WSS Crusher Old Style

[Vet44]

yes , the sweatband is leather . what do you mean with bottom ? .
i think you mean Knopf ? ..

[NTZ]

All I have to say is Vet’s cap certainly looks like the work of Paul Kaps to me. I am digging it.

[Vet44]

other side .
to the condition around the cap.i think the cap was never worn..

[sgstandard]

Cap

I don't know Bob Hritz personally, but I feel his expertise places him among the elite in this field. Insect larvae damage is something I didn't think of, and could certainly explain the odd wear. His explanation and apparent liking of the cap, along with the additional photos, force me to reconsider my doubts. The additional photos almost make it look like a different cap.

[sgstandard]

Kaps

FOOTNOTE: The assertion that any critical remarks are the result of JEALOUSY is an assumption you make with no foundation. This is a product of YOUR thought process, not mine. The person posting an item for scrutiny wants an honest assessment, not a cursory "Awesome cap!!" assessment. If I take exception, it's because your claim insinuates that I posted a dishonest response. If there is jealousy on YOUR part, save up and make the guy an offer.

[ReichsHeini]

I have been lurking on here reading this thread and still have no idea what anyone see wrong with this cap.
This one sure has all the right earmarks to be a real PK. It sure does not appear to be re-banded. I think it is a nice find but would want it in my hand to examine it for certainty

[BenVK]

what if Dave Delich, or Peter Whamond or someone else with significant knowledge was in the same positon with a low post count - what you kick them in the balls as well???

Yes I would kick them in the balls Tony if they came on here and posted rubbish comments that have no value like Ludwig did.
I don't give a flying **** for reputations, egos or anything else. You either know what your talking about or you don't.

My first comments about this cap weren't positive but the more I see, the more I like it which is why I've offered to inspect it first hand. It would be an awful shame to see this cap get slammed purely because it's potentialy a very, very rare cap and therefore in a lot of people's eyes, too good to be true.

All the comments about the angle of the peak are valid observations but have no bearing on authenticity IMO.

If it were, then I guess this other Paul Kaps would be deemed a fake as well would it?

[sgstandard]

Cap

Look carefully at the pic just posted. Notice how the bottom of the cap tilts UPWARD from the visor to the back. The bottom piping changes direction. This is from years of sitting. The cap that was posted does not exhibit this trait. Was the cap in question on a mannequin for over 60 years? Not saying this is proof, just a trait I like to see. Perhaps the cap was stored on it's side for most of it's life. No jealousy here, just an observation.

[phild]

I'm late to come in on this but you won't have missed much!

I agree that the steep angle of the peak is not the most often seen but it is found on period caps and in photos and I have no problem with it after doing a bit more research....which I should have done to begin with.

I agree with Bob H. completely that the lower damage is insect larvae...there are a LOT of critters that feed on wool other than just moths....some of these also eat leather, wood and paper as well.

As to lack of damage on the velvet...The velvet is made of cotton, at least as I have always understood it on these caps. I have seen nice condition original caps with very worn and damaged velvet due to the type of wear and storage it did not hold up in that specific situation...but the wool did. As with this cap the reverse can also be true...moths and insect attack the wool but don't touch the cotton velvet.

My feeling over the last few years is that a lot more original SS hats and tunics have been condemend as fakes or repros than there are repros and fakes slipping thru as originals with at least informed serious collectors....this was not the case say 20 years ago or even 10 years ago but as of late I have seen a lot good items slammed.

[phild]

Look carefully at the pic just posted. Notice how the bottom of the cap tilts UPWARD from the visor to the back. The bottom piping changes direction. This is from years of sitting. The cap that was posted does not exhibit this trait. Was the cap in question on a mannequin for over 60 years? Not saying this is proof, just a trait I like to see. Perhaps the cap was stored on it's side for most of it's life. No jealousy here, just an observation.

Sharp eye. I can tell you that I have visor caps that I have owned for over 30 years that have not spent one day since I owned them upright. I store every visor hat upside down resting on it's crown...just to prevent the condition that you pointed out...not to metion preventing the visor from weakening.

[sgstandard]

Cap

PHILD - Just to test my theory - How many visors do you have, and how many of them exhibit this characteristic? (Where the bottom piping changes direction from the cap sitting). Thanks.

[NTZ]

When you know the maker of an SS cap it gives you a huge advantage. You now can compare to undoubtedly authentic Heer caps. The construction traits of Paul Kaps are pretty specific. In Vet’s Arty I see everything I would want to see in a Kaps except the color of the sweatband and that surely is no big deal. Kaps liked to use a lot of gray sweatbands but that one certainly looks to be original to the cap.

[BenVK]

I really don't understand what you guys are worrying about? After nearly 70 years, some caps are bent inwards, outwards, sideways, flattened, etc etc. Unless it has been sat on a display head all that time, the real shape of the cap gets distorted, some a lot more than others.
Take this visor I restored a few years ago. I don't know how it was kept but you can see how much it had changed shape, popping nearly all the stitches holding on the peak in the process.
If you think about, a bent out of shape cap is a good sign. It shows that bad storage, climate or whatever has had an natural effect on the materials, and that takes time.

[sgstandard]

Caps

Good point, NTZ. By the time everyone chimes in on any particular item, you've got a pretty good idea of something's authenticity. The experts have changed my opinion on this cap from "questionable" to at least "more than likely OK". The experts on this forum are arguably the best in the world. Don't get angry with LUDWIG for voicing his opinion, though. Even if their assessment is dead wrong, everyone's voice should be heard. By the time it's all said and done, the truth will usually emerge.

[sgstandard]

Cap

BenVK - Please understand. I am not saying that if a cap doesn't have a bottom edge that tilts upward toward the rear, that it's not authentic. This is merely a characteristic that occurs when a cap has sat on a shelf for many years. MANY authentic caps have this appearance. It is an effect that is NEVER duplicated by the fakers, because it would very difficult. I am pointing it out merely as a good sign. The weight of a visor cap in minimal, so it would take a long time to occur. OF COURSE, if the cap was stored in a different position most of it's life, it may not occur at all.