German Cross (DK) Halbetui Case

[DavidM]

Hello

I have in my collection a halbetui style case, which came with a DKiG. I have searched the forum and found a couple of similar cases in earlier postings, but at the time there was no answer one way or another, some feeling these are genuine wartime and others that they may be post war, or assembled post war using wartime parts, (how can anyone tell the difference?).

Given comments made in a very recent thread on DK cases about the research etc that has now been carried out on DK cases, could the case experts possibly please comment on my case, as shown here.

The case is UV negative, and 'smells old', if you know what I mean. Although not by any means indicative of anything, it uses what appears to be the old animal glue - and smells like it too !! The underside of the base on which the DK sits has the impression marks around the pin cut out as referred to by Marcus in the last thread on DK cases.

First photo is of the exterior top of the case.

Any thoughts, comments or observations warmly welcomed.

Many thanks in advance.

Regards
David

[DavidM]

Exterior Base

[DavidM]

Front (visible is the small pin which I assume is to help retain the interior base)

[DavidM]

Rear

[DavidM]

Inside

[DavidM]

Interior base

[DavidM]

Interior Top / Lining

[DavidM]

Underside of interior base

[DavidM]

Interior of base showing glue.

[wolfeknives]

David,
If you go to this link, http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/germ...ufacturing.htm you can see an example of an original half case. The construction is somewhat different than yours. Your example is also missing the gold/silver line.
However, I know very little about cases, so it will be very interesting to see what the experts have to say. To me cases are a very important component of this hobby, I am looking forward to learning more about them.
Wolfgang

[DavidM]

Hello

Thanks for that Wolfgang. The construction of the one you refer to looks pretty well the same as mine from what I can see, except mine doesn't have a gold stripe, which appears to be the case with some of the other halbetui ones that I've found on the forums. The gold line doesn't appear to go all the way round the one you refer to either, so is it actually a gold line or just the wood showing through?

I've found a couple threads on the cases forum that discuss these halbetui style cases but at the time nothing concluesive was determined, hence why I am asking if anything new is now known, and for opinions on this particular one.

Like you, I know very little about cases, so let's hope that the experts chime in.

Regards
David

[DavidM]

Hello

Nobody got a view on this case? Anyone? Marcus, Alan?

Regards
David

[MH184]

How do you tell ?

Theres alot of opinion but it's never backed up with any explanation, thoughts or reasoning.

I've spoken to one or two of your granted 'advanced' collectors and a certain dealer or two about these and they can't say one way or another with any premise guidance - only an opinion that's not 101%.

Frankly, I'm not satisfied nor can I accept an opinion in this instance - to me they're still on the fence regardless.

I need to catagorise these sorts (outer coverings etc) and decide how many and which ones perhaps to have 'tested' if the owners are willing to let their cases be tested over an unknown duration here in the UK.

Time to put the deliberation to bed once and for all on these cases.

[DavidM]

How do you tell ?

Theres alot of opinion but it's never backed up with any explanation, thoughts or reasoning.

I've spoken to one or two of your granted 'advanced' collectors and a certain dealer or two about these and they can't say one way or another with any premise guidance - only an opinion that's not 101%.

Frankly, I'm not satisfied nor can I accept an opinion in this instance - to me they're still on the fence regardless.

I need to catagorise these sorts (outer coverings etc) and decide how many and which ones perhaps to have 'tested' if the owners are willing to let their cases be tested over an unknown duration here in the UK.

Time to put the deliberation to bed once and for all on these cases.

Hello

Thanks for that Marcus.

Just to add to this thread, and I don't know if this will help any, following a suggestion made to me by another collector, I have very carefully peeled back the interior base covering and on the lower left and lower right of the underside of the interior base there are the marks 637.KB. I have attached a couple of photos showing this, (sorry not the best pictures, but I've had to take one under my desk lamp as it's dark here in the UK now and one using flash).

Does this help?

Regards
David

[DavidM]

Close in of right hand side of underside of interior base, using flashbulb.