Hello everyone
this could be a touchy subject and im not sure if this is something that has been discussed at all being new to this forum but not exactly new to the hobby..in more recent years i have educated myself by means of working with museums and handling genuine items as well as amassing as much research material as possible..this has helped me make informed decisions on what to buy,how much to pay and generally what the particular item should look like..ive haunted auctions,gun shows and military shows over the years and have made some good contacts and met some decent people...however i have discovered some not so honest and not so decent scam artists that have gotten me and many others.some are good at what they do and have been at it for a long time..i see their bogus crafted items change hands and often times see pieces that i recognize on a vendors table only to end up on another vendors table years later.Nothing can really be done about the stuff that is out there and as long as it sells the people that craft this stuff will continue to do so..im not talking the usual nazi stuff either,im talking canadian items from both wars..i dont know if it is illegal but some of them have been caught and banned from certain shows..but not from all shows..i dont want to see anyone falling victim to these bad apples..i know of a couple of people to stay far far away from but i dont know if there is any forum rule that prohibits me from letting those who should know be made aware of who these people are..one thing that i am sure about is that they are not members of this forum..i understand "buyer beware" but i believe info like this would be a good asset for all members,especially for those newer to the hobby..i take what i hear with a grain of salt until i see the proof in front of me,which in the cases im speaking of,i have..my reason for bringing all this up is because one of these people is at it again,scammed a friend of a friend just recently...i will keep the names and first hand examples to myself until advised otherwise.
Chuck
this could be a touchy subject and im not sure if this is something that has been discussed at all being new to this forum but not exactly new to the hobby..in more recent years i have educated myself by means of working with museums and handling genuine items as well as amassing as much research material as possible..this has helped me make informed decisions on what to buy,how much to pay and generally what the particular item should look like..ive haunted auctions,gun shows and military shows over the years and have made some good contacts and met some decent people...however i have discovered some not so honest and not so decent scam artists that have gotten me and many others.some are good at what they do and have been at it for a long time..i see their bogus crafted items change hands and often times see pieces that i recognize on a vendors table only to end up on another vendors table years later.Nothing can really be done about the stuff that is out there and as long as it sells the people that craft this stuff will continue to do so..im not talking the usual nazi stuff either,im talking canadian items from both wars..i dont know if it is illegal but some of them have been caught and banned from certain shows..but not from all shows..i dont want to see anyone falling victim to these bad apples..i know of a couple of people to stay far far away from but i dont know if there is any forum rule that prohibits me from letting those who should know be made aware of who these people are..one thing that i am sure about is that they are not members of this forum..i understand "buyer beware" but i believe info like this would be a good asset for all members,especially for those newer to the hobby..i take what i hear with a grain of salt until i see the proof in front of me,which in the cases im speaking of,i have..my reason for bringing all this up is because one of these people is at it again,scammed a friend of a friend just recently...i will keep the names and first hand examples to myself until advised otherwise.
Chuck