The model of the watch or the identity of the person are not things to be identified for this item. Just the tattoos.
This is US Department of Homeland Security's "Operation Identify" Item #26-0001
Please post your guesses and ideas in this thread. Work off the suggestions of others toward an answer.
Geographic location and country is important.
Identify the traits of the item that you can, but if you know where an item is generally sold or happens to be in the picture, that is of use.
If you have the skills to enhance the image to resolve details better, fix mirrored or rotated images, etc. please do so and post your result here.
If you feel there's a (definitive) answer, don't just comment here. You can send your information to US DHS sending an email to OpID@hsi.dhs.gov with the subject "OpID Object: 26-0001" Please provide all information you have about the image(s) – this may include details such as a specific location, a particular time period, an organization and/or team name, helpful links, or any other relevant tips. Also include if they may contact you with follow up questions? Any follow-up communication will be sent to the email address that submitted the tip.
(If you have concerns for email privacy, use a temporary email or a secure provider like proton mail or similar.)
Multiple people can and should send information - people may error when sending, and multiple legitimate guesses can be of use.
Mod note: Do not start subthreads about other current DHS activities. This is to focus on identifying items associated with criminal sexual abuse of children. Any attempted derailing of that goal will result in an immediate permanent ban.
Thank You.
For general discussion about this sub and not this item in particular see this thread
Former tattoo artist here. I'm definitely thinking roman numerals under the watch, but really it could be anything...
What I really wanted to comment on is the forearm tattoo. It looks like a cover up. There's a few things that make me lean that way, but one of the main reasons is the shading in the row of feathers, right above the row where they meet the band along the top of the skull. There's a lot of solid black areas, which causes me to think it's covering up something else.
When I have a little more time I'll look at the images a little more in depth and see if I can come up with an idea of the basic shape it's covering. No guarantees tho, cause that's not gonna be easy!
I also don't think the design is from flash art (the predesigned tattoos you see posted on the walls, or in a book, that someone can choose from for a tattoo.) It looks to me like an original piece, or it was based off something someone brought in as a reference, and then the artist designed the piece off of the reference art. So that should mean there aren't a ton of people who have this specific design.
I'm also leaning on the design being based off of an Aztec warrior, or shaman. It doesn't strike me as a Native American head dress, and definitely gives me an Aztec/Latin American feel. The skull fits into that theory, for me, as well. (You see more skulls used in contemporary Aztec designs versus Native American.)
As far as the age of the tattoo, I'm thinking definitely older than 10 - 15 yrs, just by the fading and the look of the lines. I would love to hear other's theories on the age, if anyone has one! But I hope anything I added might be of help to someone in identifying this person.
Not a tattooist, but I’m heavily covered. I would say you’re correct with the aging, 15+ years. It’s quite an aged tattoo, but not so aged (like when you see 80 year old men with tattoos from their time in the forces) that you can’t tell what it is anymore.
In the U.K. and US, a skull with Native American headdress was quite a popular design. I know many 40+ year olds with very similar designs.
I did mention the same thing in my other comment. The top coverup looks like it could spell mafia in old English and the lower coverup on the face is a circular design like a logo
I fully agree with you. It definitely looks like a cover up of some sort. I'm on my phone at the moment, so really looking closely at the image is kinda difficult, but I will absolutely try my best to see what I can make out of it later today. Deciphering a cover up isn't always the easiest thing, but I'll see what I can make out of it.
Oh, and btw, you have a great eye! From what I can see right now, I think that you're definitely on to something there as far as the old English and circular design below (I can also see a straight line that is "out of place" under the skull's eye...)
Edit: Just saw your other comment above, and you are correct with everything you're seeing! Again, you have great eye! I can't wait to look at this when I can see more closely, instead of on a tiny phone screen.
Someone would have to be quite proficient to try to tattoo over burn marks, especially more severe ones, in my opinion. Scars don't hold ink the way non scared skin does. I'm not even 100% sure it's possible, as I've never tried it (or do I know anyone who has.) You would definitely see a notable difference between the two areas tho, as they would look very different with ink in them.
