Here is a recent pickup of mine that I'm trying to get some info/opinions on. This is a silver ring with a stylized 3D Devil face on the front. It is marked Iran 1944 with niello palm tree motifs on the side. It is almost identical to the other pictured rings other than composition(silver vs. Brass). I have seen a couple of these listed as German rings, although there sure weren't any Germans in Iran in 1944. I personally am leaning towards it being an unofficial unit insignia. If anyone has any insight or opinions, I would welcome them.

Well don't know about the Iran example but I can tell you the others are a know pattern for a unit.. But what unit!

I have heard / seen :
9th SS-Panzer Abt. 102 [502] , and
Stg. Brigade 209.

Many years ago I received one directly from a German vets family. It is like the last 3 examples shown here in a weird brass alloy..
He was in Panzer Rgt. 31.. I've seen the same one as mine also attributed to the same regiment and had red paint in the eyes.

There are sites that show units emblems, mascots , etc. Do a search and you'll see these devils or just the face all with the horns..

Maybe one of them were with the DAK [?]

DAK41,, on my screen your ring almost looks like its aluminum! Maybe from cleaning too much from somewhere down the line[?] Is there a content mark?

So they(at least the brass ones) are indeed German! Very interesting, and all the more confusing about mine. I did indeed polish it, as it was jet black when I got it. The good part of that was it exposed the initials R.A.H. engraved underneath. It has no content marks, Iranian and Iraqi silver from that time generally doesn't, but I acid tested it as low grade silver, around .800. I did google it, and the only results I found are the other pics I posted. Mine is certainly Allied, but the face is almost identical to the German ones.

I would love to see more of these, if anyone has one in their collection to post.

My example is at a safe house in my town.. During the week I'll try and get a shot of it to post..

*DAK,, click on this link,.then on- Menschen, Cartoons, Körperteile - and you'll find some devils/heads.

www.wwiidaybyday.com/emblems/heer/emblems1main.htm


Also,,go to bottom of that page and click 'zuruck',,go to 'Cartoons' then to 'Menschen' and check out devils head for 9./J.G. 54

The safe house aka "the vault!"

I agree, G, it certainly looks like that devil head, although there were others it resembled as well.

A question to this first ring.
Did the Iran exist to this times?
We here in germany said always Persien/Persia.

Persia changed its name officially to Iran in 1935, on the advice of the Iranian ambassador to Germany. Most of the WW2 period rings I have say Iran, but a few say Persia.

Thanks
I learn every day

was by my rings today and took some shots.. I try to keep all my unit rings together. Here's a few including our Devil head:

I'm almost certain my ring had a silver wash to it...

the silver wash stuck to the solder joint better than the ring,,or that is the solder!

Anyone else with one??

This is silver solder.

Saw this for sale too- a British ww1 ring w a gargoyle face - 1st glamorgan yeomanry. Dear God it's ugly as sin, but interesting! (Not for me, though...)

You aren't kidding, that's one ugly mug. I was watching the same auction, but it is WW1 for sure, and not my cup 'o tea. Interesting in it's similarity though. I did manage to pick up one of the other devil rings, and G was right, they were originally silvered brass. Mine has about 20% of the finish left.

Post that bad boy!!

Most of the remaining silvering is along the sides and back, top of horns and recessed areas.

Looks exactly like mine. Cool ring

I also have a devil's head in silver brass but with red eyes .. instead, do you still have this silver one?

K14us , welcome to the forum... Yes the standard one was silvered 'messing' with red paint dot eyes..