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

(Ordnungspolizei Einheitsfeldmütze M43). An extremely well-preserved Ordnungspolizei EM/NCO’s M43 field cap, constructed of police-green 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 by two pebbled magnetic metal buttons emanating from the right flap and meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. Stitched onto the peak of the cap is an insignia consisting of an elongated hexagonal police-green rayon backer, in turn bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Ordnungspolizei insignia topped by a tricolour cockade. The peak insignia measures 36 mm (w) x 56 mm (h) overall. Completing the exterior features is a protruding cardboard-reinforced visor lined in identical wool. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece field-grey cotton liner. Stamped onto the crown is a mark of “BAYER. MÜTZEN PAT. MÜNCHEN” indicating manufacture by a firm within a Munich-based cloth goods guild, a Reichsbetriebsnummer (RBNr.) of “0/0850/0387” for the same unidentified maker, a manufacture date of “M/44”, and a size mark of “57”. The cap measures approximately 210 mm (w) x 250 mm (l) x 125 mm (h). Some material fatigue is evident to the obverse of the right side of the visor, including a possible small patch of mothing, but the cap is in an overall extremely fine condition.