R.S.S Maker Mark

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Gentleman,

Can some of you please post some reference pics of R.S.S maker marks for me. I know that their was different marks used , so any help would be appriciated.

Cordially Yours,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

Come on guys,

I need some help, PLEASSSSSE.

Best Regards,
JD

[skip]

OK Joe,

don,t panic!
Maybe it would help if you said what badge you are looking for. RSS has lots of variations.

See Here

Skip:

[skip]

and here

[skip]

and here.
Hope what you are looking for is here

There are also Flying Clasps from RSS but I don,t have any of those. Sorry.

[Joseph D'Errico]

Thank you Skip,

The variation in the "R" was what I was after.


Best Regards,
JD

[Philippe DB]

Hi Joe,

Just for the record two more.

They both come from IAB's and are the same as the ones posted by Skip. Very clearly visible on the one posted by Skip is the typical die flaw in the shape of a exclamation mark after the last S.
I always thought that this was a bullet proof indicator of authenticity on this badges.

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

RSS !

[Lorenzo Brown]

Then again...I have this zinc RSS IAB in bronze with a totally different mark. I believe this is a later style because of the catch which is the same used on the later made HSF badges. I am very comfortable with this badge...it has the best strike and details.

[Joseph D'Errico]

Here is an example from a clasp, very late war piece as you can see the gilt finish is somewhat thin and shows the typical blistering ,any thoughts? It is an interesting point the the "R" on my example looks like the one Skip posted on his HSF badge. It appears that their are three maybe four different marks for this maker, which do not necessarily follow a time line of production.


Best Regards,
JD

[Philippe DB]

Hi Lorenzo,

Personaly I think that your badge is an early RSS. In attachment please find a pic off my bronze RSS. You can cleary see that the bronze finish and for that matter also the base material used is of much poorer quality then on your badge.

I always liked your badge a lot and I also think that it is much rarer than the later versions

KR
Philippe

PS : Is it possible that yours had a catch repair?

[Philippe DB]

RSS IAB BRONZE REVERSE

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Philippe. I always thought it is later because of the catch. Like the HSF badge, I think the earlier badge has the wide catch...not the square-wire like mine. However, the strike and details on this badge are so good...MAYBE it is an earlier badge. Dunno!

BUT...the more I look I think mine is later. Notice how the badge is constructed to accept the wide catch. I am sure the "square-wire" catch came later. It is soldered into place rather than crimped-in as the badge was designed.

[Philippe DB]

Hi Lorenzo,

Could be but I feel that the material and finish on your badge is of much higher quality and taken in to account that the material used to make badges deteriorated over the years that wouldn't be consistent.

I also think that the lettering in your maker mark is of higher quality then on my badge. The lettering on mine is a simplification of the once used on your badge. That skiny mark for me is also consistent with a later war production.

It would be interesting to see an other RSS IAB with your mm on it to compare.

KR
Philippe