Can I first say 'Hello' to all, this is obviously a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable forum 
I'm looking to put together a small militaria collection, some of which I'm planning will be general German and SS items.
To kickstart this I've been to dealer and after mucho browsing have put a small deposit on a couple of items pending 'a think about it'. I'm told all are completely genuine.
The first is a set of metal cap badges. The main concern for me is their condition - they are mint like they were made last week (could they have been?). They are what I would call unissued.
Manufacture:
Very lightweight and very certainly pressed not cast. The detail on both front and back is very fine and detailed. The metal is very thin.
Shape/size:
The skull had a rounded forehead and well defined teeth.
Finish/condition:
The fronts are in an 'aged grey-silver', which the seller says was an option. Totally unmarked, pristine condition.
Pins:
Brass coloured, and totally square in profile - not flattened or round. They were held by small discs I recall.
Markings:
Both had RZM mark, and maybe '42' but there was a couple more numbers/symbols I can't recall. I didn't know then to look for the SS runes on the skull, and totally get that the markings would have been the most important thing to remember
Whilst the set looked superb, I would prefer genuine items.
So, are these to good to be true? Do unissued sets exist, or are these post war made on original tooling perhaps?
I am planning on going back within the next week, what else should I look for?
The other item was a Kriegsmarine U-boat pen pass. This looks totally genuine - it is well aged but is a super thing IMO. Metal outer case with clear plastic windows front and back and an aluminium seal holding it all together. Dated 1943 with the chaps pictures and details (he was 15!) I am told it was taken by a British commando in a raid
The dealer has lots of stuff, and I can see it is going to be hard to resist building up a 'bigger than anticipated' collection - but only if I can trust him!
Many thanks in advance, and I will be joining to post pics when I get them as it is a small investment in what looks to be a minefield of fakes!
I'm looking to put together a small militaria collection, some of which I'm planning will be general German and SS items.
To kickstart this I've been to dealer and after mucho browsing have put a small deposit on a couple of items pending 'a think about it'. I'm told all are completely genuine.
The first is a set of metal cap badges. The main concern for me is their condition - they are mint like they were made last week (could they have been?). They are what I would call unissued.
Manufacture:
Very lightweight and very certainly pressed not cast. The detail on both front and back is very fine and detailed. The metal is very thin.
Shape/size:
The skull had a rounded forehead and well defined teeth.
Finish/condition:
The fronts are in an 'aged grey-silver', which the seller says was an option. Totally unmarked, pristine condition.
Pins:
Brass coloured, and totally square in profile - not flattened or round. They were held by small discs I recall.
Markings:
Both had RZM mark, and maybe '42' but there was a couple more numbers/symbols I can't recall. I didn't know then to look for the SS runes on the skull, and totally get that the markings would have been the most important thing to remember
Whilst the set looked superb, I would prefer genuine items.
So, are these to good to be true? Do unissued sets exist, or are these post war made on original tooling perhaps?
I am planning on going back within the next week, what else should I look for?
The other item was a Kriegsmarine U-boat pen pass. This looks totally genuine - it is well aged but is a super thing IMO. Metal outer case with clear plastic windows front and back and an aluminium seal holding it all together. Dated 1943 with the chaps pictures and details (he was 15!) I am told it was taken by a British commando in a raid
The dealer has lots of stuff, and I can see it is going to be hard to resist building up a 'bigger than anticipated' collection - but only if I can trust him!
Many thanks in advance, and I will be joining to post pics when I get them as it is a small investment in what looks to be a minefield of fakes!
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