UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories SS & SA Uniform Forum Armbands- what to look for?

Hello all,
I am generally one of the "dagger guys" but recently have become very interested in armbands. I know almost NOTHING about them so I posted in the "Community Center" asking if a good reference book exists about these pieces. Asside from BADGES AND INSIGNIA of the THIRD REICH 1933-45 by BRIAN L. DAVIS, not much turned up.
I was hoping that I could get some good tips on how to tell a good armband from a bad one. Someone here must know the answer to this question. I have read descriptions on dealer sites (trying to learn somthing), they refer to "chain stitching" and seperately applied fields, I know that they should not glow under UV. But that's about all I have learned. I know that there are a LOT of different styles and types of armbands, but there must be a few "rules of thumb" to help save an "armband-newbie" from getting burned.
I'm all ears and thanks in advance for any input.
Johnny

John,

My advice is,of course, hit the books,then get to the shows.... handle them...and ask questions... You'll find that most of the reputable dealers will share info with you and also will guarantee their items...
Hands on experience works for me...

Best,

fatguy, the reason he posted this here is `cos he couldn`t find any books `to hit`! . steve.

There are some good armband sections hidden in some of the other books, like angolias "cloth insignia of the SA & NSDAP".

But a few other things I'd think of are:

Study some good ones, (just like daggers) Feel them, look at the RZM tags, etc. Familarize yourself with what they actually had. If you know what you are looking at by design you won't buy somthing that didn't exisit in the 3rd reich era.

There are many-many different designs and each design could be found in a different manufacturing style. Many fakes are poorly done and made up designs, some are high ended and the devil is in the detals. (seams should line up, no UV, right RZM #'s & tag code, etc)

NEVER ever EVER buy any Concentration camp/SS overly marked ones. These have been widely faked and well aged etc. (see "counterfiting the holocaust" book or web site) while some of these did exist, chances are slim to none that the guy at the gun show just happened to find 10 different ones "from a vet" all marked Treblinka or Auschwitz...

There are some great ones out there, and you can build a nice selection of them somewhat easily (and they display well with daggers!)

Thank you everyone thus far for the input. Sounds like this is going to be one of those areas which require other collector input and good old-fassioned "hands on" research to understand.
Looking forward to it!

johnny, you hit the nail on the head with the `hands-on ` approach. i only have two (so far!). like you daggers are my thing, but i studied plenty at arms fairs and other peoples` collections. when i picked up mine i just `knew` they were right. steve. p.s. i have a `deutsche wehrmacht` and `hitler youth`.