Repro 44 Dot Panzer Wrap - Opinions Please

[hatrick]

I was wondering if some of the experts could take a look at this reproduction 44 Dot Panzer wrap and tell me if it looks like a good reproduction. The HBT camo material is excellent but I am not sure if the lining is constructed correctly.

Thanks,
Eric

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[bnz. 42]

This wrap made by Janke company, which produced uniforms for German Army during the war. Janke reproductions are the best on the market today.

[Bobwirtz]

It will pass the 10 feet rule: looks good from 10 feet away.

Bob

[hatrick]

Thanks for the input on the wrap. I was 99% sure it was a Janke. I am really interested in knowing if the construction details of the lining are correct. I want the inside to be as correct as the outside. Unfortunately, the "10 foot" rule isn't good enough for me if I know the lining is wrong.

Thanks,
Eric

[bnz. 42]

Unfortunately, the "10 foot" rule isn't good enough for me if I know the lining is wrong.

If you want to get any "closer", get an original piece. No matter how good a repro is, it will always be a repro with the "10 foot" rule.

[Bobwirtz]

Personally I don't think they need to make reproductions so close to the real thing. For reenactors and living historians who wear these, why does the interior have to be exact? Even for collectors who cannot afford the real thing and put these on a mannequin, the interiors don't have to be so exact. In this way it would be easier to tell they were a reproduction.

[Gary Wood]

Thanks for the input on the wrap. I was 99% sure it was a Janke. I am really interested in knowing if the construction details of the lining are correct. I want the inside to be as correct as the outside. Unfortunately, the "10 foot" rule isn't good enough for me if I know the lining is wrong.

Thanks,
Eric

Eric,
a fake is a fake end of story, while items are used as fillers in collections which i fully understand i do not understand why the lining has to as per the originals and why it is so important to you, its not as if it will matter as if its on a dummy it would not show and if it is worn it would not show
cheers
Gary

[Seigfried]

Eric,
a fake is a fake end of story, while items are used as fillers in collections which i fully understand i do not understand why the lining has to as per the originals and why it is so important to you, its not as if it will matter as if its on a dummy it would not show and if it is worn it would not show
cheers
Gary

I agree - why the interest in a feature that will not see the light of day when displayed/worn With respect I can't help but wonder about peoples' motives when asked for this sort of advice.

John

[hatrick]

The only reason I am concerned is that I am a reenactor that really cares about the accuracy of the uniforms and items I wear and use. If something is blatantly incorrect I opt not to use it. Just because it is the lining and is not seen when worn, if it is wrong, I still wouldn't want to wear it.

All I really want to know is if the lining is of the correct construction/pattern as documented originals. I am not familiar enough with the various types of panzer wraps to figure out if it is close or totally wrong.

Thanks,
Eric

[Seigfried]

The only reason I am concerned is that I am a reenactor that really cares about the accuracy of the uniforms and items I wear and use. If something is blatantly incorrect I opt not to use it. Just because it is the lining and is not seen when worn, if it is wrong, I still wouldn't want to wear it.

All I really want to know is if the lining is of the correct construction/pattern as documented originals. I am not familiar enough with the various types of panzer wraps to figure out if it is close or totally wrong.

Thanks,
Eric

Hi Eric,
I understand that you strive for überaccuracy in your reenactment but you must understand that when a new member asks for these details it can easily be misconstrued as to the motives, and also any unscrupulous individual may be reading this thread and incorporate the information into their latest high-end fake. This may be why you haven't had a lot of joy with your request - I'm just trying to shed a bit of light on it for you. Many collectors rightly despair at the detail put into reenactors kit and we would rather a massive 'F' was printed on everything in some discreet place so as not to ruin the overall look. At most reenacting events I've seen the crowd are far enough away not to notice such minutia anyway.
Regards,
John

[Bobwirtz]

I've reenacted many years ago as a Luftwaffe Fallschirmjager and my uniforms were accurate on the outside where they had to be but we wore all sorts of stuff underneath to keep us warm in the winter - stuff of modern manufacture and far more efficient than anything the troops used in WWII. Also, when I was reenacting there were no spectators. We all fought out in the woods and places that no spectator would bother trying to get to. Civil War reenactors show off in front of spectators and reenact the battles as they really were; however, in WWII it is very difficult to reenact the Battle of the Bulge! We were always engaged in tacticals. My uniforms looked great from the outside and were marked inside as a REPRODUCTION so hopefully they're not in some collector's closet right now assuming an authentic posture. If you're doing living history I can tell you that almost 100% of the people (spectators) coming to see you haven't a single clue as to what is right or wrong. I always tried to look the best (authentic) as possible without wearing authentic stuff. Having said that, these people are definitely not going to know if the inside is correct.

