UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum TK Rings still as popular?

Do you think that TK Rings are as popular today as they were a few years ago? I have noticed that prices have dropped some in the last few years and a few more seem to be on the Market. Any opinions?

The other thing that I have also noticed is the rash of Stone Cold Mint Rings on the Market. Does anyone worry about these being a new Super Fake version?

If anything I think they are more popular hence the fear of the super fake, as for them going down in price I have not seen that but thats just me.

I agree about the possibility of the super fake. In fact, I think its here. We are seeing so many new rings and the only thing that can be said against them is "They look too new". 5 years ago, they would have been near mint, etc. Is that all we can say? "Too new"? Bad sign. Its almost a foregone conclusion that this has hapened or will happen. If they can fake Gestapo Disks that can make true experts look twice, and RK's that have fooled so many, so well, they can fake Honor Rings, especially with so many known and accepted differences and hand finishing. There is no paint to analyze or coin type metal to compare to known originals via analysis, as was conducted to discover the Gestapo fakes. Just silver.

Differences in eye sockets, returned rings, polished, worn, dug, ring size differences which affect how much of the leaves are showing, engraving, 30s rings with 40s skulls, Upside down skulls, tooling marks, no tooling marks.

Its hand finished, variations are expected. But for a $12,000 ring, people sure are forgiving.

3d, laser scan, some graphic design, varied, laser-cut dyes, soldering and hand finishing. This is simplistic. It would be harder than this, but not much. The technology is there and someone who has it could do it without a ton of effort. The set up would not take long at all.

The prices seem static to me or at least have reached a crawl range and may rise slowly from here. Which of us will pay 15 grand for the next ring to an LAH or SD or Camp officer is what will determine how bad it gets.

For that kind of dough, I want one from Himmler himself!

In fact, for that kind of money, Ill take two blood orders, or a couple nice SS Helmets, Couple chained 36's, Few SS EMs, a bunch of named SA's, A clutch of SS rune rings. So many possibilities!! Now all I need is a spare 12 g's!

I really think that there are already super ring fakes out there. Many of the rings Im seeing today, just dont look like what I saw several years ago. Problem is, I just cant pinpoint why without seeing the ring in person, even with good pics. Overall, some rings just make me uncomfortable. How long did people think that the fakers would continue to put a zero in front of the second number to give the ring away and not fix the myriad other flaws in their fakes? Im pretty sure they didnt just stop. But clearly, the days of flea market sellers sand-casting obvious junk, are over.
Still love SSTKs though.

Cheers,
Ryan
Ehrenring

I HAVE A T.K.RING THAT IS IN GREAT SHAPE.BUT IT IS HONEST WEAR,A STONE MINT RING FOR $7000.00 MORE THAN WHAT RINGS WITH A LITTLE WEAR GO FOR!NOT FOR ME,AND 10 YEARS FROM NOW THERE IS VERY LITTLE UP-SIDE MONEY WISE.THATS NO FUN.

Hi Jim,

Yeah, as with women, I prefer my rings to have a bit of "honest wear".

Sure, we all like 'em stone mint at the beginning, but in the end, slightly used is way more fun. IMO, of course.

Cheers,
Ryan

Thanks for the input guys. I also like some honest wear. After all an SS Officer wanted to wear his prize for all to see and not put it in a drawer! Some honest wear really adds to the history of an item.

Concerning the "Super-fake" rings, my theory, if everything else about a ring lines up, is to concentrate on the engraving. If the faker is using new technology (Laser/computer scanning and carving), the inside engraving poses a problem because if this method is used on the inside inscription, the same name will be duplicated. As most of you know, I'm in the process of making some copies the old-fashioned way, carving the master by hand. I visited an old-time master engraver and he showed me what's involved. Assuming you are competent at calligraphy, you'd still have to master the engraver's technique. It's extremely difficult. A master engraver could do it, of course. It'll probably get around to that. Hand engraving is an old art, so there's not too many around that still do it. The engraving is usually the key to determining originally on these new rings popping up.

I agree the engraving will probably give a repro away in most cases. I assume it's very hard to reproduce the old world way of doing it by hand.

Concerning the values and continuing collectability of Honor Rings, I think if you have a professionally researched dossier on the named owner and provenance of the rings orgin (how it came to your sellers hands), they are still collectable. Pricing has stagnated as of late as compared to other items related to the SS. They remain one of the most personal items awarded however as each one had only one SS owner and they are all traceable, unlike daggers and most other items...for the most part.

I believe that was the original question?

Mark

I have various items in my collection and they all have their special charm. My items are mostly SS, but SA cloth items are especially yummy, with the beautiful dyes they used in the collar tabs. For caps, it's hard to top an early Allgemeine SS visor with the early skull, or a Salty Waffen-SS crusher cap. But Don Boyle once told me, If you had only one item and it was a Totenkopfring, you'd have it made. Hard to argue with that. TK Rings get lonely without their caps, so here's something to keep them company.

Well from all the opinions I would say that the TKHR is still going strong! Thanks guys.

I guess we'll find out on Sept. 29th how popular they still are.

quote:

Originally posted by Reichsfuhrer:
I guess we'll find out on Sept. 29th how popular they still are.

I hope they are popular on the 29th - I'm bringing mine to sell.

Denny, You have a great ring. You should not have any trouble selling it. Are you really sure you want to???

Hi Erich, Thanks for your comment. I'm hoping to hook up with Don Boyle at the show, and get a certificate which should help to move it. Although I love the ring and appreciate the rarity and historical importance, my interest has waned somewhat. It should be in a collection where it can be a "centerpiece".
Apologies to G - I probably shouldn't have commented here about selling it. I don't mean for this to be a free ad. I'll not comment further. Thanks guys!!

Denny, no problem. Its a very nice ring. Whether Don goes to the MAX or not that ring stands on its own as an original! I invite those interested to do a search here and they'll see some good photos of it..,G.

What is the date and title of the posting with the pictures of the ring? Can you post again? Thanks

Josias,
Here ya go!
http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/74097573/m/9790032033/p/1