Waffen SS visor cap

[Ron C.]

Another beautiful one Ron!!!!
Is it surname who made that or all Ron on this site have beautiful stuff ????? Congrats

Just noticed this question............I have not found any name markings, maker or otherwise, anywhere in the visor cap, or the feldmuetze that came with it (posted in the SS Feldmuetzen Group post.

Ron

[Bob Hritz]

Ron,

This is a hat that I, or any other collector, would love to own. it has everything original and there is nothing more you can ask for. Wonderful hat and one that would match a well worn tunic I own.

Bob Hritz

[N.C. Wyeth]

Ron,

Wonderful hat and one that would match a well worn tunic I own.

Bob Hritz

Bob,

That statement could go both ways - are you selling a tunic, or trying to buy a hat? Ha! Ha!

[Chris_Werner]

Ron--This hat brings me back to the early days of my collecting when family friends and relatives, knowing my interest, would drag goodies for me out of the basement or down from the attic, either to give to me, or show me. I can close my eyes and smell that musty, attic or basement smell along with the smell of old leather and cloth. This to me is collecting Nirvana. This hat tells a real story, about the officer who wore it, and the man who took it as a trophy.
In my mind, honest to God Veteran bringbacks are more valuable on many many levels than all the mint unissued stuff you could ever find. Just plain WOW!!!

[Ron C.]

Ron--This hat brings me back to the early days of my collecting when family friends and relatives, knowing my interest, would drag goodies for me out of the basement or down from the attic, either to give to me, or show me. I can close my eyes and smell that musty, attic or basement smell along with the smell of old leather and cloth. This to me is collecting Nirvana. This hat tells a real story, about the officer who wore it, and the man who took it as a trophy.
In my mind, honest to God Veteran bringbacks are more valuable on many many levels than all the mint unissued stuff you could ever find. Just plain WOW!!!

Chris,

I agree!!! Your note also takes me back too. I remember the thrill of the hunt, and the charge that went through my very soul when I was asked to go with the guy to the garage, outbuilding, basement, attic or whatever to dig out the old trunk......and got the first look at the contents. I NEVER offered money to those vets.......but instead asked them if there was any way or condition that they would consider parting with their things. To offer money to those fellows was to "kill the deal", and insult them, and you had better REALLY be interested.........or you were not going to be able to get anything. That was easy for me because I was interested for real. I used to fall asleep at night on the front porch listening to my Dad and his friends, as they were seeing each other again after coming back from overseas in 1945 and 1946, and swapping stories about the things they had experienced (they stuck mostly to the funny things that happened to them). There were also sickening moments.........like the time I was directed to a vet's home by one of his friends back in the early 60's. He dug out some stuff (we went to the basement) and I got all of it. He priced it right off......cheap. There was an SS helmet, about a half dozen cloth DKiGs, some other assorted medals and badges etc.. Then he showed me some china he had sent back, and dug out a couple of SS cuff titles.......my eyes lit up, even though they were only going around here for about $5 each at the time. I asked him if he had any others. He searched the basement, and then asked his wife what they had done with his packing material. Yep....that's right.....when he had boxed up the china for shipment he didn't really have anything much to pack it with so he had used SS cuff titles and etc. for the packing material. He was in the area of Dachau at the time. She said don't you remember "when we cleaned out the basement last month we threw that stuff out"! That sort of thing happened a lot when I was out looking........."a day late and a dollar short" or a month short. I also got a call one night in response to a local ad I had run in our local paper. The people were moving and had been cleaning and packing as they were leaving the next day. They took a break, happened to see my ad, gave me a call, and ran out to the trash they had piled up outside, got a box out of it, came back in to wait for me. I went right then and purchased some hats, medals, daggers, and etc.. A lot of stuff got thrown away like that. Oh yes.......those were the days. Sorry, I am mouthy.......but your post set me off. I did so love meeting the vets, hearing them tell of their experiences........and seeing the look in their eyes as they went back for a moment to that time........the most exciting time of their lives, when they did the most important thing most ever did for their friends, families, and those who came after them.

By the way, German vets were very similar in the telling of their stories. I visited with many of them while I lived in Germany, and heard of the horrid cold of Russland........and was given many things by them as well.

Sorry I drone on.....it's an age thing that happens when you can look back on far more years than you can look forward to!

