Is this an example of the peaked other ranks cap ?

[spandau]

Hi

Got this cap on one of those "take a gamble" militaria moments of madness.

Now I think its a good cap and a period piece (or depending on views at the end of the post I may not !) the question for me what is it ?




The colours are standard for the infantry with the cap band and piping red.

It has a nice shape of the "crushed" style. It appears to have had a chinstrap at some point as the marks on each side of the cap band show were buttons have come off.

lt also has nice a silk lining inside and leather sweatband indicating a nice private purchase cap. The peak is vulcan fibre but quite flexible with it. done some forensics on it and its not plastic.

The thing that makes it odd is the sizing. It has the sizings of an other ranks
field cap.

The cap band is 2.7cm and cap is 8.3cm high and the shape of the cap at the top of the crown is not in keeping with a service cap/officers cap.

This led me to the conclusion that it is a private purchase m1908 peaked field cap for the troops and was owned by a member of the medical corps / stretcher bearer or junior nco maybe ?

Please your : Comments, thoughts and opinions are welcome.

cheers

tony

[spandau]

some better pictures.....

[BobS]

The cockade is an officer's; for Prussia. It is missing the Reichskokarde above it. Same cap could be worn for senior nco's, but with enlisted cockades.

BobS

[oradour]

Tony....sorry for late reply, a lovely cap to be sure, and as a private purchase cap no doubt it could of been made to the buyers style prefrence ....possibly an NCO who later made it upto Officer grade, who knows what type and when the cockades were added. Some EM's caps did in fact have a peak attached at some time in their life, see attached photographs from Johan Sommers excellent book on Imperial uniforms and equipment Vol 1......notice that the lightweight and Alpenkorps hats are very similiar in colour (Khaki) and construction to the one you show.....
Prost ! Steve.

[Walkwolf]

Very nice cap, Tony. It is in excellent condition.........!

[spandau]

Steve (walkwolf), thanks for the comment on the cap.

Steve (oradour), thanks for the reply and pics.....these books are on order for my xmas present as we speak!......Looking at these pictures the hat I feel is coming down on the side of a private purchase field cap for an nco rather than a specialised units cap. I agree that the cap may just have been made to different specifications as requested by the purchaser. The cockades have been tampered with as there is a hole in the centre of the cap band for a cockade but the one it came with had two prongs to attach it to the cap band as the top photos show. Another militaria conundrum...................we will never know !

cheers

tony

[António Fragoeiro]

Beautiful cap, excellent condition indeed.
Cheers.
Nuno

[talltom]

a wonderful cap tony and in such brilliant condition it goes to show madness buys do sometimes bring back gold thanks for sharing

tom

[oradour]

Tony...The more I look at this cap and its construction/dimensions, the more I see an enlisted issue visored cap M1908, as you stated in your first post. It was as you state, normally worn by support troops, i.e., Sanitäter, Krankenträger, Train, Pionier, etc.......heres a Bavarian chap wearing one...Leib Regiment Alpenkorps.
Prost ! Steve.

[spandau]

Steve, great photo.

I can feel myself reaching for an eidelweiss and my sowing needle (only joking)......... if it turns out to be a M1908 then this is a real bonus but either way I,m a happy bunny with it.

The books arrived today as well....result.

cheers

tony