gnr.ktrha Posted 7 January , 2009 Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Hello, Do any Pals know where I can buy a British O/R's service Dress Tunic? I have been saving for one for a while now, but the man I was hoping to buy one from is dragging his heels a bit! Any ideas or offers. Please feel free to point me in the direction of one or PM me. I have a lot of the other kit, including a pair of trousers! But no tunic Look forward to hearing from some of you, Regards Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 7 January , 2009 Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Nice tailored RFA 1918 tunic here, a snip at just under £500: http://www.blunderbuss-antiques.co.uk/shop/shop.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 7 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Yes, this is the only one I can find at the moment. I was sad to see this shop is closing and will just be an online store. I spent many happy hours in there in the 1990's. I was stationed just up the road from there. It was the first proper wall to wall military shop I had been in regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigatt Posted 7 January , 2009 Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Yes, this is the only one I can find at the moment. I was sad to see this shop is closing and will just be an online store. I spent many happy hours in there in the 1990's. I was stationed just up the road from there. It was the first proper wall to wall military shop I had been in regards, Stewart Have you tried e-bay ofone of the specialist militiaria websites? BW Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 7 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Yes, I have been keeping an eye on the auction site. If you can point me in the direction of some 'honest' dealers sites, that would be great Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 7 January , 2009 Share Posted 7 January , 2009 I fear you will struggle and at best have a long wait.. Best bet is militaria fairs, however in my experience most good ones are already sold / spoken for or ridiculously priced. A bog standard tunic seems to start at £750 to £800 nowadays. Keep trying sites such as Regimentals etc but they rarely turn up. Keep an eye on Bosleys Auctions also. Good luck and if you see one let me know!!!! My advice though if you really want one be patient and do not buy one in desperation that is not 100 % what you want. Regards TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedCoat Posted 7 January , 2009 Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Follow the Linkey to find many treasures LINKEY LINKEY ....... Hope this helps, Donnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 7 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Thanks Donnie, Never seen this site before and there a couple of nice tunics on there. Have you ever had dealing with this company before and can you recommend? I have just emailed them about getting more photo's Many thanks Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedCoat Posted 7 January , 2009 Share Posted 7 January , 2009 Thanks Donnie, Never seen this site before and there a couple of nice tunics on there. Have you ever had dealing with this company before and can you recommend? I have just emailed them about getting more photo's Many thanks Stewart PM sent good sir..... Donnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 8 January , 2009 Share Posted 8 January , 2009 Follow the Linkey to find many treasures LINKEY LINKEY ....... Hope this helps, Donnie I'd give the MMG one a miss for various reasons; the most obvious being that the trade patch is WWII. Also, the Sussex is over-priced by £300-£400 compared to what you can get elsewhere on occasion. TT cites £750+ for them, which is a high dealer price. There's been some quite reasonable ones (and some cack) sold on eBay for around and under £500 in the past few months. Nice tailored RFA 1918 tunic here, a snip at just under £500: http://www.blunderbuss-antiques.co.uk/shop/shop.php This looks like a good tunic, and keenly priced. Not a bad place at all to start for a first one. My only reservation is that it has been heavily tailored; and is probably a very Demob item - rather than one much worn, if at all, on active service. Best wishes, GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 8 January , 2009 Share Posted 8 January , 2009 I agree with GT that the RFA jacket looks a good one and is keenly priced, even if it is very much demob issue. Surprised it’s not been sold yet as it has been there for a while. I would value an o/r infantry jacket at £500-700, more with original cloth unit insignia. Being named or numbered doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to the price. Good ones are still turning up on ebay, if you are prepared to be patient. I think that the big established dealers tend to be some way in advance of the trend with their prices. As for finding a reputable dealer, some of the part-timers are, but for the mainstreamers I think it would be naive to believe everything they claim. If you have an original pair of trousers, they wouldn’t really go with the RFA jacket anyway, which requires breeches. Are you certain the trousers are WW1 period? They should have zinc buttons and a white or cream waistband/pockets. Khaki pockets also appear in some late war trousers, but anything with a khaki waistband should be viewed with suspicion. Look also for two small horizontal reinforcing stitches at the bottom of each pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humber1 Posted 8 January , 2009 Share Posted 8 January , 2009 Regimentals normally have