A-SS EM Visor for Review

[stonemint]

Here is an earlier Muller once owned by a friend of mine--also a Sonderanfertigung:

[stonemint]

Officer's Mueller (from the warrelics site):

[stonemint]

More "finished" runes have been seen on Fewegla visors (RZM #27):

[stonemint]

I would defer to Derek or Friedrich-Berthold on these A-SS Mullers. If it is a fake, imho, it is a ground-up fake, and not a Franky.

[Rich Moran]

I still do not like the way the sweat shield is applied and looking further at this I see that both sides where the name tag can be inserted is open. All SS visor interiors I have seen only have one side open and the other is sewn closed so th ename tag is inserted from one side only, such as in all the examples shown other than the subject example of this thread.

Look close and you'll see the stitching in all the examples follows a true line just within the outer edge of the sweat shield, where as the subject example is a mess not straight along with an out of shape sweat diamond.

I would walk away from this in a heartbeat if it were only 350.00 as for me the devil is in the most minor details.

I am glad you like it for your collection because I would not want it.

Good luck offing this in the future.

And still no answers to my original questions from those that posted about this visor with imaged examples.

I am willing to accept they put the RZM tag in because they had to, but it is totally senseless as it does not configure to an original RZM oil cloth visor that carries the RZM tag.

And yes I noticed early on as others posted about the runes being strange, all of it together to me is wrong!

So another question, and I hope it won't go unanswered, does anyone know if there was a different criteria for theses visors other than oil cloth liner? If so, how does the RZM tag account for the upgrade?

I'll accept that perhaps no one really knows and if that is the case, if it truely is an unknown, no answers begin to speak volumes about buying something totally out of the norm for these things.

Also I'll accept that an officers visorscan be tailored made and have different linings, but for NCO visors to be like this it would have to have been a fairly wealthy or a gift receiving NCO to have gotten something like this.

[derek]

There is nothing particularly special about the sonderanfertigung version of the service cap. This higher grade of cap was available as a standard option from the RZM. At first the price difference between the two levels was quite high as this early listing shows, but the difference was less marked in the later 1930's.
The difference was all internal with the sonderanfertigung model having a cream sillk lining and a higher quality sheepskin sweatband.
Derek

[Antiquefrog]

Thanks for all replies.

The shield tag was not intened to slide through; the left side has flaked, allowing thus - here is a picture with the tag pulled back.

[Antiquefrog]

And here is a better snap of the visor logo:

[BenVK]

Is there any chance of getting some quality photos of the cap that started the thread? Derek has pointed out some serious concerns and it always wise to listen to him.

However, there is one thing that has just occured to me that is a good sign of authenticity IMO. I'm not dismissing the valid concerns but bear with me a moment.

Most black SS service caps have a real leather sweatband installed. I'm not saying that all do just most in my experience. Also, as Derek has pointed out, the RZM catalogue states that a sonderanfertigung model would have leather as part of the "upgraded" interior. Are we agreed?

But, the cap in question has a presstoff sweatband. Now, maybe this should be another cause for concern if it wasn't for the fact that one particular maker was fond of using presstoff sweatbands in sonderanfertigung model caps. That maker was August Mueller.

It would take a very clued up, extremely talented, yet foolish faker to produce a visor like this from the ground up and source the correct era insignia and chinstrap only to fock it all up by choosing a strange design runic emblem and an odd lining material that was bound to raise questions.

Not saying it's not possible mind due, just strange.

[BenVK]

Is there any chance of getting some quality photos of the cap that started the thread?

And my wishes came true. Sorry, I was writing as you posted these new images.

[BenVK]

Do you have the cap in hand? If so, can you lift up the sweatband so we can see "under the hood"?

[Antiquefrog]

Perhaps F-B is off on some mission, but his input would be welcomed.

Stone, I would appreciate your evaluation.

I should retract my statement that this cap has not been worn - there is a clear sweatring mark on the liner to the left underside facing. But not worn often. Pic to follow.

Comments on this visor appreciated.

[Antiquefrog]

The dreaded sweatring:

[Antiquefrog]

Under the hood:

The cork seems to have a light-gray fabric applied to the top.

[Antiquefrog]

And a close-up of the shield insert: