Knight's Cross case

[Dave Kane]

Tom, the backing feels proper for the 'less padded' types of cases. I can't lift the base as it's glued down very well.


The size and weight are within reason and the overall 'fit' is great!

Heck even the 'nose' test passed with flying colors...

[tom hansen]

Come on, Dave. You probably do not have a periosteal elevator hanging around, but a blunt tipped steak knife will do the trick with some prying. Let's see what it looks like inside!


Also, I have three repro/fake cases- none of them have that smell of old books like the real cases do. One has nice animal glue in the base, but crinkles when pressing on the silk.

[Dave Kane]

You are right I don't have one of those but I did use a radialpredabationmonoglucal ( the newer type!) and even that didn't work!


If it were to 'fall' out with even slight pressure I'd go for it but....no, I'm not one who is comfortable opening the 'innards' of these cases.

[Harry]

Dave, my recent '57er would sit lovely in this case! not saying it is a '57 issue case or anything, cos didn't some of the very early '57ers come in original cases?

[Dave Kane]

Indeed they did!


I'd love to get a consensus on this and if indeed it is a '57 Harry you would be wecome to it.

[Allan P.]

Dave,

Does it feel like cotton wall under the silk lining?

Any discolouration of the silk?

Allan

[Dave Kane]

Hi Allan it feels just like the period cases.

[Dave Kane]

Marcus...any thoughts???

[Dave Kane]

Anyone....?

[Wes Bray]

Dave,
When it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
It seems to bear all the marks of a period case. There is nothing in my collection that would steer you in another direction.
Best regards,
Wes

[tom hansen]

Anyone....?

Dave- I think that Marcus is on some pilot training courses, so he may not be around to respond to these.


As stated earlier, this is a good match to the case I posted last January. Harald Geissler says this is a wartime case. If you pull the base off (which I did), you will find no maker marks in the backing. There is brown animal glue, the "old book smell", higher quality textured paper that is apparent on the sides of the case, a soft feel to the cotton wool padding, and lack of UV fluorescence. It seems as though this would add up to a wartime case. But it sure as hell does not look like the nice early square cornered cases, which all have maker mark and product code in the cardboard, nor like the later round cornered cases. I have classified the same case as "indeterminate" for the time being, despite a nice note verifying authenticity by Harald Geissler. The "positives" outweigh the "negatives" for the case, however, and the fact that there were multiple makers does not exlcude this. Marcus had a thing about the release at the base of the case, which I did not fully understand, which you may want to take a look at as well. Too bad there is not much activity on this issue, as I think the cases are equally important to the crosses and are commanding a price that exceeds most medals, therefore some standards are needed.


Our regular computer is down, therefore I cannot post photos of this case now.

[MH184]

Tom send me an e mail and I'll post it on your behalf.

Well I'd come to you guys for expertise on these because alas my knowledge is little and nothing on these and I'm learning from you guys.

I would however tend to lean towards Toms thoughts on this and call it a dubious one for now, not all period cases have the brown animal glue of course, it's a limited determining factor on later war case's, some fish glues that are white pre application turn clear when dry and even with age still retain a translucent look. It's six of one half a dozen of the other.

On the other hand you have fake cases or those that are post war, that resemble genuine conclusive traits of cases in the premise they have the 'brown' old animal glue look. Catch 22 on the little buggers.

One point I was looking at was the size of the catch hole in the box campared to the catch.......just a though with a few other things that come to mind.

I'd really like one of these in my hands.

Kr

Marcus

PS I'm grounded for a few days due to a car crash I had, and wrote-off the car, so if you want to e mail me Tom I'll get the pic's up as soon as possible.

[tom hansen]

Thanks Marcus- That PC with all my photo files is down, so I am using other computers. I will see if I can get the photo software loaded on another computer.


Marcus, what do you think of the catch on this? Interestingly, the black velvet backing has that "loose weave" appearance that originals have as well. All in all, there seems to be more positives than negatives with this. As soon as my PC is up I will post some photos of my indeterminate case.

[Dave Kane]

Thanks guys! We have come full circle with this one but just because I'm rather rigid in my view of 'period' I think it best to call this one a very early post war case.

The 'feel' of the one look isn't there and I have always gone with the gut feeling....if you have to keep re-visiting something and pondering it there's a major question and maybe even a problem!

Again, I appreciate all the thoughts on this!