I have this tunic in hand and it has some features I like. It does not have the silver-grey Italian HBT, but the German grey-green material for the liner. Same stuff under the collar, inside the tops of the pockets, and the cuff slits.
The jacket shows genuine wear, and is not mint as it appeared. It has worn through the HBT in spots, and the top fold of the collar and other rub areas shows similiar wear. There is some mothing on the inside lapel. Markings are typical font for later war, size, and shape.
The buttons are very unusual, and have only partial pebbling and a glossy laquer finish. They look very late to me.
The collar insignia is bowed on the collar, and looks like it's been there for some time. The shoulderboards look good to me, and so does the sleeve eagle.
Why does this tunic have three holes? Who knows? But we do know that Italian wool, HBT M44s were used by both services (army and SS); maybe there was a move to standardize tunics given the status of the clothing industry in 1945. An all-service camo was developed to be worn by everybody, after all. As far as the four pocket design goes, there are a number of the all cotton four pocket tunics dated 1945 discussed (and approved) on the army forum, so the Germans were not done with four pocket tunics of a new design in the last months of the war.
Lastly, I am cautious about blinding following any dealer just based on reputation, but certainly Bill Shea has seen his share of SS tunics and examined this one in hand in 2000. He pronounced it original.
Comments are welcome - again.
regards, Robert
The jacket shows genuine wear, and is not mint as it appeared. It has worn through the HBT in spots, and the top fold of the collar and other rub areas shows similiar wear. There is some mothing on the inside lapel. Markings are typical font for later war, size, and shape.
The buttons are very unusual, and have only partial pebbling and a glossy laquer finish. They look very late to me.
The collar insignia is bowed on the collar, and looks like it's been there for some time. The shoulderboards look good to me, and so does the sleeve eagle.
Why does this tunic have three holes? Who knows? But we do know that Italian wool, HBT M44s were used by both services (army and SS); maybe there was a move to standardize tunics given the status of the clothing industry in 1945. An all-service camo was developed to be worn by everybody, after all. As far as the four pocket design goes, there are a number of the all cotton four pocket tunics dated 1945 discussed (and approved) on the army forum, so the Germans were not done with four pocket tunics of a new design in the last months of the war.
Lastly, I am cautious about blinding following any dealer just based on reputation, but certainly Bill Shea has seen his share of SS tunics and examined this one in hand in 2000. He pronounced it original.
Comments are welcome - again.
regards, Robert
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