Field Cap opinions

[Tony C]

Hi all,

I don't collect Japanese militaria, but this caught my eye & I bought it.

I've got no idea about the markings or even if it's original?? Is this usually called a cap, visor, hat...or what?

Thanks in advance, Tony

[Tony C]

2

[Tony C]

3

[Jareth]

enlisted cap but with brass star usually found on officers. Check to see if there was a previous sewn on star insignia

[Papa Nambu]

enlisted cap but with brass star usually found on officers. Check to see if there was a previous sewn on star insignia

By "Officer's" he means "Visor Cap". This is the "field cap", enlisted because it has a depot stamp inside (Officers had to buy their own uniforms and gear so they are usually tailor made and will often have a nicer embroidered/buillion star). Field caps should never have metal stars because they need to be able to be worn under the helmet. Try wearing a helmet over a cap with a sharp metal pin in it and you'll see why.

The only period photos I've seen of field caps with metal stars were some being worn by civilians working for the army.

[Walter Schmidt]

The star is probably rubbish but it's a really nice early combat cap.
Size 6
Showa 14 (!!) inspection
Osaka Depot

By the way, how is the fabric compared to other later period and early period IJA wool uniforms? Is it more brown/green like the later ones or more khaki/yellow like the earlier Showa 5 era/early T98 era uniforms?