Heer SS Crusher Cap

[FrontlineAntiques]

Morning chaps

A little story first, then some photos

Back in 1989, my uncle purchased a derelict cottage and buildings in Kircolm, near Stranraer Dunfries and Galloway in Scotland. My my dad, another uncle and myself promply journeyed up to Scotland to get started with turning this somewhat decrepit building in to an at least liveable house for my Uncle to live in while he was renovating it.

In an uptairs bedroom was an old chest of draws filled with unspeakable rubbish, in the middle of which was a huge rats nest Nice, eh?

Amongst the rubbish was this cap. It was filthy, chewed on by rats and stinking!

My uncle kept this cap until last week - where upon he gave it to me

Now - i really dont know if this is original or not. I have never held a german cap before, let alone an SS one.

So take a look at the photos below and let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

Dan

[FrontlineAntiques]

Any good?

[FrontlineAntiques]

other side

[FrontlineAntiques]

3

[FrontlineAntiques]

4

[FrontlineAntiques]

the badges....

[FrontlineAntiques]

front

[FrontlineAntiques]

So Gents - what are your thoughts?

[FrontlineAntiques]

Any ideas anyone?

[FrontlineAntiques]

Refresh :speechless:

[Gordon Williamson]

Refresh

Dan,

Not so much lack of interest, more that I don't think there are many SS collectors here on GMIC. However, I think from the point of view of any cap specialists, an interior view would be essential, both to show the lining and also with the sweatband folded back to show how the lining is stitched down around the edges.

[FrontlineAntiques]

Hi Gordon

Thanks for that

Photos below

Dan

[FrontlineAntiques]

liner 1

[FrontlineAntiques]

Liner 2

[Belaruski]

It's really hard to tell from these pictures. Use the close up feature on your camera, the little flower picture, and no flash. Really good pictures of the stitching on the inside etc. AS Mr. Williamson says fold out the sweatband to show the construction.

[FrontlineAntiques]

It's really hard to tell from these pictures. Use the close up feature on your camera, the little flower picture, and no flash. Really good pictures of the stitching on the inside etc. AS Mr. Williamson says fold out the sweatband to show the construction.

I will have another go with photos tomorrow. My zoom lens isnt too great on the macro setting.

Thanks for your interest

Dan

[FrontlineAntiques]

Stitching photos - apologies for the wait!

[FrontlineAntiques]

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[FrontlineAntiques]

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[FrontlineAntiques]

Hope this helps us to get an ID

Thanks for your help

Dan

[Garth Thompson]

While I'm certainly not an "expert" on TR head gear I did collect for quite awhile. I'm put off by this cap for three observations:

1) The sweatband is that grey material generally associated with post WW2 West German caps

2) There is no shield in the crown of the cap, nor any trace of one except for the stitching marks which may mean the whole shield was removed to conceal an incorrect manufacturing mark or wrong materials for the TR period.

3) The white piping appears "fuzzy" in the picture. This would be incorrect for a period cap.

Hope this helps a bit,

Garth

[FrontlineAntiques]

Hi Garth, thaks for your post

The cap did have a sheild inside when it was found, but the stitching was completely rotted through. Having looked everywhere we cant find it. It looked the part and we remember it had a Berlin makers details on it - Possibly Errols (guessing, but sure it began with an "E")??

The piping isnt fuzzy - i think it is a combination of the effects of a hard life and my poor photography

The lining I have no idea about and have no frame of reference for as i have never seen an SS cap or post WW2 West German caps in the flesh before. However, it isnt really grey in colour - more a sage green. Again my poor photography. You would think that such a good camera would help!

I hav photos of the badges off the cap if anyone thinks they may help?

Edited November 7, 2010 by FrontlineAntiques

[Chris Boonzaier]

While I'm certainly not an "expert" on TR head gear I did collect for quite awhile. I'm put off by this cap for three observations:

1) The sweatband is that grey material generally associated with post WW2 West German caps

2) There is no shield in the crown of the cap, nor any trace of one except for the stitching marks which may mean the whole shield was removed to conceal an incorrect manufacturing mark or wrong materials for the TR period.

3) The white piping appears "fuzzy" in the picture. This would be incorrect for a period cap.

Hope this helps a bit,

Garth

I have not touched WW2 headgear in years no but Garth sums up my thoughts in his post.... were thick grey liners like that used wartime? It seems like a Bundeswehr liner to me somehow.

[Harrier]

Grey sweatbands were in fact used during the war. The part I personally don't like about the sweatband here is the thin attachment strip along the edge, which looks like vinyl (at least in these photos).

Edited November 7, 2010 by Harrier