Now Forming! the Campaign Hat Corps

[cm289]

Picked this one up last year from eBay- used Milan straw Stratton. I think it was a Sheriff’s Dept hat, originally black but sun-faded to a chocolately brown. It had a cloth band that I replaced with leather. It’s become my primary scouting hat since felt is generally too hot for hiking where I live.

 

[NotHardly]

Here’s a long delayed rehab project. Here is an old Boy Scout hat. I cleaned it dropped in a new sweat. Then braided up a paracord hatband. My daughter loves it.

 

[steur]

The history guy on youtube dedicated a video to the campaign hat today. Well worth seeing.

 

[Kabulrocks]

The history guy on youtube dedicated a video to the campaign hat today. Well worth seeing.

Thank you for posting!

 

[Robieman]

If anyone is interested, Coleman’s Military Surplus has used Army Drill Sergeant Campaign hats on sale for $19.95. They are only size 7 1/8, and are “soiled”. I figure for 20 bucks I’d take a chance.

U.S. G.I. Campaign Cover, Used

Abooout Face, Fooorward March! Now you can take command of your own troops. These Drill Sergeants Hats are specifically for rifle and pistol team instructors, which makes this a nice addition to any collection. This straight brim hat is made of olive drab

colemans.com

 

[johnnycanuck]

Chillin on a nice spring day dreaming of summer adventures

Johnny

 

[wsmontana]

Here is a recent find. I searched “the continental AP hansen eau claire wis” and found two newspaper ads, one was dated 1910 and the other 1917. Could this be an officer’s hat from WWI?

Thanks, Bill

 

[Robieman]

Don’t know how accurate this link is, but check it out to see if it helps.

The Campaign Hat, M1911

 

[wsmontana]

Don’t know how accurate this link is, but check it out to see if it helps.

The Campaign Hat, M1911

Thanks for the link! There is no direct match but it seems to fit best in the 1920 to 1942 category.

 

[M Hatman]

Thanks for the link! There is no direct match but it seems to fit best in the 1920 to 1942 category.

Yes....on your dates and the cords are enlisted. Very often NCO's would buy nicer hats (private purchase) and other goods, which this would be (private purchase from a suppler). Officers clothes were ALL private purchase until 1942 when the Quartermaster Corps would start supplying them for the first time........
NICE Example!!!!!

 

[fireman]

Officers before WW2 had a wide degree of latitude on uniforms.....like all armies at the time. They bought their own and they had to have them made to the pattern but there was still some degree of individuality. That certainly could have been made custom by Stetson or modded by them. Also, Philly was where the USMC had much of their pre WW2 782 gear made at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Depot. (USMC gear made there would be marked DPQ.) It might be USMC.

 

[wsmontana]

Yes....on your dates and the cords are enlisted. Very often NCO's would buy nicer hats (private purchase) and other goods, which this would be (private purchase from a suppler). Officers clothes were ALL private purchase until 1942 when the Quartermaster Corps would start supplying them for the first time........
NICE Example!!!!!

Very helpful! Thank you!

 

[fireman]

Oops....completely forgot about the cords.

 

[wsmontana]

Officers before WW2 had a wide degree of latitude on uniforms.....like all armies at the time. They bought their own and they had to have them made to the pattern but there was still some degree of individuality. That certainly could have been made custom by Stetson or modded by them. Also, Philly was where the USMC had much of their pre WW2 782 gear made at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Depot. (USMC gear made there would be marked DPQ.) It might be USMC.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[scottlox]

Hi,
I have these 2 Cavalry Officer hats. One seems older than the other, it has no eyelets and is shaped differently. I am thinking they are pre-WW1, maybe Poncho Villa era ?, any help would be great.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Hi,
I have these 2 Cavalry Officer hats. One seems older than the other, it has no eyelets and is shaped differently. I am thinking they are pre-WW1, maybe Poncho Villa era ?, any help would be great.

Great hats. Pics of the insides would help. Specifically sweatband logos, size tags, tags behind the sweatbands and any writing on the inside of the sweatbands, only if they are pliable enough. Be careful turning them they are likely fragile.
These are the clues needed to id age etc.
Members will gladly help but without those identifiers….nice hats.
How did you determine both to be officers hats??
B

 

[scottlox]

The first 2 pics are of the 11th Cav hat and the other 2 with the Ackerman brand are from the 6th Cav hat.
I have looked at all the resources for 1911 hats and one reason I thought they could be pre WW1 is because both the 6th and 11th Cav went into Mexico under Gen Pershing.
The reason I think the 6th Cav hat is older is because it has no stitching on the brim and no eyelets, I am assuming it was a private purchase hat. I also think they are both Officers hats because they have their original Officer hat cords and insignia still on them. They are both size 7. this is why I am here, I am unsure.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Hi,
I have these 2 Cavalry Officer hats. One seems older than the other, it has no eyelets and is shaped differently. I am thinking they are pre-WW1, maybe Poncho Villa era ?, any help would be great.

From what I gather, black and silver cords are Warrant Officer colors, but that’s assuming there was no other use for those colors at another time.

Of course, hat decorations are not a great way to gauge a hat’s provenance since cords and insignias, etc, could have been added by anyone at anytime.

But if these hats did belong to a U.S. Army Warrant Officer, then you should consider the fact that that rank was not created until 1918.

 

[scottlox]

The hat cords were originally black interwoven with metallic gold thread, indicating a commissioned officer. The years have turned most of the gold thread black, but you can see some of the gold thread exposed. It may look silver in the pics but they are actually very faded black and gold which would make them Officer. Again, I am no expert, I'm just telling you what i see.

 

[CRH]

Watching "The Fighting 69th" on TCM. Oh boy! Plenty of campaign hat action in this one, and my man Jimmy Cagney . The hats were given out to new recruits open crown. Hat geek paradise seeing how all the 4 dents turned out.