Originally Posted By: ORPO
Guys,

I think these are simply faded green stripes on the ball. Some dyes were sub-standard during the war and the color did not hold up very well.

The Polizei NCO knot has the green stripes in the ball while the Offizier does not.



ORPO, you might be right, as these have been also my first thoughts when I have seen such a knot for the first time. And you are right what you have experiences on different materials. Think of the LW/army portepees which sometimes have tarnished (deep gray or even black) segments in the stem which is only due to different materials and do have no special meaning (although some collectors do believe).
BUT when you can examine such a certain (police)knot you see that the lighter(atraw/gold?)color is quite consequent, no shades on the reverse. So I am not totally convinced concerning the fading theory.
Regards,

wotan, gd.c-b#105

"Never look for sqare eggs" as a late owner of an original FHH-dagger used to say.