SS Honor Ring Authentic?

**johnavery82** · 12-27-2014, 05:20 AM

Thanks for your help. I appreciate the help. Glad to know exactly what I have, even if the news isn't favorable. Thanks

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 12-27-2014 05:20 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Rossi** · 12-27-2014, 05:24 AM

Two great things: 1) It was a gift so you did not outlay a bunch of cash on a fake 2) You are amongst some great people on this particular forum that really strive to bring the best knowledge to the table in a professional and thoughtful manner.

Happy Holidays Bud!

by johnavery82

Thanks for your help. I appreciate the help. Glad to know exactly what I have, even if the news isn't favorable. Thanks

**Evgeniy** · 12-27-2014, 08:20 AM

These pictures are not better than the previous, so I will refrain from expressing their views

**odal** · 12-27-2014, 05:38 PM

by Evgeniy

These pictures are not better than the previous, so I will refrain from expressing their views

I agree with Evgeniy - on this till now not so good pics i see no real faults - for me this ring still has a chance

**big ned** · 12-27-2014, 05:50 PM

by odal

I agree with Evgeniy - on this till now not so good pics i see no real faults - for me this ring still has a chance

My thoughts exactly. The engraving is, or appears to be, uncannily accurate; as do the runes and leaf definition too. As said, much better pic's are required taken in good light with a decent camera rather than a phone or Box Brownie as those so far.

The devil is in the detail, and I see enough to have made me hold back from commenting so far, going as far to edit my earlier post to a mere "."!

Regards, Ned

**Martin C** · 12-27-2014, 05:53 PM

not to be rude, but the ring looks like tarnished brass and not gold. Gold gets dirty but never tarnishes. Anyway i hope things turn out good for you. Mart

**big ned** · 12-27-2014, 06:00 PM

by Martin C

not to be rude, but the ring looks like tarnished brass and not gold. Gold gets dirty but never tarnishes. Anyway i hope things turn out good for you. Mart

Forget it being gold, it's almost certainly not. BUT there has been one or two examples that have shown up in the USA that were gold plated at the behest of their new GI owners, much the same as some war booty pistols were chromed or plated. These rings have been stripped back and returned to 'stock' condition by modern collectors. What I believe we're seeing here is, as you say Martin, just tarnish or cigarette tar staining as is seen on some daggers, medals and badges that have been on open display for years.

Regards, Ned.

**Wagriff** · 12-27-2014, 07:37 PM

Looking at the second set of photos provided and clicking on them for additional magnification, I am still seeing things that are odd. The unusual striations in the metal above the date, for example, or the strange porosity of the interior that really should not be there in the extremely high grade of Silver these rings were manufactured of. Not to mention the unexplainable thickness as well and the chocolate brown patina. Personally, I am unable to explain any of these anomalies. Could this be a jeweler made copy for an occupation army officer? Perhaps using an original in hand for a model? After May of 45, the rules were gone and anyone could make such a thing in whatever fashion they pleased. The components are in the proper places, but the quality itself is not Otto Gahr and neither is the purity of the Silver. Yes, the date is among the acceptable known examples-it is in the later awarded range, but it is difficult to believe that the quality of this ring would have been acceptable for award of a high honor piece to an SS officer.

**harryamb2** · 12-27-2014, 08:20 PM

Wagriff has layed it out why imo its a fake. but keep delveing who knows.

**Hoss** · 01-13-2015, 08:06 PM

by Wagriff

Sorry John, but the SS rings were Only made in Silver. Himmler did not like Gold and felt that Silver was the "pure metal" for the SS. Gold, for some inexplicable reason by him, was regarded as a "Jewish metal". And, no -no Honor Ring awardee would have been allowed by Himmler to have one made by a jeweler in Gold. Otto Gahr made the Honor Rings and he did not make any pieces in Gold. It simply would not have been allowed. To my knowledge, there has Never been a Gold Honor Ring and this has been discussed and wondered about for Many decades. The quality and detailing of Gahr's work is unmistakable. The ring shown here is Very oddly thick-far thicker than the Honor Rings were. If it were Silver, the tarnish would be Black over time, and this one is more to the light brown-almost suggesting an artificial aging as seen on many of the rings coming out of Eastern Europe of late. This ring is definitely not an Otto Gahr firm manufactured ring. The quality is simply just not there.

Hello William
Otto Gahr surely didn't make this ring note the flat right angle edges a dealer states 89% sliver 10% copper is that correct? Forgive me Gents I'm not an expert, I've only owned one when I was a kid.

Regards
Eric