Germany, Heer. An EM/NCO’s M43 Field Cap

(Heer Einheitsfeldmütze M43). An extremely well-preserved Heer EM/NCO’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 magnetic metal buttons emanating from the right flap and meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a field-grey rayon trapezoid bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, set just above a tricolour cockade. The eagle insignia measures 55 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. Completing the exterior features is a protruding cardboard-reinforced visor, lined in identical field-grey wool. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece grey cotton/rayon-blended liner. Stamped onto the crown in black ink is a manufacture date of “1944”, a Reichsbetriebsnummer (RBNr.) of “0/0471/0050” for an unidentified manufacturer, and a size mark of “57”. It measures approximately 220 mm (w) x 255 mm (l) x 135 mm (h). There is a small patch of mothing visible to the side panel at the rear of the cap, in addition to a small hole on the left side of the interior liner. It is in an overall extremely fine condition.