Germany, Heer. An Infantry EM/NCO’s Visor Cap, Unit-Attributed Example

(Heer Schirmmütze für Mannschaften der Infanterie). A well-preserved Heer Infantry EM/NCO’s visor cap, constructed of field-grey wool with a pronounced whipcord weave. It features reinforced side walls which are fully lined on the exterior with a dark green wool cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the band are trimmed with white wool piping, while an additional length of identical piping surrounds the outer edge of the crown. Pinned onto the peak is a silvered zink alloy insignia consisting of a Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 65 mm (w) x 25 mm (h) and retaining all attachment prongs. Directly below the eagle, the centre of the cap band features a two-piece aluminum insignia consisting of a tri-colour cockade situated within an oak leaf wreath, measuring 64 mm (w) x 40 mm (h) overall. The lower edge of the cap band is flanked on each side by blackened magnetic metal studs which accommodate a black leatherette chinstrap, itself adjusted with two blackened magnetic metal buckles. A protruding vulcanfibre visor completes the exterior features, and is finished in black on the obverse and brown on the reverse. The interior is fully encompassed by a brown rayon-blended cloth liner, which retains the remnants of a plastic moisture guard on the crown. A brown leather sweatband surrounds the cap band, and folds down to reveal a stamped leatherworker’s mark of “CARL NORDMANN, RUDOLSTADT”, with a partially-legible date stamp for the 1930s. Notably, the underside of the sweatband also bears a stamped unit dedication of “2./JR 65” for Infanterie-Regiment 65. The cap measures approximately 24 cm (w) x 26.5 cm (l) x 12.5 cm (h). Some issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some fatigue to the exterior wool, loosening of the chinstrap studs, soiling of the interior, and a period repair to the visor. This early example remains in a better than very fine condition.