JR, No offense, but I think that you may be confusing brightness with something else. I�m tempted to go into a more technical discussion, but I can already hear the groans of those who don�t like them.
But I can say this: The apparent definition from the stamping die seems somewhat less on yours which would (or should) be later production, not earlier. (Dies break down, they don�t get better.) And the plating on yours looks to me like it�s a little thinner, with maybe a little bit of flaking.
As for unplated �war time� Type I�s, I can�t say that I have seen them. Although I have seen Type I chains with all of their plating gone (and at least one re-nickel). Best Regards, Fred
