KM buckle? or Not...

[M.SATTERFIELD]

Hi guys,
I just purchased this buckle. Here is the description.

<style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> KREIGSMARINE ENLISTED RANKS BELT BUCKLE:
absolutely wonderful original wartime piece of solid brass,
stamped construction and well detailed. Dimensions of buckle are
48x64. With brown leather tab, soft and supple with stitching
intact and robust. Tab is impressed with maker “Franke &
Co., Ludenscheid”; and with date “1940”. Also impressed
with Kreigsmarine eagle/swastika marking on underside of leather.


Luckily I have a 5 day inspection/return on it. Need honest opinions. One of my concerns is the brass material it is made of. Second, the eagles head, and third, the eagle over M stamp. Is this correct for this type of buckle? Any help would be greatly appreciated.











Thanks,
Mark Satterfield

[KC1]

Mark,

Unfortunately you have a bad buckle. I saw this as well today when it came out but this is the well known "Pigeon Head" fake, the material would not be brass but rather aluminum or steel (this looks to be steel). And yes, the property stamp is bad as well. Additionally, and if my memory serves me well, Dr. Frank did not produce the gold KM buckle.


This is probably the same one posted last week: (I sure hope BCMC doesn't buy there stuff from Militaria321...)
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...8&highlight=KM


Anyone else want to add...

[regiment739]

Coo Coo, pigeon head fake dressed up as a KM to decieve people

[Ric Ferrari]

Hello Mark,

glad you requested WAF members opinion.
I emailed to Janet (Black Cross Militaria) as soon as the buckle listed, what appears obvious to the specialized collectors : the whole set is fake.

Here's her answer :

"That came from George Peterson.. Thanks, Janet".....

Best

Ric

P.S. by the pics this set is not the same as Dan's link, so someone is working to deceive collectors adding tabs to fake KM buckles : be warning !

[Ric Ferrari]

Hello Mark,

glad you requested WAF members opinion.
I emailed to Janet (Black Cross Militaria) as soon as the buckle listed, what appears obvious to the specialized collectors : the whole set is fake.

Here's her answer :

"That came from George Peterson.. Thanks, Janet".....

Best

Ric

Hello,

here's the email just received by Janet :

"Hi,
Thanks for the info. We put the order aside last night until we had the opportunity to speak with George. He is a well known and respected dealer. Of course anyone can make a mistake. I looked at the link this morning as always thank you for the heads up. Thanks, Janet"

So my personal appreciation for such honest behaviour

Ric

[M.SATTERFIELD]

Thanks guys,
I had my concerns from the get go. Thanks for all your help. Here is the email I just received:

"Mark,
There seems to be some question on the KM Buckle. We purchased this from a well known and respected dealer. I don't want to sell you something that is questionable. I will send an email to the person I purchased it from to get his thoughts. I will forward them to you. Lets hold onto the buckle for now. Thanks, Janet"

I congratulate them for not wanting to sell "questionable" items.

-Mark

[helmutderpa]

, and if my memory serves me well, Dr. Frank did not produce the gold KM buckle.


Anyone else want to add...

Yes, I want to add that I had in the past a Dr Frank KM buckle. It was an iron buckle gold plated and genuine in every way. It didn't retained much of the plating so I sold it years ago and do not have pics to show!

Simon