Bundesgrenzschutz Feldmütze, Camouflage, Replica Hat
This hat is a replica, sewn from original Bundesgrenzschutz field jacket material. The original camo hats are nearly impossible to find, so this is the next best thing. From what I understand, these replica hats were sewn from original, old stock, fabric. These replica hats were made back in the 1980's, after the BGS discontinued the use of sumpftarn camo uniforms. This hat is unlined, unlike the originals that were lined in a cotton fabric, and it arrived without a front cockade. I pulled out one of my "donor schiffchen hats" and removed the cockade from the front. The BGS and Bundeswehr used the same cockades, so the match was perfect.
I removed the cockade from the garrison cap and sewed it onto the BGS Feldmütze using my trusty, vintage, Montgomery Wards sewing machine........... Here is a short "Photo Essay on the cockade replacement:
The fabric that the BGS Feldmütze is sewn from, is a waterproofed cotton fabric. After a little detective work, and BGS uniform inspections, I have determined that the fabric is the same as the waterproof fabric that was used on the shoulder yoke panels on the BGS field jackets. An exact match! Here are a few comparison photos. You can see the jacket yoke in the first photo, and the back of the yoke fabric in the next...... the last photo shows the hat and jacket fabric backs, side-by-side.
Here is a photo album of the hat:
Here are some original photos showing the BGS troopers wearing the original version of this hat: