Germany, SS. A Late-War Waffen-SS EM/NCO’s M43 Field Cap

(Waffen-SS Einheitsfeldmütze M43 für Mannschaften). An extremely well-preserved, late-war Waffen-SS EM.NCO’s 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 which emanate from the right panel and meet an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left panel. Secured to the peak with factory-original zig-zag stitching is an insignia consisting of a field-grey wool trapezoidal backer, bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Totenkopf, in turn topped by an SS-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika of identical construction. The rudimentary details of the embroidery of both the eagle and Totenkopf indicate late-war, Dachau-style construction. The peak insignia measures 66 mm (w) x 48 mm (h) overall. Completing the exterior features is a protruding card stock-reinforced visor, fully lined in identical wool. A multi-piece, field-grey rayon liner fully encompasses the interior, and is plain with the exception of a size mark of “57” stamped onto the crown in black ink. The cap measures approximately 21.5 cm (w) x 27 cm (l) x 13.5 cm (h). Moderate soiling consistent with field wear is visible to the interior liner, and some bending is evident to the visor core but with no consequent cracking. The cap is in an overall near extremely fine condition.