Hey guys, I was very generously given an original Ushanka for Christmas that I think might be Cold War era (the cap badge is definitely Cold War at any rate). Are there any noticeable differences between this and the 40s issue, and could a simple cap star swap do the trick to make it serviceable?
Here's some photos (Watch out, they're absolutely massive):
Spoiler
(https://i.imgur.com/uUr0ibx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/r214EfX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7tx3N2b.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bl3N2RX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BESmzEM.jpg)
There's variation in the shag of the wool (or synthetic "fish fur" passing for wool) and size of the flaps, so you're basically safe there, but getting a brown or khaki ushanka would be preferable over gray. That particular hat you have has a very post-war dye, the bluish gray.
If you really want to be the coolest kulak on the block, you'll hunt down a repo of the Finka, the low fur hat where the side flap is one joined piece that wraps around the back of the head. They were officially discontinued in 1940 but surplus was still issued during 41 and 42.
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmilday.ru%2Fuploads%2Fposts%2F2011-07%2Fthumbs%2F1311367413_50.jpg&hash=dce56644b3888ddc82b4cacc0ca0efb29c1800ff)
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.feldwebel.ru%2FUserFiles%2FImage%2Fimg564_34389.jpg&hash=7db78440eaf81fcdb8b5ca4d679aaa8b9c75ee0d)
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fweapon.df.ru%2Fimages%2Ffinka.jpg&hash=f0f3f0eed135a780abbe847ad1c2a32dfc199c0c)
And this is the cockade you'll want to wear in "combat", the subdued green was prescribed on August 1, 1941 for hat pins and collar rank insignia (which became shoulder strap insiginia in '43). Red stars should be reserved for Barbarossa scenarios.
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi68.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi37%2FZain5505%2FAKT-98%2FSDC10145-1.jpg&hash=430e4df10118ce87e735161b4d7f5b7b64d04b3f)
Here's a rather shaggy picture of me (I didn't have the discipline to button up my mantel!) wearing a German issue Ushanka:
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg163%2F553%2Fda1t.jpg&hash=e1b1853de67ce775b9ec4267ef5cc39a7a104b14)
The eagle is the same as a dress cap eagle. It was one of the many unique winter items that German soldiers may or may not have been able to get their hands on.