Austro-hungarian hussar cap

[Gergo B.]

Dear Gents,

i'd ask You to expertise this cap.
Any information could be helpful!
Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Gergő

[Gergo B.]

#2

[Gergo B.]

#3

[Gergo B.]

#4

[Brian Calkins]

Hi,
This is a nice original Austro-Hungarian officers cap. This type of red cloth cap was known as a lagerkappe and was the undress cap of Dragoons, hussars and lancers.
This cap is a privately purchased, tailor made cap that dates from before 1917.
Hope this helps. Do you have other Austrian field caps?
Brian

[Gergo B.]

Hi,
This is a nice original Austro-Hungarian officers cap. This type of red cloth cap was known as a lagerkappe and was the undress cap of Dragoons, hussars and lancers.
This cap is a privately purchased, tailor made cap that dates from before 1917.
Hope this helps. Do you have other Austrian field caps?
Brian

Thank you very much, Brian! No more austro-hungarian caps in my collection.

[Chip M]

I think the KuK officer's cockade had "FJ1", while the Honved officer's cockade had "1FJ".

Chip

[Brian Calkins]

So that rules out Hussars who were only Hungarian Honved units? I know a lot about the headgear and less about the army organization. Chip, I assume you are right and that the cockade letter switch is the same as enlisted cockades...but I have actually never seen an officers cockade with IFJ...or perhaps I have never looked close enough?

I'll pay more attention from now on.

Gergo, to clarify the conversation...your cap is an officers cap from an Austrian regiment of the common army of Austria-Hungary. The royal cipher on cockades was FJI which stood for Franz Josef I...This was in all Austrian regiments. Cockades worn by Hungarian regiments used the cipher IFJ.

These red caps used to be pretty common 30 years ago since because of their bright color, many found their way into costume houses after the war. They are harder to find now, especially in nice complete condition like yours.

[Glenn2438]

K.u.k. Hussars

Brian

So that rules out Hussars who were only Hungarian Honved units?

Not quite: There were 16 k.u.k. (common army) Hussar Regiments as well as the 10 Honvéd Hussar Regiments.

Regards
Glenn

[Brian Calkins]

Thanks Glenn. Last night, between my own collection, "The Emperor's Coat" book and an Italian militaria forum...I was able to look at over 50 officers cockades. They all had FJI or K. I am beginning to wonder if there were any IFJ officer cockades?

I am going to check with my Italian friends, who always seem to know the answers to these types of questions.

[Glenn2438]

IFJ Cockades

Brian

They certainly existed. Check out the recently published Hungarian Honvéd book by the same publishers of The Emperor's Coat.

Here is a scan from the Hovéd dress regulations of 1911 showing the Hussar Shako cockade for NCOs and Hussars.

Regards
Glenn

[Brian Calkins]

True Glenn...but those are the metal cockades...does the Honved book show any of the cap size bullion cockades with IFJ?

[Glenn2438]

Rosettes

Brian

Yes it does. It shows both the shako and field cap variants. Actually the illustration I posted above comes from the Honvéd dress regulations and not the book.

Regards
Glenn

[Brian Calkins]

Glenn,
Thanks!! I really appreciate you providing that information. I will be on the lookout now since I am expanding my AH headgear collection and I would really like to find one of those cockades.
Cheers!
Brian

[Gergo B.]

If interested for someone, offers please in PM.