Bi-Metallic 7,7cm FK.96 Case

[peregrinvs]

I've just acquired a bi-metallic FK.96 case and I was wondering if the maker could be identified? I attach some pictures. There's a sort of four pointed star in a circle type marking at 12 o'clock, (maker mark?) '210' at 9 o'clock, (batch number?) and '15' at 3 o'clock. (Date?)

I had vaguely assumed the bi-metallic cases were a late war innovation, so I wasn't expecting a 1915 date - if that's what it is?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[greif]

Rheinmetall

 

[peregrinvs]

Rheinmetall

Thanks for that. Interesting to get one made by a defence company that still exists.

 

[Alpini]

I had vaguely assumed the bi-metallic cases were a late war innovation, so I wasn't expecting a 1915 date - if that's what it is?

The primary goal of this case type wasn't saving brass but a larger output in mass production through simplified manufacturing. Only machines already available from civil sheet metal production were required to make these cases. Solid brass drawn cases require much heavier machinery and years of experience in heat treatment etc. which they were not able to increase from one to the other day. The later steel cases (several types named after their factories existed) had both the goals to safe brass and increased mass production.

 

[peregrinvs]

The primary goal of this case type wasn't saving brass but a larger output in mass production through simplified manufacturing. Only machines already available from civil sheet metal production were required to make these cases. Solid brass drawn cases require much heavier machinery and years of experience in heat treatment etc. which they were not able to increase from one to the other day. The later steel cases (several types named after their factories existed) had both the goals to safe brass and increased mass production.

Thanks. That’s very interesting. I would have previously assumed that it was a production complication necessitated by raw materials shortages. Hence I thought they were a late war phenomenon.

 

[doctor]

Two cases for 7.7 cm Fk
all dated from 1917
One sure for Fk 96 and the other for FK16 (see the top necking case)
Rheinmetal firm