Help with hat

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

I was offered this felthat can anyone help me find the age of it? Thought it looked like an old civil war reenactment hat in particular a confederate "beehive" hat.

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

I compared it to some example in the book echoes of glory equipment and arms of the confederacy and it looks like the confederate slouch hats in the book. I honestly think it's form the 1860s-1880s. They where asking 500 but they said theyd take 350. May be able to trade some German stuff for it

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

Here are some confederate used slouch hats that are 100% authentic. I would like to hear @ucvrelics opinion

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

I'm making a swag guess here but my spidey senses are up. If it is original and hasn't been in archival conditions, it doesn't look near greasy enough inside for my tastes and I think it would have a lot more insect damage to the wool over 160 years. Plus, why does the bullet hole go outwards instead of inwards?

But what do I know? I've only worked with textiles from the Revolutionary War period.

Calling @Package4

 

[James N.]

I compared it to some example in the book echoes of glory equipment and arms of the confederacy and it looks like the confederate slouch hats in the book. I honestly think it's form the 1860s-1880s. They where asking 500 but they said theyd take 350. May be able to trade some German stuff for it

Lacking any sort of provenance I would keep my money and anything else I knew to have value until a more likely candidate came along. (Besides, if it's old reenacting gear you want I have a closetfull of it and will make you such a deal...)

 

[johan_steele]

Keep your coin for something legit because I'd bet my Tim Bender Dress hat that what is pictured was new in the last 30 years.

 

[UCVRelics]

I don't know cloth near as well as @Package4 but I do know that James Nelson did not where that hat for "The entire war" as its in to good of a shape and most CW soldiers went thru several hats during the war.

 

[Package4]

The felt appears too thick for ACW vintage, keep in mind there were over 16 million males in the US/CS during the war years and only 4 million served. Almost all had civilian slouch hats, so no provenance no sale.

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

The felt appears too thick for ACW vintage, keep in mind there were over 16 million males in the US/CS during the war years and only 4 million served. Almost all had civilian slouch hats, so no provenance no sale.

I do agree with everything thanks for all the opinions I will stay away

 

[Package4]

I do agree with everything thanks for all the opinions I will stay away

Good idea, one great tip that I learned early on by some very knowledgeable collectors: war date hats and brogans are very thin in material, they were not supposed to last for a very long time and another issue was on the way.

Conversely reenactment wear is generally much thicker and made to last, otherwise there would be constant complaints, if brogans only lasted one season, or a hat sprung crease holes after a season.

Period slouch hats are generally very thin and floppy, then, they need to have a proveable provenance to be considered an ACW piece.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

It's a cool looking hat anyway, it would be fun to wear it. I'd pay $20 for it.

 

[Package4]

It's a cool looking hat anyway, it would be fun to wear it. I'd pay $20 for it.

Not the $350 asking price?

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

I would pay him 50$ at most because it looks cool for a confederate display but he probably won't budge

 

[johan_steele]

I would pay him 50$ at most because it looks cool for a confederate display but he probably won't budge

Honestly, if that hat was more than $50 new he was robbed.