Ade Davies Posted December 5, 2007 Share #1 Posted December 5, 2007 Hi all I am a new member and this is my first post and I wonder if anyone out there may be able to help I reside in not so sunny England where I have come across a set of what appear to me to be unusual jump wings. I will try to also post a couple of pictures below but just in case I have any problems will also try to describe them. They are a set of jump wings made of sterling silver with an English style copper/zinc pin marked. They are marked on the rear with a D and what looks to be a crown and also show the number 003.Apart from the fact they are silver and English they also have an Engineers castle made from copper/zinc and a silver skull fixed to the front. I have seen similar wings with a castle and skull alone but not together on the same wing. Has anyone out there ever seen such a thing previously and if so I would be grateful for any info as to the possible origin? Maybe an opinion on if they are ww2, original. Someone went to a bit of trouble to put them together and I would like to think they may have been done as a wartime special order to a jewellers as most Brit jump wings were I understand not silver. http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/t...erjumpwing2.jpg http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/t...eerjumpwing.jpg Thanks Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted December 6, 2007 Share #2 Posted December 6, 2007 Adrian, Welcome to the forum. Your link is not working for me. Please see if you can fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted December 6, 2007 Share #3 Posted December 6, 2007 I can help the new guy out... BTW Welcome to the forums! Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101combatvet Posted December 6, 2007 Share #4 Posted December 6, 2007 This wing could have actually been custom made during or post war. The style of wing looks like one of the three big names of insignia makers in England, the"D" throws me though. How did you come across it? Hi all I am a new member and this is my first post and I wonder if anyone out there may be able to help I reside in not so sunny England where I have come across a set of what appear to me to be unusual jump wings. I will try to also post a couple of pictures below but just in case I have any problems will also try to describe them. They are a set of jump wings made of sterling silver with an English style copper/zinc pin marked. They are marked on the rear with a D and what looks to be a crown and also show the number 003.Apart from the fact they are silver and English they also have an Engineers castle made from copper/zinc and a silver skull fixed to the front. I have seen similar wings with a castle and skull alone but not together on the same wing. Has anyone out there ever seen such a thing previously and if so I would be grateful for any info as to the possible origin? Maybe an opinion on if they are ww2, original. Someone went to a bit of trouble to put them together and I would like to think they may have been done as a wartime special order to a jewellers as most Brit jump wings were I understand not silver. http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/t...erjumpwing2.jpg http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/t...eerjumpwing.jpg Thanks Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pconrad02 Posted December 6, 2007 Share #5 Posted December 6, 2007 I saw these listed on eBay UK some time ago ( or their exact twin) , along with some AAF wings. I bought a couple of the AAF wings, from this seller AS far as originality, one of the wings was good and one was suspect. The problem with this type of custom wing is that there IS no standard to compare it too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101combatvet Posted December 6, 2007 Share #6 Posted December 6, 2007 Very true.... in cases like this the "story" can make all the difference. I saw these listed on eBay UK some time ago ( or their exact twin) , along with some AAF wings. I bought a couple of the AAF wings, from this seller AS far as originality, one of the wings was good and one was suspect. The problem with this type of custom wing is that there IS no standard to compare it too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ade Davies Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted December 6, 2007 Very true.... in cases like this the "story" can make all the difference. Thanks all for your prompt replies and of course John for help with my pictures . I got these from a recent militaria sale where the sellers said he got them as part of a collection(as perhaps he would) .The ebay link is therefore interesting and a little worrying. As you say the story behind an item is the interesting thing if you can find the details. I am trying to do some research around the makers mark with the assistance of a researcher at the Assay office in my area. That where I had them tested to check out the composition. They came in a box from Fattorini & Sons who made wings during the War but this doesnt help me as I have not ever seen a set. They do I agree look similar to Ludlow or Gaunt wings this set are silver. So the hunt still continues Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Cain Posted December 7, 2007 Share #8 Posted December 7, 2007 The pattern is neither Guant, Firmin, Ludlow or Angus & Coote. It is too flat and splayed out for any of those. IMO it is a recent construction. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted December 8, 2007 Share #9 Posted December 8, 2007 From behind, the wing looks like it is cast--notice what looks like a casting flaw on the upper right wing. Have no idea about the engineer device and the skull just seems like a total fantasy. If the "regular" paratroopers didnt add skulls to their wings, its hard to imagine this would be ok. This kind of reminds me of some of those fake engraved wings that were being sold on ebay earlier in the year. Lots of fantasy, fake engravings, made up hallmarks on on a fake cast wing. Just my 2 cents. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ade Davies Posted December 16, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted December 16, 2007 I saw these listed on eBay UK some time ago ( or their exact twin) , along with some AAF wings. I bought a couple of the AAF wings, from this seller AS far as originality, one of the wings was good and one was suspect. The problem with this type of custom wing is that there IS no standard to compare it too.... Paul Any chance you have the ebay user name for the person you won the wings from that you mentioned.Maybe I could get more info from him if he is prepared to pass it on. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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