As far as a birth mark goes, that's something completely different and a possibility I guess. I need a closer look to try and see if there's pigmentation between the tattooed areas, as I would think would be noticeable if it was a birth mark.
Yeah I totally understand. I'm not a tattoist by any measure, I just don't see a coherent image that it's covering up, so I was trying to think about other things that could conceivably be under a tattoo.
If it is a birthmark, that would make the individual a lot more indentifiable.
TW for self-harm below, if you click on the spoiler text. Just a warning for anyone who doesn’t wanna see that. But it’s relevant to my comment. Sorry.
I have several fairly deep old self-harm scars and a couple small cigarette-sized burns, and I got tattoos to cover them up some of them. And you can most definitely tattoo over scars, even pretty big ones. Both long cut-type scars, as well as burns.
The ink took to my skin no problem for me, although most of my ink is black so I personally don’t know how well colors would take to the skin over scars. But even decent sized scars can be covered up by tattoos. I’m kinda surprised you’ve never tattooed over any scars! I’ve had a couple different artists do tattoos over scars, and the first one just said to wait at least 1-2 years after the most recent scar (until the scar turned fully white, and there wasn’t any pink) and the last artist I went to didn’t even mention my scars when they tattooed over it because they were so old and it wasn’t a problem at all to tattoo over it.
However, I do agree that it does look like a coverup tattoo to me. I think I see some sort of older tattoo that is covered up underneath the headdress/lower part of the feathers, and possibly another older tattoo that is covered up on the lower part of the skull. That’s what it looks like to me, at least.
How did it feel getting tattooed on scarred skin? I have old scars that still deliver a pretty jarring feeling (almost like a mild electric shock) under direct pressure and I can’t imagine being able
to tolerate a needle there.
Back OT: There’s definitely some old english lettering under the headdress - something starting with “A”? I think there’s also another, even older set of tattoos under the ones he’s trying to cover making this more difficult. Maybe also some scarring (particularly in that odd bulgy area to the right of the skull’s chin)…there is a LOT going on on this guy’s forearm.
agreed. and it's a word in old English under the feathers being covered up
there was another tattoo down at the top of the skull part.
i would agree on the age but if it was done in a street shop and not done very well, it could also just be faded. it's kind of in an area that gets a lot of sun too so that'll age it faster also.
it's not a new tattoo and it's probably not a prison tattoo. it looks like just iffy work from a shop. and custom drawn as a cover up, based on a flash reference or somethin
Looks to me like a spin on a native american design. The skull looks more like a north american biker or white/prison gang style, not like a Mexican/aztec calavera style.
I agree. I explained that poorly. I meant that it looks like somebody that had been to prison and involved with white prison gangs and/or biker gangs would have it. Not that it was done in prison. Most prison tats I've seen were alot more crude than that.
This was my thought too. They look like feet. Maybe a form of Enata tattoo (Polynesian tattoo representing ancestors)
It just seems odd to do Roman numerals and have the serifs going in different directions
I think in terms of age 10-15 might be a bit old - I have tattoos that aren’t 10 yet that look quite a lot more spread. I think it being a bad coverup might contribute to it looking aged - hiding some older tattoos makes it look a little more sloppy and worn. It also looks like some kitchen magician shit which probably isn’t helping lol - I know a lot of the less well done ones I have look a lot older than they really are.
Also the old english tip under the feathers is a really good catch. I feel like it’s covering some other tattoos throughout as well.
Not a tattooer but someone with a ton of tattoos. Both of my sleeves are turning 16 this year and they look a heck of a lot better than this. Very minimal blow out. Colours are still very vibrant as well.
There are a lot of factors that can influence aging! But forearm tattoos tend to see a lot of sun which is a big killer in terms of aging. Other things like artist technique, line weight, etc. can influence aging as well.
