Pilots Wings, Original or Fake?
 

I would appreciate the opinion of the forum.

Are these wings original or fake? If original what time period, WW2?

Many thanks, Keith

Backs...

...look like copies to me, I certainly wouldn't have them in my wings collection. Thread and backing is wrong as is the padding.

Bottom is a bad fake of a Rhodesian WWII (Kings Crown) pilot's wing.

Now on eBay for the "experts" to buy or leave as they see fit.

I hadn't seen fakes of these up til now but as soon as I saw them I thought they looked off. Just more stuff to look out for....:(
Cheers,
Alex

Awful fakes, they really don't come any worse or thankfully, obvious, for that matter.

Keith why have you got this listed as a WW2 Rhodesian Airforce Pilots Wing when I told you on this thread that it was a fake?
Your business I suppose but it won't help your reputation.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-Rhodes...item2ee4fba1bc

I had to LOL when I read the description which includes "WW2" AND "Used" really? used by who exactly? certainly not the Rhodesian Air Force!

You not only get a fake Frank but you also get conned because he has the item sent through ebays ripoff Global Shipping Programme. Come in sucker.

Hello Peter,
Yes indeed and I would certainly not be happy with the other wings, interestingly, these also described as "WW2" AND "Used":confused:
Kind regards Frank

Seems that he buys wings on ebay (including from me), then asks this forum if real or fake, any identified as the latter are then put back on ebay, probably at below what he paid. If he bought the SRAF wings at 99p they are highly unlikely to be real. If he paid more than that but his current listing gets only one bid he loses money. Seems an odd way to operate...

Interesting. I doubt that WWII Rhodesian pilot's wings can be bought for less than US$150+. They are very scarce and there's a bunch of fakes and modifications (made up) ones that have been sold for years.

It can take quite some time to build a good reputation, the same can be lost, in just a single day, although, of course, some people just don't care.

Many moons ago as a young man in Texas I remember seeing a bloke wearing a t-shirt that said on the front 'If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.'
I think there's a lot of dealers and collectors today that follow that adage to a T.