Mr Shea has this most interesting hat for sale at the moment.
HG-45* Allgemeine-SS Visor Cap

Every now and again an example such as this pops up and I always wonder how can anyone determine with assurance when the alterations were actualy done?

Has anyone found documentation that might cast some light on such occurrences? Prehaps a letter mentioning such or a bill of sale for the modifications? As Mr. Shea states in his description, this is "absolutely “period added” and a fairly common practice for SS personnel who could not afford to simply discard their “issue headgear when they attained officer."

I don’t doubt for a second that the practice of upgrading a cap did happen but common practice? and I do wonder how anyone can be so certain when looking at individual hats these days. I would take me 20 minutes to sew such a band onto a cap and I could claim the same if I wished. Cynical I know but that’s the reality.

Prehaps friends of Mr Shea could ask politely for more information? I doubt very much that he would entertain enquires from myself.

Click to enlarge the picture