Spade and cover

[Admiraal]

I'm posting this for a friend, he is being offered this spade and cover, for 100 euro.
What do you guys think of them?
I have a few doubts but i'm no expert.

I see black stiching, wasn't that bad?

It looks like its marked '44, but also a stamp on one of the loops "IR 17". isn't that Infanterie Regiment 17? strange since that unit transformed into Grenadier-Regiment 17 in 1942.

Pictures:

[CWP]

The shovel is absolutely Swiss, and the carrier does not look right to me- probably a fake.

[tobi1418]

Cover could be anywhere, pics are too small. The spade must not be swiss, the german army in WW1 and the Reichswehr also used spades with an iron ring around the handle. Look after markings of manufacturers on the spade or maybe a date.

[CWP]

There was a photo with the markings, that has disappeared. The markings appeared to be RG&Cle which is a Swiss maker mark.

[Admiraal]

Strange... lemme re-upload that one.

[Admiraal]

I've asked my friend to get more photos from the seller.
Thanks for the opinions so far

[Michael Kuligowski]

Tobi - if You clik on the thumbnail here - it will open asa much bigger picturee !!!

Rick - tell Your friend to return it to seller - if it was sold as real thing... its a 100% fake cover and post war shovel - junk...

[Admiraal]

Thanks, thank god he didn't bought it yet! ...well as far as i know

[Admiraal]

Can you guys tell me some "red flags", my friend wants to know what is wrong with it (the cover).

Btw, another picture from him:

[Admiraal]

The seller says that the shovel is marked with:

ro-ci
42

[David Villar]

Rick - tell Your friend to return it to seller - if it was sold as real thing... its a 100% fake cover and post war shovel - junk...

It's not such a postwar item, it's simply a Swiss military issue during the 40's but it doesn't deserve such high price
I've seen lots of them with a leather cover which is definitely not german, I think the code for them was commonly: "FASCH 40" or "FASCH 43", depending on the year they were made
BTW, is the ring the only difference with the German shovels? (or at least the position of the ring if there are Germans with ring)

[corporalSteiner]

i understood the real ww2 rigids were 'spot' welded...little indents seven i believe...to sandwich the two piece blade together, rather than round headed rivets

[Michael Kuligowski]

Can you guys tell me some "red flags", my friend wants to know what is wrong with it (the cover).

Btw, another picture from him:

Rick - there is not much to say - wrong material.. wrong construction, fantasy markings -

also tell Your friend to get new digital camera - pictures look like it was made with some 8 years old 1.3 megapixel

[Admiraal]

Thanks again
I'm gonna tell him.