Fallschirmjäger Cut-off / tag

[Nische]

Hello, would like to hear opinions on the below cut-off. These are the only photos that I have.

[Willi Z.]

It's a tag which was sewn to the bottom of a FJ parachute pack. Most likely from a RZ20 like mine.

[Nische]

Thank you Willi for your comment and photo. The posted cut off recently sold on eBay for $52.50 with 12 bids.

I didn’t bid, but closely followed the auction.

[Gran Sasso]

It's a tag which was sewn to the bottom of a FJ parachute pack. Most likely from a RZ20 like mine.

Is yours a converted RZ16?

[Willi Z.]

Is yours a converted RZ16?

I don't know. How can I tell?

[Gran Sasso]

I don't know. How can I tell?

Do you have it at hand? If so please show the shoulder area.

[Willi Z.]

Patrick, can you tell from these photos?

[Gran Sasso]

Patrick, can you tell from these photos?

Hard to tell when looking at them at my small ipad.

When they converted RZ16s to RZ20s they removed the pouches for the hook and the booklet - which were placed between the shoulder areas at the RZ16, see pics. To close this gap they usually put an extra piece of egde-lining there. So produced RZ20s show a continius stripe of that material, while converted RZ16s show an interrupted one.

Also i see old stich lines at your label, where the RZ16 was sitting - to the right of "getarnt", and underneath the whole label. Plus the letter K is so far only known on converted harnesses, also so far we dont know what it stands for. Some suggest it stand for the german "konvertiert".

To be sure i recommend to ask David Fettes, he can spot more traces of convertion.

[Willi Z.]

Only these pouches are present.

[Gran Sasso]

Only these pouches are present.

Of course only those pouches are present, as its now an RZ20...
The convertion of an RZ16 to an RZ20 made the removal of the 16s pouches between the shoulders necessary, therefore they added there extra material.

I see also old stitchlines on the last foto, on the left shoulder, so you have definately a converted RZ16/20.

[Gran Sasso]

I see also old stitchlines on the last foto, on the left shoulder, so you have definately a converted RZ16/20.

.

[Willi Z.]

Ah ok. So the tag is for a RZ16, and the "K" represents the chute was modified to a RZ20. Are there other features I should see?