Tropical M40 Cap with Edelweiss

[John Degioanni]

Hi guys, I just acquired this tropical cap and wanted to share it with the group.
Hope you like it. Comments and opinions always appreciated.
Regards,
John

[John Degioanni]

inside pic

[NZMark]

Nice Vorwerk & Sohn example, John!
I'd say the eidelweiss is post war added - the cap appears un-issued from those photos.
Regards,
Mark
New Zealand

[billbert]

I would not rush to judge that...Might have been period mounted and hardly used or taken out of kit.. can you bend to cap and see shadow or age imprint.. JMHO Billbert

[John Degioanni]

Hi billbert, I just tried the bend test. You can see a perfect imprint of the device on the cap. Thanks, I would have never tried that!
Best regards,
John

[Mark Gibson]

Is the perfect imprint a darker shadow or a little bit of oxidisation from the edges of the edelweiss?
I am more inclined to think that this may be collector added. One thing that makes me believe this is the shine on the thread used to attach the edelweiss (perhaps just the photo but the thread looks quite bright on my screen).

Mark

[NZMark]

Over time the tension of the sewing will have left the imprint in the cap's body. Thirty years of it sitting there will certainly have left it's mark...
There was no rush to judgement, Billbert - it was a considered reply
Regards,
Mark
New Zealand

[billbert]

I pulled a DAK edelweissed M40 out of Germany a while back had much the same look as yours..except mine had a soutache... Billbert

[Mark Gibson]

I pulled a DAK edelweissed M40 out of Germany a while back had much the same look as yours..except mine had a soutache... Billbert

That I'd love to see Billbert, if you don't mind showing us.

Mark

[John Degioanni]

Is the perfect imprint a darker shadow or a little bit of oxidisation from the edges of the edelweiss?
I am more inclined to think that this may be collector added. One thing that makes me believe this is the shine on the thread used to attach the edelweiss (perhaps just the photo but the thread looks quite bright on my screen).

Mark

Hi Mark, In answer to your question on the imprint it shows both oxidization and a shadow. I believe the picture is making the thread look bright. I used a flash. Also for what its worth I used a black light on the thread and it does not glow. I appreciate all the opinions and comments.
John

[Mark Gibson]

Thanks for the further information John. You are the one with the cap in hand and can make the most informed call on it.
You've found yourself a very nice cap.

Mark

[billbert]

Hi Mark..would have loved to..but sadly it has moved down the highway to a new owner..Billbert

it was a beauty..came from the vets sister or widow...

[BergführerKiser]

Grüß Di' John,

Great looking cap! Wish I had it in my Gebirgsjäger collection.

It could have been earmarked for Gebirgsjäger Rgt. 756 in North Africa, or for Gebirgstruppen serving in the MTO or even southern Russia.









Berg Heil und Horrido!

Patrick

[John Degioanni]

What great pictures!! Thanks BergfuhrerKiser for posting them and for the information on what unit my have worn my cap.
Regards,
John

[Henry Crun]

Grüß Di' John,

Great looking cap! Wish I had it in my Gebirgsjäger collection.

It could have been earmarked for Gebirgsjäger Rgt. 756 in North Africa, or for Gebirgstruppen serving in the MTO or even southern Russia.









Berg Heil und Horrido!

Patrick

Interesting. One could speculate that the lack of wear could be attributed to belonging to a Gebirgsjäger Rgt. 756 member. The regiment arrived in Africa late Jan 43 and written off by May 43. Much of this time was under British artillery bombardment when hard hats would have been worn. Could well have been captured kit. I'll post some shots of the oxidisation when I get the hat as the new owner. Though I can clearly see oxidisation on the fabric in John's photos.

Peter