Original Finland WWII Finnish Army Officers Kesälakki M39 Summer Cap With Chinstrap Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic example of a hard to find “Venelakki” side cap, as worn by an Officer in the Finnish Army. This is a side cap type hat was intended for warm summer months. In a way this cap design got introduced as an afterthought of sort for military uniform m/36. The Finnish military had originally intended the M36 field cap to be used also during the summer, but the field cap proved to be so warm that soldiers continued to use old m22 field caps in warm summer days – even if the particular hat model was no longer officially supposed to be in wide-scale use. Since there was an apparent need for new summer cap, such a hat was developed, officially approved in May of 1939 and likely entered production still in summer of that year. The inspiration for this hat design were similar looking caps used by reserve companies for Army of Finnish Grand Duchy had in turn of 19th – 20th century, although it seems likely that field cap m/22 effected at least to selection of hat type.

The hat was commonly referred as “venelakki” (“boat cap”) even in manuals, while the hat design was also commonly less officially referred as “suikka”. According uniform regulations from year 1939 originally this cap was intended to be used as part of field uniform or service uniform, unless ordered otherwise.

The cap is in wonderful condition and still retains a solid chinstrap on the front. The front cap badge is the standard enameled Finnish badge and presents itself quite nicely. The brown interior lining shows evident signs of long service use and does have tearing present but is still in nice condition. The leather sweatband is detached slightly but is still rather solid.

A beautiful example ready for further research and display.