CupAl Deschler SS Skull

Product Description: This CupAl Deschler SS Skull is an opportunity to obtain a nice example of a desirable Deschler-made SS visor cap skull, without breaking the bank. This original piece displays textbook Deschler characteristics throughout. The obverse shows obvious wear, and all of the original silver finish is gone, with the copper over aluminum CupAl base metal completely exposed. There is some old, uncleaned patina, and despite the wear, a lot of detail remains. There is a slight bend on the upper right area of the skull. The reverse of this Totenkopf emblem shows an even, old patina, and is nicely marked, with the round RZM logo as well as the maker code “M1/52” indicating manufacture by the prestigious firm of Deschler in Munich. Both of the original circular disk plates for mounting the prongs remain intact, and originally attached, but both prongs have been broken off. This CupAl Deschler SS Skull remains an attractive display object, in very good condition.

Historical Description: The SS was founded as a paramilitary branch of the Nazi Party in 1925. Beginning in 1927, the SS began to wear a German national eagle and swastika emblem on their headgear. The SS were the first to adopt this practice, but the SA and other Nazi organizations soon began to use the same pinned-on metal cap eagle, which became known as a “political” type cap eagle as it was different from those used by the various military branches. Beneath this eagle, instead of a wreathed national colors cockade, the early SS wore a jawless skull emblem, sometimes called a “Danziger” skull, which was based on a traditional “Totenkopf” death’s-head emblem that had been used in the Prussian military since the time of Frederick the Great. This jawless skull is referred to by collectors as the first pattern SS skull. On October 6, 1934, the SS introduced a new pattern of cap skull that was unlike the traditional design that had previously been adopted. This second pattern SS skull was used until the end of WWII and is the iconic Totenkopf widely associated with the SS today. It was initially worn in conjunction with the political style cap eagle, but in February 1936 the SS introduced a new type of cap eagle to differentiate from other political organizations. This eagle had longer wings than the early political type, and was the pattern worn by the SS together with the second pattern Totenkopf, until 1945. Early SS cap insignia was made from a variety of materials including aluminum, which was left bare, and Tombak, a brass alloy, which was treated with a silver finish. Some examples were made of a composite material called CupAl, which is made by coating aluminum with copper sheet using a special mechanical process. Later, during the later years of WWII, SS cap insignia was generally made of zinc that was treated with a silver wash. As with all SS regalia, SS cap insignia is very collectible today.

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