Japanese Repros--Wave of the Future?

[stonemint]

Check out this Japanese site: www.bekkoame.ne.jp/ha/schmidt/

They even have designed "personality" hats in the style of hats worn by such notables as Peiper and Hartmann.
The hats look to have a good shape to them--I am assuming they use some sort of computer-generated template. Has anyone seen one of these in person?

Note that they even do German civilian caps of the 33-45 era!

[LuftMike]

One thing's for certain, the translation provided by excite is terrible. I can't even begin to figure out pricing (would be interesting to know how it compares to repros made in the U.S), or how to understand how it works. The headgear looks to be very nicely made however......definitely a cause for worry.
Have a look at their badges and insignia section as well.....

[W.Unland]

Hello,

I have seen these hats in person and some are really quite nice. I believe they are actually produced in China, not here in Japan. The prices are NOT cheap. An officer's side cap goes for around $150-200 and a schirmmutze for around $350-500, compared to $69 for a german made repro. These are actually better looking, and you can choose the grade of cloth used. The linings are quite authentic looking and the brims are painted and cross hatched. As I recall there was some artificial materials. They are intended to look authentic because their customers want as close to real "looking" as possible. They don't really care if the materials are modern, or have plastic stiffeners etc.

Their target is the "dress up" crowd over here. They are not being sold as anything other than "costumes". That said I am sure some of these have been passed off as authentic. Believe it or not some people parade around dressed in full SS uniforms here. Often the medals and such are authentic. They take "cosplay" (costume playing) very seriously.

Some of their insignia is quite scary.

They sell uniforms, WW1 goods, badges, ribbons, etc. as well.

Here is a shot of the interior:

Regards,
William Unland

[R.Beck]

WoW! These are scary. I must say, many of these are some well made caps.

[stonemint]

Thanks for your insight, Mr. Unland--when they decide to get serious about copying original materials without synthetics, we are going to have some cause for concern. Keep us posted on developments in Japan!

[robertdmountfor]

Check out this Japanese site: www.bekkoame.ne.jp/ha/schmidt/

They even have designed "personality" hats in the style of hats worn by such notables as Peiper and Hartmann.
The hats look to have a good shape to them--I am assuming they use some sort of computer-generated template. Has anyone seen one of these in person?

Note that they even do German civilian caps of the 33-45 era!

I know its an old thread, but just wondered if anyone had heard anything more from these people? 'Bekkaome..'

[inimicus]

the medals, too, look VERY worrying. check the blutorden and EK details.

[John Hodgin]

The side caps, mtn., and M43s are very, very good! Problems to learn and deal with now and in the future indeed.

[JackHyv]

That site is baad news...

Jack

[Mike Dalton]

Hi Bill and All, Hope life is going good for you and yours over there in the "Land of the Rising Sun. I have been out of Nippon since 2002 and there is a lot I miss about my time there. No kidding about the 'dress-up' crowd. How about the full on Leibstandarte band that used to(still does?) parade around the 'V-Mat' show. And Heinrich Himmler and his side-kick Heidrich? I mean these guys looked the part. Photos were verboten! What did annoy me the most were the characters that would wear original caps and uniforms just because they could afford to and would sweat, split seams and just about ruin what they had(besides their reputations by appearing publicly on any given day of the week,heck who needs a show venue). Long gone are the Harajuku weekends. I won't even get into the sophisticated reproing that was going on until we get another thread going. Beware all and have fun

[W.Unland]

Hello,

Dear Mike,

No use coming back.....the cops have made the "maid" shows in Akiba illegal!

A few of their new police caps:

[W.Unland]

another

[W.Unland]

more

[W.Unland]

another.

It is clear that they do their homework. If they weren't so expensive I would buy one to see how good they are, but not at $400 a pop!

Regards,
Bill Unland

[W.Unland]

A schirmmutze, nco grade wool