Germany, Luftwaffe. A Visor Cap for Officer Ranks

(Luftwaffe Schirmmütze für Offiziere). A Luftwaffe visor cap for Officer ranks, constructed of blue-grey wool with a subtle whipcord weave. It features reinforced side walls which are fully lined on the exterior with a ribbed black mohair cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the band are trimmed with silver aluminum wire piping, while a length of identical piping surrounds the outer edge of the crown. The latter’s internal wire reinforcement has been removed to give the cap a popular but non-regulation “Sattelform” appearance. The lower edge of the band is flanked by pebbled aluminum studs with magnetic metal cores, retaining an original chinstrap constructed of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire, adjusted with dual sliding knots of identical construction. A protruding vulcanfibre visor completes the exterior features, and is finished in black on the obverse and in green on the reverse. A multi-piece grey rayon liner encompasses the interior, while a brown leather sweatband surrounds the walls. Unmarked, the cap measures approximately 24 cm (w) x 27.5 cm (l) x 16 cm (h). Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include the removal of both the eagle and cockade from the peak and cap band, respectively, leaving outlines visible within the base material, soiling of both the interior liner and sweatband, and the loss of the former’s moisture guard. This insignia-stripped example remains in a very fine condition.