Side by side comparision - Rank tabs fake vs. real?

[Darth2a]

Hello all,

On the left is a rank tab for a Heer Specialist Services Officer (I believe due to its wine red coloring and the thick silver border around the colored stripe), and on the right is a Heer officer's rank with a branch I cannot identify.

I am using this as a reference for the ranking structure:

http://www.alanhamby.com/ranks/rank.htm

In addition to not being able to identify the color on the Alan Hamby chart, I notice some differences between the wine red tab and the grey-green unidentified tab:

1: The green border is larger on the top and bottom of the "odd" tab.
2: There is a significant space between the two bars (middle of the tab) on the odd tab.
3: The "roping" at the top and bottom (directly above and below the colored bar) is a different weave (much thicker and less detailed) on the odd tab.
4: The backing on the odd tab is a different material and much more flexible.
5: The colored bard on the odd tab are wider and of a slightly different pattern than the wine red bars.

It bears mentioning that the wine red bars were deemed as original in this thread, thus I am using them as my reference:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=956519

I mistakenly listed them as Panzer rank tabs, but after some further research, I determined that the bar is wine red, not pink (Specialist Services, not Panzer)

Are these manufacturing differences, or is the "odd" tab junk?

Thanks to all!

[Lloyds]

tab on the left looks like a dirty artillery tab and points 1-5 are just waffle
both tabs are ok

[Darth2a]

I tend to agree as I've done more research since. I found essentially the same tabs on a respected seller's site and they are listed as "Heer Officer's tabs". It seems that there were manufacturing differences as the war went on that should account for some of the earlier points I made.

Anyone have a opinion on what is the definitive reference book for these tabs?

[Fred Green]

hello,

An artillery and Infantry tab to me. Collar tabs had many variations in color, materials and construction. There were intricate bullion pieces, BeVo woven pieces and Grey thread pieces to name a few. With 70 years of age on these, wear and bad handling these collar tabs have an even greater variation.

The chart you use is OK. but there are better. In hand there are about fifteen different shades of green! Same goes for red, and pink. Your best guide is handling as many collar tabs as you can, compare them with know originals. After a while you will pick up the knack of seeing originals and deciphering the colors.

Fred

[Fred Green]

Hello,

All 6 original Heer Infantry Officers collar tabs.

Fred

[John A.]

Outstanding post and information, gents! As a newer collector, this is the type of information that is "solid gold" to me -- I sure appreciate your sharing!!

Sincerely,
John

[Darth2a]

Fred, you got me thinking now, so I looked at the thread on the pinkish ones under the loupe, and it is in fact pink with some age/dirt/old stuff on it! These are Panzer tabs after all! I noticed in the picture I took that portions of the thread were lighter than others. Under magnification, you can clearly see the pink.

Mods, maybe we can change the title of this thread to eliminate the "Fake" wording?

[Fred Green]

Hello,

If the Green backing material isn't glued or sewn down lift it up and look under the back side. That will show you the non faded side.

Fred