Matched pair? Flakhelferin (pictured) and Flakhelfer armbands (not pictured). Do these look real or modern fakes?
http://www.icollector.com/FLAKHELFERIN-ARMBAND_i24319244 - http://www.regencystamps.com/1940s_flakhelferin_patch___armband-lot241915.aspx
Several features of the yellow band make me lean toward it being a fake. German WWII militaria is probably the “Most-faked” collector field there is.
The K in Flakhelferin doesn't look like a K here. In the authentic examples KOT found the K looks like a K or is this a German letterform I don't know?
Did you see the off-white ones at the links? I believe those are authentic. The op’s I believe to be fantasy items, wherein the F and k, at least, differ from those letters on the original, consistent with certain other fantasy items where text is in some strange font the faker thinks will make the item more saleable.
Yes, I did check them out and thought they were genuine too. Looking at op’s, they don’t seem right to me, the printing looks sort of superficial, and the K really made me doubt the authenticity.
That "K" in particular looks pretty wonky to me.....but I also don't know the older German alphabet..........This is "supposed" to be an older version being taught by an online instructor.....SO who knows......
I haven’t changed my opinion from that in post #7, but I asked a friend who I’d describe as a “consummate” collector of German WWII items. Should get an answer within a few days.
Got the consummate collector’s opinion back. His opinion is that the yellow bands are ok, but caveat is that he hasn’t held it himself, which is often necessary to tell with certainty.
Got this too, from the 3rd party who asked the collector: “He says that these were made in most any town just like a local militia banner (with many variations) and that they are most likely authentic. The loose weave of the material seems to him to be a good indication as handling them is not possible.” That explains why the other examples pictured above, black and white in color, different font, are ok also. I was told these original items don’t bring much money and therefore are unlikely to be reproduced for sale to collectors.
