Theodor

Thanks Kev! If/when I find a crown for it, I promise a good photo of the finished thing :cheeky:

The chipped enamel was ruining a bit my viewing pleasure, so using some harmless child's oil based paints, which can be easily removed at any time, this is the result:

And suddenly & finally came my chance to get one!!!! :jumping: :jumping: A bit less quality, but still it is the Holly First Pattern!!!!!!! I'll try to find a crown, then it will look much better!

Sorry, can't say more for now! Will try to find out more. Will write, if find some information.

While in the Balkan wars and the WW1 you could see all kinds of private purchases, at later times it was not like this! Officers wore clothing according to the army regulations. The only thing they could do, was order uniforms made of better quality materials, better taylors. But were not allowed to change the pattern and appearance. Only during the war against Germany /late 1944-45/ were seen again non-regulation uniforms /mainly field made short jackets/, but this coat does not look like the 1944-45 things. Can not tell you for sure. The buttons, this type was used not for long at some time after 1930 and before 1936. Really, can not tell you more about this coat, just that it is very unusual /which usually means Wrong/. It can be even a real 1930's officer coat, later modified for civil use /boards removed, fur collar added/. How is the fur collar attached, does it seem later added? Can you show me a picture of the reverse of the collar? And what about the back side of the coat - do you have a picture? Is there a small short belt with two buttons on the back side? And finally, what about the lining, what material is used? It will ve very good, if you can show me pictures of the reverse of the collar, the back side of the coat and the lining. As for the holster, the Hungarians used that design, too. But as mentioned, I think it has good chances to be Bulgarian. The photo you have found on the web - I think it is WW1 or earlier. As for the boards, I like those. Not sure for the period, could be WW1, or right after or a little before, in these times there were lots of changes, mainly in the size.

Here are some commanding officers from the unit. Some with the M43 style cap /M43 is only the style, in fact it was introduced earlier!/ and the tank officers are with the German style black wraps.

Although the buttons are 1930's /mid 1930's/ Bulgarian military, the coat does not look Bulgarian to me. The holster - could be. Are there two pouches for mag under the flap?

frh. v. Berchem

P. Winter

H. Els?sser

J. Loeser

E. Els?sser

H. Niggl

General-major S. Fabarius

E. Ruff

S. Saffer

Schlegel

O. Bachlehner

Seem?ller

Th. Hacker

K. Meisel

J. Brunner

E. Frauenholz

R. Farnhamer

R. Holzapfl