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How to "age" bright yellow cavalry hat cords?

WesternHatWearer

A-List Customer
Messages
366
Location
Georgia
I have a hat conversion going where I'm taking a Stetson Hutchins and turning it into a tan Indian Wars cavalry campaign hat.

My problem is, the hat is on its way to looking nice and rustic, but the yellow hat cords look garish on it. The yellow is way too bright. I need a way to take these hat cords and make them look like the well-worn ones like in the John Wayne movies.

I've tried soaking them in tea. That didn't work.

There's got to be a way to artificially 'age' them.

Any ideas?
Have you had any success in "aging" your acorns?
 

TheDane

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,670
Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Whatever color/aging medium you choose, don't forget the most important thing in order to get a genuine look: Dirt collects in grooves, cracks and dents - while it gets worn off at high spots. Artificial patina can be quite hard to achieve, but it helps, if you study the real thing very closely. If not, you may very likely end up with a costume'ish looking item
 

liten

One of the Regulars
Messages
160
Location
london
Acon type yellow hat cords were not suppled to them any way. this is the hat cord that was used for the cavalry vg180e.jpg
 

Redshoes51

One of the Regulars
Messages
278
Location
Mississippi Delta
Liten... for clarification, you are saying that the cords on your image above are 'Indian War' era cords? Weren't they used in the Civil War as well??

When would the 'acorn' cord appear, timewise??

Thanks...

~shoes~
 

ingineer

One Too Many
Messages
1,088
Location
Clifton NJ
The colours have meaning
Here is link showing when they were established
http://www.cavhooah.com/info/cavalry-traditions/stetsons/hat-cords/
One must allow for variation in civil war artifacts
soldiers very often purchased their own uniforms, arms, swords etc. from a variety of sources
The acorns appear in many historical sites during the war, previous to that photography was not as common
http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2013/12/george-meade-P.jpeg
wool ones
http://www.cavhooah.com/cav-shop/st...r-style-cavalry-yellow-enlisted-hat-cord.html
 
Last edited:

liten

One of the Regulars
Messages
160
Location
london
Liten... for clarification, you are saying that the cords on your image above are 'Indian War' era cords? Weren't they used in the Civil War as well??

When would the 'acorn' cord appear, timewise??

Thanks...

~shoes~
Yes the same cord was used in the civil war? the only difference was, it was a orangy yellow.
 

liten

One of the Regulars
Messages
160
Location
london
Liten... for clarification, you are saying that the cords on your image above are 'Indian War' era cords? Weren't they used in the Civil War as well??

When would the 'acorn' cord appear, timewise??

Thanks...

~shoes~
Turn of the century spanam war? the acon cords were used in the indain wars and civil war on officers hats only! and they were not a plain yellow , they were a mix of black and darker shade yellow
 

liten

One of the Regulars
Messages
160
Location
london
Liten... for clarification, you are saying that the cords on your image above are 'Indian War' era cords? Weren't they used in the Civil War as well??

When would the 'acorn' cord appear, timewise??

Thanks...

~shoes~
Spanam war period? this one is dated 1899 DSCF1458.jpg
 

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