5 caps (some SS) I could pick up-- any pointers?

[Military Trader]

A guy I trade with who has a shop (general militaria) several hours away from me called and has several caps he picked up. This guy picks up some fake stuff from time to time from scammers and some real good items also from vet sources. He is basically honest and I really don't think he knows when he gets fake items. However, he doesn't like returns so I just keep any bad stuff I get. Anyway he has some cloth items he just picked up and I thought I'd ask for some pointers to look at to see if these are real. He has two SS sidecaps (one black, one grey). I've asked (on the phone) whether there is any contrast between colors under the flaps to indicate wear. He says there is fading. He also has an army sidecap and an m43 army enlisted. All the sidecaps as well as the m43 have Rbn nos. The black SS has a RBN number of 69304418 and a faded size and something else unreadable and the M43 has RBN 7824/ 6319and a size (57) but he didn't see a date. He said there was much wear on the M43 as well as sweatstains (of course it could be a renactor's hat). He also has a visor hat -- the badge is a horeshoe shaped wreath with a red shield and horse on it (horesman's association? postwar?)
Any pointers or marks to look for? Were ss cap (and army) insignia all machine applied?

Thanks

[Military Trader]

I inadvertantly put RLB instead of what I should have put RBN numbers (I have edited that) -- Would the SS headgear have RBN numbers?

[Paul G]

Pictures will tell the tale! Is there any way to get digital photos sent to you? If you post some pictures you will surely get the answers to your questions, and avoid being burned. You are talking about a lot that could be worth $100 or $3,000 . If the dealer is a good guy, like you say, I would hope that sending you some photos would not upset him.

PG-

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Dennis, as Paul says pics would be a big help.

But I don't like the sound of an RB number in any sidecap. RB numbers were introduced in 1943, as was the Einheitsfeldmutze, which replaced the feldmutze. Also those RB numbers are not correct.

Hand sewn insignia was widely utilized on both Heer and SS caps.

Proceed with extreme caution on these would be my advice.

Cheers, Ade.

[B. N. Singer]

...But I don't like the sound of an RB number in any sidecap.

Of course you are not referring to the tropical variety.

B. N. Singer

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Byron, no , of course these can be found with RB numbers. I was just not thinking of those

Cheers, Ade.

[B. N. Singer]

...of course these can be found with RB numbers...

Ade, I knew you were not. I only thought to clarify for those who are less experienced than yourself.

B. N. Singer

[Military Trader]

Thanks -- What I might do is take my camera along and if they look good I'll take pictures and post them. Then he might mail them to me if I decide to purchase. Chances are these are fakes but you never know with guys like this. I don't like that they all came together -- smells of collection or faker.

[Military Trader]

Well I visited the shop but I didn't like the looks of them. I did bring back some pictures (except of the SS which I just didn't like at all). There is one that I was wondering about. The cap with the horse badge. TR/ Repro fantasy? I also posted the M43 but I don't like the color -- I don't know about the insignia -- not the standard trapazoid and it looks like something has been removed on the liner. The army feldmutz also looks a little funny to me but I don't know. What do you all think?

[Military Trader]

Inside of this cap

[Military Trader]

Maker

[Military Trader]

M43

[Military Trader]

2

[Military Trader]

3

[Military Trader]

Sidecap