xceptionally rare Waffen-SS Artillery Officer Visor Cap featuring a fine field-grey crown, deep black velvet centre band and vivid red artillery Waffenfarbe piping.
The cap retains its silver officer chin cords, silvered SS eagle and Totenkopf, black Vulkanfibre peak, original leather sweatband and aged champagne-coloured interior lining.
Substantial natural patination to the metal insignia and genuine wear throughout give this scarce branch-coloured Waffen-SS Schirmmütze an outstanding untouched appearance.
€ 7.500
1 in stock
This Waffen-SS Artillery Officer Visor Cap represents an exceptionally scarce example of branch-coloured Waffen-SS officer headgear from the Second World War period.
Immediately distinctive is the striking combination of a field-grey crown, deep black centre band and vivid red Waffenfarbe piping.
Red identified the artillery arm, while the silver-coloured double officer cords confirm that this cap was configured for an officer rather than an enlisted man.
Moreover, both principal SS metal insignia remain mounted to the front.
The result is an extremely attractive and increasingly difficult-to-find Waffen-SS Schirmmütze.
Perhaps the most important feature of this cap is its red piping.
A narrow red cord follows the upper circumference of the crown.
Matching piping also borders the black centre band.
Consequently, three prominent lines of artillery Waffenfarbe create the unmistakable branch-coloured appearance.
Red represented artillery within the German Waffenfarbe system. Specialist references similarly identify red piping with Waffen-SS artillery personnel.
Branch-coloured Waffen-SS officer caps deserve particular attention because they survive in very small numbers.
During 1940, Waffen-SS officers were permitted to use branch-coloured piping.
Subsequently, regulations returned officers to predominantly white piping, although documented original caps demonstrate that coloured Waffenfarbe continued to appear.
Helmut Weitze has catalogued surviving Waffen-SS officer caps with pink Panzer piping and other specialised branch colours, explicitly describing such examples as extremely rare.
Therefore, the red artillery piping on this example represents considerably more than an attractive cosmetic detail.
The crown uses fine field-grey cloth with the softer nap expected from quality private-purchase headgear.
Its substantial saddle profile remains clearly visible despite decades of storage.
Natural creasing gives the cap an excellent period appearance.
Elsewhere, minor marks, staining and handling traces remain visible across the upper surface.
Importantly, nothing has been cosmetically over-restored.
The crown therefore retains the character collectors normally prefer on untouched wartime headgear.
A deep black centre band surrounds the lower body.
Its pronounced plush surface is consistent with the black velvet bands associated with Waffen-SS officer visor caps.
In contrast, enlisted and NCO examples normally used less luxurious materials.
The black velvet provides an especially effective background for the silvered Totenkopf.
Furthermore, the brilliant red piping running immediately above and beneath the band clearly separates it from the field-grey crown.
Documented Waffen-SS officer caps offered by Helmut Weitze similarly combine field-grey officer cloth with a black velvet band.
Mounted prominently above the centre band is the Waffen-SS national eagle.
The insignia now carries substantial age patination and oxidation.
Much of the original silver-coloured surface has mellowed into varying grey, bronze and brown shades.
Nevertheless, the principal feather detailing remains visible.
The eagle retains the horizontally extended wings and central national emblem associated with Waffen-SS visor-cap insignia.
Notably, the ageing appears entirely sympathetic to the surrounding cap.
Cleaning this insignia would substantially reduce the historical appearance of the piece.
Therefore, I would strongly recommend leaving the eagle untouched.
Helmut Weitze documents wartime Waffen-SS officer eagles manufactured in silvered Cupal and other period metals, while later examples also occur in silvered Feinzink.
Below the eagle sits the familiar Waffen-SS Totenkopf.
Its hollow eye apertures and triangular nasal opening remain sharply defined.
Both crossbones extend prominently from the sides.
Meanwhile, the cranium retains visible modelling despite extensive patination.
Surface ageing closely corresponds with that seen on the eagle.
Such matching deterioration is encouraging because it suggests the two insignia have been subjected to similar environmental conditions over a long period.
However, the reverse has not been photographed.
For that reason, I would not assign a maker to the Totenkopf without inspecting its reverse markings and attachment system.
Removing heavily aged insignia simply to obtain a maker mark would also be unnecessary and potentially damaging.
Original-style silver-coloured officer cords cross the front above the peak.
Their woven construction remains particularly attractive.
Matching silver-coloured pebbled buttons secure the cords to either side.
Age-related dulling has reduced the once brighter aluminium appearance.
Even so, the cords remain complete and retain excellent definition.
