UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum SS honor ring. 1936.

Hello,
I have this Totenkopf honor ring that was passed on from my dad and I am wanting to get it authenticated and then sold.This ring was given to my dad in Klagenfurt in Austria in 1947. My dad was 25 and waiting to be demobed. He was in the R. E.M.E. (Royal electrical mechanical engineers) It was given to him by a lady older than himself, who was Austrian, as she was called Almayer Ludmiller. Ludmiller being her first name. She was about 35 years old.
She said her husband had been taken by the Russians.
The ring inside says S.lb.Wolferseder
After doing some research on another site like this, I think it belonged to an August Wolferseder SS-Nr. 254 387.
He was a listed member of the Wiking division.
I have some other documentation that somebody found, and I’m thinking that this may be an original ring with a bit of documentation to back it up.
Photos to follow.
Are there any collectors out there who could help me more with authentication please?
Anybody out there who would be interested such a ring for their collection?
I am in England.
Thanks for any help given.
…… Photos will hopefully be later today, need to figure out how to make the individual photos smaller as they are too large to add at the moment!

Hi Andy,
Welcome to the GDC HR Forum. Our SSHR experts should be along within the next few days. Please be a little patient. Note, however, that you are unlikely to get useful advice without clear, detailed photos of all surfaces of your ring: inside, outside, above. There are a number of image resizing apps online that work pretty well. I use one called Image Resizer. Also, if, like me, you use a Mac, you can try a quick photo resizing simply by clicking on the image file, selecting 'Quick Actions' from the menu, then 'Convert Image'. This should give you a couple of size options for jpeg files to select.
Stephen

Hi Stephen,
Thank you so much for your reply. Think I may have sorted the photos now. Fingers crossed
AndyRose

Photos attached.

I like ur ring, IMO original, all details look correct!

Photos.

Photos attached

There are a few more photographs to put on but I need to scale them down first so it may take a while!

Hello Evgeniy,
Thanks.I was told on another site that you are ‘the ring man’ so your opinion counts for a lot. Do you buy at all or give advice on how to sell?
Thanks again, AndyRose

More photos.

More photos.

More photos.

I think I’ve covered everything possible there!
AndyRose

I don’t have the documents, they are ones found online.
AndyRose

You can post an advertisement for the sale of this ring in my group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1785798831564395
There are many members

I don't know a great deal about the SS Ehrenring but this is one of the most beautiful examples I have seen. It's in pristine condition. I'm envious.
Stephen

Andy,, welcome to the forum...

Evgeniy is a long time member here,[,think we've met almost 20 years ago now].. - Through his study he makes probably the very best copy of an Honor Ring out there!

- * We also have Antonio he has the newest book out with the latest of scientific studies of the ring
.
-Here is a link,worth taking a quick look at : https://forum.germandaggers.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=353385#Post353385

There are many others here too who 'know' their honor rings.....

- * Even more important is to compare. You have an early type of Honor ring.. So check out the Bittrich topic..

- You'll see its the same early type as yours other than a few things. : https://forum.germandaggers.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=173385#Post173385


SO,, after some study and comparisons,,,what do you think ?! ..,G.

Hi Gaspare,
Thank you for the information and the links. Very useful.
My Ring looks to be in very good condition as though it was hardly worn but to my untrained eye it looks similar to this one in your last link and I believe mine looks authentic. Nothing jumps out as being out of place.
AndyRose

Good work Andy! Well, it seems you have an authentic early / type 1 pattern Honor ring... Many prefer these more than the 2nd pattern. But really, any authentic example is good to have..

Do you collect anything else or is this it!?

No other collections. Just this one. I got this soon after my dad died and put out a few feelers about 10 years ago and just kept hitting brick walls. Nobody seem to want to touch it. I think I even offered it to a museum in London and they weren’t interested. Looking back, I was obviously just looking in the wrong places. I am just looking to sell it in the most secure and easy fashion whilst getting a good price.

The market on them is always unstable.. There are times they are very high,,and times collectors won't touch them unless they are very cheap.. That is a nice ring,,and not a cheap one!

Do yourself a big favor. - Don't be in a rush... Check , search around and see what they are going for.. Then you have choices of selling only there in the UK,,or the US and other places.

