Accurately shaping a Confederate Slouch Hat

[LTDavis]

One of my favorite things is hats, and as a Confederate reenactor I get to wear a wonderful slouch hat made by Dirty Billy. However this one question has bugged me for awhile, is shaping a slouch hat with a crease or telescoping the top and adding a pinch to the front of the crown period accurate?
Lots of hats are shaped this way in depictions of the Civil War from movies to art but that isn't real history. I've looked at photos and I feel as if occasionally I find hats shaped that way but I'm not always sure cause the photos are so old I can't always make things out and I can't seem to find too many Confederate slouch hats in museums
My hat is currently shaped this way because I like the styling but will I have to change it?

 

[LTDavis]

Were there actually Confederate slouch hats shaped with a crease on the top and a pinch to the crown?

It may seem like an odd question but it's one that I've been wanting to ask. Hats are shaped that way in a lot of Civil War movies and art but those aren't reliable for study. I'm pretty sure the guy in the middle of the three prisoners at Gettysburg's hat is shaped this way but I want to make sure. I like the style of a slouch hat that is telescoped or creased and given a pinch to the front and is how I shaped my reproduction by Dirty Billy. Even though I like it I'd rather be accurate than inaccurate in my impression and would change the styling if need be. I've attached the Gettysburg image and my hat.

 

[captaindrew]

There's no real right or wrong, if you look at enough photos you'll see about every shape conceivable due to wear and weather.

 

[Pollaco]

I have to agree, there is no right or wrong. Just don't go too "Hollywood".

 

[Rhea Cole]

X

 

[Rhea Cole]

Step one: Boil hat in water along with family size tea bags.

Step two: Wad boiled hat into a ball & dry it on the end of a stick over a smoky fire.

Step three: Flatten out the brim as best you can & wear hat on the hottest days of summer to achieve authentic salt line above the sweat stain.

Step four: Always store hat under back window of your car so that it fades from maximum UV exposure.

For that hard core grizzled veteran look: Encourage a Jack Russell terrier to use hat as a play toy. You will then earn the right to make rude gestures & mock those wearing pristine perfectly blocked hats.

For example: "Looky yonder, it's one of them there all hat & no cattle fellers! Har-har-har!"

No need to thank me.

 

[A. Roy]

I was kind of wondering the same thing. I've bought a couple of felt blanks that I've been butchering for the civilian impression I'm working on. I love the variety seen in @captaindrew's photo! Kind of makes me agree that anything goes, except maybe an overly-dudish look...
ARB

 

[PrivateBrooke]

My Clearwater is already starting to develop certain quirks in its shape, simply from handling and being dropped/thrown about. And it was new for this season. Reenact enough with a slouch hat and it'll reshape itself into pretty much anything imaginable.

 

[LTDavis]

Step one: Boil hat in water along with family size tea bags.

Step two: Wad boiled hat into a ball & dry it on the end of a stick over a smoky fire.

Step three: Flatten out the brim as best you can & wear hat on the hottest days of summer to achieve authentic salt line above the sweat stain.

Step four: Always store had under back window of your car so that it fades from maximum UV exposure.

For that hard core grizzled veteran look: Encourage a Jack Russell terrier to use hat as a play toy. You will then earn the right to make rude gestures & mock those wearing pristine perfectly blocked hats.

For example: "Looky yonder, it's one of them all hat & no cattle fellers! Har-har-har!"

No need to thank me.

Seems more like a quick guide to destroy your hat than anything. Have you actually done this and what were the results?

 

[Pollaco]

I shape mine (felt or palmstraw) with steam.

 

[John Winn]

Actually, you'll have to re-shape your skull and then wet the hat repeatedly and wear it for extended periods of time. The re-shaping will require a wood (or plastic) Confederate phrenological frame which you'll need to wear for a year or so to make your head Confederate shaped (very much like native Americans' molding of infants' heads). I know it's a pain but you don't want to be Farb do you ?

BJ

 

[Rhea Cole]

Seems more like a quick guide to destroy your hat than anything. Have you actually done this and what were the results?

My hat that I had worn for decades was done in by the 150th. Here at Stones River we had perfect weather, perfectly miserable. Soaked & dried out repeatedly my hat shrank. One of my granddaughters wanted it, so it lives on. It has a real veteran patina… absent the Jack Russell effect.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Step one: Boil hat in water along with family size tea bags.

Step two: Wad boiled hat into a ball & dry it on the end of a stick over a smoky fire.

Step three: Flatten out the brim as best you can & wear hat on the hottest days of summer to achieve authentic salt line above the sweat stain.

Step four: Always store hat under back window of your car so that it fades from maximum UV exposure.

For that hard core grizzled veteran look: Encourage a Jack Russell terrier to use hat as a play toy. You will then earn the right to make rude gestures & mock those wearing pristine perfectly blocked hats.

For example: "Looky yonder, it's one of them there all hat & no cattle fellers! Har-har-har!"

No need to thank me.

Actually, the tea soak dry it over a fire is something my friend the costume maker actually uses to antique clothing. She claims that her Jack Russell distressed her dresses, but I assume that is tongue in cheek. She is a genius with that sort of thing.