M43 SS Tunic

[reichss]

Hi,
Would appreciate comment on this M43 combat tunic which I am considering.
I have posted this request on another site also as I am seeking as much feedback as possible as the tunic is a puzzle.
The issue stamp reads F44.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Pass on it.

While a basic original tunic it has been restored with a mixture of fake and original insignia. Take a close look at the cuff title in particular and read my article on Bevo SS cuff titles.

Cheers, Ade.

[reichss]

Ade thanks for your critique. I had previousy read your article on BeVo CT"s but of course can't compare the CT on this tunic. Opinion seems to be the CT is okay as is the eidelweiss, also that Heer tunics were issued to the SS. One scenario is that if the CT is original it was issued to the SS but at some point the collar tabs and sleeve eagle were removed and replaced knowingly or unknowingly with repro. The shoulder straps look to be in even wear with the tunic.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Look again at the cuff title. Compare to this original.

As I mentioned in my article the "sawtooth" edge to the bands top and bottom are always something to look at. Now compare the lettering and weave to the basic band.

Cheers, Ade.

[reichss]

Hi all, am re-visiting this thread as I have just made a significant discovery re the cufftitle. Upon close examination of the edges of it lo and behold there are the little white dots along the top and bottom of the sawtooth edges, this according to Ade indicates an original. Also there is an outline of the eagle which has been removed from above left breast pocket. My question is that if other insignia is labelled repro why bother to have an original cufftitle?.

[reichss]

Correction, outline of removed eagle is above righthand breast pocket.

[Friedrich-Berthold]

For all readers: here is what David Delich, the doyen of all SS collectors, has to say about this object...

"...The basic tunic is an Army tunic with post-war
mfg. collar patches, home-made shoulderstraps
that are made terribly, and a modern cuff title.
I can't tell for certain about the sleeve eagle
without seeing it in the flesh, but the balance
of the tunic makes it unappealing in the extreme
for any serious collector. One of the things
that makes the uniform appear a little strange
is that it was taken up in the back by a tailor
to make it more form fitting to a smaller-framed
soldier, which causes these very unappealing
folds of extra material on the back side.

I wouldn't have this outfit as a gift..."

Sorry says your Friedrich Berthold and thanks to David Delich.

[timothy]

Not one to comment on the SS objects the two SS experts IMO have spoken on said tunic and Ade knows his insignia if I had it I would be tempted to restore it with original Heer insignia that was originally probably on it. But I have a love for common Heer and Luft items. Have got to know the good ones and collect them. timothy

[Friedrich-Berthold]

My senior mentor has these cogent and analytical things to say further about the items before us:

"...I noted that in one of the responses to attempts to
point out good and bad points about the M-43 tunic,
that it readers should be reminded of an article that
Ade had written about BeVo cuff titles. In this
article, he said that the small white dots along the
edge of a BeVo cuff title proclaimed it to be authentic.
It appears that the fellow that was pointing out Ade's
article failed to mention that this series of "dots" was
on the reverse side of the genuine titles. However,
the R.H. tunic's cuff does not show the reverse at
all, so don't know what his point was in that case.
I underst and Ade's article very well, and upon second
check, my titles confirm his findings exactly. My main
objection to the title on the tunic is the uneven width
of the borders -- they widen and then narrow all
along the width of the title. Too bad that this title
could not be photoed along side one that is KNOWN to
be genuine. Then, I think one would find another of
the real pieces of evidence that will reveal the tunic's
title to be bad. The bad titles have wording that is
not as long as the original. That is, the total length of
the wording is much shorter than the "original"
wording. Admittedly, this photo does not reveal the
actual length of the wordidng, so there's not much
else to consider except the varying width of the
borders. When considering how many BeVo titles
I have, and upon researching them carefully, I have
discovered another anomoly about them that no
one else has ever brought to the table. When I
get a decent camera that can take some closeup
photos, I will reveal this to the collecting community.
In short, what it reveals is that the letters on all
BeVo titles were not made the same way.
I may be able, with a xerox machine to enlarge a
few titles that will pictorially portray my findings, and
then I can pass these on to you. These findings do
not determine the original from the fake, but show
an interesting feature of the product that they BeVo
weaving machines produced. So, until then...""

Also sprach David Delich!

We rejoice in such thoughtful and acute analysis on our site.

[youthcollector1]

Thank you David, very informative.