Uhlan czapka brim stitching

orwilliams

New member
I started wondering about the stitching on czapka brims. Was there some variation...I usually read about the brim being sewn "inside out" and then turned down, so that you would not see stitching. I found a picture on the internet of what looks to be a pretty authentic one, (this was a long ago completed auction) but it has stitching on outside, like a pickelhaube? Also, there always seems to be a "dip up" abound the ear as you would look at it from the side. All of the replicas are always flat all the way around like a bowl. Did they always have the dip or slight rise over the ear area. Thanks, Oliver
 
Hi Oliver,
The visor on the picture you posted has squared edges, which never existed on a Tschapka. This is obviously a spike helmet front visor that was sewn on this Tschapka. A very poor "restoration"!
You would normally never see external stitching on a German Tschapka. This has been recently discussed in another thread.
Cheers, Bruno
 
And yes, to my knowledge all authentic Tschapkas have the rise above the ear area, be they made of leather, metal or felt.
 
You can also easily see where the trim retainers were mounted on this helmet. I agree with Bruno, a very poor attempt at a restoration.

:D Ron
 
One other thing that needs to be pointed out to Oliver, is that this visor is square cut...the sides are on the diagonal whereas, all true tschapka visors are round cut like the infantry ones. This visor is from a dragoon officer helmet in my opinion. General officer helmets visors are also squared.
 
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