This feature clearly separates the cap from the black leather chinstrap normally associated with enlisted and NCO visor caps.
A traditional black visor completes the exterior.
The upper surface retains an attractive semi-gloss finish.
Fine period-style texture remains visible beneath the lacquer.
Around the edge, modest handling wear corresponds naturally with the general condition of the cap.
Turning the cap over reveals the characteristic brown/tan underside.
Comparable documented Waffen-SS officer caps use Vulkanfiber peaks, with reverse colours ranging from reddish brown through tan and cream.
Inside, the cap presents considerably more evidence of genuine prolonged use.
A broad tan-brown leather sweatband runs around the circumference.
Ventilation perforations appear across the forward section.
Natural darkening, perspiration marks, edge wear and flexibility remain visible throughout the leather.
Behind it sits a champagne or golden rayon-type lining.
The lining carries widespread staining and oxidation associated with wear and storage.
Instead of detracting from the piece, this appearance provides valuable evidence of its history.
No modern synthetic-looking interior components are immediately apparent in the photographs.
The central liner shows the stitched outline normally associated with the celluloid manufacturer or sweat-protection diamond.
However, the transparent celluloid itself is no longer present.
Loss of these diamonds is frequently encountered on heavily worn period caps.
Consequently, no maker can presently be established.
I would resist the temptation to attribute the cap to EREL, Clemens Wagner, Peküro, Sprengpfeil or another manufacturer purely on external appearance.
Responsible cataloguing should instead describe this as an anonymous private-purchase officer-quality example unless further markings are discovered.
The supplied photographs reveal a number of encouraging characteristics.
Period-consistent construction includes the field-grey wool body, black velvet band, deep-red Waffenfarbe, officer cords, aged leather sweatband, rayon lining and vulcan-fibre visor.
Equally important, the exterior and interior show coherent long-term wear rather than uniformly applied artificial ageing.
Both metal insignia display substantial oxidation.
The surrounding textiles likewise show natural compression, age and storage wear.
No immediately obvious modern reproduction material can be identified from the photographs.
Nevertheless, high-value Waffen-SS headgear deserves a conservative approach.
For absolute authentication, I would still want detailed photographs of the reverse of both insignia where accessible without disturbing them, stitching beneath the sweatband, rear seam construction, cord buttons and any concealed maker or retailer markings.
On the evidence presently available, however, I would catalogue the cap as a strong period Waffen-SS Artillery Officer Visor Cap displaying the characteristics expected of a privately purchased wartime Schirmmütze.
Waffen-SS artillery formations operated throughout the organisation’s major wartime divisions.
Red Waffenfarbe provided immediate visual identification of the artillery arm.
Yet branch-coloured Waffen-SS visor caps were produced and worn for a much shorter period than ordinary white-piped examples.
Consequently, genuine surviving artillery officer Schirmmützen represent a particularly specialised area of Waffen-SS headgear collecting.
A directly comparable Waffen-SS artillery visor sold through specialist dealer Militaria Pasadyn at €9,800, while MedalBook currently places an indicative Waffen-SS artillery officer visor value at about US$6,000.
Helmut Weitze currently illustrates the substantial premium attached to branch-coloured Waffen-SS headgear: a pink-piped Panzer/Panzerjäger officer visor is listed at €16,500, whereas a conventional white-piped infantry officer example is listed at €7,800.
Overall condition is very good original worn condition for this exceptionally rare type.
The field-grey body remains structurally sound.
Red piping retains excellent colour and visual impact.
Likewise, the black centre band remains very well preserved.
Officer cords are complete.
The peak retains a strong original finish.
Internally, the leather and lining exhibit considerably heavier wear, staining and ageing.
Both metal insignia display substantial oxidation and loss of their original bright finish.
Rather than being polished, restored or chemically cleaned, these surfaces should remain exactly as found.
Explore related listings: Military Visor & Peaked Caps; Original Waffen-SS Artillery Crusher Cap | Feldmütze; Original Third Reich Uniforms and Headgear – Nordmenn; Rudolf Rettberg Waffen-SS Panzer Visor Cap | Hohenstaufen.
Helmut Weitze Waffen-SS Headgear Archive
Especially useful for documented original Waffen-SS officer visor caps and rare Waffenfarbe variants.
Helmut Weitze – Waffen-SS Headgear Reference
Waffen-SS Artillery Officer Visor Reference
Covers red artillery Waffenfarbe and officer-cap construction.
MedalBook – Waffen-SS Artillery Officer Visor Cap
Waffen-SS Artillery Visor Comparison
Militaria Pasadyn – Waffen-SS Artillery Schirmmütze
