Found a HJ knife stamped RZM m7/72 with 1937 stamped on the ricasso, however the hilt is steel based and not nickel (as this was the beginning of the transitional HJ knives).
im not completely turned away from it as I cannot find information about this, however my belief is that it’s not absurd to think that surplus steel hilts were still being used
Hi, zinc hilts (Zamak 2) first appeared in 1938 but previous stocks of steel hilted knives would have been used up as was also the case when "Blut und Ehre" blades were discontinued so transitional knives will be found with steel hilts as will later knives with "Blut und Ehre".
On Zamak 2.. This obviously hints at a previous alloy named Zamak 1. Does anyone know exactly when Zamak hilts were first used on the HJ knife? It is commonly said that zinc was introduced on the knife in 1937 but I haven't seen proof of that on the forum - only for 1938 (Zamak 2)
