Waffen-SS EM/NCO M43 Field Cap

[nsf39k]

Hi gents, I found this good-looking SS M43 EM field cap from a highly reputable dealer online.

I'm wondering if it's authentic, and if it would be an accurate field cap for display with a open-collar grey SS/SD service tunic.

[ErWeSa]

See here: SS M43 Field cap

[nsf39k]

See here: SS M43 Field cap

Wow - that one's been up there for awhile. Thanks for pointing me to that thread.

[Aldo]

I'm curious what's the significance of the other thread other than it's the same cap. I've always accepted these greenish / grey gaberdine waffen SS caps as authentic. Am I missing something? I see them often on websites and was eventually planning on buying one so I'd like to know if this type has somehow been debunked. Thanks

[ErWeSa]

I'm curious what's the significance of the other thread other than it's the same cap. I've always accepted these greenish / grey gaberdine waffen SS caps as authentic. Am I missing something? I see them often on websites and was eventually planning on buying one so I'd like to know if this type has somehow been debunked. Thanks

Hi Al,
as I'm no specialist for M43s and I knew I had already seen this cap I provided the link as everything is said there I think. Seems to be a good one (don't know what the last poster from the other thread means by saying "not one for me").

[GlennAgain]

...

[Vocht]

I would like to add this one. I like it. Not sure why the previous thread last poster did not like it..

[JPhilip]

(don't know what the last poster from the other thread means by saying "not one for me").

Hello,
Perhaps the last poster from the other thread knows something you don't.
In the early 2000s, maybe until 2006 or 2007, there has been a production of almost perfect Einheitsfeldmützen, mostly WSS as they're more expensive than Heer ones on the market. They were made of italian gabardine and the lining was the italian grey chevroned rayon. All of them had a Feldgrau WSS trapezoid. I never met anyone able to say if they were made of original cloth or postwar made cloth. I had the opportunity to handle one of these "M43s" and was astonished about the quality at first glance, however as i own an original Einheitsfeldmütze in italian gabardine found on the head of a german peasant in the 80s while he was working on his tractor, i also had the opportunity to compare both headgears side by side. I kept mine and threw the other one away...
The only thing i would say is : If i was interested to buy one of these caps, i would feel way more comfortable if the Einheitsfeldmütze had the stitchings around the crown that indicates the presence of an internal sweatband/stiffener, like the one i own. Personally if i can't find the 16 specific features that i'm looking for when it comes to regulation Einheitsfeldmützen, i send it back/put it back on the table at the fair.
Thanks

[ErWeSa]

Bonsoir JPhilip,
C'est pourquoi je m'abstiens de commenter ce genre de casquette (for the non-French-speakers: that's why I do not comment on this kind of caps). This seems to be one of the many minefields in collecting German caps.

[JPhilip]

Bonsoir JPhilip,
C'est pourquoi je m'abstiens de commenter ce genre de casquette (for the non-French-speakers: that's why I do not comment on this kind of caps). This seems to be one of the many minefields in collecting German caps.

Hello again,
merci d'utiliser la langue de Molière, c'est une attention très sympathique à mon égard (thank you for using Molière's language, it is a very nice attention to me). It is better to learn then to abstain, i've seen many of your posts on Schirmmützen, you comment perhaps because you do have some knowledge in this matter. The same can be achieved for other matters (i'm sure)...

Don't get me wrong gentlemen, i'm not saying that the example shown in this thread is a fake for sure. I can't guarantee that ALL caps made of italian gabardine were made according to the FULL official specifications. For me, these specifications constitute the base of everything, but were they followed by all makers?, i can't say, surely not. That's why i stick to a high level of specifications, the more the better. I do own four Einheitsfeldmützen, of which three are from the Heer, they're all different but they're all the same. They have different looks, are made of different cloths, with different linings, have different insignia, but they're all made the same way, with the same stitchings where they're supposed to be, the same internal "sweatband" that you can feel with your finger thru the lining and the same "hidden" features that usually help to make the difference between the good stuff and the crap.

My italian gabardine example is constructed the same way than my example made of Feldgrau woolen cloth. The one shown in this thread was apparently produced with less specifications. I also can't say if WSS caps made of italian gabardine were constructed differently than Heer caps made with the same cloth. If it was a Heer example, i would not buy it if it was offered to me, but anyone can think differently of course, i never forget that my first M43 cap was a fake, i was young and still full of hope...but in this matter knowledge is better than hope.
Thanks