Heer M43 cap trapazoid application?

[Wessels]

Hello...

Today a fellow collector stated to me that he believes that least 99% of all Bevo trapazoid Heer insignia on M43 caps were machine applied. I believe that some makers hand applied them. What do other experienced collectors believe? Were they ALWAYS hime applied in factory? Thanks in advance!

[RGD51]

These were rendered as 'piece work' in a factory and countless quantities done by hand....in my opinion. It does open up the possibility for post war applied though as a 'machine stitched' trap would be more confirming as to period and legit. There is a degree of difficulty in machine sewing post war. It could be done by removing the visor or it could be achieved by simulation ie: faking the look of machine stitching.

Robt.

[billbert]

My WAG on this through many years of collecting would be 85 percent on m43s..I acquired a pair of factory new same maker m42 caps years ago..dated 1942 and 1943....the 43 dated was handsewn...the 42 dated machine seen...Billbert

[juoneen]

I guess it depends where you acquired those examples, but I do know I have worked in factories that paid piece work and hand stitching is very time consuming...I would assume there would be regulations regarding how insignias are to be applied for orders by factory production manufacturers. After they were issued, if insignias were changed or added then maybe tailors did it or the soldier themselves . Just doesn't seem economical to hand stitch insignias instead of using mass production techniques Germans copied from the Americans .