luffwaffe tunic with camp insignia

**tempelhof** · 10-23-2012, 05:48 AM

not to be blunt, but there are a handful of members within the community here whose words carry such weight as to kill a deal in my book. Bob Coleman's opinions are in that group.

in the end, as much as we may become personally attached to a piece, we are dealing with a collective community standard here. some people may disagree with my point, but my point is that it matters less what i think and more what the advanced collecting community as a whole thinks of a piece. as much as i may like a thing, in the end i will certainly feel more the weight of the doubt of the community than i will feel the weight of my own opinion (where it may differ) once the dust settles and the money is spent.

i collect art too. a piece must be accepted by the community as being what it is purported to be. if it is not, something of the satisfaction in ownership is lost.

be patient and save your money for the absolute best that you can afford. you will be paid dividends in satisfaction you will miss going for what first catches approval yet, as it concerns the approval of experienced collectors, is found wanting.

at risk of disavowing all that i just said (and i do not intend to do that having only presented my personal opinion on the subject), there is a place where all collectors have the perfect right to buy any piece they want and be satisfied with it. i speak to you as i do because on one level you seem to really want the piece yet, on another, you'd like to be getting what you appear to be getting... a piece which is truthful. you have posted the piece, been party to the discussion, and if after that you still would own it then own it. if the discussion leaves you in doubt, listen to your doubts and continue the hunt.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 10-23-2012 05:48 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Eddie** · 10-23-2012, 06:47 AM

I think that you would always doubt this piece and the doubt would grow in your heart and eventually poison your love of the piece. If you are buying this for your community then you should only buy the best, as you are presumably buying for the museum as a knowledgable member of the community. I just know that it's so much more satisfying to own something that has it's original insignia, and you know for sure that it was really there. At best, this is a mock-up and since it seems doubtful that these items were always together you might be better using a reproduction for the display and saving some money.

**youthcollector1** · 10-23-2012, 07:07 AM

Question if I may. Does anyone know of a member who is a specialist in the construction of these uniforms?
Thank all for everything.

Rereading you post temp and I have to say I agree. Opinions from such members as Bobs can change my opinion in a heartbeat. At the same time, I am my own man and with this item I think we all can agree everything is original on it. The constrcution is the question. So I must ask myself if I am ok living with this question. Hard to answer.

**youthcollector1** · 10-23-2012, 07:30 AM

Eddie, I would never use a repro. Repros carrys no history therefore doesn't belong in a museum IMO. I agree with everything else you said though. IMHO this tunic either A: Is original, had the eagle re-done for some reason and lost i's boards or B: is original parts and created/put together post-war. Which one, I don't know, sadly I am not a expert. I was hoping a forum member would be able to tell, but I am gathering it is impossible to tell when done right. IMHO 1,000 is a fair price if the answer to my question is A, but if not I feel that 1,000 would be over priced. I am at a bit of a crossroads here, I'd love any other opinions as well.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 10-23-2012, 07:39 AM

Hi, there is no question about any of the parts, these are original.

But Bob made a very important point on the lack of shoulder straps which I failed to address in my earlier posts. These brown piped KL shoulder straps are very rare: wonder why these are missing? In my mind that throws up more doubts. My vote is option "b".

Cheers, Ade.

**youthcollector1** · 10-23-2012, 07:45 AM

Hey Ade, didn't know that KL straps were rare. That is a great point then. I starting to come around sadly. I've been trying to get one of these for my museum for a long time. Finally one comes up I like, and then.... But thank you all so much for saving me my money, this is why I payed my members fee. Well worth it.

**youthcollector1** · 10-23-2012, 07:52 AM

Sorry, but one more quick question. If this is put togther post war by a faker, why would he hand stitch the eagle, then use a machine for the rest of the insignia? That seems off to me....

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Sorry, but one more quick question. If this is put togther post war by a faker, why would he hand stitch the eagle, then use a machine for the rest of the insignia? That seems off to me....

**Adrian Stevenson** · 10-23-2012, 07:57 AM

No idea? I have given up trying to second guess possible fakers actions. The tunic could have been completely stripped, then someone restores the eagle, then another person adds the collar tabs? Who knows?

Cheers, Ade.

**Eddie** · 10-23-2012, 08:05 AM

Ah, my friend I think you are grasping because you want it to be so. Let go or be dragged! As for why it was sewn the way it was sewn, I would say it would be harder to sew the odd shape of the luftwaffe eagle with a sewing machine than the square shape of the collar tabs, easier to hand sew it maybe? I don't think you're going to find a diamond in the rough here, it's been on that site for some time and was previously elsewhere, being passed around like a hot potato perhaps? Seems cheap for such an unusual tunic doesn't it? Maybe that's the dealer tipping his cards to the customers, "I'm not certain enough about this piece to price it what it should be at, so I'm pricing it at what the tunic plus insignia is worth." I always feel like "decide for yourself" from a dealer means that they aren't sure enough about it themselves and you shouldn't be either.