Garry, i suppose that in order to start getting some "usable" research done on these HJ knives with opaque diamonds, it would not be as simple as it was for me with the Party badge, after all, we are not just talking about a simple badge, but also the actual knife.
The badges themselves should not even be a topic of conversation - i mean whether they are period or not,
they are, just of course not all, the same goes for any badge whether it has transparent enamel, or no enamel, made from tin, paper, silver, gold...... and the rest. So the main question would be, is the diamond original to the knife!! To answer this, you will obviously need to have a very good idea of the
HJ knife, and how it changed between 1933 and 1942/5. Just like badges and awards, we see the changes through the early transitional years, the RZM years, and the collapse of the Third Reich, this is reflected in the quality, materials used, markings and so on... So once you have this knowledge, you can apply my research on opaque red enamel, and the periods it was used, and see if it fits in with the actual knife.
The scabbard should never even be a focus point, and does not deserve any place in a discussion about a knife - as such - it is a separate part that could, or could not, be original to the knife. The diamond actually as well, seeing as it is a part that can be replaced, just like the attachment on an award. So Primarily, you would need a VERY GOOD idea of the HJ knife as such, and how it "changed" though its 10 odd- year life span.
I dont collect knives, so am not bothered where this topic goes really, but the more info we have, surely the better. The Old way of authenticating is wrong, and was borne out of a lack of information as well as too much trust on the part of the collector. If Mr. XX says so, then it`s so. Just like the "If the diamond wiggles - it`s good" But nobody will have anything extra to add about why the diamond could, or could not wiggle.
We all started out "somewhere" and placed trust in certain people without questioning. It is not the way to progress though, and as we see now in 2013, has not gotten us any wiser on many issues/questions. What do we know? REALLY KNOW.... so many comments like: I have seen over 500 HJ knives, or have 500 in my collection, i know what i am doing... but how many HJ knives were actually made? add that up, minus your 500, and how many have you really seen? 0,02% maybe? Nowhere near a solid foundation for any "
with 100% certainly" posts. But sadly this is how experience has, and still is, measured. We need to incorporate modern research into our way of thinking today. Use everything we have, and use facts and history before we turn to someone who has collected and see 500 knives for guidance.
I am not saying that everything people like Wittmann and Johnson have written about knives is wrong, it surely is not, but it is not based on a solid foundation, and in some cases, the wrong terminology has been used (
The DJ knives were authorized.... for example) and collectors have gotten the wrong impression. If we are all agreed that a Vet story must not be the main focus in any debate, then the same must go for anything printed on the matter, anything that is printed with no footnotes, or no evidence, is nothing more that the authors opinion. Maybe sometimes the opinion is right, but all too often it is not.
So we all, (including myself) need to wake up and turn away from the old, accepted way of saying that something is good or bad without understanding the item.
Where does this Opaque red enamel is bad theory spring from? see page 157 of Robin Lumsden`s "1987 - A collectors guide to Third Reich Militaria"