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Identifying Reproduction British Special Forces Insignia


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This is just an informative post to help other members who may have a interest in British Special Forces insignia. One thing to keep in mind is Special Forces insignia is highly desired and also Highly Reproduced.

 

First and foremost, all of these Reproduction were Sold on eBay as Original period pieces which they are not.

 

1. Seller describes items as " Authentic WW2 British SAS Tabs ". The most obvious issue is the 4th SAS (French) never wore a shoulder title, no need to comment further on the other trash bin pieces.

 

eBay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-WW-2-British-S-A-S-Tabs-1-4-/323745549869?hash=item4b60bd0e2d%3Ag%3AOFMAAOSwzaJX-CYw&nma=true&si=RMRGe8uSUhi3CsMN7tXRHoZFO40%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

post-185392-0-67362400-1554152578.jpg

 

 

2. Seller describes items as " WWII British Airborne Paratrooper Jump Wings". Not even close.

 

eBay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-BRITISH-AIRBORNE-MILITARY-PARATROOPER-JUMP-WINGS-PATCHES-BLUE-GREEN-/273741260664?hash=item3fbc402778%3Ag%3ADBAAAOSwN3NcURZN&nma=true&si=RMRGe8uSUhi3CsMN7tXRHoZFO40%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

post-185392-0-55113200-1554153060.jpg

 

 

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3. Seller describes items as " Original WW2 British Paratrooper Airborne Patch ". This is a very poor reproduction of the Pegasus FS. Everything is wrong about this insignia including the base material.

 

eBay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WW2-British-Paratrooper-Airborne-Patch-/382819984197?hash=item5921d96345%3Ag%3AJ%7EkAAOSwBG9cczAa&nma=true&si=RMRGe8uSUhi3CsMN7tXRHoZFO40%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

post-185392-0-72547100-1554153322.jpg

 

 

4. Seller describes items as " Original WW2 British Airborne Tab ". This is a old reproduction ST with serifs lettering.

 

eBay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WWII-British-AIRBORNE-Tab-/143157187233?hash=item2154d552a1%3Ag%3AWGcAAOSwAn9cfFYm&nma=true&si=RMRGe8uSUhi3CsMN7tXRHoZFO40%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

post-185392-0-96205000-1554153531.jpg

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  • 1 month later...
Gunslinger

This eBay Seller describes these as " Original WW2 1st SAS Group. Very rare original set ".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WW2-1st-SAS-Group-/264271895299?hash=item3d87d51b03%3Ag%3AGeUAAOSwZGJcqLeP&nma=true&si=h8gKOEGpY9WfIjYUtiXzxQZ05V8%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

 

This is one EXPENSIVE EDUCATION the buyer is going to receive who paid $936.00 for REPRODUCTION 1st S.A.S. shoulder titles and a Post WWII S.A.S. Brevet.

 

Sellers Front image

post-185392-0-22680500-1556748523_thumb.jpg

 

 

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Gunslinger

Seller Back image

post-185392-0-65419500-1556748831_thumb.jpg

 

 

There have been a lot of Post WWII and Reproduction British Special Forces Insignia on eBay recently. These are a good attempt, but nonetheless they are FAKE and won't fool a experienced SF Collector.

 

CDub

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  • 1 month later...

This eBay Seller describes these as " A great original British airborne patch lot ".

These Airborne insignia are known Reproductions made in the 1980's.

Sellers Front image

post-185392-0-59315800-1560177942.jpg

Sellers Back image

post-185392-0-56182100-1560177960.jpg

This eBay Seller has passing off Post WWII and Reproduction British Airborne Insignia for the last few months.

 

CDub

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This eBay Seller describes these as " ww2 British airborne film unit cloth uniform patches ".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ww2-British-airborne-film-unit-cloth-uniform-patches/312648037601?hash=item48cb4674e1:g:Cx8AAOSwV7Nc-7~h

 

These are also known Reproductions and display some of the worst attempt to replicate Hand embroidered British Airborne Forces insignia. The Army

Photography unit isn't t even close to what a Original period looks like.

