So far I have two visor caps and two field caps. The soft field cap is circa the 90s I believe while the hard one is of late/current time period.
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Interesting! I´ve never had the chance to see close pictures of NK field gear, except of those pieces the chinese dealers sell on ebay. I´m always suspicious of their provenance though.
Are all the cocardes of your caps made of plastic?Comment
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All except one (the one on the soft field cap) are plastic.
I am not concerned about the provenance though as these caps are authentic to the best of my knowledge. They were allegedly smuggled by North Korean fisherman and some Talbukjas (refugees) into China. They are really hard to come by, I tried to get anything I could find.Comment
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They have quite the interesting looking visor hats.
Nice collection.Comment
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Now that´s interesting. We are having a clue now about how NK militaria hits the market.Originally posted by Koguryo9 View Post
Thanks!
I forgot to ask about the visors ´material on the peaked caps and if did you get some awards too. Any other information is useful!
RegardsComment
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The visor is made of plastic, naturally. I can tell you the overall materials used on these hats have deteriorated over the years. For example I would say the soft field cap is rather nicely made, in terms of both materials used and craftsmanship. The later/more recent/current hats are rather crudely made, in my opinion. Perhaps that reflects the different stages of economic situation North Korea has been in.Originally posted by STEBALIN View PostNow that´s interesting. We are having a clue now about how NK militaria hits the market. Thanks!
I forgot to ask about the visors ´material on the peaked caps and if did you get some awards too. Any other information is useful!
Regards
No I didn't get any awards as I am mostly a headgear/uniform guy.Comment
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It is really nice collection of KPA caps and hats.
Are the visor caps from land forces?Could they be the one for people's armed security force[like border guards]?
What sizes are they?Comment
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I presume the visor caps are for borderguards because of their "kelly green" piping, if following the normal soviet/east block regulations. The kepis must be infantry.Comment
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That is what i thought when i saw the green piping,i think the KPA land forces should have the red piping for the cap like the hat if i am right.Originally posted by STEBALIN View PostComment
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Very interesting. I patrolled the DMZ for a year in the late 1980's, so I'm naturally interested in seeing these items.
I'm not surprised that the cockades are plastic. One of my friends (Alvin Plucker) was a quartermaster on the USS Pueblo when it was taken by the North Koreans. They kept his uniform and he was repatriated in NK issued garb, which he still has. I've had a chance to see everything and a lot of the items, including the belt and belt buckle, are plastic.Comment
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You are correct, the two visor caps are for border guards/police unit while the two field caps are for the regular army unit. The size of the hats (from left to right): 58, 60, 58, 56. It is very hard to find hats in larger sizes as most North Koreans have rather smaller heads. I was very lucky to find the size 60 one (soft field cap, the only one that fits me), even the two 58 ones!Originally posted by 81REDSTAR View PostComment
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