SS Pith helmet shield

[SScollector]

Hi all,

Can anyone please tell me if the SS runic shield in this picture is authentic?

Thanks!

Chris

[SgtB]

They are bad IMO.

[addo]

Looks good to me
I have the same SS runic shield marked JFS 42

[SScollector]

Thanks for the comments. I don't know much about these, but I am trying to learn about them. I saw these on a website and had suspicions about them myself. I didn't realize that they were aluminum until someone pointed it out to me and told me that they are bad.

Anyway, thanks again!

Chris

[brannow]

They look like they could be good. It might just be the photo or scan. Have them take photos taken out side in bright natural light.

Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN

[bwanek1]

Thanks for the comments. I don't know much about these, but I am trying to learn about them. I saw these on a website and had suspicions about them myself. I didn't realize that they were aluminum until someone pointed it out to me and told me that they are bad.

Anyway, thanks again!

Chris

These could very well be bad, but not simply because they're aluminum (if that is, indeed, what they are made of).

It has been stated that some convincing castings were made of original JFS shields years ago (with mismatched years like these) and that the material was aluminum. I don't know whether those fakes were actually made of aluminum or not, but that story has led to the belief by many that any SS pith shields in aluminum must be fake, which is entirely inaccurate. The vast majority of SS pith shields found are zinc, but JFS did make some die-struck aluminum shields, as well.

[SScollector]

One thing that made me feel strange about the ones above is the tips of the prongs. Here is a classic zinc one that I am expecting in the mail.
I liked the looks of this one for sure.

Again, thanks to all for the comments!

Chris

[addo]

I would like to see someone post photos of those so-called fake aluminium SS shields marked JFS 42 ?
don't believe the story until i see the photo of the fake!

Thank You

[SScollector]

Brad, do you have any pictures of a real aluminum one that you could post here?

Thanks!

Chris

[brannow]

That one is textbook!

Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN

[Dennis S]

I would like to see someone post photos of those so-called fake aluminium SS shields marked JFS 42 ?
don't believe the story until i see the photo of the fake!

Thank You

They were around like crazy in the 80s . They exist and I know who made them.
One side is marked 42 and the other 43 . Copied from two different sets of originals so hence the mismatch on purpose.

Possible that exist an original aluminum , but the fakes were also. Now this was the early 80s no telling if they were done again with matching dates . I know only of that batch of the particular mismatches.

If my memory serves me correct the original ( fake) 373 series SS runic marked skulls and Eagles were brought to you by the same people. So you can see the quality was convincing.

I would measure them against a known known original. I would think if the die or mold was made from an original the fake would have to be smaller

[bwanek1]

Brad, do you have any pictures of a real aluminum one that you could post here?

Thanks!

Chris

I will be glad to. Unfortunately, I am traveling right now and I won't be back until later this week. I will make some scans when I am home.

[SScollector]

Thanks Brad!

[jmcm]

This is one that I had at one time, Joe

[addo]

This is one that I had at one time, Joe

Just like my aluminium example
Thanks for posting