plenty as well but expect to pay top dollar. http://www.regimentals.co.uk/shop/shop.php There may be some at Stonleigh in Febuary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 8 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January , 2009 Hello All, Thank you all for your advice. I have seen a couple of good ones for sale on a well know auction site. I think the last good one went just before Christmas. At that point I had not made up my mind to get one! Although I had been trying to save money to get something special. The trousers are 100% original. I bought them at a local auction over a year ago. They had come from a house clearance and came with 3 WW1 Khaki Tam O shanter bonnets 2 of which are dated. One was badges to the Royal Scots Fusiliers and has the mans number in it, and the remains of an 1918 or 1916 dated paper label. This bonnet is well worn, but in good condition and it is a surprise the paper label has survived, but it had been protected by part of the cap lining rucking up and covering it. I bought the Lot with a bid of £70! It's the only time I have ever seen anything good in that auction. I do have a pair of breeches at my Dads house, which I think may be WW1 period. They have the remains of a paper label on the outside back of them. I have not seen them for a couple of years, but will have a closer look at them next time i am there. They seemed a very close match to the ones i was issued when I was in the RHA, but with buttons on the lower leg. I should have a proper look at them, I had nearly forgotten about them until I read the post above :unsure: I am sure I have seen war time photo's of men wearing tunics collars with the same tayloring as the RFA tunic, and not just held in place with clips, etc. Although I am sure the pictures I am thinking of show men in there Best uniform, maybe even men on Home Service or Base troops. I can't see any sign of collar badges on the RFA one, so it can't have been used for very long after the war. The hunt goes on. As I mentioned, I am just after an honest WW1 issue tunic, I am not worried about unit or Divisional badges etc. Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark holden Posted 8 January , 2009 Share Posted 8 January , 2009 This one just on Regimentals site today! http://www.regimentals.co.uk/shop/shop.php good hunting Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 8 January , 2009 Share Posted 8 January , 2009 Hi Stewart The stand collar is not a problem, as tunics were definitely made like this late on in the war. I have seen several like that dated 1918 and clearly made this way. It’s the fact that it’s been taken in, is very clean, and has War and Victory ribbons, that make it look rather demob to me. But it’s a wartime jacket that belonged to a wartime serving soldier, and that’s good enough for most of us. As TT said above, be patient, hold out for what you want, and something decent will turn up. Or if you felt extravagant you could get the RFA one and hold out for an infantry one later. After all, if you have the breeches, all you need is headgear, puttees, a pair of lookalike boots and a bandolier, and there you are! Best of luck, W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 8 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 8 January , 2009 Hello W, Thanks for the reply. I had not appreciated that they were sometimes made with this type of collar, I always assumed they had had them altered by a local tailor! That is very interesting. I have been looking through books and postcards to see if I could find any good photo's of people wearing them. When I get my hands on the breeches I have, I will take some photo's of them and post them on the forum. The only thing I can recall about them, which made me think they may have been Great War period, was the remains of the paper label. This was really a dirty glue mark with one or two tiny bits of paper on it, if memory serves me. I have a 1903 bandolier, knee length putties and a pair of 1914 dated O/R's spurs Thanks, as always for your advice. regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 9 January , 2009 Share Posted 9 January , 2009 The MGC one on Regimentals site has now sold at £1,100 ( I tkink thats what he was asking). Looked nice with 17th Div flashes. Would like to have seen it in the flesh. Did you buy it Stewert? Regards TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 9 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2009 Afraid not, it was a fair bit over my budget! Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted 9 January , 2009 Share Posted 9 January , 2009 This comment is not directed at anyone in particular so please dont be offended. I often see very expensive items of militaria listed on various web sites on the internet. When an item says 'sold' next to the listing it it does not always mean it has sold for that figure. A deal could of gone in which case the vendor receieved items in trade for said item or the buyer may of made an offer for less than the sale price. It could also be that the item was withdrawn from sale. It seams so many Pals in this section of the forum are gauging valuations by these web sites with insane prices which I believe is not an accurate price guide. Remember anyone can build a web site and list militaria at any price they wish, but it doesnt always mean they are going to sell it for that price. If I were desperate enough to obtain an expensive item of militaria, I would obtain this items as the dealers do, through auction to avoid insane made up prices. A true valuation of a mass produced item is the average price realised from a number of instances where that item has appeared in auction over the period of one year. When the item in a one off and sold at auction I do believe the price realised is the value of that item. However all its takes is one collector to lose interest and the next time a like item appears on the market that item may well make half the money...........thats the gamble you take when buying pricey antiques. