Police bergmutze M43

[Zeller]

I recently bought this hat on the e-stand and I really like it.

In the beginning, before I receive it, I was still not sure it was Police, because it's well worn and from the pics it was not clear. Now I'm more convinced.
The edelweiss appears to be period applied and not restitched, but it's missing the front insignia. I would like your opinion on the hat in general and also a suggestion on which insignia would suits it best. It goes without saying that i will consider offers , in case you have a worn insignia for sale

[W.Unland]

Hello,

Your cap looks fine to me. It does have a bit of a short brim like a bergmutze but police bergmuzen usually had but one button, so this appears to be a later field cap. A cloth machine woven "trapazoid" insignia would be appropriate, BUT there were a lot of individual variations used.

In most period photos and extant examples of bergmutzen, a metal schirmmutze eagle is worn as insignia.

The guy in this photo is wearing a metal eagle and kokarde.

[W.Unland]

This guy has a cloth side cap eagle and seperate cloth kokarde. The cap looks to be a standard field cap rather than a bergmutze.

[W.Unland]

Here is another metal eagle and kokarde

[W.Unland]

Finally here is an example of the "BEVO" style machine woven insignia appropriate for this type of field cap:

Regards,
Bill Unland

[Zeller]

Hello,
thanks for the pictures! I like the first one in particular.
Looking for signs of stitchings - which i did not find - I noticed 2 holes on the inside linings, in a position where I would guess could be applied the cockarde. I don't see the 2 holes for the eagle, but maybe it was applied without puncturing the linings.

One more question now:

1) is the cockarde a classic Heer cockarde or is it special?
2) as above : is the alloy eagle the same as worn on the schirmmutze or a special one?

many thanks

PS - of course, if you have some spare attributes ...let me know!

[W.Unland]

Hello,

The metal eagle used was the standard schirmmutze eagle. An army kokarde could be used. The police used a slightly "higher" kokarde, but on a field cap I don't think this important.

I may have a spare eagle, I will check.

Regards,
Bill Unland

[Dave C.]

Are you able to tell if there is fading difference on the front from prior insignia application? And shape? This might help determine what was original to the cap.

It’s not necessarily true that the police consistently used the thicker cockade. Size use will vary. I’ve had three original Gendarmerie Bergmützen and all had different sizes.

[Zeller]

Hi Dave,

unfortunately, there is no evident sign of prior insignia application. I checked quite carefully and couldn't see any "shadow" or stitching sign. The only evidence is the 2 small holes in the linings, on the top of the front side of the bergmutze, which made me think of a cockarde application.

[W.Unland]

Hello,

I just noticed the two holes near the top front of the cap. They seem too far apart to have been from a kockarde. I would suggest that an eagle was mounted there with NO kokarde. This was not unusual.

Regards,
Bill Unland

[Zeller]

Hello,

Aren't they placed too high?

[W.Unland]

Not really. With the 2 button caps the eagle was worn high so that it would show. I'll try to find a photo.

Regards,
Bill U

[Zeller]

Bill , do you have any period photo showing a 2 button Bergmutze ? So far, I can only find bergmutze with 1 button flap...I'm sure they existed, but I'd love to see a pic.