UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum In quest of a SSTK

I had seen guys have these SS Himmler rings, as they used to be called, from the begining. They were always scarce and never cheap.
Never paid much attention to them at the time it was just a piece of jewelry and not a cool dagger. The ones I seen back then was usually on a finger of a collector, or in his pocket with loose change.

To get a real SS Himmler ring was not easy when you wanted one like I did, in excellent condition. Plus I wanted 'a deal'. Well the only thing that happened over the many years was the price just went out of sight.
Then one day very recently I heard one was just found in a Vet's estate jewelry box by a "Picker". He didn't know what he had but knew that it "could be something".
So he place it in a little Tinker-Bell type auction where he takes most of his 'finds' and soon there were a few people who confirmed it "was something".
From the poor photos I could tell it was a very fine conditioned ring but was it authentic? It was "AS - IS" sale. But maybe nobody would notice it. Perhaps it is real?
Well soon there was already a $1,800 bid sitting on it so I know knew someone else thought it was real.
So I said to myself...I'm crazy to make a go at this SSTK without a Don Boyle COA - but that gut feeling told me to go for it.
Well it was a true slugfest with me wanting to quit three times but I ended up being the 'Last Man Standing'. Then it was over I said "OH SHOOT!" What did I do?!
I never anticipated receiving an artifact so badly. It finally arrived. Ripped that box open and .....read the date 20-4-43, the name ***, looked at the seam and everywhere else. But I don't really know what I'm looking at! Is this thing 'good'?
So I take the best shots I can with my dagger camera and ring up Andy of Military Nut. Andy was a great help. Having the largest collection of SS Honor rings - he would know. Well Andy said it Looked good to him but I would need to get Don Boyle's Cert. on it to be 100% sure. Of course I'll bring it to the SOS. Andy arranged everything else. Big Thanks to Andy !
Don Boyle was plesant and told me his fee and I accepted and.....held my breath. Don pulled out this special loupe and very carefully and slowly started to turn the ring. While doing so he was talking almost like a Doctor at an Atopsy. Looking at it, stopping then again turning and giving a detailed running verbal account of the features of the ring. It was just a plain thrill to hear him note the features and then came the three words I've been waiting to hear "It is Good" !
I felt I could breathe again. All this was being done at Andy's Booth with a couple of chairs and us to the side.
I finally have my Totenkopf ring! And it has the most important Don Boyle COA attached. What a great experience it has been for me with Don and Andy. You guys are great. Thank You!

Hope the rest of you guys can one day have a thrill like I did. There's nothing else quite like it.

Best Wishes,
-serge-

Serge,

Wow! Congratulations! I love stories like this with a great ending. It was just meant to be, fate as you will. There are those that have, and there are those that will. Thanks.

Serge,, Congrats! that is a beauty of a ring,,very nice.. Yes Andy is a hell of a nice guy and always willing to help. He has so many HRs he has Don on a special retainer! .. A small item but very personal. You also might get a surprise if you find the guy on the servive list and he's a big time combat vet with a bunch of awards.. Let us know if you find any interesting history on the man...

PS
don't worry about posting his name. IF anything it is better to post it. Get the name out and confirmed good [as you already did] now the name more than likely will not by used by the counterfeiters...

Thanks Mikee and Gaspare.

Well the name seems to be a difficult one to find. And there are perhaps some variations on what the letters may be. Plu, Plo, Pla, Plv.
for it looks like Pluichinger. Ross Kelbaugh of SS-Research is looking into it now also. Another great guy I might add who came by and took a look at the ring 'in hand'. He will be checking in the archives further for varients. One good thing is it is an unsual name no matter how it's spelled, there won't be a dozen.
There were many collectors with their Honor Rings getting examined by Don Boyle at Andy's booth. Some even bringing their rings from overseas for Don's certification.

No question who the "to go to guy" is on these.

-serge-

As a collector, these are the stories that make our hobby special IMO. These rings are very special and I'm lucky to have one in my collection as well. You really hit the jackpot with this ring and all I can say is CONGRATS!

Congradulations Serge on a great find:
Sorry I had to skip the show this year and miss out on some of the fun like Don authenticating this ring.
That is one beautiful example.
With a failly unique name like that I bet Ross comes up with some good information.
Jim

Great ring and great story, just to confirm they are still out there.

