M43 HAT GROMMETS

[Mark Gibson]

Although not SS I thought that this photo would interest some of the cap collectors. It is what appears to be a grommet on a panzer M43 cap, but it is the only shot that I have ever seen of this (the reason for keeping it).
This isn't an invitation to say that every cap of this kind that appears on the market is original (which I'm sure most aren't). I just thought that it would show that some examples may just be original.

Mark

[Mark Gibson]

And a slighter closer shot.

Mark

[Mike Davis]

Likely this is an M42 cap with bill added.

[B. N. Singer]

Likely this is an M42 cap with bill added.

Agreed.

B. N. Singer

[Mark Gibson]

Likely this is an M42 cap with bill added.

Likely but not necessarily. It certainly does show the possibility that they did exist.

Respectfully

Mark
(a complete novice when it comes to continental headgear)

[Mike Davis]

I'd like to see a photo of an original black M43 with grommets.

[BenVK]

I've got another period photo of one somewhere, I'll try and find it. I don't think they were all M42 conversions.

[BenVK]

Here it is.

[Mike Davis]

Many thanks, great photo! Still, is it a modified M42 (as I suspect) or M43 with grommets? So, to be clearer with my question, does anyone have a black M43 with grommets in their collection? I have never seen one but have an open mind and would like to know if such type existed.

[BenVK]

Mike, don't know if you saw this one but it convinced me that grommets were sometimes installed into true M43 caps, not conversions. No, it probably wasn't ever done in the factory, more likely by a company tailor or by the soldier himself but it was done. That's why I'm saying that to dismiss an M43 purely because it has grommets is a mistake IMHO.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=239106

[Mike Davis]

Yep, I remember the thread. Just have never seen them on a black M43 cap (just converted M42s). Perhaps someone has an example. I'm certainly open to new learning.

[Fritz]

I am with the ones that believe this style of caps with grommets to be ok, doesn't matter if army, ss or luftwaffe. IMO some of them had grommets.

Cheers

Fritz

[derka]

hello,

in the book "TIGRE I sur le front de l'ouest" de Jean Restayn,
ed. Histoire & Collections, page 74,
thee is a superb pic of a panzer feldwebel of s.Pz.Abt 508,
wearing a salty black m43 black cap with grommets.
despite the fact that he wears googles on it,
i think it is not a converted M42 sidecap.

regards
derka

[Mike Davis]

I think I know the photo - taken from the soldier's left profile, wearing large goggles and perhaps a scarf? My thought is that this cap was, once again, a M42 converted. It seems this was very commonly done. A fellow collector friend has two black examples converted thusly. Again, would like to see a photo of a black M43 with grommets from someone's collection. Interesting topic!

[BenVK]

Mike, you're a hard man to convince!

Look at the period photo above. I don't know about you but nearly every M42 I've seen has a wide flap with a large gap between the buttons. This guy's cap has buttons that are very close together, the top one is overlapping the bottom one. Plus, the grommet is obviously not painted black, something I would expect if it were a factory M42. If we could see a double row of stitching on the upper part of the flap, that would definitely convince me it is an M43 as well.