Quartermasters Ring

tamrock

tamrock

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Jan 16, 2013
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I know of a scrap gold & silver buyer who saves some more interesting stuff from the refinery. He sells it at range of 15-25% over spot. I got by his place last week on the road and got this very cool ring for 20 bucks + No Tax as its not sold as jewelry, but bullion. He knew the top was gold and said it was just a thin sheet of gold over the sterling. I cleaned it some and the top is a solid little Quartermasters insignia that I'm thinking would be a half a gram at least. I think I could get a 100 bucks out of this ring. I would like your opinions on age, as I told him I think its WW1 vintage??, he seemed a bit surprised when I said that and said, " you really think it's that old? ... I could see that caused him to maybe rethink what he just quoted me, so I took a 2nd look and said quickly, "oh heck no" This is a later new made ring. Dang! I need to watch what I say at times, so he went back to thinking he's doing a-ok at marking up his scrap, as that's what he's all about. He knows very little of antique values, as I've made some hell of a profit on this fellas stuff before. He also sold me a size 11 Simons Bros, sterling thimble for 5 bucks I and should get maybe $35.00 out of it?.
 

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No idea on age, but that is a super cool ring. Good to see stuff like that being saved from scrap.
 

I don't think that is from the WW1 era. But I could be very wrong. I am no jewelry expert, but it doesn't look that old to my uneducated eye. I am going to guess Viet Nam era, but I am only basing that on gut feeling, not knowledge, not experience. But you are right, it is worth way more than the 20 bucks you paid for it. I would start it on the bay for $125 or make an offer. Good luck with it.

T.
 

I don't think its as old as WWI but that stamp looks like it could be WWII. Great find, I'm sure the top piece is at least a half a gram, likely more. I think $100 is a little moderate/low and you should be able to move it for that easy. Cool pick !! Keep @ it and HH !! :hello2:
 

It was pretty black before I cleaned it up some. That's how I mostly gave it the WW1 era age. It's not in the style of a mans ring in the Vietnam era I would think, but could be? So, WW2 just may be the time it was made. The condition is pretty good, as others I've seen online are worn down allot. This one is nice with crisp detail in the designs.
 

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CladSpends2 said:
This is on eBay and listed as a WWII quartermaster's ring. The style is quite different:

Vintage WW2 Era Men's Sterling Eagle US Army Quartermaster Corps Ring 19 Grams | eBay

I think your ring is later, just sayin'. I like your's better and still think you could get at least $125. It looks like it was a spur of the moment buy and then not worn much. It does have good detail. Good luck with it.

T.
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Can't be to sure Clad, To me the ring on ebay I would say looks more like almost post WW2. Like Korean war era?. This I base on the style of ring my Dad and my uncles would wear. I found this forum discussing a ring believed to be WW1. The ring in question is thought to be WW1 and an other example was posted, "also said to be WW1" and it looks as if it was almost made from the same eagles on the side casting as mine, but with a different insignia. If you had seen how dirty this ring was when I picked it up, it would have looked much older. Maybe I should have waited to clean it before I looked at getting opinions on the age of it. Worlds War Service Ring - MISC / UNKNOWN - U.S. Militaria Forum
 

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My father worked as a qutarmaster his entire carrer 24 years.He past about 5 years ago due to agaent orange ,died of cancer.I would be interested in buying, so that I could wear it in remembrance of him.If you decide on what you want could you e-mail or inmessage me then if I can afford it I will buy it and wear it for what time I have left.HH
 

The black tarnish is not a sign of age at all. Silver can tarnish in just a short time.
What will give you the age is the details in the stamp and the design of the ring. That one on Ebay looks much "older" than WWII... However it does make me feel the one you found could be after WWI or II. I don't think the one from WWI or WWII will be much different in design, but. I don't really know, I'm trying my best here. :laughing7: Regardless its a great find and it likely has more than $20 in gold. :notworthy:

Keep @ it and HH !! :hello2:
 

MUD(S.W.A.T) said:
The black tarnish is not a sign of age at all. Silver can tarnish in just a short time.
What will give you the age is the details in the stamp and the design of the ring. That one on Ebay looks much "older" than WWII... However it does make me feel the one you found could be after WWI or II. I don't think the one from WWI or WWII will be much different in design, but. I don't really know, I'm trying my best here. :laughing7: Regardless its a great find and it likely has more than $20 in gold. :notworthy:

Keep @ it and HH !! :hello2:
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I do know that the oxidation is not any kind of positive way at dating silver. I've lost track of the jars of silver cleaning cream I've gone thru cleaning old silver, but I do notice various degrees of the thickness in the oxidation in some of the pieces I've cleaned over others that I know are later pieces. For me it will be the oldest of silver that will take me longer to clean it of the black oxidation as it to me seems thicker and maybe never cleaned and I know it's an old piece. One never know thought how often it had been cleaned and when the last time it was cleaned, so as you say the amount of oxidation is not any kind ironclad way of determining age. This ring to me just seemed to have a thick layer of black tarnish over other silver I've cleaned. I have a book on the subject of antique silver and it did discuss some on oxidation and cleaning. I remember it mentioned oxidation is the effects of the environment on which the silver is in and how it is effected by air pollution to improper storage in a cedar lined chest. So as it is I'm leaning towards the ring in the WW2 to Vietnam era, but can't be all that sure as it isn't dated or monogramed with additional information. I do thank all of you for bringing your opinions to my attention. I just hope I can pin down a good date as when this ring was made.
 

Doing a little research on the Qtm. insignia I'm somewhat confused. The 1896 original eagle design has his head below the wing. In 1921 the eagles head moves upright. Then again in 1986 it looks like the eagles head is again moved back below the wing. Mine is below the wing.
Read here.... Quartermaster Corps Branch Insignia thanks! clad
 

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