Avitas

Hello All! I have recently acquired a nice Afrika Korps cloth eagle and was looking for some opinions on it. I think it is a cap eagle as it looks too small to be a chest eagle, but it could be a sleeve eagle. My insignia book doesn't show a picture so if anyone can help out that would be great! Here is the front, with some of the original cloth still attached. Cheers, Pat

There was a bill here in Canada that would have banned the sale of medals as well, but it died in parliament when the last election was called. The government would love to ban everything, and it usually is in response to a miniscule amount of complaints opposed to the vast majority of logical common sense (war on drugs anyone?). Dan is right that it is OUR govenment and they should not be dictating to us, but we should be dictating to them. I think it is absurd that a government would want to eliminate the one hobby that does pay utmost respect to out war veterans in a time when they are crying out for the younger generation to remember. Personally, I cannot think of a more profound way to learn the stories of the honorable vets besides either being there or hearing it from a relative than collecting medals and memorabilia. I myself have turned many of my friends (aged 23-29 usually) on to military history, which is more than I can say for the government. Granted, here in Canada the bill was triggered by the Victoria Cross that was for sale and a foreign person wanted to buy it, but the veterans (led by Smokey Smith, VC winner as well) managed to keep it in Canada by buying it. Now I can see the point with Medals of Honour and VC's, but a 39-45 Star?!?! COme on! THis is just another example of a brain dead government throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Keep living free! Pat

Thanks for the info Stefan I would assume it is ww2 issue as the jacket is stamped "1943" under the 3 crowns in the back of the inside of the jacket. The pants could very well be later issue but I am pretty sure the tunic is ww2 issue (unless these were still distributed as surplus to the army well after the war). If it is post-war, why would it be marked 1943? Any thoughts on this? THanks again, Pat

That is one nice set of sportabzeichens! I have my eye one a nice silver with swaz by Wernstein as well so hopefully my collection will increase as well. Is that the complete set of them Darrell? It appears to be all of them, unless there is some rare variation I haven't seen yet. Thanks for showing the set! Pat

Hi again, I got it from a very good dealer who I have had no problems with after many purchases, and he said he has had them for over 20 years, and I believe him. So it is probably not a new faker, and I am fairly certain it is a good one. I wonder if Rick Research can track who wore this one down! Thanks gents, Pat

Sadly, it appears most of my badges are early cast copies of originals, which explains why the front details and maker marks match on most of them, but lack sharpness and correct pin set-up. Luckily, I have fared far better in the last couple of years after that first year when these were bought. Considering how much I paid for them (35 bucks each) I should have known they were fakes, but I really didn;t know how valuable they really were. Nimmergut's price guide solved that. This has been an invaluable lesson and I thank everyone who has helped out! Cheers, Pat

Thanks guys, I had a pretty good feeling about them. I think my eye has improved drastically since getting some great help from people on this forum like Darrell, who has helped out from the start. Luckily, my only repros I have were all purchased in the first months of my collecting, and I have fared very well since then (just one bunk Kuban shield that I kind of hesitated to buy, should have trusted my gut!). To see how sharp the details should be and how well made the pin/catch set up is to a piece. I never really understood the whole pin/catch thing too well (just a beginner) but I can see how they are a good indicator of maker and originality. I hope to continue to receive great advice and improve my skills as a collector! Cheers Pat

Thanks for the clarification Larry! I really need to find a good book on Canadian insignias, any recommendations? I have seen one good one but it has been out of print for a while. Thanks for looking at these Canadian cap badges! Pat

Hmmm, looks like I will have to do some more digging of info from the person I got this from. Hopefully she can find out some exact details for me. Great explanation of the US armies and their history, very helpful and informative! Thanks and I will be back with more info (hopefully!) Pat

That is a beauty Dan! I've always liked the finials but you don't see too many around these days, probably all been locked up in collections for the last 20 years like yours. These DAF ones are especially cool with the gear motif (wonder where this one is from, Volkswagen?). Now if someone can post the flag that goes with this that would be a great example of this item for everybody. Cheers, Pat

I could be wrong, but it might be a 50 year cross instead of the worn 40 as I do have the "50" that used to be attached to it as well (came with it), and you can see the area where it was attached. The guilding is still there on the oak leaves and it seems like maybe there wasn;t any guilding on the actual cross, making it a 50. Any ideas on it? Thanks, Pat

I've never even seen the Mine Rescue for sale anywhere! It is indeed a unique and very nice medal, were there different classes of this medal as well? The first medal bar is a beauty as well of an obviously early war member who did some traveling obviously Nice stuff! Pat