 

These are CURRENTLY listed for Auction on eBay as of 10 June 2019, i would recommend to would stay clear

unless you're looking for a place holder since they aren't Authentic.

Sellers Front image

post-185392-0-64983700-1560178389.jpg

Sellers Back image

post-185392-0-83196000-1560178764.jpg

CDub

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks for information.

I am wondering where one could find information on how to recognize correct WWII titles and insignias? There are plenty of good sources for American patches but very few for British. Any tips someone could share?

There is this one on Canadian insignias but I don’t know if it fully applies to British ones?

Thanks in advance

Eric

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Gunslinger

Eric,

 

Special Forces insignia are highly sought after and equally reproduced because of the demand. There are some very good fakes being sold on the collectors market, case in point post #4 with the reproduction 1st S.A.S. titles, they are very convincing but nonetheless their Fake.

 

When collecting British SF Insignia, i would stay clear of eBay simply because you get burnt just about every time. Learn what materials & embroidery were used to produce items during the war, what they are suppose to look like, what insignia was issued during WWII vs Post WWII and finally theatre made items can harder to identify unless you're experienced with handling these items. In short, if you're uncertain of the Authenticity of a item, just post it on the forums for other members who collect SF insignia to review.

 

Some references:

 

Some talk of private armies (STOPA) by Len Whittaker (much of what we know about SF insignia is attributed to Len Whittaker)

British Airborne Insignia by Oliver Lock

 

If you have Allied Special Forces Insignia by Peter Taylor, be extremely careful since there are many examples of known reproduction insignia published in this book.

 

I have a collectibles website https://rpjmilitaria.com with SF gallery, all items being original to the time period. I created the SF gallery to help less experienced collectors who may have a interest in collecting British SF insignia, use it as a reference or tool if you choose.

 

 

CDub

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Eric,

 

Special Forces insignia are highly sought after and equally reproduced because of the demand. There are some very good fakes being sold on the collectors market, case in point post #4 with the reproduction 1st S.A.S. titles, they are very convincing but nonetheless their Fake.

 

When collecting British SF Insignia, i would stay clear of eBay simply because you get burnt just about every time. Learn what materials & embroidery were used to produce items during the war, what they are suppose to look like, what insignia was issued during WWII vs Post WWII and finally theatre made items can harder to identify unless you're experienced with handling these items. In short, if you're uncertain of the Authenticity of a item, just post it on the forums for other members who collect SF insignia to review.

 

Some references:

 

Some talk of private armies (STOPA) by Len Whittaker (much of what we know about SF insignia is attributed to Len Whittaker)

British Airborne Insignia by Oliver Lock

 

If you have Allied Special Forces Insignia by Peter Taylor, be extremely careful since there are many examples of known reproduction insignia published in this book.

 

I have a collectibles website https://rpjmilitaria.com with SF gallery, all items being original to the time period. I created the SF gallery to help less experienced collectors who may have a interest in collecting British SF insignia, use it as a reference or tool if you choose.

 

 

CDub

Thank you for detailed answer, appreciate it. Your website is also very useful, thanks for sharing

Eric

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  • 8 months later...

I thought I would add this warning to this thread after someone on eBay just bought a fake WW2 SAS wing from someone in the UK for $190.18. This is the third one that I have come across so far and they are always being offered from someone in the UK. These aren't reproductions as they are outright fakes. They are meant to deceive collectors. They take a 1980s or later genuine SAS wing and then distress the material in a number of different ways to make you believe it is an older WW2 era piece. I don't know how they do it but my guess is that they remove the backing material and put the whole thing in boiling water to shrink it and they pull the wings outward to remove a lot of the up-swept look. With the below pictured fake wing they removed the top white thread atop the wings and somehow lightened the black threads dividing the feathering.

post-185261-0-44512400-1584301709_thumb.jpg

post-185261-0-54939900-1584301718_thumb.jpg

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Here are photos of a current SAS wing which was distressed by means unknown to make it look like a WW2 era SAS wing. Yon can see the white thread I was taking about that is atop the wings which was removed on the fake piece.

 

 

post-185261-0-58304700-1584301950_thumb.jpg

post-185261-0-02527500-1584301960_thumb.jpg

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