Papakha information request.

[meyerse]

I'd like to get your thoughts on this colonel's papakha.
Is the insignia the right one? What branch is it (army? Airforce?)
THe stamp seems to say Ministry of Light Industry, Fur Factory 5.
Very similar stamps have a 1960s date and I suspect that holds for this hat.
Your thoughts?

[EricFG]

Looks like an embriodered Navy officer's wreath with an aluminum Army enlisted added to it. Bear in mind I'm pretty weak on cap insignia.

But, if I still lived up North I would definitely own at least one of these for daily wear. Just too cool.

[Tretov]

I'd rather say it is an enlisted wreath with an officers service cocarde added on top... While the cap itself may be OK, the insignia would need an overhaul.

[meyerse]

Only the wreath is in question it seems. It is one of those metel two piece sets, so strange somebody would put them together? Is it the metal color which suggests they do not go together??

[meyerse]

Wait, isn't this an appropriate insignia for an airforce colonel?

[Al-muell]

It is insignia for airforce officer M69 everyday cap or for parade all-branch officer M58 cap.
I'd say it's original cap, the insignia may or may not be original to it (note that the wreath seems to be brass while the cockade - aluminium, brass was used for badges untill mid-60s).
The branch is unidentified - if post-69 (which I doubt if the badge is original to the cap) it's air force, otherwise it can be any branch of Ground Forces, Air Force, Air Defence, KGB or MVD.

[meyerse]

Originally Posted by Al-muell

It is insignia for airforce officer M69 everyday cap or for parade all-branch officer M58 cap.
I'd say it's original cap, the insignia may or may not be original to it (note that the wreath seems to be brass while the cockade - aluminium, brass was used for badges untill mid-60s).
The branch is unidentified - if post-69 (which I doubt if the badge is original to the cap) it's air force, otherwise it can be any branch of Ground Forces, Air Force, Air Defence, KGB or MVD.

The hat likely dates from the mid-60s itself (the stamp is incredibly close to dated stamps from the period, but this one simply doesn't have a date). So I suppose it is possible the cockade is original, closer inspection suggests both pieces are brass. Hat is definitely legit, just didn't know if the insignia was correct for the hat as most I see don't have the wreath. Thanks, I'm prepared to think they go together and support he date of the 1960s.

[Al-muell]

Well, the badge was for parade headwear in the 60's (and for everyday as well), and this was the badge for the parade caps (and everyday of the AF), so, even tough no picture of such combination is present in the regulations, it would be legitimate.