SS Tunic

[Sgt. 83rd Recon]

Hi,
I'm new to this site but not to collecting. I have just purchased my first SS tunic. My wife found it while traveling in Sweden and the tunic is in transit to my home. She found it laying beneath some items in a militeria shop. The store owner is certain that it is original.
She took one pic of it which is okay. I spoke to the store owner who said that the cufftitle read WESTLAND and that the sleeve eagle exists. I found through research that during the war although Sweden was neutral approx. 300 men volunteered for service in the SS. Some entered the WESTLAND regt. of the WIKING division. This makes sense since the WIKING div. was comprised of men from the nordic countries.
I'd like to know others opinions. If someone can tell me how to attach a pic on this site I will do so. Once I get the tunic I will provide more pics if possible.
Thanks,
Carl

[chuck locke]

Carl, you have to become an association member before you can post photo's.
chuck

[JuanS]

Hi

Be very carefull. Most of the SS tunics are fake. If you want to post photos you could e mail it to me

I will not buy it yet as the chances it is real may be less than 1 %

good luck

Juan

[JuanS]

Photo for Carl

[Sgt. 83rd Recon]

ss tunic

juan,

thanks.

carl

[John Pic]

That photo does not resemble an original SS tunic. Although its blurry one can already see that it is not cut to the specs of an issued piece.The color,the oversized silver buttons the lack of belt hook holes is enough to put a red flag in the air.Also note the top button hole placement its quite unusual for an issue tunic.

[Soldat de Fer]

Hello

From here ,the tunic looks like it could be RAD ,the colar seems to be brown .
Regards
Pierre-Yves

[John Huff]

Please don't think one can go to Sweden or anywhere else on the planet and find original stuff for the cheap lying in piles.

[Bobwirtz]

Definitely need better pictures to be sure but as you can see some of our members have already raised a flag or two. Hope your wife didn't pay a lot for this and you can get your money back.

Bob

[CurtD]

Please don't think one can go to Sweden or anywhere else on the planet and find original stuff for the cheap lying in piles.

especially in barns.

[bnz. 42]

Especially in militaria shops.

[NickG]

Rad?

I agree with "soldat de fer" that based on this picture it could possibly be a period RAD tunic (brown wool with chocolate brown collar) with the wrong insignia added. Those did also come with shiny buttons... but also did have belt hook holes... Alternatively it could be an NSKK tunic lacking these holes, but should have tags indicating that source. If its RAD, the cuff and 1st aid pocket buttons will have stylized "wheat stock" decorations on the buttons. My RAD tunic was made by Hugo Boss!! Yes the same company!! So there could still be some hope its a 3rd reich piece, but definitely not waffen SS. Sorry! Nick

[bwanek1]

She found it laying beneath some items in a militeria shop.

People who make their living selling militaria do not leave original SS tunics lying around beneath other crap. They know their business and the value of SS items. If original, he would have it properly protected and prominently displayed.

The store owner is certain that it is original.

They always are when trying to make a sale...especially to people whom they know they will never see again (like visitors from another continent)!

[milcollector]

exactly, how the hell do you get a super deal from a militaria shop of all places ??
That is the last place you are going to get the find of a lifetime.

[RobertE]

It does look like something other than a SS tunic, I'm sorry to agree. However - you can still find things in militaria shops, it's just not typical. I got a large collection of police sleeve eagles for a song from a long-time militaria shop that just wasn't up on prices, including an SS trap and hat eagle recently posted. My SS Boker dagger came from a Florida dealer who sold it to me as an SA.

A civil war or Boar Wars expert may have large gaps in his third reich knowledge, or in one of the subset organizations - and some of it is old stock. SS volunteer tabs in the 1970's didn't go for a heck of alot, and if the dealer doesn't stay up on prices, he'll sell you the TK tab for the same price as the Russian volunteer.

Certainly, dealers can be crafty with their display methods and it's a long shot - but who on the forum drives past a militaria or good surplus store without stopping? You just can't let your desire to have it be what you want override your instincts, and get taken by the story. Just my two cents. s/f Robert