A Reproduction Kepi I Bought

[Capt7thWvCoA]

Hello everyone, a while ago i bought this reproduction confederate infantry officers kepi. I was wondering how period correct it is. Can anyone tell me if it is correct or not ?

 

[James N.]

One aspect of it I definitely don't like are the farby CSA buttons (?) - on many cheap repro kepis they aren't buttons at all, but are held in place by two wires, definitely a modern touch. I believe state or even Federal eagle buttons would be more likely.

 

[DixieRifles]

I have one just like that. It has a lot of liner material.

I think this is supposed to be the rank of Captain. But they placed the 2 rows of Yellow cord too close. There should be some spacing between them IF this is meant to be a Captain rank.

 

[DixieRifles]

Oh---Does your kepi have a Blue base?

My Kepi is ALL Gray.

Original on display at museum for the 150th Anniversary of Fort Pemberton.

 

[captaindrew]

By comparison take a look at Starbuck's work, he makes some of the best repro kepis in the business https://www.facebook.com/Kepis-by-Starbuck-1495997197355435/?ref=py_c

 

[major bill]

Thank you for posting this question. What are you thinking of doing with this item?

 

[Frederick14Va]

Appears to be what most refer to as a mainstream sutler row quality kepi. Most of these are mass produced coming out of Pakistan for the collector market. It may look somewhat similar, but in reality is quite far removed from those made during the era. The pattern, material, liner, braiding, buttons, assembly method, and visor arent even close to the quality they should be. Majority of quality reenactors usually avoid these.

I'll second the motion made above for those made by Greg Starbuck... museum quality. I have a host of kepis he has made.

 

[Capt7thWvCoA]

I was planning on using it in my officers impession

 

[Capt7thWvCoA]

Is there away to make it more period correct?

 

[Capt7thWvCoA]

Yes it has a light blue base

 

[James N.]

Is there away to make it more period correct?

Another problem is the sleazy YELLOW braid, which as you can see from @DixieRifles post above should be gold. One easy but unfortunately unimportant "fix" would be to replace those CSA buttons/brads whichever they are.

 

[DixieRifles]

Yes it has a light blue base

That is why I posted the photo of an original officer kepi..... no blue or colored base.

I have another question. I added the regimental number on the Front of the kepi. Everyone tells me that is wrong, yet, I was told this was stated in the Regulations.
Q: Did officers put the regimental number pin on the front? If so, did they have a buckle or was it removed?

 

[Stainless Steel Mucket]

Is there away to make it more period correct?

Yes, but you need to replace the buttons, braid, bill, fabric, lining, sweat band, card stock and pattern. Because you asked here about the quality of the hat, you already suspected it's not up to snuff. Fix that problem with money by purchasing a more authentic hat.

- S.S. Mucket

 

[Capt7thWvCoA]

Where can I get a good quality one ?

 

[captaindrew]

Where can I get a good quality one ?

Kepis by Starbuck, Dirty Billy's Hats, Avery Miller - Goober Grabber Headgear, Lukas Berg

 

[Frederick14Va]

I have another question. I added the regimental number on the Front of the kepi. Everyone tells me that is wrong, yet, I was told this was stated in the Regulations.
Q: Did officers put the regimental number pin on the front? If so, did they have a buckle or was it removed?

Some of the pre-war and early war units sometimes used unit numerical and/or company letters. Thereafter not so much. These commonly were not issued items. There are surviving examples of some troops later hand crafting these of various materials, rather than using standard Federal issued hat brass like most reenactors use. But unit marked ones generally were rare. What the regulations prescribe and what actually was available and used in the field commonly was something totally different. Officers procured their own uniforms and gear hence the quality of goods typically was much higher than depot issued goods. The chin strap brass buckle was not commonly found on most CS issued caps. The rank braid typically found used on most of these foreign made collector market caps are usually made of synthetic mylar braid, rather than actual metal that the originals were, hence they dont have the correct look or color hue to them. The quality cap makers out there normally use the correct stuff, which is why they will look so much better.

 

[Mrs. V]

Where can I get a good quality one ?

If you belong to the book of faces, I would suggest looking there for buy/trade groups. There are several. And there is always someone retiring, or has moved etc, looking to sell kepis and other gear.

 

[Dave Hull]

Kepis by Starbuck, Dirty Billy's Hats, Avery Miller - Goober Grabber Headgear, Lukas Berg

Cannot go wrong with a Greg Starbuck kepi, Dirty Billy does fine work as well. I have not seen any of the other fellows work first hand but they look fine in pictures. If you are on Facebook Russell Osmianski also does fine work. https://www.facebook.com/groups/465700263454026/

As for the Kepi you have, use it until you get a better one or get a good quality hat.

 

[Mrs. V]

Cannot go wrong with a Greg Starbuck kepi, Dirty Billy does fine work as well. I have not seen any of the other fellows work first hand but they look fine in pictures. If you are on Facebook Russell Osmianski also does fine work. https://www.facebook.com/groups/465700263454026/

As for the Kepi you have, use it until you get a better one or get a good quality hat.

Very kindly said sir.