Custom tailored light weigt officers combat tunic?

[zwiktuut]

I've recently purchased this tunic on the E-stand.

It is a slightly unusual tunic; being that it was a custom piece. It's also got all the right wear and tear that you would expect from a legit combat tunic.

The former owner let Bill Shea, and Detlev have a look a couple years back, and both agreed it was a custom tailored light weight officers combat tunic, most likely used in the Mediterranean.

I want to hear your thoughts, and all the additional information is welcome

Cheers

Guyan

[Zauberflöte]

I've recently purchased this tunic on the E-stand.

It is a slightly unusual tunic; being that it was a custom piece. ....

Bear in mind that all these types of lightweight tunics were custom made, mostly for officers or NCO's.

[zwiktuut]

Bear in mind that all these types of lightweight tunics were custom made, mostly for officers or NCO's.

Ok thanks for your comment!

I want to add some medals to the tunic, which were the most common for this tunic? I don't own any medals so its hard to try wich ones will fit the loops. I was thinking off a woundbadge, IAB or is that hard to say...

I would love to hear your opinions

[Zauberflöte]

Ok thanks for your comment!

I want to add some medals to the tunic, which were the most common for this tunic? I don't own any medals so its hard to try wich ones will fit the loops. I was thinking off a woundbadge, IAB or is that hard to say...

I would love to hear your opinions

Just take a look at period photos, that will work best. It also more or less depends what branch you will make it, but I would suggest a Infantery Ltnt or Hauptmann situated in Italy '43-'44.
The loops could indicate: CCC, a 3 or 4-piece ribbonbar (incl EK2), EK1, woundbadge, IAB...for example.

[Tim O'Keefe]

Looks more like a LW or KM from the upper pockets. Or an imitation

[Reggu]

I also get KM vibes from the cut of this jacket!

[Zauberflöte]

Looks more like a LW or KM from the upper pockets. Or an imitation

Not LW IMO (certainly not when the ghosts of the insignia are legit), KM is of course possible, but than again, collar tabs on a KM tropical tunic??..not likely. Are the buttons originally sewn (these are not KM) or with detachable S rings?

Furthermore, who can tell for sure with something that is custom made. I'll stick to a -heavily washed- Heer tunic.

[zwiktuut]

S rings

Not LW IMO (certainly not when the ghosts of the insignia are legit), KM is of course possible, but than again, collar tabs on a KM tropical tunic??..not likely. Are the buttons originally sewn (these are not KM) or with detachable S rings?

Furthermore, who can tell for sure with something that is custom made. I'll stick to a -heavily washed- Heer tunic.

I suppose detachable S rings.

The only thing that iv'e noticed, is the use of white thread on some parts of uniform, only on the places where the insignia have been placed. I dont know if that's usual.
If you look closely you can see the ghost insignia place, but the dark shadow goes further towards the neck and there is where the white thread is coming out???

See picture

[afrikasandman]

To me with the way the insignia shadows are it was probably a EM who got a field commission or something as there are two distinct fade marks from two different types of collar tabs. I would suggest that you just go with the officer tabs and find an eagle that is maybe just a hair bigger than the shadow you see now. I own several of the light weight custom tunics and they are my favorite tunics hands down. I would have jumped on this one as a restoration project as I have a ton of insignia lying around but it was sold by the time I saw it. I tend to think it was a Heer tunic but thats just my opinion. Nice tunic either way. Matt

[zwiktuut]

To me with the way the insignia shadows are it was probably a EM who got a field commission or something as there are two distinct fade marks from two different types of collar tabs. I would suggest that you just go with the officer tabs and find an eagle that is maybe just a hair bigger than the shadow you see now. I own several of the light weight custom tunics and they are my favorite tunics hands down. I would have jumped on this one as a restoration project as I have a ton of insignia lying around but it was sold by the time I saw it. I tend to think it was a Heer tunic but thats just my opinion. Nice tunic either way. Matt

Hi Matt,

Thnx for your comment. It was a bargainprice for an nice tunic in my opinion so thats why i acted fast

Do you think the eagles is postwar attached or an periodtime upgrade?

Cheers

[afrikasandman]

Well based on what I see in the pics I would say probably post war done. It lacks that sunken in look that insignia that has been on a tunic for 60 plus years has. Honestly I would just remove it and put a nice flatwire over the area. They seem to be the norm for these type of light weight summer jackets anyways and this one seems to have had one at some point in its life. Plus with the additional wool around the eagle you could cover up a lot of the other damage. either way nice score. Matt

[Tim O'Keefe]

I still think its a copy for the KM. The upper pockets point in that direction. When was the insignia added is anyones guess, my guess is post war.
But i have very little faith in custom items without any provenance.....

Custom made, is a way to explain and except fakes imo.

[Zauberflöte]

....

Do you think the eagles is postwar attached or an periodtime upgrade?

...

Eagle is a postwar replacement IMO

[Johnny R]

The tabs look like they may be elongated and would be the size for General Officers tabs and there appears to be light red staining where the tabs were?

[Zauberflöte]

The tabs look like they may be elongated and would be the size for General Officers tabs and there appears to be light red staining where the tabs were?

Exactly! That is why I asked if they were legitimate. Being a former general would also correspond with the several award loops and the open style tunic design...hmm?