Tor's unmarked example that shows a combination of a steel ferrule and nickel hilt parts, is something that can be seen with an early degen. Like the M36 Chain dagger, the time frame of which we observe the manufacture of these initial production run degens comprised of all nickel parts, was very short. It's my belief that the combination of steel and nickel started showing up the latter part of 1936. I attribute this also to the fact that parts to put together these degens were being supplied by more than one vendor. Hence we see ferrules made from steel, pommel nuts too, and grip runes even made from aluminum, all while being matched with nickel hilt fittings.
