UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum SS-Nordland Schnapps cup & ring

I got this SS-Nordland Regiment Schnapps cup and ring years ago. They came as a group, ostensibly found in Kurland. Now, while the Wiking's SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment Nordland saw combat there in 1944, whether the ring and cup were really found in the ‘Courland Pocket’, or whether they were even found together, is anybody’s guess. (They also came with a Polizei ring that I posted here previously.)

The cup is silver, stamped 800, and quite tarnished. It would probably polish up nicely but I hesitate to do that. ‘Gehring’ might be the owner’s name. I wonder if there used to be a family crest or maybe the unit insignia in that shield-like mark above the name. The significance of the date, 5.12.1940, maybe related to when the SS-Nordland Regiment joined the Wiking Division in early December 1940. It was incorporated into the newly formed 11. SS Panzer-Grenadier Nordland Division in 1943.

I think it's a cool and unusual relic. You sometimes see Third Reich schnapps cups for sale by online auction houses. Maybe a new target for collecting. They likely get copied and faked now too!

The ring is brass or a similar alloy with nice blackening. Unusual pattern though. The sun wheel swastika was the SS-Nordland's insignia. There is a rectangular mark on the inside of the band but it’s unintelligible, even with a loupe. Note also the little rectangular hole in the band (indicated by a red arrow). Anyone have an idea about that?

I do not do, or know anything about period rings, but, that is one great looking ring.
And, yes the cup is cool also.

fantasy ring

- yes,,I agree with Evgeniy.. An old fantasy ring...

And no way would a silversmith stamp the tasting edge of a cup like that,,,no way.. , On the bottom,, down bottom outside,,but not there........

Stephen, the ring is a fantasy ring. One can encounter these brass made rings that look more or less the same with different appearces .I had also brass rings with : one Luftwaffe sign , a Mercedes emblem and one with just some carving lines on the front.

Thanks guys,
Who knows where the Schnapps cup was made, or by whom. Of course I have no provenance, but I remain to be convinced that it's a fake. The ring is indeed old but I did have my suspicions about it. Still, it is pretty old and I think it's a beauty. You win some, you lose some. Another dream shattered by GDC!
Stephen

not shattered!!, but tuition pieces! , and Everyone has a box [hopefully small] of tuition pieces

Really on the cup,,,you can go on the silver forums [one is listed on here on our site somewhere] and they'd tell you the same,,it would never be hallmarked on the upper rim like that.. Only reason I'm sure is because I've seen it before asked on the silver forums...

There used to be at least 5 really good silver forums,,,but thru out the years now I'm pretty sure there are only the 2 good ones...............