I have also heard that story about U505, and that artefacts were compiled from several sources. They are, after all, german Uboat items, only not from U505.
IF the story is true.
Same goes, btw, for items from U534. I don´t care, but personally, I would spend no extra dollar because an item was supposed to come from U534. If I picked it up from within the boat, yes. And then again, only if I had been present after the navy demolition team had cleared the wreck of all explosives. The next day, I would only be sure that I had picked it up inside that boat, not that it was there the day before.
( I have my reasons to be strickt regarding U534 artefacts)
Regarding the well known US military museums, I have read how their collections/items were collected, during, and immediately after, WWII.
But if some nice US officer presented them with a STG44, with a ZF4 mounted in, say, 1947, would, or did, they accept that and include it in the collections?
I don´t know, and I have no way of knowing. Maybe they do keep records, including such gifts, maybe not.
In 1947, such a rifle could have been manufactured, and sold to a US soldier stationed in Germany. Maybe even made to order.
To me, that is a possibility, and in no way either unlikely, or dishonest.
Today, it will easily fit into the "prototype" brackets. Workmanship will be excellent, and consistent in every way with german WWII manufacture.
So, I am not saying something bad about national US museums. Only that even they may have items, which may not be original to a collector.
One note about the "knowing" thing. I have in recent years seen magnificent items in an array of area´s where every sign of being original was present. Only later to learn, that they were in fact reproductions, sometimes even with details about, who manufactured them.
I have learned, that I cannot trust my impressions. This is where several decades of collecting has brought me.
We have probably all seen those stainless lugers who came out of China some years ago. Easily spotted, and not pretending being old. Point is, someone can make lugers again.
On to those, who faked a series of krieghoff´s (I think it was) down to even the direction of the toolmarks in the machining of every single part.
Now that, to reproduce even whole rare lugers, to me, is an example that shows, if something cost money, there are people out there that will supply, and with impeccable credentials.
50 years from now, some may come out from museums, and then, who will remember the fakers of the 80-ies.?
IF the story is true.
Same goes, btw, for items from U534. I don´t care, but personally, I would spend no extra dollar because an item was supposed to come from U534. If I picked it up from within the boat, yes. And then again, only if I had been present after the navy demolition team had cleared the wreck of all explosives. The next day, I would only be sure that I had picked it up inside that boat, not that it was there the day before.
( I have my reasons to be strickt regarding U534 artefacts)
Regarding the well known US military museums, I have read how their collections/items were collected, during, and immediately after, WWII.
But if some nice US officer presented them with a STG44, with a ZF4 mounted in, say, 1947, would, or did, they accept that and include it in the collections?
I don´t know, and I have no way of knowing. Maybe they do keep records, including such gifts, maybe not.
In 1947, such a rifle could have been manufactured, and sold to a US soldier stationed in Germany. Maybe even made to order.
To me, that is a possibility, and in no way either unlikely, or dishonest.
Today, it will easily fit into the "prototype" brackets. Workmanship will be excellent, and consistent in every way with german WWII manufacture.
So, I am not saying something bad about national US museums. Only that even they may have items, which may not be original to a collector.
One note about the "knowing" thing. I have in recent years seen magnificent items in an array of area´s where every sign of being original was present. Only later to learn, that they were in fact reproductions, sometimes even with details about, who manufactured them.
I have learned, that I cannot trust my impressions. This is where several decades of collecting has brought me.
We have probably all seen those stainless lugers who came out of China some years ago. Easily spotted, and not pretending being old. Point is, someone can make lugers again.
On to those, who faked a series of krieghoff´s (I think it was) down to even the direction of the toolmarks in the machining of every single part.
Now that, to reproduce even whole rare lugers, to me, is an example that shows, if something cost money, there are people out there that will supply, and with impeccable credentials.
50 years from now, some may come out from museums, and then, who will remember the fakers of the 80-ies.?
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