Estand bergmütze opinions

[Christian_GJR3]

I hope this is ok with Bonneville, too...

I would like to ask you to say sumthin' about this bergmütze.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=233051

thanks, Berg Heil!

[FestungSpanien]

Well I am a newby in GJ collecting so do not take for real what I am going to say. I am still learning so,I think it is an early M43 cap,and certainly not a GJ cap.Why? Because the peak is too long, you find only one set of ventilation gromets in each side ( instead of two ), no marking of where the edelweis should have been sewn,and only one line of stitchings in the crown.(instead of the two paralel ones shown on most well know true Bergmutzen).More,no provision for leather sweadband.
Also it seems that the T insignia has been replaced where a trapezoid one was.
Nice cap BTW
Berg Heil!
Ace

[jacquesf]

I agree, I see no sign that it is GJ, propably just a m43. Jacques

Well I am a newby in GJ collecting so do not take for real what I am going to say. I am still learning so,I think it is an early M43 cap.Why? Because the peak is too long, you find only one set of ventilation gromets in each side ( instead of two ), no marking of where the edelweis should have been sewn,and only one line of stitchings in the crown.(instead of the two paralel ones shown on most well know true Bergmutzen)
Also it seems that the T insignia has been replaced where a trapezoid one was.
Nice cap BTW
Berg Heil!
Ace

[besslein]

I agree, I see no sign that it is GJ, propably just a m43. Jacques

just one question,do you know that m43 caps are made in 1942?

[FestungSpanien]

Well,maybe it is an M42 modified to M43(I think I see black stitching where the peak joins the rest of the cap).Better pictures should tell us.
Ace

[jacquesf]

You are right, wasn't paying attention. I think Ace might be right. Jacques

just one question,do you know that m43 caps are made in 1942?

[B. N. Singer]

Well,maybe it is an M42 modified to M43(I think I see black stitching where the peak joins the rest of the cap).Better pictures should tell us.
Ace

That is Obviously Not an M42/M43 conversion.

B. N. Singer

[FestungSpanien]

Well the point is that it is not a textbook GJ either.So what is it then?
Ace

That is Obviously Not an M42/M43 conversion.

B. N. Singer

[B. N. Singer]

You are right, wasn't paying attention. I think Ace might be right. Jacques

Well, maybe you need to ask yourself, is it even real???!!!

B. N. Singer

[BenVK]

Well, maybe you need to ask yourself, is it even real???!!!

Good question Bryon.

[djpool]

I don't know if the caps original or not, but the firm of Heinrich Balke is certainly real. They started making hats in 1888 and closed shop in 2001. Wilkens states they did make Visors but there weren't any examples available or known at the time of his research. So a rather obscure maker. Does anyone have any field caps made by this firm?

WR Jim

[Christian_GJR3]

Dear all,

thank you for your expert opinions.

1. FestungSpanien, you might be a newby, but your knowledge is already high and I'm grateful for your comment.

2. Mr Singer, and Mr BenVK I'm shy to say, but you are wrong. This is a real cap, and an M42/M43 conversion. With added peak.

I would say, that the first set of photos can't tell, but with new pictures and Herr BergführerKiser's opinions behind my back I can bravely tell this.

Remains of leather sweatband, one ventillation gromets each side, only one line of stiching on the crown. Material is good. Used and good, although T-bird is resewn manually. True, there's no mark for Edelweiss.

It is wartime made for sure, but converted M42/M43. Insignia is not too nicely applied, and peak insert wasn't nicely done either.

Because it's not a Gebirgsjaeger hat, I lost intense on buying it.

Thanks you once again for taking the time....

brgds, Krisztian

[Christian_GJR3]

closeup of T

1

[Glenn McInnes]

You are saying this is a Army M42 with a removed machine sewn sweatband? A M42 usually has 1 row of stitching on the top front flap,this one has 2 rows.


I certainly would not buy it.



Glenn

[B. N. Singer]

You are saying this is a Army M42 with a removed machine sewn sweatband? A M42 usually has 1 row of stitching on the top front flap,this one has 2 rows.

I certainly would not buy it.
Glenn

Aw Glenn, now you went and spoiled all the "fun" for me!!

B. N. Singer