Early 57 DKiG By S&L In Halbuti Case

[DavidM]

Hello

I've just recieved this early S&L new form version of the DKiG. This is the type that uses the same rear set up as seen on their wartime versions. This one has a very dark 'coppery' coloured starburst, as opposed to the very dark grey on my other 'wartime' parts one.

This DK has come complete with a halbuti style case. The case is very nice, and is clearly old. The underside of the interior base, (the section the cross actually sits on), is marked 637.KB, and the glue used is animal glue.

The photos don't really do this DK justice, (it's very dull, grey and wet here in England). The DK looks much better in the hand, and the 'coppery' coloured starburst is slightly darker to the eye than it appears from the photos.

As usual, any comments or observations welcomed.

Regards
David

[DavidM]

Rear

[DavidM]

In it's case

[Leroy]

This is a beautiful cross and indeed shares almost all of the attributes of S&L's wartime version. I'm no expert on cases, but it sounds as though it may be a wartime one.

Congratulations on finding this quality piece!

[DavidM]

Hello

Thanks for the comments Leroy If you like this one, check out my other early S&L new form DK in this thread:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=226945&page=2

As for the cases, both of the early 'wartime' parts S&L DKs that I have came in the halbuti style cases, and both have 637.KB impressed into the interior base. There is debate about these cases as it is known and accepted that a halbuti style case was indeed used right towards the end of the war for the DKs. However, there are essentially three camps, one which believes these are left over wartime stock, and hence a genuine wartime DK case, one which believes these are very early 57 cases, made solely for the 57 DKs, and one which believes that these are a mixture of the other two in that some, if not all, of the components are wartime produced, but assembled post war for the 57 DKs - in other words, using up some old stock that was still available. Evidentially, as with so much of this collecting, there is no real evidence that I have seen to promote one theory over another at present. If you follow the link below it will take to you a tread I started on the first of these cases that I got.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=250874&page=2

Not very conclusive one way or another. I also posted it in on another forum and Dr Tom Hansen feels these are wartime, based on the construction, glue and markings impressed into the base. I've just updated the thread linked to above with some photos of the case that came with this DK. Perhaps eventually we will know the answer to these cases, but any views or comments from others about the halbuti style DK cases would be welcomed.

Regards
David

[Peter Wiking]

That is a very nice cross David. Nice work on the rivets. Nice with a matching case as well. Please take a few photos for my book (you know my preferences)

Peter

[DavidM]

That is a very nice cross David. Nice work on the rivets. Nice with a matching case as well. Please take a few photos for my book (you know my preferences)

Peter

Hello

Thanks Peter. I'll do some photos for you at the weekend.

Regards
David

[George L]

Nice DKiG, David, and in super condition, too.

[esquiroz]

Hello friends,

did any of you own a DKiG 1957 with six rivets?
It could be interesting to post pictores if you have any
regards
Carlos

[Peter Wiking]

David
Is the silver star tombak or cupal?

Carlos
I have seen a six rivet 1957 DKG. Never inspected one in my hands though.

Peter

[DavidM]

Hello

From memory, (I'm not on my home computer at present, which is where the DK is), I believe it's cupal, but I'll double check when I'm home.

Regards
David

[Mike Yokum]

Simply beautiful David. Wonderful find!