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French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
CCE
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus. The swallowtail can be hidden or just cut off.
The swallowtail can be hidden or just cut off.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus. Sometimes we get these without the neckflap. These are sold separately.
Sometimes we get these without the neckflap. These are sold separately.
France

French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus

Price 4.99 USD excluding sales tax

The beloved Bigeard, one of history's coolest military headpieces ever made with the two-prong "swallowtail" protecting the neck. Made in France!

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French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus. The swallowtail can be hidden or just cut off.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus.
French F2 "Bigeard" cap, surplus. Sometimes we get these without the neckflap. These are sold separately.

The beloved Bigeard, one of history's coolest military headpieces ever made with the two-prong "swallowtail" protecting the neck. Made in France!

Known as the Bigeard in France, after it's creator Marcel Bigeard, an officer in the (among others) the war in Indochina. Since then many armies have copied the design, known as the "swallowtail cap" in English or "Kiko" in Portuguese. From it's roots in Indochina the Bigeard has moved far and wide, the style was one of the most copied designs in the many little wars that tore through Africa in the late 1900's.

Sometimes we get these without the neck flap. These are always sold separately.

Pro-Tip: Apart from being quite a cool design, the cut is also quite simple. If you're into DIY and sewing, cut one of these apart, use the pieces as templates and recreate this legendary piece in your own favourite colour or camo pattern!

Size

Sized according to head circumference in centimetres or inches. For a classic Portuguese playfool look, choose one size smaller than you usually wear, or if you want to look more serious, just pick our correct size.

Genuine army surplus

Unissued military surplus, in perfect condition. Most of these are made during this millennium.

All products: France

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Reviews

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13
5
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5
74 %
recommends
26 %
does not recommend
3.59 / 5
27 ratings
Suomi Suomi (7)
English English (20)
Five stars
I would recommend for a friend

12.08.2016 ⚠ Unverified purchase
AAAAAH,ihan ehta uus ja käyttämätön Bigeard-lippis ja ei oo hinnalla pilattu.Älä siis säkään pilaa nuppiis tai peräti niskaas auringonpaisteessa,vaan hanki tää.t.vintage-kessu
21 Like 1 Dislike Report abuse
Four stars
I would recommend for a friend

11.08.2017 Verified purchase
Very cool. Being all cloth fits anywere. BE CAREFULL WITH THE SIZE! I use another MIL-Tec whis is 58 and fits me well, this one I bought the 59 based on the särmä field cap and its tiny, so tiny that I almost don´t use it. It´s REALLY small!! Update. I gave a chance to the new desert model size 60 and it does fit bit better. At least it’s wearable!
2 Like 0 Dislike Report abuse
Three stars
I would not recommend to a friend

11.12.2017 Verified purchase
The neck flap didn't cover my neck, the cut almost feels to small, even though it does fit! It's a bit wierd, to be honest!
6 Like 12 Dislike Report abuse
Five stars
I would recommend for a friend

16.12.2017 Verified purchase
I bought one with and without tails. I waxed the one without tails to have a lightweight rain cap while I commute to and from work during the week. Love both of them for the look and versatility. Thanks.
8 Like 3 Dislike Report abuse
Four and a half stars
I would recommend for a friend

05.03.2018 ⚠ Unverified purchase
Measuring my head tells me I am a size 59.5, so I purchased a size 59 cap - and boy was it tight on my head! Didn't have nearly as much trouble with my size 59 Särmä M36 cap, so the Bigeard may run a bit on the small side! All the same, my dad likes it and it fits him better, so it's his now - no loss!
10 Like 0 Dislike Report abuse
Four stars
I would recommend for a friend

09.03.2018 Verified purchase
pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty....... good. i assume its wide to tuck your ears in under the desert sun. got the desert model as well, they run quite tight.
1 Like 0 Dislike Report abuse
Five stars
I would recommend for a friend

17.04.2018 Verified purchase
Bigeard caps are always cool. I like that Varusteleka carries them in the French woodland pattern. It may be a good idea to get a size larger than what you usually wear, as the cap that I got is a just a bit tight on the side of my head.
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Five stars
I would recommend for a friend

20.04.2018 Verified purchase
Perfect for a total crazy look. But army Combat Gear not for good cool look. Usefullness is the ting. Will match my french Combat jacket. Just need a pair of pants in same Camilla.
8 Like 1 Dislike Report abuse
One star
I would not recommend to a friend

28.07.2018 Verified purchase
My head size is 56, I ordered a 57 per the recommendations. The thing I received is so minuscule it's downright unuseable. Judging by the fit I would have had to order two or three sizes over my actual size for it to be useable. I ordered the model without a neck flap BTW.
5 Like 5 Dislike Report abuse

Comments

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Ivica C. 01.09.2020
A couple of observations on models with flaps vs without flaps (these might be just differences between manufacturers, I haven't bothered to order multiples of the same model to get different manufacturer samples). The flap cap was made by Balsan (Sousse, Tunisia) in '98, while the non-flap cap was made by Socovet in '95. I have a 60cm head, and both caps were in size 59.

While the caps were below my size, they fit tight to the skull and ride high. I suppose the correct size would arrive precisely to the root of my ear, but one size below leaves a comfortable 1/3" gap for the temples of my glasses.
The visor comes sharply down over your eyes allowing you to look in the Sun's direction while shading your eyes and minimally obstructing your vision (particularly your peripheral vision).
The caps give you an isosceles trapezoid silhouette, so be aware how that fits your face shape (or your historical prejudices).
As the caps ride so high, the flap ends up covering just your hair and not really your neck (as a proper legionnaire's hat would).
Because the flap flares out below the rim of the cap, if you tuck it inside the cap you'll never achieve a neat appearance, as the edges will stick out. But you'll get some padding on the back of your head (useful if riding in an APC).

The flap version of the cap was unlined, with two layers of fabric used for the flap and the visor, making it light/flimsy and flexible.

While the non-flap version was lined with properly tailored (seams in the space between fabrics) striped jacquard olive green fabric. So you could conceivably wear the cap inside out if you wanted a non-camo look (unfortunately, the visor and rim would still be in camo, and you better cut the label off).
The visor is stiffer, made of four layers of fabric. Also it's 1/2" smaller than the flap version while having more stitches (11 vs 10). But it's steeper than the flap version, so it actually gives better eye sun shade with less visual obstruction. The edge of the visor is properly turned, while in the flap version it's just sewn on.
The outside fabric is heavier than the liner fabric, and they are both heavier than the flap version fabric.
The cap rim is double stitched (as opposed to the single stitching in the flap version).

So the lightness of the flap version will be appreciated on hot summer days, and it encourages a more playful wear of the cap.
While the fitted tailoring of the non-flap version makes you want to ram it tightly onto your head, pull the visor close to your nose and headbutt anybody who gives you a weird look (or a snide comment about French couture). Plus it will keep you cosy on colder days.
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