Pioneer Officer's Double Erel

[bradcancian]

Hi all,

I haven't purchased anything for a while but recently came across this one. I have been looking for a Pioneer officer's Erel for a little while and manged to pick this one up at what I thought was a pretty reasonable price. It looks to be an Erel "Extra", double marked, with vented cockade. The exterior is in very nice condition save a couple of marks, nips and toning of the cockade. The interior is more worn, though the only damage is to the sweatshield. There is some old German newspaper folded all the way around behind the sweatband, which is still nice and supple. I can't read German, but some of the paper seems to speak of the exploits of the Totenkopf division... Anyways, here are some pics:











Here it is next to my Pukero EMs visor.



I am no expert on these caps so I welcome any thoughts / comments on this one!

BC

[Rich Moran]

Looks good to me.

[aterrasse]

Great looking cap. Nothing wrong with that one!

[turbopanzer]

hi

Congrats very nice Erel cap

[steiner99]

Wow, very nice cap. I like the used one's because they have all a very interesing and special character.
Very nice!!

The size seems to be 58?


Cheers,
steiner99

[Kreager]

Nice addition Brad

Matt

[Kurt]

Wow, very nice cap. I like the used one's because they have all a very interesing and special character.
Very nice!!
...

I couldn't agree more --- a cap like this is sooooo much more desirable than the MINT stuff. At least you know this one was worn. Congrats Brad, great addition!

Kurt

[BPA-Paul]

Great looking Erel visor bradcancian, love the wear to it.

[bradcancian]

Thanks guys - I am quite happy with this nice cap, even well worn it just has lovely quality and character.

Steiner99 - I do think it is about a size 58 - how do you tell? Are there size markings that I missed?

BC

[steiner99]

After many caps in hands you will get a good feeling for the size.

[bradcancian]

Hi guys - just decided to take a closer look under the sweat band on this one and found this stamp quite unexpectedly:





I can't quite make out the first word (starts with a G I think, may be a name but it looks like a unit stamp?), but it is clear that the last part of the stamp reads "2 / Pi. 16", which I think means 2nd Company, 16th Pionier Battalion. The 16th Pionier Battalion became Panzerpionier in August 1940, so chances are, the original owner may have been a panzerpionier officer somewhere in the 2nd company, assuming he was still part of the unit post August 1940.

Is anyone able to help me with the first word? Apologies for the poor pictures, it didn't come out too well....!

Thanks!

BC

[bradcancian]

Anyone....?

[steiner99]

Stamp is: Geprüft 2./Pi. 16
Geprüft = inspected
Geprüft 2. Kompanie, Pionierbataillon 16.

Geprüft ist a typical stamp that EM/NCO caps had.

Here a good link: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/.../PiBat16-R.htm

Cheers,
steiner99

[bradcancian]

Excellent - many thanks for the info steiner99!

BC