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

(Ordnungspolizei Einheitsfeldmütze 43). An extremely well-preserved Ordnungspolizei EM/NCO’s M43 field cap, constructed of police-style blue-grey wool twill. It is fully surrounded by fold-down side panels, scalloped at the front, which offer optional ear and neck protection for the wearer. When not in use, the panels are rolled up and secured in place with two brown bakelite buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a hexagonal blue-grey rayon base, overlaid by a tricolour cockade on top of an Ordnungspolizei insignia in the form of a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, overlaying an oval oak leaf wreath. The insignia measures 38 mm (w) x 50 mm (h). Completing the exterior features is a protruding cardboard-reinforced visor, fully lined with blue-grey wool. An olive-drab rayon liner encompasses the interior, with a black ink Reichsbetriebsnummer of “0/0496/0340” stamped onto the crown, indicating an unidentified maker, with a manufacture date of “1943”, and a size mark of “57”. It measures approximately 210 mm (w) x 250 mm (l) x 130 mm (h). Some material fatigue is evident to high-contact points on the wool, and is particularly noticeable to the obverse of the visor. The cap is in an overall near extremely fine condition.