The SS Visor Dave Kane doesnt like.

[John Pic]

The visor in question for the expert in question. A close friend has offered three of his for compairing since my purchase was made after consulting with him. We often help each other out. Not many own three Waffen SS visors all original and in various conditions.Its easy to draw lines and arrows that point at nothing but make it look like you know what youre doing.Here in pictures the wear of the liner top can be seen as compaired to where it was covered by the sweatband voila you have your answer no sandpaper used here just care taken by an officer to preserve his cap. My MAX show prize bought right here off of this estand. Any of you with negative opinion or follow the leader syndrome please post your own Waffen SS visors for compairing.I drew some lines and arrows to so I can look like I know what Im talking about.

Can anyone tell me without seeing the backs who made the skull and eagle?

[John Pic]

The inside

[John Pic]

[John Pic]

The darker redish color on the leather sweat band is anot as Dave Kane would have you believe "oil" transfer from sweat but rather it is the color of the leather when the smooth tanned top part is worn down,not caused by "sanding just polishing from putting it on and off. Being a native person I work alot with tanned dyed leathers Ive made garments from them and thats what happens when you wear them

[John Pic]

Under the sweatband here you can now see the darkened worn exposed part of the lining which did it appears get a little soiled from sweat or "oils". The part under the sweatband remains untouched.

[John Pic]

Here you can see the nice creases in the material the dulling if you will of the exposed top.

[John Pic]

:d

[John Pic]

Another in mint condition same liner material same method of stitching.

[John Pic]

[John Pic]

A really worn one in the same configuration same liner materials.

[John Pic]

Here is a third sewn the same way only with different color materials and more "sandpapered"

[John Pic]

[John Pic]

That visor was there on the estand for three days and not one of the "experts "started a thread or tried to alert the forum that a possible "fake" was being sold on thier own estand as they do with every cheap ebay fake or better yet ones offered by dealers they have it out for. This alone speaks volumes

[Richard P]

I had to settle down some before I wrote this as I don't want to make it personal, as it may perhaps already be. I don't quite understand why if the cap was so obviously bad, then why was nothing said until lovable John Pic happily claimed new ownership, and then here came the flaming arrows. I only received positive comments from people that seem very active at outing fakes.

I will not claim expertise on SS visors, I leave that to the true students of the art like NTZ, Stonemint, and so on. This hat came from a 40 year old collection that I trust, it was only traded to me because he had two field grey ones. This hat has also been checked over by someone who has handled countless SS visors over the last 25 years.

Facts I can see that the photos may not make clear. It is the smooth type visor. Any one know the reason for cross hatching on the visor? Common sense dictates that it is for gripping traction between thumb and forefinger. Some people sweat more than others, sweat tends to make smooth things slippery. There was no fine grit sandpaper used on this visor. Someone, per chance the original SS owner, used something very sharp to groove or roughen the center area where the thumb would go naturally. It was not sandpaper because the scratches go back and forth like a knife blade, not like many grains of abrasive side by side. Only the thumb needs traction to grip something tight. Sweat, wind, rain, snow, there are many reasons to make something on your head easier to grip for removal or to keep it on. I have seen fake wear spots, and this bears no resemblance. There was no attempt made at hiding the grooves.

Digital photos...digital flash photos tend to erase lots of dirt and wear. Even with the flash the grime inside the caps comes down to the sweatband in all areas where the head or hair can touch. I can't find one single extra stitch hole in the lining. The velvet band is tight as a drum. The upper lining material is stiff and wrinkled from being wet and dirty repeatedly. I know an awful lot of people used various hair oils in the 30's 40's and 50's. Even without hair oils there is just natural head oils and dirt. Not even the chincord buttons have been removed and then replaced.

The leather is a dark leather with a lighter brown dye. There are no signs of scratches or an abrasive used on it at all. Only high areas in the grain have had the dye rubbed off in places from repeated contact. The sweatband is stiff and slightly brittle as if it has been wet and dried many times. The cotton stitching in the front has just plain disintegrated. You can see little pieces in the holes here and there. The outside of the visor has the stress wrinkles I would expect on a worn cap.
If there are any other questions I still have the hat in hand. John of course is free to change his mind in accordance with E-stand rules.

Richard

[sturmbannfuhrer]

Interesting thread. I will only say one thing as it is relevant to ANY visor displaying such.

I am not ever keen on a visor that has a dirty interior liner and CLEAN bit where the celluloid was.

If the Celluloid was removed during the wear period, i.e pre war's end, why is the releaved area underneath not dirty.

I would not buy a visor exhibiting this phenominum, it could indicate riding the cap of suspect sweatshield.

I will leave the cap in question to the seasoned pro's to discuss, I have the rest of the washing up to finish.