Hey all, this is my first post on one of these forums so please forgive me if I fail to format things as neatly as some of you more experienced individuals. Attached are some close-up shots of an einheitsfeldmütze I acquired last spring via a local auction that was hosted online. I recently purchased a copy of Daniel Fisher and Oliver Lock's book on the Einheitsfeldmütze, and from the images I found in there, the construction of the cap itself seems to be period correct. There is a very faint (shows well under a blacklight) ink stamp in the center of the rayon lining, and here are some distinct sweat marks throughout it but mainly along the forehead section of the inside. What confuses me, however, is the late war embroidered pattern trapezoid insignia, which appears to be hand stitched (as seen in the attached images). Any and all input is welcome, I just want a second opinion on it before I decide if it is real or not. 

-Mason Lewis

 

1 hour ago, mwlew04 said:

Hey all, this is my first post on one of these forums so please forgive me if I fail to format things as neatly as some of you more experienced individuals. Attached are some close-up shots of an einheitsfeldmütze I acquired last spring via a local auction that was hosted online. I recently purchased a copy of Daniel Fisher and Oliver Lock's book on the Einheitsfeldmütze, and from the images I found in there, the construction of the cap itself seems to be period correct. There is a very faint (shows well under a blacklight) ink stamp in the center of the rayon lining, and here are some distinct sweat marks throughout it but mainly along the forehead section of the inside. What confuses me, however, is the late war embroidered pattern trapezoid insignia, which appears to be hand stitched (as seen in the attached images). Any and all input is welcome, I just want a second opinion on it before I decide if it is real or not. 

-Mason Lewis

 

 

Hi Mason.

 

I'm sure one of our expert members will be able to give an opinion but I just wanted to welcome you to the forum.

 

regards

 

Gunner

Thanks Gunner,

 

I'm sure someone will help soon, I look forward to being more involved in this community.

 

Cheers,

 

Mason

Welcome aboard Mason.  

 

Does anything react (glow) under your black light?  Personally I do not like the fact that the trap insignia is hand sewn.  It should be machine stitched under the rayon lining, so that is a red flag for me.  A worn or removed maker marking is a second red flag for me.  Three strikes and you are out for me I am afraid.

 

 

The only thing that glows is the tricolor on the insignia, and it does not glow in the same manner as a modern white embroidery I compared it to. As for maker mark, what about the removal/worn away nature of it makes it a red flag? I thought that would hint at authenticity/field usage. Thanks for the input!

Thanks for the response.  Very often incorrect or postwar markings are artificially obscured so that does not in itself make the cap a reproduction or fake or real.  Take it to mean it is just another anomaly to be considered.  I use the three strike baseball rule for things that are out of the ordinary and have to be explained.  One strike is the insignia is hand sewn on rather than machine stitched during production.  This requires explaining so another strike but that does not make it out.  Second strike is the obscure maker marking.  

 

I hope you understand my reasoning.

 

I would not buy this cap but that is just me and how comfortable I am with it.  Real, repro, or fake must be determined by how comfortable the buyer is with the item.

 

 

Sarge has some good advice, in addition I always keep in mind, if I have to sell this how easy or hard will it be.

 

Im not an expert on M43s but I have owned a few since about 1970 when I found my first one.

 

The one you posted is most likely a copy, first is the sloppy job of the seam filler behind the buttons to the scallop and secondly usually the filler is the same material as the tie loop but yours isn’t.

 

I don’t see where the maker name is?

 

 

 

 

Hey all,

Thank you both for the replies. I feel like I am learning a lot already! Sarge, I definitely understand what you mean now that you explained it more in detail. The more I learn about collecting easy to replicate (or more so, hard to authenticate) militaria such as these caps, the more I realize that it often comes down to scanning for red flags (or strikes) as you pointed out. Although this item may have been a loss, or at least one as far as I can now see, hopefully what I learned will save me the same fate in the future. However, maybe I will stray away from these caps altogether, as they seem to be very high risk. Preppy I also see what you pointed out with the seam filler and where it doesn't match the material used on the loops. I'll lookout for that next time. As for the maker stamp, it is very faint, especially to the naked eye. I could only really see it if I shined a flashlight over it.