What's The Deal?

[DaveJ]

I might not want to know, but what is the deal with these smocks. I got my first one in 1983, seen them around the shows, but now that we have some diverse knowledge, want to see if anyone knows anything about them, fake , real?

[Gary Wood]

Dave,
these have been discussed in great detail on the GD forum, My opinion of them (pink smocks) is they are post war some disagree but I would not put any money into one.

I would like to ask any member have you seen this oakleaf pattern on zelts?

thats my opinion lets here from others,
cheers,
gary

[Mike C]

Hi Gary,

I fall into the camp that thinks they are above average fakes - although Malcom from Regimentals and Bob Hritz have told similar stories of seeing groups of these smocks arrive from the East (Czechoslovakia at the time??) with obvious signs of extended storage, etc, etc.

However, for me, the pattern is wrong - and so far as I know, never seen in period photos or on zelts.

Mike

[Mark Holden]

IMHO not worth considering, all those I have seen of this pattern have been mint or with very little wear. They are still offered as original and obviously in some quarters the jury is still out. To the Charge reproduction.....My vote Guilty.

Mark

[Stossgruppe3]

Pink Smock

I would also agree with the above...... I have also noticed that recently one was sold on Ebay for as little as $200. This wouldn't of happened years back as they were more or less sold at a very high price as originals. IMHO they are wrong. David

[Pieter Verbruggen]

I do not think they are copys

But they are certainly NOT German 2nd WW!!!!!
Pieter.

[Tony Barto]

Not to be a smart a$$, but what was the pink supposed to be used for? To blend in with the pansies in the flower bed?

[Pieter Verbruggen]

Tony,

As I said, to me they are NOT period smocks, but I do not know for what they are made.
Possible for an other army?
Look at the familiarity between the Wehrmacht Zeltbahn and the 1950 French counterpart.

Pieter.

[Tony Barto]

Hi Pieter;

I have a hard time believing them period as well. I was just curious as to why the color pink was used. It's an odd color for camo in the foilage.

[Pieter Verbruggen]

Tony,
perhaps for some gay-batalion...
regards Pieter

[Tony Barto]

[DaveJ]

I am trying to figure out where the pink is on the smock, I do know where to find it in the other areas that it matters , but this smock is not pink, oddly enough I have a helmet painted with a little pink in it actually looks odd by itself, but when put on a 44 pattern dot it looks pretty nice.

[Gary Wood]

here are a couple of links related to this topic
cheers,
gary

http://daggers.infopop.net/2/OpenTop...4913045735&p=1

http://daggers.infopop.net/2/OpenTop...486#2323013486

[DaveJ]

Wow,
I am not sure wether to withdraw my question. It would seem as these smocks are just as contiversial as the round edge knights cross. I will say that these are the only smocks that I have ever seen for sale at the shows( sold as real), and although I have not been to any for a few years, I had been to the going to the MAX for about 10 years straight before that.
Like I said, I got mine in 1982 and it came with the same story of a lot being found. I paid $450 for it and had it on display at several MAX shows on a manikin and never had a negative comment.
I got a second one in trade some years back and think I paid $800 for it, it is the same as the first one.
I will make this comment, one that my friend and I discussed, If you look at Mike's books (Beaver) and study the uniforms in them, that are "100% period examples", you will see things that stick out like hand sewn this, mis matched that. I do not question the originality a bit, I will say that if I walked into a show with one, I would most likely be walking out with it too.
If Mike had one of these smocks in his book( any one his books) they would be selling like gold, but they remain a contriversy.
I have said this before and I will say it again and again, I am sure that I have fake stuff in my collection, because I did not get it from the battlefeild or from the vets that brought it back, or the ones that had worn them. My dad was in Germany for the occupation, wish he would have had an interest in this stuff, what a collection I could have had then, alas, he still has no interest in this stuff, but I do. I have spent the best part of my adult life collecting this stuff and spent most of my spare money after bills and the occasional ,okay, frequent beers
anyway, maybe we will find out the truth on these one day, because unless I find one in the wood work, these are the only smocks I will ever own, I will not pay the price.
sorry for rambling
DaveJ