C001857 ESTONIAN SERVICE TUNIC. A khaki/brown-colored wool tunic with a single-breasted, five button front closure leading to a stand-up collar with dual hooks and eyes at the throat. There is a pleated patch pocket with a button-down, scalloped pocket flap to each breast, and horizontal slash pockets with similar flaps are to each hip. The integral shoulder straps are buttoned near the neck. The false French cuffs sweep upwards near their outside seams, where two decorative buttons are positioned. A tail skirt vent rises 11" from base of the reverse. The 7/8" diameter buttons to the front closure, and the 1/2" diameter ones to the shoulder straps, pockets, and cuffs, are all of gilt-washed metal, with three lions passant embossed to their convex obverses. All but one of these buttons have unmarked, solid metal backings to them, with the exception, being one to the front closure, having no backing but featuring what appears to be the manufacturer’s name, "H. Kiiver," and location, "Taliinn" (the capital of Estonia), embossed to its concave reverse. Pinned to either side of the collar is the gilt-washed alloy number "7" (which most likely indicated the regiment of the wearer), beyond each of which are vertical chevrons, in dark blue bordered in dark green, both which have buttons, identical to the 1/2" diameter ones, to their centers. To each shoulder strap are sewn, in dulled, gilt-colored thread, four chevrons, with an alloy device pinned to their bases, in what appears to be dulled brass, in the form of a six-pointed starburst with a shield to its center, within which are which are the three lions previously seen on the buttons. The consigner reports that the shoulder strap insignia on this pre-war uniform represent the rank of an Infantry Master Sergeant. The interior is fully lined in olive drab rayon, with the sleeves lined in white rayon with dark pinstripes. A horizontal slash pocket is to the interior left breast, beneath which is a horizontal tab with a hook to its end, which mates with an eye sewn along the edge of the right front panel. The lining does not appear to have any tears or repairs to it, however, the interior of its stand-up collar has several areas of wear to it, some of which have been repaired. Two small holes may be seen to the reverse of the exterior of the collar, and a larger hole is beneath it to the upper back. A smaller wear hole is evident behind the right hip pocket, and there is a moth nip above the right breast pocket, and along the seam line of the lower right sleeve. Typical, light nap wear is evident throughout. Approximately a size 36. An extremely rare uniform, this style was apparently used from the late 1920s until 1936, underwent conversions during the Soviet occupation from 1940-1941, and were re-used in 1944 at anti-Soviet mobilization stations.

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