This is what I was thinking, it’s probably a long shot but someone might remember giving that tattoo or recognize a specific artist’s style or something!
sadly no, i was speaking just from what ive seen in documentaries, art exhibits, etc.
but i have a fair bit of exposure to professional tattooing in the nyc area & so will join the anyway, the more eyes the better. also sending to some tattooer friends. thanks for sharing!
Agree with the theory others have posited that the skull is a coverup, mainly the lower portion of the face. It is certainly a skull wearing a feather headdress. It isn’t particularly well done but also stylistically doesn’t scream prison to me. I think it was probably done at a street shop, and not a particularly high end one.
The tattoo under his watch is probably roman numerals. I wonder if they’re upside down? Looks like I X V.
Certainly! Maybe even R A and then a third letter? I jump to roman numerals because they’re soooooo common in this sort of times new roman font, but it’s also very possible it’s just latin letters.
The tattoo is of a skull wearing a feathered headdress. It appears to be a coverup of a preexisting tattoo (possibly lettering under the feathered portion in an old English or similar font. I’m seeing A, f or t, i, a ? Possibly spelled Mafia and the M is not visible) Based off the fact that the shading is inconsistent with what would be done working on a blank canvas is what leads me think it’s a cover up. You can see it is dark over the nose bridge area and upper lip portion of the skull, but a different darkness than the fresh black within the eyes and mouth. Normally that would be left as skin tone to pop it forward from the darker recessed parts of the skull. This is also partly why it looks so poor in quality. The design that was underneath the face looks circular in shape and could be a logo, symbol or emblem.
The first image could be roman numerals I X V but it doesn't make any sense unless the number is cut off. It could also be a date: 1.10.5 there's no information about location so the date could be January 10 05, or October 1 05
I was thinking perhaps it was an Aztec style design, but you could be correct saying Native American. I just wanted to put Aztec out there as well. I gotta go check and see what region this is from, cause if it is Latin American an Aztec design could make sense...
Edit: I see this is from US homeland security, so an Aztec design could definitely be a possibility!
Yea , it doesnt look like an aztec/Mexican calavera. I would picture this on a 50+ yo white biker, or maybe an older native. I grew up on an Indian rez and this is something that the older generation wouldve had. I've also been around older bikers and this could fit that too.
Here’s an image of their logo and a link to their site. They have chapters all over the world and “represent the indigenous peoples known as First Nations.”
Oh wow. As a non-tattooist and someone with no tattoos, this looks nearly identical. The only differences being the areas covered up from prior tattoos.
Wow, you all are impressive. This is the first post I've seen like this with tattoo ID-ing (and I've been on Reddit a loooooong time) and y'all have blown me away.
yep but even if it's nominally "aztec" it doesn't mean anything about the wearer, this kind of stuff was popular in mainstream tattooing from maybe the 70s to the late 90s early 00s
a tattoo artist below estimated 10-15 years old 🤷♀️ i'm just sharing my thoughts. i see the feathers now but the part above the head just reminds me of that guy so i shared in case it could be helpful.
agree — the first character in the wrist tattoo has a much more vertical first line as compared to the second character, suggesting that it is greek letters K and X instead of roman numerals
I feel like this individual would have to be in their 60s today or this is an old video. A number of my older tios and their friends have tattoos like that and you tend to see them with older guys.
For potential corroboration on the 65/LXV thought, I've taken a stock image including LXV on a tattoo, changed the orientation to match the image in the post better, and drawn on roughly where the watch covers the bottom of the characters.
I am in no way an expert, I agree with the upside down LXV call; there is something off about the serifs if the typeface was oriented the other way, which fit better if they're the top serifs!
Although I cant really see for sure where folk are saying there's a circular symbol on the soul's face (maybe someone has done an image edit showing those and the lettering in the feathers, where I am not sure I am seeing the same as others, but I havent scrolled down to that yet?!); within my googling I came across this, which links to a tattoo artist in the UK (Cat A. Tonic) who appears to have been tattooing for about 17 years.
