Textbook example of a Prussian infantry officer’s visor cap

A textbook example of a Model 1867-1910 Prussian infantry officer’s visor cap ( schirmmütze). This particular cap with the Prussian blue body and ponceau (poppy) red cap band and piping was worn by officers of all garde and line infantry, fusilier and grenadier regiments with differing cockades according to the kingdom or duchy. The Reich’s cockade was added to the caps in 1897. The exterior of this exceptional example is almost flawless with not a single moth hole or track to be found. Since the cap is over 100 years old and is constructed of fine melton wool, this is remarkable. Not so for the interior, which shows heavy field use. The sweatband has hardened with age and has split from the cap body in several areas. Old period repairs have failed to hold the leather to the cap body. The liner is intact but shows much use. No maker mark is present, only an ink stamp indicating ‘Company C’. In 1910 the field grey uniform was introduced and the blue uniform along with the blue topped visor caps was phased out.