Peculiar M38 Feldmütze...

[AndersB]

Hi Guys, I'm really into helmets and visors, but since this side cap (though somewhat salty) was available at a decent price, I decided that "what the heck..." and went to town.

What do you think? (I apologize for the quality of the pix - seems like my iPhone provides the best camera in the house. The doeskin fabric looks smoother in reality and is a soft grey-green.)

In hand, the cap definitely feels like a period WW2 cap - the right smell is there - but it is a bit odd compared to the standard German M38 officer's side cap... Obviously the insignia (which was hand applied) is for a NCO/OR cap - the eagle is off-white, not aluminum, but feels period as far as I can tell. In shape it is "smartly" slimmer than a textbook M38, and the piping along the crown extends vertically down the front and back seams, "bending" the fore and aft downwards to fit the skull. You don't see that very often on an Army cap:
IMG_0253.jpg
IMG_0251.jpg

[LuckyStrike23]

a privately taylored or Kleiderkassen bought side cap. For sure original but I doubt that the insignia is period applied. Those side caps had normally officers quality insignia.

[AndersB]

Interesting! Thanks for the input. It's hard to say when this insignia was sewn on... Looks like it could have been there from the start, but indeed: why chose NCO insignia on a private-purchase cap?

(I guess that there isn't such a thing as a legitimate configuration for high-ranking NCO:s, looking like this? Guess not - that would have been the other way around.)

[jacquesf]

Interesting fabric, never seen "boiled wool " fabric on a schiffen before. J

[AndersB]

I agree: it almost looks like it in the pix, but it's definitely not boiled wool, it's worn and slightly moth eaten doeskin. In hand, the surface (though a bit roughed-up) is still quite smooth...

Close-up: Another try with the old iPhone camera...
[ATTACH]2802735[/ATTACH]

[AndersB]

And here's Another Close-up of the eagle:
IMG_0267.jpg

[LuckyStrike23]

that kind of wool is rare but was of course used. Unfortunately its very popular with moths. Here is another example that was worn by an officer of PzRgt1:

[Jens Thune]

I belive the eagle is reproduction known for the deep curve of the inner fraters and the driping nose

All the best
Jens

[AndersB]

THX for the input. Repro is a possibility, of course... I'm not sure what you mean by "inner fraters", but you're right that this bird has quite a pronounce beak. However, after scanning the web looking at available reproductions, none comes Close to this one. (they mostly have "dove's heads".) I've taken a frontal close-up in order to factilitate the verdict:
IMG_0268.jpg

[AndersB]

Passes the "UV light-test", for what that's Worth...

[Jens Thune]

Sorry it should have said inner feathers..
I belive there has been several threads about these, but i can only find this one because i started it:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=314691

Hope it helps
Jens

[AndersB]

Tack Jens! Yep, that looks like the same bird...

Sorry it should have said inner feathers..
I belive there has been several threads about these, but i can only find this one because i started it:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=314691

Hope it helps
Jens

[AndersB]

...so this one is on its way back to where it came from. THX for your valuable input!