09 SOS Ribbon Bar Report...

[Scott]

Just returned from the 09 SOS in Louisville. I made several passes through the entire show in the two days I was there, and I was blown away by the profusion of repro/fake ribbon bars. Either many vendors are quite ignorant, or they all want to be on the "Sucker born every minute" bandwagon. I would guess 75% of the four-place and greater TR bars I saw were repros, most festooned with every device imaginable. I picked up a copy Rex Reddick's latest repro catalog, and he's in the ribbon bar business too (excerpt below).

Anyone else out there with a differing viewpoint of the show with regards to TR bars?

[Guest Rick Research]

I had a live phone call up on long "imperial" bars and every single one in a case was crap.

They can't NOT know since these are obviously being wholesaled from the Usual Mysteriously Obscured ( )Sources.

for the Holy Faker catalog scan. Such service to humanity!!!! But the GOOD news is that perhaps if the Let's Pretend Boys (and I am NOT referring to accurate reenactors-- of whom there are surprisingly few in a Hollywoodized world) pay good money for totally fake bars, they will be less likely to shred originals for no good purpose.

Got to laugh-- there are still so many REAL WW2 era X devices out there that ORIGINALS would and should not cost more than the retailed as a service to mankind fakes!

Is there a listing of the actual variety of ribbons available for selection?

[James Clark]

See also the seller sigmund_tangsi from China currently selling on e-bay: "We can also provide German Ribbon Bar customize service. Tell us what ribbon you need, we can produce what you want perfectly! No matter Rommel's or Donitz's ribbon bar, we can produce:)"

[Scott]

Is there a listing of the actual variety of ribbons available for selection?

Rick, I didn't see a listing for ribbons that were available for the bars.

[Guest Rick Research]

:beer:

Just thought it would be interesting to see how many, oh... "fire department" reenactors they are selflessly providing for.