signal piped panzer tabs - opinions?

Here's a pair of yellow piped panzer tabs I just picked up. The skulls are aluminum, the one with the missing prong I was able to slide off, it is maker marked "KW 40".

They sure are new looking, but the construction looked good, so I gambled...

What's the verdict?

Thanks,

Fred

backs

piping detail

skulls

Any comments? I searched thru previous threads, couldn't find any skulls with markings.
Regards,
Fred

[DaveJ]

Fred,
I like them,are you keeping them?
Dave

[CSP]

Fred: I see a lot to like, but a few thing also make me uncertain. The rayon piping is original...little if any doubt there. It's application is also nicely done and about what I would expect to see in some respects...but in others, a little sloppy the way it is applied around the base. It has some aging/soiling that seems normal and the color/shade is textbook.

The skulls could easily be replaced repros...this is an area I personally have trouble with in making a determination, as there were so many variations. My sense is these may not be good. What bothers me most is the pin mountings...I think most insignia/devices similar to skulls, and including skulls tended to use solder. That said, these look to be aluminum and aluminum may be a metal that did not take solder well.

The buckram is in the realm of "right". Overall, the tabs look unused (never sewn on), with just age wear..at least from the pictures.

On balance, you probably have a good set of tabs with maybe-not skulls.

[keifer kahn]

Scott is correct,that Aluminium isnt great at being soldered.

If those skulls are indeed aluminium,then that is a typical style for crimping in pins.
You will see the same style on RAD aluminium cap insignia.
Cap insignia made from other metals such as zink also use crimping methods instead of soldering.For example M 1/24 SS cap skulls use a crimp method.There are others.

I like the tabs and dont have any serious issues with the skulls.As ive said the crimping style is typical with other period crimping methods ive seen.

Dave/Scott/Keifer,
Thanks for the comments. The skulls are aluminum, I'll try to take some better pics of them in natural light.
Regards,
Fred

[CSP]

Kiefer:
Thanks...I have seen the same aluminum "mountings" on cap eagles...but again, it is an area I am not steeped in confidence over...beyond that doubt, I find the skulls looking fine...

I seldom take skulls off of tab sets I collect..I'll peek underneath, but I have broken a few prongs in my day by being too curious.

Fred- I'll look closer at my sets of signals tabs...yours seem about right...unless mine are all wrong .

Here's a better pic of the skulls, along with a couple of loose ones. Also an army cap eagle that had similar type pins.

Would the "KW" on the skulls be Karl Wurster?

Regards,

Fred

Reposting pics for Jerry. Not sure why old ones are not showing up.
Regards,
Fred

Backs.