Luft m-43 with Hand Sewn Trapazoid

[Bob Hritz]

I was going through my Luft M-43 caps and found one with a hand sewn trap. It is sewn so well, it took me a while to see the threads. From where I got it, I could not believe the trap was reapplied post-war.

The sewing is a very careful straight stitch, not the usual loop stitch you see on reapplied insignia.

What say you cloth cap afficianados?

Bob Hritz

[90th Light]

Any skilled/ experienced seamstress can do that Bob. The million dollar question is, before May 1945 or after ?

Does the cap have a makers name/ RB number ? What is the application/ sewing of the insignia on other caps by that maker like ? Did this maker apply traps to their M43 caps or did they just apply the eagle and cockade ? This is where you will find the answers.

If there is no maker/ number and you can not match it against another known untouched original then its any ones guess I suppose. Yours as good as mine,

Chris

[Bob Hritz]

Markings in the Luft M-43 cap.

Bob Hritz

[90th Light]

Cheers Bob,

excellent stamp and date. You have what you need

I will go dig some of mine out and see if I have one by that maker. I am sure however, that one of the other M43 or LW collectors will not be far away with an answer,

Chris

[Lenny W]

Markings in the Luft M-43 cap.

Bob Hritz

Re applied insignia imo Bob

[Bob Hritz]

Thank you, Lenny. Should it be a trapezoid or two piece insignia?

Bob Hritz

[90th Light]

I do have one by that maker Bob and my one matches these two that member "STUG III" posted here on WAF. I have added images of his cap (STUG III) here for you to see to save time taking photos of mine.

Chris

[90th Light]

Here is another of STUG III's caps. the insignia on this matches my one and is what one consistantly sees from this maker. Note the application of the eagles verses the cockade

I do not ever recall seeing one with a trap,

Chris

[John Hodgin]

Re applied insignia imo Bob

Agree Lenny, the trap was designed for quick machine application.

Good intel Chris.

[Lenny W]

Thank you, Lenny. Should it be a trapezoid or two piece insignia?

Bob Hritz

2 piece as Chris illustrated

[STUG III]

M43

Thank you 90th Light for using my caps as a reference, this why they are posted. Please feel free, at anytime, to do so. I agree with Lenny though Bob, this is a post war reapplied insignia. DL.

[90th Light]

Thanks John and Lenny,

I really like the way that LW M43 caps are often always maker marked with an RB number and one can compare consistant manufacturer footprints,

Chris

[90th Light]

Thank you 90th Light for using my caps as a reference, this why they are posted. Please feel free, at anytime, to do so. I agree with Lenny though Bob, this is a post war reapplied insignia. DL.

Thank you STUG III,

they are excellent examples by this maker and it saved me having to lug out the camera when my one is probably not as good as your ones,

Chris

[Bob Hritz]

OK, so it should be a machine sewn bevo roundel and a hand sewn eagle.

Thank you,
Bob

[90th Light]

OK, so it should be a machine sewn bevo roundel and a hand sewn eagle.

Thank you,
Bob

It is interesting Bob,

that your trap is neatly hand sewn on as are the eagles on the other M43's by this maker. I suppose that might open up the possibility of a war time hand applied trap but your example would be the first ever seen, so the chances are not great.

The reason that I speculate, is because you seemed certain of where your one has come from. Of course always a case of judge the item not the story but you have had items over the years from some very crediable sources to say the least.

Unless we saw another with a hand applied trap then I do not hold a lot of hope but there is always an off chance that some other collector who has one like yours by that maker, sees this thread and post theirs.

Otherwise it looks like this maker consistantly applied the two badges to their LW M43's in the fashion shown,

Chris