What is the earliest dated HJ you have, or have seen with seen with a zinc or non-magnetic hilt? Any pics and/or info you may have on the use of zinc in manufacture is appreciated.

Regards
Russell

I’v wondered about that a time or two myself. It will be interesting to see what kind of parameters are established. FP

Indeed, a very interesting question, Russell!

I guess it must have been 1940 that zinc started to be used, but it could be earlier...

Here is a 1940 dated Knecht HJ with zinc hilt.

I will have to check my 1939 dated knifes and see if there is a non magnetic one among them.

Best greetings,

Herman

2

3

Thanks Herman, nice example you show here, and a good one to get the ball rolling.

I was also thinking about the zinc made awards and badges. I had a 1936 Reichsparteitag 'tinnie', very heavy with no finish on it that I think was made of zinc - if not, it was some other non-magnetic material.

Could there be any 39's or perhaps even earlier zinc HJ's out there somewhere?

Regards
Russell

This is a very interesting line of research. Manufacturers in the private sector did not have the resources of the German government, and the government itself went to zinc coins in 1940. And while coal supplies were reasonably adequate, the same was not true for iron until after the fall of France.

While it was not my HJ knife. I remember seeing not too long ago a personalized Puma made knife with the motto and what looked like a zinc handle. My sense of it being that as old stock parts by the various makers were used up - the transition date from iron to zinc can be pushed back to about the same time as the daggers?? FP

Thanks for your comments Fred. In my research so far, I've seen pics of two 1939 dated HJ's with zinc hilts, both Eickhorn, and mention of one 1939 Spitzer without pics. I haven't been able to obtain permission from the owners of the pics to show them here yet but am hopeful this will be forthcoming.

Regards
Russell

With many thanks to one of the forum members, here are a few pics of the M7/80 (C. Gustav Spitzer) dated 39 with a non-magnetic hilt. There doesn't appear to be much or any plating loss exposing the hilt construction material.

Pic with magnet.

Last one, overall hilt.

The plating finish is dull and it weighs about 201 grams, similar in weight to his mottoed example.

Regards
Russell

Absolutely correct, Russell.

Here is one by this maker, some non magnetic metal comes through near the pommel.

Best greetings,

Herman

2

3

And here is an Eickhorn '39, also non-magnetic, as Russell indicated.

Best greetings,

Herman

obverse

Great examples Herman, thanks for checking.

Ok, how about everyone checking their 1938 knives - can we get even earlier?

Regards
Russell

just had a zinc rzm m7/72 date 1939 in the post this morning i will check my others for you asap

Here is another 1940 dated Knecht HJ this time with aluminium hilt: it appears that this company tried out several replacement materials for the steel hilts in 1940... strange because other producers were already using zinc since 1939 as we have seen.

Best greetings,

Herman

2

Here is another 1939 knife with zinc hilt: late SMF.

Best greetings,

Herman

2

A couple more beauties there Herman, thanks for showing them! Have you had a chance to check your 38's?

Regards
Russell

Here is what you wanted, Russell: a 1938 knife with non magnetic hilt by... Robert Klaas!
I wonder why so many people write the name of this maker wrong in this way "Klass"...

Best greetings,

Herman