Hey guys, I am looking for a crusher hat. I think I found one on ebay. anyone know what the difference is between this one and this one? Thanks, [ 08. July 2003, 06:16 PM: Message edited by: David Barton (DB) Mathis ]
I don't collect US Militaria but--I like the 2nd visor the best--it looks much older than the one in the 1st pic.
David - The first thing is to remember on ebay, it's a seller's game, and a potential buyer is the target. Now, that having been said, I too am not keen on the first cap. The U.S. i.d. disc on the front is a later style disc, not World War II issue at all. Also, based on the pic, it APPEARS that the material is much darker than period U.S. Army WWII wool caps. This may be the picture, but.... The chinstrap looks to be of black leather. This would indicate a later style chinstrap. Possibly late '50's but definitely Vietnam vintage at the latest. Also, the seller appears unwilling to give you too much of a shot of the interior of the cap, size tag, etc. as does the second seller go about in a completely opposite manner, and gives you all of this info., plus more. Take the gamble on the second cap, the 7-1/8". It "talks" to you at least. The first cap simply clams up. Although too, not a U.S. collector, if I were, my bucks would go to the second cap. Good luck. Bill
Thanks fellas. That is exactly why I asked. I thought the 1st one looked either fake or just not wwii issue. the color and material looked wrong. And it just ddint' look like the others I have seen. Do you think the second is a fair price? Thanks alot,
Agreed with the above - the cap is sometime between occupation (when they started glossing the visors black personally) and later 50s. I'd avoid it all together, although my Uncle did have his strap and visor glossed black in occupation in 1945, it's not too common a thing, plus the texture seems to be off. The quality on all of the WWII EM eagles I've ever seen was actually quite low and not detailed. This looks newer. I'd say the second is a fair price right now. I wouldn't go over $30, but I"m about the biggest cheapo you're gonna find. I could maybe see it selling for $45 at the most, but I haven't been "up" on the market for a couple of years. The size make a big difference in the price, and I'd say that's an okay size. My size is 8 7/8. I found one for $40 ONCE and snatched it up, though I still haven't worn it.
Quite welcome and--I didn't look at it the way Bill did. I'm not a US collector but--it had "the look" of being a ww2 piece--the first one didn't. The 2nd one looked like the kind my dad had and the first one just seemed out of place--like comparing ww2 German caps with current ones--which is really easy to see which is which.
Thanks for asking Bill! I tried hard because it was my size. I got up and left the comp. when it hit $51 i i think it was. to rich for my blood at the time. [ 16. July 2003, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: David Barton (DB) Mathis ]
Yeah, just go for an overseas cap, man. There are tons of those all over the place. Just make sure you find one that either has no piping or has the orange signal corps piping. You may just end up finding a "crusher" cap at antique mall. By the way, you know why they call em crusher? Well if you do, too bad, I'm gonna tell you anyway. Alot of air corps guys wore their headphones over them, which crushed the sides down. This look became popular with all the GIs, eventually.
And the term "Crusher" for ther German peaked visors stems from many German officers who wanted to have "that look" meaning that they have had experiance and have "been there and done that," kinda thing. They got their crusher look when they removed the wire stiffener from the top area of the cap--thus it was easier to get that well-used "crusher" look. Personally, I prefer an untouched peaked visor--if i'm looking to buy one--I preferr them to have their stiffeners intact but--if it's a rare hat--and doesn't have the stiffener in it--i'll still go for it. many many uboat caps you see for sale were made into crushers. [ 16. July 2003, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]
Yeah, GI hats had the wire as well. I'm not sure if the airman removed them or if the headphones bent the wires, but I know my uncle and grandpa took the wire out of theirs. I've also heard them (US) called "50 mission crush caps.
I spoke with some 100th BG vets about this and they laughed...everyone was keen to give their flying caps the '50-mission' look by removing the wire and even ( so they said ) some pilots treading on the caps.... Pretty much the same in the RAF. No-one really wanted to look like a 'sprog'.
I do know for fat that German Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe non-coms also removed the spring for that salty-well worn look although against regulations....
