Warning: Reproductions!

[Jeffrey Meffert]

This is stamped on the inside "trapdoor" of the overalls. I'm not sure it occurred to me at the time that wearing clothing should wear out a stamp if you're sitting on it. Live and learn

[Jeffrey Meffert]

Maybe this weekend I should do some potato carving and make sure I get stamps on all my pieces that lack them. Doug, what date should I stamp on that GPU overcoat, 22r or 23r?

[Nack]

Not from the bad guys on e, but a "repro" nonetheless.

Attached for your viewing pleasure is a "general" uniform that followed me home from the SOS. I don't actually know why I bought it--I think I may have just liked the shoulderboards.

General's buttons and tag say 1960. The uniform is of really heavy, rough wool, with no piping or collar embellishments, and single-breasted. Raspberry-piped boards.

I suppose that this is an extra M58 officer's tunic that was lying around, which someone put general's buttons and boards on.

Here is the tag.

I'm having camera issues. Sorry.

And this isn't the only crap I bought at the SOS. Good thing this jacket was nearly free.

[Dzerzhinsky]

Fortunetly, I do not collect WWII cloth, but it amazes me why this guy asks so much money for these items! I have monitored his auctions frequently and I could never afford his prices anyway... Even if his stuff was good, he could never sell it properly on ebay anyway. This is due to the fact that most astute collectors know they can only acquire good WWII stuff from Doug or others in the Soviet business... Likewise, I have seen many of his 1920's Budyionovkas for sale as well, and they all look suspicious. Anyway, I am greatful that I am not a victim of his selling. Thank you for the post Doug...:thumbsup

[DougD]

Please, lets say DDA, not DD; DD sounds too much like me!!! : )

Honestly, i think the prices they have for some of the ultra-rare items are good (ignoring the fact that the items are 100% fake!); take for example the M1935 Marshal USSR complete uniform; if i had one in, that was real, and complete, it would be well double what they want (at least).

For some of the items they have that might be real, I agree, the prices are a bit high.

DougD

[DougD]

Some of the uniforms have been on e-bay again as re-sales; i am conflicted in that I think the original buyer did not know what he was getting and really got taken by the original seller. On the other hand I do not want new colelctors to get hurt by these uniforms either. But, looking at the low bids, it does seem like maybe this site is doing its job : )

DougD

[DougD]

People are bringing me more examples of Doubledecker items; this is interesting in that it's a greay M1935 tank "generals" pullover. However, just like the regular army and NKVD uniforms, it has the same fake markers from this seller.

First, the color is wrong. The steel grey is difficult to copy and they did not get it right; the grey is light and hazy. The material itself is very heavy and soft, not a WWII material.

Second, the cuff rank is not the same as the correct M1935 rank insignia; it is sewn to a bit of material left over from making the fake pullover!

Third is the tell tale, just clear enough, date stamp...1939.

Fourth, the collar tabs are not bad, but the rank is all pin through.

Fifth, the same outright fake buttons, with 2 parts pressed together.

The one thing that is interesting is that they have learned a little and have tried to 'age' this one by getting it wet; that added a bit of rust ( but uneven rust) on the fake buttons) and the cheaply made piping runs! The odd thing is the red from the piping runs up, on the collar; how does it rain from bottom up???

Anyway, please let me know if you have any other examples. We need to keep at it as i am still getting e-mails from newer collectors saying they have some nice items from Doubledecker on ebay!

DD

[DougD]

The sellers of these repros in the UK have added a new name on E; starts with the word Badge and ends with Heritage. Be wary.

dd

[DougD]

Repros are also around of the 1918-1924 era; here are 2 pullovers sold on E that are copies of M1922 pullovers. I do not think, right now, these are being made to fool collectors, but with a bit of aging they may show up at shows or online again.

DougD
Moderator- Cloth

[DougD]

The same seller has a few of these repro examples (I do not throw the word repro or fake around very often, but these just cross the line) on E now.

Here are some photos. Note that the caps have the same exact signs (though on the Frontier Troops hat they forgot the ever present stamp!).

They, as usual, concentrate on the special branches; NKVD, Frontier Troops, and Air Force.

Here are pics of the "NKVD Officer".

DougD