UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum Skull & snakes ring on eBay

Hi guys - Happy New Year!

I saw this ring advertised on eBay for $425. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me, but only if it's an authentic piece. It is a well-known pattern. I have seen it referred to elsewhere as a 'Wehrwolf Ring', with the broken-toothed skull and snakes on the shanks. I have a couple of different versions of this ring, all marked 835 and F* denoting Frey and Co.

The details on this ring are very clear - maybe even too crisp for a well-worn ring that's 80-90 years old!. However, there are a few other things things that would make me hesitate to purchase it:

1. I would expect to see blacking in the recesses, for example, the eye sockets, nose, cheekbones, around the teeth and around the snakes. This one has no blacking, perhaps due to over-zealous cleaning. In particular, look at those frontal photos of the skull.

2. there is no apparent silver or maker mark. Also, the inner surface of the band is covered in black stains. While that might be tarnish, it doesn't look right to me. The inner surface of an old, well-worn ring should normally be shiny and smooth.

3. what is that suspicious flaw running down from below the left of the nose and across the teeth? It could be a casting flaw. That alone would kill this ring for me. If it's cast, it's a copy.

This is either a too enthusiastically cleaned, authentic ring or it's a copy. Interested in other opinions. Is it good or is it bad?

Where are the wear marks, I see no sign of this ever being worn .From rings I have seen you can tell they were used, this one does not. From the pictures did not see maker or silver mark , from rings I've seen there is a silver/maker mark. Kinda looks to me like a ring you would find in a Shopping mall for $20-40 dollars. Just my thought.

One looker fake , band is too thick , cast defect line on teeth also ect ect

Yep, the band is often - but not always - thinner due both to wear and also limited availability of silver in wartime German. But I'm less worried about the thickness of the band than about the complete absence of any signs of wear, not to mention the rough-looking inner band. And that horrible casting flaw kills it. This is an expensive copy of a well-known pattern. Gotta love FleaBay! Here's a good one for comparison...

I agree, the fake ring is molded and! has crisp lines , we don’t often see that combination.
The black “corrosion” on the skull front and inside the band is artificial deep black, not so good, no nuances in the black.


Stephen it is a pleasure to see your authentic ring.

Yeah, how did they do that and not notice that horrible casting flaw? Yet, some poor sucker will bid the $425 for this junk.

Yes the thick band and faults on teeth kill it for me right away.. BUT, aged or perhaps made to look ground dug and it could be a problem for a beginner! Tough times guys. I've always said there is a finite amount of these things.. Our cheap rings of 10 years ago are no more

Well, you know what they say, There's one for every seat.

Hello and happy continuation of the new year!

IMO those black markings on the inside, it may look like "patina" but it's likely casting defects hiding underneath some liver of sulfur.

Also note that rarely are there more patina on the inside of a ring than on the outside.

Indeed, thanks Mahler. What is also interesting is the crispness of the details for a ring that has been cast in a mold. This was noted by Benten. If it wasn't for that horrible casting flaw on the teeth, this ring might fool a lot of people. And, while there is blackening, it's all in the wrong places. The seller provided relatively clear photos, which is unusual. Often, the photos of copied TR rings that we see advertised are blurry, deliberately making details hard to see.

Stephen

That's good observation. Yes, usually the scammer will try to decieve the buyer with poorly taken photographs. I'm sure some poor soul that's new to collecting will fall for this one. But I hope that person will learn a valuable lesson from it.

few more good hints:


You see a ring that looks pretty good but the photos bad.. You ask for better and they tell you this is the best they can do:

You go to see what else they have for sale.
Multiples of the ring a bad sign!
Other rings that are fantasy, no good!
And,,if they have other items of all sorts and just the ring photos not good be very suspicious!..