EM M.43 cap for opinions

[Edelweiss]

Hi there,

Got this cap in the mail today, and be very pleased to get your opinions about it. I won't bother you with the cap itself as, as far as I can judge, it's an original one ; but feel free to comment it too, if you feel like.

What I'd like to know is the opinions from the specialists es SS stuff about the insignas ; both are machine-sewn, and I can see no trace of a former (SS or other) insigna on the front of the cap.

Thanks !

[Edelweiss]

The liner : classical material here. One point is the obvious difference of tone between the bottom (darker) and the side ; another is the place where the side flaps attach to the cap, at some distance from the end of the visor (red arrows). Feel free to comment both if there's a need to.

There's a maker's mark, but very faint then barely legible, even with the cap in hands ; and given the characteristics of the liner's fabric, it's quite impossible to make a good close-up of it to post it here.

The cap, but above all the insignas and their stichings were UV tested, nothing to report.

[Edelweiss]

The TK ; here taken in natural light.

[Edelweiss]

And here with flash.

[Edelweiss]

And the eagle ; if more specific views were needed, please let me know.

[Panzergrenadiere71]

Hi Chris,the skull is a good one,no doubt. The eagle looks good too .Do you feel both insigna are originally stitched to the cap?Thank you


Cheers
Emilio

[Edelweiss]

Ciao Emilio !

Yes, I feel so ; firstly because both insignas are very homogeneous with the cap, and secondly because I saw no evidence of the contrary. I mean for the TK of course, as about the eagle the absence of lining and of any kind of insigna there for caps other than SS make them quite easy to reapply. But both stitchings are very similar...

Anyway, some may have a different point of view, and several pairs of eyes are always better than one only. Here's a view of the stiching of the eagle on the reverse of the side flap.

[MartyC]

ss

Chris,

A very nice looking M43 hat. I know you already know what to look for in an original M43 so that obviously takes care of the cap itself. The insignia are good ones so the only question is when were they applied. They look right to me but judgeing by pictures is so tough with cloth. Is there any seperation in the interior or resewing near the front crown of the cap in the seams? Often times fakers cleverly undo the seam in order to machine sew the insignia. (I realize you already know this )

Bet this one cost a pretty penny , but it looks like a nice one to me!!

Marty

[Perry Floyd]

Chris I would blacklight around the insigna/liner. Its super for picking up any repairs or removed insigna that's often missed.

[B. N. Singer]

Any markings aside from the size?

B. N. Singer

[B. N. Singer]

There's a maker's mark, but very faint then barely legible, even with the cap in hands ; and given the characteristics of the liner's fabric, it's quite impossible to make a good close-up of it to post it here..

Sorry, didn't read your original post completely.

B. N. Singer

[Edelweiss]

Marty, you hit the nail on the head. At least the insignas are OK so far ? If so, it's a first good thing ; and about the rest, I can't fault any of the points you named, to the naked eye, the loupe or UV.

Here's a close-up of the TK seen sideways : the purpose is to give an idea of how flat it looks, and "blent" with the front of the cap itself : passing the thumb on it, you barely feel a step. Maybe not an important point, but I felt like notifying that anyway.

[Glenn McInnes]

Certainly looks to be an original cap. Something about the sewing of those insignias just don't look quite right to me,my gut feeling is saying post war sewn.

Only my opinion based on the pictures.


Glenn

[Edelweiss]

Herr Singer, here's the best I was able to do at the moment, at my great shame...
There's a maker's mark on the 1st line, the city below, and then "1944" ; if someone was able to tell me the maker with the pic provided, bet he would deserve the LW observer's badge mit Brillanten.

[Robert H]

I see a cap that I really like !