My AK Ring Collection

[MP716VN]

I obtained most of these from one source. Comments welcome. If you want close-up pictures of any, let me know by row (1 starting at the bottom and # to the left to right.) Thanks, CHUCK



Click on thumbnail to see larger picture...

[AFF96]

Nice collection, I have a couple, direct from owner's, that are similiar...but no expert...congrats

[Steve P]

Super collection mate...could you post pics of the one with the PAB on the centre?

[afrikasandman]

Well there are some stellar originals in there for sure but there are at least 5 that you should take out because they are bad. The ones that are wrong for sure are Row 2 the first two from left to right are bad, Row 3 3 and 5 for sure, likely #4 as well but I would like to see many more close ups. Also don't care for Row 4 1 and 2. The others have real potential so congrats on those! If you ever wish to part with some of those please don't forget me The ones that I feel are repros are based on the fact that lots of them are on ebay (never a good sign) and some of the others just don't seem to be what I would expect from the local artisans that made these rings. But the majority look to be good pieces! Matt

[MP716VN]

Ring w/PAB Pictures

I have been told that the repro rings do not have the inscription on the inside of the band... Mine does









Click on thumbnail for larger picture.

[MP716VN]

Matt - Here's a better look

Maybe you'll change your mind about some of the ones you listed...

[MP716VN]

Matt - Here's a better look #2

[MP716VN]

Matt - Here's a better look #3

[tropenmilitaria]

The problem with anything field made is that you can never know if they are 100% period, unless perhaps if you got it direct from the German veteran. Matt is correct in that these DAK rings seem to be all over the internet. All of the ones i have seen attributed to specific DAK veteran groupings have had that crude Arab market look to them but I guess that some vets got them better made by European jewelers. And some were purchased long after the war as a keepsake.

[afrikasandman]

Well I gotta say that based on the pics im still not liking 99% of the ones with larger pics. The only one I feel may stand a snowballs chance in hell of those with the better pics is the last one posted. But there are some issues with that as well. Why is the inside look all pock marked up? Usually seen in poor casting jobs and then scratched with the tree and the sides. Also appears to be a stamp on the outside of the band... not all that common with these rings. Most unless jewler made are not marked. If this is a makers mark why the hell is it on a hand made ring? If its a silver content stamp then why isn't it more clear? The work to the front is rather convincing but I think at the end of the day its a bad one as well. The rest are definatly not period rings in my opinion. The skinny ring with the palm and trees could possibly be a veterans ring but its hard to call.
The ring with the PAB on it... that is beyond bad. No ring sold to soldiers would have those huge lines across it like that were the two haves were made in a mold... bad tot he bone
The ring with the palm tree and swords with the 19 and then 42 on the other side doesn't really do it for me either. Again possibly a veteran association ring but rather unlikly.
Next, the really sloppy ring with the huge blob of a palm tree, swas and 1941 date is a fake and I have one just like it I bought in my younger days.
Now we come to the one with the black Africa continent on the front.... Again could be a vet association ring but most of those have the palm tree and this one lacks that. The thing that really kills this one for me is the 925 stamp on the inside. Its not marked in the german style .925, its just 925. Second of all very few german rings are made with 925 silver. Usually .800 or .825 but it seems that few are made with that marking. So again another likly bad one and I would be very surprised if the silver content was even what is marked on it. Think you got hosed on a few of these rings but that will happen.
That ring with that big palm tree on the front likely came from ebay. You can look up Afrika Korps or Afrikakorps and find a few of them and from time to time that PAB style to the front. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but not all of these are what they appear to be. Sorry. Matt
There are some private purchase DAK rings that are stamped with an arabic marking on the inside of the band and there are some german examples marked stamped on the inside that I felt were good.

[Steve P]

Well there are some stellar originals in there for sure but there are at least 5 that you should take out because they are bad. The ones that are wrong for sure are Row 2 the first two from left to right are bad, Row 3 3 and 5 for sure, likely #4 as well but I would like to see many more close ups. Also don't care for Row 4 1 and 2. The others have real potential so congrats on those! If you ever wish to part with some of those please don't forget me The ones that I feel are repros are based on the fact that lots of them are on ebay (never a good sign) and some of the others just don't seem to be what I would expect from the local artisans that made these rings. But the majority look to be good pieces! Matt

Matt, is the one with the PAB on the front good mate? I hope so it's superb looking badge? It seems that there is little hope from what you said above, maybe that's why the detail is so soft and the line runs through the centre?

[MP716VN]

Thanks!

Thanks, I appreciate the comments... At least 75% of them are real... I've got a few more AK items to post when I get a chance. CHUCK

[afrikasandman]

Matt, is the one with the PAB on the front good mate? I hope so it's superb looking badge? It seems that there is little hope from what you said above, maybe that's why the detail is so soft and the line runs through the centre?

Steve,

I hate to say it but no. You will see this type from time to time on ebay and they usually go for upwards of 200 bucks for some reason. It would have been a stellar looking ring but its all repro. The seam is due to the mold it was made out of.

As for the other rings, I think a lot of them have real potential for sure. Matt Even with the crapy repros mixed in that is a nice selection of legit ones for sure