Thoughts on this skull

[Tankpaint45]

I’ve been told from some of the biggest picklehaube collectors at this totenkopf is legitimate real for a particular Braunschweig visor cap. But from looking at the original pictures, there are two different types of totenkopf for the two units. That being said mine looks like the one on the right hand side in the picture but why is mine black in color? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated thank you.

 

[Tankpaint45]

Please post the best possible resolution pictures. Front and back. Thank you.

 

[KAGGR#1]

I have not seen one that dark .
Here are my examples
Steve

 

[Tankpaint45]

I have not seen one that dark .
Here are my examples
SteveView attachment 59795View attachment 59796View attachment 59797

I ran it past a few of my friends at the bigger picklehaube dealers, and they all said it was original and they showed me a couple pictures of the darker ones. I’m actually going to do an x-ray test on the metal to see exactly what it is to make sure it’s brass and silver on top with the silver oxidation on top of that. I’m not sure if they did CUPAL but I think they did. Either way I will find out, but the actual shape and originality of the skull at hand is original, correct? They said 100 percent real and to not touch the patina. I’ll include a pic of some darker ones

 

[Jvpi]

IMO the shape is not right instead of the colour, the colour could become darker over time. However both the shapes of the skull and the bones appear incorrect for Brunswick officers' cap insignia. Perhaps try research more on the Freikorps direction.

 

[Jvpi]

but I’ve actually seen this shape on the visor cap already is more about the color for me

That’s new for me, I hope to learn more too.
Would you mind share some reference photos? I’ve not seen any IR92/HR17 officer’s cap badge in this shape… also not in period photographs.

 

[Tankpaint45]

Here is the closest thing I can find online and it is a reproduction. I took pictures of the front and back of a few different ones and it says in the article what they were made of, but mine is brass with copper and I looked into the World War II regiment, it was a horseback regiment 17th I believe And cannot find similar examples. It could have been a World War II cap as well still searching, but one thing I know I don’t think reproductions would be made of brass and copper even the details of the teeth are different and also the back majorly.

 

[KAGGR#1]

Tony S. is the expert on these skulls
If he cares to comment
Steve

 

[Tankpaint45]

Tony S. is the expert on these skulls
If he cares to comment
Steve

I have an original brunch swag 92nd Regiment, but there’s no way I’m gonna poke holes in it. If I don’t know this thing absolutely goes on it. It could be a World War II cap or something along those lines. I just don’t have anything to compare it to, which means I don’t think it’s a reproduction because reproductions would be out there and This does not look like one of those so I’m in a conundrum being that it could be very rare, and if it is, then there’s nothing to compare it to which means nobody would want it at the same time

 

[Jeff R]

IMO the shape is not right instead of the colour, the colour could become darker over time. However both the shapes of the skull and the bones appear incorrect for Brunswick officers' cap insignia. Perhaps try research more on the Freikorps direction.

Completely agree re: the shape. Could be Freikorps or one of the many (many) veteran's organization badge variations?

 

[Tankpaint45]

Any

Completely agree re: the shape. Could be Freikorps or one of the many (many) veteran's organization badge variations?

photos of them? To compare

 

[Tankpaint45]

Any

photos of them? To compare

This is a friekorps emblem sold by ima doesn’t look anything like mine

 

[Jvpi]

Hi Tankpaint45,

Steve's photos above can help you to compare, those are all from Brunswick and mostly IR92. And here's one from my collection. I think the difference in shape is obvious, the head is too "fat", swelled on both sides.
Yours is not in the shape a NCO/Other ranks' cap badge, so I would suggest to focus on the officer's badges, or the Freikorps. The latter had many versions of skull badges and very complicated, I recommend you also seek help from other forums like GMIC or Warrelics since there are more Freikorps experts.

The following are the Freikorps units that used similar-shaped badges by a quick check:

Zeitfreiwilligen-Btl Braunschweig
Freiwilligen-Komp Elisabeth
Jägerkorps Erlangen/Engelhardt
Abteilung Schwarze Schar

 

[Tankpaint45]

Hi Tankpaint45,

Steve's photos above can help you to compare, those are all from Brunswick and mostly IR92. And here's one from my collection. I think the difference in shape is obvious, the head is too "fat", swelled on both sides.
Yours is not in the shape a NCO/Other ranks' cap badge, so I would suggest to focus on the officer's badges, or the Freikorps. The latter had many versions of skull badges and very complicated, I recommend you also seek help from other forums like GMIC or Warrelics since there are more Freikorps experts.

The following are the Freikorps units that used similar-shaped badges by a quick check:

Zeitfreiwilligen-Btl Braunschweig
Freiwilligen-Komp Elisabeth
Jägerkorps Erlangen/Engelhardt
Abteilung Schwarze Schar

View attachment 59833
View attachment 59834

Thank you for the information is very much needed and if you can find the fat head style skull for me and anyone of those regiments that would be great. I would love to see if it is something I could add to a cap.

 

[Tankpaint45]

Thank you for the information is very much needed and if you can find the fat head style skull for me and anyone of those regiments that would be great. I would love to see if it is something I could add to a cap.

I will be getting an original mint condition ir92 one that actually is a friend of mine that is on this website as well. He posted it a while back. I got from him so that I could put the badge on the visor but now it is too risky and I will just keep the visor until I find the correct one to go on it so if anybody has one looking to sell, let me know or please put the word out thank . I wish I knew what type of visor to get for this one

 

[Tankpaint45]

Just looked through all of these different regiments and cannot find anything, but what I did fine is a early totenkopf skull on some of these visor caps and was wondering if the skull I got would fit the 92nd IR shown in the picture I believe my skull is early nickel silver is circa 1920 or 21?

 

[Lars13]

some of the biggest picklehaube collectors

friends at the bigger picklehaube dealers

Hi,
Without contemporary pictures showing this specific skull, or similar items with indisputable provenance in a collection (very rare), it will be impossible to say this skull belongs on a Braunschweig visor cap.
There are a few Braunschweig skull experts on the forum, some already responded, hopefully they can point you in the right direction.
Regards,
Lars

 

[Peter B]

Just looked through all of these different regiments and cannot find anything, but what I did fine is a early totenkopf skull on some of these visor caps and was wondering if the skull I got would fit the 92nd IR shown in the picture I believe my skull is early nickel silver is circa 1920 or 21?

I do not know anything to be honest about these skulls but I do know that silver plated items can go very black over time.

 

[Tankpaint45]

Hi,
Without contemporary pictures showing this specific skull, or similar items with indisputable provenance in a collection (very rare), it will be impossible to say this skull belongs on a Braunschweig visor cap.
There are a few Braunschweig skull experts on the forum, some already responded, hopefully they can point you in the right direction.
Regards,
Lars

Contemporary? It’s an early 20s circa Danzig totenkopf skull Lars. It’s Very rare. And expensive might I add also. Does this help?

 

[Lars13]

Does this help?

Not really