Kepi hat

[philjri3]

Hello everyone. So I found this on a consignment shelf at a gun store. I am very aware that there are way more reproductions out there then real ones, but this appears to be really old and it has a cool looking flag stitched inside. It would be amazing if it was real, but it won't hurt my feelings if it isn't. I know a lot of You on here are very knowledgeable, so any help would be appreciated, and nice to meet everyone, I'm Phil.

 

[bobinwmass]

Unfortunately not even a good reproduction, just more likely a centennial souvenir. Post 1872 crossed rifle infantry insignia and post 1902 Great Seal buttons.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Probably made in the 1960s.

 

[R. Porter]

from hat I understand, the 1902 pattern Great Seal buttons didn't have a rim around the outside, so they are later than the 1902 version. Still, as a Centennial hat it would be 60 years old.

 

[Cato3rd]

Just out of curiosity, how much did you end up spending on this?

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

It looks like a nicely made reproduction to me - I would take the hooky crossed rifles off and wear it. I wear a repro kepi as a everyday hat quite a bit, a lot of people smile and ask about it.

 

[JOHN42768]

Hello everyone. So I found this on a consignment shelf at a gun store. I am very aware that there are way more reproductions out there then real ones, but this appears to be really old and it has a cool looking flag stitched inside. It would be amazing if it was real, but it won't hurt my feelings if it isn't. I know a lot of You on here are very knowledgeable, so any help would be appreciated, and nice to meet everyone, I'm Phil.

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Welcome, enjoy. Not the slightist chance that it is real

 

[philjri3]

Just out of curiosity, how much did you end up spending on this?

10 dollars

 

[Salterr]

In order to spot the fakes faster, using this hat as an example, look at the material of the cap and its purple color. Genuine ones are wool and a deep indigo blue color. Like other members have said the crossed rifles are a post war insignia starting in 1875 but would also be brass like civil war insignia. The buttons are post war and you can determine that by design and a back mark located on the other side of the button. That style of mark will determine when it was made and by who. The stitching also needs to be considered on headgear and whether or not it is machine or hand stitched. The underside of the cap should be lined with a polished cotton and sometimes a small white size tag with the makers initials. Never small medium large sizes but ones with a number. The sweatband will usually be a very dark leather about 2 inches tall and is lined with a material called buckram

 

[Salterr]

10 dollars

Not bad, a real one is in the $3,000 range. Thankfully you did not spend that!

 

[Cato3rd]

Not bad, a real one is in the $3,000 range. Thankfully you did not spend that!

My exact thoughts. For 10 bucks, it's worth defarbing with some good quality repro buttons and insignia

 

[Mississippian1861]

Honestly I wouldn't touch it, it is what it is: a inaccurate but well made tourist cap from the 1960s, a piece of Americana in it's own right.

 

[waksel]

The material screams: polyester, even in the photo. Not worth de-farbing, as you'd have to remove EVERYTHING and start from scratch. If you are just getting into re-enacting, maybe wear it (if the unit you join will allow) and later replace it with a better made one when you can afford one.
Spend a lot of time in museums looking at originals, and a lot of navigating through Pinterest. Sometimes there are a good sets of photos showing front, back and inside details. That helps, but actually holding an original in your hands and looking closely will help you interpret the photos & fill in the details not discernable from photos alone.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Hello everyone. So I found this on a consignment shelf at a gun store. I am very aware that there are way more reproductions out there then real ones, but this appears to be really old and it has a cool looking flag stitched inside. It would be amazing if it was real, but it won't hurt my feelings if it isn't. I know a lot of You on here are very knowledgeable, so any help would be appreciated, and nice to meet everyone, I'm Phil.

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That is a toy. Disneyland does a better job. Looks home made and completely wrong. Hell, I've made better caps than that.
It might have a local History somehow and makes a good curiosity.
Unless there is back story about some locals forming their first Living History or museum displays where they had no real example I see zero value with that POS. $20-$25 bucks will get you a proper budget line cap at just about any Suttlery.
Cheers! Just my opinion and I could be wrong.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I think it's even younger than the 60s. I started seeing hats like that in the early 90s. If you're interested in tourist ephemera then you got a good deal.