"Russia Braid"--Now Available by the Spool

[stonemint]

Erich Fritsche (the owner of the Erel name) is selling soutache braid by the spool:


Mountain Troops (looks more like PzG to me):

[stonemint]

In gold for Generals:

[stonemint]

& several other 'farbes:

[stonemint]

Top of spool:

[DRK]

I wonder how many overseas caps will show up at dealer 's sites in the near future with "Original applied" soutache ...
Let's wait and see .....

[101combatvet]

I wonder how many overseas caps will show up at dealer 's sites in the near future with "Original applied" soutache ...
Let's wait and see .....

[90th Light]

First question, what width is it ?

(Only certain widths were used on caps)

Second question, is the "1945" a date ?

(numbers stamped into wooden cotton reels are usually a product number, not a date)

This stuff is more than likely to be post WW2. There are certain ways to tell. The evolution of Russian Braid made in Germany went from Cotton before WW2 to Cotton-blend to Rayon to Rayon-blend to Artificial Silk and even Cellulose-synthetics by 1945. Post war Russian Braid is usually made from Nylon or total synthetics and has a different inner core than the types made during WW2,

Chris

[Steve Sherlock]

This Russia Braid was pretty much obsolete after 1942, wasn't it? By 1943 it was no longer on issue headgear, and it was never a regular feature of uniforms, save for the fairly uncommon Russia Braid faced panzer/assualt gunner collar tabs. So, in the end, why was this stuff even manufactured after 1943??

If my remarks are off by much, please let me know. That's why we are here!!

101 Combat Vet -- is the picture you posted part of the braid being offered? If not, it takes away from the focus on the ones under question.

Steve

[90th Light]

This Russia Braid was pretty much obsolete after 1942, wasn't it? By 1943 it was no longer on issue headgear, and it was never a regular feature of uniforms, save for the fairly uncommon Russia Braid faced panzer/assualt gunner collar tabs. So, in the end, why was this stuff even manufactured after 1943??

Steve

They certainly stopped using it as a soutache on WH caps during 1942. However, they continued to use of else where on things like WH officer collar tabs, Officer caps eg KM, Political uniforms and other Paramilitary uniforms right up until the war ended in 1945.

Hence the emphasis on what width is the Russian Braid,

Chris