M36 NCO Infantry

[lestweforget]

Dear collectors,

I recently purchased this M36/M40 NCO tunic from an auction.

I would like to hear your opinions on this tunic. Insigna original applied ? The eagle is blurred on the first picture, due to local auction regulations ragarding Nazi symbols.

Better picture of the eagle will follow !























Thanks in advance !

[RobertE]

Nice looking tunic! Good early features, and looks to be a decent size in very nice condition.

It has been shortened, and the breast eagle and possibly collar tabs restored, but it's still attractive. I like the LW-type collar tress.

s/f Robert

[lestweforget]

@Robert,

Thank you for your fast reply!

How can you see that the eagle was replaced? I don't want to question your opinion, but just to gain more experience.

Thanks!

[RobertE]

No trouble at all. These waffenrock eagles were not the type that were factory sewn to M36 tunics; they were directly applied with no green backing wool by a machine stitch.

Eagles were sewn on prior to the liner being installed. When you see an eagle sewn through the liner, it has been replaced somewhere along the way and is not factory.

s/f Robert

[lestweforget]

@Robert,

Is it possible that this 'eagle update' is wartime done ? For example to use the tunic as a walking out/best tunic?

[RobertE]

It certainly is possible. This tunic is one I posted last month, where it was upgraded.

Sewing through the liner is something we see quite a bit in very late war tunics, but not as frequently in early war uniforms. I would expect to see the eagle hand-stitched, like an officers type, if it was a cosmetic upgrade.

So unless there is a glaring deficiency - like glowing thread or strange fading - there's no way to know when the eagle was replaced. But is was replaced at sometime from the factory applied one.

A good looking tunic, regardless.

s/f Robert

[lestweforget]

Thank you for the professional explanation, Robert! . So let's hope on a wartime modification due to the proud nature of the original owner of this tunic.

[OSS]

So let's hope on a wartime modification due to the proud nature of the original owner of this tunic.

One can always hope however the tabs are "upgrades" as well (you can see the trace of the original tab's stitching).