SS Unterscharführer Infantry

[malborghetto]

Hello,
Need some Help on these boards. Seems to be copy for me. Very thin and poor in construction. Obviously the original green fabric was dyed black. Done pre 45 or total copy?

Regards, Christian

[malborghetto]

More pics...

[malborghetto]

last ones...

[NickG]

Could be salty private purchase (tailor) slip ons.. Tinting from green to black is unusual but was done.
It did not bleed through the tresse material so dyed and tresse applied afterwards? Tresse does appear to be an original application!

[rbno]

I am intrigued by these straps. I think they are original, but they are quite unusual. (OK, they’re downright weird!)

I don’t think I have ever seen a shoulder strap where the basic color of the strap was changed. I have seen numerous straps and army officer collar tabs where paint was used to re-color the piping (or litzen). So I guess I could accept re-dyed shoulder straps.

On the other hand, the shape of the tongues leads me to believe these straps were originally made as SS straps. If that is indeed the case, it would make sense for the green wool to have been dyed black before the straps were made. This would account for the lack of black in the tresse and the thread holding it in place. Notice that the bobbin thread on the undersides is black which is what one would expect.

The other strange aspect of these straps is the use of black cotton for the bottoms of the straps in lieu of wool. I could only guess why this was done. Both bottoms have the same type of seam joining the 2 pieces of scrap cloth together. To me, this indicates the sewing was probably done before the two bottoms were cut out and that they are original to the straps.

These were made by someone with a high degree of skill. The basic construction methods, button holes, tresse application, etc are all within what I would consider acceptable standards. The piping is of the basket weave style rather than the normal piping, but that too is acceptable.

The bottom line is I suspect these were made by someone suffering from mid to late war material shortages, and they used what they had.

Alen Davidson

[istra63]

I can only agree with NickG and Alen.
Maybe made by a tailor outside the parameters of
receiving the standard materials to make Shoulder straps
that we are accustomed to.

[malborghetto]

Great! Many thanks for your positive and very helpful opinions on these pieces. I was looking for an authentic pair for a long time. Now I can finally add the missing straps to my ss coat.

Regards, Christian

[galizien41]

I have two pairs made like this. Bottle green tops with basketweave type piping, and thin "SS" style tongues. I think tailor made or small firm made them. Mine are Heer for sure.

[Ludwig]

IMO original.

[malborghetto]

Fit very well with the coat.

Regards, Christian