Thank all of you for your comments,
Ron

[Chris_Werner]

Your comments bring me back, too. We both started our collections in the days before internet dealers and the orientation for "investment collectables." We were grounded, not on the resale value, but on the stories and memories of the Vets who gave these items to us. Don't get me wrong, I think WAF and other modern aspects of collecting are wonderful. The hobby is evolving as collectors and fakers grow more sophisticated. We knew shockingly little back then, and I owe a great deal to those who have taken the time to do in depth studies, and generously share their knowledge with us courtesy of the internet.
Yet, I can't help feeling a little sorry for the young collectors now who's passion is WWII, yet are several generations removed from being able to "talk with Dad and Uncle Robert" about the war, and listen to the experiences recounted by family friends, Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents, etc. For Fathers day last year, I put together a display of all my Dad's medals in a mounting frame. (Thank you Allan H.! ) I feel such great respect and admiration for this greatest of generations, and my Dad was thrilled, at age 81.
Now my horror story:
A good friend of my Dad's was a captain in Military Intelligence and actually interviewed and took the surrender of many W-SS and Heer Officers. One day he came over to the house with a paper bag for me. In it was a mint P-38 with holster, and a Sauer .32, with holster, which he had taken from a Heer General, whose name escapes me at the moment. It was all documented, including the bring back paperwork. We lived in NY at the time, and this was around 1974. My Mom was then, and still is, totally anti-gun. She threw an absolute fit and Mr Scott took his guns home with him. I think that he ended up selling them to a gun collector.
Thanks again for showing us your fantastic visors.
Chris Werner

[Anders S]

Chris,

I agree!!! Your note also takes me back too. I remember the thrill of the hunt, and the charge that went through my very soul when I was asked to go with the guy to the garage, outbuilding, basement, attic or whatever to dig out the old trunk......and got the first look at the contents. I NEVER offered money to those vets.......but instead asked them if there was any way or condition that they would consider parting with their things. To offer money to those fellows was to "kill the deal", and insult them, and you had better REALLY be interested.........or you were not going to be able to get anything. That was easy for me because I was interested for real. I used to fall asleep at night on the front porch listening to my Dad and his friends, as they were seeing each other again after coming back from overseas in 1945 and 1946, and swapping stories about the things they had experienced (they stuck mostly to the funny things that happened to them). There were also sickening moments.........like the time I was directed to a vet's home by one of his friends back in the early 60's. He dug out some stuff (we went to the basement) and I got all of it. He priced it right off......cheap. There was an SS helmet, about a half dozen cloth DKiGs, some other assorted medals and badges etc.. Then he showed me some china he had sent back, and dug out a couple of SS cuff titles.......my eyes lit up, even though they were only going around here for about $5 each at the time. I asked him if he had any others. He searched the basement, and then asked his wife what they had done with his packing material. Yep....that's right.....when he had boxed up the china for shipment he didn't really have anything much to pack it with so he had used SS cuff titles and etc. for the packing material. He was in the area of Dachau at the time. She said don't you remember "when we cleaned out the basement last month we threw that stuff out"! That sort of thing happened a lot when I was out looking........."a day late and a dollar short" or a month short. I also got a call one night in response to a local ad I had run in our local paper. The people were moving and had been cleaning and packing as they were leaving the next day. They took a break, happened to see my ad, gave me a call, and ran out to the trash they had piled up outside, got a box out of it, came back in to wait for me. I went right then and purchased some hats, medals, daggers, and etc.. A lot of stuff got thrown away like that. Oh yes.......those were the days. Sorry, I am mouthy.......but your post set me off. I did so love meeting the vets, hearing them tell of their experiences........and seeing the look in their eyes as they went back for a moment to that time........the most exciting time of their lives, when they did the most important thing most ever did for their friends, families, and those who came after them.

By the way, German vets were very similar in the telling of their stories. I visited with many of them while I lived in Germany, and heard of the horrid cold of Russland........and was given many things by them as well.

Sorry I drone on.....it's an age thing that happens when you can look back on far more years than you can look forward to!

Thank all of you for your comments,
Ron

Please Ron, don't say "Sorry". This was very interesting to read, I'm way too young and living in the wrong country too, to have experiensed something like that. I wish that I was born when this stuff was cheap.

Kind

[BenVK]

Wonderful piece of history Ron and a very attractive example as well. I just love the toning of the insignia. BTW, There was an almost identical grey lined cap shown on the GD forum a while back that turned up in Norway I think it was.

[Ron C.]

Closer shots of the eagle on this cap

For some who wanted to see it, here is a closer view of the eagle.
Ron

[Robert H]

Ron, absolute top super headgear !

[Panzer Rob]

Ron-

Words fail me What a beautiful and salty W-SS visor! Just they way I like 'em I would be very, very happy with that one in my collection.

Thanks for sharing,
Rob


P.S. - Keep 'em coming!

[Hardigan]

Just perfect !!! can't be better !!

Hardigan