Maroon beret

[JEROEN1944]

The beret has the features of a WW2 one, but these were also made after ww2 one, so know way to tell if its a wartime made one without seeing the date. The badge is a good one However there are certain ways to reviel the date. If you spray the inside with water, maybe the white makersname and date will come out.
However, i like it, but to spend 250$ on a beret without a date and salty like this one would for me a no no. For 50 bucks you can take the gamble, and look if the date reviels.

Jeroen

[Old Smelly]

Personally I would like to see the light stitching or tacking around the inside holding the hessian in place but, correct me if I'm wrong, some berets didn't have this.

Mark

Most wartime berets have this loose stitching but it was not used by all manufacturers, some have a machine stitched line. I like the look of this one but like Jeroen says, without a visible date it could be postwar. Is there any other W/l\D acceptance stamp anywhere?
Lee

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

Near on sure that this is post-war made. Check the small stitched diamond, the slightly smaller crown and the circular weave of the red cloth. I've never seen a wartime dated beret like this. I'm not trying to rubbish a good purchase, believe me, it's just not one I'd buy.

[lnijherald]

It has some good features, but nothing that would make it a WWII beret for sure.

Personally, I'd skip it.

Cheers, Luc

[Greg B]

Near on sure that this is post-war made. Check the small stitched diamond, the slightly smaller crown and the circular weave of the red cloth. I've never seen a wartime dated beret like this. I'm not trying to rubbish a good purchase, believe me, it's just not one I'd buy.

Jack, are you refering to the stitching to the diamond being smaller, because I agree it is quite a bit smaller to my ones which are all wartime dated.

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

Jack, are you refering to the stitching to the diamond being smaller, because I agree it is quite a bit smaller to my ones which are all wartime dated.

Yes Greg that's the one, near on half size I'd say.

[Mons 1914]

The overall size of the crown looks smaller not much chance of getting a good shape with that one. Nice beret but I have to agree possibly not ww2 issue, the lack of any markings inside doesn't help.

Scott

[lnijherald]

Gelfer applied smaller diamonds, even during WWII.

And a smaller crown is not immediately a bad sign, I once had a very small
6 1/4 maroon beret from 1945 and it had a smaller crown as well.

Cheers, Luc

[Old Smelly]

Near on sure that this is post-war made. Check the small stitched diamond, the slightly smaller crown and the circular weave of the red cloth. I've never seen a wartime dated beret like this. I'm not trying to rubbish a good purchase, believe me, it's just not one I'd buy.

Unless it was made by Beret Industries Ltd. Small diamond, no loose stitch, small crown, also note how the leather band overlaps at the join at the back, I've not seen this on Kangol. The one in my pic has a stitched line to hold the inter liner in. Like Jack says though, without a clear date difficult to say if it was wartime or just after, although imo it has all the hallmarks of a late war beret, it just depends whether you want to spend out and take the chance.
Lee

[Old Smelly]

Beret Stamp

stamp

[Old Smelly]

stitch line

[Old Smelly]

The beret I have posted is a black one but the manufacturing process was the same, although I would point out that mine is dated 1945 and as there is no month indicated on the label, technically it might not be 'wartime'.
Lee

[Gary Jucha]

Try

try an ultra violet light on the manufacturer diamond.
Sometimes (Not Always) .. the light will pick up the very faded details ..

Gary J.

[Mons 1914]

Could be Kangol manufactured though.

A 1945 Kangol beret with the stitched line instead of loose it also has the leather band overlapping to the rear although the diamond is much bigger on this one.

Scott

[Mons 1914]

Hope we can find out the manufacture on this one.
Or spray a little water.