Heer enlisted shoulder boards original?

[cbuehler]

I thought these to be fake, but have been told they may be original. Tested under black light and nothing glows. Opinions please!
Thanks,

Cb

[cbuehler]

closeups

[mwliles]

I vote copies. Based on quality of button holes, irregular shape and strange baking materials.
Marion

[Daniel.S]

or remade original piping to a fake pair of boards...

[nonameno]

Hello CB,
I would pass on these shoulderstraps, as they appear to be reproductions in my opinion.
Thank you,
Curtiss

[cbuehler]

I did find out that the piping is original and the shoddy field gray backing material is as well. As for the rest of the boards, well lets see some more opinions.
Thanks again folks,

CB

[madandi]

You would not find a collector who will be comfortable with this boards.
Material looks good, ok. But the constuction is very odd. Like the worsest fakes.

[Paul Walmsley]

As a newbie how does one deal with atypical contracted shouldeboards that are "private purchase"
Is private purchase a code word for fake ?
Can we count private purchase boards as real WW2 originals if they comply with certain private purchase "standards"?
And what about "mobilization" boards and "late war shoddy" boards ? euphemism for fakes ?

[Paul Walmsley]

As a newbie- how does one deal with atypical contracted shouldeboards that are "private purchase" ?
Is private purchase a code word for fake ?
Can we count private purchase boards as real WW2 originals if they comply with certain private purchase "standards"?
And what about "mobilization" boards and "late war shoddy" boards ? euphemism for fakes ?

[Fred Green]

Hello,

As most others have stated, they are reproduction. The button holes are non-typical, the construction is non-typical, and the materials are non-typical. Either somebody put original piping on a fake board or used original piping on a homemade board gives us the same conclusion-BAD

Fred

[Fred Green]

As a newbie- how does one deal with atypical contracted shouldeboards that are "private purchase" ?
Is private purchase a code word for fake ?
Can we count private purchase boards as real WW2 originals if they comply with certain private purchase "standards"?
And what about "mobilization" boards and "late war shoddy" boards ? euphemism for fakes ?

Hello Paul,

Those terms that you used, Private purchase, Mobilization and shoddy are all terms for real boards.

Private purchase boards are usually tailor made with sometimes better materials, or better looking materials(Felt). These were purchased by the soldiers to add a little sharpness to their walking out uniforms. A lot of times they have straight buttonholes.

Mobilization boards were used /issued when the massive mobilization began. The boards themselves are usually no embroidered and you see them the most in infantry and artillery piped versions. The tongue is usually thinner and looks like the tongue on an officers board. IMO , they were produced as a stopgap measure until standard boards could be made and issued.

Shoddy boards came about very late in the war. The material has so much filler in it a lot of times they cannot stand the wear and tear and fall apart with usage in damp climates. The late war brown Heer uniform cloth was a shoddy material.

Given this, some dealers use these terms to sell fake boards that are close to original but have problems!!

Fred