Real wraps, how many are out there?

[panzer1432]

I find it curious how all of us travel so many of all of these websites every day, and truthfully, see only a small percentage of that which is actually out there, and become convinced that so little genuine material truly exists.

There is SO MUCH out there . . . if one were to combine all of the shows across the globe, all of the "dealers" stock, all of the museums "collections", and everything we are all so fortunate to see on each and every one of these websites, I honestly believe there would not be one single person who could comprehend the full amount of genuine and honest material that is truly out there! It may be all "locked up" in collections from all of the many previous decades, or it could still be resting in some attic or footlocker - but IT DOES EXIST . . . and sometimes it amazes me how difficult it is for us to believe so.

Yes, we do get to see SO MANY forgeries and fakes touted before us in warning every day (and this fear is not unwarranted, as even more forgeries are being made as we speak) - but if one were to attempt to positively determine how much genuine material is out there, I honestly do not believe it could be accomplished . . .

I agree with you completely Well spoken.

[panzer1432]

Sorry folks! just couldn't help it!
sorry Clint(if you surf the site)

Great movie, Josie Wales !!!

[Naval Enigma]

These are some really thoughtful replies. Thanks everyone. I can't find my jaw right now. It dropped on the floor and rolled under the desk when I saw the Germania wrapper.

[PaulW]

Hi Willi/ bnz.42,
it was indeed the Germania wrap I was thinking of - thank-you for refreshing my memory on that one! I only heard that Clint Eastwood had bought it - it may not have been the case - I only hope someone is taking good care of it somewhere!

The German collector I was thinking of was Gerhard Rudloff - I heard that he had a remarkable collection including around 10 nice SS Panzer wraps - does anyone know if he is still collecting and/ or can confirm this juicy rumour from the 1990's?!

As for Michael Wittman's stripped black wrap being held at Bovington Tank museum in the UK, I was told this by someone who worked there as a volunteer (again in the early 1990's). I have no way of knowing if this is 100% true of course, but I suspect Wittman may have been issued more than one and is it not the case that he was wearing Luftwaffe (black) ground crew overalls in France at least some of the time whilst in combat. I think his crew wore dot uniforms some of the time. Perhaps their black wraps were not always with them when they were in combat situations - especially in the hot summers? Of course it would be easy for a stripped black wrapper to aquire a 'story' over the years, will we ever know for certain?