Just got these German Custom Visor Cap Insignia : - this got to be a "new " design .

..and backside .

The star is marked with "A" for Assmann.

The same set in silver finish ; but the eagle is 1/4 -inch taller than the gilt one .

...and backside again .

Bernd

Not Zoll / Customs. What you have are old Bundesgrenzschutz (Federal Border Patrol) hat badges. Also, I might add a little odd.

First the starburst cap badges. The common "silver-ish" is the traditional hat badge. Normally this would have been worn straight up through the ranks. However, I would guess that it is quite plausible that some high ranking chief may have had a gold version. I haven't seen any photographic evidence of this however. What you normally see worn is the metal hat badge for EN/NCO, then a silver bullion for Officer, and gold bullion for chief. Shortly I will be writing an essay in the West German Police Thread and you will see them shown. Recently the BGS was re-org and named Bundespolizei. This gold "might" be as a result of this. But I don't believe the hat stars were changed, just the ranks and patches.

Now to the older wreath / eagle. Normally this is a two piece affair. The wreath/****ade and eagle. These came in silver and gold. But I don't recall a one-piece version. The obsolete eagle is still in use on the GSG-9 beret.

Andrew

Bernd

Excuse me, had a momentary lapse. The gold starburts badge is for the BGS/SEE hat (WSP). One of those senior moments I guess.

It is entirely possible that this old gold 1 piece metal setup was also for the BGS/SEE also, but the only one I am familiar with is the cloth embroidered version.

Andrew

Andrew : Thanks for the detailed information . Bernd

Bernd

No problem, glad I could help out. Hopefully I will have the BGS addition to the West German thread ready soon. Still working on photos for the Berlin one which will be next.

Andrew

Andrew : Here some photos of my BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ tunic for a Major .

..And closer-up view .

Interior has a dark green silk liner . The right hand lower pocket has a open flap for a reach through to an interior pocket ,--may be to reach for a hidden pistol . Buttons are OLC marked with OFFERHOFF & Cie. The lefthand interior pocket has a gray silk strip inside of it with black ink numbers : 484 50/77/81.

Close-up of the silver bullion sleeve insidnia .

Close-up of the Bundesadler==Federal Eagle .What super nice bullion work !

Close-up of the silver bullion collar tab , this one is somewhat smaller than the WW II ones .

Flat silver shoulder board is the same size as WW II ones .

The backside of the collar has a wool backing .

Here now my EM BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ tunic for a Hauptwachtmeister rank.

Close-up view . This tunic has no liner . The hidden 5 button front closure has green plastic buttons and there are 2 at the cuff closure slot .There is an interior white linen tag with black ink letters : " BUND-- U Nr. 8405-12-170 --Gr.98 79--29 ---At.Nr.142/83/45 --WISPO " .

Side view .

Close-up of the sleeve insignia .

Close-up of the Bundesadler = Federal Eagle .

..and a close-up of the slip-on shoulder board . Andrew , I sure hope you like these 2 tunics !!! . The only other one I have is the standard Bundeswehrmacht CAMO Tunic , except this one is ink marked on the interior label " B G Z " for BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ . On the sleeve I can see were the title and shield have been per the stitching holes . Bernd .

...and a close-up of the shoulder board , slip- on type . Andrew , I sure hope you like these 2 tunics ! Other tunic I have is a Camo tunic , that is the same as the Bundeswehr Camo tunics , except this one's interior label is marked B G S for BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ and the sleeve used to have the above shown Title band and eagle , but it was removed .

Very nice BGS uniforms Bernd! I like 'em.