Best way to know if collar tabs untouched?

[TWP]

Hi after the recent scare/thread regarding whether WSS tunics are untouched originals, I feel the need to recheck my WSS M42 tunic.
The tunic itself and the collar tabs, sleeve eagle are imho original. But how do I know that they were all together on the same tunic during the war? Ie. pre-1945? Is there a way to determine that the collar tabs and sleeve eagle were original to this tunic? Do I look for prior thread marks on the collar etc?
The tunic itself is a WSS and not army issue.
Thanks
TW

[keifer kahn]

I dont wish to sound negative but there isnt a 100% accurate method of knowing.

Old sewing techniques are well known and done accurately.So is the availability of original thread.
The "bedding"in of insignia in to the nap of the tunic isnt always a sure sign.
I have an hbt tunic from a a former polish theatre company.The litzen and breast eagle were re applied in 1954 by the theatres seamstresses and 50 years later you wouldnt know the insignia was replaced.I only know this because i am friends with the theatres managers son,who managed to hang onto several of the companies props.
Also totally unissued tunics have had original insignia applied,so you wont find any tell tale former stitch holes.

[hochiminhtrail]

it is very difficult to see if a tunic insignias have been originaly been placed our added later on.

there are many factors, how worn is the tunic, how worn are the threads on the insignias, it s really difficult to explain it s just a matter of knowledge and feeling.
especially that you can find a lot of old sweeing threads on every german flee market.

i think for SS tunics, the most important is to know that you have 100% original insignias on it.

i would be happy to have a 5 button SS tunic and 2 belt holes, with post war applied 100% original insignias.

that would be enough for me, i know that some collectors are only looking for war time applied insignias to the tunic.

it s really difficult to say, for my part i have only seen SS tunics coming from the Ex DDR theather companies, there were originals ones on the market in the begining of the 90S in germany, and believe me there were no original insignias to it, they were all theather army insignias applied to it.

but i guess you still can be lucky and find a gold mine.

Aex