Ric

Serge,

I read it the same as you, Pluichinger. Good luck in finding him.

nice score....congrats..

Eric:
I wanted to tell my little "collector story" because collectors can appreciate what it is really like.
Jim:
You were missed also. It was a good time. Well there's the MAX coming next.
Ric:
Yes, they are still out there but Honor rings are real hard to find, at least for me they are. I have better luck with SS daggers but then most of us probably do.
Mikee,
Don Boyle thoughts also.

Mititariamania, and the rest of of you guys. Thanks for the kind words.

-serge-

Serge,

Great looking ring & a terrific acquisition story. I bid on such a ring one at an auction via phone & found myself getting caught in the moment. At the end I was the last man standing & while I didn't overpay, I certainly didn't get a deal. The ring was completely period & the experience was awesome. It was also a lesson to me not to bid with my heart

Serge,

It could not have happened to a nicer guy!
CONGRATULATIONS on a fantastic ring, and a wonderful story.

Are you playing the lottery? Perhaps we should take you out to the cassino, you seem to have had incredible luck in finding this amazing piece... or perhaps amazing patience... or both.

In any case, I am very happy for you! Continued good hunting (and luck!).

Johnny

Serge,

THAT'S NOT A GOOD RING.

THAT'S A FANTASTIC RING!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS.

John P.

,,A great story and a beauty of a ring.
Congrats

Thanks for all the kind words of support guys.

Just when I was thinking I might need to press button and "Fill Basket" if I ever wanted to get one of these - whamo! Fresh from the weeds!
When Andy told me what ones in this condition sell for - only then I knew I got a deal.

AND ALL THE CONGRATS AND SUPPORT FROM SO MANY OF YOU GUYS IN THE HONOR RING CLUB MAKES IT ESPECIALLY NICE.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY.

Serge

Serge:
One additional thought here. Please keep us posted inre. to what research produces about the original recipient. Gut feel tells me this story isn't over yet!
Jim

Im not 100% sure with this pics and some using and wearing of the ring - so the engraving, of course, isn`t so good readable.

But i think from this what i see, the engraved name is "Plaichinger"
- make some searching with this name and you will be surprised -!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats from germany


Odal

quote:

Originally posted by odal:

Im not 100% sure with this pics and some using and wearing of the ring - so the engraving, of course, isn`t so good readable.

But i think from this what i see, the engraved name is "Plaichinger"
- make some searching with this name and you will be surprised -!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats from germany


Odal

Serge,
Here is one I found in the woodwork a few years ago. The recipient was researched and his name in this case was Warch. Notice the similarity in the "a". I agree with odal - "Plaichinger". Beautiful ring!

Wow! Denny, thanks for chiming in! That letter looks just like mine!...so it is an "a" afterall ! Gee no wonder nobody could find a "Pluichinger" because he was "Plaichinger".

This is a classic case in point how sometimes just getting one letter wrong can change the whole research even after finding the artifact. But it goes with the hobby.

I'm going to have to ring Ross up and see if he can find something on this "Plaichinger".
Many Thanks Denny! Hope you find your Walther PP tomorrow!

Thanks Jim, looks like your right, we may have a live one here.

Thanks Odal, Leave it to a german to tell what the letter looks like!

Sorry for the "pulled pix" guys. It's not me doing it. It's "Photobucket" attacking MY ALBUM because MY ALBUM has many....now hold on to your chairs...SWASTIKAS in it!
I don't have titles on anything and it's not supposed to be on a "share" program...but they are still deleting many photos. I don't know what to do about it. Oh, I tried to complain - HA!

Best of Collectors Luck to All,

-serge-

Here are the two "offensive" photos "photobucket" removed. Lets see how long they last.

-serge-

here for example no. 605 Julius Plaichinger

surch the web with - Plaichinger - Julius - SS

and you will find a lot of stuff

http://home.arcor.de/sturmbrig...turmhauptfuehrer.htm

Thanks Again odal.
Well there sure seems to be a lot of info on this Julius Plaichinger. He is very early officer on Himmler's staff and in the SD.
However I wonder if it could be the man for the ring since I think Julius would have received an Honor ring in 1934 rather than 1943.

