UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum Private Purchase SuperFake Gallery

I'm gonna start adding the ones I see around that are fakes that I keep seeing people buy. Here's a variation on the smashed skull/smiling skull repop that's just nicht gut in every way. Avoid! A real smashed/smiling skull is a piece of art. The two I have are among my absolute favorites.

Why is it called 'smashed skull'?

Ah well this ones a fake of course but honestly that's what G calls it--- largely because the thin hollow (attached) skull is often smashed in or dented in just due to wear. Finding one intact is rare, I have one of each example... Obviously other patterns can be "smashed" due to the construction of course, I know I have at least one other like that- but I suppose that this pattern in particular is much more often found smushed in to borrow from Gaspares description, than the others

here's a 'Smashed Skull'.. Rarely do you see a mint example. The skull is hollow and a thin gage silver and usually smashed..

Mike this copy you show [Skull & Bones] is the 'Degner ad skull'. That's a good copy ,,a fine wearer!

O yea that is the degner ad skull! Never realized how similar they were really- seen a lot of those as repro-

Ah OK thanks all, now I know! :-)
Mark

Here's a WW1 SuperFake....

collectors are buying WW1 rings lately because of the shortage of good WW2 rings.. Here's the inner shot.. Everything wrong with it for a WW1 ring.

and remember,,they can / and do put emblems and unit numbers on the shoulderboard as well as change it to any color they want..

We were talking about Tank Tread rings on another topic. Just want to post these 2 SuperFakes wide band/tank tread rings.. Careful because with some expert ageing these 2 can cause some big trouble. Also goes to show that rings with 'Gems' in the eyes are usually authentic. These 'Ruby' eyes are fake as the ring..
They've been on some of the German auction sites but not much in the US and around that I've seen so again,,be careful!!

Good information, Gaspare,

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Dave

Well this pattern certainly qualifies! A good known pattern..

These are [for now] being sold as 'Reproduction'.

Some aging and the right hallmark and this will be down right dangerous!

Beware:

Hello G.,

first, thank you for posting these very nice repro.

By the pics, I assume they are one piece made?..am I right ?

Ric

they could be cast.. I've tried to contact the seller but get no answer.... It's real nice and clean and with good finishing...

Now with laser scanning etc. a real ring could be scanned and a die could be produced from it! Not 100% sure yet.. Still some work to do . As soon as I know I will post here.. In the meanwhile,,those purchasing this pattern must be very careful.!

Bumping this to the top.. Had a email asking me about this WestFront ring .

The exact ring, exact photos.. Now being sold as authentic but the seller I'm pretty sure is different. The member saw it on German eBay,,then saw 2 more and emailed me..
A dangerous reproduction. I wish at the time I had some extra money as I would have bought one to study.. But as of now a pattern we'll always have to have a lot of scrutiny about!!.. Be careful!

yes, that WestFront ring above is truly a SuperFake...

Here is one that barely qualifies.. From the outside appearance it looks kind of good. Maybe some ageing, wear etc. and it would fool a few..

A version of a 'Tank Tread' ring.. Even with the smooth band its still called that. They have a wide band, separate skull soldered on. Sizing seam can be to rear of band or in front.

So, the outer looks kinda good..

Inner band -

Here is the big tells:
Band to thick.
no seam,
skull one piece to band,
poorly finished inner band.
- an overall cast postwar piece...

this going in the Superfakes.... To the newer collectors they'll see the period adverts and a couple rings and figure this good..

- It's not,, never in silver.. Poor , mushy, waxy, detail, casting flaw on inside,, poor finished inner band,,a bit too thick... leave these silver ones for someone else...

Hello,

here's a LW repro ring that in my opinion well deserves this Gallery.

Of course if you compare it with an ALPACCA one original, repro is a bit smaller as expected.

Please note fakers didn't care erasing ALPACCA marking, before adding 800 silver content marking.......and the well known "pearls" left by casting process.

Ric

see pearls

Alpacca marking still left

800 silver content marking added

All in all yes, a SuperFake .. IF, if they did a little bit more after production work it would be even harder to determine one of these. But then it does not become worth it . Or made to appear ground dug..

- But a dangerous copy.

Silver Alpacca? That's a new one. Thanks for posting.

Haven't looked at this topic in a long while!! These SuperFakes are really good some of them would still fool many of us..

So I'm adding the U-Boat ring. It has its own topic but it really needs to be warned about,,,the link. Even has a period advert to add provanance!

https://forum.germandaggers.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358050#Post358050

This is dangerous.. Most of ring collectors are short on KM rings so this just might make you grab and go maybe too quick! Its a nice looking ring,,,too nice!