Trench cap?

[paul w]

I'm a bit baffled by this one guys.I saw this cap at a show and the seller kindly let me take some phots to research it.It has the characteristics of a 'soft cap' but has a wire grommet to shape the top and a metal 'brace' to stiffen the front like an SD cap.The question is,is it original and if so what is it?I know these caps are heavily faked (what isn't?) and have tried to do research on them but have never handled a real one so have only seen phots of them,any comments and opinions appreciated,

cheers,

Paul

[paul w]

Trench Cap?

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[paul w]

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[paul w]

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[paul w]

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[paul w]

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[paul w]

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[paul w]

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[paul w]

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[paul w]

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[leigh kitchen]

Looks good to me, a post WWI cap with the peak stitching that went out (I think at the beginning of WWII) as an economy measure.
Is there a service number or name written inside the sweatband?

[paul w]

Trench Cap?

Cheers for the reply Leigh,is this then a soft cap thats been modified or did they produce SD caps like this after WW1.I was under the impression that after the war the army reverted back to the SD cap with the stiffened peak or visor, without the stitching.I couldn't see any names or numbers around the side of the cap but there seems to be the remains of white lettering stamped on the black waterproofing under the crown.Cheers again,

Paul

[RoyA]

Hello Paul,

I've never encountered an M1917 wool soft service cap with a stiffener in the crown and brace in the front.
That said, I have found these enhancements in every M17 produced in denim that I've examined, so it's definitely not a post-war thing.
It's also interesting to note that tam-o-shanters were issued with a wire crown stiffener, although you'd be hard-pressed to find an example today where the stiffener was still in place (I only know of two examples in collections).
I'd want to examine it in hand, but at this point, I'd say it's an original piece that I would purchase.

Roy

[paul w]

Trench Cap?

Thanks very much for the comments Roy.So its a 1917 'soft cap' but with the brace and wire grommet put in.I wonder if that was done by the soldier to smarten it up,a reverse of the way they use to take the stiffening out of the SD caps to make them more comfortable?Do you have any pics of the denim cap with the wire and brace in?Thanks once again,

Paul

[RoyA]

I'll try to get some pics taken on the weekend.
R