TR 8 Year SS Medal with Iron Cross Pencil Chain

[Guest Trinity]

I inherited this from a WW2 veteran, who passed away recently at the age of 100. I have not seen anything like it before and thought I would put it out there for discussion. These items came accompanied with a SS Dagger, which has been authenticated as being original, so I do not really have any concerns about these items not being original. However, I would like to see if anyone has come across something similar?

 

It is an 8 Year SS Service Medal, in which the ribbon has been removed and it is attached to a silver chain, which has, of all things, a small pencil carrier with an Iron Cross on it. It also came with a silver ring, also with an Iron Cross on it, which is hallmarked only with the numbers of 925. I am assuming this is the silver purity. The pencil carrier is quite unique. The pencil, which looks extremely old because the yellow paint has age darkened considerably to almost a brown, fits inside a silver tube. The entire ensemble is too small to be considered a necklace, yet too long to be a bracelet - not that anyone would wear a pencil on a bracelet. Regardless, I am assuming it was either worn on a tunic or hung as a decoration.

[Guest Trinity]

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[Guest Trinity]

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[Guest Trinity]

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[Ivydiv]

Very unique. Thanks for sharing

[stratasfan]

OK . . . I can ID the chain/pencil part. Remove the medal planchet and what you have is a classic watch chain. The pencil case would be like a fob. The clasp would attach to a loop, made especially for that, in men's tailored suits. Here are links to some assorted pictures of different watch chains in a similar style -

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1930s-Pocket-Watch-Chain-Gold-Filled-13-1-4-Inches-3mm-/382860394572

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage+watch+chain&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-_pTL1e3hAhVJ5awKHUgPA2AQ_AUIDygC&biw=1600&bih=757#imgrc=2J5I4OiBx42-cM:

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage+watch+chain&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-_pTL1e3hAhVJ5awKHUgPA2AQ_AUIDygC&biw=1600&bih=757#imgrc=Co6GRy4Dsr4RdM:

 

 

My guess is that someone took a watch chain and a medal from the same soldier or two different places, and put the medal on it to keep them together. That wouldn't have been worn like that. Just kept like that. So, what you have is actually two cool items.

 

If memory serves, those type of chains (with the ring clasp) are mostly from pre-WWII. However, I'm not totally sure about that. Also, Germany might have used a style way longer than other places, too. All in all, cool!