Prototype or not, Slingerland never put their muffler/tone control at the butt end. Most of the time it was at the right of the throw, with the badge/vent at the left, sometime badge/vent was random in later model snares. This has no vent hole at all.

And they normally used cup washers on their metal snares.

I remember being shown an aluminum prototype Slingerland snare at Jack's Drum Shop here in Boston back in the 90's.

Unfortunately the ONLY detail I remember about was the smooth shell.

I saw this yesterday, too, and thought it was odd. I noticed the muffler's location as well and thought it was strange along with the support plate that looks welded in for the throw off. Also theres no typical crimping of the shell for the snare beds and the screws and washers do seem strange. It would be great if someone here can confirm this to be what is advertised.

60's slingerland Cob shells had thick metal plates to take up the slack instead of cup washers. This thing has too many red flags.

The lugs all appear to be Taiwanese knockoffs from Slingerland's Asian stenciled years. They look too wide and rounded. In fact, they actually "look" like they're made of that soft and flexible "plastic-metal" alloy from Taiwan. True, I'm making a "judgement call' based just on some photos on line, but so be it. The photos themselves are less than convincing. Not the first time a "rare prototype" appears for sale in cyberspace.

I've seen this drum, too. It looks completely legit to me! I've got this same shell in a 6-lug version. Instead of the round washers, my drum makes use of the thick aluminum spacers that you see on the COB Krupa snares of the time period, in addition to crimped-over edges. Slingerland did not use cup washers until the 70's!

The use of 10 lugs with round washers, 3-point strainer, Rapid butt, dual-pad tone control (and placement) and no air vent/badge suggests this is a one-off drum. I see noting about this drum that says otherwise. Remember, this was a time period when rules did not apply. Just because it's not in the catalogs does not mean it didn't exist!

Normally, I feel that everything for sale by this seller is over-priced, but given the rarity of this drum (possibly the only one of its kind) I think the price is justified!

Mark

Definitely NOT Taiwanese knockoff lugs! And, check out the near-perfect period-correct tension rods! Yes, I agree that this seller has used "rare prototype" too often, but this drum really appears legitimate. If I had the extra $$$ to spend, I'd add this drum to my collection!

Mark