An RZM 1936 Allgemeine SS NCO's Visor Cap

This cap is in black gabardine wool with a traditional high peak, with matching white piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band on the sidewall. It is decorated with a well-detailed silvered bronze eagle insignia on the peak with its swastika in black, plus a first pattern silvered tombac SS skull on the band below on the front. Two-piece black leather chin strap rests upon the visor housing length adjustment buckles on either side, with a central loop below the skull, the straps slotted and wrapped around black-finished magnetic metal buttons on either side. Beside the button on the left side is an edelweiss in silvered and gilt tombac, with its swastika in black. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper. The underside of the visor is synthetic, crosshatched, finished in a deep tan and is stamped in black ink with the SS Runes surrounded by the letters "R Z M" (Reichszeugmeisterei) on the right side. The champagne-coloured leather sweatband is perforated along the front edge with five tiny rows of forty ventilation holes each, the ends of the sweatband sewn together in beige threading, the underside stamped in black ink with an indistinguishable mark at the rear. The sidewalls of the cap are lined in tan-coloured rayon, the dome lined in a rust-coloured synthetic moisture-resistant fabric and brandishing a diamond-shaped celluloid moisture shield, stamped on the lining in gold-coloured ink with a large SS Runes inside a circle. There is a manufacturer's label glued to the underside at the right rear, the label printed in black ink with a large RZM (Reichszeugmeisterei) on the right side, marked "TUCHMÜTZE für SS." (SS Cloth Cap), "Hersteller" (Manufacturer), the manufacturer's number stamp beside faded, inscribed "Gesetz vom 20.12. 1934 / Uniformteile müssen sichtbar das Schutzzeichen der RZM der NSDAP. Bekaantmachung vom 16. 1. 1935" (Law of 20.12. 1934 / Uniform parts must be visible with the protection mark of the RZM of the NSDAP. Order of 16 January 1935) above "Reichszeugmeisterei der NSDAP. Nr. A" and number stamped "226044", the cap measuring 230 mm x 260 mm x 140 mm in height overall. The cap exhibits scattered silvering wear on the SS skull and on the edelweiss, fine black paint chipping on the edelweiss' swastika, light crazing on the leather chin strap and vulcanfibre visor, the latter with nips along the edge, tiny indentations evident on the leather sweatband where the hardware holding the metal buttons in place on either side have poked through. However, the cap continues to exhibit smooth quality in the wool, plus quality workmanship, is very clean and free of staining and mothing, the moisture shield intact and maintaining its original period look. Extremely fine.