for showing me this picture! I will avoid Staegmeir-made fake medals/badges. Thanks!