BACKGROUND: The Officer’s M38 overseas field cap was originally introduced on December 6TH 1938 as a replacement for the old pattern visored field cap that had been introduced in March 1934. The design of the Officer’s M38 overseas cap was based on the M34 overseas cap as worn by EM/NCO’s. Originally the M38 was only produced in field-grey until March 27TH 1940 when a black panzer version for Panzer officers was introduced. Company and Field grade Officer’s M38 overseas caps were piped with bright silver aluminum braid while Officer’s with Generals ranks utilized bright gilt braid piping.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, M38 pattern, field-grey wool/rayon blend construction cap features fold down side and back panels with scalloped slopes to the forward side panels. The crown edge and the forward scalloped side panels are both piped in bright, interwoven, silver/aluminum braiding. The cap has a field-grey, enamel painted, metal alloy, ventilation grommet to each side positioned just below the crown edge. The front center of the cap has a machine woven national eagle in bright silver/aluminum flat-wire threads on a cut-out, woven field-grey rayon base. The eagle is original hand stitching to the cap. Metal tri-color cockade (there is a small tear/cut to the wool below the cockade). The cockade is flanked by a green rayon waffenfarbe soutache. The soutache is applied in the proper manner being machine stitched in place and inserted through small puncture holes at the seam near the bottom edge of the cap. Of Note: Due to the overlapping use of various shades of green waffenfarbe by Schützen, Jägers, Gebirgsjäger, and Panzer Grenadiers, it is difficult to attribute the branch of service with absolute certainty. Also Of Note: Regulations of July 10TH 1942 abolished the use of the branch of service soutache and instructed it to be removed from the caps, although the directive was not strictly adhered to. The interior of the cap is fully lined in a gold rayon material. Roughly a size 55/56. Nice worn and used example showing the expected age and wear.