Anyone else think that or...?

-serge-

Hi Serge et al:

Thought I would give you all an update here on what I found so far in attempting to solve this mystery. As to the spelling "Pluichinger", there is no one in the Master Index of SS Names (million+) in the National Archives. This was created from the names found in the SS Office Files, SS Enlisted Files (created at the end of the war & very limited), SS Lists (drawn from documents found among several SS agencies at the end of the war) and the Race & Settlement Files (application process that SS men & their fiancés had to go through to get married). In the NSDAP membership card files (there are 2 separate files), there is no "Pluichinger." Now with "Plaichinger," there are two with SS Officer Files. Hanno Plaichingen's file just has one basic information card and no indication of receiving a ring or any other award. Julius has an SS Officer File with his Führerstammkarte. Unfortunately, this does not indicate receipt of a ring. His entries in the SS-Dienstalterslistes through November 1944 do not indicate it either. He also has a Race & Settlement File that I have to check, but it is an unlikely source for confirming receipt of a ring. NSDAP membership files would not have this information either. My guess is that it was given to a NCO/enlisted man whose files are probably in Germany and, consequently, only accessible to the veteran or the immediate family. This is the best I can do at the present. My advice to anyone purchasing a ring is to have the research done a head of time if the recipient's story is real important to you. My experience has been that Totenkopfrings are difficult to nail down to one person with absolute certainty. Here is the skinny of a classic tale:

Had a collector contact me to research a ring. Told me the name of the person he wanted researched saying it was his ring and was received in 1944. Checked that person's SS Officer File and records confirmed he had received a ring (though personnel record cards do not indicate the year issued). Noticed another guy with the same last name. Checked his SS Officer File & he too had received a ring. Better yet, there were photos of this chap in his uniform. Even better yet, there was a letter in his file to his wife about the ring being sent to her in 1944 for him (you hardly ever see stuff like this). Told the collector of the results of the search and asked how did he know his ring didn't belong to the other guy. Collector never replied. Guess he short circuited. Perhaps he is part of the "don't confuse me with facts, I just want the stuff" school of collecting.

This is one reason why I like identifying numbered daggers (and just ided two more today).

Enjoy!

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com
www.HistoricGraphics.com

Ross, it is also true that some SS Officers files were not all kept up to date in the 1940's and an Officer may have gotten a ring without it be registered?

Logic would dictate that it could happen, especially dealing with a governmental agency. There was a large bureaucracy whose job was to administer the SS Officer personnel files & related documentation up to the end of the war. It does raise questions though when you see an SS Officer's Führerstammkarte with service entries updated for the war years, particularly 1943 & 1944, and yet no indication of a Totenkopfring supposedly received for that year. So unless there is some accompanying supplemental records, I have to ask how you can sure the named ring in question was not given to another SS Officer or NCO/enlisted man with the same last name. Those rings whose attribution is based on supportive period documentation will be the rarest among the gems and appeal to those collectors that particularly appreciate that aspect.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com
www.HistoricGraphics.com

UPDATE:
It Looks like Odal and Denny were correct all along.

There are some recent developments on my SS Honor ring. Don Boyle contacted me and said that after studying the lettering he decided that the name on the ring is "Plaichinger" and not "Pluichinger". He issued me a new COA with the corrected name. He included a note saying that the name is the only one on the 1944 list so he could possibly be the man.
Julius Plaichinger
Party# 1665183
SS# 36141
Born: 2-1-92
Rank: Standartenfuhrer 12-9-37

Don further states: "On the 1944 Dienstaltersliste it shows Julius as having the Honor Sword but does not show the Honor ring. In many cases the Honor Ring & Honor Sword does not show up on the Dienst List because the officer or his Commanding Officer had to submit it to be included on his awards lists as these were awards by Himmler and not Hitler and the NSDAP".
Thanks Don!

...And Thanks to Ross!

-serge-

CONGRATS Serge!!!

How wonderful to be able to positively ID the original owner!

A real piece of history!

Continued good hunting!
Johnny

Congrats Serge!

And always good luck in hunting!