Unfortunately in this hobby it’s just up to us ourselves to know real from unreal so we need to educate ourselves (sometimes very hard to do but of the upmost) get pertinent books, go to shows, establish relationships and minus that is the forum. It’s up to me to know what it is I’m looking for but I do use the forum as well.   Dont let this experience stop you and I look forward to helping.

Well said Leigh, thanks!

James,   The biggest shock with the helmets was the paining of the decals and making them look like actual helmet transfers...   And I want to emphasize that this information that is being shared is for the benefit of both new and old collectors to remind us all that these type of things have existed and will continue to exist until we as a collective group of militaria collectors can come together with our combined resources to battle the fakes and hold those accountable that sell fake items and fantasy items and reproductions willingly as original items without factual data that we will find the truth and we will hold those responsible accountable...   There is still more than enough period original items out there for everyone to enjoy and there always will be as the collectors of the days gone past get older (myself included) and we start to part with our items....   There are some very knowledgeable folks on this forum (as well as the other forums) who are more than happy to assist and provide feedback. One reason I always suggest (and others have suggested as well) to post good clear images of potential purchases before spending the money.. Our advice is free but the items you purchase that may be fake/fantasy are a hard expensive lessons...   Best regards all...   Leigh 

First of all, sign me up for the Eva Braun underwear..    Seriously, that's an excellence response above Leigh and definitely the Jim Atwood story is a must read, especially for collectors of those TR areas he tampered with. I didn't know about the helmets though, interesting. What a scumbag.    

I wanted to share something regarding the unscrupulous and devious minds of those who sought profit and greed.    This ties in with the above posted items (although these items are SS related in the post), it merits posting this information about some of those early profiteers that have muddied the waters for years and their items are still being bought. Nothing was untouched, helmets, daggers, silverware items,,, as long as there was profit everything was up for scams. Most of the older generation collectors may remember the toilet paper scams and the Eva Braun underwear topics from a time back...But I recall even earlier than this in the early 80s the HITLER DIARIES that were allegedly found only to discover they were fake.... Remember those guys???   Sadly the cycle continues with the next generation and unfortunately the folks that are making reproductions and copies are getting better at their skills, so even now more then ever one must be very cautious when it comes to these items...   Anyway, if anyone is interested in getting into the weeds and looking at how some of these folks infiltrated the business with fake and fantasy garbage, take a look at the link I posted on another forum (Yes I am a member there as well) and just like this forum here I feel a obligation to educate and inform those members interested in starting to collect Third Reich items...   There is still plenty of authentic items available, but I can't emphasize enough that research and reference materials (books in addition to the internet will save a lot of money and heartache)...   https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/book-discussions-reviews/jim-atwood-biography-kenneth-alford-803769-2/   Ken Alford has a few other books out there that discusses the taking of War Treasures after the war, some are interesting to read, but take some of what has been said at face value as well...   Leigh   

Very nice.

Sadly many of these "Engraved" items are easy for even talent-less counterfeiters to reproduce- you find an older antique metal item, you solder on a metal eagle or engrave something and voila: "Hitler's pencil box". There was a flea market dealer in Florida that was giving one of my friends the screwgie with all kinds of this stuff - salvers, cigarette boxes, etc.  and everything was over the top- eagles, runes, skulls, and swastikas all over.  Everything was LAH or Totenkopf, never a "3rd. Komp. Erzatz Supply Bn." and of course each piece had a story- all BS of course.    Did they have some stuff like this- sure. but 99.9% of it you see is bogus.

Thank you Mr. Bushido, appreciate you looking for me, Ken 

Any pictures of the makers markings?   It looks like a patriotic dish to me.

Nothing like a real L/21

I am contacting you in a hurry, but I could not find any wording to identify this item. The characters are only generic part names, such as "lens".

Yep, I'm w Mr. Jerry. Not a fan.