Jump to content

How to tell if udt items are real?


joe1997
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi guys

 

Just starting out a small udt/seal collection and wondered if there are any tell tale signs of fakes I need to be aware of when it comes to collecting udt/seal items. Thanks all the best Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really wow I semi expected it though. I suppose just buying through main militaria dealers and forums such as this narrows the risk of getting fake items ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know very little about Vietnam era SEAL stuff but in general with most of Militaria collecting it's best to research all aspects of your area of interest and ask more experienced collectors ( not dealers trying to sell something) before you start putting money into it. Buy or borrow some books on the subject, look at some know original items as well as fakes and once you feel comfortable start buying. Just my $0.02 worth

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cap Camouflage Pattern I

Yeah, buying through this forum and through reputable dealers narrows the risk of fake items a lot, and means you might be able to return it if you find out it is a fake. If anybody on here knowingly sells a fake as an original they may end up banned.

Still, the majority of stuff SEAL stuff will be fake, and if it's not, it'll cost a lot.

Remember , if it's to good to be true, it probably is.

Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I actively collect UDT and other Navy special operations items. Mainly WWII, but I have some VN era as well. If I run across a named item or group, I will typically find a way to acquire it. I only have 5 or 6 such items in my collection. UDT material is very scarce, and legitimate VN SEAL material is even harder to find than WWII UDT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

I actively collect UDT and other Navy special operations items. Mainly WWII, but I have some VN era as well. If I run across a named item or group, I will typically find a way to acquire it. I only have 5 or 6 such items in my collection. UDT material is very scarce, and legitimate VN SEAL material is even harder to find than WWII UDT

 

Andy is correct .I have collected for 40ish years and see very little of the material or veterans from WW2-KOREA-VIET NAM.

 

I came across this jacket at a show and about had a stroke.I cant believe it wasnt snapped up on set up as typically two major insignia dealers are there setting tables before they open to the rest of the table holders. I even hesitated and figured it would be gone and waited til late Saturday afternoon to purchase it.Just guess it was meant to go home with me.This year the guy had a well worn hbt cap with Lt. Bar on it.Not named but he said it came with a navy jacket he sold me last year.....maybe its his.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dave peifer

also,i might add..........in later post vietnam seal groups a lot of the gear,especially dive gear is civilian bought items.be very carefull,i only buy seal items/groups when i can trace provenance........dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Buy from garage sales, families and retirees or buy from the guy who does who does buy from them: it's all about provenance. For instance, if someone offers you some sort of commercial chest rig and says it was used by a SEAL, that's much different than if the chest rig comes with uniforms named to a SEAL.

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All good advice. The number one thing I would advise is to study the structure of the Team and time period of the item You are looking at. Once You understand the structure, common sense speaks volumes when trying to decide if an item is real,fake or just a put together. As with all things, modern Team stuff can be all over the board. More civilian gear than USGI tenfold.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The forum would be a good place to look for this stuff and is safer. I've found one small UDT group this way.

 

Another time I found a UDT item was by absolute accident from an unknowing seller on ebay. They were a set of WWII Navy dog tags and I didn't even realize they were UDT related until months after I bought them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the feedback guys provenance is key with these items. so hopefully ill find a few bits and pieces by hanging around here. As I mainly collect military watches my main aim is to acquire a udt/seal dive watch at some point who knows I might get lucky

 

Thanks Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

vintageproductions

Okay, I will be the other side of the coin.

 

If you are going to collect original UDT items, whether from WWII through current, the main thing to remember is this stuff is very highly collected and is very expensive. Unless you have unlimited funds I would really reconsider what you want and give your self a strict budget.

 

SEAL & UDT items are just as rare and expensive as Special Forces SOG items. In my personal opinion they are actually much rarer then SOG items.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...