What is this for kinda cap ?

[Ser-g]

Heck, There were many uniformed services in the SU and probably even more in early 90's.
However, red colour was ussualy reserved only for the military and militia. My guess:

1.Wrongly made or prototype Suvorov cadet
2.Prototype militia that was never issued. Mind You, GAI wore black leather coats and jackets on some ocasions.
3.Special purpose militia of some sort from early 90's

Hi al-muell,

what is a GAI ?

all these options sound possible to me, i cant rule any of them out based on my knowledge alone.

one question on (1) how common was it to wrongly make a cap.
if we see a production year , would there be just one or two?

kind regards serge

[Al-muell]

GAI - Gosudarstviennaya Avtomobilnaya Inspekcija (unless I'm mistaken) - State Automobile Inspection, simply put- road police. Currently DPS (Dorozhno-Patrolnaya Slużba, Road Patrol Service), altough lately I have heard that the name "GAI" is still used in east Russia.

I don't know how common wrongly made caps would be, since they would ussualy be rejected and eventually land in factory warehouse or a trashcan. However, judging on the number of wrongly made KZS coveralls I would guess it could happen quite often. Also, if they lacked white felt (esp. in 90's) it's likely they would use red one instead.
I know of one example of navy cap that probably accidently made it's way to one Suvorov school where it was equipped with red band (from outside, actually not even sewn to original one)


As for the numbers - if it was a mistake - the "customer" would probably notice it when receiving a new portion - then they could heve had been doing them for a whole month. But as well can be just a few.


If lack of felt was a problem - who knows?

[Ser-g]

so if we consider is a mishap.

it could be anything ?
i have never seen an other mishap before.

are there any drawings of prototype uniforms from the end op empire ?
cause i still like the thought of that.

[Commissar]

Well you could always assume it is?
After all at the present nobody really knows...mystery hat.

[Al-muell]

are there any drawings of prototype uniforms from the end op empire ?
cause i still like the thought of that.

Definately there are. As a person who worked for state archives in ex-WP country for some time, I can assure you that all design projects (even rejected) are kept as "A" category files (which means thet they are to be stored untill the end of the world and a week longer).
The only problem may be gaining access to them - unless the are "secret" for some reason You would need an official sponsourship from a scientific institution and some money.

[Ser-g]

Well you could always assume it is?
After all at the present nobody really knows...mystery hat.

commissar , i do not like the sound of mystery hat.:thumbsdown
i always like to know what the hat if for.:idea
i really hope some one can come up with a plausible explaination.

Definately there are. As a person who worked for state archives in ex-WP country for some time, I can assure you that all design projects (even rejected) are kept as "A" category files (which means thet they are to be stored untill the end of the world and a week longer).
The only problem may be gaining access to them - unless the are "secret" for some reason You would need an official sponsourship from a scientific institution and some money.

al-muell , Wow thats even harder than getting the dutch queen for coffee.
I'm not plaining on doing that, to bad.

as for now i will consider it most possible an production fault or prototype.:confused:
still any thought is welcome.:thumbsup

[Ser-g]

i have discovered some thing weird.

the cap is constructed out of white plastic under need the fabric instate of cardboard.

the buttons are dated 89.

i my self have never handled or seen a cap made out of plastic.
its just weird.

the colors of the cap are not the same as known soviet bright red and black.
the black looks faded and the red looks a very slight bit darker. (not maroon ! more in between)

[Ser-g]

hi all ,,

I wanned to bring up this thread, its been more than a year.
And still i have no certain clue to what it is.

Every time i look at the cap i get a restless feeling.
And every time anybody askes what it is for , i have to say i don't know.

Please help everybody.

The construction of the cap like said before is weird.
Instate of the normal cardboard construction it is of white plastic.
It is more heavy and durable but i think more expensive and difficult way of making a cap.
This should be a clue i guess.

the only think left on the diamond is some thing that looks like (l).

[Commissar]

Perhaps an officer had it tailor made to his own specifications?
I've heard of that happening before, as long as it keeps within regulations.
And of course it could always be from a public service branch?
Perhaps a post man? I have no clue but I have a feeling it could be public service of some sort, then again the SU was a vast empire, culturally and geographically, maybe in different parts of the empire some regulations were not followed? I doubt it but maybe.

[Ser-g]

Lets bring this threat up one more time.

Its been 4 years, and still with out a designation.

I have looked many times to the cap in and out side.
There is noting more to find than the already stated.

I have long time thought it would be of significance the writing inside.
It looks like there is a K.M.Z (or such) and 3/3 .
That makes me think what is the lettering a short for and this cap is 3 of 3 ?

I have seen one other for sale.
So it cant be a mishap or such.