Germany, SS. A Waffen-SS EM/NCO’s Dachau-Style M43 Field Cap

(Waffen-SS Einheitsfeldmütze M43 für Mannschaften). A well-preserved Waffen-SS EM/NCO’s M43 field cap, constructed of coarse field-grey wool. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side panels, scalloped toward the front, which provide optional ear and neck protection to the wearer. When not in use, the panels roll up and secure in place at the front with two grey bakelite buttons which emanate from the right side and meet an equal number of reinforced buttonholes set into the left panel. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a field-grey wool trapezoid bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Totenkopf, topped by an SS-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The peak insignia measures 65 mm (w) x 50 mm (h) and is fixed in place with factory-original zig-zag stitching. Completing the exterior features is a protruding visor with a card stock core lined on the top with identical wool, with the reverse exposed in classic Dachau style. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece, field-grey, rayon-blended liner executed in a herringbone twill (HBT) pattern. Stamped onto the crown is a size mark of “57”. Otherwise unmarked, the cap measures approximately 22.5 cm (w) x 25 cm (l) x 14 cm (h) overall. Demonstrating only minor signs of wear and material fatigue, this late-war example remains in a near extremely fine condition.