Germany, Heer. A Feldgendarmerie EM/NCO’s Visor Cap, by Otto Schlientz

(Heer Schirmmütze für Mannschaften der Feldgendarmerie). An extremely well-preserved Heer Feldgendarmerie EM/NCO’s visor cap, constructed of field-grey wool with a subtle whipcord weave. The cap features reinforced side walls which are lined on the exterior with a dark green wool cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the band are trimmed with orange piping, while an additional length of identical piping surrounds the outer edge of the crown. Pinned onto the peak is an aluminum Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 65 mm (w) x 25 mm (h). Directly below the eagle, the centre of the cap band is pinned with an aluminum tri-colour cockade and wreath, measuring 65 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. The lower edge of the cap band is flanked by black magnetic metal studs which retain a multi-piece black leather chinstrap, itself adjusted with dual black magnetic metal buckles. A protruding vulcanfibre visor completes the exterior features, and is finished in black on the obverse and in brown on the reverse. The interior is encompassed by a multi-piece light brown rayon liner, while a wide brown leather sweatband surrounds the walls, and is perforated across the forehead with ventilation holes. The crown retains an intact transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard which bears a maker’s mark of “OTTO SCHLIENTZ, STRAUBING” and a size mark of “54”. An additional maker or distributor mark of “GUSTAV ENDRISS, SOPFINGEN” is stamped onto the reverse of the sweatband. The cap measures approximately 23 cm (w) x 26.5 cm (l) x 16 cm (h). Demonstrating only minor material fatigue, it remains in an extremely fine condition.