Costa Posted March 23, 2018 Share #1 Posted March 23, 2018 never seen this before. any body know what or who the maker is??? early drop in catch, strange! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted March 23, 2018 front---------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 23, 2018 Share #3 Posted March 23, 2018 A Jeweler made piece?It has a "cast" look to it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted March 23, 2018 Share #4 Posted March 23, 2018 The FSS marked wings have shown up recently. Not sure these are cast. But I am also not sure the FSS hallmark isn't a fantasy. It's interesting thogh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted March 23, 2018 Share #5 Posted March 23, 2018 Yea, I feel confident it is a cast piece. Having said that small Jewelers do cast some of there products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted March 23, 2018 so it is possible it could be a good wing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rathbonemuseum.com Posted March 23, 2018 Share #7 Posted March 23, 2018 Never seen this before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 23, 2018 Share #8 Posted March 23, 2018 We have another thread about these from 2016: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/269252-unusual-hallmark-on-wwii-naval-aviator-wings-fss/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 23, 2018 Share #9 Posted March 23, 2018 This one sold on ebay in 2007: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted March 23, 2018 Share #10 Posted March 23, 2018 I looked at the pictures on the original auction and I think what appears to be casting marks on the front could be explained by blank spots or wear of the patina/gold plating. There is nothing on the back that makes me think it is a casting, but of course better photos would help. My sense is that this is either a very rare hallmark or a fantasy hallmark. This is more than likely a WWII vintage wing. So, it could have been a small uniform store that had its logo placed on some of the wings it was selling. Or it could have been something that someone thought up in his basement to try to goose the prices on run of the mill USN wing. More research needs to be done, I think. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted March 23, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted March 23, 2018 has any one ever tested one of these to see if it was really a sterling silver wing. I don't see a reproer using good real materials to make a bargain basement bastard. I mean even the drop on catch-------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted March 23, 2018 Share #12 Posted March 23, 2018 This wing is mine on eBay. Same wing I posted for comments in 2016. It doesnt look cast under 10x exam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted March 23, 2018 Share #13 Posted March 23, 2018 This wing is mine on eBay. Same wing I posted for comments in 2016. It doesnt look cast under 10x exam. I didn't even look at names on the earlier thread .... So there is just the one we know of - yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted March 24, 2018 Share #14 Posted March 24, 2018 Is the FSS engraved or stamped? This looks like a monogram of someone's initials to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted March 24, 2018 Share #15 Posted March 24, 2018 I researched this hallmark a while ago, but ran into a dead end. I have seen others, perfectly good wing. Here is one that Dan Griffin has had listed for a while. John http://griffinmilitaria.com/cgi-bin/imcart/display.cgi?item_id=12926&cat=37&page=2&search=&since=0&status=&title= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share #16 Posted March 24, 2018 I have seen the wing on Dans site, the same as mine. it doesn't look cast to me. the back doesn't show the grooves and bubbles or rough surface of cast wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted March 28, 2018 Author Share #17 Posted March 28, 2018 the wing I have is a die struck wing. I don't think a bargain basement maker of junk can die strike a wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pryo Posted January 16, 2023 Share #18 Posted January 16, 2023 Ran into one of these as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted January 16, 2023 Share #19 Posted January 16, 2023 Interesting! From the front, this one seems to have quite smooth details. Almost as thought it was made from a worn out die? The back clearly shows it to be a die-struck badge. In the photo of the rear it appears there is a ball of material in the middle of the anchor ring. What is that all about? Curiouser and curiouser! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted January 18, 2023 Share #20 Posted January 18, 2023 I have always thought that if these were either fantasy hallmarks on a run of the mill USN Aviator wing or something like "Fleet Ship Services" that was added to a run of the mill wing -- maybe from a small uniform shop or base Navy Exchange. Its not uncommon for a retail outfit to get merchandise from a wholesaler and then put their own name on the unit (think Luxenberg). The wing is nothing special other than the hallmark, its just like the millions of other WWII -KW- VN era USN aviator wings. It seems pretty unlikely to me that even with the FSS hallmark it would actually garner more than about 100$ (crazy gun show retail prices). Seriously good luck selling a solid hallmarked AMICO or LGB pilot wing for more than 75$ in this market. I know some collectors gotta have one of everything, but if a small stamped FSS kicks the prices out of the stadium, I would be gob smacked. So, all in all, I suspect it is just one of those pieces where someone put their own company name on some insignia that they were selling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted January 18, 2023 Share #21 Posted January 18, 2023 Here is mine, got it in a trade a few years ago. I've always considered it WWII to KW time frame. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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