Paul Kaps Luftwaffe Generals Visor

[Leroy]

Richard's right...it's all personal preference. I'm fortunate to own both a Kaps and an eReL LW general visor and the Kaps, to me anyway, is by far the better visor. By the same token, I'd rather have a nice FLL P/O than a Juncker (which I feel are vastly over-rated). Yet both eReL and Juncker are the "high ticket" makers. To each his own....

[Arran]

Does this Kaps Luft General's visor share other characteristics in shape and materials with yours, Leroy?

[stonemint]

What makes Kaps caps so appealing? The shape of the caps? Materials used? The construction techniques? Just because they are scarce?

Personally I just don't see where the hype comes from. :-)

Kogy, I say all of the above. As I said before, while Erel maybe the Cadillac, Kaps is the Rolls.....

[Leroy]

Does this Kaps Luft General's visor share other characteristics in shape and materials with yours, Leroy?

Here's an old photo with the Kaps in the middle. Mine has gold bullion piping and the logo is impressed into the black lining with no celluloid diamond. Also, my visor has edging. The body style and other construction, however, is the same and (as you noted) the winged wreath is trimmed close to the edge, which I believe is a Kaps characteristic.

[JasonA]

Hi Kogy,

Most makers show a range of quality and construction. You can find wonderful quality Erels and shi!!y examples. There may be other cap makers whose output shows a narrower range, Paul Kaps being one of them. The advanced headgear guys who have seen a significant range of caps by maker can attest to this.

I always say it's the hat itself, not the maker...but that's my own collecting criteria. Given two hats, side by side and by different makers - all things being equal - the less common maker will be the more valuable one.

Great question for discussion, though!



J-

[Arran]

Thanks for the response and the pic, Leroy- those are some outstanding caps. To me, Erel is like a suit by Armani or Versace, whereas Kaps is like walking into a tailor on Saville Row and ordering a bespoke garment. Some of the highest quality TR visor caps I've encountered were unmarked and I was never able to identify the makers...I'd love to know who made the Karl Wolff silk-topped visor in this same auction (and see a pic of the interior!). How many TR headgear collectors are familiar with the firm of Naumann of Berlin? In the Imperial era, they were considered the creme de la creme of hat makers, and exclusively provided the helmets and caps of Wilhelm II- real Goring-quality stuff with white silk and calfskin interiors!

[Richard P]

Here's an old photo with the Kaps in the middle. Mine has gold bullion piping and the logo is impressed into the black lining with no celluloid diamond. Also, my visor has edging. The body style and other construction, however, is the same and (as you noted) the winged wreath is trimmed close to the edge, which I believe is a Kaps characteristic.

Leroy,

Can I pick just one? Please.....?

Richard

[stonemint]

Here's an old photo with the Kaps in the middle. Mine has gold bullion piping and the logo is impressed into the black lining with no celluloid diamond. Also, my visor has edging. The body style and other construction, however, is the same and (as you noted) the winged wreath is trimmed close to the edge, which I believe is a Kaps characteristic.

All that glitters....

[Leroy]

Just saw that the Kaps in the Thies auction went for 12000 Euros.

[stonemint]

I liked the Kaps, but I am not very fond of the visors coming out of the German auction houses. Too many suspect pieces (see the Diplo thread). Pics are also too limited, and no under the hood shots. Returning an item from the states is a real pain in the rear. As a result, I steer clear of them. Anyone else feel this way?

[Koguryo9]

I liked the Kaps, but I am not very fond of the visors coming out of the German auction houses. Too many suspect pieces (see the Diplo thread). Pics are also too limited, and no under the hood shots. Returning an item from the states is a real pain in the rear. As a result, I steer clear of them. Anyone else feel this way?

Ditto. The French visor cap book/magazine shows an EREL Luftwaffe general visor with "Offizier Kleiderkasse" marking, straight out of HH.

[RamJet]

It is just personal taste...and most of the people who really like them own at least one, or have handled them.

Richard

+1!

[Richard P]

I liked the Kaps, but I am not very fond of the visors coming out of the German auction houses. Too many suspect pieces (see the Diplo thread). Pics are also too limited, and no under the hood shots. Returning an item from the states is a real pain in the rear. As a result, I steer clear of them. Anyone else feel this way?

Agreed! Not only is it a pain to return logistically...but it may not be accepted back, which really complicates things. Many more photos needed before bidding on any visors or uniforms. Too much remains unseen to risk high Dollars or Euros. I might be willing to spend about 5000 Yuan on a gamble.

Richard

[Koguryo9]

Agreed! Not only is it a pain to return logistically...but it may not be accepted back, which really complicates things. Many more photos needed before bidding on any visors or uniforms. Too much remains unseen to risk high Dollars or Euros. I might be willing to spend about 5000 Yuan on a gamble.

Richard

Give me 5000 Yuan if you have it lying around somewhere, Richard!

[Richard P]

Give me 5000 Yuan if you have it lying around somewhere, Richard!

If you can deliver an original Kaps Luftwaffe general's visor to me I'll quadruple my offer! Unless I have miscalculated my Yuan.

Richard