Need Help IDing an old ring

[Barb]

Need Help ID'ing an old ring

Hi! This is not really a find from treasure hunting, but an old ring that was in some stuff from my grandfather's belongings. I think it is an Army Corps of Engineer's ring, but am wanting to get a better handle on the age of it. Is it Civil War? WWI? It is badly worn, so hard to see much detail, but the eagle is on both sides of the ring. At the top of the eagle (can't see from photo...sorry!), there are 4 stars. It does not look like the current ACE rings, but the building on the top of it really looks like the castle to me. When held on an angle, I can see 4 indentations in the central part of the structure that would be the tops of that part of the castle. My grandfather had things from relatives in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and he was in WWI. He died in 1986, so I can't ask him...at least not easily...;o)
Thanks for any help anyone can provide!
Cheers,
Barb

 

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[Bluezman]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

THE HISTORY OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS:

http://www.angelfire.com/nc3/tracker/

Bluezman

 

[Jazdo]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

''Engineers lead the way"

 

[Barb]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

Looks like Army Corp of Engineers WWII

How can I tell if it is WWI or WWII? I believe WWI, mainly because it did not belong to anyone in the family that was in WWII. Although, I am not certain that someone did not find it and add it to the collection... Would contacting the ACE help me? Thanks for your input!

 

[Shortstack]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

Welcome to the forum, Barb.

The only "official" rings in the military were / are the ones received through the different Academies. ( West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, etc ) Rings for the various branches are available in the respective Base Exchanges; and in many cases, off base pawnshops and "gimmick" stores.

Research to find when the castle insignia was adopted by the Army Engineers. Here's two links to help you :

http://militaryhistory.about.com/education/militaryhistory/msubmenuusmil.htm

www.searchmil.com/

These two sites with help you. The first site has dozens of links down the left side of the page and the second site is the "Boss Hoss" search engine for all things military. Good luck !!

The second picture you posted seems to show a homemade ring-sizer ( adhesive tape wrapped around the ring to make it easy for a "significant other" to wear.)

 

[Ramitt]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

The Army unofficially adopted the castle to appear on the Corps of Engineers’ epaulets and belt plate in 1840....in 1902, the castle was formally adopted by the Army as the insignia of the Corps of Engineers

http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/history/vignettes/Vignette_90.htm

 

[Barb]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

Thanks for the 2 links! The first did not take me to the correct place, but at least it got me to the 'aboutmilitaryhistory'. I also tried the second with a search of "corps of engineer ring" and did not come up with anything yet. I say 'yet' because there were many sites with the corps of engineers part of it and I will have to get back to it tomorrow.

I did check out the site that was posted below your reply for the history of the castle insignia, which led me to the belief it is ACE. From what you wrote and the looks of the rings that they gave out in WWII (official ones), I think this one is likely unofficial, from whichever war it is from. The metal is not a precious metal, more like a lead-based metal (heavy dull thud sound), also indicating a cheaper variety...as well as it likely not being as well-made to be as badly worn as it is.

You are correct...there is tape on the bottom of the ring, reducing the size to that which a female could wear. Unfortunately, everyone I could have asked at one point in time has passed on.

Thanks again and I will keep hoping someone can help with pin-pointing an age of the ring. I did find from the ACE webpage that there is an office near where I live, so I may take it in to have someone check it out.

Cheers!

 

[Barb]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

The Army unofficially adopted the castle to appear on the Corps of Engineers’ epaulets and belt plate in 1840....in 1902, the castle was formally adopted by the Army as the insignia of the Corps of Engineers

http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/history/vignettes/Vignette_90.htm

Thanks...I did check out this site before posting to check if anyone could help with the year of the ring. They have a very cool history!
Cheers,
Barb

 

[dg39]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

From the style and design of the ring I would place it in the early WW-2 time period.
I have had a good number of these rings pass through my hands and they all are mostly WW-2 era.
DG

 

[Barb]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

Thanks to all that have helped with this post, much appreciated!!

My father had a stroke several years ago and his memory comes and goes. The last time I had asked about the ring, he said he did not know who it might have belonged to. It is hard, as we are not in the same state either. Today, I asked in a different way and found out that my grandfather was indeed in the Army Corps of Engineers in WWI. So...it was his ring from WWI.

To the moderators...this website is one of the coolest I have ever found and when I have something else to ID, I will post again. And, in the meantime, I will keep checking out new finds and see if I can help someone else!

Cheers,
Barb

ps. I will leave this thank you message up a few days and then remove the topic posting.

 

[DaChief]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

I found a similar ring at a WWI camp which had the date 1917 on it. It was sterling silver but there were plated versions that I saw when I was doing research on it.

I believe yours is also WWI. Take a look at this one that I found on EBAY today from WWI. It has an identical Eagle on the body of the ring and it appears on yours that there was most likley an attached center piece on the face of the ring which is now gone. This one is also sterling but like I said, when doing research, there were many that were plated.

Here is the link to a current one on EBAY.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Sterlin...ryZ52612QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Barb]

Re: Need Help ID'ing an old ring

I found a similar ring at a WWI camp which had the date 1917 on it. It was sterling silver but there were plated versions that I saw when I was doing research on it.

I believe yours is also WWI. Take a look at this one that I found on EBAY today from WWI. It has an identical Eagle on the body of the ring and it appears on yours that there was most likley an attached center piece on the face of the ring which is now gone. This one is also sterling but like I said, when doing research, there were many that were plated.

Here is the link to a current one on EBAY.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Sterlin...ryZ52612QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for the post...very cool!! The eagles are very similar, but differ with the way the legs attach to the body. But, the bodies look the same. I looked again to see if there is a date anywhere, but can't see one. Where was it on the one you found? I have not taken the tape off the bottom (must have been put on there for my great-grandmother to wear, or later on, my grandmother). It is exciting to have a piece of history, eh?!

Cheers,
Barb