My new "Sew-on" Totenkopf skull insignia is in transit. Just wondering if a GD member can shine a little light for me? {rzm #s , value} Thanks, Pauli

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Pauli,,,,,,,,,,,, Iv never come across one of these 'sew on collar skulls' Looks like someone has drilled the holes to mount on a board etc,,,,,

I have a hat eagle that has tiny holes drilled into the wings vertically | | to secure it to the hat. But it was obviously field done, and not made that way. I also have a Demjansk shield, with small holes poked in for sewing onto the uniform.

But given the size of the holes on the skull, I would agree with Hooper that it was attached to something with nails.

Thank you HOOPER & Mr.Jerry! {MJ..Do/did You know any of the Wis. Klugs?} on another note, note the lack of pin base apparatus? anywayz. .time has a way of making things clear, I have'nt given up on this piece yet. Pauli

Received today! STAMPED M5/40 RZM. a bit more later. thanks

You should send it back and get a refund as it's a fake. It is not even a good fake at that.

M1 not M5 is the code for metal insignia.

However, there are examples of wartime metal insignia being drilled and sewn onto SS visors. For example this eagle on the Waldamar Riefkogel visor.

Damn - I was logged on in the wrong account.

Mann there was at one time a lot of threads here showing original SS metal visor insignia. If you do a search I'm sure you'll find some.

I liked this skull, still do. It was sold to me by hiltonheadkid on ebay, $105.99 total! what can I say..I'm no stranger to "blowing" my money when I have it. "PHS","Pete" stopped by the forum a few day ago in the SS DAGGER FORUM, with a question.. He has a few rare, nice items left on auction, shoulder boards, $8,900.00 P/E Tunic..I guess my "tot" was just some of his "filler", I don't return the "junk" that "chumps" fake me out with, so I'll eat this one too Thanks guys, TONYSS, MR.JERRY, HOOPER2! I'm a slow learner. I do however..have a memory like an elephant. P.S.Great ref. page Tony! love those bevos!

That's too bad. I'm sure most of us have made more expensive blunders (me included) than $105.99, even though it's really no consolation.

GDC was once THE place to be for SS items but all the action has moved to the WAF - you might want to consider joining there as well. Like good reference books I figure studying a number of forums is well worth the time.

It's unfortunate that a lot of the really killer threads on GDC about SS insignia have been deleted over the past few years.....

Yep - the RZM M5 license code was only used on buttons, belt hooks, clips, small equipment buckles. Metal insignia was marked M1 when covered by RZM regs.

Thank you for your support/411 Gold Pin Party Guy. my Halloween costume gets more expensive...

I believe MOST (not all) sewn on metal insignia was done post war. GI's often broke off the pins while quickly removing souvenirs. Either that, or the insignia was jumping around from cap to cap (post war)and the prongs gave out. Of course, there ARE photos of period metal insignia being worn, but I STILL believe most are post war.

I respectfully disagree that "Most" are post, from my own experience, I would say "Some" but not most.

I have seen several badges (IAB & Flak ) that still had the threads and 'tufts' of uniform on them from where they were sewn on, and these were from US veteran boxes.

Also the holes drilled into my SS hat eagle are done with such a fine drill bit, no US serviceman had access to that kind of equipment (save for the dentist- who in the 101st AB put the combat jumps stars on the jump wings) Also my demjansk shield has holes discretely punched into it. These were another direct vet pick up by me.

Not to say this type of thing certainly hasn't been also done recently by unscrupulous dealers and well intentioned collectors. But in these cases the pieces are usually sewn on rather crudely.

But I think that it is actually quite a "German mentality" thing to do, to not waste anything.