Smock vs. M44 Dot

[Wolf100]

Maybe a dumb question. But why are SS smocks a lot more expensive than M 44 Dot tunics ?

Thanks for an answer!

[Banzi64]

I would think smocks are rarer and people prefer the molted oak pattern and plane tree camo more

[Wolf100]

Maybe. But i have seen more smocks or parkas on dealer sites, then m44 dot tunics.

[Günter]

I disagree, in my opinion, original dot 44s are a lot easier to find then original smocks.

I think the reason why dots are more abundant then smocks is same as why we see so many more original SS M43 tunics then original SS M36, M40, M42, etc.

Early uniforms and camouflages tend to be used up during wartime and likely worn out/replaced/destroyed. Late uniforms do not have much opportunity to be worn out/replaced/destroyed since they were made closer to the end of the war. Stockpiles of unissued late war uniforms/gear can be found easier then stock piles of early war uniforms which are likely used up before the late war uniforms.

Also M43 tunics are simple and easier to produce then a M40 tunic. As for Dot 44s, It was also produced for cost saving measure by being printed with a single pattern to fulfill both Spring/Fall seasons (smock being produced in 2 different reversible patterns for Spring/Fall) Dot 44s also served double duty replacing both the drill tunic and camouflage smock, thus a good reason to produce a lot more than smocks to fulfill both roles.

Being more abundant, dots 44s are lower in price then smocks
It is the same for SS M43 tunics compared to earlier SS tunics.

[Chad1]

smocks and dots

I tend to agree in that the later war stuff will survive in more abundance than the earlier material, although the numbers actually produced may be less; M44 dots made for less than a year, vs. smocks made for six years.

As for value, the earlier stuff always seems to draw more fascination.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if in the future, collector would prefer the M44 dot pattern tunics and seek them out, simply because most never had any insignia, so it is vastly easier to find a tunic that you believe is untouched and not restored, just because there was nothing to restore.

With all the bad blood that a field grey SS tunic can generate on this forum and elsewhere, they day may come where it just isn't worth the headache.

[Wolf100]

Thank´s guys, that helped me!!!

[viva_giulio]

m44 are also more common than smocks but there are other question such as:

- smocks are the first modern camo items
- smocks are very representative of Waffen SS... quite an icon
- smocks was used in the best period of Waffen SS
- smocks camouflage is better... to see and in battle...

[Bobwirtz]

Waffen-SS pullover camouflaged smocks (originals that is) are probably one of the most highly prized artifacts...

Bob