Germany, Schutzpolizei. An EM/NCO’s Visor Cap, by Carl Isken

(Schirmmütze für Männer der Schutzpolizei). A well-preserved Schutzpolizei EM/NCO’s visor cap, constructed of blue-grey wool. The cap features reinforced side walls, fully lined on the exterior with a dark brown wool cap band. Light green piping trims both the top and bottom of the cap band, while an additional band of identical piping fully surrounds the crown. Each side of the crown has two ventilation holes, all reinforced with magnetic metal grommets. Pinned onto the peak of the cap is an insignia in the form of a non-ferrous metal tricolour cockade with a red wool centrepiece. The cockade measures 23 mm in total diameter. Pinned into the cap band underneath the cockade is a second insignia in the form of a silvered zink German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, in turn overlaying an oval oak leaf wreath. The cap band is also flanked by two pebbled aluminum buttons, securing in place a black leatherette chinstrap, itself adjusted with two functional magnetic metal buckles. When not in use, the chinstrap rests upon a protruding vulcanfibre visor, which is finished in a glossed black on the obverse and in a matte brown on the reverse. A brown leather sweatband measuring 45 mm in width lines the circumference of the interior, which is also encompassed by a brown oilcloth liner. Stitched onto the crown of the liner is a transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard. The guard bears the legible remnants of a maker’s mark reading “CARL ISKEN, KÖLN”, and is also stamped with a black ink size mark of “57 ½”. Notably, a reinforced oilcloth reinforcement is embroidered to the interior of the peak, maintaining the structural integrity of the crown. The cap measures approximately 242 mm (w) x 265 mm (l) x 165 mm (h). Issues consistent with age and field-use are evident, and include patches of material fatigue to the wool, loss of finish to the insignia, and consistent material fatigue to the interior features.