LW Major Tunic: opinions please, good or bad?

[NickG]

another example of curved (bat wing) pocket flaps

Here's another example of curved (bat wing) pocket flaps on a LW tunic that I own, which was given the thumbs up on WAF! Note this one has slanted internal skirt pockets even, so possibly a very early piece, but the breast eagle on the other hand is not a droop tail...! So don't discount unusual patterns! The shoulderboards are subdued Heer cavalry patterns! That's what the tailor decided to use on this uniform! Like I said anything is possible! Nick

[TONY Q.W.]

I agree, pocket flaps is not an indigator of originlality, pointed and flat flaps are both fine.

[PaulR]

B Regarding the numeric cypher on the communication boards, perhaps he was a communications specialist attached to a flak unit, keeping his waffenfarbe along with the Flak's unit cypher! ho knows?
Nick

I suppose that this is possible, but I have never seen cyphers on boards other than Flak. I would have thought that other examples of cyphered non-Flak waffenfarbed boards would be around if this were the case.

But like you said... who knows.

BTW, I love that tunic Nick!

[NickG]

I suppose that this is possible, but I have never seen cyphers on boards other than Flak. I would have thought that other examples of cyphered non-Flak waffenfarbed boards would be around if this were the case.

But like you said... who knows.

BTW, I love that tunic Nick!

Thanks Paul. Did you notice in post 16 the pointy lengthy lapels (like on KM reefers). It also has NO slit in the back (like a fliegerbluse and same skirt pockets), so custom ordered like that!!! A fliegerbluse-dienstrock hybrid?
Like I said anything is possible with these tailor made pieces, so I'm not discounting the one that started this thread... but way better pictures would be usefull to give it a final verdict!
Tailor tag ? internal dagger support present? striped sleeve lining?

[TCT]

Why does this tunic have a hook and eye at the collar? There is no way you could possibly close it and fold down the collar because the collar tabs would be on the fold line. The eye is sewn to the outside of the collar instead of inside the seam like it normally is. Has anyone seen this style hook on a period tunic? It looks like a modern style commonly available today.

William

[NickG]

I don't see a problem with the neck hook closure which I also noticed. I agree it does not look like its functional but if it isn't than why is it there I wonder?
Note that post war uniforms are predominantly permanent open neck designs so this is a positive sign I think! Note that late war it became fashionable with high ranking officers to have their dienstrocks designed with the closed neck option, especially among Ritterkreuztragers!
Here is a picture of Oberst Trautloft (JG54) dated September 1944, with such a closed neck LW tunic, giving it a Heer appearance! Compare with the officer on the left!

[robertdmountfor]

Thank you guys for your opinions. It does look unusual, otherwise I wouldn't be asking. And no, there are no any markings inside, therefore I admit it is a tailor-made thing. Now, I'd like to narrow my question as follows: In your opinion, does this tunic look like a post-war GDR one with some LW insignia attached later? Or do you think it is period-made, I mean, tailor-made to order? Thank you very much in advance!

theres no doubt in my mind.........junk.

[TCT]

I don't see a problem with the neck hook closure which I also noticed. I agree it does not look like its functional but if it isn't than why is it there I wonder?
Note that post war uniforms are predominantly permanent open neck designs so this is a positive sign I think! Note that late war it became fashionable with high ranking officers to have their dienstrocks designed with the closed neck option, especially among Ritterkreuztragers!
Here is a picture of Oberst Trautloft (JG54) dated September 1944, with such a closed neck LW tunic, giving it a Heer appearance! Compare with the officer on the left!

I have a book with a period photo of this type of collar on a Luftwaffe General's tunic. But the collar is cut wider at the front edge, so the collar tabs would be out of the way, when the collar is folded over and worn closed at the neck. Why would an officer waste time having a hook and eye sewn onto his collar when it clearly could not function in that way?

Please click on the following link and zoom in to the image. The design of these modern hooks and eyes looks identical to the ones on the tunic being discussed.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.j...PRODID=prd3106

William

[Paul McKee]

Maybe its the photos, but the color of the subject tunic looks far darker than any of the other examples shown...almost navy blue or black.

I also notice that though the tunic is made of twilled wool fabric, in contrast the collar is constructed from fine wool badge cloth. (See the last 2 photos) This is something I've never seen on a LW officer's tunic before.

Paul

[DonC]

OK, my two cents from a reformed LW collector... Given that the cloth color is way outside what I would consider textbook for Luftwaffe (to me it's more Feurpolizei or HJ dunkleblau, and probably post-war altogether); the shoulderboards having too much space between the brocade and the shoulder seam, indicative of sloppy application; the EM/NCO eagle on a field-grade oficer tunic (sewn contrary to regs, by the way - but not unheard of - or unseen in period photos); and the aforementioned issues with the unit ciphers on the boards, I would have to say that I would not feel comfortable with the tunic in my collection. My guess is the "removed Krim shield" is actually a removed postwar Polizei or Feurpolizei arm badge. As always, I would be happy to be proven wrong, however.

Don

[NickG]

issues

I agree, the hooks are odd, the space issue on the shoulderboards is also something I noticed and the EMs eagle? one would wonder why?...So yes it has most likely been restored or worse case a fake... I just can't say for sure if its good or bad because the pictures are not good enough to give a definitive answer...but its does not appear to be standard West German BundesLuft...
The collar btw is made out of the exact same officer's grade fine ribbe "trikot" wool as the tunic, only the collar backing is reenforced with a different material...Nothing wrong with that... a non issue. The fact that there are no tailor tags would make you think tags have been removed to hide its actual origin... but without a hands on inspection or better pictures I could not say for sure... but its an odd one...I am not trying to defend this piece but people should be more openminded with non text book models...so my message is don't immediately ID it as a fake because of a sloppy restauration or oddities like neck closure hooks or bat wing pocket flaps or somewhat darker shade of blue! Many many officer's tunics were actually tailored outside of Germany, as so many officers served outside of the Reich in need of clothing! Who knows? The color is actually not as dark as it appears I think...look at the sleeve picture with evidence of a removed campaign shield...tells me it has a chance and has been de-nazified! Nick

Nick

[Paul McKee]

The collar btw is made out of the exact same officer's grade fine ribbe "trikot" wool as the tunic, only the collar backing is reenforced with a different material...Nothing wrong with that... a non issue.

Based on the supplied pictures, I respectfully disagree. Please look closer.

Paul

[Paul McKee]

Nick,
With a few exceptions, I don't think we are all immediately comdemning this piece outright as a fake, but are making observations of details that are out of place and should be carefully considered.

Bottom line if even a period piece: the value of any collectable is indirectly proportionate to the amount of explaining needed to justify the non-textbook details...or something like that.

Paul

[NickG]

sure is a BIG problem

You are right Paul. That material difference on the collar kills it for me... I was only focussing on the lapels...so I missed that!! Yep its a BIG problem allright... even a foreign tailor would not dare to produce that! I'm convinced now! No good for sure! Of course with better pictures or hands on inspection that would have been more apparent... (and I need a bigger better monitor!) a dead-give-away its bad.

[PaulR]

I did not notice the difference in collar material either. Ouch. I would still like to see some photos of the inside liner(overall) and under the collar where the tabs are placed.

Even if it is authentic, the many questions would bring the monetary value down, if you decide to sell it. (unless you have a period photo of someone wearing it).