Totenkopfring with dedication milled off

[RaymondG]

Hi

This is an item that I picked up a while ago.

The inscription has removed, leaving on the smallest traces.

It is a shame, though this was reflected in the price and so I was happy to have it.

I would advise extreme caution to collectors looking to buy a ring and picking up one that has not inscription. Not only only will you be left with that sinking feeling that you will never be able to research it, but also it is not uncommon for fakers of rings to use such tactics to disguise poor workmanship.

Anyway, here are a couple of images for you of my mystery recipient totenkopfring.

Raymond

[RaymondG]

The original photographs I was sent were somewhat poor to say the least, but I could identify the ring as an original from the couple of details I could make out. The back of the ring was smooth and so it did not leave me that much to go on.

Here are a few of the remnants of the inscription.

[RaymondG]

Last couple, one being of the seam join and one of the area around the skull.

[Gaspare]

Wow, what a shame,,and a early pattern too!
The inside looks like someone took a rough hone to it.. But I wonder if the wear was wartime or postwar.. The early patterns were a different alloy of silver than the later pattern. These early patterns wore very quickly.. Well at least you have the skull part,,and don't even have to worry about having the dreaded swastika on you if you wear it!:D

[RaymondG]

Hi Gaspare

It is an interesting piece and you are quite right about the milling. I doubt very much it was taken to the jewellers to have it performed!

I think it was executed post-war and done by the GI that brought it back.

Of course, you have to believe in the piece and not the story, but every item was supposedly brought back from the sellers uncle at the end of WWII. Every item in the assorted booty is original, from a LW dagger, to a sports flag to a pair of SS officer tabs and shoulderboards. It is likely that the ring was once paired with the officer tabs but there is no way of knowing that for certain.

There was no need for the chap to make a story up as each piece stood up to examination on its own and he did not try and add value to the pieces with it.

Raymond