1st pattern Jawless cap skull thread

[PMan]

Your skulls

Close-up:

All 3 skulls have been stamped from the same die. (IMHO)...so they are all fake or all real. I personally do not like them.
Peter

[Gran Sasso]

All original, but the bottom 2 look like they have been silver dipped.

Thanks for all the replies. I just called my "source", he stated (and would not lie) they came out of a private household.

So if those would be OK, is 100,-EUR a fair price for the lot?

[Robin Lumsden]

100 Euro is fair for the 3 together.

They came from the Berlin find.

[John T]

Robin...was the "Berlin Find" at a barracks? I also feel the skulls to be fine

..and thank you very much for your support in the thread of a few days ago.

John

[Robin Lumsden]

Robin...was the "Berlin Find" at a barracks? I also feel the skulls to be fine

..and thank you very much for your support in the thread of a few days ago.

John

John.

Yes.............they were found under a floor by workmen renovating an old military building. A large quantity (probably hundreds) were uncovered.

As regards the other thread, you are very welcome.

[PMan]

Ahh...The Berlin Find?

Veeeeeerry interesting!

[sgstandard]

SS Totenkopfs

Well, call me a cock-eyed pessimist, but I don't like the Berlin find. Certain irregularities I could live with, but when they add up, it's usually a bad sign. Now I know that various versions of this early style insignia exist, as standardization hadn't taken place yet. These 3 insignia don't seem to have the same detail that is usually found. Most attachment prongs on early insignia are brass, not silver colored. Why did one of them oxidize to black, while the others have turned to green, which also looks artificially induced? This story of a new "find" could be entirely true. However, such claims, until substantiated, could also be an attempt to explain the same item suddenly appearing in abundance. The original early Totenkopf insignia often have a peculiar "tin" like plating still apparent in areas that haven't worn or oxidized. This plating may include nickle, as it has a "quality" to the plating, which may have been considered cheap by German standards of the 30's, but would be considered high quality by today's cheesy manufacturing quality. I can't post yet cause I haven't joined yet. (I will soon). If you desire pics of some originals, you can e-mail me at: hobie.pirough@aacn.org

[Robin Lumsden]

Well, call me a cock-eyed pessimist............

The Berlin find was reported in the German newspapers at the time, with photos.

These skulls are actually late, not early. They were made during the war for Kav.Rgt.5. Early hussar style, but much later manufacture.

The ones from the Berlin find were in white metal, but I also have another one in the identical style, but in zinc with brass pins.

They are shown clearly in a book from the 1970s on Kav.Rgt.5. The 'haunted' eyes are very distinctive.

Here's a zinc one........................

[sgstandard]

Totenkopf

Great info, Robin. Is that the same regiment that wore the smaller totenkopf on their peaked caps?. That particular skull was different, with crossed bones at the bottom. Did this style replace that one?

[Robin Lumsden]

If you desire pics of some originals.............

Like these.........................? There were a LOT of different styles.

[Robin Lumsden]

Great info, Robin. Is that the same regiment that wore the smaller totenkopf on their peaked caps?. That particular skull was different, with crossed bones at the bottom. Did this style replace that one?

No................this type was worn by Inf. Rgt. 17..............

[Robin Lumsden]

.............and this type by Kav. Rgt. 5...................

[Robin Lumsden]

Ir 17.................

[Robin Lumsden]

Kr5................

[Robin Lumsden]

Wear of the smaller panzer skull on the cap was unofficial.................