Scotch Harry Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Seeing as im having a bit of a sort through of my hats/caps etc thought i would post these 2 up. The stamping,makers details and date etc are under the oilskin waterproofing and hard to get decent pics-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airportable Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Korean war era. No idea they were that old, have to dig mine out and have a look for date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 (edited) Introduced during 1951 with the gabardine combat smock, trousers, hood, trouser liner and middle parka........but actually designed and trialed as early as 1948-49........ This was the only item of the combat suit to remain in gabardine after 1952, everything else changing to cotton-sateen.... Believe it or not, this item remained the standard issue field cap for the British military until the DPM cap was introduced from 1972 onwards, and can be seen in many photos of the era worn in conjunction with the DPM uniform when first introduced..........issue of the DPM cap commenced to the regular army from 1972 onwards, but the TA did not receive the new item until a couple of years later, say from 74 onwards....... The green combat cap was a good item, but expensive to produce and difficult to clean effectively if soiled and intended for re-issue due to the waterproof gabardine and leather used in construction........they used to be plentiful on the surplus market but have almost disappeared nowadays. Some companies still have small NOS of these but invariably in small sizes............they were manufactured from a size 6 through to a 7 & 3/4.....only last year I managed to find a NOS example in a size 7 & 1/4......... They were made by several companies, including Compton Webb, Silberstons, etc......usually with the manufacturers details stamped beneath the oilskin crown lining onto the fabric, but occasionally on a small paper label in the same location. These can be difficult to read after years of ageing, and removing or tearing the oilskin to view the details will only detract from the value of the item.........the chinstrap incidentally, is intended to secure the earflap closely around the face when worn down...... Most production appears to date from the Korean era but I have seen the odd example dated from the 60s..... Edited May 2, 2012 by wdbikemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglehurst Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 They were made by several companies, including Compton Webb, Silberstons, etc......usually with the manufacturers details stamped beneath the oilskin crown lining onto the fabric, but occasionally on a small paper label in the same location. An example of paper and stamped details..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 Not sure about the actual purpose of the oil-cloth crown lining........it generally remains either horrendously sticky (no doubt to secure the cap to your head) or dried-out and as brittle as parchment...... It was either intended to waterproof the top of the cap, although the slightly-rubberised gabardine from which the cap body is made is pretty much water-resistant anyway.......or was it to stop sweat or brylcream staining through the cap's outer...??:-\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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