German Paratrooper and
Field Division Smock
Archive

Last Updated: July 29, 2008

Splinter B vs. Splinter A	An original WWII Prym Snap	Postwar/ Modern Prym snap

 

Ebay is smokin'....
Time and time again, I see novices being burned by fake Fallschirmjager smocks on ebay. Not surprisingly, all the auctions are "private". Cute. And they aren't even good repros. It's pathetic. Here's all you need to know to bust 98% of all fake FJ and Field Division smocks.

Splinter B: Luftwaffe splinter camo is not the same as that used by the other services. It is unique to the Luftwaffe. It is referred to as "Splinter B". The Army used "Splinter A". At first glance, they appear to be the same, but that's not the case. Look at the picture above and the difference is readily apparent. Splinter B has smaller blocks, with much more jagged edges. I compare them with broken glass. Splinter B does exhibit numerous shade and color variations (gray, bluish green, khaki, etc) like Splinter A. But the patterns is distinctly different. If it's Splinter A, it's a fake. 100%.

Splinter B is never double sided! Some of the better fakes (Janke) are made using original or Swiss zeltbahns. Although they will look and smell "original", these are easily detected. First off, they are Splinter A, and second the fabric is printed on both sides. Splinter B will be the "base" color of the camo on the back side. Not white, not camo. End of story.

"Original" Prym Snaps: Prym is still in business. They have an office in South Carolina. The scumbag dealers love the new snaps because they say "original" right on the socket. Wow! Authenticity made easy. Genuine WWII Prym snaps don't say "original". Ever! They sometimes have the size (a single number, like "6") and simply "PRYM". Moreover, the four letters of the word "PRYM" are widely spaced around the snap. Often all the way from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Some sneaky types have learned to use a small grinder to remove the "original", but the "PRYM" letters still will not be properly spaced.
Not all Luftwaffe uniforms used Prym snaps. There were blank ones as well as a few other brands, but Pryms seem to be the most common. Janke smocks normally use "Stocko" brand snaps.

Price: At this time (2006), original Type III FJ smocks in good or better condition easily fetch $6,000 plus. The earlier models can exceed $20,000. They sell instantly. The demand among collectors with more money than sense is enormous. If a dealer is offering you an "original" for $500 or $1,500 it's a fake and he's a lying piece of shit. If you're in a thrift store, the good will or a vet hauls it out of the attic for $20, go for it. But all militaria dealers are aware that these things are very valuable.