Have any of you dagger collectors ever heard of or use what I call the "Cheek Test" when gauging the authenticity of a portapee?
I was educated by some old time collectors some 40+ years ago on how to test to see if a Heer, Luft., Navy or other portapees were genuine.
What they told me to do and I still use this method to this day is to take the ball of the portapee and touch it to your cheek. They said since there was aluminum in the ball that if should always be cool to the skin on your cheek. If it was a reproduction you would feel nothing at all as the repros didn't contain any metal in them.
I have some 22 portapees on various daggers in my collection to include, Heer, Luft. Navy and K98 bayonets and they all touch cool when I use this method.
Is this one of the proper ways to authenticate a WWII made portapee or is it sort of an Old Wives Tale?
I only ask as I have recently come across a spectacular condition M36 SS dagger with a portapee that I know is 100% period made but it doesn't pass the "Cheek Test". Owner says that some were made from nylon and that is why this one is not cool to the skin.
I would love to know the memberships opinion on this subject.
I was educated by some old time collectors some 40+ years ago on how to test to see if a Heer, Luft., Navy or other portapees were genuine.
What they told me to do and I still use this method to this day is to take the ball of the portapee and touch it to your cheek. They said since there was aluminum in the ball that if should always be cool to the skin on your cheek. If it was a reproduction you would feel nothing at all as the repros didn't contain any metal in them.
I have some 22 portapees on various daggers in my collection to include, Heer, Luft. Navy and K98 bayonets and they all touch cool when I use this method.
Is this one of the proper ways to authenticate a WWII made portapee or is it sort of an Old Wives Tale?
I only ask as I have recently come across a spectacular condition M36 SS dagger with a portapee that I know is 100% period made but it doesn't pass the "Cheek Test". Owner says that some were made from nylon and that is why this one is not cool to the skin.
I would love to know the memberships opinion on this subject.
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