Bob

[hatrick]

I guess my approach to reenacting is much different than the majority of people in the hobby. I enjoy the living history, research and small details much more than firing blanks. When it comes to buying uniforms I guess I look to buy items that have all of the correct small details (such as lining and construction details) as well as a good outward look. The panzer wrap I am asking about is one of the tunics I am not as familiar with in terms of the details and the reason I am asking about th lining is that if it is not the correct constructions I will look for a better panzer wrap that does have the details right.

I have no intentions of faking it off as an original, I only am trying to find the most accurate repro panzer wrap I can.

Thanks,
Eric

[Oberjunker]

Obviously some of us reenactors have different standards. Some are "cap-busters" who dont want their feet to get wet and dont want to be cold. Others are Living Histoians who want to do it as correct as possible as it provides a better "from the ground up" view of history. Freezing and wet in a Schutzenloch with nothing but a wet mantel and wolldecke to keep us warm is something of a "mindset" to addopt. 99.44% dont adhere to this mindset, and 90% of those dont care what their uniforms look like on the inside. But most of those don't carry themselves like a soldier anyhow, so let them go "bust-caps" and fress schnizel and listen to the "Horst Wessel" verdammte lied over and over again in their modern US Barraken.

As for the Janke tunic, its one of the best runs of dot produced since the war, albeit the print is a bit small, but it beats the stuff that Steve McColgan has put out, and nothing is close to his stuff which takes the Silver. Sam's Militarya (who knows why he spells it that way?) would take a Bronze, but a crapppy bronze at that.

Is that Dot tunic for sale? If so send me an email!

californiaoak@cruzio.com

[Scott A. Hess]

When I was into reenacting. (ever so short a time).the unit I was with was within the 6% who were FANATIC as to detail..however.having said that.their impression was AWESOME....they slept under a mantel..or in the best scenario in zelts..no modern clothing or even FOOD of any kind..you couldn't even have a fricken snickers bar...no modern looking blankets.it was pretty hardcore but made for a real feel to the event..I do understand and know there are this 6% or less of reenactors who will not buy/wear an item unless it is authentic inside AND outside..however..after three events..freezing my arse off and getting a few "tics" I opted out..Im too old to be humping 40 pounds of gear and a Mg34 up a hill, and I and my father were having major medical problems..as a side note..one of the individuals was named Peter..for privacy purposes name changed (very cool and nice guy)..and impression name "Joachim"..when we were at an event one time, I saw him smoking. I said.."Peter..I didnt know y ou smoke"..he replied "I dont..but Joachim does"..I told him that if he ever gets cancer one day be sure to tell the doctor that its Joachim who has the cancer and that Peter has nothing to worry about..it was a hoot for sure..but they do have an awesome unit..and very very authentic..if you saw their site and thier black and white photos of their unit in action.if you didnt know better..you would SWEAR they were wartime pics..thats how authentic they are..~

As a side note....Jankes items..the dot pattern stuff is fairly authentic looking..the colors are pretty much dead on..and allthough not real and missing some details..if you dont have 5-7K to spend on one.its the way to go. I did once go to a friends house who had a sizeable collection.hit and miss as to originality...as he did not study up on his items..I saw from across the room a dot M43...at first I said..maybe good..but what are the chances.."..it turned out to be a real and fantastic original dot pattern SS unissued like new in lage size..awesome..and unupgradable..and now I own it! So...the moral to the story...the Janke's really do look good from even a bit less than 10 feet away...IMO.

[Basil]

As for the Janke tunic, its one of the best runs of dot produced since the war, albeit the print is a bit small, but it beats the stuff that Steve McColgan has put out, and nothing is close to his stuff which takes the Silver. Sam's Militarya (who knows why he spells it that way?) would take a Bronze, but a crapppy bronze at that.

The Janke dot pattern is very good, but there has been a recent run which seems pretty good from the photos and is being sold by Drew Zigo at www.1944militaria.com

On the general subject of repro makers, the honest ones do mark their products as repros. Lost Battalions, which makes the most accurate repros, stamp their products 'Falschmeister Augsburg' whilst 'At the Front' use a range of different stamps, all of which are described on their website. Of course, these stamps can be removed but at least they make the effort.