There is the auction route also but don't forget you pay a commission maybe 20% + or -.... Take your time with this one! and thanks for showing it here...,G.

Outstanding ring congratulations with an accepted COA your ring is valued between $15,000 and $20,000 in the current market IMO good luck regards and best, Ryan

All good advice. Auctions are fine but as G said, they take a chunk for commission. Of course they do the leg work. You have the info yourself and you can always list here on the forum as the ring has been established. As said don't be in a rush and get all your info/pics into an organized manner and you should have no problem getting a buyer. Good luck. Ron

As mentioned, I don't know a great deal about SSHRs, but this one is a beauty. Personally, I believe that the comments you have received here and on the WRF should suffice as pretty strong confirmation of your ring's authenticity.

As I understand, so-called 'Certificates of Authenticity' from certain individuals are no longer worth the paper they are written on. My advice is, don't waste your money paying for a dubious piece of paper that you don't need.
Stephen

To comment further I brought an HR to a very well known, published, long time and mostly respected dealer at the SOS, showed him the ring and the very first words uttered were "You will have to show it to Don Boyle" His name still carries weight..... I am cognizant of the "issues" and controversary surrounding many LOA and COA. Having said this I was NOT suggesting any particular individual or source. When you are attempting to sell such a high end high dollar item surrounded by stigma as Honor Rings those buying, for the most part will want some form of authentication. This can come from from many qualified, accepted and respected sources. I believe that this is still "beneficial" to obtain the best price. In terms of "need" one need only look at this very forum to see the myriad of posted examples where a complete lack of consensus from the well intentioined forum "authorities" either condemned a ring or caused confusion by those who said fake" then altered an opinion or said "good" only to alter later to bad........ This I know from personal first person experience. cheers and best to all....!!!!!! RS

Ryan.,,, its tough camp with Honor rings! With some of the much older dealers who are friends they have their kickback network.. I wouldn't write it on a whim,,I've seen it first hand and probably you to a degree too....

- And,, it could be with anything we're interested in,, daggers, Cloth, medals & badges, uniforms, flags,,anything!! With C.O.A.s your usually working with daggers, high end SS cloth, personality items. Oddball stuff too, 3rd reich silverware, Holocaust, ID tags, etc.etc.

OK,,, how it works , a quick example , -* A dealer that knows daggers. Gets asked by a customer/collector about the dagger and wants a COA.. Asks the dealer whos table he was at,,,who could have said on the spot - 'hey kid, I've been buying and selling this type dagger for 30+ years,,the dagger is 100% good ,don't worry about it'. -
BUT,, he doesn't,,,the dealer sent him over to one of the 'Dagger Gurus' who proceeded to give the young man a piece of paper saying 'This dagger is 100% authentic and I offer my lifetime guarantee'! and $300. later everyone is happy including the dealer who sent the young man to his friends table. That dealers steak dinner was free that night..

I once seen one of the dagger gurus give a COA on a Wolchowstock he sold on consignment.. Believe me,,this dealer knew very little about the item as I overheard him talking to his friend on what a weird item it was and how the hell could anyone say what is real or fake about them! [which someone can whos experienced with them].....


- * SO,, is that terrible? What if it was a $50 kickback [which I've seen too] is that better?. NO they are both pretty crappy to do to a young collector. Most COAs aren't worth the paper they are printed on. 'Lifetime Guarantees' ask the guys with all the 'famous German' expert COAs who has been out of the hobby for years now that their certified Iron Cross is a 'Floch fake'..... When I first started posting here I wanted nothing but to break up this 'cabal'. I hoped to a degree on some things I and others have succeeded..
.

Sorry for my rant guys. A bit of advice: Forget about making a ton of money buying and selling this stuff. ALL the COAs in the world aren't going to help with that. Buy what you like,,what interests you.. Invest in some reference books.. Look at some of the same pieces at various dealers tables [looks are usually free].. Make some comparisons,,,check the various internet forums... THEN make your purchase. You'll have fun, be confident in what you bought,, and have your prize!!

Hello AndyRose,

I can only tell ....... too bad I was not in money enough to improve the best offer you did receive.

Ric

OP I have sent you a private message. I would be interested in purchasing this.