Nice comparison Don, it looks like mine are both nice bronze ones. Your zinc has kept its finish quite well! Cheers, Pat

I forgot to post this 1932 tinnie that I believe is a fake, it was part of my "early purchases" from the dealer that ALL of my fake stuff came from. The pin has been replaced, but I don't think it matters. I think the other tinnies I have posted have all been good except for the Tag der Wehrmacht 1939, Seefahrt 1935, HJ Zeltlager 1934, and this badge I will post here (all from the same dealer). The disputed 1939 Reichsparteitag and 1937 Reichsparteitag I would still like some more opinions on, and the rest (Labour day set, WHW, SA sword etc ) are all good I assume, and they were all bought post-bad-guy-dealer era so I am pretty confident on them. If anyone else can lend their expertise to sort these out once and for all I would be extremely grateful! Thanks in advance for any further help and I hope to hear from you experts soon Pat

and finally, the ACB tag on the pants to match the markings on the inside of the jacket. Any and all info on this set and the maker and who might have worn this during 1943 would be a great help. Cheers, Pat

Here is the inside of the jacket, with the three crowns and 1943 stamping. Pat

and the pants, maker ACB as well. ANy ideas on this maker? Pat

Hi there, I almost put this in Axis forces Militaria, but I guess Sweden was technically neutral...anyways I have this 1943 issue wool Swedish Tunic and trousers set made by ACB of Stockholm. It is marked with the three crown logo as well. Would this have been worn by a guard unit? I don't think the Swedish army was very active in WW2 (hence the mint shape of the uni!) so I wonder who wore this one. It is made of very heavy wool. Any info on this set is appreciated! Cheers, Pat

Here is a close-up of the insignias, any ideas on the ID of the clover? THanks, Pat

Hello all, I have a few USA items from Vietnam and WW2 that are not medals that I will post on this thread. I still have to get pics of my ww2 goggle set (look just like modern dirt bike goggles!) with original box and 4 lenses I believe that I have packed up somewhere I will get those pics soon! First up to show is my Vietnam MP jacket with undercoat I got off of the vet 2 years ago. I have to get his name though, as I know his wife throught he flea market. He served as an MP in Vietnam and collected a few things over there. This is a very nice coat and has some cool 4-leaf clover insignias on the shoulders that I would like identified. Here is the jacket, Pat

Here is another badge I didn't have a chance to post before my vacation, a ww2 RCEME (Royal Canadian Engineers & Mechanics) cap badge. It is in good shape and very little tarnish. Nice cap badge overall. Pat

Here is another pic of the jacket, enjoy! My grandpa was in the RCAF and still has all his stuff hidden away, I will have to convince him to let me post them all! It is a great story and my whole reason for being interested in militaria is when I was young seeing my Gramps old RCAF gear and his "souvenirs" that he got off of some Germans that he battled (SS officer's dagger, fully operational Mauser, he snuck the firing pin back by sewing it in his jacket! and various caps and Overcoats that got lost somehwere in all of his stuff). He doesn't talk much about it now, but he used to tell the stories of drinking whiskey and playing cards on the off time between fixing Spitfires and defending the airbase! Oh well, one day I will convince him, and thanks for looking at this piece of RCAF history and keep checking for new updates! Cheers, Pat

Hello Gents, Just thought I'd start a thread for the various pieces of ww2 Canadian and Commonwealth uniforms and other various pieces that aren't medals. I will update this post as I get new stuff, so check back once in a while. First up I have my RCAF Great Coat I got last year. It is in really nice shape and is really small! My girlfriend (who is 5'6" and slim) could barely fit it on! Those tiny airmen! I have heard these are pretty hard to come by, but I got it at a little old antique store in Vernon that I tend to find a few treasures at. Anyways, any comments on the jacket are welcome. Cheers, Pat

And here is the back of the buckle with RS&S mm. Any ideas on the maker are welcome, as well as any comments on all of the items so far posted on this thread, a few (HU cloth, wreaths and eagles, etc) have had no comments so far Again, thanks for looking and leaving your comments! Cheers, Pat

Hi Gents, I just picked up this Heer Belt Buckle with leather stabilizer marked 1940 and a maker mark I can't make out, but I can see "R. S??????, Ludenscheid, 1940" on the leather. It is stamped on the back of the buckle "R.S.&S." If anyone knows who this maker is that would be great. It looks like a nice condition original to me, much better detail than the earlier buckle I posted on this thread. ANy help on the maker is appreciated, Thanks, Pat