Germany, Heer. An Officer’s M43 Field Cap

(Heer Einheitsfeldmütze M43 für Offizier). An extremely well-preserved Heer Officer’s M43 field cap, constructed of field-grey wool. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side panels, scalloped at the front, providing optional ear and neck protection to the wearer. When not in use, the panels are rolled up and secured in place at the front with two pebbled and grey-painted zink buttons emanating from the right flap and meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. The crown is trimmed along the outer edge with a band of silver aluminum wire piping. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a field-grey rayon trapezoid bearing a machine-embroidered tricolour cockade topped by a silver-grey Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The peak insignia measures 60 mm (w) x 46 mm (h) overall. Completing the exterior features is a protruding visor with a card stock core, fully lined in identical wool. The interior features a partial brown leather sweatband set across the forehead, and is fully encompassed by a multi-piece grey rayon liner. Stamped onto the crown is a black ink size mark of “57”. Otherwise unmarked, the cap measures approximately 200 mm (w) x 250 mm (l) x 130 mm (h). Minor issues consistent with age and field use are evidence, and include some distortion of the visor core (with no cracking), fatigue of the sweatband, and moderate soiling of the liner which has extended to the underside of the visor. The cap is in an overall extremely fine condition.