Now Forming! the Campaign Hat Corps

[gtdean48]

Can anyone tell me if the current production Stratton F-40 Campaign Hat is a fur felt, or wool? I have an Army surplus DI hat in wool, but I’m pretty unimpressed with the quality, and I’m wondering what might be a reasonably priced equivalent in fur.

-Dave

Stratton owns Winchester Hat Factory & most of the fur felt produced goes to Stratton for the uniform hat production. You can usually find good deals on Stetson campaign hats on ebay. I got a nice, almost unworn one in fur felt for under $50.

 

[David Conwill]

Thanks guys. I have been once again toying with the idea of getting into CAS, and a 1911-style campaign hat is all I can picture for a topper (along with a red or blue bib shirt, and tan or olive breeches).

-Dave

 

[David Conwill]

One more question (sorry). Has anyone checked out this $298 Nutria M1911 from What Price Glory? I read earlier in the thread that there were no good 1911 replicas on the market, and I'm wondering if this is one.

-Dave

 

[1961MJS]

Thanks guys. I have been once again toying with the idea of getting into CAS, and a 1911-style campaign hat is all I can picture for a topper (along with a red or blue bib shirt, and tan or olive breeches).

-Dave

Hi Dave

If you're getting into CAS, then I would tend to drop the Stratton. The Stratton is decent fur felt, but it has vents all of the way around, and two plastic lined holes in the brim for the chin strap to go into. Plastic ain't very cowboy.

Later

 

[David Conwill]

Hi Dave

If you're getting into CAS, then I would tend to drop the Stratton. The Stratton is decent fur felt, but it has vents all of the way around, and two plastic lined holes in the brim for the chin strap to go into. Plastic ain't very cowboy.

Later

Darn. I already bid on a Stratton. Oh well, if I win, it will be cheap enough and I can use it for other outdoorsy pursuits. If I don't, perhaps I'll have to commission Major Moore to do an homage to the bash in the Frederic Remington Bronco Buster sculpture in the form of an 1883-pattern campaign hat. I really love that Montana Peak.

-Dave

 

[David Conwill]

Well, I got outbid on the Stratton. I'm wondering now if I should just keep an eye peeled for an inexpensive cowboy hat to put a bronco-buster montana peak into.

-Dave

 

[1961MJS]

Hi, I wear a 7 3/8 and on my head, the Stratton fits. I ordered a Campaign hat from Jaxonbilt hats with a 5.75 inch crown and a (roughly) 4 inch brim. The Stratton has a 5.5 inch crown and a 3.25 inch brim. Basically you're looking for a 5.75 inch crown and a 3-4 inch brim, kind of depends on what fits your face. Several of the Akubra's will fit that measurement, but since I ordered Custom, I've forgotten which ones. The Sombrero does, and it's a six inch crown. The NEW Strattons are $125, and a 25% beaver from Jaxonbilt is $165, hint hint...

Later

 

[David Conwill]

Thanks for the dimensional advice. My “daily driver” fedora is a Fed IV Deluxe with an (open) crown height of 5 5/8, so I’m pretty comfortable with tall crowns. Sounds like 3 1/4 is probably a good minimum, and up to 4 worthy of consideration.

If you’ve ever been to The Last Best West’s website, and seen the illustration that inspired the “Winchester” variation on their “Wasey”, you’ll see kind of what I’m envisioning.

I didn’t see a campaign hat on Jaxonbilt’s website. Do you have a picture of yours?

-Dave

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

There isn't a campaign hat on Jaxonbilt's website, but I'm pretty sure Roy got the right idea. The hat is due (4 months) on Match 10th.

The Montana peak does have a way of hitting your head sooner than other hats. The 5.5 inch Stratton hit the top of my head a little. A tear drop fedora crease ends up being taller around the edges while the Montana Peak tends to touch in the dimples. Hope this helps.

Later

 

[CoveredPate]

The Marines are wearing the same M1889 Campaign Cover that the Army wore at the time. Marines, however, make all uniform apparel look better. Semper Fi!

 

[Tiller]

Are modern DI Campaign Covers made of wool felt?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Some of your marines might enjoy this video that I found:

[video=youtube;N_TlXlo1YUQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_TlXlo1YUQ&feature=player_embedded#at=175[/video]

 

[gtdean48]

Are modern DI Campaign Covers made of wool felt?

Not the good ones. Stratton Hat Company, http://www.strattonhats.com/ , makes the majority of uniform hats & owns Winchester Hat Company in Winchester, TN which makes the felt bodies for lots of custom makers like Art & Major Moore. They come in all kinds of fur blends as well as pure beaver....

 

[1961MJS]

Not the good ones. Stratton Hat Company, http://www.strattonhats.com/ , makes the majority of uniform hats & owns Winchester Hat Company in Winchester, TN which makes the felt bodies for lots of custom makers like Art & Major Moore. They come in all kinds of fur blends as well as pure beaver....

Hi

I didn't see any Campaign hats on Stratton's pages that were anything buy "fur felt", or did you mean that Winchester Hat Company makes the bodies in everything from fur to 100% beaver?

Later

 

[gtdean48]

Hi

I didn't see any Campaign hats on Stratton's pages that were anything buy "fur felt", or did you mean that Winchester Hat Company makes the bodies in everything from fur to 100% beaver?

Later

I meant the bodies. As I recall, the uniform hats are made to a spec for the military for the fade parameters. I'm fairly sure that Greg said it contains some nutria in the mix. I am sure there was no wool being processed at that plant...

 

[Samuel]

Yes Fits quite well really.
I was looking for information on the Coast Defense Batterys at Camp Hayden which is near me in western Washington and found these. Hope you enjoy.

Great pictures of Old School Marines
Thats me on leave with my dress blues. I was stationed at MACS Futenma Base USMC

 

[Blackthorn]

Some of your marines might enjoy this video that I found:

[video=youtube;N_TlXlo1YUQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_TlXlo1YUQ&feature=player_embedded#at=175[/video]

I'm so glad I could hit "PAUSE" on that.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I'm so glad I could hit "PAUSE" on that.

Why is that?

 

[hatflick1]

WWII Marine Cover

Here's a good example of what the USMC campaign hat evolved to in the Pacific Theater. Hard to find originals in any size that fits.
http://warrelics.eu/forum/USA-britain-ww2-cloth-headgear/usmc-wwii-fatigue-cap-27260/

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

Pictures of my Non-Traditional Campaign Hat are on this page:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?51684-JAXONBILT-Hats/page6

I didn't realize that there were so many threads hanging out so to speak.

Later Y'all