strange officer cap - transition pre-55?

Al-muell · 04-03-2007, 12:40 PM

I coulden't help it and simply had to buy this cap...
It seems to be authentic piece, but the condition is near perfect.
What can it be? extended service KGB m-55 or something earlier? Was there any transitional uniform for GB between 1945 and 1955? I have also found some strange GB insignia before which seem to be something between 1945 and 1955 style...
Anyway, here are the pics of the cap:

Lapa · 04-03-2007, 02:10 PM

Al-muell,

That is not a GB blue, but more of an airforce one.
It looks like an M55 parade cap with a changed visor and no leaves behind the cocarde, but somehow I have a fairly negative feeling. It could be a fake/repro (yes, they DO fake M55 officer's cap, I have seen them here).

Marc

DougD · 04-03-2007, 04:41 PM

Agreed, I do not like it at all; not even sure its soviet! color is wrong, material looks wrong; the badge is the only part that looks right.

DD

Jeffrey Meffert · 04-03-2007, 05:23 PM

How about a look inside the cap? That might clear things up...or confuse it further.

Al-muell · 04-04-2007, 12:48 AM

The color IS GB blue (just like on later KGB caps) - it's just my camera.
The visor is original to it and it is too steep to be a good place to place metal leaves on it. Yet, the visor is original to this cap.
As for the inside - it has no stamp, sweatband looks good, but the liner is gray.
(will post a pic in a moment).
This cap is suspicious, but it has some traits that make me think it's original - definately ha been worn (but not too long), the band material looks just as it ussually looks after few years and the moths seem to have liked this cap - maybe there are just a few small holes, but there were moth eggs below the crown in the rear part.

Al-muell · 04-04-2007, 01:13 AM

I have aquired this insignia set (although this time it may be "special" troops, not GB) about 2 weeks befor this cap, from a different source.
The cuff tabs are definately not m43/45, especially that the boards are of a later style (non-detachable). This are not M55 either (as no cuff tabs were allowed) and from what I know only AF and armor had new uniform in 1949. And at the same time - in this case I am (not like about the cap) 100% sure these are not a fantasy pieces...

Lapa · 04-04-2007, 11:44 AM

Al-muell,

The cuff spools are definitely M45 type, except that they are the metal stamped version and not the embroidered ones.

Marc

Al-muell · 04-04-2007, 12:02 PM

Unless I am mistaken m45 had no piping - they could have a padding from the cloth in uniform's color, but not in branch colour.
In addition - if they are a set with the shoulderboards (and they ARE) They cannot be m45, because this style of shoulderboarsd was not used before 1955 (with minor exceptions ,maybe). Also if m45 they would have to be cavalry - no other branch would have this colour scheme at that time. And this seems unlikely to me.

Jeffrey Meffert · 04-04-2007, 12:27 PM

But the Air Force M47/48, like its armor counterpart, I believe is doublebreasted with sewn down boards and cuff spools would still be appropriate during that time for a parade uniform.

Lapa · 04-04-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Meffert

But the Air Force M47/48, like its armor counterpart, I believe is doublebreasted with sewn down boards and cuff spools would still be appropriate during that time for a parade uniform.

Jeffrey,

You are right about that.

Marc

04-03-2007, 04:41 PM	#3
DougD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NJ Age: 50 Posts: 2,060	cap Agreed, I do not like it at all; not even sure its soviet! color is wrong, material looks wrong; the badge is the only part that looks right. DD

04-03-2007, 05:23 PM	#4
Jeffrey Meffert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA Age: 68 Posts: 640	Maybe How about a look inside the cap? That might clear things up...or confuse it further.

04-04-2007, 12:27 PM	#9
Jeffrey Meffert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA Age: 68 Posts: 640	Not completely sure without my books But the Air Force M47/48, like its armor counterpart, I believe is doublebreasted with sewn down boards and cuff spools would still be appropriate during that time for a parade uniform.

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04-03-2007, 02:10 PM	#2
Lapa Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Petersburg, Russia Age: 63 Posts: 2,397	Al-muell, That is not a GB blue, but more of an airforce one. It looks like an M55 parade cap with a changed visor and no leaves behind the cocarde, but somehow I have a fairly negative feeling. It could be a fake/repro (yes, they DO fake M55 officer's cap, I have seen them here). Marc

04-04-2007, 11:44 AM	#7
Lapa Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Petersburg, Russia Age: 63 Posts: 2,397	Al-muell, The cuff spools are definitely M45 type, except that they are the metal stamped version and not the embroidered ones. Marc

04-04-2007, 12:02 PM	#8
Al-muell Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wrocław, Poland Posts: 1,828	Unless I am mistaken m45 had no piping - they could have a padding from the cloth in uniform's color, but not in branch colour. In addition - if they are a set with the shoulderboards (and they ARE) They cannot be m45, because this style of shoulderboarsd was not used before 1955 (with minor exceptions ,maybe). Also if m45 they would have to be cavalry - no other branch would have this colour scheme at that time. And this seems unlikely to me.

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