Any DAK items

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The black "M-40" caps are in fact M-38 Pz. caps (which were ironically not issued until late 1940) which, like the M-42 sometimes had bills added.

Hello OSS,

what ever the caps in post numbers 3258 & 3259 are, they are certainly no panzer M38/40 sidecap with a bill added. Although, I do agree that is a possibility worth considering.

Keep in mind I have several images of this guy in 3259. His cap has no false turn up and is made the same way as a SS billed tropical cap or the WH trop. M40 variant by "Kern" You often see this type when no soutache is worn.

In images of the examples with soutache as in post number 3258, they have the false turn up like a standard trop. billed M40. If you blow that image up, the panzer wrap guy not wearing a cap is holding his cap in his hand. You can inside part of the cap

The proof of the pudding however, is always in the eating. Perhaps someone could post some images of a panzer M38/40 sidecap from their collection with a bill added.

I have never ever seen such a cap just as I have never ever seen a black tropical billed M40.

So what exactly are these and where are they today ?

Chris

[OSS]

Thats an excellent photo OSS with many interesting details. Love how tall that cap appears on his head .

Now I have my hands on this fine frankenstein cap I can confirm that I did manage to find a very small tuff of Pz Gren thread to the left opening. My pics dont do justice to the olivey green shade but needless to say I love it.

Greg

Your hat reminds me of one I have been familiar with for many years, another Schlesische Mutzenfabrik Frankenstein with a soutache for Artillerie. The thing that is unusual about this cap is the application of the soutache. Like the Halfar caps, SMF caps usually have the ends of the soutache entering the cap above the seamline above the bill. This cap has the soutache applied like many of the other makers. I once thought it was a variation but I now believe it was perhaps changed during the war. I am convinced it has been this way since 1943 but I cannot explain why they would go to the trouble of opening up the front seam to machine sew a soutache for any other reason than trying to pass off a cap that had had the soutache removed appear unmolested.

[OSS]

Closeup:

[OSS]

Interior:

[Greg B]

That cap is almost identical in colour shade & ware to mine, very nice!. I wonder due to supply issues if the cap was issued to a member of Artillery with another coloured soutache and the vet had it changed. From my understanding it is not uncommon to find early m40' caps with period reapplied soutaches....from memory Mark G has such a cap...but I'm sure he will comment.

You would think if somebody was going to reapply a soutache to this cap postwar it would be much easier to poke the ends of the soutache back through the existing exposed holes from the original soutache.
So for this reason alone I would think it has been done period.

[OSS]

You would think if somebody was going to reapply a soutache to this cap postwar it would be much easier to poke the ends of the soutache back through the existing exposed holes from the original soutache.
So for this reason alone I would think it has been done period.

The soutache is machine-applied, not through the lining. This could only be accomplished by opening up the front of the cap. It would not surprise me if this were done at the factory for whatever reason. As I said, the hat is used and it would be nearly impossible to resoutache the cap without it being blatently obvious (IMO), as you can see from the interior photo, it appears untampered with.

[Mark Gibson]

That is one very interesting cap OSS. The soutache is without a doubt reapplied otherwise both rows of stitching would have been sewn over it. The only reason that I can think of for it to be reapplied in such a manner is to pass it off as a period application. Possibly by someone who knows enough about soutache application to do this but applied incorrectly for the cap maker.
Perhaps it is period applied by a seamstress/tailor, who I expect would take pride in their work. Opening up the seams in order to machine sew would be quite easy for a professional and it would also make sense to tuck the soutache between the peak and body when doing this.
I do like it and believe that it is more likely period applied.

As Greg mentioned, I do have a cap with reapplied soutache but the application is different to the cap that you have shown. My example is also a Schlesische Mutzenfabrik but with the signals soutache sewn through the lining. A typical application seen on a few caps that I have had the pleasure of seeing. I do believe that this is a unit tailor method; nice and easy to apply.

Mark

[Paul l k]

Mark, I agree with you on your signals cap, looks period done to me, the wear and fading around the stitching to the inside lining shows this was done many years ago and looks IMO to be honest period wear.. We must remember a field tailor would not be interested in what a collector was going to think decades later, more interested in getting this particular job done and move onto the next ..

Greg I love that green high toped field cap of yours, you certainly have done an amazing catch up this year..

Merry Christmas and may you all find something DAK in your stockings .

Cheers
Paul

[Greg B]

Greg I love that green high toped field cap of yours, you certainly have done an amazing catch up this year

Thanks Paul, just when I thought the year was over a little bit of fortune came my way again. I'm really looking forward to 2013 now

Very early pinkish toned m35 & an Italian made officers Dak 41 ring

Merry Chrismas to you Paul and everyone else

[teka]

beautiful helmet Greg! This one desserves a thread on its own!

[Greg B]

Thanks Teka,

A couple more pics that should highlight the pinkish tone it has.

Greg

[Greg B]

Merry Xmas and best wish's to all the Dak / tropical collectors and everyone else out there .
As 2012 is rapidly closing I hope 2013 fullfills everybodies wish lists. 2012 certainly has fullfilled mine

All the best
Greg

[barry1954]

Fantastic new additions Greg and a merry Christmas to you and the rest of the DAK collectors as well

[Mark Gibson]

All the best to you and your family as well Greg.

Regards,

Mark

[msteve21]

Xmas

Merry Xmas to all the sandpit collectors, looking forward to seeing more great DAK items in 2013.

Greg you certainly have some outstanding pieces. Thank you sharing them with us

Here my latest addition, a 1st model tropical Pz Gren 42 dated jacket & trousers

MarkS