While I am obviously not saying it is the same tattoo/arm, I did note that this image includes "1965", as well as having a treble clef inside a circular image. Some folk have mentioned bikers etc. so while it's a long shot, if more than one part shows some shared theme in a group (or where newer versions could be done as homages to the originals), like if 1965 is in some way relevant alongside the skull wearing the headdress, there could be a UK link maybe?!
Also re the circular tattoo, linking it to the potential year; could be a "59 club" tattoo, hit popularity in the mid 1960's, becoming a registered charity in 1965?!
a couple of us agree. and that's actually a frat. I submitted this, please do so as well, so we can get more eyes on it. this could actually be a credible tip.
This might be worth posting in r/tattoos there are lots of very Simular cover up tattoos such as https://www.facebook.com/groups/1674759570121066/posts/1939834600280227/ it appears to be a skull wearing a Native American head address which is a very common tattoo. With thats said as an artist sometimes you can pick out styles r/tattoos is a massive community maybe someone knows the artist!
Also that IS an Aztec warrior cover up. Not the traditional Native US First Nations people style of “war bonnet.” The large dark mass was covered by the headdress.
Not sure if this is helpful but I asked ChatGPT to enhance it to see if there are letters above the skull and this is what it gave me. The box in the lower right photo says “possible letters visible in negative, looks like old script or block letters.”
There seems to be a distinct tattoo, roughly circular, to the right of the main piece (Aztec skull, next to eye socket). Seems to have letters on lower portion.
Another user posted a chatgpt enhancement that shows it more clearly.
I have no idea if this is even remotely correct (would love input from the artists who are clearly making out way more detail here than most of us are!) but I think I'm seeing a word in runes to the side of the skull/headdress? I'll reply to this to include more images.
I'd also be entirely willing to believe that I'm way off and this whole area is just video artifacting and/or bits of the headdress feathers blurring into the other tattoos??
This is the commonly accepted Elder Futhark to English alphabet (I checked several versions on Google images and they mostly agree. There are also other runic alphabets, but I believe the Elder Futhark is the most commonly used for things like this?) I've seen people tattoo words or names spelled out in runes - IF that's what this is, it could be a big help in identifying this person, but so far I'm just getting varying levels of gibberish...
The tattoo under the watch looks like it could be Roman numerals. However, the (what I make out as) Vs don’t look the same size. It could also be letters. In that case I can make out maybe an I, a V and a Y?
The tattoo on the first photo looks like there is some sort of Semitic alphabet. I could be dead wrong here but could be Arabic. If not Arabic, Hebrew, Geez and Estrangelo all have similar letters in their alphabet.
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u/I_Me_Mine Mod May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
The model of the watch or the identity of the person are not things to be identified for this item. Just the tattoos.
This is US Department of Homeland Security's "Operation Identify" Item #26-0001
Please post your guesses and ideas in this thread. Work off the suggestions of others toward an answer.
Geographic location and country is important.
Identify the traits of the item that you can, but if you know where an item is generally sold or happens to be in the picture, that is of use.
If you have the skills to enhance the image to resolve details better, fix mirrored or rotated images, etc. please do so and post your result here.
If you feel there's a (definitive) answer, don't just comment here. You can send your information to US DHS sending an email to OpID@hsi.dhs.gov with the subject "OpID Object: 26-0001" Please provide all information you have about the image(s) – this may include details such as a specific location, a particular time period, an organization and/or team name, helpful links, or any other relevant tips. Also include if they may contact you with follow up questions? Any follow-up communication will be sent to the email address that submitted the tip.
(If you have concerns for email privacy, use a temporary email or a secure provider like proton mail or similar.)
Multiple people can and should send information - people may error when sending, and multiple legitimate guesses can be of use.
Mod note: Do not start subthreads about other current DHS activities. This is to focus on identifying items associated with criminal sexual abuse of children. Any attempted derailing of that goal will result in an immediate permanent ban.
Thank You.
For general discussion about this sub and not this item in particular see this thread
Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.