edelweis opinions

[stevendaniels]

I saw this edelweis on ebay, the guy said it was a late war type, i just wanted your opinions on it real or not? I have my doubts Thanks.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=200091836871

[keifer kahn]

Its not late war.This style was from 1940 on,

Plus points,
Construction looks ok,has the favourable two tone thread effect on the rear of the stammen.

Minus points,
Backing wool looks odd but the photo isnt the best and is a bit exposed.

Overall,
The patch looks in extremely "Mint"condition and would best be inspected in the hand.These are cheap and a lot of good repros out there.

Based on what i can see,id side with OK

[gebirg98]

Hello
Here are the three machine woven BeVo standards edelweiss worn on service tunic during WWII ; two are "continental" types and one "tropical" type
- first type with dark green background with white silk piton is the most common type
- second type with pale green background with aluminium piton
- thirth type copper brown version for tropical service tunic
your edelweiss is felt embroidered version; it was usually worn on personal clothes.
(I have never seen this type worn on service tunic, perhaps on waffenrock or officer tunic ?)
Regards

[sturmann]

salut Bernard,

Are you sure the "tropical" one has been issued ?
I read that there is no photographic proof of them ever been issued/worn ?

Many thanks for any info you can provide,

Yves

[NickG]

I heard or read somewhere that the tropical edelweiss might be SA related or a fabrication? I also have never seen a tropical edelweiss in period pictures... always green! Or maybe it was just never issued? Nick

[Soldat de Fer]

Hello
I have never liked these Eldeweiss on the grey cloth ,some say they are original but I really don't like them.
Best Regards
Pierre-Yves

[keifer kahn]

Hi Pierre,

Could you expand on why you dont like them?

You would be the first collector(including gerbirgsjaeger focused collectors), ive known to ever have an issue with them.

Im interested in understanding what your opinion is based on.

Regards Keifer

[Soldat de Fer]

Hi Pierre,

Could you expand on why you dont like them?

You would be the first collector(including gerbirgsjaeger focused collectors), ive known to ever have an issue with them.

Im interested in understanding what your opinion is based on.

Regards Keifer

Hello
I am not the only I am affraid !.
I don't like the wool base ,the color of the wool used ,the eldeweiss details and the fact that you only see mint one of these.
I never said anything about originality ,they could be (if they are I want to see one worn on a tunic in period pictures) but I just don't like them.
Regards
Pierre-Yves

[keifer kahn]

Hi Pierre,

Thanks for the response,

I personally feel there are a gammut of reproductions out there.I remember putting a thread up about a large lot of reproductions on manions a while back.These looked very good and would of needed inspection in the hand if you hadnt known of the source.

Ive owned one of these for a while and never doubted its authenticity,

Wool base.
The wool base on mine looks to be reconstituted wool/rayon ableit with wood shaving/pulp and scrap cloth in the blend.

Edelweiss details.
The edelweiss details on these arent any less detailed from the SS version for cap and sleeve.It reminds me of a lot of simplification of Heer insignia as the war rolled on.
Being Machine embroidered also ,i tend to find less detail in comparision to the Bevo version.Thats applicable to most insignia made from the two methods.For example, Embroidered breast eagles always lack detail compared to bevo Breast eagles
In comparison with the SS versions,the Edelweiss thread layering characteristics,thickness are virtually identical.
Thread used virtually, the same identical material used on the ss versions.
The two tone thread effect on the rear is spot on for original german machine embroidery.

Condition.
Mine is far from mint.It has all the correct ageing characteristics,The White sections of thread have taken on that beautifull golden tone.The rest of the patch is also time aged

Photos.

Photos are a hard one in relation to a lot of items that existed but photographic evidence isnt forthcoming(for example ss 8 year medals exist but not one photo of them being worn has ever surfaced).
I do have couple of photos that show sleeve edelweiss being worn with mucher higher reliefs that the bevo version could exhibit in a photo.
Unfortunately being black and white photos and taken from a distance,its not possible to tell exactly what style they are.

One collector told me that this style was typically used for grate coats.Perhaps trying to find more pics on gerbirgsjaegers in grate coats might be an avenue of research.

Anyway,in the hand, mine matches typical period german embroidery.