ss officers chrusher

[jacquesf]

Hi guys

This is my first post. Please give me opinions on my SS signals crusher. I have had it for a few years but as it is my prized possesion, I would like some opinions. It is well worn, named to a wellhausen,which is schratched feintly into capband. The maker is zacher, berlin.

[jacquesf]

Sorry I posted in wrong category, but here is another picture.

[SScollector]

Well, the insignia are definitely not original.

Best, Chris

[Robin Lumsden]

If the skull and eagle have 'RZM SS 360/42' on the back, which I think they may well have, the badges are copies.

The cap could be OK though.

We'd need pictures of the interior to be sure one way or the other.

[jacquesf]

Robin , the skull is stamped 475/43 rzm on the back. Cannot get behind the eagle it is tightly attached. I have also attached a pic of the inside. I have some close -ups if needed. I did get to see the back of the eagle same stamp as the skull.

Chris maybe you can help.

[jacquesf]

close-up picture of the inside behind the visor, cap is well worn. the skull and eagle are stamped rzm ss 475/43

[bwanek1]

I do not believe there are any originals (eagles or skulls) with the number 475/43.

Brad

[SScollector]

These same reproductions, and other similar fakes can be marked with many different codes, (usually either "M1/17", "475/XX", "373/XX", or "360/XX").

There are certainly original "SS 475/39" and "SS 475/42" marked eagles,
(no skulls), but I haven't seen any other years used on the original 475 marked eagles as of yet.
So, while I doubt that 43 was ever used, I can't say for a fact
that it wasn't. However, neither of these are originals.

Best,
Chris

[jacquesf]

It seems that the insigia is all wrong. Bill Shea sasys they were in the seventies in austria. He has offerd me an eagle marked m1/24 at465$. What do you think?

What about the originality of the cap. It is imporant for me to know. Please help.

[SJP]

Is the velvet(?) cap band as loose as it appears? Cheers Steve

[jacquesf]

Steve,
No it is actually very tight and is an intergal part of the cap

[Robin Lumsden]

The cap itself looks totally original to me. Very nice. Just needs better badges.

[jacquesf]

Thanx Robin, I am already working on it. Wpould a pre37 jawless skull work on this cap. I have seen apicture of Kurt Meyer wearing such a chrusher.

[BenVK]

I believe the later type skull would be more in keeping with the timeframe of this cap. They are difficult to find however and more pricey than the early type!

[BenVK]

Bob Wirtz said this about another yellow piped cap a while ago and I think it's something worth repeating.

"In general, the regulations allowing the officers and men of the Waffen-SS to wear their branch colors on their service caps was short term... 8 months in 1940 ending in November"

"This cap: Is this Cavalry/Motorized Reconnaissance? The SS Cavalry Division wasn't around in 1940 when these were authorized and Motorized Reconnaissance before April (effective June) 1942 was copper brown. So this cap would have had to have been made after mid-1942, at least 7 months after the regulation ordering the end of these caps. So, whenever one of these caps shows up, either on a forum or at a show, etc. I take a very skeptical approach to it... it's sort of like 'military justice' -- prove your innocence rather than the court proving your guilt. I'll believe they are bad until proven they are good... and then still be a bit skeptical about it."