Who here owns an original TK Ring?

[Larry Lipps]

Erich, I would agree with you, but I've seen too many "experts" declare rings certified by Don are actually bad. It's basically created confusion to the point that my ring, box, and certificate (for what its worth) have probably seen its last public viewing until my estate sale.

[Felix]

I would rather spend that money on a knights cross. However both are overpriced big time and out of reach for me right now.
I would like to say that in many cases rarity has not so much to with the price in comparison with collectors desire to want specific items that looks cool or are talked a lot about, or if pictured in new books or if a movie hits the sceene.

[Erich B.]

I have one; a leftover from my SS collecting years. I have photocopies of the man's file (he was an SD informant) but I never had it papered by Don (mainly because I've owned enough of them over the years and am too cheap to spend $200-300.00 for a COA--speaking of overpriced.....!). But I do think Don's a great guy and has some fascinating artifacts, and it's always interesting to speak with him. I give him a lot of credit for writing the first TK ring books back when there was only moderate interest and it was difficult to find research material. I think my first ring was around $125.00 or 250.00--lots of money for the time.
Erich

[slayer]

I've got one a '36 shown on this thread,
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ght=strautmann

I would love an RK or a Blood Order but having an attributed SS piece with a file on the original owner is the holy grail for me.

[busterz111]

I would say Don has seen that many...Not sure on Craig

[kumatrax]

Fiala TK ring

I have one,
Fiala, 21.6.43, papered by Don as near mint outside, but with an attempt to scratch out the name on the inside.
It also came with 32 pages of documentation.
He made Obersturmfuhrer der Reserve, Waffen SS.
He went MIA 27/7/44 serving with the 14. Galizische
SS Freiwilligen Division.

i recently had the documents translated, so here is some info on him, for those interested...

He apparently wasn't much of a people person, and couldn't be relaxed around subordinates and had trouble giving orders. However, he is recognized as being very loyal, diligent and a hard worker. He even showed up for morning drills/parades (?) with a broken tailbone.
He was passed over for promotion in either 41 or 43 as he would not be able to fulfill increased duties due to a bad skin infection.
He was not highly decorated at all, and I can't really find a reason for the TKR award except that he was an Austrian who joined the party and the SS in 1932.

It's probably the last item I'd give up, due to portability!

[Ric Ferrari]

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ght=strautmann

.......and may be another one on the way

Ric

Just to update my previous post since now are 2, both papered by Don and with the last one bearing an extremely rare date : 24.12.33

Best

Ric

[sgstandard]

Rings

LARRY LIPPD - PLEASE post pics of the ring that Don says was good, but others think was bad. We'd LOVE to see it!!! Thanks!!

[Frogprince]

Because these are named instead of general awards, is there a desirability “pecking order” as far as collecting or value is concerned? In other words, does a good condition ring from someone who was an SS “pencil pusher” (for lack of a better term) supersede a more worn example from someone who was in the Waffen SS, or had a distinguished war record? Likewise, would a ring from someone who was infamous for one reason or another significantly affect desirability or value? FP

[phild]

I have one,
Fiala, 21.6.43, papered by Don as near mint outside, but with an attempt to scratch out the name on the inside.
It also came with 32 pages of documentation.
He made Obersturmfuhrer der Reserve, Waffen SS.
He went MIA 27/7/44 serving with the 14. Galizische
SS Freiwilligen Division.

i recently had the documents translated, so here is some info on him, for those interested...

He apparently wasn't much of a people person, and couldn't be relaxed around subordinates and had trouble giving orders. However, he is recognized as being very loyal, diligent and a hard worker. He even showed up for morning drills/parades (?) with a broken tailbone.
He was passed over for promotion in either 41 or 43 as he would not be able to fulfill increased duties due to a bad skin infection.
He was not highly decorated at all, and I can't really find a reason for the TKR award except that he was an Austrian who joined the party and the SS in 1932.

It's probably the last item I'd give up, due to portability!

I think that I remember seeing that ring. If I am correct, it came out of Mississippi about 10 years ago. The ring is real nice and original, but it was an under the table deal of how it was obtained from the family...but nevertheless their choice in the end.

[phild]

Because these are named instead of general awards, is there a desirability “pecking order” as far as collecting or value is concerned? In other words, does a good condition ring from someone who was an SS “pencil pusher” (for lack of a better term) supersede a more worn example from someone who was in the Waffen SS, or had a distinguished war record? Likewise, would a ring from someone who was infamous for one reason or another significantly affect desirability or value? FP

IMO all of those factors and other weigh on a ring's value. They may in fact weigh on the value of most things. Which do you think is the most valuable: A mint in the box with price tag attached un-issued mint white top KM officer's visor or a KM white top that is very stained/dirty....sweat stained interior with missing sweat diamond......named to an operational U-Boat Cdr. and belonging to a RK bearer...or ...? I don't know which of the 2 caps would be worth more but I know which one would attract the biggest crowd and interest...and it would not be the mint one I promise!

[sgstandard]

Tkr

Phild- Well said! That's certainly the one I'd want!

[Swan]

rings and things

Duplication of above post, sorry.

[Swan]

rings and things

So, by whose defination/opinion do you declare rings "original".

Just like rare coins and stamps, there are those that have proven to know what their talking about. I know Don Boyle very well, and I know for a fact that he also knows what he is talking about.
Let me tell you how I know. I gave him a chance to prove it, without him knowing it. I gave him two rings that I knew were 100% because of their source, mixed with other rings I felt were real, and some I thought were not originals. It was a test on myself too.

You might ask how I new two of the rings were 100% genuine, simple, I knew both the men that owned the rings when they were alive, and saw the rings first hand, no pun intended.
One of those men presented the ring to me in appreciation for something that I didn't think reached the level of that kind of thank you. The other mans ring I aquired from a German dealer that got all the mans carreer items from the mans daughter, as I said I knew the ring from seeing it in detail, a few years prior.
Both men were well documented highly decorated veterans of heavy combat.
Boyle knew in a flash they were real, and the other rings I also thought were correct, except for one I was wrong about. On that one ring I was wrong about, I was not aware it was a re-issue to replace what the man had lost at some point in time. Don took a little more time about a minute or so to double check that one. Naturally Don spotted the couple of good fakes sprinkled in, also just as fast as he knew the real ones.
If I am thinking of aquirering something that was given as a high level award, I want to know to who and why they got that award, not because it's pretty, or just it's condition. I have an honor sword and dagger of a well known man, naturally condition does contribute in one way or another to value, but the HISTORY behind who owned it, is more important than it's condition, at least in my decision to buy it or not. If an item was damaged while in the posesion of the original war time owner, I consider it a part of it's use, or abuse, thus part of it's legitimate history. Like a war time fighter plane, that has war time damage, vs it being damaged while in a hanger in the US after the war.

[kumatrax]

I think that I remember seeing that ring. If I am correct, it came out of Mississippi about 10 years ago. The ring is real nice and original, but it was an under the table deal of how it was obtained from the family...but nevertheless their choice in the end.

I'm sorry to hear it was obtained under such circumstances.