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 9 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2009 Hello Yellow, You are correct about trading items with dealers, in general I do try this approach. There are a couple of dealers I have no problem trading with. Others, on the other hand are not so good and want every thing for nothing, even offering incorrect advice about the origin and value of some pieces in the hope of making a fast buck! You do meet all sorts Most seem happy to get new stock in. For my part, WW1 tunics just do not turn up here. There are no specialist Military Auctions, only the twice yearly Collectable Auctions, which are a bit hit or miss. There are not even any real Militaria specialist shops. That is the reason I asked the question about the tunics in the first place, just to see peoples thoughts about the current market. If you read the post above, you will see that a whole host of advice has been given about the value of tunics and not solely based on 'Top end' dealers lists. Your advice is still valid, not to base value on one dealers list or Auction result. I am sure no one will be offended by your comments, thats what the forum is for Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 9 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2009 Just one quickie, I emailed a couple of days ago for better photo's of the Guards Machine Gun Battalion tunic, it to has been sold. Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 9 January , 2009 Share Posted 9 January , 2009 Yellow, I do agree with your comments, however knowing the site that sold the MGC tunic I strongly suspect he got the asking price as he does not normally discount. He has also removed it from the site and unlike other sites that put sold next to the item and leave it on for months when its gone its sold. He has clearly bought a good collection of items as he has had some cracking British WW1 stuff recently. I also hapopen to know he did just that too. I have also first hand knowledge of dealer mark ups. However as ever if you want it and are prepared to pay the price then that is its value to you. For example lets assume that the MGC tunic was 100 % right and I have no reason to doubt it is, and if MGC / 17th Div was your thing when will you see another? For basic line infantry with no insignia or the basics ie service stripes etc then yes wait for a better price and dont be tempted to pay silly money. I was really after a RAMC tunic and when I was offered one at £800 I took it on the basis it was the first one I had had the chance to get in years of collecting. Do I regret it.....no way. I have probably broken even now. All said I would have paid £1,100 for the MGC / 17th tunic if I had the money and wanted a 17th Div item. I did not buy it. I also suspect that this collection he has belonged to a fellow forum member though I may be wrong. Regards all and Stewert keep checking the web for all auction sites and dealers and keep saving and rememberr do not buy out of desperation. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted 9 January , 2009 Share Posted 9 January , 2009 Stewart, If you dont live near to any militaria auction houses then you can still bid with relative confidence. There are many catalogues now which have good colour pictures. Also some auction house staff are more than willing to answer any questions you might have over the telephone. I do believe 2009 is a year in which we will see many new and interesting items appear for sale. Already I have seen many fine badge collections come up for auction. In this time of economic instability does everyone here believe that every collector has a grand tucked away for one of these? I`m of the belief they dont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 9 January , 2009 Share Posted 9 January , 2009 Wise words Yellow. One thing I have noticed however, is the credit crunch has not yet hit the highewr end of the collectors market. Not saying it will but I think some with money still have it and see militaria / medals a better investment than 1.5 % interset rate. I will watch the market with interest. Regards TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.ib_walker@ntlworld.co Posted 9 January , 2009 Share Posted 9 January , 2009 At risk of stating the bleeding obvious, real caution should be exercised when buying any "WW1" kit off the internet auction site. A lot of moody stuff is being advertised, and some of it is being bought by the unwary. Of all the SD jackets I've seen recently, about 1 in 10 was pucka; the rest were '22 pattern or repros. Many now have spurious date stamps, or insist that the ones with single darts under the collar and KD linings are "1918 pattern". One turned up from a reputable dealer the other day with an immaculate 1917 date and broad arrow stamped on its KD lining - bids were heading on up before several watchers (me included) commented on its authenticity. Other great examples include "1914" dated breech covers, hooked quillon bayonets with clearance holes and post-1913 re-issue stamps and more large packs with "WW1" dates than you can shake a stick at. Someone's been very busy with their little "MECo 191X" stamps! Caveat Emptor! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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