M40 Tunic from ATF or Hessen?

[A.Fuhrmann]

Fuhrmann, please tell me, where you got that from? that is totally incorrect...they are ATF made from their texled patterns.

I just noticed as I owned a few tunics from Memory1945/Aviator2046 in the past. It's even possible that I was the one that raised ATFs attention on that producer through a discussion on the Wehrmacht Awards Forum where ATF (n160 on WAF) mistakenly identified a discussed tunic as one of his own even thought it was one by Aviator2046 -> http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/ ... p?t=710936
They may be done using ATFs Texled patterns but Aviators tunic patterns were already pretty decent to begin with so it's only a minor improvement. In regards to fabrics, buttons and overall quality they look no different from the ones I ordered from Aviator some time ago, I still have some picures here:

Notice the lining, stamps and belt-hook-straps, they even still have the same blue plastic buttons as on my tunics back then.

Gavin = Aviator2046 right?

Edit:
I just checked it and it seems like you're right, Gavin-Militaria is the onlineshop of Aviator2046. I guess he wants to save the selling commissions he would have to pay to ebay.

[Gaulke1944]

ATF's are NOT gavin. I can assure you that.

[Gaulke1944]

My ATF is nothing like the gavin you posted.

[A.Fuhrmann]

ATF's are NOT gavin. I can assure you that.

My ATF is nothing like the gavin you posted.

Maybe the sewing patterns differ but they come from the same producer so quality-wise they are indeed the same. My tunic looks different from yours because it's a Heer pattern with webbing as belt hook straps (just like the ATF Heer pattern) and I also added a bottle green collar.
Just to check - is there a thin white felt-like fabric at the back of the lining inside of the FA-Pouch or visible through the eyelets in the belt hook straps?

[Gaulke1944]

No, there is not. How do you know theyre the same producer?

[A.Fuhrmann]

Because it's obvious to me. They feature the same crappy buttonholes, thin collar hooks, shiny soft hbt-fabric under the collar and most notably the blue plastic buttons.

[farbingstarwing]

Interesting read here! I also noticed on my ATF M41 US Fieldjacket that it was made in China. Albeit under supervision of ATF, but still produced in china with most likely materials from that same region. It does looks great to me, but since I know how it works in China there are always multiple sources for these kind of products made in the same factory, or the owner has several factories with different identities producing the same stuff

Anyway, I am going to try out aviator2046, however there is something fishy going on his website, he claims that his shop is down? yet his Ebay page is up, and he wants to directly do business via paypal rather then via his ebay account...

Also the last few feedbacks on his ebay claim that "order was stop by seller" so is this a trustworthy source or... am I going to walk into a scam?

[VonSchnitzel]

I have been watching gavins site as well of late and its been going on for months now.
His m43 tunics are good and the rest of his stuff isn't bad either.

I would buy of his ebay store still.

[farbingstarwing]

Ok guys, I will be uploading a video soon, I just ordered a M43 tunic from Aviator2046 including custom tailoring. The price including shipping and retailoring is 100 USD. weird thing is though that the M43 Elite is no longer available on his site now, it looks like he only places one item of each on his shop? weird construction if you ask me anyway I used paypal, so incase if fraud I can get back my money. I do see a lot of complaints about slow shipping, but HK is next to china so I should have it within 2 days normally, I will share my experiences with you guys

I just uploaded a new video of my Hikishop M40/41 tunic showing the cut of the tunic, you may point out more flaws then I do, but I have some issues with it. I will use this tunic mainly for skirmish airsofting, as I feel not too happy with it, mainly as it is still a bit too big for me at certain area`s. (World first problems for a small guy haha)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbj3RtuTVXs

Excuse for the wind and the crappy presentation skills, still working on it, it is a bit strange talking into a camera.
In the end all that matters is the tunic right?

[farbingstarwing]

Still not received my order from Aviator2046, china is next to hong kong shipping should not take more than a week, seller not replying.
If he is not going to reply before the end of next week i will inform ebay and get back the money and leave negative rating on his shop.

I will keep you informed regarding the progress, in order for you to make the decision if this seller is genuine or not.

[farbingstarwing]

Just got a full refund..... without a reply from aviator2046... i would not trust this seller`s shop anymore, i am going to order from atthefront.com now...

What a shame, because i spoke with one of his colleagues who gave me the impression wanting to help me custom tailor the tunic, he had many questions on sizing etc.

Edit: aaaandd ordered a m40 tunic from atf.com 70 usd worth of shipping :(:( but then again top of the line chinese made/ us altered tunic, so i am confident it will be quality non the less.

[VonSchnitzel]

Strange

I have brought a couple of tunics from Gavin and has always supplied and has replied if I sent him a question.

[fieldgrey]

interesting thread. certain repro dealers sound off against the winging cross talking forums...until the tablets kick in, perhaps...but it seems in fact they get much of their info from them. i think it seems clear the gavin tunics have been used as templates for certain us-made or at least us-commisioned tunics sold in a branded fashion by certain repro specialists....it seems though that the basic gavin items have been upgraded with better wool and patterns...the kind of upgrade we would all do if we had access to the funding. so, while i havent seen AtF in the flesh, it would seem they (or he) are/is doing the sort of thing we would do...take the best from the asian production sýstem and tweak it with topic wisdom. such lines seem the natural evolution of piecemeal items branded texled in the past. as many of us have experienced, asian sourced items are extremely good...to take such a starting point and tweak it in the right direction (manufacturers there are usually incredibly responsive) with hairy wool, the right length patterns, etc...is a fortunate production progression. i have a feeling the AtF new line tunics will become standard for hard nosed reinactors...but i have yet to hold one in my hand and stick my nose in it. they certainly seem better than the much touted texled items (when i actually saw pictures of these i was disappointed by the shape and features of the tunic...a sure fine lesson to not believe the hype).
i see it encouraging that AtF signal next years availability of tunic length/dimensions variants...this will be useful for many long bodied reinactors that want to avoid the lost battalions syndrome of having their belt hooks stranded up somewhere round their shoulder blades.
lets not forget there are SO many details makers need to get right on a repro tunic....AtF seem to be the ones who have finally done this. as i have said, i only wish they bit the bullet and added a brown wool M44 tunic (with correct unhooked large open collar) and correct m44 hosen to their ensemble, ASAP.

[fieldgrey]

Strange

I have brought a couple of tunics from Gavin and has always supplied and has replied if I sent him a question.

i agree

[farbingstarwing]

I do not know what is happening, but the seller told me he was in the mids of a shop renew/ refresh, so that might be it.

I received the ATF tunic yesterday less than 1 week shipping! it looks awesome, it fits perfectly and i have to say i am really happy with it
(I also would most likely be happy with the aviator2046 tunic btw)

Comparison video`s appear this weekend on my Youtube channel. But i can say i see and feel the difference between my hikishop tunic and ATF. It feels so much more like a quality product given they are both from china.

In the future if Aviator2046 is back in action, i do not mind to give it another try and order there.
Hopefully it was just some minor one off issue there.