New Info on Deathshead Stamps
 

Around 20 years ago I met an individual at the Great Western Gun Show who was a die stamp maker. He handed out sample sheets of what dies he had available, and he was willing to custom make any die to order. Since that time I have run into him on numerous occasions at various high end collector shows, as recently as three months ago, still handing out his sample sheets and price list, so he is obviously still in business. Sttached is a copy of part of his sample sheet and price list, omitting his name and address. Please note the deathshead stamp which appears identical to what appears on many firearms.http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/DieStamps.jpg

Aaron, thanks for the post that just might save someone a heap of money. Actually it is fairly easy to tell the real one from that fake, there is very little resemblance between the two plus the SS runes should not be there. Perhaps he was honest enough to make it different to warn experienced buyers. Some of the german dagger fakers will do that, make just a little error that will tip you off if you know your stuff. I am curious to learn how a flat stamp can make a decent impression on a rounded chamber though. Maybe there are others out there that are even of better quality. Costanzo even warns us to watch out for fakes using this marking, and that was printed in 1977. Collecting is not what it used too be, I think I'll stick with shooters and let the big money go for the goodies, at least I know what I'm getting.

Well bloody hell. I think I’ve seen that fake death head on a rifle or two in the past few years. Small world, isn’t it? If you look carefully, you can see how the SS runes are not quite straight and well defined. Compare that to Mark’s G98 in the other thread. He also has a fake 280-coded waffenamt stamp. But the numbers are not quite lined up right compared to a real one. Although the Nazi stamp proofs are better. I see where Bubba gets his supplies. LOL.

Let the buyer beware.

Buy books, Read and Study...also join NAPCA, where this "cottage industry" fraud is pointed out to members regularly thanks to *very watchful* members.

My zwei pfennigs,

Tom A. <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

TomA, your comment about the 'cottage industry' is wrong. This is common knowledge among collectors of Nazi edged weapons. They were made by individuals, in their homes, and supplied to the major blade manufactures for stamping or were sold as is for addition of grips, etc. to make the final product. This is well documented in the works of Thomas Johnson in his books on 'Collecting The Edged Weapons of The Third Reich'.

Herb:

Tom A is referring to a different "cottage industry".