Is this a real
 

Deaths Head badge, or a piece of junk? It is supposed to be German according to the purveyor. Size is 1 1/8" high by 1 1/4" wide.




http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/dh3.jpg

Re: Is this a real
 

Hugh, looks like a reproduction to me. The prongs are too long, they only need to be long enough to penetrate the cap, about 1/2" long, and they are usually made of stiff steel. Looks like aluminum, should be silver, and without seeing the teeth, it is hard to tell. The teeth should be very distinct, in two even rows, if not it is a repro and worth about $25.00 or so. A real on e goes for around $100.

Re: Is this a real
 

Hi Hugh........1934 pattern Totenkopf were silver plated die struck out of tombak and silver plated with a hallmark RZM M1/52 this is the code for Deschler & Sohn, Munchen. From 1936 the Totenkoph was struck in aluminum then zinc alloyed and the new code numbers were replaced with SS/RZM contract numbers, this info was taken from Detecting the fakes by Robin Lumsden.hope this helps Leo

Re: Is this a real
 

Hugh,


My humble opinion is that it is a fake!


Marvin

Re: Is this a real
 

I figured it was fake, has no hallmark on back, but what the heck only cost me $11.

Re: Is this a real
 

Not all of them are hallmarked, I have found that DH early and late that came from the collar tabs have no hallmarks. I have an early SS/Panzer DE that I know to be real and it is not hallmarked.

Re: Is this a real
 

For $11.00 you can't go wrong buying that DH. Even if just to have one.

I have a repo DH that is very similar to the one displayed in your photo. At least you didn't pay $100 for a "real" one.

Joe