Here are odds and ends of information, some of which might be of value to collectors and some of which will no doubt annoy others.

• “Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler cufftitles in the original production were machine-woven while modern copies are machine-embroidered on what is known as “tank destruction” metallic silver strips. This is the same type of strip that was used as the sleeve rank for top SS officials. This means that the lettering on the originals was sharp and defined while the machine-embroidered modern copies have much rougher edged letters.

 

• There never was an ‘Otto Skorzeny’ cuff title and the ones we see now are all post-war.

 

• Otto Skorzeny used to sell expensive Swiss watches to eager collectors. These had the Mussolini engravings on the reverse. The problem is, all these watches were Swiss made but after 1951 so they could never have been given to him by Mussolini.

 

• German Army general officer’s dress daggers were always silver-plated. Gold plated specimens are of recent preparation. The hanger fittings on general’s daggers were gold but never the dagger.

 

• There were only five belt buckle guns made. None were ever made with SS eagles on the face. These are strictly post-war. And all of the originals have been traced to their current owners.

 

• The so-called “Adolf Hitler” asssassination rifle, seen on the cover of ‘Waffen Revue” was made for James Atwood and is not genuine to the period.

 

• Only two copies of the unissued German Cross in Gold with Diamonds were made and both are now in the US Army Museum at West Point. Others floating around are post-war.

 

• The firm of Robert Dold made many enlisted man’s buckles for all branches of the German military and civilian agencies. All original Dold buckles can be identified by the method with which the belt hook was applied. One leg of this was always twisted towards the edge of the buckle. Many enlisted buckles are now being made in India, China and Poland but none have the twisted hook. Since none of these buckles have maker’s names or logos, the dealer adds these prior to sale.

 

• All issued Knight’s Crosses had magnetic centers and genuine silver rims. Many samples were put together by medal dealers and submitted to the LDO offices for approval and contract. These had non-magnetic centers and non silver rims. They are not issue and only worth a few dollars.

 

• All Eichhorn Luftwaffe General’s swords had the Luftwaffe eagle on the guard but made as part of the guard. Postwar Chilean air force swords were identical but Atwood bought these, had eagles riveted on and the incorrectly positioned engraving on the blades.

 

• All camouflage paints used on standard German military helmets during the Second World War were water-based. Helmets with permanent paint are not original to the period.

 

• Silverware to include eating utensils, napkin rings, cigarette cases, silver boxes etc. that have the letters ‘A.H.’ and the state eagle are state silver and did not belong to Hitler. None of Hitler’s personal cutlery or dinnerware had any such markings.

 

• Any purported Third Reich document that reacts with the ‘black light’ is not original to the period. The reaction is due to the inclusion of paper whiteners in the stock and paper whitners did not come into use until after 1950.

 

• There was never a ‘Feldherrnhalle’ dagger. There was an SA High Leader’s dagger made and issued in 1938. This was made only by the firm of Eichhorn, had brown bakelite grips and antique silver plating. 5,000 were contracted for and about 2,500 made and issued. Modern copies have Damscus blades and all manner of grips to include ebony and ivory.

 

• Luftwaffe Honor Goblets had the Iron Cross embossed into the body of the goblet. Specimens with attached Iron Crosses are always postwar.

 

• The so-called “Hitler Youth Olympic 1936” dagger is a fantasy piece costing $50 to the trade.