Take it out into the sunlight and look at it. KM caps are very noticeably blue, I'm looking at my enlisted example (10' away from me) and I can tell it's blue. The cap has a chance IMO.
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WAF LIFE COACH -
Thanks for all of your input! I did find a Luftwaffe reference book that confirms wear of the black side cap with the working enlisted working uniform as airplanes are always leaking fluids. While the hat looks nice, the bird does look a little strange. Any other opinion?Comment
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A black mechanic's cap normally has only an eagle, although there were (as with everything) exceptions.
The eagle on this cap, although a bit strange, is not necessarily bad. Some of the worst looking eagles ever seen were used by the LW on side caps. As asked before, but not answered, was the lining opened up to sew this eagle on? Could we see pictures of the lining in the area of the eagle?
KM EM caps do, routinely, have black linings just like this one and I have several of them. I also have what I believe is a KM overseas cap with machine-stitched bevo cockade and hand-sewn LW white-on-black eagle,direct from a U.S. vet many years ago. I suppose the consensus would be that a cap made for the LW should have a lining consistant, color-wise, with other standard LW linings, but I'm not sure that holds true for all caps and I know I have seen mechanic's caps with black linings.
LW panzer wraps appear in both regular black material and in a blue-black material which appears to be a color match to some (especially officer) KM uniforms (which could also have variances in the blue-black range). Member "90th Light" has a wonderful set of HG Panzer wrapper "black" tabs and eagle. Interestingly, when placed next to black material they look to have a bluish tinge and, when next to blue, look black. Gene was absolutely right that the vast majority of KM EM caps have a noticeable blue color (which this cap doesn't seem to have, at least in these photos).
More photos, in different lighting conditions, are needed.Comment
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Thanks Leroy,
I appreciate the comment about the tabs and eagle.
Also got the cuff-title and cap that go with them. As they say, lets judge the item not the story but this black HG panzer sidecap does have an interesting backround.
Anyway here are a couple of night shots with the HG panzer against a WH panzer sidecap and a KM sidecap in the top image.
In the bottom image, I have placed all 3 caps on a KM pea jacket.
The HG panzer definitely has a black hue to it and is a lot closer in colour to the WH panzer sidecap than the KM cap or jacket.
If you want I can take some daylight images in natural light.
Oh almost forgot, my one also has a black liner, maker name, place, 1941 date and a regular/ standard looking LW eagle on black.
ChrisComment
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Couple more images
top image without flash
bottom image with flash
In both, the black hue of the HG panzer is a lot closer to the WH black panzer side cap than the KM sidecap.
The HG panzer also has a suble ribbed effect to the cloth which is not as sharp as the ribbed twill like effect the KM pea jacket has. However, when you pull the flap down on the HG panzer sidecap, you find the intact pile of the wool and the ribbed effect can not be seen. The KM pea jacket has ribbed twill effect all over with no wool pile on it
ChrisLast edited by 90th Light; 01-14-2014, 08:49 AM.Comment
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Nice caps 90th Light!
Would you post a straight on shot of the insignia on the HG Panzer please? Thank you!!!
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Hopefully this will let you see what you need. Taken in natural light,Originally posted by Mauser HSc View PostNice caps 90th Light!
Would you post a straight on shot of the insignia on the HG Panzer please? Thank you!!!
ChrisLast edited by 90th Light; 01-15-2014, 03:41 AM.Comment
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Mauser HSc - Any chance of some more photos from you? Thanks!Comment
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Chris, thanks for the photos! Here's one of the inside of the liner at the peak. The liner was opened for sewing on the insignia.Comment
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If the lining was opened (and I'm not sure I can really see that from the photo), it's an indication that the cap's insignia was changed after its manufacture, so it very likely started its life as something else. Of course, it may be that the change was done during the war, but that would be hard to substantiate. Are you sure the lining was opened?Comment
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The liner does not look like it has been opened up to me. However, a clearer photo is needed.
Anyway even if you did open up the liner, you probably could not stitch on an LW eagle neatly with a zig-zig stitch ? My understanding is that to neatly sew an eagle on a LW cap with a zig-zag, it has to be done during construction of the cap before the liner goes in.
Also, why bother as most LW sidecap have hand applied insignia. If you are going to put together a black HG panzer cap then just hand sew the cap badges on,
ChrisLast edited by 90th Light; 01-15-2014, 03:42 PM.Comment
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