...do you buy anything online?...I was wondering if there are any reputable dealers online?...
Ive bought mostly inline or through collector/friends. I only got two items of all items I ever bought-that were fakes from an online dealer-who didnt know they were fakes they looked THAT good. One was an 8-place imperiaol/WWII German ribbon ar that looked absolutely great--same with the mini insignias atached to their ribbons. Turned out fake-because no real ribbon bars used brass backings-otherwise--you just couldnt tell. The other-and cost me mush more at the time--was a pair of German Generalleutnants shoulderboards. You just couldnt tell except for one minor thing.
My favorite dealer was out of Hamburg, Germany. He was Detlev Niemann. He retired several years ago but also posted he may restart his business. At this time, I dont know if he ever restarted? His site used to be:
www.detlevniemann.com
Others ive dealt with include:
Black Cross Military Collectibles and he was the one I got two fakes from-but I dont hold it against him as one cant expect to know everything there is. He is a bit high, but 99% of the time-has authentic stuff.
Another ive dealt with is:
www.carstenbaldes.com--he's ok.
www.helmutweitze.com He is also in germany and mostly has good items.
For strictly Imperial:
www.bluemax.com He is a great guy and will spend as much time with you as possible. Hes based out of Florida.
And there are others but, its been a long time sinse I last was able to buy anything online.
One more good one that comes to mind is a nice guy in Canada:
www.medalsandbadges.com He is priced reasonably. This is a sideline business of his so he doesnt have to make a huge profit.
One in England I have bought from and do like is:
www.whartonmilitaria.com He is the one I bought both 57 versions of the Knights Cross from--including .999 silver spares of Oaks and Oaks and Swords.
There are a few id STAY AWAY from like:
www.therupturedduck.com
Anoth stay away from is:
www.jamiecross.com He is in England and knowingly sells fakes. However, i have other differences with him because he is a BALD-FACED LIAR. Small case in point: I traded two Imperial German medal bars to a friend in Washington-for an Imperial German grouping consisting of: an Imperial EKII and I--with award docs-awarded to a NCO of the third Marine Infantry Regiment. His awarding of the EKI--was a rare award for non-officers.
Anyway, the two bars I traded to my friend-were a 3 and a 4 placee medal bar-awarded to different men who were in a Bavarian Regiment in WWI. Just because both had the same awards in the same p-laces-with nr 4 added onto the other--when jamie cross got them in a trade from my friend--cross invented a VERY fictional story about both medal bars. Ive never cared for he or his wares-he IS a crook.
There is another crook-out of Sweden--but I long sinse have forgotten his name. I have a LONG story on this creep who took over a year-to complete a deal.
One link above is incorrect--its not blue max-its
www.derrittmeister.com Ill fix when I have more time.
