panzer m43

[Gary Wilkins]

Panzer M43

HI Jakeb

True, and that's always a judgement call that only you can make. A privately purchased cap however, would be at the owner's expense from a qulaity cap-maker/uniform tailor, and so logic suggests it would therefore be even better made than the issue caps; one would expect to see first rate cap making on a private purchase piece (if this is what you mean by "custom-made)...something to keep in mind, at least.

Best Regards,

Gary Wilkins

[william r match]

Gary,

I totally agree with your sentiments concerning the price that HG items command and their ability to outstrip the Waffen pieces at auction and on dealers sites.

Great book by the way


Regards,

Billy

[william r match]

2.

[william r match]

3. M43 is not original to the wrap uniform but is a nice addition.

[william r match]

4. Waffen cover comes with original raw edged M42 single decal Luftwaffe that it was recovered with from HG in the Ardennes offensive.

Billy

[Perry Floyd]

Nice set-up..

[william r match]

Jakeb,

Apologies for digressing and going on an HG journey for a moment.



Billy

[Gary Wilkins]

HG

Thanks William,

Fo your remark on the book. It is not without shortcomings, but it's a bugger remembering everything on an undertaking that big.
Very nice HG M43 by the way.

Gary W.

[jakeb]

panzer m43


no problem billy. i'm going to post...or try to post better pics tonight...of the flat wire insignia and bullseye

[Langemark]

I'm really sorry, Jakeb, for my first negative comments about your Panzer M43 cap.

Sorry to possibly disappoint you again, but so called "private purchase caps" are often an euphemism for 'fake caps'. Note that my reply only relies on what I have seen from the pictures you posted.

This being said, I personally never saw a credible 'private purchase M43 cap for enlisted'.

On the other hand, many officers actually had their M43 caps privately made. So, we can observe that :
- In such cases, the overall shape indeed often varies from one maker to another.
- The quality of the cloth is then generally of the better 'walking out/ribbed' quality.
- Most privately made caps have a partial or full-around leather sweatband (= alternative for the usual inner, all-around reinforcement cloth strap, noticeable on factory-made M43 caps).
- Many have a frontal inner, high-going, reinforcement tape for a better shape (like the Bergmütze).
- Some high quality M43 caps are even fully stuffed (like the Schirmmütze).
- Rarely, winter-quality M43 caps can be found entirely padded.
- In all cases I personally saw, private purchase caps were always doubled with mesh or similar light fabric (between the external cloth and lining) for shape purposes (or heavy padding, for insulation).
- The maker's mark is clearly indicated … or totally absent (sometimes only a small size marking) !

Could my personal experience be of any help here ?

Mark

[jakeb]

panzer m43

hi mark

i would like to get to the bottom of this cap real or repro....but i got a real crappy camera... ithe insignia may get to the problem..?
its a well made cap with wear...sweat stains.... worn bill ... rbn with number...as i said before

thanks for comments

[Langemark]

Not any 'privately purchased' M43 cap would be RBNr marked,

Sorry again,
Mark

[Langemark]

Hmm, I meant ... absolutely NO 'privately purchased' M43 cap was ever RBNr marked,

Sorry once again,
Mark

[hcliffe]

Here's my vote on this panzer hat:

[jakeb]

panzer m43

okay...okay i get it now


on a side note isaw the exact cap black..... same let downs.. on a refugee on the color of war or a show on the discovery channel....

i know the pics are bad but what of the bullseye and eagle