TK rings: last challenge (pictures & links)

[Antonio Scapini]

Here a thread only where the proofs are posted, so they can be easily seen without reading tens of posts.

I started posting some close ups of '30 style TK rings: signs are clearly cast residues, mechanically impossible to obtain with the die struck process.

[Antonio Scapini]

Some more.

[Antonio Scapini]

These 2 close ups are taken from a FAKE cast ring.
Anyway they show the same characteristics of the originals.

[Antonio Scapini]

This is the link of the video about how a CAST FAKE looks like (picture shows the cast fakes analyzed).
With this video you can train your eyes on how the cast metal is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUiJSBLHezQ

[Antonio Scapini]

Here few comparisons between rings of the '30 style.
These comparisons show that there were several different molds used and not all the rings came from the same die (as should be if the were die struck).
Some rings show the same die flaws (see last picture).

[Antonio Scapini]

About the ENGRAVING:

Here's a link where you can see how an engraver works on a flat silver piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpEnRKk6VIg

Below the pictures of how the TK rings were engraved: each letter is divided in several parts, and chisel used is inclined in a totally unnatural way.
Engraving of TK rings is always is made having only a little room for maneuver and the reason is possibly one: engraving was made on the round ring.

Have a quick look at these letters "S" and look in how many parts they are divided and the different inclinations of the chisel and compare this work with the video.

[Antonio Scapini]

Other casting signs inside or around the ring band.

[Antonio Scapini]

About SKULLS: they were cast hollow back, to fit the round ring and to give some room for the soldering to solder it to the body of the ring.
You can see they were cast simply looking at the eyes sockets, but of course all the rest shows the same casting details as the cast original rings and the cast fakes.

[Antonio Scapini]

Back side of the skulls: they are hollow back.

[Antonio Scapini]

This is the video showing a '30 style ring and shows that it is cast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toHAgY9d6PI

[Antonio Scapini]

Here an interesting view of a '40 style ring.

Picture shows the flaw of the original ring compared with the same flaw of the cast fake (obtained from that original). As you can see the base metal bubbling is the same (this shows that both metals were cast since this is mechanically impossible to obtain if a piece is die struck).

[Chris Boonzaier]

Do we than agree that (see post 9) the video is wrong in stating that the rings were cast in a complete round circle and were not joined with silver solder? The ring in post 9 shows what I was on about... they probably WERE joined by silver solder.

[Antonio Scapini]

Chris, almost all the rings show sizing seam.
The video is about 1 ring that doesn't show it. I saw only few rings without any (probably) seam, and all them were '30 style.
Anyway they were cast in round then sized. The engraving made in round can confirm this, since it would be a totally non sense if you can do it flat.

The most important thing is about the evidence it is a cast one as all the others analyzed; it was chosen for the absence of the seam.

[Jeff V]

Here is some proof that engraving was done in the round as the "r" in Himmler's name is engraved over the sizing seam. Picture courtesy of Martin.

[Ric Ferrari]

Surprisingly all original ones in my records and few dozens checked in hands show engraving made on band flat.

On the other end I was lucky enough to check in hands a SUPER REPRO and it shows engraving made on band round.

Ric