Fred P. After more inquiry on red brass as being referred to technically as 'Tombak' in Germany (especially in the 1930's), you are correct. It is 85% copper and 15% zinc, and known as 'red brass' in the U.S. today.
How the name came to be applied to the late high zinc content cast sword hilts of Pack, if indeed that is what they were referring to as their advertised version of "Tombak", can only be speculated on today. I have a very red colored, uncleaned, dovehead Pack Nr. 207 with the early TM in my collection, that may indeed have been made from red brass. Did Pack use real red brass at one time, and eventually miss-used the name "Tombak", as the metal mix was adulterated, if not reversed? That's where my interpretation of what I am aware of is pointing. Pack was an aggressive marketer and may have mixed its metaphores royally.
