Better Open Your Eyes For This One

[sunny59]

another one from Latvia...............what?? to many germans died or surrender over there
http://cgi.ebay.com/WW2-GERMAN-PARAT...QQcmdZViewItem

[sunny59]

and this one is a "MOST" for any collector
http://cgi.ebay.com/german-WW2-M40-W...QQcmdZViewItem

[sunny59]

this fellow from Canada said he has 3 month watching helmets at Ebay and knows this is a reare one............you be the judge
http://cgi.ebay.com/m38-Luftwaffe-pa...QQcmdZViewItem

[sunny59]

b

[Jan B]

Well, you can say what you want about all this, but I honestly wish there were more of these around...and only this kind of poor fakes offcourse, it would be much more simple for all of us.

It could sounds a bit unlogical here, but I prefer tons of listings of these instead of the 'political correct' listed high end fakes with almost perfect paintings/decals on them. But then some of those sellers are amongst the good guys cause they list the stuff as replica, right?

But what after it gets sold? What with the new owners intentions? Certain 'artists' state that their work is 'for re-enactor purposes only', but IMO they don't realize how hard they hit our passion (no matter if they stamp the shell on the inside with a hardly visible artistcode).

I know we have been on this road before here, but I just can't resist posting my opinion again (although probably not the correct thread)...there is no reason to have a re-enactors helmet with + 60 years of aging on it. And for those who wants an affortable "display-piece"...Why not with a very clear, deep stamped 'REPRO'-marking on the inside shell, although that could sound a little too naive from my side.

The mentionned link with Latvia and other East European countries is a fact, but let us be honest here...as long as they stay like this, who amongst us ( = collectors that are willing to do at least a little study on the subject) will ever fall for these?

I still need to see a high end fake helmet from eastern europe that looks as convincing as certain other lids doctored up in the US for example...Those are far more scaring.

Not to mention the almost perfect reproduced liners and chinstraps...again most is offered online for 're-enactors'? Why the hell being worried if the inkt size-marking on a liner is correctly applied if it only serves as a re-enactors piece? Why worried about all the details that are not visible or of minor importance when in use, but are in fact of very high importance to collectors to determine originality or not?
The manufacturers/suppliers/dealers that are offering the kit are way out of line in the first place...Re-enactors are spoiled in a way these days.

It's not the a/m crap that threatens our hobby IMHO.


Cheers

Jan

[sunny59]

Jan, thanks for sharing your thoughts and unfortunately we all know you are right concerning the good headache fakes.

Im afraid we are dealing with two main issues in our hobby

A High prices

B outstanding fakes

Average collectors like myself are thinking to slow down collecting. This past SOS told us that nothing in "average" is fair price no more. Actually, almost everything is getting so expensive that Im affraid to think what it will be next year if I don't get my PAB 75 or GAB 75 right away. And combat helmets.....forget it...... for the next two or three years who knows what is going to be

I believe an artificial market is flourishing here and sooner or latter demand will slow down. Still remembered a fellow collector about two or three years ago when he point out that in every show you don't see new blood coming in at all. I have no idea if this is totally true but I agree in some way IMHO.

I believe one thing....time will tell us