Tonomachi Posted March 13, 2008 Share #1 Posted March 13, 2008 I have been collecting variations of the USMC/Navy paratrooper wings for many years now and recently picked up one on eBay. I have never come across one of these style wings with a Durocharm hallmark. The incised hallmark reads, "DUROCHARM 10K ON SILVER". There is what looks like remnant's of black paint on the front. Has anyone ever come across one of these? Once I got it in my hand I was a little worried as it just didn't look right. With people taking off clutch backs and replacing them with pin backs I started to look at this piece real close. The parachute has a flatter profile than the other wings of this design. I then compared it with a WW2 era US Army basic pin back paratrooper wing hallmarked, "DUROCHARM N.Y.STERLING". This Army paratrooper wing has a flatter profile than the average Army paratrooper wing and the rear pins looked alike so it made me feel a little bit better. Using a jewelers loop I looked at the sides and could see the striations and the break at the very end where the die stamped this piece so I don't think it is a casting. I was wondering what the membership thought of this wing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted March 13, 2008 More photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted March 13, 2008 More photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted March 13, 2008 Last photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Cain Posted March 13, 2008 Share #5 Posted March 13, 2008 Looks OK to me. The makers mark matches the Durocharm in my collection. Cheers Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted March 13, 2008 Looks OK to me. The makers mark matches the Durocharm in my collection. Cheers Gary Appreciate your opinion as it makes me feel better that this is probably the real thing. I've attached scans of the WW2 era Amico USMC/Navy paratrooper wing above the Durocharm USMC/Navy paratrooper wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 14, 2008 Share #7 Posted March 14, 2008 Are you sure thats black paint? looks like real old tarnish to me ( a good sign ) Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian e Posted March 14, 2008 Share #8 Posted March 14, 2008 Are you sure thats black paint? looks like real old tarnish to me ( a good sign ) Kurt I want to agree with kurt I've seen and owned a few navy pilots wings that have had the same look to them. WOW what a pretty wing brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted July 28, 2008 Share #9 Posted July 28, 2008 the black finish may have been an effort to subdue the wings for field wear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted July 28, 2008 Share #10 Posted July 28, 2008 In general, the wing looks ok to me, BUT.... I do not recall seeing a wing that said 10K on SILVER. I would expect it to say 10K on STERLING or more typical, 1/20th10K on STERLING. I think Gary Cain had some good points on an earlier post where he pointed out that the term silver is kind of meaningless in regards to the metal content. It should be marked STERLING or STERLING silver (indicating that it is a certain purity of silver), but simply "silver" really has no specific meaning. This isnt to say that I think the wing is bad, just that the mark is rather confusing. Perhaps I am wrong. I am begining to see the word "silver" on wings that I am starting to believe may NOT be vintage. Again, I dont think anything strikes me as being wrong on your wing. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted July 28, 2008 Share #11 Posted July 28, 2008 Another red flag is the black "tarnish." That is a sign of artifical toning. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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