Bevo skulls in Manions auction

[TMurray]

ask yourself this question..why purchase cloth items from Manion's when it is well known that they have passed off repro's as original? there are plenty of more reputable sites to visit to pick up such items. But as long as you're happy that they are the 'real deal', it's your money

[John T]

Here is also another one on Manions. Their description reads: "SS CAMO M-43 FIELD CAP GOLDEN BEVO SKULL ON BLACK, MINT UN-CUT. THIS TYPE OF SKULL WAS USED ON THE CAMO FIELD CAP. NOTE: "3" SHAPED SKULL BONE LINE ON LEFT SIDE NEAR THE JAW HING POINT, THIS POINT AND THE BACK VIEW WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS PIECE IS 100% ORIGINAL WW-2 ERA!!! Condition: 10"

How many of you feel that in light of todays reproductions that their description of the "3" shaped skull bone line is inaccurate? Are there not originals out there that don't exhibit this trait? They mention that the back will tell you this piece is 100% original. What is it about the back that will tell us that?

I like this one due to the material, not sure about the other ones, would like to hold them in hand.

[Robin Lumsden]

I don't like any of these Manion's TKs either.

While we're on this subject, can anyone post a WARTIME photo of the tropical TK being worn on a camouflage field cap?? All the pix I've seen have had either metal TKs, the green type or the normal grey type on the camo cap.

Same with camo tunics. I've never seen a wartime photo showing the tropical sleeve eagle on a camouflage tunic.

The only pictures I've seen of tropical skulls and eagles being worn on camouflage gear are the post-war 're-enactor' types in some uniform books. So is this another of these 'urban myths'??

A camouflage SS panzer tunic I used to own about 25 years ago, which I traded about that time, turned up years later in a colour SS uniform reference book with a tropical sleeve eagle ADDED. It had never been there when I owned the tunic. Some years later, the same tunic (yes - it's definitely the same one) turned up again, in another well-known SS uniform book by a well respected dealer, this time supposedly having been obtained 'direct from a Baltic veteran'. The tropical sleeve eagle was still in situ.

The tunic was featured in an article I did for a now-defunct US militaria magazine back in the '80s, when it was pictured for all to see in it's original condition - no sleeve eagle.

So did they ever wear tropical badges on camo uniforms at all? Or are we relying too much on dubious postwar 'evidence'??

[John T]

I believe that a quantity of the tropical skulls were found within the past few years in either complete or partial strips/rolls in the south or midwest. I do not know if this is true, but I have heard this from a few sources and that would explain the large quantity of the tropical skulls turning up at reasonable prices..ie less than 100 dollars within the past few years. Once these are absorbed into the market place prices will rise. I also think that very few of these were actually used on headgear.

[JOHN VD HEIJDEN]

John;

For those that don't have the experience that you have, what exactly is it about the construction that you don't like?

Yes Tony I had some explanation
but that was not so accurate as the explanation that was given us by Jerry(reichsheini)also a knower of ss-headgear-insigna

[Paulh]

Tks

Hi Tony,

The first three tks from Manions are repros. They started showing up about three years ago. I have two in my possession. The first one I acquired is more cotton based. The second one is more synthetic. They are based on an original tk, but have some flaws. They are easy to tell when you have them in hand. I will have to look back for which repro outfit was selling them, but they were available on a web site on the net. They have shown up on a lot of caps. I'll try and post some photos tonight.

Best Regards,

Paul

[ReichsHeini]

tropical skull

I agree with Militarybuyer that these tropical skulls really were not used on very many caps. 15 Years ago i bought a strip of these for 5 dollars each.

Paul I hope you can recall where those repros are from originally. They have appeared on lots of headgear for sale on Manion's also.
I also would like to trace down that other repro's origins. The skull sewn to the cloth that came up here a few months back. That pattern skull, which Gary believes is a repro, and many including me agree with.
That pattern copy has even shown up in a recent reference book I believe.
Jerry

[Paulh]

Tks

Hello,


Here are the fake tks I mentioned. The one of the left is the latest version, which has a more polyester feel to it. The one on the right is made out of natural fybers. At least they are trying to improve their repro . I still do not recall the website that was selling these, but I have a picture from the site. Maybe someone will recognize it. Anyway, these are definite repros and very easy to tell when you have them in hand.

Paul

((( Now I can't post attachments. Gary can you help me out with this. I have been able to in the past. My membership was just renewed a couple of weeks ago. Frustrating.))))

[Gary Wood]

" Now I can't post attachments. Gary can you help me out with this"

Paul,
just send the pictures to me i will post them here for you,

cheers,

Gary

[Gary Wood]

"I still do not recall the website that was selling these, but I have a picture from the site."

Paul,
if my memory serves me right i think it was 1944 militaria that were selling this type of tk on there site,
cheers,
Gary