Good evening Gents,
I’m planning on putting this on the E-stand in a couple of days and thought I’d put it here first to get some opinions from those who have more experience than I in W-SS uniforms. I’ve collected a long time and like to think of myself well schooled in uniforms, but as many on WAF don’t know me my opinion on this tunic’s originality probably wouldn’t carry much weight.
I was given this tunic (and a few other nice pieces of TR stuff) by a coworker who grew-up in Germany in the 1960/70s. He said he pulled it out of a garbage pile on a sidestreet while “junkin” one day (for those unfamiliar with “junkin” in Germany it’s basically garbage picking). He was not a collector, but knew I was so gave it to me. I immediately recognized it as similar in style to that which is worn by H. Fegelein in the pic I attached so I gladly accepted it.
The tunic is made of the same bias material that’s found in the reinforcing/lining of panzer/Stug wrap shoulder areas and service/dress tunic panel reinforcements. It has no cuff slits, has seams above the breast pockets (which to me is a design feature that from a style perspective precludes the placement of a Heer pin-on breast eagle), has zig-zag stitching under the collar, welt reinforcing fabric around the inner arms seams and pockets, and slip-on Untersturmfuhrer shoulder boards. No strand of thread on this tunic or anywhere on the shoulder boards glows when blacklighted. The back is cut much higher than the front, a design feature common to Kav wear. I showed this tunic to Bill Shea at the SOS about 10 years ago and he basically threw it from hand –to-hand, looked up at me over his glasses (classic Bill) shrugged his shoulders and said “it’s fine”. We both agreed that the seams above the pockets and lack of cuff slits (as well as pic of Fegelein wearing a nearly identical example made in the exact same fabric) tilt it more towards W-SS rather than Army. The two differences I noticed in his are that in addition to seams above the breast pockets there are seams below them as well and also his flaps are deeply scalloped and pointed rather than rounded as are these.
I’d appreciate your thoughts on this tunic. Please keep in mind that my intention is to sell this so if you have something to say please make sure you can back it up. We’ve all seen too many things that were totally legit get tainted by comments that lack substance
I have no doubt of the tunic’s originality, I just don’t want to list it as a W-SS tunic and have somebody come on board then and point out 20 things that make it Heer.
Thanks in advance
Bob Ruzzier
I’m planning on putting this on the E-stand in a couple of days and thought I’d put it here first to get some opinions from those who have more experience than I in W-SS uniforms. I’ve collected a long time and like to think of myself well schooled in uniforms, but as many on WAF don’t know me my opinion on this tunic’s originality probably wouldn’t carry much weight.
I was given this tunic (and a few other nice pieces of TR stuff) by a coworker who grew-up in Germany in the 1960/70s. He said he pulled it out of a garbage pile on a sidestreet while “junkin” one day (for those unfamiliar with “junkin” in Germany it’s basically garbage picking). He was not a collector, but knew I was so gave it to me. I immediately recognized it as similar in style to that which is worn by H. Fegelein in the pic I attached so I gladly accepted it.
The tunic is made of the same bias material that’s found in the reinforcing/lining of panzer/Stug wrap shoulder areas and service/dress tunic panel reinforcements. It has no cuff slits, has seams above the breast pockets (which to me is a design feature that from a style perspective precludes the placement of a Heer pin-on breast eagle), has zig-zag stitching under the collar, welt reinforcing fabric around the inner arms seams and pockets, and slip-on Untersturmfuhrer shoulder boards. No strand of thread on this tunic or anywhere on the shoulder boards glows when blacklighted. The back is cut much higher than the front, a design feature common to Kav wear. I showed this tunic to Bill Shea at the SOS about 10 years ago and he basically threw it from hand –to-hand, looked up at me over his glasses (classic Bill) shrugged his shoulders and said “it’s fine”. We both agreed that the seams above the pockets and lack of cuff slits (as well as pic of Fegelein wearing a nearly identical example made in the exact same fabric) tilt it more towards W-SS rather than Army. The two differences I noticed in his are that in addition to seams above the breast pockets there are seams below them as well and also his flaps are deeply scalloped and pointed rather than rounded as are these.
I’d appreciate your thoughts on this tunic. Please keep in mind that my intention is to sell this so if you have something to say please make sure you can back it up. We’ve all seen too many things that were totally legit get tainted by comments that lack substance
I have no doubt of the tunic’s originality, I just don’t want to list it as a W-SS tunic and have somebody come on board then and point out 20 things that make it Heer. Thanks in advance
Bob Ruzzier
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