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Some of you may or may not know that I have a modest collection of military headgear. I've got helmets and hats from various countries dating from WW1 to the present. Well, today I got in a package that contained a find I was pretty excited about.

This is a Rhodesian army flap camo flap cap from the era of the Bush War (circa 1965-80). I've been looking for one of these for a while, and given my strong interest in the Bush War, I'm happy to add this to the collection.

I scored this cap from a militaria dealer in South Africa that someone on one of my airsoft forums recommended. I've dealt with him in the past when I've bought Aparthide era South African uniform items and I've had him on the look out for one of these for about a year now. Well he finally came through!

Original Rhodesian camo is pretty hard to come by these days and the iconic "troopie cap" is a prized item among collectors. True enough replica Rhodesian camo does exist (although no one has made it for quite some time and indeed right now it's easier to find the original item that the reproductions) but after examining this cap I believe it to be genuine, if lightly used. The stitching looks old, and it has the expected musty smell of a 30 year old hat. Likewise, it shows some wear in the outer surfaces of the hat are slightly faded as compared to the inside and you can see the remains of the stitching were the "day-go" indetification liner once was.

It doesn't have a sizing tag any more, but as I wear a metric hat size 60 and it's a bit snug on me, I suspect it's size 58. I think I'll call this my "terrorist hunting cap"! :evilgrin:

Anyway, pardon me for the post, but it's something I just had to show off.

TR

Why hats particularly then ?

Or just "because".

reds8n wrote:Why hats particularly then ?

Or just "because".

They are iconic.
For instance what is the first uniform item you think of when you think of the German soldier of the World Wars? Why the "coal scuttle" shaped helmet of course.

That and the ease with which they are stored and displayed as compared to other uniform items.

TR

makes sense I guess.

Although I wouldn't have had a clue about the above but I guess that part of the fun of the whole collecting thing isn't it.



How many do you have then ? I'm asuming you don't have like a room full of severed heads all proudly on display ?

I've got about 75 or so items right now.
Highlights include:
- German, British, and French helmets from WW1.
-Helmets and caps from just about every major combatant nation of WW2.
-Helmets from most of the former Warpact nations and from many NATO ones as well.
-Iraqi stuff from the first Gulf War. (suprise, suprise)
-South African stuff from the time of the "Border War".

But no severed heads yet....

TR

I think of the boots, personally.
The Soviets and Germans had some pretty snazzy footgear in WWII.
I have a few pairs of jump boots, along with some newer tactical boots that I was told to get before applying to the police academy for training stuff.

Kanluwen wrote:I think of the boots, personally.
The Soviets and Germans had some pretty snazzy footgear in WWII.
I have a few pairs of jump boots, along with some newer tactical boots that I was told to get before applying to the police academy for training stuff.

They look cool, but I can testify that jackboots murder your feet.
Mine fit me and are well broke in, but I have to wrap bandages around my heels to keep blisters from developing at reenactments.

TR

:edit: Nevermind.

I actually think of 1000s of goose stepping goodness.

Goose stepping is good for your hamstrings.

I like collecting hats too, don't know why, but its fun.