Kriegsmarine Japanese style Auxiliary Cruiser

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Typical japanese fitting

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Another very popular and standart style

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And the last one

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So why such strange non-japanese fitting?

The only explanation that we have for today can be found in Gordon book

This short note

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Typical japanese silver marks

So now this strange american STERLING mark.

To tell you the truth chaps I've never seen these ordinances from 1928 and 1956. The mark was in use for a long time (even after the end of WWII).

The only thing I know for a fact is what actual marks were used by japanese mint and private workshops during 1910-1945. No STERLING around ;)

Edited March 3, 2013 by JapanX

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Japanese mint (and private workshops) between 30s and 70s were using double mark "japanese flag + 1000 in diamond"

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Another example of this mark + nice set of typical japanese silver marks of private workshop

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Another piece - same set of marks.

Please note how stable the position of these mark!!!

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Another example

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And another one (from 1972!!!)

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Now examples of marks that were used by different japanese private workshops during same time period 1920-1945

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Badges from 40s